Hic locus 1 odit, 2 amat, 3 punit, 4 conservat, 5 honorat, 1 Nequitiam, 2 pacem, 3 crimina, 4 jura, 5 probos.

Thus Englished by G. Sandys.

This place doth 1 hate, 2 love, 3 punish, 4 keep, 5 requite, 1 voluptuous not, 2 peace, 3 crimes, 4 laws, 5 th’ upright

From Heylyn’s Cosmographie.

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FLOATING SCHEME.

In George the Third’s collection of tracts, now in the British Museum, is a broadside of one page, commencing thus:—­“In the name of God, amen!  John Bulmer, of London, esquire, Master and Surveyor of the King’s Majesties Mines, &c. &c. propoundeth—­by God’s assistance, that he the said John Bulmer, shall and will, at and in a flowing water, set out a boat or vessel with an engine, floating with a man or boy, in and on board the said boat, in the River of Thames, over against the Tower-wharf, or lower.  Which said boat, with the said man or boy, in or aboard her, shall the same tide before low-water again, by art of the said John Bulmer, and help of the said engine, be advanced and elevated so high, as that the same shall pass and be delivered over London Bridge, together with this said man or boy, in and on board her, and float again in the said River of Thames, on the other side the said bridge in safety.”  He then proceeds to covenant for himself, his heirs, &c., to perform this within the space of one month, &c., or so soon as the undertakers, wagering against him six for one, should have deposited in the assurance office such a sum as he should consider sufficient to countervail his charges of contriving the boat and engine.  Captain Bulmer was also to deposit his proportion of money, &c.  This scheme was brought out in 1643.

W.G.C.

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THE GREEK SAILORS

Still preserve the custom mentioned by Homer, of hauling their vessels on shore with the prows resting on the beach; having done this, they place the mast lengthwise across the prow and the poop, and spread the sail over it, so as to form a tent; beneath these tents they sing their songs, drinking wine freely, and accompanying their voices with the lyre, or three-stringed viol.

T.G.

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BILLS OF MORTALITY.

“Bills of Mortality took rise,” says Pennant, “in 1592; in which year began a great pestilence; which continued till the 18th of December, 1595.  During this period they were kept, in order to ascertain the number of persons who died; but, when the plague ceased, the bills were discontinued.  They were resumed again in 1603.  At their original institution there were only 109 in parishes; others were gradually added; and, by the year 1681, the number was 132.  Since that time, 14 more have been added, so that the whole amounts to 146, viz. 97 within the walls; 16 without the walls; 23 out-parishes in Middlesex and Surrey; and 10 in the City and Liberties of Westminster.”