To this edition, and to no other, the Life of the Author is prefixed, which contains many curious particulars. Platina wrote the Lives of the Popes. He was a disciple of the celebrated Laurentius, Valla, and succeeded him in reputation. Both Pomponius Lætus and his friend Platina were implicated in a charge of High Treason against the then reigning Pope. Platina had the whole of his property confiscated. But he was so popular, and so exceedingly beloved, that the contributions of his friends more than compensated him for the losses he sustained. Of Lælius Vallensis, by whose advice Pomponius Lætus undertook the publication of Terentius Varro, I can find no account. I have been sometimes induced to believe, that the copyer of the manuscript may have mistaken Lelir for the abbreviation of Laurentii, as Laurentius Valla must necessarily have been intimate with Pomponius Lætus. The reader who wishes farther information concerning this curious and rare book, may consult Smith's Catalogue. Of this book Lord Spencer possesses three copies, and the Hunterian Museum three copies. What I conceive to be the second edition in Hunter's Collection, begins to have the leaves numbered at the eleventh page, which distinction extends no farther than the forty-second page.. In all other particulars, this copy coincides with that above described, in the Cracheróde Collection. The Hunterian Collection possesses a copy more ancient, as I believe, than either the Cracherode or Earl Spencer's copies. This is of a more Gothic character, and ends thus: Finis ejus quod invenitur Marci Varronis. The Greek words are omitted, and spaces left to be filled up with the pen. The three editions may be thus distinguished: 1. Without date, printer's name, place, or sign of any kind. 2. Without date, but certainly about 1470. 3. Was printed at Brixia, 1483. WICLIFF. It is almost unnecessary to state, that this illustrious personage was the forerunner of Luther, in establishing the principles of the reformation, or that, on this account, he was so obnoxious to the the court of Rome, that he was the perpetual object of their implacable hatred and unremitted persecution. His publications were invariably sought after to be destroyed, and perhaps, of all rare books, that which is the subject of this article is among the most rare, on this account. A minute description of it is given by De Bure, in his 628th article. The title is as follows: Joannis Wiclefi viri undequaque piissimi, Dialogorum Libri iv. quorum primus Divinitatem et Ideas tractat: secundus Universarum creationem complectitur: tertius de Virtutibus vitiisque contrariis copiosissime loquitur: quartus Romanæ Ecclesiæ Sacramenta ejus pestiferam dotationem Antichristi regnum, fratrum fraudu-lentam originem, atque eorum hypocrisim varia que nostro ævo scitu dignissima graphice per stringit. Anno 1525, in 4to. There is no name of place or printer, but De Bure thinks, from the resemblance of the type, that it was printed by Oporin, at Basil. The court of Rome seized and burned every copy that could be procured. Some have thought that there is another work of Wicliff, with the title of Trialogorum Libri IV. But this is not the case, and the mistake has arisen from there being -three speakers in these dialogues, namely, Alethia or Truth, Pseudis or falshood, Phronesis or Prudence. The hatred with which Wicliff was persecuted by the advocates of the court of Rome, did not terminate with his life. His body was dug up some years after his death, burned, and his ashes thrown into the river. A most beautiful copy of this book, which answers, in every particular, the description given by De Bure, is preserved in the Cracherode Collection. In a book so remarkably curious and rare, the - following short extract from the Prologus by the editor, may easily be excused. En mitissime ac christiane Lector is (Wicliffus) ipse est qui jamjam sole relucente tenebras ac densissimas lucis inimicas nebulas propulsante, ab inferis solertissimi cujusdam typographi benefitio et opera non vulgari ac longinquis adscitus, in lucem reviviscens prodit, qui ut testantur monumenta noverit quid distent æra lupinis tamen adeo sterile ac infelix erat quo vixit sæculum ut eo quo decet nitore licet pie non potuit aut si potuit minus suæ ætati licuit cælestes sibi datas opes exactius Posteritati demandare. Again, speaking of Wicliff's body being dug up and burned, he observes: Decretum enim Libri authorem Johannem VViclefum qui jam diu vitæ suæ temporariæ pensum absolvisset ac sepultum rursus effodi ac ejus ossa cremari statutum est. O Cæcitatem O Vindictam insignem qui ut in humanis ita in umbris umbris placidissimis cum Christo quiescens magistri nempe Christi Domini sui testis evasit. His paucis Christiane Lector Vale et Typographi operam boni consule. JAMES I. THE examples of the Double Acrostic are not very common; they certainly must have cost ther composers no small degree of labour and trouble. In a Presentation Copy of Verses to James the First and his Queen, Anne of Denmark, byMichael Huass, a noble Dane, printed at Paris,; is the following, which may serve as a specimen. of this sort of composition. ANGLIE, SCOTIA, FRANCIA ET HIBERNIA,, Jacobus Rex, Anna Regina αναγραμματικῶς. Nonne Felicissimo tenore, Fama Regia, Britannicas kari Ævi |