could impart to any subject, still exists only in probably four or five copies of the original folio numbers. How many of the advocates for free trade are acquainted with a production in which one of the most gifted minds that the country ever produced, exerts his delightful powers and most effectual "unadorned eloquence" in the support of their favourite doctrine?

I do not see any copy of the Mercator noticed in the printed catalogue of the British Museum. I owe my own to the kindness of MR. BOLTON CORNEY, who allowed me to possess it, having purchased it, I believe, at Mr. Heber's sale.

JAS. CROSSLEY.

PUNISHMENT OF EDWARD PRINCE OF WALES, BY KING EDWARD I., FOR DISRESPECT TO A JUDGE.

MR. FOSS has lately shown, in his valuable lives of The Judges of England, that historical accuracy has been sacrificed in representing Henry V., on his accession, to have re-invested Sir William Gascoigne with "the balance and the sword." Lord Campbell, warned that chroniclers, historians, moralists, and poets had, without historical warrant, taken for true the story which Shakspeare has made so familiar to us, has, in his Lives of the Chief Justices, examined the evidence for attributing to the young king the act of magnanimity, and has affirmed (vol. i. p. 131.) not only that Sir William committed the prince, but that he actually filled the office of Chief Justice under him when he became Henry V. The noble and learned lord has been at some pains to authenticate the story of the commital of the prince, and has shown that there is no sufficient reason for disbelieving that the dauntless judge did make "princely power submit" to justice; and he has brought forward also the probable sources of Shakspeare's information. But these are silent as to the reinstatement of the illustrious judge; and MR. FOSS has established that the young king lost no time in dispensing with the "well-practised wise directions" of Sir William Gascoigne. One is really sorry to be obliged to relinquish belief in the historical foundation of the scene to which Shakspeare has given such fine dramatic effect in his noble lines. My object, however, in now writing is to point out a circumstance in some respects parallel, which occurred in the reign of Edward I. In looking thorough the Abbreviatio Placitorum to-day, I find the record of a judgment in Michaelmas Term, 33 Edw. I. (1305), in which a curious illustration is given of the character of that sovereign; for it appears that Edward Prince of Wales having spoken words insulting to one of the king's ministers (when and to whom I wish I could ascertain), the monarch himself firmly vindicated the respect due to the royal dignity in the person of its servants, by banishing the prince from his house and presence for a considerable time. This anecdote occurs in the record of a complaint made to the king in council, by Roger de Hecham (in Madox the name occurs as Hegham or Heigham), a Baron of the Exchequer, of gross and upbraiding language having been contemptuously addressed to him by William de Brewes, because of his judgment in favour of the delinquent's adversary. The record recites that such contempt and disrespect towards as well the king's ministers as himself or his courts are very odious to the king, and proceeds—— but I will give the original:

"Que quidem (videlicet) contemptus et inobediencia tam ministris ipsius Domini Regi quam sibi ipsi aut cur' suæ facta ipsi Regi valde sunt odiosa, et hoc expresse nuper apparuit idem Dñs Rex filium suum primogenitum et carissimum Edwardum Principem Walliæ p' eo quod quedam verba grossa et acerba cuidam ministro suo dixerat ab hospicio suo fere p' dimid' ann' amovit, nec ipsum filium suum in conspectu suo venire p'misit quousq' dicto ministro de 'pdicta transgress' satisfecerat. Et quia sicut honor et reverencia qui ministris ipsius Dñi Regi ratione officii sui fiunt ipsi Regi attribuuntur sic dedecus et contemptus ministris suis facta eidem Dño Regi inferuntur."

And accordingly the said Edward was adjudged to go in full court in Westminster Hall, and ask pardon of the judge whom he had insulted; and for the contempt done to the king and his court was then to stand committed to the Tower, there to remain during the king's pleasure. (Abb. Plac. lib. impres. p. 257.)

Roger de Hegham occurs as a Baron of the Exchequer in 26 Edw. I., and died 2 Edw. II. (Madox, ii. 58.)

WILLIAM SIDNEY GIBSON.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

NOTE ON THE WORD "Αδελφος."

I have attempted to ascertain the primary signification of the word "αδελφος," for the purpose of laying down a rule for its right interpretation in the sacred scriptures. If I have succeeded, we may be enabled to understand rightly one or two disputed passages in the New Testament, of which I hope to treat in a subsequent number.

Thus says Scapula on the word:

"Αδελφος, frater propriè, frater uterinus; fit enim a dictione δελφυς, uterus; et α significante ομου, pro ομοδελφος."

His etymology, as far as it goes, is quite correct: but still, we must trace its different parts up to the fountain-head, in order to understand the word aright. Let us then first take away its prefix α, and its constructive affix ος, and the remaining δελφ will be found to be a compound word, derived from the Sanscrit language, proving its identity therewith by means of the intermediate Semitic dialects.

Chaldee dul, situla, urna, a vessel for holding liquor. Arabic dal, a fat woman. These primary steps lead us to a passage in Isaiah li. 1., "the hole of the pit:" where the idea (not the word) is contained, and forms a connecting link between the Chaldee and Sanscrit; where, by taking t for d (a letter of the same organ), we have Sanscrit tal, a hole, pit, cause, origin, &c.; talla, a young woman, reservoir, pit, &c.; Greek (from the Syriac) ταλιθα, a damsel, Mark v. 41.; and by affixing the Sanscrit pha, or pa, fruitfulness, nourishment, drink, &c., we get talpa, a wife, bed, &c. Hebrew dalaph, stillavit. Syriac dalpha, conjunctio venerea. Delilah, a proper name, Judges xvi. 4. We thus ascertain that δελ-φ relates to the fruit or fruitfulness, &c. of the womb: and by putting the constructive affix υς = the Sanscrit as or us, we have δελφυς, uterus, &c.

We now come to the most important part of the compound αδελφος, viz. the Sanscrit ā =