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LETTER LXXX.*

Dr. HICKES to Dr. CHARLETT.

On the Bad Omens at King James the Second's Coronation.

DEAR SIR,

Jan. 23, 1710-11.

I AM SO taken up with writing additions to the third edition of my book, that of late I have scarce written letters to any, but can defer my humble thanks no longer for your kind n. year's gifts, the stately Almanack and the Orationes ex Poetis Latinis, where, after looking upon the title page, I happened to dip in p. 46, where I cast my eye on the Sortes Virgiliana of Charles I.

At Bello Audacis Populi vexatus, &c.

This gave me some melancholy reflections for an hour or two, and made me call to my mind the story of Bernini, and his bust, burnt in Whitehall. It made me also call to mind the omens that happened at the coronation of his son James II. which I saw, viz. the tottering of his crown upon his head, the broken canopy over it, and the rent flag hanging upon the white tower overagainst my door, when I came home from the coronation. It was torn by the wind at the same

* This Letter is printed, but incorrectly, in Seward's Anecdotes.

time the signal was given to the tower that he was crowned. I put no great stress upon omens, but I cannot despise them; most of them I believe come by chance, but some from superior intellectual agents, especially those which regard the fate of kings and nations. I pray give my most humble service to S. Ph. Syd. and all my friends, and accept the same from him, who is, with true respect, Sir,

Your most obliged,

And humble servant,

GEO. HICKES.

LETTER LXXXI.

Mr. MADOX to Dr. CHARLETT.

History of the Exchequer.

REVEREND SIR,

I PRAY you to pardon me for the

trouble of this Letter.

If you please I would desire your assistance in a small affair; viz. to get my History of the Exchecquer to be placed in the College Libraries at Oxford; in like manner as thirteen of the books have been sent to thirteen College Libraries in Cambridge, and paid for three months ago.

The impression stands me in 400l. purely in paper and print, and there are but 480 copies

printed. So that when all the books shall be sold, I shall be but just able to pay the charges, with a trifling overplus.

Mr. Lewis Thomas, the Printer, will receive the money and deliver the books.

This affair has given me much perplexity, and perfectly cured me of scribling.

With much respect, I am,

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WHEN I was this last summer in the country, I visited some of the neighbouring Churches, and took in writing the Inscriptions, coat-armour, and what else I met with observable.

* The large and valuable collections relating to the feudal history of this country, made by Mr. Madox, extend to ninety-four volumes in folio and quarto. by his widow to the British Museum, remain.

These were given where they now

The Inscriptions, &c. of one Church and Chapel I here send you inclosed, as I copied them from the originals, with all their faults and imperfections; as you will find in Sir Water Waller, for Sir Walter Waller; moring dres, for mourning, for morning dresse; tous jous, for tous jours, &c, If these are acceptable to you, at my leisure I will send you more; but for the future I think not to trouble you with the Coat-Armour, which I took down only for my own satisfaction and curiosity, tho' sometimes, perhaps, it may be of service in distinguishing families, marriages, &c.

It is great pity we have not more ancient funeral inscriptions extant; for they serve not only to preserve the memory of persons, but often to clear and illustrate the civil history and antiquities of the nation. The merciless havock that was made of them at the Reformation, and in the Rebellion, is irreparable, and not to be forgiven. And of those mentioned by Weever,*

"Ancient Fvnerall Monvments within the united monarchie of Great Britaine, Ireland, and the Islands adiacent, with the dissolued Monasteries therein contained: their Founders, and what eminent Persons haue beene in the same interred-&c. &c. Composed by the studie and trauels of John Weever." Printed in folio, at London, 1631. A second edition, being a mere reprint, appeared in 4to. London, 1767. The work contains a Discourse of Funeral Monuments in general, and the Monuments themselves in the dioceses of Canterbury, Rochester, London, and Nor

there are in some churches but few remaining; as I have found upon examining several of them.

I am, Sir,

Yr. very humble Servt.

Ormond Street,

Octob. 17, 1711.

J. THORPE.

wich. It is much to be lamented that the author did not live to complete his arduous undertaking, or to enter upon the more modern inscriptions which he says, in his preface, it was his intention to do. As it is, however, he has left us

a very valuable book, and

one of good authority, notwithstanding the complaint of honest Anthony Wood, that he was too credulous in many matters. I transcribe a few of the most singular epitaphs for the reader's amusement: "Elisabeth Poodde. Sittingborn, Kent.

I was as yee be, now in dust and clay,

Haue mercy on my sowl yat bowght it with yi bloode,

For Elisabeth of cherite a pater-noster say,

Sumtymes I was the wyff of Edmonde Poodde."

"Thomas Alefe and Margaret his wife.

Page 279.

Milton, Kent,

Thomas Alefe, Esquir, and Margaret bys wyff,

Ly vndir this playn ston;

God grant her euirlastyng lyff,

To whom we hop thar gon:

He dyed as her ys to be sine,

On Thowsand five hundryd thirty nine.

Who so that for ther sowles will pray,

God giue hem meede at Doomys day.”

p. 282.

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