Notes and Queries, Number 02, November 10, 1849

MACAULAY'S "YOUNG LEVITE."

Sir,—The following passage from the

Anatomy of Melancholy

, published 1651, struck me as a curious corroboration of the passage in Mr. Macaulay's

History

 which describes the "young Levite's" position in society during the seventeenth century; and as chance lately threw in my way the work from which Burton took his illustration, I take the liberty of submitting Notes of both for your examination.

"If he be a trencher chaplain in a gentleman's house (as it befel Euphormio), after some seven years' service he may perchance have a living to the halves, or some small rectory, with the mother of the maids at length, a poor kinswoman, or a crackt chambermaid, to have and to hold during the time of his life."—Burton,

Anat. of Mel.

 part i. sect. 2. mem. 3. subsect 15.

Burton is here referrng to the

Euphormionis Lusinini Satyricon

, published anno 1617. It professes to be a satire, or rather A FURIOUS INVECTIVE, on the corrupt manners of the times, and is in four parts: the 1st is dedicated to King James I.; the 2nd to Robert Cecil; the 3rd to Charles Emmanuel of Savoy; the 4th to Louis XIII., King of France.

The use that Burton makes of the name of Euphormio is any thing but happy. He was not a "

trencher chaplain

" but the slave of a rich debauchée, Callion, sent in company with another slave, Percas, to carry some all-potent nostrum to Fibullius, a friend of Callion, who was suffering from an attack of stone. Euphormio cures Fibullius, not by the drug with which he was armed, but by a herb, which he sought for and found on a mountain. Fibullius, to reward his benefactor, offers him as a wife a most beautiful girl, whom he introduces to him privately while in his sick room. Euphormio looks with no little suspicion on the offer; but, after a few excuses, which are overruled by Fibullius, accepts the lady as his betrothed, "seals the bargain with a holy kiss," and walks out of the room (to use his own words) "et sponsus, et quod nesciebam—Pater," page 100. The next mention of this lady is in page 138. Callion had paid his sick friend Fibullius a visit, and, on the eve of his departure, had ordered Euphormio to ride post before him, and prepare the inhabitants of the districts through which he was to pass for his arrival. While Euphormio is on the horseblock in the act of mounting his steed, a rustic brings him a letter from Fibullius, and in conversation gives him such an account of his bride as forces upon him the reflection, that even the grim Libitina would be preferable, as a bride, to so confirmed a Thais, so fruitful a partner, as the

protegée

 of Fibullius would be likely to prove. But, as these

notes

 have, in spite of all my attempts at condensation, already grown to a most formidable size, I will not indulge in any moral reflections; but conclude by

querying

 you, or any of your readers, to inform me whether the personages mentioned in the

Euphorm. Lus. Satyricon

, such as Callion, Pereas, Fibullius, &c., are real characters or not? as, in the former case, I am inclined to think that the work might throw some interesting lights on the private manners and characters of some of the courtiers of the day. "No scandal against any of the maids of honour"—of course. The phrase "

To the halves

" (in the quotation from Burton) means, inadequate, insufficient; we still talk of "half and half" measures. Montanus inveighs against such "perturbations, that purge

to the halves

, tire nature, and molest the body to no purpose."—Burton,

Anat. of Mel.

, part. ii. sect. 2. mem. 4. subsect. 6.

MELANION.

[The work referred to by our correspondent was written by Barclay, better known as the author of the

Argenis

. The First Part of the

Satyricon

, dedicated to James the First, was published, London, 12mo. 1603; and with the addition of the 2nd Part, Paris, 1605. The best edition of the work (which, really in two parts, is made, by the addition of the

Apologia Euphormionis

, &c. sometimes into five) is said to be the Elzevir 12mo., 1637. There are two editions of it

cum notis variorum

, Leyden, 1667 and 1669, 8vo., in two volumes. Of some of the editions (as that of 1623, 12mo.) it is said, "adjecta Clavi sive obscurorum et quasi ænigmaticorum nominum, in hoc Opere passim occurrentium, dilucida explicatione." The

Satyricon

 was twice translated into French; and its literary history, and that of the

Censura Euphormionis

, and other tracts, which it called forth, might furnish a curious and amusing paper.]

SERMONES SANCTI CAROLI BORROMÆI

Sir,—I have been wanting to get a sight of the following work, "Sermones Sancti Caroli Borromæi, Archiepisc. Mediol. Edidit. J.A. Saxius. 5 Tom. Mediol. 1747." Can I learn through your columns whether the work is any where accessible in London? I sought for it in vain at the British Museum a twelvemonth ago; nor, though then placed in their list of

Libri desiderati

, has it yet been procured.

C. F. SECRETAN.

LUTHER AND ERASMUS

Mr. Editor,—The following lines, written in a hand of the early part of the seventeenth century, occur on the fly-leaf of a copy of the

Translation of Luther on the Galatians

, edit. London, 4to. 1577. Can any of your readers oblige me by informing me who was their author?

"Parum Lutherus ac Erasmus differunt

Serpens uterque est, plenus atro toxico;

Sed ille mordet ut cerastes in via,

Hic fraudulentus mordet in silentio."

Your obedient servant,

ROTERODAMUS.

TOWER ROYAL—CONSTITUTION HILL—COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE'S LETTER—TENNISON'S FUNERAL SERMON ON NELL GWYNNE

Sir,—I should be glad to obtain answers to any or all of the following Queries:—

1. What is the origin of the name TOWER ROYAL, as applied to a London locality, and when did our kings (if they ever inhabited it) cease to inhabit it?

2. When was CONSTITUTION HILL first so called, and why?

3. Is there any contemporary copy of the celebrated letter said to have been written by Anne Pembroke, Dorset and Montgomery, to Sir Joseph Williamson? It first appeared in

The World

.

4. Does a copy exist in MS., or in print, of the sermon which Archbishop Tennison preached at the funeral of Nell Gwynne?

PETER CUNNINGHAM.

GROG—BISHOP BARNABY

Mr. Editor,—I hope you intend to keep a corner for Etymologies.

Query, the origin of the word "Grog?"—And why do the people in Suffolk call a ladybird "Bishop Barnaby?"

If you can enlighten me upon either of these points, I shall feel encouraged to try again.

Yours, &c.

LEGOUR.

NOTES FROM FLY-LEAVES, NO. II

DR. FARMER ON DRAYTON'S WORKS

The following bibliographical memoranda, in the well-known hand of Dr. Farmer, occur in a copy of the edition of Drayton's

Poems

 publishe