LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 1854. Notes. 66 GRIFFIN'S " FIDESSA," AND SHAKSPEARE'S PASSIONATE PILGRIM." I am the fortunate possessor of a thin volume, entitled Fidessa, a Collection of Sonnets, by B. Griffin, reprinted 1811, from the edition of 1596, at the Chiswick Press; I presume, by the monogram at the end, by Mr. S. W. Singer. The title of the original edition is Fidessa, more Chaste then Kinde, by B. Griffin, Gent, at London, printed by the Widdow Orwin, for Matthew Lownes, 1596. The advertisement prefixed by Mr. Singer to the reprint states, that the original is one of the rarest of those that appeared at the period in which it is dated; that he is not aware of the existence of more than two copies, from one of which the reprint is taken, and that the other was in the curious collection of the late Mr. Malone. Besides the rarity of Fidessa, Mr. Singer states that it claims some notice from the curious reader on account of a very striking resemblance between Griffin's third sonnet, and one of Shakspeare's, in his Passionate Pilgrim (Sonnet Ix.). I will transcribe both sonnets, taking Griffin's first, as it bears the earliest date. "Venus, and yong Adonis sitting by her, Under a myrtle shade began to woo him: She told the yong-ling how god Mars did trie her, And as he fell to her, so fell she to him. • Even thus,' quoth she, 'the wanton god embrac'd me,' And then she clasp'd Adonis in her armes. Even thus,' quoth she, the warlike god unlac'd me,' As if the boy should use like loving charms. But he, a wayward boy, refusde her offer, And ran away, the beautious Queene neglecting: Showing both folly to abuse her proffer, And all his sex of cowardise detecting. Oh! that I had my mistris at that bay, To kisse and clippe me till I ranne away!" Sonnet III., from Fidessa. "Fair Venus, with Adonis sitting by her, Under a myrtle shade, began to woo him; She told the youngling how god Mars did try her, And as he fell to her, she fell to him. Even thus,' quoth she, 'the warlike god embrac'd me,' And then she clipp'd Adonis in her arms : Even thus,' quoth she, the warlike god unlac'd me,' As if the boy should use like loving charms: *The early copies read "Venus, with Adonis sitting by her;" the defective word was added at Dr. Farmer's suggestion. Had he seen a copy of Fidessa, the true reading might perhaps have been restored. (Note by Mr. Singer.) Even thus,' quoth she, 'he seized on my lips,' And with her lips on his did act the seizure; And as she fetched breath, away he skips, And would not take her meaning nor her pleasure. Ah! that I had my lady at this bay, To kiss and clip me till I run away!" Sonnet 1x., from Shakspeare's Passionate Pilgrim. That the insertion of Griffin's sonnet in the Passionate Pilgrim was without Shakspeare's consent or knowledge, is in my opinion evident for many reasons. I have long been convinced that the Passionate Pilgrim was published surreptitiously; and although it bears Shakspeare's name, the sonnets and ballads of which it is composed were several of them taken from his dramas, and added to by selections from the poems of his cotemporaries, Raleigh, Marlow, and others; that it was a bookseller's job, made up for sale by the publisher, W. Jaggard. No one can believe that Shakspeare would have been guilty of such a gross plagiarism. Griffin's Fidessa bears date 1596: the first known edition of the Passionate Pilgrim was printed for W. Jaggard, 1599. It has no dedication to any patron, similar to Shakspeare's other poems, the Venus and Adonis, the Rape of Lucrece, and the Sonnets; and why it bears the title of the Passionate Pilgrim no one has ascertained. But I am losing sight of the object I had in view when I took up my pen, which was, through the medium of "N. & Q.," to request any of its readers to furnish me with any particulars of B. Griffin, the author of Fidessa. Mr. Singer supposes him to have been of a Worcestershire family: as he addresses his " "poore pamphlet" for patronage to the gentlemen of the Innes of Court, he might probably have been bred to the law. Perhaps your correspondents Cuthbert Bede, or MR. NOAKE, the Worcestershire rambler, might in their researches into vestry registers and parish documents, find some notice of the family. I am informed there was a gentleman of the name resident in our college precincts early in the present century, that he was learned and respected, but very eccentric. J. M. G. Worcester. CAPS AT CAMBRIDGE. At the congregation in the Senate House at Cambridge, Nov. 23, presided over by the Prince Chancellor, it was observed that the undergraduates in the galleries (for want I suppose of an obnoxious Vice-Chancellor or Proctor upon whom to vent their indignation) poured it forth in yells and groans upon those members of the senate who kept on their hats or caps. The same has been done on several former occasions. It probably arises from a mistake, in ascribing to the gaucherie of individuals what is really the observance of a very ancient custom. The following extract, from an unpublished MS. of the middle (I think) of the seventeenth century, in which the custom is incidentally noticed, will serve for a confirmation of what I say: "When I was regent, the whole house of congregation joyned together in a petition to the Earle of Pembroke to restore unto us the jus pileorum, the licence of putting on our cappes at our publicke meetings; which priviledge time and the tyrannie of our vicechancellours had taken from us. Amongst other motives, we use the solemne forme of creating a Mr in the Acte by putting on his cappe, and that that signe of libertie might distinguish us which were the Regents from those boyes which wee were to governe, which request he graciouslie granted." This was written by an M.A. of Oxford. At Cambridge we have not hitherto had such haughty despots in authority, to trample upon our rights; but we seem to be in danger of losing our jus pileorum through "the tyrannie," not of our ViceChancellors, but "of those boyes which wee are to governe." A REGENT M.A. OF CAMBRIDGE. Lincoln's Inn. LETTERS OF EMINENT LITERARY MEN. (Continued from p. 8.) IV. Dr. John Ward, Professor of Gresham College, to Dr. Cary, Bishop of Clonfert. [MS. Donat., Brit. Mus., 6226, p. 16.] My Lord, While there was any expectation of your Lordship's speedy return to England, I forbore to congratulate you on your late promotion. For though none of your friends could more truly rejoice at this news than I did, both on your own account, and that of the public; yet in the number of compliments which I was sensible you must receive on that occasion, I chose rather to be silent for fear of being troublesome. But as I find it is now uncertain, when your affairs may permit of your return hither, I could not omit this opportunity by your good Lady to express my hearty congratulation upon the due regard shown by the Government to your just merit; and shall think it an honour to be continued in your esteem as ultimus amicorum. I doubt not but your Lordship has seen Mr. Horsley's Britannia Romana advertised in some of our public Papers; but I know not whether you have heard that the author died soon after he had finished the work, before its publication. When it was hoped that the credit of this book might have been of some service to him and his large family, After my most humble thanks for the continuation of Westminster Elections' you was so kind as to give me, I must acquit myself of my promise; and therefore I herewith send your Lordship a copy transcrib'd exactly from the MS. given me by Dr. South himself of his verses upon Westminster School, with his name, and the year subscribed at bottom. They were indeed publish'd among his Opera Posthuma Latina Anon. 1717, by Curl, after his impudent way of dealing with dead authors' works; and sometimes also with those of the living. Curl's printed copy differs from the MS. in these following places: Linguis Inconfusa Babel, linguis et mole superba; ardua Sic super invidiam sese effert æmula; nullis Dispositæ, septem, quæ velut Astræ, micant. Accipit hìc lucem, non ultrà cæcus, Homerus : Hæc Schola ad implendas sufficit una duas. ROB. SOUTH. Ann. Dom. 1652, aut 1653." It either is, or seems to be, a long time since I heard from you. Perhaps you are writing the very same sentence to me; but as the loss is on my side, you must give me leave to complain. This summer has passed away in great idleness and feasting: so that I have scarce looked into a book of any sort. Mrs. Pilkington_and_Con. Philips, however, have not escaped me. I was obliged to read them to adapt myself to the conversation of my neighbours, who have talked upon no other topic, notwithstanding the more glorious subjects of Peace, and Lord Anson's voyage. The truth is, we are better acquainted with the stile of Con. and Pilky, than with the hard names and distant places that are mentioned in the Voyage round the World. I have not peeped into the Anti-Lucretius: it is arrived at Caledon, and reserved for the longest evenings. Carte's voluminous History is weighing down one of my shelves. He likewise is postponed to bad weather, or a fit of the gout. Last week brought us the first Number of Con's second volume. She goes on triumphantly, and is very entertaining. Her sister Pilkington is not so fortunate. She has squandered away the money she gained by her first volume, and cannot print her second. But from you, I hope to hear of books of another sort. A thin quarto named Louthiana is most delicately printed, and the cuts admirably engraved and yet we think the County of Louth the most devoid of Antiquities of any County in Ireland. The County of Corke is, I believe, in the press; and I am told it will be well executed. I have seen the County of Waterford, and approve of it very much. These kind of Books are owing to an Historical Society formed at Dublin, and of great use to this kingdom, which is improving in all Arts and Sciences very fast: tho' I own to you, the cheapness of French Claret is not likely to add much at present to the encrease of literature. If all true Hibernians could bring themselves to be of your opinion and Pindar's, the glorious memory of King William might keep the head cool, and still warm the heart; but, alas, it sets both on fire: and till these violent fits of bacchanalian loyalty are banished from our great tables, I doubt few of us shall ever rise higher in our reading than the Memoirs of that kind I first mentioned. I am, Dear Sir, and so is all my family, truly Yours, ORRERY. "Escape of a Snake from a Man's Mouth. traordinary circumstance occurred a few days ago to Jonathan Smith, gunner's mate, who was paid off at Portsmouth on the 6th of May last, from her Majesty's ship Hastings, 72 guns, on her return to England from the East Indies. He obtained six weeks' leave. the expiration of that time, after seeing his friends at Chatham, he joined the Excellent, gunnery-ship at Portsmouth. After some time he was taken unwell, On his illness increased, and he exhibited a swelling in his stomach and limbs. The surgeon considering that it arose from dropsy, he was removed into Haslar Hos pital, and after much painful suffering, although he had every attention paid to him by the medical officers of the establishment, he died. Two hours before his death a living snake, nine inches in length, came out of his mouth, causing considerable surprise. How the reptile got into his stomach is a mystery. It is supposed that the deceased must have swallowed the reptile when it was young, drinking water when the Hastings was out in India, as the ship laid for some time at Trincomalee, and close to a small island called Snake Island. The crew used very often to find snakes on board. The way they used to get into the ship was by the cable, and through the hawsers into the forecastle. The deceased was forty years of age. He was interred in Kingston churchyard. His remains were followed to the grave by the ship's company of the Excellent." The proverbial wisdom of the serpent is here clearly exemplified. It has long been well known among sailors that rats have the sense to change their quarters when a vessel becomes cranky; whence I believe arises the epithet rat," which is sometimes scurrilously applied to a politic man who removes to the opposition benches when he perceives symptoms of dissolution in the ministry. The snake, in the simple narrative above quoted, was evidently guided by some such prudential motive when he quitted the stomach of the dying sailor, which could not continue for any great length of time to afford protection and support to the cunning reptile. I have an amiable friend who habitually swallows with avidity the tales of sea-serpents which are periodically imported into this country on American bottoms, and I have sufficient credulity myself to receive, without strict examination into evidence, the account of the swarming of the snakes up the cables into a ship; but I cannot so readily believe that "considerable surprise was caused in the mind of any rational biped by the fact that a living snake, which had attained to the length of nine inches, took the very natural precaution to come out of a dying man's mouth. How the reptile got into his stomach is a mystery which the newspaper writer has attempted to clear up, but he has not attempted to explain how the reptile managed to live during many months in so unusual a habitation as a man's stomach. Some obliging correspondent of "N. & Q." will perhaps have the kindness to explain this remarkable fact in natural history. A LONDONER. KING JAMES'S IRISH ARMY LIST OF 1689-90. In last September I undertook a literary project, which I think could be greatly aided through the medium of "N. & Q.," as there are few families in the empire that are not connected with its details, and who might therefore be expected to feel interested in them. The project I allude to is a publication of King James's Irish Army List of 1689-90. King I must call him in reference to that list. Those that appear upon it were many his creedmen, and all his devoted adherents. The list, of which I have a copy in MS., extends over thirty-four pages octavo. The first two are filled with the names of all the colonels; the four ensuing are rolls of the regiments of horse; the four next, of the dragoons; and the remaining twentyfour record the foot: each regiment being arranged, with the colonel, lieutenant-colonel, and major at head, and the captains, lieutenants, cornets or ensigns, and quarter-masters, in columns, on each respectively. To every regiment I proposed to append notices, historic and genealogical, to the extent of, perhaps, eight hundred pages or more, for the compilation of which I have ample materials in my own MS. collections. These notices I propose to furnish under him of the name who ranks highest on the list; and all the scattered officers of that name will be collected in that one article. After an especial and full notice of such officer, to whom the family article is attached, his parentage, individual achievements, descendants, &c., each illustration will briefly glance at the genealogy of that family, with, if an Irish sept, its ancient localities; if an English or Scotch, the county from whence it branched, and the period when it settled here. I would next identify each family, so illustrated, with its attainders and forfeitures in 1641; With the great Assembly of Confederate Catholics at Kilkenny in 1646; With the persons denounced by name in Cromwell's ordinance of 1652, "for settling Ireland ;' 99 With the declaration of royal gratitude to the Irish exiles who served King Charles II. "in parts beyond the seas," as contained in the Act of Explanation of 1665; With (if space allowable) those advanced by James II. to civil offices, as sheriffs, &c., or members of his new corporations; With those who represented Irish counties or boroughs in the Parliament of Dublin in 1689; With the several outlawries and confiscations of 1691, &c.; With the claims that were subsequently (in 1703) preferred as charges on these forfeitures, and how far allowed or dismissed; And, lastly, as far as attainable, their achievements in the glorious engagements of the Spanish and French Brigades: they would be glad to bring before the public, and authors be spared much unnecessary and often useless trouble and correspondence. Authors, I know, may feel some delicacy in coming before the world in this manner before publication, although after that rubicon is passed, their names and productions are blazoned on all the winds; but as a previous announcement in "N. & Q." may be made anonymously, as respects the name of the writer, although not of course as regards the nature of his work, there seems no just reason why honorable and beneficial arrangements may not be made in this way as well as by any other. To me this plan seems to offer some advantages, and I throw out the hint for the consideration of all whom it ALPHA. may concern.* Inscriptions on old Pulpits."N. & Q." has given many kinds of inscriptions, from those on Fonts and Door-heads down to those on Watchpapers; perhaps, therefore, it may not be without its use or interest to make a beginning for a list of inscriptions on old pulpits. The first inscription I quote is from Richard Baxter's pulpit, of which I have given a full description in Vol. v., p. 363.: 1. Kidderminster. Baxter's pulpit (now preserved in the vestry of the Unitarian Chapel). On the panels of the pulpit: "ALICE. DAWKX, WIDOW. GAVE. THIS. THE. LORD AND CALL GIVE. THANKS. UNTO. At the back of the pulpit : 66 BLESSED. ARE. THEY. THAT. HEAR. THE. WORDE. OF GOD. AND. KEEPE. IT." 3. Broadwas, Worcestershire; on the panels: "WILLIAM. NOXON. AND, ROGER, PRINCE. c. w. 1632." Round the sounding-board, the same text as at Recent Curiosities of Literature. in the second number of The Newcomes, describes an old lady's death as being caused from her head having been cut with a bed-room candle. N. P. Willis, in his Health Trip to the Tropics, speaks [* Any assistance which we can afford in carrying out this suggestion, which we may remark comes from one who has had practical experience on the subject, we shall be most happy to render. - ED.] |