Notes and Queries, Number 55, November 16, 1850 | Page 6

ta de ep' emou ��n megala, proteron ��n smikra]," "those cities, which in my time were great, were of old small." This is certainly such an expression as none but a man advanced in years could have used. It is perhaps worth observing, that this passage occurring in the Introduction does not diminish its weight, as the events recorded in it, leading naturally into the history, could not well have been written afterwards. As I have never seen this passage noticed with this view. I shall be glad to see whether the argument which I have deduced from it appears a reasonable one to your classical readers.
A.W.H.
"_Dat veniam corvis," &c._--There were two headmasters of the school of Merchant Taylors, of the respective names of Du Guard and Stevens: the former having printed Salmasius' _Defensio Regia_, was ejected by Lord President Bradshaw; and the latter held the vacant post in the interim, from February to September, 1650. He wrote during his tenure of office in the School Probation Book."-- {406}
"Res DEUS nostras celeri citatas Turbine versat." "_Dat veniam corvis, vexat censura columbas_, Pejus merenti melior, et pejor bono."
On his restoration Du Gard pleasantly retorted,--
"Du Gardum sequitur Stephanus, Stephanumque vicissim, Du Gardus: sortes versat utrinque DEUS."
M.W.
* * * * *
QUERIES.
DRYDEN'S "ABSALOM AND ACHITOPHEL."
In my small library I have neither Malone's _Life of Dryden_, nor that of more recent date by Sir Walter Scott; and, possibly, either of those works would render my present Query needless. It relates to a copy of Absalom and Achitophel now lying before me, which is a mere chap-book, printed on bad paper, in the most economical manner, and obviously intended to be sold at a very reasonable rate: indeed, at the bottom of the title-page, which is dated "1708," we are told that it was "Printed and sold by H. Hills, in Black-fryars, near the Water-side, for the Benefit of the Poor." It consists of twenty-four pages, small 8vo., and, in order that the poem should not occupy too much space, one of the pages (p. 22.) is in a smaller type, and in double columns. At the end is the following singular
"ADVERTISEMENT.
"To prevent the publicks being impos'd on, this is to give notice that the book lately published in 4to. is very imperfect and uncorrect, in so much that above thirty lines are omitted in several places, and many gross errors committed, which pervert the sense."
The above is in Italic type, and the body of the tract consists of only the first part of _Absalom and Achitophel_, as ordinarily printed: allowing for misprints (which are tolerably numerous), the poem stands very much the same as in several common editions I have at hand. My Query is, Is the work known to have been so published "for the benefit of the poor," and in order to give it greater circulation, and what is the explanation of the "Advertisement?"
THE HERMIT OF HOLYPORT.
N.B. A short "Key" follows the usual address "To the Reader."
* * * * *
MINOR QUERIES.
_Edward the Confessor's Crucifix and Gold Chain._--In 1688 Ch. Taylour published _A Narrative of the Finding St. Edward the King and Confessor's Crucifix and Gold Chain in the Abbey Church of St. Peter's, Westminster_. Are the circumstances attending this discovery well known? And where now is the crucifix and chain?
EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.
_The Widow of the Wood._--Benjamin Victor published in 1755 a "narrative" entitled The Widow of the Wood. It is said to be very rare, having been "bought up" by the Wolseleys of Staffordshire. What is the history of the publication?
EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.
_Cardinal Erskine._--I am anxious to obtain some information respecting Cardinal Erskine, a Scotchman, as his name would impart, but called Cardinal of England? I suppose he was elevated to the sacred college between Cardinal Howard, the last mentioned by Dodd in his _Church History_, and the Cardinal of York, the last scion of the house of Stuart.
And is the following a correct list of English Cardinals since Wolsey, who died in 1530?
Elevated in John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester 1535 Reginald Pole, Archbishop of Canterbury 1536 William Peyto, Bishop of Salisbury 1557 William Allen 1587 Philip Howard 1675 ---- Erskine ---- Henry Stuart of York 1747 Thomas Weld 1830 Charles Acton 1839 or 1842 Nicolas Wiseman, who is the 53rd 1850 on the list of English Cardinals
Both the latter were born abroad, the former at Naples, the latter at Seville; but they were born of British subjects, and were brought to England at an early age to be educated. The Cardinal of York was born in Rome; but being of the royal family of England, was always styled the Cardinal of England.
G.W.
October 26. 1850.
_Thomas Regiolapidensis._--Where can I find any information as to the saint who figures in the following curious story? Regiolapidensis may probably mean _of K?nigstein_, in Saxony; but Albon