2-1 S. X. July 14. '60.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



21 



LONDON, SATURDAY, JULY U. 18G0. 



N». 237.— CONTENTS. 



NOTES: — Specimen of the State of Shaksperean Biblio- 

 graphy, 21 — Charles Marshall not the Inventor of the 

 Electric Telegraph, 22 — Strange Passage in the History 

 of the Duke of Buckingham, 23 — Feudal Homage of the 

 Steward of Scotland to the King of England, 24. 



MiNOE Notes : — The Dog of Montargis — Ordination Fees 

 — A Note on Cairns — French PuKzles — Population of our 

 Chief Cities and Towns at the latter Part of the 18th 

 Century, 25. 



QUERIES : — Nisbet's Caesar's Dialogue : God and the 

 King, 26 — Richard, Seventh Earl of Anglesey, 27 — Irish 

 Knights — Antrobus — Stewart, Earl of Orkney — Miss 



Parsons and D . — Simon Paap, the Dutch Dwarf — 



John Greenhalgh — The Fruit of the Forbidden Tree Poi- 

 sonous — Amsterdam Theatre burnt — " A Collectioner : " 

 ■what?,— Babylon —Miss Edwards — The Father Rector 

 at Burells — Charles II.— Cam^jbell of Dunstaflfnage — 

 "The Sprig of Shillelah " — Thomas Bedwell — Carletou 

 and Chamberlain, 27. 



Queries -with Answeks : — " Pallas Anglicana " — Rev. 

 Charles Jenner — Portrait of Colonel Barr6 — Sir John 

 Perring, 30. 



REPLIES :— Scotish Ballad Controversy, 30 — Manuscript 

 Key to Beloe's Sexagenarian, 33 — Country Tavern Signs, 

 34 — Poor Belle — The Judges' Black Cap — Olivers and 

 Helmsley — Manifold Writers — Tap Dressing — Notes 

 on Bugs — Armorial Bearings — Storm Glass — Domesday 

 Book— "King's Prerogative in Impositions" — Whistle 

 Tankards — Bandle Cotgrave— Army and Navy, &c., 37. 



Notes on Books. 



SPECIMEN OF THE STATE OF SHAKSPEREAN 

 BIBLIOGRAPHY. 



A query has been made as to the state of Shak- 

 sperean bibliography^ and it still awaits an answer 

 — in lieu of which, as it would open a wide field 

 of discussion, I produce this short note. 



When we reflect on the incomparable celebrity 

 of our dramatist, on the number of his editors and 

 annotators, and on the efforts of successive col- 

 lectors of book-rarities, we are apt to rely on the 

 bibliographic statements of former writers, and 

 to doubt if any further particulars of that de- 

 scription are in reserve for fresh inquirers. 



But, as Bacon says, " the opinion of plenty is 

 amongst the causes of want," and the remark is 

 not inapplicable to this question. We have been 

 over-awed by the fame of Steevens, of Reed, of 

 Malone, etc. Now, they were as far from being 

 faultless as were many of their contemporaries, 

 and I protest — not in pride, but as a warning 

 and an encouragement to others — that I scarcely 

 ever scrutinise a subject without finding scope for 

 criticism, either as to facts or inferences. I am 

 pei'suaded, therefore, that a studious re-examina- 

 tion of the early editions of the works of Shak- 

 spere would lead to the correction of many errors 

 and oversights. 



I promise no more than a specimen, and make 



choice of two of the most admired plays — The 

 comical history of the merchant of Venice, and The 

 tragedy of Macbeth. 



In 1765 Johnson printed a list of the early 

 quarto editions of the plays, which had been given 

 to him by Mr. Steevens. We therein read — 



" 1. Merchant of Venice,- William Shakespeare, IGOQ, 

 J. K. [K.] for Thomas Heyes. 



2. Do. W. Shakespeare, IGOO, T. [J.] Roberts. 



3. Do. William Shakespeare, 1637, M.P. for Laurence 



Hayes. 

 *4. Do. William Shakespeare, 1652, for William I^ake. 

 The asterisk prefixed to No. 4. indicates that the edi- 

 tion was ' in no former tables.' " 



This list was re-edited by Steevens in 1766, 

 and in 1793 ; also by Reed in 1803. Its correct- 

 ness shall be tested. I contend that the edition 

 printed by J. Roberts was the first, and am sure 

 that the asserted edition of 1652 is a non-entity. 

 In support of these arguments I must give the 

 titles of the two editions of 1600. Of the others 

 it may be sufficient to speak narratively. 



"The excellent history of the merchant of Venice. 

 With the extreme cruelty of Shylocke the lew towards 

 the saide merchant, in cutting a lust pound of his flesh. 

 And the obtaining of Portia, by the choyse of three 

 caskets. Written by W. Shakespeare. Printed by J. 

 Roberts, 1600." 4". A— K in fours. 



" The most excellent historie of the merchant of Venice. 

 With the extreame crueltie of Shylocke the lewe towards 

 the sayd merchant, in cutting a iust pound of his flesh ; 

 and the obtayning of Portia by the choyse of three chests. 

 As it hath beene diners times acted by the lord chamber- 

 laine his seruants. Written by William Shakespeare. 

 At London, printed by I. R. for Thomas Heyes, and are 

 to be sold in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the 

 Greene Dragon. 1600." i.". A — I in fours ; K two leaves. 



The identity of J. Roberts and I. R. is proved 

 by the device at the end of the two editions. — 

 Now, I believe the edition printed by J. Roberts 

 to be the editiq princeps, 1. Because it was en- 

 tered for publication in 1598 : the other edition 

 was not entered till 28 Oct. 1600. 2. Because 

 the title is more brief — and it seems improbable 

 tha* a full title should be reduced. 3. Because 

 in cases of dispute arising out of rival claims to 

 publication it was custon)ary to require the second 

 claimant to employ the first as the printer of the 

 book in question : so we see it above. Herbert 

 mentions a siijiilar case with regard to the same 

 printer. 



Roberts seems to have been connected with the 

 theatres, as be held the copyright of the bills for 

 players, but Hayes succeeded in establishing his 

 claim to The merchant of Venice, and the editor of 

 the folio of 1623 adopted his text. 



The reported edition of 1652 I can soon de- 

 molish. — I have the edition of 1637, and the said 

 reported edition of 1652. The former was printed 

 by M. P. for Laurence Hayes, and the latter is 

 said to be printed for William Leake. The leaf 

 A 4 being loose, I suspected a trick of the trade, 

 and so it proved. Master Leake had cancelled 



