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THE DUKE OF MONMOUTH'S POCKET-BOOK

It is reasonable to conclude, that the article copied from Chambers' Edinburgh Journal, in No. 13., furnishes the strongest evidence that can be adduced in support of the opinion, that the book in the possession of Dr. Anster is the one found on the Duke of Monmouth when captured, after his defeat at Sedgemoor; and, if so, it is impossible to admit the hypothesis, because a portion of the contents of the real book has been given to the world and contains matter far too important to have been passed over by Dr. Anster, had it existed in his volume. In the 6th edition of Dr. Welwood's Memoirs of the most material Transactions in England for the last Hundred Years preceding the Revolution in 1688, printed for "Tim. Goodwin, at the Queen's Head, against St. Dunstan's Church, in Fleet Street, 1718," the following passage is to be found at p. 147.:—

"But of the most things above mentioned there is an infallible proof extant under Monmouth's own hand, in a little pocket-book which was taken with him and delivered to King James; which by an accident, as needless to mention here, I have leave to copy and did it in part. A great many dark passages there are in it, and some clear enough that shall be eternally buried for me: and perhaps it had been for King James's honour to have committed them to the flames, as Julius Cæsar is said to have done on a like occasion. All the use that shall be made of it is, to give in the Appendix some few passages out of it that refer to this subject, and confirm what has been above related."

In the Appendix the following extracts are given from the Duke's book:—

"October 13. L. came to me at eleven at night from 29, told me 29 could never be brought to believe I knew anything of that part of the plot that concern'd Rye House; but as things went he must behave himself as if he did believe it, for some reasons that might be for my advantage. L. desired me to write to 29, which I refus'd; but afterwards told me 29 expected it; and I promis'd to write to-morrow if he could call for the letter; at which S.L. shew'd a great concern for me, and I believe him sincere though S is of another mind.
"14. L. came as he promis'd and receiv'd the letter from 3 sealed, refusing to read it himself, tho' I had left it open with S. for that purpose.
"20. L. came to me at S. with a line or two from 29 very kind, assuring me he believed every word in my letter to be true; and advis'd me to keep hid till he had an opportunity to express his belief of it some other way. L. told me that he was to go out of town next day and that 29 would send 80 to me in a day or two, whom he assured me I might trust.
"25. L. came for me to –, where 29 was with 80. He receiv'd me pretty well, and said 30 and 50 were the causes of my misfortune and would ruin me. After some hot words against them and against S., went away in a good humour.
"26. I went to E– and was in danger of being discover'd by some of Oglethorpe's men that met me accidentally at the back door of the garden.
"Nov 2. A letter from 29 to be to-morrow at seven at night at S. and nobody to know it but 80.
"3. He came not, there being an extraordinary council. But 80 brought me a copy of 50's intercepted letter, which made rather for me than against me. Bid me come to-morrow at the same hour, and to say nothing of the letter except 29 spake of it first.
"4. I came and found 29 and L. there; he was very kind and gave me directions how to manage my business and what words I should say to 39. He appointed 80 to come to me every night until my business was ripe and promised to send with him directions from time to time.
"9. L. came from 29 and told me my business should be done to my mind next week, and that Q. was my friend, and had spoke to 39 and D. in my behalf; which he said 29 took very kindly and had expressed so to her. At parting he told me there should be nothing requir'd of me but what was both safe and honourable. But said there must be something done to blind 39.
"15. L came to me with a copy of a letter I was to sign to please 39. I desired to know in whose hands it was to be deposited; for I would have it in no hands but 29. He told me it should be so; but if 39 ask'd a copy it could not well be refus'd. I referred myself entirely to 29's pleasure.
"24. L. came to me from 29 and order'd me to render myself to-morrow. Cautioned me to play my part, to avoid questions as much as possible, and to seem absolutely converted to 39's interest. Bad me bear with some words that might seem harsh.
"25. I render'd myself. At night 29 could not dissemble his satisfaction; press'd my hand, which I remember not he did before except when I return'd from the French service. 29 acted his part well, and I too. 39 and D. seemed not ill pleas'd.
"26. 29 took me aside and falling upon the business of L.R. said he inclined to have sav'd him but was forc'd to it, otherwise he must have broke with 39. Bid me think no more on't. Coming home L. told me he fear'd 39 began to smell out 29's carriage. That – said to 39 that morning that all that was done was but sham.
"27. Several told me of the storm that was brewing. Rumsey was with 39 and was seem to come out crying that he must accuse a man he lov'd.
"Dec. 19. A letter from 29 bidding me stay till I heard farther from him.
"Jan. 5. I received a letter from L. marked by 29 in the margin to trust entirely in 10; and that in February I should certainly have leave to return. That matters were concerted towards it; and that 39 had no suspicion, notwithstanding of my reception here.
"Feb. 8. A letter from L. that my business was almost as well as done; but must be so sudden as not to leave room for 39's party to counterplot. That it is probable he would choose Scotland rather than Flanders or this country; which was all one to 29.
"16. The sad news of his death by L. O cruel fate!"

Dr. Welwood cautiously adds, in a note:—

"That by 29 and 39 King Charles and the Duke of York seem to be meant. But I know not what to make of the other numbers and letters, and must leave the reader to his own conjectures."

There can, I apprehend, be little doubt that the L.R., under the date of November 26, were meant to indicate the patriotic Lord Russell.

The whole of these extracts possess the highest interest, establishing as they do several points referred to by historians. It is curious to remark the complete subjection in which Charles, at this period, stood towards his brother; occasioned, perhaps, but the foreign supplies which he scrupled not to receive, being dependant on his adhesion to the policy of which the Duke of York was the avowed representative. Shortly before his death, Charles appears to have meditated emancipation from this state of thraldom; and Hume says,—

"He was determined, it is thought, to send the Duke to Scotland, to recall Monmouth, to summon a parliament, to dismiss all his unpopular ministers, and to throw himself entirely upon the good will and affections of his subjects."

This passage accords with the entries in Monmouth's pocket-book under the dates of Jan. 5. and Feb. 3. If the unfortunate Monmouth could have foreseen the miserable end, with all its accompanying humiliations and horrors, to which a few months were destined to bring him, his exclamation, "O cruel fate!" would have acquired additional bitterness.

C. ROSS.

[We insert the foregoing as serving to complete the series of interesting notices connected with the capture of Monmouth which have appeared in our columns, rather than from an agreement with the views of our valued correspondent. Dr. Anster states, that in the pocket-book in his possession, the Duke's movements up to the 14th March, 1684-5, are given. Would he kindly settle the question by stating whether the passages quoted by Weldon are to be found among them?]

QUERIES

WOOLTON'S CHRISTIAN MANUAL

One important use, I conceive, of the "NOTES AND QUERIES" is, the opportunity it presents of ascertaining the existence of rare editions of early printed books. Can any of your readers state where a copy or copies of the following may be found?

"The Christian Manuell, or the life and maners of true Christians. A Treatise, wherein is plentifully declared how needeful it is for the servaunts of God to manifest and declare to the world: their faith by their deedes, their words by their work, and their profession by their conversation. Written by Jhon Woolton, Minister of the Gospel, in the cathedral church of Exetor. Imprinted at London by J.C. for Tho. Sturruppe, in Paules Church yarde, at the George, 1576. Dedicated to Sir William Cordell knight, Maister of the Rolles.—At Whymple 20 Nouember 1676. N 7, in eights."—Copy formerly in the possession of Herbert. (Herbert, Typographical Antiquities, vol. ii. p. 1094.)

There is an imperfect copy, I understand, in the Bodleian. Access to another copy has been needed for an important public object, in order to transcribe the leaf or leaves wanting in the Bodleian copy; and the book, so far as I am aware, does not occur in any other public libraries.

Woolton was nephew to Nowell, author of the Catechisms. He wrote several other pieces, and was Bishop of Exeter 1579-1593. (Wood, Athen. Oxon. ed. Bliss, vol. i. pp. 600, 601.)

T.

Bath, April 9. 1850.

LUTHER'S TRANSLATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT:—1 JOHN, v. 7

In an article of the Quarterly Review (vol. xxxiii. p. 78.) on this controverted passage of St. John's Epistles, generally attributed to the present learned Bishop of Ely, the following statement is made respecting Luther:—

"Let it also be recollected, to the honour of Luther, Bugenhagius, and other leaders of the Reformation, that in this contest they magnanimously stood by the decision of Erasmus. Luther, in his translation of the New Testament, omitted the passage; and, in the preface to the last edition (in 1546) revised by himself, he solemnly requested that his translation should on no account be altered."

Since such was the injunction of Luther, how does it happen that this verse appears in the later editions of his Testament? I have looked into five or six editions, and have not found the verse in the two earliest. These bear the following titles:—

"Biblia dat ys. de gantze hillige Schrifft verdüdeschet dorch Doct. Mart. Luth. Wittemberch. Hans Lufft. 1579." (in folio.) "Dat Neu Testamente verdüdeschet dörch D. Mart. Luth. mit den korten Summarien L. Leonharti Hutteri. Gosslar. In Iahre 1619."

The verse appears in an edition of his Bible printed at Halle in 1719; in his New Testament, Tubingen, 1793; in one printed at Basel in 1821; and is also to be found in that printed by the Christian Knowledge Society. In the Basel edition the verse is thus given;—