Prophesies: Lyons, 1572, under the head, "A mes Imprimeurs de Hongrie:"

In the only other edition to which I have the opportunity of referring, London, 1672, "Translated and commented upon by Theophilus de Garencieres," it is much amplified:

The more literal accuracy of this version, and the number of the quatrain (interpreted by the commentator to refer to the year of Charles's death), induce doubts as to its authenticity. Collections of early editions of Nostradamus are not of frequent occurrence in England: but I am told that a fine series exists in the "Bibliothèque du Roi," and as the subject is interesting, some one, perhaps, out of the many readers of "NOTES AND QUERIES" who will visit Paris this holiday time may be induced to examine them, and make a note of the earliest edition in which the latter form of the prediction occurs.

SPERIEND.

52. Quaker Expurgated Bible.

—In an extremely curious and interesting volume entitled Quakerism, or the Story of my Life, I meet with the following passage, p. 386.:

"About four years ago, an English Friend waited on me, to request me to enter my name as a subscriber to an edition of the Bible, which a Committee of Friends were intending to publish. The printed prospectus stated that the work was designed to be one suited for daily perusal in Friends' families; that from it would be carefully excluded every passage that was indelicate, and unfit for reading aloud; and also those portions which might be called dangerous, which it was possible the unlearned and unstable might wrest to their own destruction."

Can any of your readers tell whether this expurgated Bible was ever published, and where it is to be procured?

A copy of the prospectus alluded to would also be very acceptable.

T.

53. Salmon Fishery in the Thames.

—This was once of great importance to the inhabitants of the villages upon the banks of the Thames, who appear to have had each their assigned bounds for their fishery. In the Churchwardens' Book of Wandsworth, under date 1580, is the following entry:

"M.D. that this yere in som̄er the fishinge Rome of Wandesworthe was by certen of Putney denyed, and long sute before my L. Mayor of London continued, and at the last, accordinge to Right, restored by the Lord Mayor and the Councell of London. And in this som̄er the fysshers of Wandesworthe tooke betweene Monday and Saturday seven score salmons in the same fishinge, to the gret honor of God."

I have heard my mother say, that Thames salmon was plentiful when she was a younger woman, and that it was the most esteemed of any. She died recently, aged eighty-nine.

Shall we ever have Thames salmon again?

R. J. R.

54. Cromwell Grants of Land in Monaghan.

—Are there any records, and where, of grants of land in the county of Monaghan, Ireland, as made by Cromwell?

E. A.

55. Siege of Londonderry.

—Are there any details of the siege of Londonderry, particularly as to the names of officers engaged on the Protestant side, other than those to be found in Walker, Mackensie, or Graham's account of it?

E. A.

Minor Queries Answered.

The Twentieth of the Thirty-nine Articles.

—In a note to a work entitled Sketches of the History of Man, Dublin, 1779, at vol. i. p. 104. I observe the following statement:

"In the Act 13th of Elizabeth, anno 1571, confirming the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England, these Articles are not engrossed, but referred to as comprised in a printed book, intitled 'Articles agreed to by the whole Clergy in Convocation holden at London, 1562.' The forged clause is, 'The Church has power to decree Rites and Ceremonies, and authority in Controversies of Faith.' That clause is not in the Articles referred to; nor the slightest hint of any authority with respect to matters of faith. In the same year, 1571, the Articles were printed both in Latin and English, precisely as in the year 1562. But soon after came out spurious editions, in which the said clause was foisted into the Twentieth Article, and continues so to this day," &c.

This is a grave charge. Is it a true one? I have not at hand the authorities by which to examine it, and therefore seek an answer from some of your readers who may be able to give it. My question refers to the imputation of a clause having been foisted into our Articles of Faith by a forgery, and still continuing in them; not to the truth of any part of our Articles as they now stand. To this there is sufficient testimony.

CM.

London, July 25. 1851.

[The following note from p. 131. of Mr. Hardwick's recently published History of the Articles will furnish a reply to this Query:—

"He (Laud) was accused of forging the contested clause in Art. XX. And after appealing to four printed copies of the Articles, one of them as early as 1563, and all containing the passage which the Puritans disliked, he added, 'I shall make it yet plainer: for it is not fit concerning an Article of Religion, and an Article of such consequence for the order, truth, and peace of the Church, you should rely upon my copies, be they never so many or never so ancient. Therefore I sent to the public records in my office, and here under my officer's hand, who is public notary, is returned to me the Twentieth Article with this affirmative clause in it, and there is also the whole body of the Articles to be seen.'—Remains, ii. 83. (quoted by Bennet, 166.) The copy thus taken before the destruction of the records is said to be still extant; Bennet made use of it, and has printed it in his Essay, 167-169."]

Exons of the Guard.

—Can any of your readers inform me what are the duties of these officers, and the derivation of their title? I find, in the papers describing her Majesty's state ball, the following: "the exons or capitaines exempts de la garde du corps;" but that does not throw much light upon the subject.

E. N. W.

Southwark.

[The name of Exempts or Exons is manifestly borrowed from that of the officers in the old French Garde du Corps, who were styled in their commissions Capitaines Exempts des Gardes du Corps. Richelet describes the Exempt as the officer who commanded in the absence of the Lieutenant or Ensign, and who had charge of the night watch. In both cases, the duties of the English and French officers are completely parallel.]

Curious Monumental Inscription: "Quos Anguis tristi."

—Have any of your readers seen Latin verses constructed in the following curious manner? I copied these many years ago from an old magazine:—