[1] Mr. Way says a hare or rabbit, forgetting that the hare does not burrow.
The same symbol or device, well known to all lovers of ancient wood-engraving, appears in some of the earliest specimens of that art. It is found in an impression of one of the oldest known playing-cards, representing the knave of diamonds, now in the print-room of the British Museum, of which a fac-simile is inserted at p. 214. of Chatto's History of Playing Cards. Another instance of this device occurs (without the dog) in an old woodcut, dated 1418, discovered a few years ago at Malines, of which a copy appeared in the Athenæum of Oct. 4, 1845. And a third example is contained in that celebrated and unique woodcut of St. Christopher, dated 1423, in the possession of Earl Spencer, copies of which may be found in Janson's Essai sur l'Origine de la Gravure, and in Ottley's work. Being as fully convinced as Mr. Way that the symbols he observed on the effigy of Richard at Rouen were never introduced without design, but that they were meant to convey some esoteric signification, I have for many years consulted both books and friends to obtain an explanation of this allegorical device, but without success. As a last resource, I address myself to the "N. & Q.," in hopes, from their having now obtained so wide a circulation, that I may receive through their medium, and the kindness of a more learned correspondent, a solution of this enigma.
P.S.—In addition to the above four instances of the device of a rabbit occurring in ancient sculpture and wood-engraving, a French writer, M. Th. Gautier, in the feuilleton of La Presse of the 27th September, 1851, describes the Madonna of Albert Durer as being "presque toujours accompagnée d'un lapin," derived (in his opinion) from a "vague ressouvenir du panthéisme Germanique."
SYMBOL.
IS WYLD'S GREAT GLOBE A PLAGIARISM FROM MOLENAX?
(Vol. v., p. 467.)
Some time ago I made the following Notes, which, though they throw some light on the subject of Molineux's globe, yet they do not bear out MR. EASTWOOD'S conjecture. The first is from Richard Hakluyt's Address to the Reader in The Principal Navigations, Voiages, and Discoveries of the English Nation, folio, 1589:
"Nowe, because peraduenture it would bee expected as necessarie, that the descriptions of so many parts of the world would farre more easily be conceiued of the Reader, by adding Geographicall and Hydrographicall tables thereunto, thou art by the way to be admonished that I haue contented myselfe with inserting into the worke one of the best generall mappes of the world onely, vntill the comming out of a very large and most exact terrestriall Globe, collected and reformed according to the newest, secretest, and latest discoueries, both Spanish, Portugall, and English, composed by M. Emmerie Mollineux of Lambeth, a rare Gentleman in his profession, being therein for divers yeeres greatly supported by the purse and liberalitie of the worshipfull marchant M. William Sanderson."
My second Note is from the rare little volume by John Davis, entitled, The Worlde's Hydrographical Discription, 12mo., London, 1595:
"The cause why I vse this particular relation of all my proceedinges for this discouery, is to stay this obiection, why hath not Dauis discouered this passage [the North-west] being thrise that waies imploied, and how far I proceeded, and in what fourme this discouery lyeth, doth appeare vpon the Globe which Master Sanderson to his verye great charge hath published, whose labouring indevour for the good of his countrie deserueth great fauour and commendations, made by Master Emery Mullineux, a man wel qualited, of a good iudgement and verye expert in many excellent practises, in myselfe being the onely meane with Master Sanderson to imploy Master Mullineux therein, whereby he is nowe growne to a most exquisite perfection."
P. 25.