While on the subject of charades, can any of your correspondents inform me of either the authorship or the answer of the following:
"Sir Hilary charged at Agincourt-- Sooth! 'twas a fearful day! The Rufflers of the camp and court Had little time to pray. 'Tis said Sir Hilary utter'd there Two syllables, by way of prayer-- The first to all the young and proud Who'll see to-morrow's sun; The next, with its cold and quiet cloud, To those who'll meet a dewy shroud Before to-day's is gone: And both together to all bright eyes, That weep when a warrior nobly dies."
I quote from recollection, so perhaps have omitted part, but believe it to be pretty correct. I heard it at the same time as the one quoted in No. 31., and believe both to be hoaxes, as no answer I have heard (including that given in No. 35.) can be considered satisfactory. The former charade was attributed at the time to the late Archbishop of Canterbury, and it was reported that a reward of 100l. was promised for the correct answer, and I know that a clergyman sent him an answer with that belief. Among the answers suggested was "Tapir," taken in its various significations, which I think was as near the mark as "Church," as given in No. 35.
I have never heard any answer suggested to Sir Hilary's dissyllabic prayer.
_Discursus Modestus_ (Vol. i., pp. 142. 205.).--Such of your readers as have been making inquiries and suggestions respecting _Discursus Modestus_ will { 159} be glad to hear that a copy exists in the British Museum. Its title is as follows:
"A Sparing Discoverie of ovr English Iesuits, and of Fa. Parson's proceedings vnder pretence of promoting the Catholick Faith in England: for a caueat to all true Catholicks, ovr very louing brethren and friends, how they embrace such very uncatholike, though Iesuiticall deseignments. Eccles. 4. _Vidi calumnias quæ sub sole geruntur, et lachrymas innocentium, et neminem consolatorem_.--Newly imprinted, 1601."
At the end of the Preface are the initials W.W., making it clear that Watson, the author of _Important Considerations_ and the _Quodlibets_, was the writer, and accounting for the connection which seemed to exist between the _Discursus_ and the _Quodlibets_.
The two passages quoted by Bishop Andrewes (_Resp. ad Apol._ pp. 7. 117.) are to be found in p. 13. But the question now arises, from what earlier book the quotations are taken, as they both appear in the _Sparing Discovery_ in Latin, and not in English? Did the Jesuits publish a work containing such statements? or are we to accept them as their opinions only on the authority of so bitter an opponent as Watson?