vivens statuam in Bibliotheca Palatina meruit, XII. libros de lingua Latime scripsit.

In primis tribus de Ethimologia; in secundistribus unde vocabula sint imposita in lingua Latina et de Poetarum consuetudine, a septimo ad decimum de analogia; y postremuis tribus de copia verborum: quorum omnium etate nostra sex corrupti in manibus habentur. Eos monitu LELI VAEDENSIS magne et singularis doctrine legi summa cura ac diligentia. Vbi librarif litteras mutaverunt, correxi. In his que inscitia penitus corrupit non ausus sum manuum imponere ne forte magis depravarem dicem per ordinem litterarum, ut qui non nimis curiosi sint facilius inveniant. Tu qui castigatissime omnia inspicis, si laborem hunc laudaveris, habebunt mihi gratias qui legerint. Sin minus, calamo non parcas, quoniam ego et scio non fallor in hac fece hominum tanti te facio quanti M. Tulli, cui dedicavit hos libros seculo eruditissimo, fecit Varro. Vale."

addidi tamen in

The above epistle is transcribed without the abbreviations, but with particular regard to the orthography, from which it appears that Maittaire cannot be justified in asserting, that this edition had received the corrections of Platina. In the original there is an error of the press; Primis is printed Pirmis.

The Bishop of Ely possessed this valuable book, and also Pomponius Festus in the same

1

type

type. - Nonius Marcellus was also printed in the same type; and Pomponius was the corrector and Laver the printer of them.

The former possessor of the Cracherode copy justly calls it "Editio Princeps rarissima et pretiosissima," and tells us that this edition, but in a very indifferent condition, sold at the auction of Smith's books (the English Consul at Venice) for 121. 16s.

The very imperfect copy in the Valliere sale, which is, doubtless, that described by De Bure, sold for 80 livres. A copy would probably at this time be worth 251.

In the epistle above quoted, Pomponius Lætus is mistaken in supposing, that the number of books which Varro wrote de Lingua Latina was only twelve: the work consisted of double that number.

Of these, six only are now extant; namely, the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th.

Pomponius Lætus is farther in an error, when he says that these books were dedicated to Cicero; for the truth is, that only three of them were inscribed to him, namely, the 4th, 5th, and 6th. It is evident, from the beginning of the 4th book, that the three first were addressed to Septimius.. Varro says, De his tres ante hunc feci, quos Septimio misi.

Hence the first book of the first edition is, properly speaking, the fourth book; the second, the fifth; and the third, the sixth.

That which is called, in the first edition, Analogiæ Liber Primus, is the seventh book.. Liber Quintus is the eighth book.

The beginning of the next book is, by an error of the press, in the first edition, not noticed by any title.

The book begins, "In verborum declinationi"bus," and is properly the ninth and the last of the books which are extant.

The numbers in the Index of the first edition, refers to the pages of the book.

Some farther particulars of this Pomponius Lætus, as well as of Platina, may not be unacceptable.

· Pomponius Lætus wrote a Roman History, the first edition of which was published in 1500*. To this edition, and to no other, the Life of the Author is prefixed, which contains many curious particulars. Platina wrote the Lives of the Popes. He was a disciple of the celebrated Laurentius Valla, and succeeded him in reputation.

Both Pomponius Lætus and his friend Platina were implicated in a charge of High Treason against the then reigning Pope. Platina had the whole of his property confiscated. But he was so popular, and so exceedingly beloved, that

* A learned correspondent informs me, that Maittaire's Index mentions two earlier editions of Lætus's Compendium Historiæ Romanæ, viz. Ven. 1498 and 1499.

The latter was in the Pinelli Library, No. 3:50.

the

the contributions of his friends more than compensated him for the losses he sustained.

Of Lælius Vallensis, by whose advice Pomponius Lætus undertook the publication of Te. rentius Varro, I can find no account. I have been sometimes induced to believe, that the copyer of the manuscript may have mistaken Lelii for the abbreviation of Laurentii, as Laurentius Valla must necessarily have been intimate with Pomponius Lætus.

The reader who wishes further information concerning this curious and rare book, may consult Smith's Catalogue.

Of this book Lord Spencer possesses three copies, and the Hunterian Museum three copies. What I conceive to be the second edition in Hunter's Collection, begins to have the leaves numbered at the eleventh page, which distinction extends no farther than the forty second page. In all other particulars, this copy coincides with that above described, in the Cracherode Collection.

The Hunterian Collection possesses a copy more ancient, as I believe, than either the Cra

cherode or Earl Spencer's copies. This is of a more Gothic character, and ends thus:

"

"Finis ejus quod invenitur Marci Varronis.' The Greek words are omitted, and spaces left to be filled up with the pen.

The three editions may be thus distinguished: 1. Without date, printer's name, place, or sign of any kind.

2. Without date, but certainly about 1470. 3. Was printed at Brixia, 1483.

WICLIFF,

It is almost unnecessary to state, that this illustrious personage was the forerunner of Luther, in establishing the principles of the reformation, or that, on this account, he was so obnoxious to the court of Rome, that he was the perpetual object of their implacable hatred and unremitted persecution.

His publications were invariably sought after to be destroyed, and perhaps, of all rare books, that which is the subject of this article is among the most rare, on this account. A minute description of it is given by De Bure, in his 628th article. The title is as follows:

"Joannis