-1809.] Extracts from the Portfolio of a Man of Letters. 558 
first asserted by Martin Polonus. Her 
story is, that she was the daughter,of one 
John English, of Mentz, and travelled 
with her lover in man’s apparel to Athens, 
where she becaine incomparably learned ; 
and was unanimously on that account 
elected Pope: but being with child by 
her servant, and not keeping a good reck- 
oning, was taken in labour, on her way 
from St. Peter’s to the Lateran, and there 
died. This, the papists say, is a fable. 
The authors, who assert her existence, 
are Platina in Joh. 8. Sabellicus Enead. 
© 9. Loi. Chalcoundylas, L. 6. Mart. Po- 
Scotus, who lived about 1028; Sigebert 
Gemblacensis,who lived about 1100. Mart. 
Polonus, who lived about 1520. Buirsius 
Textor, Antoninus Archbishop of Flo- 
rence, Volaterranus, Nauclerus, ‘Carion, 
and hosts of others. Bishop Jewell, 
thinks that she might have been taken 
before her time; and Cope, alias Harps- 
field, a writer of Louvaine, gravely pub- 
lished a work, iv which he makes ber an 
herniaphrodite, &c. What he says, if the 
Pope ‘were an hermaphroditus, an her- 
kinalson, that is to say, a man and 
woman both in one? But having stll 
a doubt upon the subject, he pro- 
poses another query; what if the Pope 
being first a man, were atterwards 
changed into a woman? Upon which he 
quotes Oyid’s Metamorphoses, as a se- 
rious authority, and gives the following 
anecdote: “ A certaine woman, named 
Zimylia, married unto one Antonius 
Spensa, a citizen of Ebulum, ten years 
alter she was married was turned into a 
man, I have likewise read, says he, of 
another woman, that when she had been 
brouglite a bed, afterward became aman.” 
CELIBACY OF THE CLERGY. 
In 1565, by asurvey taken, there were 
found at Rome only twenty-eight thou- 
sand women, who lived by prostitution : 
some of whom were distinguished by ri- 
ding on mules, others by living in good 
houses. 
THOMAS OF VALOIS. 
This was a commentator upon Au- 
gustin. de Civitate Dei. He translated 
Apex, the cap of the Flamen Dhialis, by 
making of it,an Historian or Chronicler. 
PETER CRINITUS—-CODRUS URCEUS. 
These two divines translated the Greek 
Aeyxos aspear, in St. John’s Gospel, (19) 
by Longinus, a blind knight. 
- CHARADE, 
My first isa God; my second isa man; 
y third is aspirit; and yet Lam not 
the trinity. 
- The answer is the word, ammoniack, 
OnruLty Mac. No, 179, 
EXTRACT OF A RECENT LETTER FROM 
MADRID. 
The Spanish theatre still retains many 
of those mysteries, which founded the 
dramatic art in modern Europe. Sas 
profectas de Daniel, form at present @ 
favourite spectacle ; and certainly fio snb= 
ject can be better adopted for combine 
ing a splendid variety ot pageantry in one 
or atio, or sacred opera., The jubilee of 
advration to the golden colossus of Belg 
the flaming auto da fe for the refractory 
holy children; the veluptuous dances ex- 
hibited during the meal of Belshazzar; 
the sacrilegious use of the chalices from 
Jerusalem; the sudden wrath of heaven, 
the gloom, the thunder, the shadowy 
hand-writing.on the wall in charactdrs of 
lund fire; and the armed irruption of tha 
besicgers to renew a scene of purer tri- 
umph, form a series of picturesque mag- 
uificence, which you would enjoy to see. _ 
repeated some Sunday evening at Drury= 
Jane. To the popularity of this play, 
may especially be ascribed the continual 
allusions of the Spanish patriotic writers, 
to the seizure and profanation of sacras 
mental chalices by the French. 5 
Another new and very singular drama, 
opens with Buonaparte, who soliloquizes 
about Spain. Allegorical demons stand 
watching around, and when le has con- 
fessed the whole atrocity of his purposes, 
they seize and carry him off in a fiery car, 
to the place of torment. Next appears 
Ferdinand VII. a ballet of angels listen 
to his promises of virtuous sway, and 
crown him during their dance, with 
wreaths of victory. Finally appears 
King George the III. who declares his 
horror for the tyrant, his affection for the 
virtuous and native monarch, and who is’ 
entertained by Santiago and the Virgin 
Mary, or by figures representing the ge- 
nius of Spain, and the genius of christi- 
anity, with a performance in full chorus, 
of our God save the King. How popular 
we heretics are become within the very 
precincts of the mother charch! 
HARDING. 
This was another famous translator of 
Latin, as appears by a passage of Tere 
tullian, which he quotes in his controver- 
sies. Illum Panem, the Sacramental 
bread, he renders Him. 
AMEN, 
In ancient time, was sounded by the 
whole congregation, ; 
FEUDAL CLAIMS. 
In the end of the 14th century, the 
eelebrated, but long since destroyed utos 
45 nastery 
al 
