re_, p.
67.

That is fierce and fiery, and in very earnest. A MS. of the Bodleian bears
this other inscription, to the same import:

"Liber Sanctae Mariae de Ponte Roberti. Qui eum abstulerit aut vendiderit
... aut quamlibet ejus partem absciderit, sit anathema maranatha."

Canisius, in his _Antiquae Lectiones_ (I. ii. p. 3. 320.), transcribes
another comminatory distich, copied from a MS. of the Saint Gall library:

"Auferat hunc librum _nullus hinc_, omne per aevum,
Cum Gallo partem quisquis habere cupit!"

Such recommendations are now no longer in use, and seem rather excessive.
But whoever has witnessed the extreme carelessness, not to say improbity,
of some of the readers admitted into the public continental libraries, who
scruple not to soil, spoil, and even purloin the most precious and rare
volumes, feels easily reconciled to the _anathema maranatha_ of the ninth
and tenth centuries.

P.S.--Excuse my French-English.

PHILARETE CHASLES, Mazarinaeus.

Paris, Palais de l'Institut.

* * * * *

LIVERIES WORN, AND MENIAL SERVICES PERFORMED, BY GENTLEMEN.

(Vol. vi., p. 146.)

However remarkable the conduct of the rustic esquire of Downham may appear
in the present duly, when he accepted and wore the livery of his neighbour
the Knight-Baronet of Houghton Tower, it was a Common practice for
gentlemen of good birth and estate to accept and wear, and even to assume
without solicitation, upon state occasions, the livery of an influential
neighbour, friend, or relation, in testimony of respect and affection for
the giver of the livery.

Thus it appears in the Diary of Nicholas Assheton that, in 1617, to the
Court at Mirescough "Cooz Assheton came with his gentlemanlie servants as
anie was there," and that the retinue of menial servants in attendance upon
Sir Richard Houghton was graced by the presence of more than one country
gentleman of good family. Baines, in his _History of Lancashire_, vol. ii.
p. 366., also relates concerning Humphrey Chetham, that--

"In 1635 he was nominated to serve the office of sheriff of the county,
and discharged the duties thereof with great honour, several gentlemen
of birth and estate attending and wearing his livery at the assizes, to
testify their respect and affection for him."

Evelyn, in his _Diary_, gives a similar account of the conduct of "divers
gentlemen and persons of quality" in the counties of Surr