NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC.

As we last week called attention to the Three Treatises by John Wickliffe just published by Dr. Todd of Dublin, we may very properly record the sale by Messrs. Puttick and Simpson on Tuesday the 8th of this month of a MS. volume containing twelve treatises (which are all said to be unpublished) written by John Wickliffe and Richard Hampole. The volume, a small 8vo., was of the fourteenth century, with a few leaves supplied by a hand of the sixteenth, and contained "A Tretis on the Ten Heestis (i.e. Commandments), A Prologue of the Paternoster, 'Here suen dyverse chapitris excitynge men to hevenli desijr,' the Councell of Christ, Off vertuous pacience, Wickliffe's Chartre of Hevene, The Hors or Armour off Hevene, the Name off Jhesu, The Love of Jhesu, Off verri Mekenes, Off the Effect off Mannes Will, Of Actif Liif and Contemplatif Lyf, The Mirrour of Chastitee." It was purchased by Bumstead of Holborn for 11l. The next lot in the same sale was the original manuscript Diary, extending from October, 1675, to September, 1684, of Annesley Earl of Anglesey, Lord Privy Seal in the reign of Charles II., which was purchased by Boone, it is believed on commission for the British Museum, for the sum of 12l. 10s.

The Athenæum of Saturday last publishes some inquiries from Mr. Payne Collier connected with the manuscript play by Anthony Mundy, which forms the subject of SIR F. MADDEN'S interesting, communication in our present number. Mr. Collier is about to edit the drama in question for the Shakspeare Society; and the object of his paper, which well deserves the attention of our readers, is to obtain information respecting two wizards or magicians who figure in it, the one named John a Kent, and the other John a Cumber, who must formerly have been popular heroes, and been recorded in ballads and chapbooks which have now entirely disappeared. We call attention to these inquiries with the view of giving additional publicity to them, and in the hope of procuring from Mr. Collier some Notes respecting these old world heroes, of one of whom, John a Kent, some particulars are to be found, we believe, in Coxe's Monmouthshire.

The obituary of the past week contains the name of one of the most distinguished historical writers of the present day, the Rev. Dr. Lingard. An able and zealous champion of the Church of which he was so eminent a member, his tolerant spirit and independent principles show that of Dr. Lingard may be said, what was applied with admirable propriety to his co-religionist, the late learned librarian at Stowe, by Sir James Macintosh, that he was

"True to his faith, but not the slave of Rome."

The sale of M. Donnadieu's valuable collection of Autographs will commence on Tuesday next, and occupy five days. The Catalogue, which has been prepared by Messrs. Puttick and Simpson with their usual care, is itself a very interesting document. Our limits will not of course admit of our specifying a tithe of the curious and valuable articles which are now to be brought to the hammer: but as specimens of the richness of the collection, we will point out a few which are of importance, as illustrative of English history. Lot 165, for instance, is Charles I.'s Marriage Contract with the Infanta of Spain, a document of the highest value, but which has not, we believe, as yet been printed either accurately or entirely. Lot 184 is a most interesting letter from Charles II. to his Sister the Duchess of Orleans, written from Canterbury the day after he landed at Dover; while Lot 661 is a most pathetic Letter from the Duke of Monmouth to the Earl of Rochester, entreating his intercession with James, and written five days before his execution. Lot 254 is The Original Warrant to the Lord Mayor of London, directing him to proclaim Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Dominions thereto belonging; and Lot 500, a Warrant of the Privy Council of Lady Jane Gray, is a document of the highest importance, as proving (what has been doubted) that the Council of Lady Jane Grey did actually perform official acts as a Council. These of course are among the gems of the collection; but in the whole thousand lots there is not one but is of interest.

CATALOGUES RECEIVED.—J. Sage's (4. Newman's Row, Lincoln's Inn Fields) Miscellaneous List for July, 1851, of Valuable and Interesting Books; T. Kerslake's (3. Park Street, Bristol) Catalogue of Books lately bought.

BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES
WANTED TO PURCHASE.

*** Letters, stating particulars and lowest price, carriage free, to be sent to MR. BELL, Publisher of "NOTES AND QUERIES," 186. Fleet Street.