brick edifice, in which
Cardinal Wolsey is said to have resided. It has been nearly rebuilt
since his time, but is still surrounded by a deep moat. In the upper
part of this house, called Cheshunt House, is a room, the door of which
is stained with blood: the tradition is--an unfortunate lady became a
victim to the Cardinal's jealousy, and that he dispatched her with his
own hand. If so, it is unaccountable that the murderer should have
suffered those marks of his violence to have remained."

Is there any _old_ authority for this charge against the Cardinal?

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

* * * * *

Queries.

EARLY SALE OF GEMS, DRAWINGS, AND CURIOSITIES.

At the risk of showing my ignorance, I wish to have it removed by answers
to my present Queries.

I have before me a printed catalogue of a collection of antiques, drawings,
and curiosities, which were to be sold by auction not far from a century
and a half ago. It is upon a sheet of four pages, rather larger than
foolscap, which it entirely fills. It seems to me a remarkable assemblage
of valuable relics, and it is thus headed:--

"A catalogue, being an extraordinary and great collection of antiques,
original drawings, and other curiosities, collected by a gentleman very
curious ... will be sold by auction at Covent Garden Coffee House, in
the Little Piazza, on Wednesday next, being the 9th instant June,
1714."

This is the oldest English catalogue of the kind that I happen to have met
with, and my first question upon it is, is there any older? Next, if the
fact be known, who was the "gentleman very curious" who owned the
collection?

We are farther informed by the auctioneer (whose name is not given), that
"The antiques are all in precious stones, most of them engraved by the
greatest masters of the old Greeks and Romans; the drawings are of the
oldest and the best Italian masters;" and it is advertised, besides, that
"the aforesaid rarities may be seen on Monday the 7th, Tuesday the 8th, and
Wednesday till the time of sale, which will begin at 11 o'clock in the
morning for the antiques, and at 6 o'clock in the evening for the
drawings." After a statement that the "conditions of sale are as usual," we
come to the list of the gems, under the heads of "Names of the Jewels," and
"What they represent." There are fifty-one lots of those that are "set in
silver for seals," and they are up