QUERIES.

POET LAUREATES.

Can any of the contributors to your most useful "NOTES AND QUERIES"
favour me with the title of any work which gives an account of the
origin, office, emoluments, and privileges of Poet Laureate. Selden,
in his _Titles of Honour (Works_, vol. iii. p. 451.), shows the Counts
Palatine had the right of conferring the dignity claimed by the
German Emperors. The first payment I am aware of is to Master Henry
de Abrinces, the _Versifier_ (I suppose Poet Laureate), who received
6d. a day,--4l. 7s., as will be seen in the _Issue Roll_ of Thomas de
Brantingham, edited by Frederick Devon.

Warton (_History of English Poetry_, vol. ii. p. 129.) gives no
further information, and is the author generally quoted; but the
particular matter sought for is wanting.

The first patent, according to the _Encyclopaedia Metropolitana_,
article "Laureate," is stated, as regards the existing office, to date
from 5th Charles I., 1630; and assigns as the annual gratuity 100l.,
and a tierce of Spanish Canary wine out of the royal cellars.

Prior to this, the emoluments appear uncertain, as will be seen by
Gifford's statement relative to the amount paid to B. Jonson, vol. i.
cxi.:--

"Hitherto the Laureateship appears to have been a mere trifle,
adopted at pleasure by those who were employed to write for
the court, but conveying no privileges, and establishing no
claim to a salary."

I am inclined to doubt the accuracy of the phrase "employed to write
for the court." Certain it is, the question I now raise was _pressed_
then, as it was to satisfy Ben Jonson's want of information Selden
wrote on the subject in his _Titles of Honour_.

These emoluments, rights, and privileges have been matters of
Laureate dispute, even to the days of Southey. In volume iv. of his
correspondence, many hints of this will be found; e.g., at page 310.,
with reference to Gifford's statement, and "my proper rights."

The Abbe Resnel says,--"L'illustre Dryden l'a porte comme _Poete du
Roy_," which rather reduces its academic dignity; and adds, "Le Sieur
Cyber, comedien de profession, est actuellement en possession du titre
de Poete Laureate, et qu'il jouit en meme tems de deux cens livres
sterling de pension, a la charge de presenter tous les ans, deux
pieces de vers a la famille royale."

I am afraid, however, the Abbe drew upon his imagination for the
amount of the salary; and that he would find the people were nev