84 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[2nd g. No 83., Aug. 1. '57. 



when we consider the expenses attending such publica- 

 tion, the Society may well pause before pledging itself 

 upon that point — yet, as a security that the labour be- 

 «towed shall not be thrown awa^', or the accumulated 

 materials be wasted, it would be well that the Society 

 should declare that, in the event of its not being found 

 practicable to print the results of this inquiry, the MSS. 

 should be deposited in some place where they might be 

 safely preserved and hereafter made use of; and it is 

 obvious, that the British Museum is the fitting place for 

 that purpose. 



We had intended to have thrown out some few other 

 suggestions, especially on the subject of works to be 

 examined, but the space we have occupied warns us to 

 bring these remarks to a close. We will therefore con- 

 tent ourselves, for the present, with hinting that old 

 Caxton will repay perusal ; that in the early Statutes 

 will be found many words, and names of articles, not to 

 be met with elsewhere; and that Drayton, the fellow 

 county-man of Shakspeare, has not as yet, we believe, 

 been thoroughly examined for his language. 



We have made these suggestions in the most friendly 

 spirit. We believe the work proposed may readily be 

 accomplished; and we hope ere long to be able to re- 

 port that it is progressing to the satisfaction of the 

 Society, as well as of all who are interested in our noble 

 Mother Tongue. 



Hatti, 



HENRY FIT2-ALAN EARL OP ARUNDEL, ANB 

 THOMAS YAUTBOLLIKB. 



It may be an interesting fact to the lovers of 

 biography if it can be proved that Henry Fitz- 

 Alan earl of Arundel was the earliest patron of the 

 learned and skilful printer Thomas Vautrollier. 

 It must be a novel fact to the majority, for the 

 proof exists only in the dedication of a volume 

 •which cannot be otherwise than rare. It escaped 

 the researches of Ames ; and Herbert refers only 

 to one copy, which was in the curious collection 

 of Mr. Alexander Dalrymple. 



The volume is entitled A booke containing divers 

 sortes of hands, as well the English as French 

 secretarie, etc. It was the first work printed by 

 Vautrollier, and bears date anno 1570. The de- 

 dication is as follows : 



" ILLVSTRISSIMO COMItl 

 DOMINO ARONDELIO, DOMINO 



suo obseruantissimo Thomas Vatro* 



lerus Typographus 



S. D. 



Parata nunc primum apud me in hac florentissima ciui- 

 tate Londinensi quadam typographia typis nouis, qute 

 bonorum iudicio vtilissima lieipub. futura est, non video 

 cui par sit eius primitias potissimum consecrare, qukm 

 tibi. Enimuero tu mihi, iam inde ex quo in hoc amplis- 

 simum Regnum relicta patria migraui, multos annos cle- 

 mens fuisti dominus : tu mihi patronus es. Tibi igitur 



iure Optimo primos operis huius mei fructus offero, quos 

 vt tua innata animo humanitate accipias, & me in clien- 

 telam semel admissum vsque retineas, humillime rogo. 

 Vale, Londini, in nostra typographia apud Carmelitas, 

 quarto Kalendas lanuarias. Anno k partu Virginis, 1569. 

 " Tuffl celsitudinis humillimus servus 



" Thomas Vateolkrus. 



Relying on memory, I venture to add that Dug- 

 dale gives no information on the above-named in- 

 stance of judicious patronage, and that Lodge 

 fails to remedy the deficiency. I have therefore 

 transcribed the document, from a copy of the 

 work in my own possession, for the instruction of 

 kings of arms, heralds, and poursuivants, and the 

 patient chroniclers of English typographers and 

 their productions. Bolton Cornet. 



Fontainebleau. 



WELLS ELECTIONS IN THE OLDEN TIMES. 



[The following letters from the Sheriff of Somerset, and 

 Queen Elizabeth's Privy Council, to the Mayor and 

 Burgesses of Wells (Somerset), which are preserved in 

 the Corporation records, contain advice which even in 

 our own time would not be inapplicable to many of the 

 smaller constituencies. It will moreover furnish a plea- 

 sant supplement to the amusing article on the subject 

 of Elections in the new Number of The Quarterly i?e- 

 view. ] 



Littera Missa p^ Hugow Powlett. — After my 

 harty comendacons I sende you herein inclos'd a 

 transcript of the Queen's Mag" Councell's Letter 

 directed unto me and Syr Morres Barkeley, now- 

 being owt of the Country, for sume consernes to 

 bee had with yow amongst wotbers, touchinge 

 the election of meete and discreete Burgesses to 

 serve at this Parliament for youre Burrowe of 

 Welles, wherein my advyce and earnest request 

 unto youe in Her Hignes' name shal bee to take 

 suche goode regard thereunto as the Burgesses 

 soe to be nowe chosen by youe bee men soe well 

 qualyfyed to all respects appertayninge as maye 

 satisfye the expectacon of Her Mag*'* att your 

 hands in thys sayde behalfe ; Wherefore I doe 

 advyse and admonyshe youe herebye, as well to 

 my discharge as for youre avoydinge of suche 

 dyspleasure as may otherwyse growe towardes 

 youe. And soe fare youe well. Wryten on the 

 iij** of March, 1570. 



Your lovinge freende, 



Hugh Powlett. 

 The QueeiCs Councits Letter. 

 After our harty comendacons, whereas the 

 Queene's Mag*'* hath determyned for dyvers ne- 

 cessarye greate Causes concerninge the state of 

 the Realme, to have a Parliament holden att 

 Westmin' thys nexte Aprill, And for that pur- 

 pose her Maje*'" writtes are directed to the She- 

 rife of everye Shere, to cause pclamacon thereof to 

 be made, soe as there maye be Knyghtes chosen 

 in every Shere, and Cityzena and Burgesses in 

 everye Cittye and Burroughe, accordynge to the 



