pre

word "pensive," which he proposes instead. In the first place, the passages your correspondent quotes, show Angelo to be "strict," "firm," " cise," to be "a man whose blood is very snowbroth," &c., but certainly not " pensive" in the common acceptation of the word. Secondly, he fails to show that, if Shakspeare meant by "pensive" anything more than thoughtful in the passages he cites, he meant anything so strong as religiously melancholy, which would be the sense required to be of any service to him as an epithet to the word "guards."

I will now, with your permission, call attention to what I consider an oversight of enquirers into this subject. The conditions required, as your correspondent well states, are "that the word adopted shall be (1) suitable to the reputed character of Angelo; (2) an appropriate epithet to the word 'guards; (3) of the proper metre in both places; and (4) similar in appearance to the word 'prenzie.'" Now, it does not appear to have been considered that this similarity was to be sought in manuscript, and not in print; or, if considered, that much more radical errors arise from illegible manuscripts than the critics have allowed for. In his " Introductory Notice," Mr. Knight says the word (prenzie) "appears to have been inserted by the printer in despair of deciphering the author's manuscript." Yet in his note to the text he has printed it, together with three suggested emendations, as though he would call attention to the comparative similarity in print. But if, as all have hitherto assumed, the printer had read the first three or four letters correctly, is it not most probable that the context, with the word recurring within four lines, would have set him right? And his having twice inserted a word having no apparent meaning, is it not as probable that he was misled at the very beginning of the word by some careless combination of letters presenting accidentally the same appearance in the two instances? Having thus shown that the search for the true word may have been too restricted, I will proceed to make a final suggestion..

When Claudio exclaims in surprise-
"The ( ) Angelo!"

it is quite clear that the epithet which has to be supplied is one in total contrast to the character just given of him by Isabella. What is this character?

“This outward-sainted deputy,

Whose settled visage and deliberate word
Nips youth i' the head, and follies doth emmew,
As falcon doth the fowl,-

is yet a devil;

His filth within being cast, he would appear
A pond as deep as hell."

To this it appears to me Claudio would naturally exclaim:

"The saintly Angelo !"

and Isabella, as naturally following up the contrast, would continue

"O, 'tis the cunning livery of hell,

The damned'st body to invest and cover
In saintly guards!”

My acquaintance with the handwriting of the age is very limited; but I have no doubt there are possible scrawls in which saintlie might be made to look like prenzie. If any one knows a better word, let him propose it; only I beg leave to warn him against pious, which I have already tried, and for various reasons rejected.

St. John's Wood, May 24. 1851.

SAMUEL HICKSON.

"Prenzie" in "Measure for Measure."—It must be gratifying to the correspondents of "NOTES AND QUERIES" to know that their suggestions receive attention and consideration, even though the result be unfavourable to their views. I am therefore induced to express, as an individual opinion, that the reading of the word "prenzie," as proposed by LEGES, does not appear more satisfactory than those already suggested in the various editions.

Of these, "precise" is by far the most consonant with the sense of the context; while "pensive," almost exclusively restricted to the single meaning, contemplative, action of mind rather than strictness of manner, is scarcely applicable to the hypocritical safeguard denounced by Isabella.

From the original word, too, the deviation of "precise" is less than that of "pensive." Since the former substitutes e for n, and transposes two letters in immediate proximity, while the latter substitutes v for r, and transposes it from one end of the word to the other.

But "precise" has the immeasurable advantage of repetition by Shakspeare himself, in the same play, applied to the same person, and coupled with the same word "guard," which is undoubtedly used in both instances in the metaphorical sense of defensive covering, and not in that of "countenance or demeanour," nor yet in that of "the formal trimmings of scholastic robes:"

"Lord Angelo is precise;
Stands at a guard with envy —
O, 'tis the cunning livery of hell

The damned'st body to invest and cover
In precise guards.'

Therefore, while I cannot quite join with Mr. Knight in understanding "precise" as applicable to the formal cut of Angelo's garments, I nevertheless agree with him, on other grounds, in awarding a decided preference to the reading of the German critic. A. E. B.

The Obsolete Word" Prenzie." -I agree with your correspondent LEGES, that the several emendations which have been suggested of the word prenzie," do not "answer all the necessary con

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ditions." LEGES says, "it is universally agreed that the word is a misprint." Now misprinting may be traced to wrong letters being dropped in the boxes into which compositors put the types, and which generally are found to be neighbours (this is hardly intelligible but to the initiated). However, they will at once see that a more unfortunate illustration could hardly have been suggested. An error, made by the printer, often passes "the reader" or corrector, because it is something, in appearance and sound, like what should have been used. But in this word there is no assimilation of either to any one of the words conjectured to have been meant. Moreover, such a word would never have been twice used erroneously in the same piece. May it not rather have been an adaptation from the Norman prisé, or the Latin prenso, signifying assumed, seized, &c.? The sound comes much nearer, the sense would do. I hardly like to venture a suggestion where so many eminent commentators entertain other views; but it seems to me that it is a main excellence of your periodical to encourage such suggestions; and if mine be not too wild, your insertion of it will oblige B. B. P.S. May I end this note by adopting a Query many years since put forth by a highly valued and, alas! deceased friend and coadjutor in antiquarian pursuits, "What is the date of that edition of the Bible which reads (Psalm cxix. 161.): Printers have persecuted me without a cause?"

Ona Passage in "Measure for Measure" (Vol. iii., p. 401.). One of the very few admissible conjectural emendations on Shakspeare made by the ingenious and gifted poet and critic Tieck, is that which Mr. Knight adopted, and I cannot think your correspondent LEGES happy in proposing to substitute "pensive."

There can be no doubt that "guards" in the passage in question signifies facings, trimmings, ornaments, and that it is used metaphorically for dress, habit, appearance, and not for countenance,

demeanour.

In Much Ado about Nothing (Act I. Sc. 1.), Benedick says:

"The body of your discourse is sometimes guarded with fragments, and the guards are but slightly basted on, neither." That the epithet "precise" is peculiarly applicable to the assumed sanctity of Angelo, the poet has decided in Act I. Sc. 4., where the Duke describes him thus: "Lord Angelo is precise,

Stands at a guard with envy, scarce confesses
That his blood flows, or that appetite

Is more to bread than stone. Hence we shall see, If power change purpose, what our seemers be." "The 'pensive' Angelo" might be admissible, though not so appropriate as "the precise;" but "pensive" is inapplicable to the word "guards," in the sense which the poet everywhere attaches to it. In the second Scene of this Act the Clown says:

"Craft being richer than innocency, stands for the facing."

Your correspondent may be assured that the word he would substitute was never written or printed "penzive" in Shakspeare's time.

Mr. Collier's objection, that "precise" "sounds ill as regards the metre, the accent falling on the wrong syllable," has no weight with me, for it is doubtful whether the accent was not placed on the first syllable of "prècise" by the poet and his cotemporaries; but were this not the case, I should still very much prefer the reading proposed by Tieck, and adopted by Mr. Knight, to any other that has been proposed, and have little doubt that it is the true one. S. W. SINGER.

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--

Replies to Minor Queries.

Countess of Pembroke's Epitaph (Vol. iii., p. 307.). Let me thank your correspondent MR. GATTY for his information. In order to complete the history of this inscription, it may be stated that though Gifford is silent as to Jonson having any claim to it, yet, by admitting it into his works (vol. viii. p. 337.), he concurs apparently with Whalley and others, in assigning this "delicate epitaph," as Whalley terms it, to Jonson, though it hath never yet been printed with his works." Gifford considers that Jonson did not "cancel," as it has been alleged, the six lines, Marble piles let no man raise," but that he possibly never saw them. They certainly contradict the preceding ones; admitting that such a character as tioned verses, Gifford adds, were copied from the the Countess might again appear. These last-menpoems of William Herbert Earl of Pembroke, “a humble votary of the Muses." This nobleman, whose amiable character is beautifully drawn by Clarendon, deeply venerated his excellent mother; he, perhaps, could not feel satisfied in leaving her

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praises to be sung by another poet, and therefore added this well-intended but feeble supplement. J. H. M. Court Dress (Vol. iii., p. 407.).—There are no orders of the Earl Marshal, printed or manuscript, upon the subject of court costume-it is not within his department. It is more likely that the Lord Chamberlain has notices upon the subject. In all cases of court mourning, his lordship specifies the dress, and notifies the changes, not always, however, strictly adopted or comprehended. 3. Ex Pede Herculem (Vol. iii., p. 302.). The origin of this proverb is to be found, I think, in Plutarch, who is quoted by Aulus Gellius (i. 1.) as saying in substance as follows:

"Pythagoras ingeniously calculated the great stature

of Hercules, by comparing the length of various stadia

in Greece. All these courses were nominally 600 feet in length, but Hercules was said to have measred out the stadium at Olympia with his own feet, while the others followed a standard of later days. The philosopher argued that by how much the Olympic course exceeded all others in length, by the same proportion did the foot of Hercules exceed that of men of a subsequent age; and again, by the same proportion must the stature of Hercules have been pre-eminent." (The original is to be found also in Plutarchi Varia Scripta, ed. Tauchnitz, vol. vi. P. 393.)

Ĉ. P. PH***. |

The Day of the Accession of Richard III. (Vol. iii., p. 351.).—I have examined the original inrolment of the entry upon the Remembrance Roll ex parte Capitalis Rememoratoris Hiberniæ, of the second year of Richard III., with the facsimile of that entry which appears in the Irish Record Reports (1810-1815, plate 9.), and I find that the fac-simile is correct. The accession of Richard III. is shown by the entry upon the original record to have taken place on the twentysixth day of June. This entry is, as I have stated, upon the roll of the second year of Richard III., and not of the first year, as stated by the said Record Reports, there being no Remembrance or Memoranda Roll of the first year of that monarch to be found amongst the Exchequer Records of Ireland. Upon this subject of Richard III.'s accession, I beg to transmit to you the copy of a regal table which is entered in the Red Book of the Exchequer, probably the most ancient, as well as the most curious, record in Ireland. Judging by the character of the handwriting of this Tabula Regum, I would come to the conclusion, that the entries prior in date to that of Henry VIII.'s reign have been made during the time of that monarch; or, in other words, that this table has probably not been compiled at any time previous to the reign of Henry VIII. J. F. F.

Wills conquestor regnavit p

Witts Rufus regñ p

Henricus primus regn p

Stephйs regn p

Henf scotus regň p

Ričus regñ p

Johes regn p

Henricius regň p

Edwardus prim' regň p

Edwardus sēdus regñ p

Edwardus cius regn p

Ričus sēdus regň p

Henf quartus regn p
Henr quint regñ p
Henr sextus regñ p
Edwardus quartus regñ p
Ricus cius regň p
Henricus septimus regă

Henricus octav regn

Jacobus qui hodie regnat Carolus Rex.

Tennyson's "In Memoriam " (Vol. iii., pp. 142. 227.).-I beg to withdraw my former suggestion as to "the crimson-circled star," which, on reconsideration, appears to me manifestly erroneous.

If you can find space for a second suggestion, I think the question will be cleared up by the following extract from the valuable work which I cited before (the Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, edited by Dr. W. Smith):

"Eos, 'Ha's, in Latin Aurora, the goddess of the morning red, who brings up the light of day from the east. At the close of night she ascended up to the heaven from the river Oceanus to announce the coming light of the sun to the gods as well as to men. In the Homeric poems, Eos not only announces the coming Helios (the sun), but accompanies him throughout the day, and her career is not complete till the evening:

hence she is sometimes mentioned when one would

have expected Helios (Od. v. 390. x. 144.); and the tragic writers completely identify her with Hemera (the day),

of whom, in later times the same mythes are related as of Eos."

As Aurora rises from the river Oceanus, he may be called her father, and as she sinks into the same, he may be called her grave. The expression then will mean neither more nor less than this, "We returned home before the close of day." Perhaps Mr. Tennyson had a line of Lycidas running in his mind:

"So sinks the day-star in the ocean bed." Milton's day-star, however, I take to be the sun himself.

Another of your correspondents, I see, suggests a different interpretation of the "crimson-circled star."

I hope I shall not be considered as taking too great a liberty if I avail myself of the medium of your pages to request Mr. Tennyson (deus ex machinâ) to descend and settle the question. X. Z.

Cardinal Azzolin (Vol. iii., pp. 370. 371.).-Cardinal Azzolini was appointed by Alexander VII, Intendant to Queen Christina on her receiving a pension of 12,000 scudi from that Pope. On the withdrawal of this grant by Innocent XI., her majesty wrote a furious letter to the Cardinal, which is one of the most curious pieces contained in a Collection of Letters, edited by M. Matter (Paris, chez Amiot).. That a close intimacy existed between the Queen and the Cardinal appears allusions in contemporary letters (1685-1687). See M. Valéry's Correspondence de Mabillon et de Montfaucon avec l'Italie (Paris, 1846), vol. i. p. 99. "La Reine de Suède, grande amie du Cardinal Azzolin" vol. ii. p. 83.:

from some

Il n'y a plus de différend qu'entre le marquis Del Monte et le Cardinal Azzolin [sic],à qui aura meilleure part dans les bonnes grâces de la Reine pendant sa vie, et dans son testament après sa mort."

The editor adds (vol. iii. p. 298.):
"Le Cardinal Azzolini fut le principal héritier de
Christine."
C. P. PH***.

Babington's Conspiracy (Vol. iii., p. 390.).—In Dr. Maitland's Index of English Books in the Lambeth Library will be found the following entry:

"Babington (Anthony), His Letter to the Queen. No place, printer, or date." The asterisk denotes that it is not mentioned by Herbert in his edition of Ames. This, I believe, will be a satisfactory answer to H.P. J. Br.'s Query.

Robert de Welle (Vol. ii., p. 71.).—Not observing that H. W.'s Query regarding Robert de Welle has as yet been answered, I would refer him to Blomefield's Hist. of Norf., vol. vii. p. 288., edit. find a Robert de Welle, lord of the manor of Well 1807, 8vo., where under "Bicham-well" he will Hall, an. 1326 (20 Edw. II.), which was held under the Earl of Clare, the capital lord. He died circ. 9 Edw. III.

I have met also with a Roger de Welle, in an old roll undated, but about the time of Hen. III., in which he is entered as holding a manor in Wimbotsham, co. Norf.:

Roger de Welle tenet manium suŭ de Winebodesham cũ libe ten villanis suis t cotar ad illa mañiū ptinentib3 de comit Warenñ p Svič qarte ptis uni' scutit com de đno r' in capite, p quale 3viciu nescim". Et ħt in eod mañio unu mes' t una carucatā terr' arabit t xiiij acras pati in dñico unu molend ad vent libum taur t verre eid maĥio ptiñ t facit secta ad cur' de Castelacr de {b3 septis in tres septias. Et capit amciamta pistot braciatoru t hoc sine waranto ut credim". Et clamat hre warenň p cartā dñi r”.

The manor passed from him to Ingaldesthorp, under which manor the continuator of Blomefield mentions (vol. vii. p. 517.) that Roger de Frevil in 13 Hen. III. had a carucate of land here. This is probably the same person as Roger de Welle, as it was not uncommon for persons at that period to be known by different designations.

Thomas Knox, M.P. for Dungannon, was created Baron Welles, 1780. H. W. will find the history of the family in Lodge's Peerage of Ireland, by Archdall, vol. vii. p. 195., ed. 1789.

G. H. D.

Family of Sir John Banks (Vol. iii., p. 390.). -The following is a correct list of the descendants of Sir John Banks; and as his wife is an historical character, her own immediate descent, as well as the notice of those of the present day who may claim her as their ancestor, may not be uninteresting to your correspondent: