only witnesses of it, was not by either signing their names to it or affixing their seals to it, but by making the sign of the cross after their several names, which were written at the end of the insrument by Living, the clerk, or priest, whom Thorold had employed to prepare and write it out. The art of writing was not, in this remote age, and even for three or four centuries after it, known to, or practised by, the generality of people in England, even in the upper ranks of life, but was confined to the clergy and the monks, or some of them, who had received a learned education, and the scriveners, or other practisers of some branch of the profession of the law. And the other manner of executing written instruments, by putting a seal upon some melted wax at the bottom of the instrument, which is now in use, had not yet been introduced into England, but was so fifteen years after, or at the time of the conquest, and was then very strongly enforced by the authority of the Conqueror, to the exclusion of the former practice of executing written instruments by each party's affixing the sign of the cross immediately after his own name that had been written by the clerk, . or scrivener, who had prepared and written out the instrument. And the very name of these instruments of the conveyance, or transfer of lands, which had till then been called chirographs, was changed to the word charters, which has ever since continued in use. This we are distinctly told by Ingulphus in page 70 in the following words: "Alias etiàm consuetudines [Normanni] immutabant. Nam Chirographorum confectionem Anglicanam, (quæ anteà usque ad Edwardi Regis tempora fidelium præsentium subscriptionibus, cum crucibus aureis, aliisque sacris signaculis, firma fuerunt,) fuerunt,) Normanni condemnantes, Chirographa Chartas vocabant, et chartarum firmitatem cum cereâ impressione per uniuscujusque speciale sigillum, sub instillatione trium vel quatuor testium astantium cons ficere constituebant. It may further be observed concerning the foregoing grant of the manor of Spalding to the abbot of Crowland, that it was ratified, or confirmed, by Wulfin, Bishop of Dorchester, because both Spalding and Crowland Abbey were at that time in the diocese of Dorchester, the seat of which diocese was afterwards, (in a famous English ecclesiastical council, consisting of bishops and abbots of monasteries, holden, first, at the festival of Easter in the 6th year of the reign of King William the Conqueror, A. D. 1072, in the King's chapel in the castle of Winchester, and afterwards in the following festival of Whitsuntide, in the same year, at the royal town (villâ regia) of Windsor, in the presence of the king himself and of Hubert, the legate of pope Alexander the Ind.) transferred to the city of Lincoln, as we are informed by the following passage of Ingulphus, in page 93: "In isto codem Consilio Statutum est et decretum, secundùm scita Canonum, quòd Episcopi, transeuntes de villis, transferrent sedes suas ad suarum Diocesium civitates. Dorcas trensis ergò migravit in Lincolniam, Lichefeldensis in Cestriam, Selesiensis in Cicestriam, Shireburnensis in Salesbiriam, et Ælmanensis in Thetford. Lindisfarnensis autem à diù transierat in Dunelmum." ART. ART. X. The Manners and Customs of the principal Nations of Europe. Gathered together by the particular observation of James Salgado, a Spaniard, in his Travels through those Countries; and translated into English by the Author's care. 1684. London, printed by T. Snowden, for the Author. 1684. pp. 4. Folio. Anno This little tract displays great discrimination of character in the various manners and peculiarities of the German, Englishman, Frenchman, Italian, and Spaniard, in counsel, faith, love, stature, clothes, science, &c. &c. The original Latin, and its translation, are printed in parallel columns; and the following selection may be sufficient to shew the genius of the work; which is rather satirical, and often severe on the Spaniards. In Fide. Germanus retinet promissum; Diffidit Anglus; Respicit ut Centrum sua commoda: Nec dubitamus In Faith. The German's firm; the English doth distrust; In Animo & Audacia. Ursa etenim es, Germane, ferox; Ac, ut Leo sævus, Hispanusq, Elephas, pondera magna feret. In Courage and Mind. Rough like a bear, the Germans seem to us; W. H. ART. XI A Booke of the Inuention of the Art of Nauigation, and of the greate trauelles which they passe that saile in gallies. Compiled by the famous Sir Anthonie of Gueuara, Bishop of Mondonnedo, Preacher, Chronicler and Counseller unto the Emperour Charles the Fift. Dedicated by the said Authour, vnto the famous Sir Frances de la Cobos, great Comptroller of Leon, and Counseller vnto the said Emperour Charles the Fift. Wherin are touched most excellent antiquities, and notable aduertisements for such as saile in gallies. Imprinted at London for Ralph Newberrie dwelling in Fleete streate. Anno 1578.* "To the Right Honourable the Lord Charles Haward, Baron of Effingham, and Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter: Edward Hellowes wisheth long life, with the fullnesse of all perfect felicitie. * A small quarto, not paged, and has only the printer's marks. See Herb. 905. "Right Noble, "I not onely directed by the glorious Gueuara in this example, and treatise which he dedicated vnto a noble man of Spaine, and in singular fauor with the Emperour Charles the Fifte; but also constreyned with the oppression and burthen of your bountie, wanting all other mean either of abilitie or facultie, to discouer my dutiful affection, with the more boldnes, not without regard of the mildnes of your humantie, with an humble feare to be noted of mine owne parte, of some presumption, or want of due consideration of any imperfection of the matter, do present, respecting your age and honour annexed unto the rare vertues of fortitude and temperance, with the experience of the sea and sea matters, with shippes and shipping, wherein approued trial, no lesse worthie credite, hath made knowne vnto all persons not insensible, your readines and aptnes in all weathers, to manure not only the meanest matters, as all maner of cordage and tackle within boord, namely sheat, halliard, bowline, tacke and helme, with such other, as also the vse and practise of the Astrolobe, Balistilio, Carde and Compasse, but also the diligent searche in knowledge, of all capes, forelands, shores, portes, creekes, hauens, races, tides, bankes, and rockes: all which things although not vsuall to noble men, and yet most necessarie vnto all manner persons, that haunteth the seas: expresseth kinde to be an assured guide, to yeld vnto your honour more expertnes than is common or easily obteyned, to be heyre and successour of Neptune's charge and gouernement: this small treatise, (as a subiecte in nature) were it of worthines sufficient, most due unto your honour. But barren prouision impayring my good P 2 |