'THE IMITATION OF CHRIST' (8th S. vi. 6).

-Much information on the 'Imitation' can be seen in 'The Story of the "Imitatio Christi," by L. A. Wheatley, in the "Book-Lover's Library, London, 1891. Chap. ix. is on "The Manuscripts," chap. x. on the "Printed Editions and Translations." There is mention of Rebecque's work in the list of authorities, p. xiii.

ED. MARSHALL. LOCUSTS (7th S. xii. 84, 272, 410, 513).—The apt illustration does not always come just when wanted, but on its appearance it should receive a welcome. It was clearly proved at the above references that the insect locust is eaten, and is even palatable, and further confirmation of the fact may now be given, not because it is needed, but as the evidence is at first hand and possesses distinct interest. The Scottish poet Thomas Pringle (1789-1834), after being co-editor with another of the magazine that developed into Blackwood, and having had other untoward experiences in Scotland, settled for a time in South Africa. One result of his sojourn there was his poems entitled 'African Sketches' (1828), in one of which the "Wild Bushman" is made to sing of his independence. One of the stanzas of his vigorous song runs thus :—

The crested adder honoureth me,
And yields at my command
His poison-bag, like the honey-bee,
When I seize him on the sand.
Yea, even the wasting locust-swarm,
Which mighty nations dread,
To me nor terror brings nor harm-
For I make of them my bread.

Pringle's note on the point is to this effect :

"The Bushmen,' says Capt. Stockenstrom, consider the locusts a great luxury, consuming great quantities fresh, and drying abundance for future emergencies.' Locusts are in like manner eaten by the Arabs of the Desert, and by other Nomadic tribes in the East."

My father, who, though he was of Oriel College, was well acquainted with Bishop Parsons, both at Colchester and at Oxford, often told me that he was a son of the Common Room man at Corpus Christi College. This quite agrees with the information supplied by MR. W. SYKES at the latter reference. As the bishop's wife was an Oxford lady, doubtless a search in the registers of its parishes about the end of the last century and the beginning of the present would reveal her name and parentage. It was always said in my time that the bishop took the first steps towards throwing open our scholarships, in which he was followed by that most worthy man Dr. Jenkyns, his successor in the mastership. E. WALFORD, M.A.

ST. FAGAN'S, Near Llandaff (8th S. vi. 129). C. S. F. F. will find a brief account of this village in the 'Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales,' vol. ii. p. 687. It is stated that the manor belonged in the twelfth century to Sir Peter de Vele, who built here a castellated mansion. I do not, however, know whether the information will assist your correspondent. Nothing is said in connexion with the tradition of the saint.

CHAS. JAS. FERET.

Calendar of the Patent Rolls preserved in the Public Record Office.-Edward 111., A.D. 1330-1334. (Stationery Office.)

For

THIS volume, like most of its companions, has been compiled with great care. Every attention seems to have been paid to minute details, so that for nearly every purpose for which these Patent Rolls can be required by will be found as serviceable as the original record. The the historical inquirer or the antiquary the 'Calendar' index is most exhaustive, consisting of 170 doublecolumned pages. We trust that this Calendar' will become well known to continental students, for there is much in it which proves of interest to them. example, a charter of Henry I. is recited, in which that king confirmed to the monks of Noion all that William of Evreux had given them in England, as also such land as they had received at the hands of William the Conqueror himself. The charter was executed at York. As usual, no date is given; but that might be determined within narrow limits by the names of the witnesses, among whom were Thurston, Archbishop of York; John, Bishop of Lisieux; Stephen, Earl of Mortain; and several other of the great Norman nobles. There is much, too,

about Ireland. The index gives many references, not only under "Dublin," but to nearly every important town in the island.

It is well known to Yorkshire antiquaries that the grave of Thomas of Lancaster, who was beheaded for taking up arms against Edward II., was at Pontefract, and continued to be a place of pilgrimage down to the Reformation, though it seems certain that he was never canonized. We believe that local antiquaries have differed as to the place where the body rested. This seems to be settled by a protection granted for a space of two years to Nicholas de Ponte Fracto, a monk, Robert de Weryngton, and Simon de Sartrina, and their messengers, while they were employed collecting alms for building the Church of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, "wherein the body of Thomas, late Earl of Lancaster, lies buried," and also for a chapel which stood on the spot where he was beheaded. Many protections of this sort occur, sometimes to those who go over sea on pilgrimage, at others to persons serving the King or engaged in merchandise. Not only were the Scots unpleasant neighbours, but there were constantly serious riots, which seem to have originated rather from personal than political motives. In 1330 we find that Richard de Grey of Codenour had been besieged in his manor of Turrock, in Essex, his doors and windows broken, and his goods carried away. At about the same time the head of the great house of Mowbray complains that a band of lawless folk-seemingly, from their names, Yorkshiremen of the neighbourhood of Ripon had stolen from him forty horses, three hundred sheep, not to mention deer, hares, rabbits, and pheasants.

Calendar of Entries in the Papal Registers relating to Great Britain and Ireland.-Papal Letters. Vol. I. A.D. 1198-1304. Edited by W. H. Bliss. Rolls Series. (Stationery Office.)

THE archives of the Vatican were thrown open to students of all nations by order of the present Pope. In former times they were so jealously guarded that we have been told that even high dignitaries of the Roman Church have failed in gaining permission to consult them. Now we believe that there is no difficulty thrown in the way of any person who makes application having proper credentials.

The task Mr. Bliss has undertaken is one of the greatest importance. The Papal Registers consist of upwards of two thousand volumes, covering a period of more than four hundred years. The instalment before us contains the entries relating to our country in forty-seven volumes. The editor informs us that the system of registration employed in the Papal Chancery was less perfect than that employed in England, and that there are still preserved in the Record Office, the British Museum, and elsewhere many original Papal Bulls of which no copies are to be found in the Papal Registers. The cause for these omissions he does not explain. Though the series of documents recorded here is imperfect, it is still of immense value. In the Middle Ages the influence of the Roman Church was felt in every village in the land. There is probably not an old family in England whose history is not touched upon at some point or other by these Papal documents. In running our eye down the columns of Mr. Bliss's index to the present volume we have encountered several; but we apprehend that the succeeding volumes of the series will contain a far greater amount of matter of first-rate genealogical importance.

The editor has added greatly to the usefulness of the volume by giving an index of subjects. The references under the head of "Pluralities" show to what a shameful length the habit of accumulating benefices had grown. Bogo de Clara, concerning whom there are several references here, is said to have been the greatest

pluralist of his time; but he seems to have found many imitators. We apprehend that there is no one who would defend the shameful practice of giving English benefices to foreign ecclesiastics; but we are sometimes assured that the amount of the evil has been much exaggerated. This seems not to have been the case, at least during those years covered by the present Calendar.'

Forging of documents purporting to have emanated from the Holy See was a common practice in the thirteenth as in earlier centuries. To such a highly dangerous pitch had it reached that we find Innocent IV. communicating with a certain Master Bernard de Nimpha, a Papal agent living in England, that it was his will that certain forgers of Papal letters should be deprived of their benefices and sent to prison, while certain ecclesiastics of the dioceses of Worcester, Durham, Salisbury, Lincoln, and Winchester, who, it seems, were to have been benefited by these frauds, are summoned to Rome, that they may, if possible, clear themselves.

Did true idolatry exist in Ireland, we wonder, as late as 1256, or is the use of the word a figurative one, meaning the practice of magic? The Bishop of Raphoe was ordered to visit with the censures of the Church certain laymen in his diocese who worshipped idols, intermarried within the prohibited degrees; and when told of their faults disputed against "the Catholic faith and the authority of the Apostolic See."

We most of us have an impression that, whatever may have been the faults of our medieval forefathers, they almost universally treated the churches with reverence. There are several passages here, however, which lead to a contrary conclusion. During the pontificate of Gregory that the Pope had to interfere to hinder the churches IX. the evil had become so great in the diocese of Lincoln being made houses of merchandise.

THE next volume of the "Elizabethan Library' will be a selection from the works of Ben Jonson, under the title Brave Translunary Things,' edited by Dr. Grosart,

Notices to Correspondents.

We must call special attention to the following notices: ON all communications must be written the name and address of the sender, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

WE cannot undertake to answer queries privately.

must observe the following rule. Let each note, query, To secure insertion of communications correspondents or reply be written on a separate slip of paper, with the signature of the writer and such address as he wishes to appear. Correspondents who repeat queries are requested to head the second communication "Duplicate."

T. ("The Rodiad"). The work is attributed to Colman in some booksellers' catalogues. We fancy the ascription rests on the authority of that astute bookseller who invented the attractive title, "The Buckle Tracts."

BRAMLEY HANTS ("Shig Shag Day").-See 1st S. xii. 100; 5th S. iv. 129, 176; 6th S. i. 474; íí. 16.

CORRIGENDUM.-P. 153, 1. 20, for "Treso" read Tresco.

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