MATTHEW OF WESTMINSTER.

Flores Historiarum per Matthæum Westmonasteriensem Collecti præcipue de Rebus Britannicis ab exordio Mundi usque ad Annum Domini 1307. Londini. Ex Officina Thomæ Marshii. A.D. 1570.

COPIES of the above book, particularly in any tolerable condition, are now become exceedingly dear and scarce. It was published by Archbishop Parker in 1570.

The copy, preserved in the Cracherode Collection, is the identical one which was presented by the Archbishop to Queen Elizabeth.

It afterwards fell into the hands of Francis, Earl of Bedford, who happening to bequeath the furniture of a little study to his secretary, it thus came into his possession.

It was afterwards in the possession of Mr. Ritson.

THE

THE PRETENDER.

IN the Rebellion of 1745, it is well known', that after the discomfiture of the rebels at the battle of Culloden, by the royal army under the command of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, Government issued a proclamation, in which they offered a reward of 30,000l. for the apprehension of the Pretender, alive, or dead.

In opposition to this, the following curious paper was issued by the Pretender and his Council:

"CHARLES,

PRINCE OF WALES, &c.

Regent of the kingdoms of Scotland, England, France, and Ireland, and the dominions thereunto belonging:

WHEREAS WE have seen a certain scandalous and malicious paper, published in the stile and form of a Proclamation, bearing date the 1st instant, wherein, under pretence of bringing us to justice, like our royal ancestor, King Charles the Ist of blessed memory, there is a reward of thirty thousand pounds sterling promised to those who shall deliver us into the hands of our enemies, we could not but be moved with a just indignation at so insolent an attempt: and though, from our nature and principles, we abhor and detest a practice so unusual among Christian Princes, we cannot but, out of a just regard to the dignity of our person, promise the

like

like reward of thirty thousand pounds sterling, to him, or those, who shall seize or secure till our further orders, the person of the Elector of Hanover, whether landed, or attempting to land in any part of His Majesty's dominions. Should any fatal accident happen from hence, let the blame lie entirely at the door of those who first set the infamous example.

CHARLES, P. R.

Given at our Camp at Kinlockeill,

August 22, 1745.

By His Highness's command,

Jo. MURRAY.”

The original paper from which the above was copied is so rare, that I never heard of any other than that which accident lately deposited in the British Museum. The fact, however, itself is mentioned by Hume, and other historians.

Mr. Johnes, of Hafod, has a curious manu script account of the Pretender, bought at Dr. Monro's sale.

He came to London after the Rebellion of 1745, and was known at Lady Primrose's as-. sembly from his portrait, which hung over the chimney.

The then Ministers were first acquainted with the fact by George the Second himself, and when they enquired of him how they ought to act, he magnanimously replied: "Let him alonewhen he is tired, he will go back again."

EPISTRES FRANCOISES.

Des Personnages illustres et doctes a Mons" Jaseph Juste De la Scala mises en lumiere. Par Jaques De Reves. Harderwyck. 12mo. 1624.

THIS is esteemed among the very rare books by Vogt, who quotes Morhoff as his authority. It consists of Epistles to Scaliger, which were published after Scaliger's death. Morhoff thus speaks of him:

"Sunt et Epistolæ Gallica Lingua ad Scaligerum scriptæ, Liber ille rarissimus est, atque multa continet singularia de libris et viris eru. ditis. Editus est post mortem Scaligeri."

Morhoff. Poly-Hist. Lit. v. 1. p. 286. For an account of this edition of J. De Reves, consult Niceren. v. 30. p. 30.

The following letter from James the First, of England, to Scaliger, is extracted from this volume.

"MONSIEUR Scaliger le Sieur de la lessée Maistre des Requestes de Mad. de France estāt venu en ce Royaume, y a demeuré quelque espace de teps aupres de nous, pendant lequel nous avons eu pour tresagreable sa cognoissance, ensemble les bōs fruicts de son estude c'st pourquoy nous n'avons voulu permettre que partat

partat d'icy en deliberatio de passer en Holl. il s'eallast au lieu de vostre residece, sans vous faire la presente qu'il vous donnera avec asseurance de l'extreme amitie que nous portons aux gens de scauoir & de merite, & principalement à vous qui avez attainct ce beau degrè avec une si louable reputatio. Ce sera aussi pour vous prier de la favoriser de vostre part & de vos meilleures cognoissances ce qué pourroit seruir a l'honneste curiosité qu'il a d'estre honoré de la bienveuillance des hommes verteux. De nation il nous est & voisin & comme patriote. Et nous aussi, qui ne desnierons jaimais les effects de nostre singuliere affection à ses semblables, serons grandement satisfaicts si ceste nostre sincere recommendation ne luy est point inutile en vostre endroict. Sur ce nous supplièrons le Createur vous augmenter. Monsieur Scaliger, en parfaicte santé & longue vie la rarité de ces graces. postré chasteau de Lefco, ce 15, Apuril 1597.

Vostre tres affectionné amy

JAQUES R."

De

Among these letters are some from Henry the Fourth, of France; from Theodore Beza, Henry Stevens, John Barclay, Diodati, Thuanus, and others the most distinguished individuals of their tiine,