by Abraham Fleming.—Herevnto is annexed the pleasant tale of Hemetes the Heremite, pronounced before the Queenes Maiestie. Newly recognised both in Latine and Englishe, by the said A. F.—(
Greek characters).—The badge of wisedome is baldnesse.—Printed by H. Denham, 1579." 8vo. B. L.
If I am not greatly mistaken, your readers will look in vain for a notice of the book in any collected list of the many productions of Abraham Fleming; if I am not greatly mistaken, also, some of them will be disappointed if I do not subjoin a few sentences describing more particularly the contents of the small volume, which (speaking as a bibliographer) extends to sign. F. iiij in eights.
At the back of the title-page is "The life of Synesius drawen out of Suydas his gatherings," in Greek and in English. Then comes "The Epistle Apologeticall to the lettered Reader," signed "Thine for thy pleasure and profile—Abraham Fleming," which, in excuse for taking up so slight a subject, contains a very singular notice of the celebrated John Heywood, the dramatist of the reign of Henry VIII., and of his remarkable poem The Spider and the Fly. The Pretie Paradoxe, by Synesius, next commences, and extends as far as sign. D v. b. This portion of the tract is, of course, merely a translation, but it includes a passage or two from Homer, cleverly rendered into English verse. Here we come to the word Finis, and here, I take it, it was originally intended that the tract should end; but as it was thought that it would hardly be of sufficient bulk for the money (4d., or 6d. at the utmost), a sort of appendix was added, which, on some accounts, is the most interesting part of the work.
It is headed "The tale of Hemetes the Heremite, pronounced before the Queenes Maiestie," which Warton, who clearly never saw the book, calls the "Fable of Hermes." In fact, it is, with a few verbal changes, the tale of Hemetes, which George Gascoigne presented, in Latin, Italian, French, and English, to Queen Elizabeth, and of which the MS., with the portraits of the Queen and the author, is among the Royal MSS. in the British Museum. Fleming tells us that he had "newly recognised" (whatever may be meant by the words) this tale in Latin and English, but he does not say a syllable whence he procured it. Gascoigne died two years before the date of the publication of this Paradoxe, &c. so that Fleming was quite sure the property could never be challenged by the true owner of it.
Before I conclude, allow me to mention two other pieces by A. Fleming (who became rector of St. Pancras, Soper-lane, in 1593), regarding which I am anxious to obtain information, and seek it through the medium of "Notes and Queries."
A marginal note in Fleming's Translation of Virgil's Georgics, 1589, 4to., is the following:—"The poet alludeth to the historic of Leander and Hero, written by Museus, and Englished by me a dozen yeares ago, and in print." My question is, whether such a production is in existence?
Fleming's tract, printed in 1580 in 8vo. (miscalled 16mo.), "A Memorial, &c. of Mr. William Lambe, Esquier," is well known; but many years ago I saw, and copied the heading of a broadside, which ran thus:—"An Epitaph, or funerall inscription vpon the god lie life and death of the Rightworshipfull Maister William Lambe Esquire, Founder of the new Conduit in Holborne, &c. "Deceased the 21st April Anno. 1580. Deuised by Abraham Fleming." At the bottom was—"Imprinted at London by Ilenrie Denham for Thomas Turner," &c.
In whose hands, or in what library, I saw this production, has entirely escaped my memory; and I am now very anxious to learn what has become of that copy, or whether any other copy of it has been preserved. J. Payne Collier.
ROYAL HOUSEHOLD ALLOWANCES.
The following warrant for the allowance of the "diet" of a lady of the bedchamber, will be found to be a good and curious illustration of the Note of Antiquarius upon the domestic establishment of Queen Elizabeth, although more than half a century earlier than the period referred to, as it relates to the time of Elizabeth's majestic sire:—
"HENRY R. By the King.
"We wol and commaunde you to allowe dailly from hensforth unto our right dere and welbilovede the Lady Lucy into hir chambre the dyat and fare herafter ensuying; Furst every mornyng at brekefast oon chyne of beyf at our kechyn, oon chete loff and oon maunchet at our panatry barre, and a Galon of Ale at our Buttrye barre; Item at dyner a pese of beyfe, a stroke of roste, and a rewarde at our said kechyn, a cast of chete bred at our Panatrye barre, and a Galon of Ale at our Buttry barre; Item at afternone a manchet at our Panatry bar and half a Galon of Ale at our Buttrye barre; Item at supper a messe of Porage, a pese of mutton and a Rewarde at our said kechyn, a cast of chete brede at our Panatrye, and a Galon of Ale at our Buttrye; Item at after supper a chete loff and a maunchet at our Panatry barre, a Galon of Ale at our Buttrye barre, and half a Galon of Wyne at our Seller barre; Item every mornyng at our Wood yarde foure tall shyds and twoo ffagottes; Item at our Chaundrye barre in winter every night oon pryket and foure syses of Waxe with eight candelles white lights and oon torche; Item at our Picherhouse wekely LIX white cuppes; Item at every tyme of our remoeving oon hoole carre for the cariage of her stuff. And these our lettres shal be your sufficient Warrant and discharge in this behalf at all tymes herafter. Yeven under our Signet at our Manour of Esthampstede the xvjth. day of July the xiiijth. yere of our Reigne.
