MINOR QUERIES.

Cupid Crying.—­I shall be obliged if you, or any of your correspondents, can tell me who was the author of the epigram, or inscription, of which I subjoin the English translation.  I am sure I have seen the Latin, but I do not know whose it was or where to find it; I think it belongs to one of the Italian writers of the fifteenth or sixteenth century:—­

“CUPID CRYING.

  “Why is Cupid crying so?—­
    Because his jealous mother beat him.—­
  What for?—­For giving up his bow
    To Coelia, who contrived to cheat him.

  “The child!  I could not have believed
    He’d give his weapons to another.—­
  He would not; but he was deceived: 
    She smiled; he thought it was his mother.”

RUFUS.

Was not Sir George Jackson “Junius?"—­Among the names which have been put forward as claimants to be “Junius,” I beg to propose the name of SIR GEORGE JACKSON, who was, I believe, about that time Secretary to the Admiralty.  I shall be glad to know what obstacles are opposed to this theory, as I think I have some presumptive evidence (I do not call it strong), which seems to show either that he was “Junius,” or a party concerned.

P.

Ballad of Dick and the Devil.—­About the middle of the seventeenth century, occasionally resided, on the large island in Windermere, a member of the ancient but now extinct family of Philipson, of Crooke Hall.  He was a dashing cavalier, and, from his fearless exploits, had acquired among the Parliamentarians the significant, though not very respectable, cognomen of “Robin the Devil.”

On one of these characteristic adventures, he rode, heavily armed, into the large old church at Kendal, with the intention of there shooting an individual, from whom he had received a deeply resented injury.  His object, however, was unaccomplished, for his enemy was not present; and in the confusion into which the congregation were thrown by such a warlike apparition, the dauntless intruder made his exit, though subjected to a struggle at the church door.  His casque, which was captured in the skirmish that there took place, is yet to be seen in the church, and the fame of this redoubtable attempt, which was long held in remembrance through the country side, excited the poetic genius of a rhymer of the day to embody it in a ballad, entitled “Dick and the Devil,” which is now rare and difficult to be met with.

As my endeavours to light on a copy have been unavailing, and my opportunities for research are limited, perhaps some one of your numerous readers who may be versed in the ballad poetry of the age of my hero, will kindly take the trouble to inform me whether he has ever met with the ballad in question, or direct me to where it may most likely be found.

I trust that from the obliging communications of some of your valuable literary correspondents, I may be so fortunate as to meet with the object of my query.