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NOTES

AND QUERIES:

A

Medium of Enter-Communication

FOR

LITERARY MEN, ARTISTS, ANTIQUARIES, GENEALOGISTS, ETC.

"When found, make a note of."-CAPTAIN CUTTLE.

VOLUME FOURTH.

JULY-DECEMBER, 1851.

LONDON:

GEORGE BELL, 186. FLEET STREET.

NOTES AND QUERIES:

A

Medium of Inter-Communication

FOR

LITERARY MEN, ARTISTS, ANTIQUARIES, GENEALOGISTS, ETC.

"When found, make a note of."- CAPTAIN CUTTLE.

VOLUME FOURTH.

JULY-DECEMBER, 1851.

LONDON:

GEORGE BELL, 186. FLEET STREET.

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"The papers and books that were found on him are since delivered to his Majesty. One of the books was a manuscript of spells, charms, and conjurations, songs, receipts, and prayers, all written with the said late Duke's own hand. Two others were manuscripts of fortification and the military art. And a fourth book, fairly written, wherein are computes of the yearly expense of his Majesty's navy and land forces."

It is remarkable that the "pocket-book" mentioned by Welwood is not here specified, but it is possible that the entries quoted by him may have been written on the pages of one of the other books. Two of the above only are noticed by Mr. Macaulay, namely, "a small treatise on fortification," and "an album filled with songs, receipts, prayers, and charms;" and there can be no reasonable doubt that the latter, which is mentioned by the author of the tract in the Harleian Miscellany, as well as by Reresby and Barillon, is the identical manuscript which forms the subject of Dr. Anster's remarks.

Within a few weeks this singular volume has been added by purchase to the National Collection of Manuscripts in the British Museum, previous to which I ascertained, by a careful comparison of its pages with several undoubted letters of the Duke of Monmouth (an advantage Dr. Anster did not possess), that the whole of the volume (or nearly so) is certainly in the Duke's handwriting. This evidence might of itself be deemed sufficient; but some lines written on the fly-leaf of the volume (which are passed over by Dr. Anster as of no moment) confirm the fact beyond all cavil, since, on seeing them, I immediately recognised them as the autograph of King James himself. They are as follows:

"This book was found in the Duke of Monmouth's pocket when he was taken, and is most of his owne handwriting."

Although the contents of this volume have been already described in general terms by Dr. Anster, yet it not perhaps be uninteresting to give a may more detailed list of what is written in it: 1. Receipts "for the stone;" "to know the sum of numbers before they be writ doun;"" pour nettoyer l'ovrages de cuyvre argenté;"" for to make Bouts and Choos [Boots and Shoes] hold out water;" and "to keep the goms well." — pp. 1—4. 8. 2. Magical receipts and charms in French, written partly in an abbreviated form, accompanied by cabalistic figures. Two of these are to deliver a person out of prison, and are no doubt the same which Sir John Reresby refers to. pp. 5. 7. 9. 11-17.

"The forme of a bill of Excheng," drawn on David Nairne of London, from Antwerp, May 16, 1684, for 2007. sterling,

p. 6.

4. Astrological rules in French for finding out any thing required; together with a planetary wheel, dated 1680, to show life or death in case of illness, also happiness and adversity. — pp. 19—25.

5. Directions" pour savoire si une person sera fidelle ou non," &c. At the bottom is a cypher, in which a stands for 10, b for 52, &c., p. 27. All this is entered again at pp. 45. 47.

6. "The way from London to East Tilbery," dated December 1, 1684. — p. 29.

7. Prayers for the morning and evening, pp. 31—43, 8. List of the Christian names of women and men. —pp. 44. 46. 48.

9. Arithmetical table of the number 7, multiplied from 1 to 37:- pp. 49. 51.

10. Receipts "to take away a corne;" "a soveraign water of Dr. Stephens ;" "to make the face fair;" "to make golden letters without gold;""to kip iron from rusting;" "to write letters of secrets;" "to make hair grow;" "to make hair grow black, though of any colour;" and several more.—pp. 52 -61.

11. Casualties that happened in the reigns of the English sovereigns, from William I. to Queen Mary inclusive; consisting chiefly of remarkable accidents, and reputed prodigies.—pp. 62-78. "Socrates, Platon, Aristote et Ciceron ont fait ces trente Comandemens pour leurs disciples."- pp.78,

12.

79.

13. "A receipt for the Farcy."-p. 81.

14. A poem intitled "The Twin Flame, sent mee by M P."— pp. 83–91.

The words in Italics have been scribbled over with the pen for the purpose of concealment. The verses commence :

"Fantastick wanton god, what dost thou mean,

To breake my rest, make mee grow pale and lean." 15. Receipts for secret writing, to take impressions of prints upon glass, to boil plate, &c. pp. 93-98. 16. Several songs in English and French, pp. 99

107.

-

Among them are the verses printed in "NOTES AND QUERIES, Vol. i., p. 199., beginning "With joie we do leave thee," accompanied by the musical notes; and also a song commencing "All ye gods that ar above," with the musical notes. It is most probable that these songs are copied from printed sources; but as they have been conjectured to be compositions by Monmouth himself, the following short specimen may not be unacceptable, copied literatim.

"O how blest, and how inocent,
and happy is a country life,
free from tumult and discontent;
heer is no flatterys nor strife,
for t'was the first and happiest life,
when first man did injoie him selfe.

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