suis ad tempus relictis ad exteras nationes excurrere, artemq'; suam illis præsertim Principum aulis demonstrare, ostentareq'; consueverunt. Paucis ab hinc annis in Germaniam nostram Anglicani musici dictum ob finem expaciati, et in magnorum Principum aulis aliquandiu versati, tantum ex arte musica, histrionicaq'; sibi favorem conciliârunt, ut largiter remunerati domum inde auro et argento onusti sint reversi.)
Dancing succeeded the feast and then (p. 244.) "the English players made their appearance, and represented the sacred history of Susanna, with so much art of histrionic action, and with such dexterity, that they obtained both praise and a most ample reward."
(Histriones Anglicani maturè prodibant, et sacram Susannæ historiam tanta actionis histrionicæ arte, tanta dexteritate representabant, ut et laudem inde et præmium amplissimum reportarent.)
W.B.R.
[See, also upon this subject, a most interesting communication from Albert Cohn in the Athenæum of Saturday last, January the 4th.]
MINOR NOTES.
The Curse of Scotland.—In Vol. i. p. 61., is a Query why the Nine of Diamonds is called the Curse of Scotland. Reference is made to a print dated Oct. 21, 1745, entitled "Briton's Association against the Pope's Bulls," in which the young Pretender is represented attempting to lead across the Tweed a herd of bulls laden with curses, excommunications, indulgences, &c.: on the ground before them lies the Nine of Diamonds. In p. 90. it is said that the "Curse of Scotland" is a corruption of the "Cross of Scotland," and that the allusion is to St. Andrew's cross, which is supposed to resemble the Nine of Diamonds. This explanation is unsatisfactory. The nine resembles St. Andrew's cross less than the five, in a pack of cards; and, moreover, the nine of any other suit would be equally applicable. The true explanation is evidently to be found in the game of Pope Joan, in which the Nine of Diamonds is the pope. The well-known antipapal spirit of the Scottish people caused the pope to be called the Curse of Scotland.
The game of Pope Joan is stated to have been originally called Pope Julio, and to be as old as the reign of Queen Elizabeth. See Sir John Harington's "Treatise on Playe," written about 1597, Nugæ Antiquæ, vol. i. p. 220.
L.