66. Warwick Square, Belgravia.
Early Edition of Solinus (Vol. vi., p. 435.).—"Solinus de Situ et Memor. Orbis, editio princeps, folio, Venet. 1473." My copy was described as above in the catalogue of the bookseller of whom I purchased it. It contains a very fine illuminated initial letter, red, blue, and gold. It has no pagination. At the end, in capitals:
"IVLII SOLINI DE SITV ORBIS ET MEMORABILIBVS QVAE MVNDI AMBITU CONTINENTVR LIBER IMPRESSVS VENETIIS PER NICOLAVM IENSON GALLICVM. M.CCCC.LXXIII."
Should any gentleman wish to see it, I shall be happy to oblige him. Mine is marked "6s.," and below this price, "sold 10s."
A. Dunkin.
Dartford.
Straw Bail (Vol. vii., p. 85.).—Part of this Query may be answered by the following extract:
"For the bribery and perjury so painfully frequent in Attic testimony, the editor contents himself with quoting from an article in the Quarterly Review (vol. xxxiii. p. 344.), in which the Greek courts of justice are treated of.—'We have all heard of a race of men who used, in former days, to ply about our own courts of law, and who, from their manner of making known their occupation, were recognized by the name of Straw-shoes. An advocate, or lawyer, who wanted a convenient witness, knew by these signs where to find one, and the colloquy between the parties was brief. 'Don't you remember?' said the advocate—(the party looked at the fee and gave no sign; but the fee increased, and the powers of memory increased with it). 'To be sure I do.' 'Then come into the court and swear it.' And Straw-shoes went into the court and swore it. Athens abounded in Straw-shoes."
See Mitchell's Wasps of Aristophanes, note on line 945.