"Si prolixa facit sapientem barba: quid obstat
Barbatus fiat quin caper ipse Plato?"

On turning over my manuscripts, some time since, I, to my surprise, found amongst them, in the hand-writing of a juvenile poet, the following diversified translation of the above epigram:

1.

"If wisdom by the flowing beard is shown,
How can a goat from Plato's self be known?"

2.

“If beards mark wisdom, then a he goat may too
With his long beard pass off himself for Plato."

3.

"If length of beard gives depth of wisdom, why
With Plato's self may not a he goat vie?”

4.

"If in the beard lies wisdom, who can well

A bearded goat from sapient Plato tell?”

It is not for me to decide on the comparative merit of these respective translations-all that I can say, gentle reader, is,

Utrum horum

Mavis accipe."

NOTE 7-(p. 163.)

"Frankelein." For the explication of this word I must extract the following note from Tyrwhitt's Chaucer, vol. iv. p. 150: "A Frankelein.] Fortescue de L. L. Ang. c. 29, describes a Franklain to be a Pater Familias-magnis ditatus possessionibus. He is classed with, but after, the Miles and Armiger; and is distinguished from the Liberi tenentes and Valecti; though, as it should seem, the only real distinction between him. and other Freeholders consisted in the largeness of his estate. Spelman, in v. Franklein, quotes the following passage from Trivet's French Chronicle : MS. Bibl. R. S. n. 56. Thomas de Brotherton, filius Edwardi 1. Mareschallus Angliæ, après le mort de son pere esposa la fille de un Francheleyn apelée Alice.' The Historian did not think it worth his while even to mention the name of the Frankelein."

• De Laudibus Legum Angliæ.

The foregoing extracted note from Tyrwhitt's Chaucer does: not fully satisfy my mind, as to the precise meaning of the term frankelein, as applicable to a particular grade of life; and I, therefore, humbly offer these further suggestions of my own. The frankelein I suspect to be one of a class, which arose up towards the close of the feudal system, and strictly pointed out the independent Country Gentleman, whose landed property was franked, i. e. freed, from the exaction of feudal serviceswho was no longer required to attend his superior lord to the wars in the barbarous ages; but yet, so honourable was the profession of arms in the barbarous ages, that the armiger, or squire, took precedence of the frankelein, who stayed "at home at ease." From this grade of society originated, obviously, the well-known name of Franklin.

NOTE 8 (p. 169.)

"John Taylor, the Water Poet." This votary of the Muses was born at Gloucester about 1580. He became a waterman on the Thames, and plyed the oars for his support. From thence he received the designation of" The Water Poet." He wrote in the reigns of Elizabeth and James, the First. His works are scarce, and of a high price. In the year 1623 this endowed Son of Nature took it into his head to make a voyage with his wherry, and five men, from London to Christchurch, and from thence up the Avon to the City of Salisbury; and he declares his object to be-a survey of that river for the purpose of ascertaining what impediments, if any, existed to the rendering of it navigable from the Sea. The tract, which he wrote on this occasion, he entitled "A Discovery by Sea from London to Salisbury." He dedicated it, in a short address, "To the Nobility, Gentry, and Commonalty, who are Inhabitants, or well-wishers to the Welfare of the City of Salisbury, and County of Wiltshire."

After a short preamble in prose, declaratory of his purpose, the poetic furor seizes him, and he launches forth into a poem, in which he, in a pleasing manner, relates his passage from London to Christchurch Haven. The remainder of his tract is then completed in prose-he describes his passage up the River Avon: "As I passed vp the Riuer" (says he)" at

the least 2000 Swans, like so many Pilots, swam in the deepest places before me, and shewed me the way. When I came to the towne of Ringwood (14 miles short of Salisbury) I there met with his Maiesties Trumpeters, and there my fellowes, Mr. Thomas Vnderhill, and Mr. Richard Stocke, Mr. Thomas Ramsay, Mrs. Randall Lloyd, with others which I name not, did walke on the banke, and gaue mee two excellent flourishes with their Trumpets, for the which I thank them in print and by word of mouth. At last I came to a Towne called Forthing Bridge, where, (not many dayes before) a grieuous mischance. happened: For two men being swimming or washing in the Riuer, a Butcher passing ouer the Bridge (with a Mastiffe Dogge with him) did cast a stone into the water, and say, A Ducke; at which the Dogge leapd into the Riuer, and seazd vpon one of the men and kild him and the Butcher leaping in after, thinking to saue the man, was also slaine by his owne Dogge, the third man also hardly escaping, but was likewise bitten of him.

"From thence I passed further to a place called Hale, where we were welcomed by the Right Worshipfull Sir Thomas Penruddock, Knight, whom we carried there in our Boat, and who, I am assured, will bee a forward and a liberall benefactor towards cleering of the Riuer.

"So passing in our course by the Villages of Burgate, Breamer, Chartford, Downton, & Stonely, we came to Langford, where we were well entertained by the Right Honourable the Lord Edward Gorges (Lord Baron of Dundalk, and Captain of his Maiesties strong and defencible Castle of Hurst, in Hampshire) to whom in loue and duty we proffred the gift of our tattred, wind-shaken, and weather-beaten Boate, which (after our being at Salisbury, being but two miles from thence) his Lordship accepted. And though hee knew shee was almost vnseruiceable, yet his Noble bounty was such, that hee rewarded vs with the price of a newe Boate. I had some conference with his Honour, concerning the impediments and clensing of the Riuer, and I know hee is most forwardly and worthily affected towards it, and no doubt if it be pursued, that then hee will doe that which shall become a Gentleman of his Honourable calling and Ranke."

The poetic waterman then argues, at considerable length, on the advantages which would arise to the City of Salisbury

from the making of the river navigable, which, he gives his opinion, might be easily done. It appears, that he, with his five strong, and hardy, companions, did more than, I ween, our present local amateurs of the wherry, and the boat, could do— they made their voyage from Christchurch Haven e'en to the City of Salisbury in one day!-for thus saith Taylor: "So on the same Friday at night wee came to Salisbury, where wee brought our Boate thorow Fisherton Bridge, on the west side of the City, taking our lodging at the signe of the King's Head* there, with mine Host Richard Estman, whose brother, Thomas, was one of the Watermen, which came in the Boate thither from London." On the next day, Taylor relates, he walked over to Wilton House, with which, it appears, he was well pleased, as he breaks forth into a poetical eulogy on the occasion.

His scheme seems to have drawn forth the following pamphlet: "A modest representation of the benefits and advantages of making the river Avon navigable from Christchurch to the city of New Sarum. Humbly submitted to the consideration of the city afore-mentioned, and the counties bordering upon the said river," &c. By J. H. (James Hely) London. 1672. 4to.

The notion, that the rendering the Avon navigable from Christchurch to Salisbury would be highly advantageous to that City, so increased in strength, that a subscription for the purpose was raised. This was in the days of the beneficent, and learned, Bishop Seth Ward, who took a very lively interest in the cause, insomuch, that Dr. Walter Pope, in his "Life" of that excellent Prelate (when relating his "Acts of Charity" towards the Citizens of Salisbury) saith: "He also contributed largely towards making their River navigable, not only with his Money, but Advice, and dug the first Spadeful himself, when they began that Work. He also made several Journeys in their behalf to the King and Council, and answer'd the Objections, which several Hampshire Gentlemen made against it, as I have briefly mentioned in the Salisbury Canto, Part 1, Stanzas 12, 13." In allusion to these facts the jocund author (who was his Chaplain) thus addresses him in the Stanzas, above alluded to, of his celebrated "Salisbury Ballad:"

XII.

"You first made the Salisbury Men understand
Their River might easily be taught

* This public-house still exists under the same sign.-E. D.

To bear Ships up and down, and enrich the Town,
And you were the first at it wrought.

XIII.

"Twas you, that kept up the Citizens' Hearts,
Or the Giants had over born them;

For them you did ride, for them you reply'd ;

"Twas you brought their Vessels to Harnham."

The pamphlet, before spoken of, was printed in the year 1672, and the scheme, for rendering the river navigable, was, I suspect, completed within the three following years, as it seems to appear from the tenor of the following second pamphlet: "Avona; or transient view of the benefit of making the rivers of the kingdom navigable. Occasioned by observing the situation of the City of Salisbury upon the Avon, and consequence of opening that river to the City; communicated by letter to a friend in London." By R. S. London, 1675. 8vo. To what extent the plan was effected, and how long the navigation of the river was carried on, I am unable to say; but Francis Price, in his able "Observations on the Cathedral Church of Sarum," published in the year 1753, makes the following remarks, which I beg leave fully to extract: "It is well known" (says he) "to the inhabitants of these parts, that a scheme for making the river Avon navigable to Christ-church in Hampshire, was in some degree carried into execution. And here let it be observed, that for the more easy conveyance of the barges up and down this rapid current, curious locks, or wares, were made across the river, particularly one at a small distance below Harnham bridge, which is also below the church: Thus was the river pent up, and raised to an unaccustomed height. Through this means the Close of Sarum, and the neighbourhood in general, became affected by an unusual quantity of water; and the soil, where the cathedral-church is situated, abounding in springs, it seems probable, that their usual discharges were at these times obstructed by the quantity of water in the river, and so forced to return and empty themselves wherever a passage for them was open, as in and about the Church. And this consideration, I think, will account sufficiently for that appearance of water above the pavement of the Church at those times: And now I come to inquire into the causes of the removal of this annoyance, for the Church is now (and has been these sixteen years) perfectly free from it.