•28 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[No. 220. 



arises from a mistake, in ascribing to the gaucherie 

 of individuals what is really the observance of a 

 very ancient custom. The following extract, from 

 an unpublished MS. of the middle (I think) of 

 the seventeenth century, in which the custom is 

 incidentally noticed, will serve for a conflrmation 

 of what I say : 



"When I was regent,' the whole house of congre- 

 gation joyned together in a petition to the Earle of 

 Pembroke to restore unto us the jus pileorum, the 

 licence of putting on our cappes at our publicke meet- 

 ings; which priviledge time and the tyrannie of our 

 vicechancellours had taken from us. Amongst other 

 motives, we use the solemne forme of creating a M r in 

 the Acte by putting on his cappe, and that that signe 

 of libertie might distinguish us which were the Regents 

 from those boyes which wee were to governe, which 

 request he graciouslie granted." 



This was written by an M.A. of Oxford. At 

 •Cambridge we have not hitherto had such haughty 

 despots in authority, to trample upon our rights ; 

 but we seem to be in danger of losing out jus pile- 

 orum through " the tyrannie," not of our Vice- 

 Chancellors, but "of those boyes which wee are 

 to governe." A Regent M.A. of Cambridge. 



Lincoln's Inn. 



letters of eminent literary men. 



(Continued from p. 8.) 



IV. 



Dr. John Ward, Professor of Grcsham College, to 

 Dr. Cari/, Bishop of Clonfert. 



[MS. Donat., Brit. Mus., 6226, p. 16.] 



My Lord, 



While there was any expectation of your Lord- 

 ship's speedy return to England, I forbore to con- 

 gratulate you on your late promotion. For though 

 none of your friends could more truly rejoice at 

 this news than I did, both on your own account, 

 and that of the public ; yet in the number of com- 

 pliments which I was sensible you must receive on 

 that occasion, I chose rather to be silent for fear 

 of being troublesome. But as I find it is now 

 uncertain, when your affairs may permit of your 

 return hither, I could not omit this opportunity 

 by your good Lady to express my hearty congra- 

 tulation upon the due regard shown by the Govern- 

 ment to your j.ust merit ; and shall think it an 

 honour to be continued in your esteem as ultimus 

 amicorum. 



I. doubt not but your Lordship has seen Mr. 

 Horsley's Britannia Romano advertised in some of 

 our public Papers ; but I know not whether you 

 have heard that the author died soon after he had 

 finished the work, before its publication. When it 

 was hoped that the credit of this book might have 

 been of some service to him and his large family, 



he was suddenly and unexpectedly taken off by 

 an Apoplexy. Such is the uncertainty of all 

 human affairs. That your Lordship may be long 

 preserved in your high station for the good of the 

 Protestant Religion, and the support of public 

 liberty, are the sincere wishes of, 



My Lord, 

 Your Lordship's obed' Serv*. 



John Ward. 

 Greshnm College, 

 April 24, 1732. 



Mr. Michael Mattaire to the Earl of Oxford. 



1736, Oct. 21. Orange Street. 

 My Lord, 



After my most humble thanks for the continu- 

 ation of Westminster Elections' you was so kind 

 as to give me, I must acquit myself of my promise ; 

 and therefore I herewith send your Lordship a 

 copy transcrib'd exactly from the MS. given me 

 by Dr. South himself of his verses upon West- 

 minster School, with his name, and the year sub- 

 scribed at bottom. They were indeed publish'd 

 among his Opera Posthuma Latina Anon. 1717, by 

 Curl, after his impudent way of dealing with dead 

 authors' works ; and sometimes also with those of 

 the living. 



Curl's printed copy differs from the MS. in these 

 following places : 



Vers. 



Your Lordship by this may see how much this 

 sawcy fellow has abused this learned man's fine 

 copy of verses ; and how justly he deserved the 

 correction which was inflicted on him at that 

 school. 



By the tenth Distich it appears that the School 

 (containing then Tercentum juvenes) was managed 

 by three Masters onely : and, for aught we know, 

 might flourish pretty well, though it had not twice 

 that number. 



Give me leave, my Lord, to subscribe myself 

 with profound respect, 



Your Honor's 



most oblig'd, most obedient, 

 and most humble Serv*. 



M. Maittaire. 



"IK INCLYTAM SCHOLAM REGIAM WESTMONASTERIENSEM. 



Reginne fundata manu, Regina scholarum ; 

 Quam Virgo extruxit, Musaq; Virgo colit. 



