Not having at present an opportunity of consulting the works of our own modern writers on early French history, I am ignorant if they also have adopted the version given in the Chronicle of St. Denis.  Mr. Ince, in his little work, Outlines of French History, states, that “he received the surname of Martel, or the Hammerer, from the force with which he hammered down the Saracens—­martel being the name of a weapon which the ancient Franks used, much resembling a hammer,—­and from his strokes falling numberless and effectual on the heads of his enemies.”  Query.—­Which of the two is the more probable version?  Perhaps some one of your numerous correspondents may be enabled to throw addition light on this disputed point.

G.J.K.

[Footnote 2:  This same Alpheide, or Alpaide, as she was frequently called, though but scurvily treated by posterior historians, is honoured by contemporary chroniclers as the second wife of Peppin, uxor altera.  See Fredegaire.]

    [Footnote 3:  Legendes de l’Histoire de France, par J. Collin
    de Plancy, p. 149. (notes.) Paris.  Mellier Freres.]

* * * * *

BODENHAM AND LING.

Referring to BOOKWORM’s note at p. 29, I beg to observe that the dedication negativing Bodenham’s authorship of Politeuphuia is not peculiar to the edition of 1597.  I have the edition of 1650, “printed by Ja.  Flesher, and are to be sold by Richard Royston, at the Angell in Ivye Lane,” in which the dedication is addressed as follows:—­“To his very good friend Mr. Bodenham, N.L. wisheth increase of happinesse.”  The first sentence of this dedication seems to admit that Bodenham was something more than patron of the work:—­“What you seriously begun long since, and have always been very careful for the full perfection of, at length thus finished, although perhaps not so well to your expectation, I present you with; as one before all most worthy of the same:  bothe in respect of your earnest travaile therein, and the great desire you have continually had for the generall profit.”

In Brydges’ Censura Literaria, Bodenham is spoken of as the compiler of The Garden of the Muses, and editor of the Wit’s Commonwealth, the {87} Wit’s Theatre of the Little World, and England’s Helicon.  He seems to have less claim to be considered the author of the Wit’s Theatre than of the Wit’s Commonwealth, for in the original edition of the former, “printed by J.R. for N.L., and are to be sold at the West doore of Paules, 1599,” the dedication is likewise addressed, “To my most esteemed and approved loving friend, Maister J.B.  I wish all happines.”  After acknowledging his obligations to his patron, the author proceeds:  “Besides this History or Theatre of the Little World, suo jure, first challengeth your friendly patronage, by whose motion I undertooke it, and for whose love I am willing to undergoe the heavy burden of censure.  I must confesse that it might have been written with more maturitie, and deliberation, but in respect of my promise, I have made this hast, how happy I know not, yet good enough I hope, if you vouchsafe your kind approbation:  which with your judgement I hold ominous, and as under which Politeuphuia was so gracious.”