entered, and of which he so gloriously availed himself. Yet from his death up till 1814 he had remained, in the estimate of the uncritical, sole and undisputed master of this branch of literature. It is just a hundred years, says Mr. Dods in the opening of his Volume, since Dante enjoyed unchallenged the credit of having not only composed but invented the various pictures of his Divine Comedy. The first serious assailant of his originality was a countryman of his own, one Francesco Cancellieri, who, in 1814, accused the poet of copying the details of Purgatory and Hell from a certain manuscript which his learned critic then published for the first time.' Four years later Ollgo Foscolo poured out the vials of his wrath upon the attack in the Edinburgh Review (vol. xxx. Sept., 1818), but inadvisably, for later still both Ozanam and Labitte showed Dante's indebtedness to his precursors in Eschatology, the former stating calmly: Il trouvait cette tradition dans un cycle entier de légendes, de songes, d'apparitious, de voyages au monde invisible, où revenaient toutes les scènes de la damnation et de la béatitude Sans. doute il devaient mettre l'ordre et la lumière dans ce chaos, mais il fallait qu'avant lui le chaos existât.". Though, as the first sentence of my In April of last year a request was made in quoted remarks shows, I shared these viewsN. & Q.' concerning the name of a West in 1912, I have since found reason, based on Country priest who was executed in 1548. the logical fallacy cited above, to revise An answer was given the following May, them. Plumptre's charge of indebtedness that the priest was Martin Geoffrey who is, of course, more serious than Tozer's, took part in the Western rebellion. In but I now regard both as without proof. private correspondence on the above subThis not infrequent similarity of thought inject the name of a George Stocker was literary compositions is to me but an frequently mentioned; this man led a very interesting coincidence of cerebration. That adventurous life in the religious persecusuch a phenomenon is a commonplace of all tions towards the end of Elizabeth's reign, literatures need not, nor does it necessarily, as the three last references prove. Although imply conscious imitation, still less unin the list printed by Strype (Ann. III. 2-600) blushing plagiarism for which indebtedness George Stocker's name occurs under the is but a euphuism. But modern critics heading, "These persons are Seminary will not have it so. Given certain simipriests, being taken upon the seas or in larities of plot and ideas between authors prison at the time of the statute," I am engaged on the same subject-matter, and inclined to agree that he was not a priest incontinently servile assimilation if not but a lay gentleman. In 1851 his name downright pilfering is scented. The tall occurs more than once among the Pilgrims talk about turning other men's dross into from England to Rome ( Collectanea gold does not change the fact that it is the Typographica et Genealogica, vol. ii. p. 79). negation of creative power. Perforce this In a letter from the Scottish Jesuit Creighton gift is conceded to Shakespeare and Dante, to the Italian Jesuit Alfonse Aggazia, who but an enlightened criticism must exact, on in March, 1579, had been appointed Rector the strength of modern discoveries, a more of the English College at Rome, George than undesigned coincidence in the striking Stocker is mentioned, and there is little kinship of matter and treatment between doubt but at that time he was secretly their own productions and those of writers communicating with persons who were conon similar themes, whether pre-existing or spiring against Elizabeth; at that time he contemporaneous. So, while the former was said to be a gentleman living in exile drew upon Holinshead's and other Chronicles with the Earl of Westmoreland. He had for the plots of his plays and tinkered raw then doubtless for some time been suspected ones from unskilled pens as pot-boilers, and kept under observation. In 1586 the Babbington conspiracy (fixed for Aug. 24. Chambers) failed, and the conspirators scattered in every direction. Forerunners of Dante.' Marcus. Dods, 1903. 'Osservazioni sopra l'originalità della Divina Commedia di Dante.' Roma, 1814. As parts of Cymbeline' R. Whing in the Many were apprehended, and fourteen -66 66 prisoner in the Tower, the prison authorities, to gain information, mixed with the prisoners two notorious spies, Topcliff, and a man passing under the name of John Snowdon, but whose real name was Cecil : these spies are mentioned in MS. of the What ultimately became of Stocker and Heath I do not know; they probably died abroad. Bellamy, however, was sent back to the English prison not long after, having been seized by Duke Casimir, "the great Condottiere of the German Protestants.' He eventually procured liberty by money (ibid. 307a). Can any reader say if the above George Stocker was & relation of F. Augustine Stocker, O.S.B., who died in London 1668 ? CHARLES J. S. STOCKER. 8 Cathedral Close, Norwich. and 21. George Stocker and two of his 'friends, Robert Bellamy and Thomas Heath were arrested on suspicion of complicity in the plot, for among those executed was one, Jerome Bellamy of London and indictments were also brought against Elizabeth or Katharine Bellamy. Stocker was lodged | Cath. Rec. Soc. in the Tower, Feb. 7th, 1587/8, as we are informed in a list endorsed by Lord Burghley, July 2, 1588 (but the R.O. Calendar notes August, clearly"). The entry runs: "Februa. 1578, George Stocker, prisoner 6 months who hath bin in ffrance these XXtie years and came over to fetch the Earl of Westmorelands daughter." To this Lord Burghley had added a note to ye M,shlsey see Cath. Rec. Soc. 2. 282. However, in a list of Priests at Wisbech and prisoners in the Tower (which is undated but is earlier than October, 1588), there appears among the latter "George Stocker, the old Earl of Northumberland's man, and would have conveyed away his daughter, he came lately from Rome (see Cath. Rec. Soc., ii. 280). It is therefore uncertain who the lady was whom IT is to be hoped that Mr. George F. BosStocker came to fetch. In 1587/8 he admitted (under torture) that Philip Howard, Earl of Arundel, then also a prisoner in the Tower, had "prepared keys for opening of prison doors (Cath. Rec. Soc., xxi. 208). Stocker has left a touching relation of the sufferings of himself and others (Fr. J. H. Pollen, S.J., Acts of the English Martyrs,' p. 300). After their removal to Newgate to await trial, Stocker, Bellamy, and Heath managed to escape from prison and arrived in Edinburgh before Feb. 15, 1588/9 (Cath. Rec. Soc., xxi. 307). By September, 1589, they had succeeded in escaping to Spa. 66 In Lansdown MS. is a copy of a letter written by George Stocker to his friend Sir Anthony Snowdon, giving a graphic account of the escape of the three from Newgate, Having the tools of a carpenter brought thither to mend the floor of a room called Justice hall, they did therein cut certain joices, whereby they got down into a cellar which had a door into the street, which they opened and escaped." A letter to Sir Owen Hopton states "that whereas | George Stocker presentlie remayning in the Towre, being latelie apprehended, not long before came from the enemy out of the Low Countryes, having twice alreadie escaped, foreasmuch as he was known to have been a pensioner of the King of Spain." The torture of George Stocker by the Inquisition HISTORIC WALTHAMSTOW. worth, the local public librarian, the local clergy, and the Walthamstow Antiquarian Society, will be encouraged to continue their careful and scholarly explorations in the past history of the sometime Forest hamlet, for the edification of the immense industtrial population which has grown up in the north-eastern part of great London during the last two generations. WALTHAMSTOW AND SAMUEL PEPYS. References to Walthamstow in the famous Diary of Samuel Pepys are numerous, in relation to Sir William Batten ; Sir W. Penn (the father of the founder of Pennsylvania); Mr. Radcliff (the vicar who was Samuel Pepys's schoolfellow); the Brownes; the Jordans; the Shipmans, &c., showing that the City and the Services had, even early in the seventeenth century, appreciated the advantages which were offered by Walthamstow's rural and forestral amenities within an easy amble of Guildhall and the principal marts and exchanges of London town, and similarly convenient for the centre of the shipping and naval interests in the waterside hamlets eastward of the Tower. WALTHAMSTOW AND DICK TURPIN. Mr. Edwin Freshfield mentions the tradition that the plate of St. Mary's Church was taken and held to ransom by the notorious Whitechapel butcher-boy and highwayman, Dick Turpin; but so far as the the parish records have no reference to this incident; and Mr. Bosworth believes there is no foundation for the tradition. It is in fact a common form of the myths which have grown up around the personality of one who was a specially vulgar and brutal rogue without a spark of chivalry or gallantry in him. WALTHAMSTOW'S ST. MARY'S. The compiler of the Walthamstow monographs is justly express in acknowledging his indebtedness to the vicar (the Rev. H. D. Lampson, M.A.) for guidance and encouragement in the work of recounting the history of Walthamstow St. Mary's Church. Mr. Bosworth says: "When we remember that the Church has stood for more than 800 years we realise that it holds the chief place in the historical associations of Walthamstow. The Church aud Churchyard are the links that join the Walthamstow of to-day with the pre-Norman Wilcumstow, and remind us of our long and eventful history with all its tender memories of the past," The church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is probably on the site of an earlier building which was raised when Essex was converted to Christianity in the seventh century. St. Mary's Church is not mentioned in Domesday Book, and the earliest reference to it is about 1108 when it was conveyed to the Prior and Canons of the Holy Trinity, founded near Aldgate by Queen Maud, thus linking it with some of the earliest East London history. At that time the Manor of Walthamstow had come into the possession of Ralph de Toni by his marriage with Alice, daughter of Judith, the niece of William the Conqueror. WIGRAMS OF WALTHAMSTOW HOUSE. The Walthamstow Antiquarian Society will no doubt note that it is on the way to be forgotten, except in Poplar and Limehouse, that Walthamstow House was formerly the seat of the numerous Wigram family of which Sir Robert of Blackwall and alongshore fame was the head. It was from this house that Sir Robert Wigram rode (armed in anxious times) with six of his sons to the great shipyard and dock at Blackwall, or to the city offices of his various enterprises; and, returning, enjoyed the principal meal of the day at one or other of the great inns on the Woodford Road. Walthamstow House afterwards became a famous school under the successful headship of John Glennie Greig, LL.D., who died at Walthamstow, March 6, 1860, in his 58th SOME CHURCHYARD MEMORIALS. A muser in and around St. Mary's, Walthamstow, will recall that the following inscription was formerly on a window of the south aisle of the church : "Christen people praye for the soule of Robert Thorne, citizen of London, with whose goods thys chirche was newe edyfyd and fynyshed in the yeare of our Lord 1535." This was the Robert Thorne whose contribution towards the discovery of the North-East Passage is commemorated in Hakluyt's Voyages. The inscriptions on the tombs of St. Mary's churchyard include the following in relation to one who, as aforesaid, was prominent in the history of Poplar ships and shipbuilding, in ropemaking, in sailmaking, and in the brewing of strong beer : : "To the Memory of Ann Pearce, who died Feby. 22nd, 1822, at the house of Sir Robert Wigram, Bart., in whose family she lived fortyeight years and faithfully discharged her duty as Nurse to his twenty-three children, of whom nineteen survive her, and retain a grateful and affec tionate remembrance of her tender care and love towards them." Lord now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in Peace, according to Thy Word.' Mc. SHAKESPEARIANA. AN OMISSION IN MRS. COWDEN CLARKE' CONCORDANCE.-After having had this wonderful book in use for many years I have I am sure detected but one omission in it. that Mrs. Cowden Clarke would have herself wished this to be pointed out, that it might be included in the "Addenda " in future Under the word reprints of the work. "chide" should have been recorded the line : But I can give the loser leave to chide. 2 Hen. VI.,' III. i. 182. It is, however, registered under “loser.” ALEX. LEEPER. South Yarra, Melbourne. or The dram of eale Robs all the noble Substance of a doubt. The dram of eale Doth rob the noble Substance of a doubt. This represents the obvious meaning of the words, and is quite good English, but is it generally accepted? Is there, in short, any authority for it, or is it only a conjec- In other words "the smallest tincture of *ture? 3 Oakley Street, S.W.3. J. FOSTER PALMER. evil takes from the whole of the noble substance any trace of doubt as to its general badness," which is just what Shakespeare has said of the Danes and of "particular men in the passage preceding the crux. The difficulty in accepting MR. N. W. HILL'S suggestion of "lees" 66 and overdaub," is that the passage seems clumsy and has not the true Shakespearian ring about it. The suggestion offered above gives a better and more Shakespearian line. W. E. WILSON. Hawick. PRINCIPAL LONDON COFFEE-HOUSES, TAVERNS, AND INNS the parish records have no reference to this incident; and Mr. Bosworth believes there is no foundation for the tradition. It is in fact a common form of the myths which have grown up around the personality of one who was a specially vulgar and brutal rogue without a spark of chivalry or gallantry in him. WALTHAMSTOW'S ST. MARY'S. The compiler of the Walthamstow monographs is justly express in acknowledging his indebtedness to the vicar (the Rev. H. D. Lampson, M.A.) for guidance and encouragement in the work of recounting the history of Walthamstow St. Mary's Church. Mr. Bosworth says: "When we remember that the Church has stood for more than 800 years we realise that it holds the chief place in the historical associations of Walthamstow. The Church and Churchyard are the links that join the Walthamstow of to-day with the pre-Norman Wilcumstow, and remind us of our long and eventful history with all its tender memories of the past," The church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is probably on the site of an earlier building which was raised when Essex was converted to Christianity in the seventh century. St. Mary's Church is not mentioned in Domesday Book, and the earliest reference to it is about 1108 when it was conveyed to the Prior and Canons of the Holy Trinity, founded near Aldgate by Queen Maud, thus linking it with some of the earliest East London history. At that time the Manor of Walthamstow had come into the possession of Ralph de Toni by his marriage with Alice, daughter of Judith, the niece of William the Conqueror. WIGRAMS OF WALTHAMSTOW HOUSE. The Walthamstow Antiquarian Society will no doubt note that it is on the way to be forgotten, except in Poplar and Limehouse, that Walthamstow House was formerly the seat of the numerous Wigram family of which Sir Robert of Blackwall and alongshore fame was the head. It was from this house that Sir Robert Wigram rode (armed in anxious times) with six of his sons to the great shipyard and dock at Blackwall, or to the city offices of his various enterprises; and, returning, enjoyed the principal meal of the day at one or other of the great inns on the Woodford Road. Walthamstow House afterwards became a famous school under the successful headship of John Glennie Greig, LL.D., who died at Walthamstow, March 6, 1860, in his 58th SOME CHURCHYARD MEMORIALS. Walthamstow, will recall that the following A muser in and around St. Mary's, inscription was formerly on a window of the south aisle of the church :— "Christen people praye for the soule of Robert Thorne, citizen of London, with whose goods thys. chirche was newe edyfyd and fynyshed in the yeare of our Lord 1535.” This was the Robert Thorne whose contribution towards the discovery of the North-East Passage is commemorated in Hakluyt's Voyages. The inscriptions on the tombs of St. Mary's churchyard include the following in relation to one who, as aforesaid, was prominent in the history of Poplar ships and shipbuilding, in ropemaking, in sailmaking, and in the brewing of strong beer : 'KING JOHN,' IV. ii.-What is the generally accepted version of King John's remark to Hubert ? How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds I find this in some of the modern editions, as well as in that of 1695. This is neither sense nor grammar, though the meaning is clear enough. Surely "make (of whieh |