Dominus fac totum with the king"—seems to point us to some ecclesiastical origin for the derivation of our familiar word "factotum." Does any one know the precise whereabouts of such a phrase in the Ancient Service books? C. F. S
INSCRIPTION ON ANCIENT ALMS-BASINS.
Mr. Editor,—In the parish church in which I officiate are preserved four ancient and curious alms-basins, of latten; they appear to be of Flemish workmanship, and, from inventories of the church goods, made at different times, we may gather that they were given for their present use during the seventeenth century. They represent:—1. The Martyrdom of St. Sebastian; 2. The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin; 3. The Temptation in Eden; and 4. The Spies bearing the grapes. Around each of these subjects is a legend in foreign characters, "der. infred Gehwart." I have submitted this inscription to antiquaries and German scholars in vain; it still remains a puzzle. It has been suggested that it may have been only an arbitrary mark of the maker. Is this probable? If not, will you, or one of your readers, give the interpretation to Clericus?
[We have much pleasure in inserting the foregoing Query, and trust that many of our correspondents will follow the example of Clericus, by furnishing us with copies of the inscriptions on any ancient church plate in their possession, or which may come under their notice. A comparison of examples will often serve to remove such difficulties as the present, which perhaps may be read DERIN FRID GEHWART, "Therein Peace approved;" Gewâren being used in the sense of Bewahren, authority for which may be found in Wackernagel.]
NOTES OF BOOK SALES—CATALOGUES, ETC.
It is our purpose from time to time to call the attention of our book-buying friends to the approaching sales of any collections which may seem to us to deserve their attention: and to any catalogues which may reach us containing books of great rarity or curiosity. Had we entertained no such intention we should have shown our respect for the memory of that intelligent, obliging, and honourable member of the bookselling profession (to whom a literary man rarely addressed a Query, without receiving in reply a Note of information worth preserving), the late Mr. Thomas Rodd, by announcing that the sale of the first portion of his extensive and valuable stock of books will commence on Monday next the 19th instant, and occupy the remainder of that week.
The following Lots are among the specimens of the rarities contained in this portion of Mr. Rodd's curious stock: —
189 Acts of Parliament, Orders, Declarations, Proclamations, &c. 1657 to 1660, the original Papers and Broadsides collected and bound in 1 vol. calf. 1657-60
⁂ This very important volume contains the Acts, &c. during the period intervening between Scobell's Collection and the recognized Statutes of Charles II. As the laws during this period have never been collected into a regular edition, a series of them is of the greatest rarity.
194. Æsop, Fables, translated from the French by William Caxton, curious wood engravings black letter, VERY RARE, imperfect, old russia
Emprynted by Richard Pynson (no date)
⁂ This edition is altogether unknown and undescribed. The present copy commences with signature C 1, and extends to sig. S (v) in sixes, on the reverse of which is the above colophon, with Pynson's device underneath. It wants sheets A and B, and E (iiii).
380 Cellii (E.) Eques Auratus Anglo-Wirtembergicus: id est, actus admodum Solennis; quo Jacobus Rex Angliæ, &c. Regii Garteriorum supremus ac Frid. Ducem Wirtembergicum, per Rob. Spencer Barnoem declaravit, portrait woodcut Tubing. 1605
⁂ This was Sir Wm. Dethick's copy, Garter King at Arms, who accompanied Lord Spencer in his journey: in it he has written some very curious circumstances respecting the journey, and of the ill-treatment he experienced from Sir Rob. Spencer and Wm. Seager, "a poore paynter, sonne of a base fleminge and spawne of a Jew," with an account of the family of Dethick, or De Dyk, of Derbyshire and Staffordshire.
475 Christine of Pisa. The Fayt of Arnes and of Chyvalrye
black letter, one leaf inlaid and three or four beautifully fac-similed, otherwise a fine and perfect copy, russia extra, gilt leaves, by C. Lewis Westmestre, per Caxton, MCCCCLXXXIX
⁂ This work consists of 139 leaves, exclusive of the table, occupying two leaves. The colophon of the Printer is one of great interest, filling the two last pages. It thus commences:—"Thur endeth this boke, whiche xpyne of pyse made and drewe out of the boke named Vegecius de re militari and out of tharbre of bataylles, wyth many other thynges sett in to the same requisite to werre and batailles, which boke beyng in Frēnshe was delyvered to me Willm Caxton by the most crysten kinge and sedoubted prynce, my naturel and souvrayn
