166 Biographical Sketch of the [Sept. 



an early English work hitherto known only by his casual men- 

 tion of its title < The Hundred Merry Tales.' 



" From this jest book Beatrice is accused by Benedick of 

 purloining an article in which it certainly would not in our more 

 refined times be thought to abound — her ' good wit.' No 

 copy of the work in question having hitherto been discovered 

 by collectors, it has been conjectured alternately, that the ex- 

 pression of Beatrice* refers to some early translation of the 

 Decamerone, the Cento Novelle Antiche, or the Cent Nouvelles 

 Nouvelles. There can now, however, I think, remain little 

 doubt but the small volume transmitted herewith (which both 

 corresponds in title with the supposed magazine of Beatrice's 

 wit, and is in fact a mere collection of short ludicrous anec- 

 dotes and repartees) is the very work alluded to by Shake- 

 speare. 



" The Tales as far as I have examined them are mostly of 

 English origin : a few of them have descended, with some little 

 modifications, to those cheap ' Merriments' 1 which most of us 

 can probably recollect to have afforded amusement to our 

 childish years. 



" It is not impossible that a more accurate examination might 

 discover in the work, some further illustrations of our early 

 literature and manners than that afforded by the title. At 

 all events it is remarkable as being probably the first book of 

 jests printed in our language." f 



In 1815 The Hundred Merry Tales were reprinted for a select 

 literary circle, and dedicated to Mr. Conybeare, by S. W. Singer, 

 Esq. ; a gentleman well known for his attachment to our older 

 literature. 



Mr. Conybeare's last communication to the Society of Anti- 

 quaries was made so late as the month of November 1823, and 

 was contained, like all his previous communications, in a letter 

 to his friend Mr. Ellis. This was an abstract of a contemporary 

 poem on the Siege of Rouen, by Henry V. in 1418, composed 

 by an eye-witness ; and lately discovered in the Bodleian Li- 

 brary. A transcript of this poem by Mr. C. of which the 

 abstract was merely a precursor, is expected to appear in the 

 next volume of the Arciueologia. 



The ancient literature of this country, however, formed but a 

 small portion of his attainments : as a classical scholar, not per- 

 haps as a scholiast, but as an elegant cultivated scholar, he 

 eminently excelled ; and in Theology, on which he had of late 

 years fully and properly concentrated his talents, he has not 

 perhaps left behind him his equal for extensive acquaintance 



* ' That I was disdainful, — and that I had my good wit out of The Hundred 

 Mem/ Talcs ; — Weil, this was Signer Benedick that said so. 1 — Much Ado about 

 Nothing. Act. 2, Sc. 1. 

 •f- Archa?ologia, vol. xviii. p. 430. 



