Volume 1

Dictionary of anonymous and pseudonymous English literature / Samuel Halkett and John Laing.

  • Samuel Halkett
Date:
1926-[1962]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dictionary of anonymous and pseudonymous English literature / Samuel Halkett and John Laing. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    deemed indispensable for smooth and easy reading, and for correct interpretation. A few illustrations may suffice to show the difficulty often experienced in reading old print from which helpful commas are provokingly absent. In 1710, a Scottish Episcopalian con¬ troversialist published anonymously An Answer to Mr James Hog, his letter to a gentleman . . . particularly as to what concerns M. R. C. P. ; these letters are to be read as “ Mr Robert Calder, Priest,” the author. In 1687, there was published a print entitled, Animadversions by way of answer to a sermon preached by Dr Thomas Kenne [Ken\ ... by F. J. R.; these capitals stand for “Father John Reid,” a Jesuit. Many, who for the first time, read Ane Detectioun of the doingis of Marie Queue of Scottis tuiching the murther of hir husband . . . translatit out of the Latine quhilk was written be M. G. B., may require to be informed that the last three capitals are to be read as “ Master George Buchanan ”; and the same remark applies to Ane Admonitioun direct to the trew Lordis Mantenaris of the Kinges Graces authorities “ M. G. B.” A treatise entitled, Gospel musick; or, the singing of Davids Psalms . . . in the pub lick congregatio?i or private families asserted and vindicated . . . (1644) also requires interpretation of a long series of capitals “ N. H. D. D. M. M. S. ” in which the author’s initials are included; the first four letters signify “ Nathaniel Holmes (or Homes), Doctor in Divinity.” An earlier print, entitled, A Shorte treatise of politike pouuer . . . (1556) likewise requires explanation of the series of capitals on the opening page, where “ D. J. P. B. R. VV. ” are intended to be read as “Doctor John Poynet, Bishop of Rochester [and afterwards of] Winchester.” A Parallel or briefe comparison of the \Laudian\ Liturgie with the Masse-Book, the Breviarie, the Ceremoniall, and Romish ritualls . . . (1641) is set forth as having been written by “ R. B. K.,” letters which signify Robert Baillie, at that time minister in Kilwinning; but in A Review of Dr Bramble [ John Bramhall], Bishop of Londonderry, his Faire warning against the Scotes disciplin (1649), the indication of authorship, “ R. B. G.,” must be interpreted as meaning Robert Baillie, in Glasgow, where he was at that date a Professor of divinity in the University. Note should further be taken of the practice, sometimes continued even in recent times, of bishops who suppress their family name and substitute an indication of the see over which they preside: thus, in 1824, James Warren Doyle, Roman Catholic Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, issued A Defence by J. K. L. of his Vindication of the religious and civil principles of the Irish Catholics. (iv) The single letter “ A.” indicates only the family name of Matthew Arnold in The strayed reveller (1849) and Empedocles on Etna (1852); in the same way, there is nothing on the title but the letter “ C.” to inform readers that Mrs James Farley Cox wrote Home thoughts (1902). vol. 1. b 2