"It is above two years since I laboured to get this booke printed, and it hath cost me more money, more pains, and much more time to publish it, than to compose it, for I was faine to imprint every sheet thereof with my owne hand, because I could not get allowance to doe it publikely."
Edward F. Rimbault.
Corruption of the Text of Gibbon's "Decline and Fall."—A corruption, which seems to have arisen from an attempt at emendation, has crept into Note 17. on the 55th chapter of Gibbon's History. Root is twice printed instead of roof in the later editions, including, Mr. Milman's. "What comes from the roof," may not be very intelligible; still roof is the word in the original edition of Gibbon, where it corresponds to toit in Gibbon's authority, Fleury, and to tectum in Fleury's authority.
J. E. B. Mayor.
Traditional Story concerning Cardinal Wolsey.—In David Hughson (Dr. Pugh's) Walks through London and the surrounding Suburbs, 12mo. 1817, vol. ii. p. 366., I find the following:—
"Passing on to Cheshunt: here is a plain brick edifice, in which Cardinal Wolsey is said to have resided. It has been nearly rebuilt since his time, but is still surrounded by a deep moat. In the upper part of this house, called Cheshunt House, is a room, the door of which is stained with blood: the tradition is—an unfortunate lady became a victim to the Cardinal's jealousy, and that he dispatched her with his own hand. If so, it is unaccountable that the murderer should have suffered those marks of his violence to have remained."
Is there any old authority for this charge against the Cardinal?
Edward F. Rimbault.