[Footnote 5.] See Swift’s Letter to the Earl of Pembroke (Scott’s edition, vol. xv., p. 350) where a little more fun is poked at the Bishop of Clogher, in the same strain. [T.S.]

[Footnote 6:  The great Richard Hooker (1554-1600) author of the “Ecclesiastical Polity.” [T.S.]]

[Footnote 7:  Robert Parsons (1546-1610) the famous Jesuit missionary, and the author of a large number of works including the “Conference about the next Succession” (1594).  Several of his books were privately printed by him at a secret printing press, which he set up in East Ham with the assistance of the poet Campion. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 8:  Sir Henry Wotton (1568-1639) author of “Reliquiae Wottonianae,” and the friend of John Donne.  He was Provost of Eton from 1624 until his death, and distinguished himself as a diplomatist.  To him is ascribed the saying:  “An ambassador is an honest man sent to lie abroad for the good of his country.” [T.S.]]

[Footnote 9:  Sir Robert Naunton (1563-1635), Secretary of State in 1618, and author of “Fragmenta Regalia” published in 1641. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 10:  Francis Osborne (1593-1659) wrote “Advice to a Son” (1656-58), a work that gave him a great reputation.  This work was issued with his other writings in a collected form in 1673. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 11:  Samuel Daniel (1562-1619) is said to have succeeded Spenser as poet-laureate.  In addition to his plays and poems (including a history of the Civil Wars in eight books, 1595-1609) he wrote a History of England, in two parts (1612-1617). [T.S.]]

THE TATLER, NUMB. 258.

FROM THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30.  TO SATURDAY DECEMBER 2. 1710.

To ISAAC BICKERSTAFF ESQ;

Nov. 22. 1710.[1]

SIR,

Dining yesterday with Mr. South-British, and Mr. William North-Briton two gentlemen, who, before you ordered it otherwise,[2] were known by the names of Mr. English and Mr. William Scott.  Among other things, the maid of the house (who in her time I believe may have been a North-British warming-pan) brought us up a dish of North-British collops.  We liked our entertainment very well, only we observed the table-cloth, being not so fine as we could have wished, was North-British cloth:  But the worst of it was, we were disturbed all dinner-time by the noise of the children, who were playing in the paved court at North-British hoppers; so we paid our North-Briton[3] sooner than we designed, and took coach to North-Britain yard, about which place most of us live.  We had indeed gone a-foot, only we were under some apprehensions lest a North-British mist should wet a South-British man to the skin.

We think this matter properly expressed, according to the accuracy of the new style settled by you in one of your late papers.  You will please to give your opinion upon it to,