[The earliest edition of Reynard the Fox is that printed by Caxton in 1481. Caxton's Translation was again printed by Pynson, and afterwards by Thomas Gualtier in 1550. Caxton's edition is of extreme rarity; but there is a reprint of it by the Percy Society in 1844: with an introductory Sketch of the literary history of this popular romance, in which our correspondent will find a notice of the principal editions of it which have appeared in the various languages into which it has been translated.]
Campvere, Privileges of.—May I ask the kind assistance of any of your readers on the following subject? Sir W. Davidson, who was political agent or envoy in Holland under King Charles II., is stated to have been "resident for H.M. kingdom of Scotland, and conservator of the Scots privileges of Campvere in the Low Countries," &c.;
and under his portrait, engraved by Hagens, he is described, among other titles, as being "conservitor and resident for His Majestie's most ancient kingdome of Scotland in the Seventein Provinces." What were these privileges, and whence was the term campvere derived?
I have seen mention made of a mercantile house at Calais, in the sixteenth century, who had their "campfyer schypp, hyr saylls hallfe blewyw hallfe yewllow:" but this, I think, must refer to the trade in camphor, in the purification of which the Venetians, and afterwards the Dutch, exclusively were occupied.
J. D. S.
[Campvere is another name given by the English to Veere, or Ter Veere, a fortified town of the province of Brabant, and the kingdom of the Netherlands. It was formerly the staple-town for the trade between Scotland and Holland; but its privileges, and much of its commerce, have been removed to Rotterdam.]
Bishops Inglis and Stanser of Nova Scotia.—In addition to the very interesting notice of the former given in Vol. vi., p. 151., I beg to ask where and when he was born? whether an Englishman or American? No reply has yet been given regarding Bishop Stanser's death, or resignation of see.
A. S. A.
Wuzzeerabad.
[As Sabine has included Bishop Inglis among the American Loyalists, it would appear that he was a native of the United States. His article commences, "Charles Inglis, of New York;" but it does not state that he was a native of that city. Bishop Stanser resigned his see through indisposition in the year 1825, and died at Hampton, Jan. 23, 1829. See "N. & Q.," Vol. vi., p. 425.]