E. L. B.
Justice to Pope Pius V.
—You have done yourself credit by exonerating Queen Elizabeth from a charge the easiest to bring, and the most difficult to rebut, implying the proof of a negative; and therefore frequently brought by the unprincipled. I propose, as a counterpart, to exonerate Pope Pius V. from an imputation, mistakingly, though unjustly, cast upon him by an authority of no less weight than that of Sir Walter Scott. In his edition of Somers's Tracts, vol. i. p. 192., occurs a note on a place in the execution of justice: "Pius V. resolved to make his bastard son, Boncompagni, Marquis of Vincola, King of Ireland," &c. For this assertion no authority is cited, nor indeed could be. The very name might have suggested the filiation to his successor, Gregory XIII., which was the fact. In a work, not much known, The Burnt Child dreads the Fire, &c., by William Denton, M.D., London, 1675, at p. 25. we read, "Gregory XIII. had a bastard, James Buon Compagna, and to him he gave Ireland, and impowered Stewkely with men, arms, and money, to conquer it for him."[2] There is no reason to doubt, that with the editor of the Tracts the above imputation was a simple mistake; but it is an important duty of all who interfere with historical literature, to state and correct every discovered instance of the kind.
[2] Camden, in his Elizabeth, under 1578, states the fact without mention of the name, only calling him "the pope's bastard;" but the date is the sixth year of the pontificate of Gregory XIII.
EUPATOR.
Queries.
CROSSES AND CRUCIFIXES.
In the 22nd volume of the Archæologia, p. 58., is the following passage:
"The cross, which does not appear to have been peculiar to Christianity, when introduced on these obelisks, is usually filled with tracery."
The obelisks, or stones of memorial, referred to are the subjects of a very interesting paper communicated by Mr. Logan to the Society of Antiquaries. (See Plates 2, 3, 4, and 5.) I am desirous of being informed what authenticated instances there are of crosses, or stones marked with crosses, being used for landmarks, memorials, or for any other purpose, civil or religious, before the introduction of Christianity? I have met with one instance. Prescott, in his History of Mexico, relates that—