Nov. 6. 1852.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



43J 



of a parish, before he shall be permitted to use and 

 enjoy such library, shall give security for the preserva- 

 tion and due observation of tlic rule, &c. 



•' XI. That nothing in this Act shall extend to a 

 public library lately erected at lleigate for the use of 

 the freeholders, vicar, and inhabitants of the parish, and 

 of the gentlemen and clergymen inhabiting in parts 

 thereto adjacent, which library was constituted in an- 

 other manner than the libraries provided for by this 

 Act." 



In 1737, the Rev. Chas. Aldrich left by will all 

 his study of books to the rectory of Henley, being 

 desirous to lay the foundation of a parochial 

 library. 



A memorandum, dated 1777, and signed Thos. 

 Randolph, archdeacon, says "the said study of 

 books being now surrendered into the hands of 

 the churchwardens, to be deposited in the vestry 

 of the parish church, which from henceforward is 

 designed to constitute the parochial library, we 

 being visitors appointed by the statute of 7 Anne, 

 c. 14. do direct as follows, viz., the rules following: 

 among them, All the parishioners who are liable 

 to be charged with the payment of church rates 

 are to be allowed the use of the library. Any of 

 the clergy and inhabitants of the neighbouring 

 parish to have the like privilege." 



Query : In what several places in England were 

 these parochial libraries formed, alluded to in the 

 Act ; have any more been formed ; are they wholly 

 confined to the use and custody of the incumbent, 

 rector, &c., or by any other regulation, such as 

 Randolph's, with the above-named gift of Aldrich, 

 viz., ])laced under the care of the churchwardens, 

 and the privilege of the use of the books extended 

 to all paying parishioners, and to the clergy and 

 inhabitants of the neighbourhood ? J. W. R. 



" THE HISTORY OF POMPEY THK LITTLE. 



The first edition of Coventry's satirical work, 

 The History of Pompey the Little, appeared in 

 1751. The fifth edition was published in 1773, 

 several years after the decease of the author, 

 which occurred in 1759. 



The variations in these two editions are far too 

 numerous to be pointed out in these pages. Not 

 only passages, but whole chapters, which appear in 

 the one, are omitted in the other. Some charac- 

 ters are redrawn, and in the latter edition fresh 

 ones are introduced. Whitfield is mentioned by 

 name, and his followers and those of Wesley are, 

 as matter of course in the novels of those days, 

 held up to ridicule. One chapter is entitled, " A 

 Stroke at the Methodists." 



As we know that the author "well painted" 

 (according to Lady M. W. Montagu) Lady 

 Tovvnshend and Lady Oxford in the characters of 

 Lady Tempest and Lady Sophister, it is possible 

 that every character that is introduced may be a 



portrait. Allow me to ask any of your readers who 

 may possess the second, third, and fourth editions, 

 whether such variations as those I have alluded 

 to appear in them, and what may be the dates of 

 those editions? Copies of the work, annotated, 

 doubtless exist, from which some curious informa- 

 tion may be gathered. If the subject be regarded 

 as scarcely worth attention, I would in defence 

 atrain quote the clear reason I have named. Lady 

 Mary tells Lady Bute that Pompey diverted her 

 more tlian Peregrine PicJde, or any other of the 

 books she had then sent to her. 



" It was impossible to go to bed till it was finished. 

 It is a real and exact representation of life, as it is now 

 acted in London, as it was in my time, and as it v/ill 

 be (I do not doubt) a hundred years hence, with some 

 little variation of dress." 



This letter is dated 1752. J. H. M. 



PUNEBAL CUSTOM IN THE MIDDLE AGES. 



The custom of persons causing their bodies 

 after death to be dismembered for the purpose of 

 having parts of them buried in a church under the 

 patronage of some favourite saint, or out of love 

 to the place itself, seems to have been far from 

 uncommon during the Middle Ages, and instances 

 of it have occurred in comparatively recent times. 

 I wish to know whether a monument was usually 

 erected over the burial-place of the heart, or other 

 portion of this " earthly tabernacle," when sepa- 

 rated from the rest of the body. I am aware of 

 one instance, that of Richard I., who, as we are 

 informed by Hardyng, having taken " Caluce" and 

 slain all without mercy : 

 " He shrove him then vnto abbots three, 



With greate sobbyng and bye contricion, 

 And weepy ng teares, that pitee was to see, 



Mekely asking penaunce and absolucion. 



He quethed his corpse then to bee buried 

 At Fount Euerard, there at hys father's feete, i 



His herte inuyncyble to Roan he sent full mete. 

 For their greate truth and stedfast greate constaunce, 

 His bowelles lose to Poytou for deceyuaence." 



The "herte inuyncyble" was, as is well known, 

 discovered in the cathedral of Rouen with the 

 mutilated effigy which had once marked its place 

 of rest. But over the " bowelles," which he be- 

 queathed to Poitou, there is I believe no monu- 

 ment, nor can I find record of there ever having 

 been one. I should be obliged to any one who 

 would inform me if such ever existed. 



Edward Peacock, Jun. 



