Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 9.djvu/29

 9. s. ix. JAN. n, 1902.) NOTES AND QUERIES.

21

LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 1902.

CONTENTS. No. 211.

NOTES Bolton's 'Nero Csesar,' Ifi27, 21 The Devil, 22 Jubilee of the 'Leisure Hour,' 24 " Macaw " and " Macaco " ' Budget of Paradoxes ' : Diderot, 25 Harvey and the Circulation of the Blood : Inedited Poem-Kane, a Forgotten Actor, 26 Tennis : Origin of Word, 27.

QUERIES : Carlyle on Symbols, 27 Arms of Married Women Supplement to 'Faerie Queene ' Picture of New Cross Gate" Fountain-pregnant" Donne's Burial "Pen-name," 28 Moat's ' Stenograph? ' Gordon, a Place-name Sir T. Smith, of Parson's Green Archange de Pembroke 'Little Picture Bible 'Feeding Birds- Epitaph at Llanrhidian Lower' Cornhill ' Illustrations ' Rotuli Scotise,' 29.

REPLIES : Kinborough as Female Christian Name Des- b'>rough Portraits and Relics St. Briavel Adulation Extraordinary, 30 Ancient Boats Pech6 Family Acland of Chittlehampton Pews annexed to Houses, 31 "All Fours," a Kentish Game Regimental Nicknames Kirjath-Jearim Survival of Paganism" Racing," 32 Copperplate Cuts Entries in Parish Registers, 33 Leigh Hunt Vancouver Cure by Hand of a Corpse "Pro- spicimus modo "Wearing the Hat in the Royal Presence, 34 "Pillage, Stallage, and Toll " Merchants of Lukes: Merchants of Luk Londres, 35 Bibliography of the Bicycle William the Conqueror's Half Brothers and Sisters Signature of the Duke of Cambridge 'Hymns Ancient and Modern,' 36 Rowe of Cornwall" Machine" =Coach, 37 Paying Rent at a Tomb in Church, 38.

NOTES ON BOOKS : Lord Ronald Gower's 'The Tower of London ' Boase's 'Modern English Biography,' Vol. III. Slater's ' Art Sales of the Year 1901 'Magazines.

Notices to Correspondents.

EDMUND BOLTON'S 'NERO CAESAR,' 1627.

THE literary value of this very interesting hook has long been recognized both by Warton in his ' History of English Poetry ' and by Hearne in his * Reliquiae Hearnianse ' The latter, for example, thus expresses him- self regarding it (ed. 1869, vol. i. pp. 292, 298) :

" He [Bagford] likewise says, that one Mr. Bolton was author of ' Nero Csesar,' which is an excellent

"The book called 'Nero Ceesar,' printed in a pretty big character, in a small folio, was written by

Mr. Bolton The said Life of Nero is very well

written. There is great variety of learning in it, managed with very much judgment."

Hearne does not exaggerate. 'Nero Csesar ' throughout is " an excellent thing " ; and notwithstanding a certain inflation of style, 1 think I could cite from it not a few passages at once picturesque, epigrammatic, and suggestive. My object in this note, however, is to draw attention to what interested me in the perusal of the volume.

On p. 11 Trajano JBocalini's 'IRaggvagli Di Parnasso : or Advertisements from Par- nassus,' is referred to in these words :

" Of this poinct the Italian author of the famous Ragvalias of Parnassus makes vnf riendly vse, in th

magery inauguration of Cornelivs Tacitvs, to the 'ained kingdome of Lesbos, smally to the honor of

Tacitvs, whom hee makes throwne out againe for

"ffectation of tyranie."

As Bocalini's curious and entertaining work las been translated into English by Henry, Earl of Monmouth, Bolton's allusion will be round on p. 38 of the second edition of 1669.

George Sandys's 'Travels' are thus com- mendably mentioned (p. 50) :

" That very sepulcher, at this day extant, and ailed Agrippina's, is figured on the roofe, and sides with sphinxes, and griphons, but greatly sullied with the smoake of torches, and lights borne in by such as enter. George Sandys, as an eye-witnesse testifies it, in his generous trauails."

The following extract may be taken for what it is worth ; but it is sufficiently interesting in itself (p. 66) :

"The riotous youths of these our times vniuersally more studious of wittie then discreete, of odde

conceipts then solid Wittie flashes doe condi-

mentally well ; but, if that were their best vse, the srtiift'of poesie were with little reason styled diuine. There are who lay other studies in the bottome to balasse the fierie leuities of conceipt, and only they doe honor the Muses with their manners. Those other while they vnlearnedly, and miserably mis- take licence for freedome, are oftentimes pleasant companie, but neuer good."

Bolton tells us he wrote a life of Tiberius it was never printed (p. 82) : " In the life which I haue diligently written of Tiberivs there is more."

Our author's references to some of his dis- tinguished contemporaries are very inter- esting. William Camden is " that most modest, and antient good friend of mine"; " worthie Camden"; "the king of our antiquaries and not one of arms onely." Sir Henry Saville " was another Tacitvs for grauitie and iudgement." Selden, like Cam- den, appears to have been personally known to Bolton (p. 156) :

" They who would see more of this, may satisfie themselues out of Clavdivs Salmasivs. the Selden of Gallia, if without creating enuy to my learned friend, John Selden, I may compare them so."

The illustrious author of 'The Faerie Queene ' comes in for honourable mention in what follows (p. 161) :

" Edmund^Spencer, who was in his time, the most learned poet of England, layes it [the scene of the battle between the Romans and Britons] to haue beene further off I than Salisbury Plain]; for he names besides Severn. But without praying in aide of his poems, Iseeme to my selfe to haue made it vehementlie probable, that the field was hereabout, by hauing shewed that Pavllinvs wasmarcht hither- wards."

On p. 87 Bolton acknowledges an obliga- tion. Who was the "great and generous Earle"?