A BIBLIOGRAPHIC PROJECT. Of the various sections into which the history of English literature is divisible, there is no one in which the absence of collective materials is more seriously felt-no one in which we are more in need of authentic notes, or which is more apt to raise perplexing queries than that which relates to the authorship of anonymous and pseudonymous works. The importance of the inquiry is not inferior to the ardour with which it has sometimes been pursued, or the curiosity which it has excited. On all questions of testimony, whether historical or scientific, it is a consideration of the position and character of the writer which chiefly enables us to decide on the credibility of his statements, to account for the bias of his opinions, and to estimate his entire evidence at its just value. The remark also applies, in a qualified sense, to productions of an imaginative nature.

On the number of the works of this class, I can only hazard a conjecture. In French literature, it amounts to about one-third part of the whole mass. In English literature, it cannot be less than one-sixth part - perhaps more. Be it as it may, the SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT of all that has been revealed in that way, and of all that is discoverable, is essential to the perfection of literary history, of literary biography, and of bibliography.

At the present moment, I can only announce the project as a stimulus to unemployed aspirants, and as a hint to fortunate collectors, to prepare for an exhibition of their cryptic treasures. -On a future occasion I shall describe the plan of construction which seems most eligible-shall briefly notice the scattered materials which it may be expedient to consult, whether in public depositories, or in private hands-and shall make an appeal to those whose assistance may be required, to enable a competent editor to carry out the plan with credit and success.

On the prevalence of anonymous writing, on its occasional convenience, and on its pernicious consequences, I shall make no remarks. Facts, rather than arguments, should be the staple commodity of an instructive miscellany. BOLTON CORNEY.

Barnes Terrace, Surrey, 29th Oct., 1849.

NOTES FROM FLY-LEAVES.-NO. I.

Many scholars and reading-men are in the habit of noting down on the fly-leaves of their books memoranda, sometimes critical, sometimes bibliographical, the result of their own knowledge or research. The following are specimens of the kind of Notes to which we allude; and the possessors of volumes enriched by the Notes and memoranda of men of learning to whom they formerly belonged, will render us and our readers a most acceptable service by forwarding to us copies of them for insertion.

Douce on John of Salisbury. MS. Note in a copy of Policraticus, Lug. Bat. 1639. "This extraordinary man flourished in the reign of Henry II., and was, therefore, of Old Salisbury, not of New Salisbury, which was not founded till the reign of Henry III. Having had the best education of the time, and being not only a genius, but intimate with the most eminent men, in particular with Pope Hadrian (who was himself an Englishman), he became at length a bishop, and died in 1182. He had perused and studied most of the Latin classics, and appears to have decorated every part of his work with splendid fragments extracted out of them." - Harris's Philosophical Arrangements, p. 457.

See more relating to John of Salisbury in Fabricii, Bib. Med. Etatis, iv. 380.; in Tanner, Biblioth. Britannico Hibernica; in Baillet's Jugemens des Savans, ii. 204. See Senebier, Catalogue des Manuscrits de Genève, p. 226.

"Johannes Sarisb. multa ex Apuleio desumpsit," Almelooven, Plagiaror. Syllab. 36.; and it might have been justly added, that he borrowed from Petronius. See the references I have made on the last leaf.

Janus Dousa, in his Notes on Petronius, had called John of Salisbury "Cornicula;" but Thomasius, in p. 240 of his work, De Plagio Literario, vindicates him satisfactorily. See Lipp. ad. Tacit. Annal XII. (pezzi di porpora), not noticed by any editor of Petronius. Has various readings. See my old

edition.

NEW FACTS ABOUT LADY ARABELLA STUART.

"Sarisberiensis (J.) Policraticus, &c., 8vo, L. Bat. 1595; very scarce, vellum, 6s. This book is of great curiosity; it is stated in the preface that the author, J. of Salisbury, was present at the murther of Thomas à Becket, whose intimate friend he was; and that dum pius Thomas ab impio milite cedetur in capite, Johannis hujus brachium fere simul percisum est,"

-INQUISITION OF

THOULOUse.

Mr. Editor, In or about 1756, an ancient manuscript in folio, on vellum, was deposited in the British Museum by Dr. Secker, then Bishop of Oxford, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, and still, I take for granted, remains in that institution. It was intitled upon the cover, Liber Sententiarum; but contained the Acts and Decisions of the Inquisition of Thoulouse, from the year 1307 to 1323. It had been purchased by the contributions of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, of the Bishop of Oxford himself, and of various other prelates, the Lord Chancellor, the Speaker of the House of Commons of that time, the Viscount Royston, &c.

Can any of your readers inform me whether any or what portions of this manuscript have been hitherto communicated to the world, either in the way of publication or translation, or of abridgment, in whole or in part? An analysis of this manuscript would be interesting to many readers of ecclesiastical history.

INQUISITORIUS.

The following extracts, from "The Declatleman, appoynted by warraunte of the righte honorable the lordes of the kinges mats Privie Councell, to receave and yssue sondrye somes of money for the provycon of dyett and other chardges of the ladye Arbella Seymour, whoe by his hignes comaundemente and pleasure shoulde haue bene remoued into the countye Palatyne of Duresme, under the chardge of the Reverende Father in God Will'm lorde Bishpp of Duresme; but after was stayed and appointed to remayne at Eastbarnett duringe his hignes good pleasure," are new to the history of this unfortunate lady. The account includes all sums of money "receaved and yssued from the xiiijth daye of Marche 1610, untill the vijth daye of June 1611," and the account itself (as preserved in the Audit Office) was taken and declared before the right honorable Roberte Earle of Salisbury, Lord Highe Threas of Englande and Sr Julius Cæsar, Knighte, Chancellor and UnderThreas of Th'exchequer the xijth of Ffebruary 1611" [1611/12]. The extracts throw some fresh light on her movements on her road from London to Durham. At East Barnet, it is well known, she eluded the vigilance of her keepers, and threw the king and council into the utmost consternation.

66

"Ryding and postinge chardges-viz. for posthorses from Lambeth to Highgate and from thence to Barnett. To Mr. Beeston and others for their chardges three severall tymes to Barnett from London and from Highgate. To the servauntes of the lord bishp of Duresme sente at severall tymes to the lordes of the Councell and for other businesses concerninge this service; and to Sir James Crofte, Knight, for the chardges of himselfe, his men, and horses attendinge at London in this service ix". xviij. vja. "Rewardes to sondrye p'rsons, viz. to messengers sent from the Courte during the staye of the Lorde Bishopp at Highgate and Barnett. To diuerse p'rsons who tooke paynes at Highgate and Barnett. Geven in the Inne for glasses broken, and in rewardes to the meanar servauntes at Barnett,

xxx". &c. In all the some of xij". ix". vja. "Also allowed to the sayde Accomptaunte for money by his owne handes yssued and payde in this service from the time of her ladishipps removinge from the Inne in Barnett to the house of Thomas Conyers Esquir in Estbarnett, as hereafter is menconed:

66

"Expences of dyett for the lady Arbella her servauntes and others appointed to attende her at Estbarnett by the space of lxviij dayes begonne the first of April 1611, and ended the vijth of June following at cix. iijd. p'r diem ccclxxj". xj. va. Chardges of the Stable, viz. - for three lytter horses, one sumpter horse, and fyve coche horses for xxvj dayes at ij'. the horse by daye and night. For the Stable at Estbarnett for lxviij dayes begonne the firste of Aprill 1611 and ended the vijth of June followinge: and for hyer of a coche of Thomas Webster employed in this service by the space of xxiij dyes at xx. per diem lxxvij. vjs. ix. "Boardwages of Cochemen, Lyttermen and Sumpter-man and their men at viijs. and iij'. iija. and iij'. each diem per 1. x3. "Enterteynement to sondrye p'rsons appointed to attende the said lady Arbella Seymour. To Nicholas Pay this accomptaunte xxxv. x. To William Lewen for his attendaunce in the office of caterer of poultrye at iij. per diem for himselfe and his horse. To Richarde Mathewe for his attendance in the butterye and pantrye at iij. per diem for himselfe and his horse. To Thomas Mylles for his attendaunce in the larder and kitchen at iij per diem for himselfe and his horse - lxvj". ij. "To rydinge and posting-chardges, viz. of Henry Mynors at severall tymes from Bar

nett to Whitehall and backe againe for dyreccons in this service from the lordes of the privie Councell xxxv. and for posthorses to carye the ladye Arbella Seymour her servauntes from Barnett to London xvij. For the hier of horses at severall tymes for S James Crofte betweene Barnett and London in attendinge the lordes of the Councell in this service xl3. - iiij". xij. "For caryadges for removing the ladie Arbella and her companie from Lambeth to Highgate and from thence to Barnet, &c. lxxviij". xv. "In rewardes to sondrye p'rsons, viz. to the servauntes in Mr. Conyers house and laborers to make clean the house, &c.

iij11. xv". "To Mathias Melwarde one of the Princes chaplaynes for his paynes in attending the ladye Arbella Seymour to preache and reade prayers duringe her aboade at Est

66

vli.

barnett "Houserent paid to Thomas Conyers Equier, for the rent of his house in Estbarnett for the lady Arbella Seymour and her companie for xen weekes at xx". the week - x". Payde out of the Receipte of the Exchequier to thandes of the ladye Arbella Seymour for her own furnishinge in her journey into the Bishoprycke of Durham celi. "Money payde to Thomas Moundeforde, Doctor of physicke and an Apothecarye appointed by order of the lordes of the privie Councell to geve their attendaunce uppon the saide lady Arbella: viz. for the enterteynement of the saide Doctor Moundeforde for cltie dayes begonne the viijth of Ffebruarie 1610 and ended the vijth of Julie following 1611 at xxx'. per diem

ccxxvi. "Ffor the enterteynement of his Apothecarye for ninety dayes at xiij. iiij. per diem

Ix". "Ffor twoe cabbanetts furnished wth thinges necessary and used in the tyme of the saide ladye Arbella for sycknes xij". "For chardges of horselier and other expences of the saide Doctor Moundeford

ON A POEM MENTIONED IN ONE OF THE
LANSDOWNE MSS.

In vol. 61. of the Lansdowne MSS. in the

British Museum occurs the following remarkable letter from the Bishop of London (John Aylmer) to Lord Burghley. I wish to be informed to what "foolish rhime," which had been printed in Oxford and London, it applies? It is a question of some literary importance to me at the present moment, and I am glad to have the opportunity of putting it by means of your new hebdomadal undertaking. I hope to meet with a reply in your "NOTES AND QUERIES" of next week.

"To the Lord Treasurer.

"Yt may please your good L. to understand, that upon inquiry made for the setting forth of this foolish rime, I finde that it was first printed at Oxford, by Joseph Barnes, and after here by Toby Cooke, without licence, who is now out of towne, but as sone as he returneth, I will talke with him about it. I marvell that they of Oxford will suffer such toyes to be sett forth by their authority; for in opinion it had been better to have thanked my God, than to have insulted upon men, and especially upon princes. And so I take my leave of your good L., praying God to send you health to his honour and all our good. From my pallace at London, this xxixth of Aprill 1589.

"Your good L. to command in X°., "JOHN LOND."

If the above refer to any production in verse upon the defeat of the Armada, Lord Burghley (who had probably made inquiries of the Bishop) seems to have been actuated by some extraordinary and uncalled-for delicacy towards the King of Spain. Waiting an explanation, I am your

Lond. Oct. 23. 1849.

HEARTY WELL-WISHER.

I cannot find that Aylmer's letter has ever been noticed by any of our literary antiqua

ries.

MADOC'S EXPEDITION TO AMERICA.

Mr. Editor, Can any of your readers direct me to the different authors who have treated of the asserted expedition of Madoc to America; or to any Papers upon that subject which have appeared in any Periodicals, or Transactions of learned societies. A STUDENT.

LORD CHATHAM'S SPEECH ON THE AMERICAN STAMP ACT.

Mr. Editor,

The following is an extract from Lord Brougham's Character of Chatham, vol. i. p. 27.

"The Debates on the American Stamp Act in 1764 are the first that can be said to have been preserved at all, through the happy accident of Lord Charlemont, assisted by Sir Robert Dean, &c. &c., and accordingly they have handed down to us some Notes of Lord Chatham's celebrated Speech upon that Question."

Can any of your readers inform me where these "NOTES" of this "celebrated speech" are to be found?

Sir, I gladly avail myself of the "NOTES following points: AND QUERIES," to request information on the

I. Is any thing known, and especially from the writings of Erasmus, of a bookseller and publisher of the Low Countries named Dorne, who lived at the beginning of the sixteenth century?

II. Is any thing known of a little work of early date, called Henno rusticus?

III. Or of another, called of the sige (signe?) of the end?

enabled to throw light upon one or other of Trusting that some of your readers will be these points,

I remain, &c.

W.