ΑΝΟΝΥΜΙΑΝΑ.

CENTURIA PRIMA.

1.

THE Author whom Shakspeare chiefly follows in his Historical Plays is Hall the Chronicler. The character Bishop Nicolson, in the Historical Library, gives of this writer, is this: "If the Reader desires to know what sort of cloaths were worn in each king's reign, and how the fashions altered, this is an Historian for his purpose."-I am sure he is a very difficult author; neither do I think his descriptions can be understood by any but a Court-taylor, or an Upholsterer, if by them. However, this is not a just character of Hall, who was a good writer for his time, a competent scholar, and has been much used by some later authors, as Shakspeare, Mirrour of Magistrates, &c.

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II.

It is noted in the Menagiana, that the surname of Devil has been borne by several persons. (See Dr. Tovey, p. 14).-On the other hand, there is a person of the name of God mentioned in Hall's Chronicle.-A lady called Dea; Misson, vol. I. p. 291.

III.

The Crane was an usual dish in grand entertainments about the time of Henry VIII. (Hall's Chronicle, f. 165; Strype's Memoirs of Archbishop Cranmer, p. 452; Somner's Appendix, p. 29; Skelton, p. 185,

"How some of you do eat

In Lenton season flesh meat,

Fesaunte, Partriche, and Cranes.")

It is usual in Italy, where they take them (Boccacio, Decameron, IV. 4.)—I cannot imagine whence our ancestors procured them: it is obvious to suppose they were nothing but Herons; but that was not the case, for Herons are mentioned at the same time in Somner. They were in use also in the time of William the Conqueror (Dugd. Baron. vol. I. p. 109.)-Eaten, and different from the Heron; Ames, p. 90.

IV.

It is the custom abroad for the Cadets of great families to retain the title of their father: the

sons of Counts are all Counts, &c.

Richard de

la Pole, brother of Edmond de la Pole, and son of John de la Pole, Dukes of Suffolk, fled with his brother into Flanders in the time of Henry VII. The Duke, his brother, was sent into England, and beheaded in the year 1513. Richard continued abroad; and I have seen, in the valuable collection of Thomas Barrett, Esq. of Lee, in Kent, an instrument signed Ri: Suffolke, 1507, which can be accounted for no otherwise than by supposing this Richard to use the title of the family whilst abroad, his brother the Duke being then living. This Richard was afterwards slain at the battle of Payia. See Sandford's Genealogical History of England, p. 401; and Brook, p. 211.

V.

Charles Brandon, the great favourite of Henry VIII. was advanced to the title of Viscount L'Isle 5 Henry VIII.: this was May 15; and upon Feb. 1 following he was raised to the dignity of Duke of Suffolk. See Dugdale, vol. III. p. 299.-He afterwards, to wit, April 20, 14 Henry VIII. surrendered up the title of L'Isle; so, Sandford, p. 448: and April 26, 15 Henry VIII, Arthur Plantagenet, natural son of King Edward IV. was created Viscount L'Isle. I look upon it to be a very uncommon thing for a Nobleman to relinquish a title, and

presume there are very few instances of it: but see Dugdale's Baronage, vol. I. p. 282.

VI.

The English word to whisper is a mere technical word, and intended to express the sound. The same may be said of the Latin superro, and the French chuchuter, both of which represent the action.

VII.

Surnames of this orthography Gill are some pronounced with G hard, and some with G soft; which is all owing to the different etymon; Gill in the first case being the short name for Gilbert, and in the other of Julian and Juliana, or Gyllian...

VIII.

Upon reviewing a place after an absence of some time, the several actions which formerly have passed there are wont to occur to the mind. The Philosophers term this an association of ideas,--a name invented by the Moderns. The observation, however, that the sight of places would often revive the remembrance of certain passages in life did not escape the Antients; for thus Ovid,

"Ante oculos urbisque domus, et forma locorum est;

Succeduntque suis singula facta locis."

De Tristib. III. 4. 57.

And long before Ovid we have this observation of the great Philosopher Aristotle, áváμnow, dp' ὁμοία, ἢ ἐναντία, ἢ τὸ σύνεγυς, γίνεσθαι. Recordationem, aliqua re simili, aut contrariú, aut vicina, excitari.

† tö

IX.

Limina Apostolorum is an expression frequently used by Latin writers for the Court or Church of Rome, alluding to the Founders of that Church St. Peter and St. Paul. (See Ingulphus, p. 2; Matth. Westm. p. 132; Eddius, p. 41; Beda vit. Benedicti Biscop. p. 293. Et recte puto Mabillonius, p. 300, inseri vult ad Limina; for see p. 301, 302. Beda, p. 139, 187, 188. alibi.)-It occurs particularly in the oath of obedience to that See taken by our Prelates before the Reformation. Hall the Chronicler has given us a translation of that oath; and when he comes to those words, he has it, The Lightes of the Apostles I shall visite yerely personally. Hall, f. 205, b.—(N. B. Fox, Martyr. vol. II. p. 333, has the same error; probably from Hall; but vol. I. p. 298, he has it right, interpreting it the Palace.) From whence it appears that his copy was either corrupt in that place, or that he was himself so heedless as to read Lumina for Limina

X.

It is said the Peers sit in the House in right of their Baronies: but this cannot be true; for