164 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
 —ENo. 11. 
he saw many more as bad in a moment.”— Part 2. 
sect. 3. mem. 7. 
I am uncharitable enough to believe that Childe 
Harold owes far more to Burton, than to “ the 
unaccountable and incomprehensible power of 
association.” Metanion. 
BILLINGSGATE. 
I think your correspondent in No. 6. p. 93., 
starts on wrong premises; he seems to take for 
granted that such a structure as Belin’s Gate 
really existed. Now the story entirely rests on 
the assertion of Geoffrey of Monmouth. What 
amount of credit may be placed on that veracious 
and most unromantic historian, your correspondent 
doubtless knows better than myself. Geoffrey 
says, in the 10th chap. of the 3rd book, that Belin, 
among other great works, made a wonderful gate 
on the bank of the Thames, and built over it a 
large tower, and under it a wharf for ships; and 
when he died his body was burned, and his ashes 
put into a golden urn on the top of the tower. 
Stow seems to doubt it. In Strype’s edition, 
1720, he says, concerning this gate, “ Leaving out 
the fable thereof faming it to be builded by King 
Belin, a Briton, long before the incarnation of 
Christ.” Burton, writing 1722, mentions the 
legend, but adds, “ But whether of that antiquity 
is doubted.” And John Brydall, in 1676, men- 
tions it only as a wharf or quay for ships. Now, 
as Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Chronicle is generally 
allowed by critics to be but a mass of romance and 
monkish legends, built on a slight foundation of 
truth, we may suppose this account to partake of 
the general character of the rest of the work. 
That some circumstance gave rise to the name is 
not to be doubted. ‘“ Haply,” says Stow, “ some 
person of that name lived near.” J look on the 
name as only a corruption or romantic alteration 
of the word Baal or Bel; and, as we have every 
reason to suppose he was worshipped by part of 
the aborigines of this country, I deem it not im- 
probable that on or near this spot might once have 
existed a temple for his worship, which afterwards 
gave a name to the place. It is true Baal generally 
had his temples placed on the summit of lofty 
mountains or other eminences. But supposing a 
number of his votaries to have settled near London, 
and on the banks of the Thames, nothing would be 
more likely than, to obviate the natural lowness of 
the ground, they would raise a tower for the better 
celebration of the ceremonies attendant on his 
worship. This might have been the foundation 
upon which Geoffrey built his story. However, I 
only suggest this. The real origin of the name I 
am afraid is too far sunk in oblivion to hold out 
any hopes of its being rescued at the present day. 
Vox. 
If “ Wio1am Witriams” will examine the 
map of London in 1543, lately engraved from a 
drawing in the Bodleian Library, he will perceive 
the “ Water Gate,” about which he inquires, 
defended on the west side by a lofty hexagonal 
machicolated tower. C.S. 
NOTES FROM FLY-LEAVES, NO. 4. 
In order to forward your views as regards the 
valuable department of ‘ Notes from Fly-Leayes” 
I have spent some leisure hours in beating the 
covers of a portion of my library. Isend you the 
produce of my first day’s sport, which, you will ob- 
serve, has been in the fields of poetry. Make what 
use of it you think fit, selecting such notes only as 
you think of sufficient interest for publication. 
I. Note in the handwriting of Richard Farmer, 
in a copy of “ Canidia, or the Witches ; a Rhapsody 
in five parts, by R.D.” 4to. London, printed by 
S. Royeroft for Robert Clavell, 1683. 
“In Mr. Hutton’s Catale P. 65. N. 1552. this 
strange composition is ascribed to one Dixon, There 
was a Robert Dixon, an author about the time, and 
D.D. (Wood’s Fuasti, y, ii. p. 103.), but it surely must 
not be given to him! Qu.? This is the only copy I 
have seen, 1785.” 
[Lowndes has the work under the name of 
Robert Dixon, D.D.] 
II. Note in the handwriting of James Bindley, 
in a copy of an English translation of Milton’s 
“ Defensio pro Populo Anglicano,” printed in the 
year 1692. 
“ Translated into English by Richard Washington, 
Esq., of the Middle Temple.” 
On another page, however, he has written, 
“ Mem. in a miscellany called ‘ Poems on Affairs of 
State,’ 8vo. 5th edit. 1703, at page 223. ‘In memory of 
Joseph Washington, Esq., late of the Middle Temple, 
an elegy written by N. Tate, Servant to their Majes- 
ties.’ Though Mr. Warton calls him Richard, his 
name was, I believe, as above, and the translator most 
likely of this book.—J. B.” 
To this is added, in the handwriting of the late 
Mr. Ford, bookseller, formerly of Manchester — 
“ The note on the opposite side, signed J. B., stands 
for James Bindley, who may be considered as good 
authority for what is here asserted. Some curious in- 
formation will be found relative to the original work in 
‘ Diction. des Livres Condamnés,’ &e., par Peignot, 
tom. ii. p. 319.” 
III. Note in the handwriting of Mr. Ford, ina 
copy of Fletcher’s “ Purple Island,” &c. 1633. 
“ See the lines at the end by Francis Quarles, which 
are ingenious and poetical. This curious and very rare 
volume I purchased out of Longman’s celebrated eata- 
logue of old English poetry, called ‘ Bib. Ang. Poet.,’ 
where it will be found marked £2 12s. 6d., which is 
what it cost me. Mr. Montgomery, the poet, styles 
