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No. 26.] SaTuRDAY, APRIL 27. 1850. 
CONTENTS. Page 
Notes : — 
Nicholas Breton, by the Rev. T. Corser - - - 409 
Notes upon_Cunningham’s London, by E. F. Rimbault, 
LL.D. - - - - - - - 410 
Notes on the Dodo, by H. E. Strickland - - - 410 
Derivation of “ Sterling’ and ‘‘ Penny” - - - 4i1 
Hanno’s Periplus, by S. W. Singer - - - 412 
Folk Lore :—Cook-eels—Divination by Bible and Key— 
Weather Proverb - - - 412 
Bibliographical Notes, by E. F. Rimbault, LL.D. - 48 
Pope, Petronius, and his Translators, by-A. Rich, Jun. 414 
QUERIES : — 
When were Umbrellas introduced into England? by 
E. F. Rimbault, LL.D. - - - - - 414 
Minor Queries : — Duke of Marlborough —“ M. or N.”"— 
Song of the Bees — William Godwin — Regimental 
Badges — Mother of Thomas a Becket — Swords worn 
in Public— Emblem and National Motto of Ireland— 
Latin Distich — Verbum Grecum — Pope Felix — 
** Where England’s Monarch” - - 415 
REPLiEs : — 
Gray’s Alcaic Ode - - 416 
Replies to Minor Queries : — Chapels — Beaver — Poins 
and Bardolph —God tempers the Wind — Sterne’s 
Koran — Lollius — Bishop Ryder — Brown Study — 
Seven Champions—Tempora mutantur, &c. — Vox 
Populi Vox Dei— Cuckoo —Ancient Tiles— Daysman 
— Safeguard — Finkel — Gourders of Rain — Urbanus 
Regius — Horns — The or A Temple— Ecclesiasticak 
Year — Paying through the Nose— Quem Deus — 
Shrew — Zenobia — Cromwell’s Estates — Vox et pr2- 
terea Nihil—Law of Horses—Christ’s Hospital — 
Tickhill, God help me! - - - - - Al7 
MISCELLANIES : — 
MSS. of Casaubon—Latin Epigram —‘“‘ Nec pluribus 
impar’’—Close Translation—St. Antholin’s Parish 
Books - - - - - - - 422 
MisceLLANgous : — 
Notes on Books, Sales, Catalogues, &c. ~- - - 423 
Books and Odd Volumes wanted - - - - 423 
Notices to Correspondents - - - = 423 
NICHOLAS BRETON. 
Like Mr. Corrier (No. 23. p. 364.), I have for 
age years felt “a peculiar interest about Nicho- 
las Breton,” and an anxious desire to learn some- 
thing more of him, not only from being a sincere 
lover of many of his beautiful lyrical and pastoral 
ms, as exhibited in England's Helicon, Davi- 
son's Poetical Rhapsodie, and other numerous works 
of his own, and from possessing several pieces of | 
his which are not generally known, but also from 
my intimate connection with the parish in which 
he is supposed to have lived and died. From this 
latter circumstance especially, I had been most 
anxious to connect his name with Norton, and 
have frequently cast a reverential and thoughtful 
eye on the simple monument which has been sup- 
posed to record his name; hoping, yet not without 
doubts, that some evidence would still be found 
which would prove it to be really that of the poet. 
It was therefore with the utmost pleasure that I 
read Mr. Collier’s concluding paragraph, that he is. 
“in possession of undoubted proof that he was the 
Nicholas Breton whose epitaph is on the chancel- 
wall of the church of Norton in Northamp- 
tonshire.” 
It seems strange that, notwithstanding the num-. 
ber and variety of his writings, the length of time 
he was before the public, and the estimation in 
which he was held by his contemporaries, so little. 
should be known concerning Breton, and the cir- 
cumstances of his life be still involved in such 
great obscurity. In looking over his various pub- 
lications, it is remarkable how littie is to be 
gleaned in the preliminary prefixes which relate to, 
his own personal history, and how very rarely he 
touches on any thing referring to himself. There 
is a plaintive and melancholy strain running 
through many of his works, and I am inclined to 
the opinion entertained by Sir Egerton Bridges 
and others, that cares, and misfortunes, and con- 
tinued disappointments, had brought on melan- 
choly and despair, and that the plaintive and 
touching nature of his writings were occasioned by 
real sorrows and sufferings. This seems at variance 
with his being the purchaser of the manor and 
lordship of Norton, and in the possession and en- 
joyment of this world’s goods. Thus in his 
Auspicante Jehova Maries Exercise, 8yo. 1597, 
one of the rarest of his works, in the dedication to 
Mary, Countess of Pembroke, speaking of his tem- 
poral condition, he remarks, “I have soncke my 
fortune in the worlde, hauing only the light of 
vertue to leade my hope unto Heauen :” and signs 
himself “ Your La. sometime vnworthy Poet, and 
| now, and euer poore Beadman, Nich. Breton.” 
And the “ Address” after it is signed, “ Your 
poore friend or seruant N.B.” Iam aware that 
these phrases are sometimes used in a figurative 
sense, but am disposed to think that here they are 
intended for something real. And I am at a loss 
how to reconcile these expressions of poverty with 
his being the purchaser and enjoyer of such an 
estate. I shall wait, therefore, with considerable 
anxiety till it may suit the pleasure or convenience 
