opinion, not only very kind in him, but also so reasonable and advantageous in regard of you, that if I were in your circumstances, I should very readily and thankfully embrace them. I am not acquainted with the temper of the inhabitants of Mary-Land; but I can hardly believe them to be such as you apprehend them to be, for several reasons which I refer to our meeting. You best know what hopes, not of preferment, but subsistence, you have here, and consequently can judge better than I whether the accepting this be for your interest or not. I can only say that this disposal of yourself is extreamly better, than (what you have proposed to me) the laying yourself out on English Antiquities; by which you cannot do half the good you may in the other station; nor yet make any provision for your own subsistence,*

this opportunity of inserting another prayer, derived from the same source, which exemplifies Hearne's character, as much, perhaps, as any anecdote that has descended to us. "O most gracious, and mercifull Lord God, wonderful in thy providence, I return all possible thanks to thee for the care thou hast always taken of me. I continually meet with most signal instances of this thy Providence, and one act yesterday, when I unexpectedly met with three old MSS. for which, in a particular manner, I return my thanks, beseeching thee to continue the same protection to me, a poor helpless sinner, and that for Jesus Christ his sake."

* Mr. Cherry proved a false prophet in this instance, for Hearne by his publications relating to History and Antiquities amassed a considerable fortune. One thousand guineas

which is certainly the duty of every one in your condition. I think the best thing you can do is to come hither as soon as you receive this, and. then we can discourse farther about this matter, and you may from hence send your positive answer to Dr. Kennett. But write to him by the first post to tell him so. Bring my Kinsman's* battelst with you, and you shall have money to discharge them and your own.

I am,

Your real friend,

Shottesbrooke, Dec. 12, 1700.

F. CHERRY.

LETTER XLVIII.

Mr. WANLEY to Dr. CHARLETT.

The meaning of the title DAN.

HONOR'D SIR,

Castle-yard, 21 May, 1701.

I RETURN you my humble thanks for all the favors you have been pleas'd already to

in gold were discovered in his chamber at Edmund Hall, after his decease.

* Mr. Francis Cherry, Hearne's chum or chamber fellow.

Expences for provisions in the University; a word probably derived from the Saxon Tælan, Telan, or Tellan, numerare, computare, part. initiali be, ut sæpissime, additâ. Francis Cherry, Esq. of Shottesbrooke, in Berkshire, who generously defrayed all the expences of Hearne's educa

tion at Oxford,

confer upon me; and yet I can't be content with these, but must continue to beg more. This, Sir, is like the world; we know scarcely any so proper to beg a kindness of, as him from whom we have received many before. My present requests are, that you will be pleas'd to acquaint Mr. Thwaytes that I can't get ready any copy for the press, till I have the 20th printed sheet of my Catalogue sent me. Another is, that you will be pleased to excuse my long silence to Mr. Hudson, (which, truly, I'me asham'd of, and will suddenly break thro') and desire him to get somebody or other to take the titles of all those written songs in that MS. whose marks are Arch. B. Seld. 10. And of Mr. Selden's printed volume of songs or ballads, which lies somewhere in 4to. C. Art. Seld. I remember not the particular number; but it may be found in Dr. Hyde's printed Catalogue, if you please to look therein at the word Dan Hew.* And by the

The tale of Dan Hew, which gave rise to this letter, greatly resembles that of Little Hunchback in The Arabian Nights Entertainments. The Bodleian copy which is probably the only one now in existence, was formerly in the collection of the celebrated Thomas Newton, the publisher of Leland's Encomia, Trophaa, &c. in 1589. It is bound up with twenty or thirty metrical romances, and coming afterwards into the hands of the learned Selden, is now among his books in the Bodleian, (4to. C. 39. Art. Seld.) It is entitled, Amery Felt of Dane Hew munk of Leiceftre,

way, Mr. Hudson will find a little mistake in the catalogue, as to this very song. For Dan. Hew,

and how he was foure times flain and once hanged. His tragical history is briefly this:-Dan Hew, notwithstanding his religious vows, and holy profession, was unable to withstand the force of his amorous inclinations, which were excited by the personal charms of a taylor's wife dwelling near the abbey. It does not seem that the friar endeavoured to check this improper passion, for instead of avoiding the object of his desires, his only aim was to gratify them with her. He

thought alway in his minde,

When he might her alone findez

And how he might her allay,

And if the would not to fap him nay.

at length he was fortunate enough to meet with her in pri vate, when he assures her, that unless she consents to yield her virtue to his solicitations, he shall certainly go distracted; and he adds, moreover, that he is determined to enjoy her, whatever expence it costs him. This latter declaration excites a desire in the taylor's wife to obtain his money, to delude him, and remain faithful to her husband: so apparently yielding to his arguments, she engages to submit to his love on the next day, when her husband is to go out of town, provided the reward may be sufficient. The friar, overjoyed at this promised completion of his wishes, says he will give her twenty nobles, and make "good cheer." He then departed to wait, with impatience, for the next day, and the promised appointment. When he was gone, the taylor returns, to whom his wife immediately recounted what had past, and at last they resolve, that when Dan Hew comes on the next day, the taylor shall shut himself up in a large chest, and surprise the guilty friar, so soon as he has paid

seems to intimate as if the monk's name was Daniel Hew; whereas it should be Dan Hew

his money. On the following morning, Dan How, as soon as it was light, hastened to the taylor's house;

He thought that he had palt his hourez
Then softly he knocked at the taylor's door.
She rose up and bad him come neer

And faid, fir, welcome be pe heer.

The wary priest inquires whether she is certain they are secure from all interruption. She assures him her husband is out of the town, and will not return till the afternoon. He believes all safe, and catching her in his arms is about to injure the poor taylor in the tenderest part, when the lady with more prudence than passion, declares she will not suffer any liberties to be taken with her, till she has received the reward.

Giue me the twenty nobles firft,

And doo with me then what pe lift.

"By my priesthood," exclaims the delighted, but ill-fated, friar, you shall have them," and he threw the twenty nobles into her lap. "Now, sir," said she, "wait till I have put them away into this chest, and then we will devote the time to feasting and dalliance." The priest consents, and it need scarcely be added, that this is the signal for the taylor's appearance, who declaring he will effectually cool the friar's unruly passions,

hit Dane Hew vpon the hed, That he fell down ftark dead. Thus was he first flain in deed.