that it had been a _printed_, if not a published work; and
that even a second edition had altered the title of the first. It is
now certain, that its existence was, and is, only _in manuscript_;
and that the alteration was intended only for its first impression,
if printed at all. It is a fact not generally known, that many papal
productions of the time were multiplied and circulated by copies
in MS.: Leycester's _Commonwealth_, of which I have a very neat
transcript, and of which many more are extant in different libraries,
is one proof of the fact.[1] I observe that in Bernard's very valuable
_Bibliotheca MSS., &c._, I had marked under _Laud Misc. MSS._, p.
62. No. 968. 45. _A Treatise against Equivocation or Fraudulent
Dissimulation_, what I supposed might be the work in request: but
being prepossessed with the notion that the work was in print, I did
not pursue any inquiry in that direction. I almost now suspect that
this is the very work which J.B. has brought to light. I had hoped
during the present year to visit the Bodleian, and satisfy myself with
an inspection of the important document. I am additionally gratified
with the information relative to the same subject by Mr. Sansom, p.
446. J.B. observes, that the MS. occupies sixty-six pages only. Will
no one have the charity for historic literature to make it a public
benefit? If with notes, so much the better. It is of far more
interest, as history is concerned, and that of our own country, than
many of the tracts in the Harleian or Somers' Collections. Parsons's
notice of it in his _Mitigation_, and towards the end, as if he was
just then made acquainted with it, is very {491} characteristic and
instructive. He knew of it well enough, but thought others might not.

Again I say, why not print the work?

J.M.

[We have reason to believe that this important historical
document is about to be printed.]

[Footnote 1: _A Memorial for the Reformation in England_, by R.P.
(Parsons), of which I have a well transcribed copy, is another. It was
published by Gee.]

* * * * *

PARALLEL PASSAGES.

In Shakspeare's _Henry IV._, Act V. Sc. 4., the Prince exclaims,
beholding Percy's corpse,--

"When that this body did contain a spirit,
A kingdom for it was too small a bound;
But now two paces of the vilest earth
Is room enough!"

In Ovid we find the following parallel:--

"... jacet ecce Tibullus,
Vix manet e t