is the sun, the monogram of Wynkyn de Worde—the letters W. C. displayed as usual—and beneath, "Wynkyn de Worde."

At the beginning of the book, "sur une garde en vélin" (a fly-leaf of vellum?), there is written in a very neat hand the following ten verses, the profession of faith of Thomas Morus and of his friend John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester:

Beneath—

And lower on the same page—

It is traditionally reported, upon the testimony of some Anglican Benedictines (an order now extinct), that the lines which contain the profession of faith, and those which follow, are in the handwriting of Bishop Fisher, and that the work was presented by him to the chancellor, during their imprisonment, when by order of Henry VIII. the chancellor was denied the consolation of his books.

In the same library there is a fine Psalter, which belonged to Queen Elizabeth. The Livre d'Heures of Mary Queen of Scots was here also to be found: "Maria, glorious martyr and Queen of Scotland." It is conjectured these books were brought to Douai by the fugitive English Roman Catholic priests. In 1790 their collections were confiscated and given to the public library of Douai. It would be of interest to ascertain, if possible, the authenticity of the Heures à l'Usage, stated to have belonged to Mary Queen of Scots. Upon this point one may be permitted to be sceptical. I have myself seen two. One of these, it was said, had been used by Mary on the scaffold, and contained a note in the handwriting, as I think, of James II. attesting the fact. It was understood to have been obtained from a monastery in France. The other, a small Prayer Book MS. in vellum, of good execution, had the signature "M." with a line I think over it of "O Lord, deliver me from my enemies!" in French. I am, however, now writing from memory, and, in the first case, of very many years.

Whether the line, "Maria, glorious martyr and Queen of Scotland," be written in the Psalter, or has been added by the mental excitement of M. Duthillœul, the librarian at Douai, I cannot decide. The grand culmination of "and Queen of Scotland" forms doubtless a very striking anti-thesis: but neither the possessor of the book nor a priest would have so sunk the martyr, although a woman and a queen were alike concerned, as this line does. Lowndes states there is a copy of the bishop's treatise on vellum at Cambridge. A copy is in the British Museum; but the title, according, to Lowndes, has seven sermons. It will be observed the title now given has ten.

S. H.

NOTES ON NEWSPAPERS.

The social elements of society in the seventeenth century were more simple in their character and development than at the present period. The population was comparatively small, and therefore the strivings for success in any pursuit did not involve that severe conflict which is so frequently the case in the present day. Society then was more of a community than it is now. It had not public bodies to aid it. It was left more to its own inherent resources for reciprocal good, and for mutual help. The temptations to evade and dissemble, in matters of business, or private and public negotiations, were not so strong as they now are. Its transactions were more transparent and defined, because they were fewer and less complicated than many of our own. We readily grant that society now, in its social, religious, and commercial aspects, enjoys advantages immeasurably superior to those of any former period; still there are some few advantages which it had then, that it cannot possess now. The following advertisements, from the newspapers of the time, will illustrate the truth of the foregoing remarks:

From a Collection for Improvement of Husbandry and Trade.

Friday, January 26, 1693/4.

"One that is fit to keep a Warehouse, be a Steward, or do any Business that can be supposed an intelligent Man that has been a Shopkeeper is fit for, and can give any Security that can be desired, as far as Ten Thousand Pound goes, and has some Estate of his own, desires an Employment of One hundred Pounds a year, or upwards. I can give an account of him."

That a man having 10,000l. to give as security, and in possession of an estate, should require a situation of 100l. per annum, sounds oddly enough in our ears. "I can give an account of him," denotes that the editor was a man well known and duly appreciated. He appears to have been a scribe useful in many ways. He was known, and knowing.

Friday, February 2, 1693/4.

"A very eminent Brewer, and one I know to be a very honest Gentleman, wants an Apprentice. I can give an account of him."

In what sense the word "honest" must here be taken it is difficult to define. As an eminent brewer, we should naturally conclude he must have been an honest man. He is here very eminent and very honest.

Friday March 16, 1693/4.

"Many Masters want Apprentices, and many Youths want Masters. If they apply themselves to me, I'll strive to help them. Also for variety of valuable services."

Here is the editor of a paper offering his help to masters and apprentices for their mutual good. Let us suppose an advertisement of this kind appearing in The Times of our own day. Printing-house Square would not contain a tithe of the individuals who would present themselves for the reception of this accommodating aid. In such a case the editors (as it regards their particular duties) would be cyphers, for a continuous absorption of their time would necessarily occur in the carrying out of this benevolent offer. This advertisement may be considered as multum in parvo, giving the wants of the many in an announcement of three or four lines, connecting them with a variety of services which in those days were thought to be valuable. How greatly are we assisted by these little incidents in forming correct views of the state of society at that period.

The next advertisement shows the value set upon the services of one who was to perform the duties of a clerk, and to play well on the violin.

"If any young Man that plays well on a Violin, and writes a good Hand, desires a Clerkship, I can help him to Twenty Pounds a year."

Of course twenty pounds was of more value then than it is now: still it seems a small sum for the performance of such duties, for twelve months. Here is musical talent required for the amusement of others, in combination with the daily duties of a particular profession. An efficient musician, and a good writer, and all for 20l. per annum! We learn by the editor's "I can help him," his readiness to assist all who would advertise in his journal, to obtain those employments which their advertisements specified.

Friday, April 6, 1694.

"A Grocer of good business desires an Apprentice of good growth."

The "good growth" must have been intended to convey the idea of height and