Notes and Queries, Number 68, February 15, 1851 | Page 2

Mendoza, and "points" out of other letters, subscribed by Curle. The
whole is a very interesting collection in relation to the history and end
of Mary Queen of Scots; but nobody who had not seen the book could
be aware that the entry in the Stationers' Registers, of "An Analogie,"
&c., applied to this general Defence of her execution. The manner in
which the "analogy" is made out may be seen by the two first
paragraphs, which your readers may like to see quoted:--
"Ione, Queene of Naples, being in love with the Duke of Tarent, caused
her husband Andrasius (or, as {114} some terme him, Andreas), King
of Naples (whom she little favoured), to be strangled, in the yeare of
our Lord God 1348."
"Marie, Queene of Scotland, being (as appeareth by the Chronicles of
Scotlande and hir owne letters) in love with the Earle of Bothwell,
caused hir husband, Henrie Lorde Darley, King of Scotland (whome

she made small account of long time before) to be strangled, and the
house where he lodged, called Kirk of Fielde, to be blowen up with
gunpowder, the 10th of Februarie in the yeare of our Lord God 1567."
In this way the analogy is pursued through twelve pages; but, for my
present purpose, it is not necessary to extract more of it. I beg leave
publicly to express my thanks to Mr. Laing for thus enabling me to
furnish information which I should have been glad to supply, had it
been in my power, when I prepared volume ii. of Extracts from the
Stationers' Registers.
J. PAYNE COLLIER.
* * * * *
DE NAVORSCHER.
An idea recorded in 1841, is to be realized in 1851--which promises, in
various ways, to be the annus mirabilis!
In an appeal to residents at Paris for a transcript of certain inedited
notes on Jean Paul Marana, which are preserved in the bibliothèque
royale, I made this remark:--
"If men of letters, of whatever nation, were more disposed to
interchange commodities in such a manner, the beneficial effects of it
in promoting mutual riches, would soon become visible."--Gent. Mag.
XV. 270. N. S.
The appeal was unsuccessful, and I could not but ascribe the failure of
it to the want of a convenient channel of communication. A remedy is
now provided--thanks to the example set at home, and the enterprising
spirit of Mr. Frederik Muller of Amsterdam.
We contemplate Holland as the school of classical and oriental
literature, and as the studio of painters and engravers; we admire her
delicate Elzevirs and her magnificent folios; we commend her for the
establishment of public libraries, made available by printed catalogues;

we do justice to the discoveries of her early navigators; but we had
scarcely heard of her vernacular literature before the publications of
Bosworth, and Bowring.
As M. Van Kampen observes, "La litérature hollandaise est presque
inconnue aux étrangers à cause de la langue peu répandue qui lui sert
d'organe." Under such circumstances it may be presumed that many a
query will now be made, and many a new fact elicited. We may expect,
by the means of De Navorscher, the further gratification of rational
curiosity, and the improvement of historical and bibliographic
literature.
In assuming that some slight credit may be due to one who gives public
expression to a novel and plausible idea, it may become me to declare
that I renounce all claim to the substantial merit of having devised the
means of carrying it into effect.
BOLTON CORNEY.
* * * * *
A BIDDING AT WEDDINGS IN WALES.
The practice of "making a bidding" and sending "bidding letters," of
which the following is a specimen, is so general in most parts of Wales,
that printers usually keep the form in type, and make alteration in it as
occasion requires. The custom is confined to servants and mechanics in
towns; but in the country, farmers of the humbler sort make biddings.
Of late years tea parties have in Carmarthen been substituted for the
bidding; but persons attending pay for what they get, and so incur no
obligation; but givers at a bidding are expected and generally do return
"all gifts of the above nature whenever called for on a similar
occasion." When a bidding is made, it is usual for a large procession to
accompany the young couple to church, and thence to the house where
the bidding is held. Accompanying is considered an addition to the
obligation conferred by the gift. I have seen, I dare say, six hundred
persons in a wedding procession, and have been in one or two myself
(when a child). The men walk together and the women together to

church; but in returning they walk in pairs, or often in trios, one man
between two women. The last time