s
document is printed in Mr. Bolton Corney's _Curiosities of Literature
Illustrated_, and sets forth, that

"Whereas our louing Subject, John Stowe, this fine & forty yeers
hath to his great charge, & with neglect of his ordinary meanes
of maintenance (for the generall good as well of posteritie, as
of the present age) compiled and published diuerse necessary
bookes & Chronicles; and therefore we, in recompense of these
his painfull laboures, & for the encouragement to the like, haue
in our royall inclination ben pleased to graunt our Letters
Patents &c. &c.; thereby authorizing him and his deputies to
collect amongst our louing subjects, theyr voluntary
contributions & kinde gratuities."

The whole preface to this edition of the _Summarie_ is curious, and is
followed by a List of "Authors out of whom this Summary is collected."

In Hearne's _Robert of Gloster_, preface, p. lxi., allusion is made to
these _Summaries_. He says:--

"I have not yet met with a copy of this _Summary_ in which we
have an account of his authors."

After a panegyric on Stowe's incredible industry he says:--

"Sir Roger Lestrange, talking some years before his death with a
very ingenious and learned Gentleman about our Historians, was
pleased to say, _that it was always a wonder to him, that the
very best that had penn'd our History in English should be a
poor Taylour, honest John Stowe_. Sir Roger said a _Taylour_,
because Stowe, as is reported, was bred a cap-maker. The trade
of Cap-making was then much in fashion, Hats being not at that
time much in request."

J.E.N.

* * * * *

TRANSPOSITION OF LETTERS.

The only reason, I imagine, which can be given for the transposition of
letters spoken of by Mr. Williams (No. 12. p. 184.), is that it was done
on "phonetic" principles--for the sake of euphony:--the new way was felt
or fancied to be easier to the organs of speech, or (which is nearly the
same) pleasanter to those of hearing. Such alterations have at all times
been made,--as is well known to those versed in the earlier stages of
the language,--and often most arbitrarily. It is needless to say that
"provincial and vulgar" usage throws much light on the changes in the
forms of words; and perhaps a little attention to the manner in which
words are altered by the peasantry would illustrate the point in
question more than