"Et dicitur a _Papæ_, quod est, interjectio admirantis, et vere admirabilis: quia vices Dei in terris gerit. Inde dixit ille Anglicus in poetria nova: _Papa stupor mundi._ Et circa fin., _Qui maxima rerum, nec Deus es nec homo, quasi neuter es inter utrumque_."
Who is the Anglicus Poeta? What is the name of his poem?
_Hornbooks._--Can either of your numerous intelligent readers give me an account of the hornbooks from which our ancestors learned their letters? If so, I shall feel especially obliged for the information.
_Ben Jonson, or Ben Johnson._--Among some papers I possess of the Digby family, I have an autograph poem on _The Picture of the Minde of the Lady Venetia Digby_, by Ben "Johnson." Is this the same as Ben "Jonson?" and if so, how comes it the "h" has been dropped from his name? Or was there some other Ben "Johnson," a poet of that period?
_MS. Book of Prayers belonging to Queen Catherine Parr._--In vol. ix. of the _Gentleman's Magazine_ is a description of a MS. book of prayers, bound in silver, which probably belonged to Queen Catherine Parr. Can you or any of your numerous readers inform me in whose possession the volume is _now_?
_Waltheof--De Combre Family--Ilda._--In _Waltheof, or the Siege of York_, an historical drama published at York, 1832, one of the _dramatis personæ_, Judith, the niece of the Conqueror, and daughter of the Countess of Albemarle, is made to say,--
"When gallant _Waltheof, as his country's champion_, On bus'ness of high import and high matters, _Oft at my royal uncle's court appeared_,
"We married privately. Two years and more have passed since this has happened, And one sweet pledge of love has crowned our vows."
1. Whether there be any historical authority for Waltheof being sent as envoy to William? and, if so, on what mission?
2. Is it not the more correct account, that the Conqueror gave his niece Judith in marriage to Waltheof _after_ the surrender of the city, [at the same time that he conferred other honours upon him, out of respect for his brave defence of the city; creating him, first, Earl of Northhampton and Huntingdon, and afterwards Earl of Northumberland, A.D. 1070.] And if so, as Waltheof could certainly not have had any "pledge of love" _before_ the siege of York; so neither is it probable that he had any issue at all by Judith, as in the same year, 1070, he was beheaded by William, for supposed participation in a conspiracy at York.