"Private remonstrances against abuses of this nature are worse than useless; they only serve to expose the complainant to the impertinence of underlings, and the jeers, if not the enmity, of the higher powers. The broad glare of publicity alone can scare the obscene birds from their feasts of peculation." Henry the Fourth, in February, 1401, terminated a quarrel between Sir Thomas de Erpingham and the Bishop of Norwich in the following manner. The king came to the parliament, where the bishop was in his place, and Sir Thomas sat between the Duke of York and the Earl of Warwick. After noticing the dispute, at the request of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the other bishops, abbots, and priors, Henry commanded Erpingham and the bishop to take each other by the hand, and to kiss each other; "on which the said archbishop rose from his seat in parliament, and took the bishop by the hand from his seat, and also took the said Sir Thomas by the hand, and there, in presence of the king and his lords, made them take each other by the hand, and kiss each other, in sign of perpetual love between them in all times to come."-Rolls of Parliament, vol. iii. pp. 456-7. NOTICES OF BOOKS LATELY PUBLISHED. Early Prose Romances, edited by William J. Thoms.-We notice with much satisfaction this reprint of the popular literature of our ancestors; and we sincerely hope that the undertaking may meet with the success which it deserves. It is not the mere antiquary who is gratified by being able to procure those romances which were once the mental recreation of society, and unquestionably form part of our national literature; but the general reader, who is possessed of the least curiosity, will gladly become acquainted with what may be termed the "Waverley Novels" of their day. Still more, who is there that is not anxious to peruse the sources of many of the nursery tales which amused our childhood, and on which we consequently reflect with feelings of affection? "Robin Hood and Little John," for instance, are names endeared to us by a thousand associations; and who can resist reading the history of their exploits? On the deductions which may be made from those "Romances," with respect to the manners of the times when they were written, and the evidence which they afford of the intellectual attainments of the age in which they were so highly appreciated, we have not now the opportunity to speak; but we are fully convinced that an attentive perusal of those pieces may be attended by far more important results than the amusement of an idle hour, for which however they are eminently calculated. Five have now appeared: "Robert the Devil;" " Virgilius ;" "Thomas of Reading;" and "Robin Hood:" and "George a Green;""Tom o' Lincoln;" ;""Dr. Faustus ;"" Knights of the Swan ;" "Gesta Romanorum;" "Friar Rush," &c., will follow. These works are neatly printed in 8vo., and are published in monthly numbers: thus, for a few shillings, a "Romance" may be obtained, which a short time ago many pounds would not have pro cured, even if it could have been purchased at any price; for some of them have been reprinted from unique originals. The Editor has done little besides giving an accurate text, and prefixing a few remarks, chiefly of a bibliographical nature; but his observations are always sensible, and he evidently brings to his task much information and zeal. Shall we be accused of absolute heresy if we suggest to Mr. Thoms, that he would have rendered the reprint infinitely more pleasing, if he had so far deviated from the originals as to have altered the u into v, and vice versa, a change, by the by, warranted by the strongest reasons; and what we are sure will weigh much more in his opinion, by the example of our profoundest black-letter antiquaries. To retain this absurdity borders much on foolish pedantry, and is seldom done in the present day by those whose taste and judgment are deserving of respect. It is not every person who will recognise "Robert the Devil," as "Robert the Deuyll;" or at once understand seuen, moued, &c., in a work abounding in obsolete words. Historical Index of the Principal Battles in England and Wales, 8vo. pp.32.-If this tract had been compiled from the best sources of information it would be a most useful companion to historical and antiquarian researches; but its value cannot be very great, when all the statements in it are derived from Rapin, Hume, and Goldsmith. The plan is not a bad one; and if the compiler will carefully revise his book, throw Rapin, Hume, and Goldsmith aside, and consult every writer contemporary with the respective periods, the " Fœdera" and other undoubted sources of information; if, after copying what is said respecting the date of each battle by the different authorities to which we allude, he will then examine conflicting assertions, and adopt those which he can prove to be correct, he will render a most acceptable service to antiquarian literature. At present we cannot rely upon his pages, because we do not place any confidence in either of the works from which they are taken. The editor's acquaintance with the names of the distinguished personages he mentions is sadly imperfect, for he often attributes a baptismal name to a man, which was, in fact, the surname of another person; and thus confounds two individuals with one; for example, p. 9, "Arundel Comyn," who were clearly separate persons, the one called Arundel, and the other Comyn; and we not unfrequently meet with names which never existed, as the Duke de Tany for Luke de Tany, p. 10. The use of such an Index is most stupidly lessened, by its omitting to notice those battles fought by the English in France, as Cressy, Poictiers, &c. But we have already bestowed too much attention on this tract, which, in its present form, is of no other use than as a sort of index to the volumes from which it was compiled. CREATIONS OF HONOURS, APPOINTMENTS, &c. . From the London Gazettes, from the 4th to the 18th September. September 4.-At the Court at Windsor, 3rd September, 1827, the Right Honourable William Huskisson was sworn one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State; and the Right Honourable Charles Grant was appointed President of the Council relating to Trade and Foreign Plantations. September 7-September 5, Letters Patent were directed to be passed appointing the Right Honourable Frederick John Viscount Goderich; the Right Honourable John Charles Herries; Francis Nathaniel Conyngham, Esquire, commonly called Earl of MountCharles; Edward Granville Eliot, Esquire, commonly called Lord Eliot; the Right Honourable Maurice Fitz-Gerald, and Edmund Alexander M'Naghten, Esquire, Commissioners of the Treasury. Also, for appointing the Right Honourable John Charles Herries Chancellor and Under Treasurer of the Exchequer. Also, for granting to the Right Honourable Charles Grant the Office of Treasurer of the Navy. September 3, James, Earl of Fife, and Francis, Earl of Moray, nominated Knights of the Thistle. September 18.--September 17, Robert Cotton St. John, Lord Clinton, appointed one of the Lords of His Majesty's Bedchamber, in the room of Lord Graves, resigned. September 17, Letters Patent were directed to be passed under the Great Seal granting the dignity of a Marquess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland unto the Right Honourable William Harry, Earl of Darlington, and the heirs male of his body, lawfully begotten, by the name, style, and title of Marquess of Cleveland*. * The noble Earl probably selected the title of " Cleveland" in consequence of his representing the extinct Dukes of Cleveland. King Charles the Second, on the 3rd August, 1670, created his mistress, Barbara Villiers, the daughter and heiress of William, second Viscount Grandison in Ireland, and wife of Roger Palmer, Earl of Castlemaine, Baroness Nonsuch, in the county of Surrey, Countess of Southampton, and Duchess of Cleveland, with remainder to two of her natural sons by the King, Charles Fitz Roy, and George Fitz Roy, who was created Duke of Northumberland in 1674, but died s. P., and to the heirs male of their bodies lawfully begotten, respectively. The Duchess died in 1709, and was succeeded by her eldest son, Charles, who had been before created Duke of Southampton. He had issue, three sons: William, his successor in his honours, Charles, and Henry, who both died s. P.; and three daughters, Barbara, who died unmarried; Grace; and Ann, who was the wife of Francis Paddy, Esquire, and had issue. Grace, the Duke's second daughter, married Henry, first Earl of September 17, a Congé d'Elire, ordered for the election of a Bishop of Carlisle, void by the death of Dr. Samuel Goodenough, late Bishop of that See: and his Majesty recommends the Honourable Doctor Hugh Percy, now bishop of Rochester, to be elected Bishop of the said See of Carlisle. Darlington; and on the death of her brother William, second and last Duke of Cleveland, s. P., in 1774, her son, Henry, second Earl of Darlington, the father of the present Marquess of Cleveland, became one of the representatives of that family. It is an extraordinary fact, that the attainder of the celebrated Sir Henry Vane should never have been reversed, though his son was created a Baron, his great-grandson a Viscount and Earl, and his great-great-great-grandson a Marquess. The only individual on whom the title of Cleveland has been conferred, besides Barbara Villiers and her descendants, was Thomas, fourth Lord Wentworth, who was created Earl of Cleveland in February, 1626; but it became extinct on his death, S. P. M., in 1667. * If any where, it would be expected that titles should be properly applied in the "London Gazette;" but even these official papers are not free from blunders. The title of "Honourable" ought never to precede that which is derived from a situation: thus, Dr. Percy's correct description is "Doctor the Honourable Hugh Percy;" for that prelate is not an "Honourable Doctor," though, as the son of an Earl, he is the Honourable Hugh Percy. Works in the Press or preparing for Publication. "No. XI. of the late Mr. C. STOTHARD'S Monumental Effigies, consisting of Plates faithfully etched by an able artist after his Original Drawings, is at length completed, and will be published by his Sister [query, widow] Mrs. BRAY, early in the ensuing Spring."-We are sincerely glad of this announcement, because we are anxious that one of the most beautiful and useful antiquarian works which have ever appeared in this country should be completed; and because we are spared the painful task of inserting some very severe, but just, remarks which have been sent to us by "A Subscriber," complaining of the delay which has occurred. We entreat those with whom the power rests to take care that this important publication be completed in a manner worthy of its lamented author, of whose great talents and indefatigable zeal it will form an imperishable monument. With the utmost respect for Mrs. Bray, we flatter ourselves we may be forgiven for expressing our hope that the words "published by" do not imply that that, or any other, lady purposes editing the remaining parts. Not one quarter of the letter-press has yet been supplied to the numbers which are published; and to do justice to the plates, antiquarian knowledge of a far higher degree is required than any which we can with truth attribute to the fair authoress in question. Our anxiety that so valuable a work may not be utterly ruined has alone prompted this ungallant remark. Nearly ready, a new edition of The Life of Sir Thomas More, Knight, by his Grandson, Cresacre More. Edited by the Rev. JOSEPH HUNTER, F.S.A. Historical Tablets and Medallions, illustrative of an improved System of Artificial Memory, for the more easy Remembrance of Remarkable Events and Dates, designed and arranged by J. H. TODD. Illustrations of Bedfordshire, grounded on LYSONS, with a more extensive and general reference to original authorities. |