Í may not mistake. My account says he died of a dropsy, and that he was buried in Marybone Church, where, perhaps, is something over him; if there be, if you can, pray let me have the words."* Extract. Feb. 24, 1732. THE SAME. "I RECEIVED Yours of the 22d. for which I thank you, particularly for your note about the death of Mr. H. Wanley. I did not know before that any rings on that occasion had been given by Lord Oxford, but thought the funeral had been wholly at Mr. Wanley's widow's expense, Mr. Wanley leaving her in very good circumstances." Extract. Dec. 14, 1732. TRADESMEN'S TOKENS. "I HEAR Of Some (what I wonder at) that are now very busy in collecting tokens or Tradesmen's farthings, that went in the Rump times, and look upon such trash (for 'tis certainly nothing else) as Curiosities. But it may be a particular point of History is designed to be settled or illustrated from such a collection. But what that point is I cannot guess. That such pieces once went in England from one house to another, as money, it will hereafter, perhaps, be hardly believ'd, and for that reason it may be proper enough to touch upon it in history, and to tell the occasion of it. Methinks it might be as usefull Note by West. Humfrey Wanley, ob. 6th July, 1726, æt, 55. buried within the rails of the altar. No inscription over him. Mr. Gibbs hath made a design for a moument for him. Some of these (if not more usefull) to collect pieces that are so frequently found (and sometimes too in great number) under old buildings, particularly under buildings in the monkish times, some of which are obscure enough, and want interpretation. were calculated on purpose for such occasions, tho' 'tis very seldom that the builder or the founder is mentioned on them. Whether they ever went as current money may be much questioned. Most of them were minted beyond sea. Curious observations might be made on this head by such as shall write professedly of the Rump-tokens, or Rump-money that I have mentioned. Whether Mr. Grainger thought it worth while (as I believe he did not) to gather such pieces, I know not.” Extract. Oct. 1, 1733. ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS FOR COUNTY HISTORY. "I was told some time since, that Mr. Drake's Antiquities of York is out, but it seems otherwise from your letter. I am glad he designs to speak of the York MSS. If they are nicely turned over, I am inclined to think, something worthy of the publick might be extracted from them, and perhaps something considerable relating to his Antiquities. And I am persuaded Dr. Richardson can suggest some particulars on that occasion worth his observation. MSS. have been little regarded by the generality of those that have written of our Counties, which for that reason will make any essay that way welcome to the curious reader. 'Tis this very thing, that makes Mr. Thoresby's account of his MSS. &c. more valuable by much, than the first part of his book. And long ago, when Pausanias took care to insert into his work, the ancient stones and other things of that kind, which may be look'd upon as equal to MSS. 'tis incredible to tell, what reputation he obtained thereby; and what he did that way had the greater weight, because he told where the monuments were that he spoke of, what I wish M. Camden (our English Pausanias, after Leland) had taken care always to do of the MSS. he made use of." Extract. July 19, 1733. CONDUIT AT OXFORD. "SOME time ago I saw a very faulty transcript of the original MS. concerning Otho Nicholson's building, the Conduit at Cairfax in Oxford, but I cannot tell where the original is, without which this transcript is of no use, and for that reason I declined taking a copy; if you at any time light upon the original, be pleased to take particular notice of it. I cannot think that it is in the Harleian Library, unless there should be any thing about it in Dr. Hutton's MSS. Coll. Old Baskervile of Bagworth, commonly called The King of Jerusalem, used to note down in his Flying History (which Mr. Murray now hath) many particulars of History, especially little matters, such as Ballads, Arches of Bridges, &c. and perhaps he may have something about this Conduit; but if he hath, I cannot expect it should be of any great moment, he being an Humourist, and wanting both learning and judgment." Extract. Jan. 17, 1734. BISHOP FLEMING. "I have heard that Bp. Fleming, when he was of Edmund-Hall, was inclined to the study of our English Antiquities. But this is what was told me lately, and I never heard any such thing as long as he staid with us after I came to the Hall, and yet I think he staid there till the year 1698." From the same. BISHOP MENIATI. "ELIAS Meniati, Bishop of Cepholonia, a late author, wrote an account of the Schism between the Eastern and Western Churches. It is written in the vulgar Greek, and I believe is scarce. I understand, however, that 'tis in the Harleyan Library. I have not wrote to my L. Oxford to inquire, but you can do it as well when you see his Ldship. All I want to know is, in what volume it is, and whether it be a printed book, and if printed I would gladly know where." Extract. Feb. 10, 1734. THE SAME. "I KNOW nothing more of Cepholonia's book than what I had from The Russian Catechism, with an Account of the Church-Government and Ceremonies of the Muscovites. Lond. 1725. Svo. ed. 2d. where (I know not at what page, but I think 'tis after page 54, for I have not the book by me) are these words: "Elias Merivati, Bishop of Cepholonia, has in our times "writ the Schism between the Eastern and Western Churches. "This book of Meniati is writ in the vulgar Greek, and is to "be seen in my Lord Harley's library, who is a diligent collec"tor of all that's curious in all languages and sciences." DEDICATORY SONNETS before GEORGE CHAPMAN'S BEFORE I enter on the transcript of these Sonnets, let me make a few extracts from the prose Commentaries of this energetic Poet, who seems to have felt the true enthusiasm and confidence of the Muse. CHAPMAN was a great favourite with his cotemporaries for genius as well as learning, and seems on due examination to have been possessed of many qualities and acquirements of no common occurrence. Commentary to Book I. "Since I dissent from all other Translators and Interpreters, that ever essay'd exposition of this miraculous Poem, especially where the divine rapture is most exempt from capacity in grammarians merely, and grammatical critics, and where the inward sense or soul of the sacred Muse is only within eye-shot of a poetical spirit's inspection, (lest I be prejudiced with opinion, to dissent, of ignorance or singularity) I am bound by this brief comment to shew I understand how all other extants understand; my reasons, why I reject them, and how I receive my author. In which labour, if where all others find discords and dissonances, I prove him entirely harmonious and proportionate: if where they often alter and flee his original, I at all parts stand fast, and observe it: if where they mix their most pitiful castigations with his praises, I render him without touch and beyond admiration: (though truth in her very nakedness sits • The first seven books were originally printed by J. Windet, 1598. The whole Iliad and Odyssey, in 1614. Fol. See Cens. Lit. vi. 239. |