Henry Campkin.
Reform Club, Jan. 10. 1851.
Minor Notes.
Verstegan.—A Restitution of Decayed Intelligence in Antiquities, concerning the most noble and renowned English Nation. By the Study and Travel of Richard Verstegan.—There is something so sonorous and stately in the very sound of the title of Master Richard Verstegan's etymological treatise, that any bibliographical notice of it, I am sure, will find a corner in "Notes and Queries." The following MS. note is on a fly-leaf of my copy, A.D. 1655:—
"The first edition was printed at Antwerp, in 1605. A full account of this work is given in Oldys's British Librarian, pp. 299 312. It concludes with suggestions for improving any future editions: namely, to add those animadversions, in their proper places, which have been since occasionally made on some mistakes in it; as those made by Mr. Sheringham on his fancy of the Vitæ being the ancient inhabitants of the Isle of Wight, &c. But more especially should be admitted the corrections of the learned Mr. Somner, he having left large marginal notes upon Verstegan's whole book, as we are informed by Bishop Kennett, the late accurate author of his Life. This advice has never been acted upon."
To this is subjoined a notice of Verstegan's Poems.
"There is a thin 12mo. volume of Poems by Richard Verstegan, of which only one perfect copy is known. Dr Farmer had it; then a Mr. Lloyd, who disposed of it, when it sold for 22l. 1s. Mr. Faber now has it. Another copy, completed by MS., had belonged to T. Park, which was sold at Sotheby's, March 11. 1821, for 1l. 19s., and bought by Triphook."
J. Yeowell.
Hoxton.