_Sermon's Pills._--In Guizot's _Life of Monk, Duke of Albermarle_,
translated and edited by the present Lord Wharncliffe, it is stated (p.
313.) that when the Duke was suffering from the diseases which afterwards
proved fatal to him,
"One of his neighbours, at New Hall, formerly an officer in his army,
mentioned to him certain pills said to be sovereign against the dropsy,
which were sold at Bristol by one Sermon, who had also served under his
orders in Scotland as a private soldier. This advice and remedy from
ancient comrades, inspired the old general with more confidence than
the skill of the physicians. He sent for Sermon's pills, and found
himself so much recovered by them for a time, that he returned to
London at the close of the summer."
Having "found," in the newspapers of the day, the following paragraphs
illustrative of this passage in the great General's history, I think them
sufficiently interesting "to make a Note of."
"London, July 13. 1669.--His Grace the Lord General, after a long and
dangerous distemper, is (God {439} be praised) perfectly recovered and
restored to his former health, to the Great rejoycing of their
Majesties and the whole court, by the assistance of one William Sermon,
of Bristol, whose pills have had that excellent success as to restore
him perfectly to his sleep and appetite, and wholly abate all the
symptoms of his disease. Yesterday his Grace, as being perfectly cured,
dismissed his physicians from their farther attendance."
"London, July 17. 1669.--The 13th instant, Mr. William Sermon, the
practitioner in physick, who so happily performed that excellent cure
upon his Grace the Duke of Albermarle, was presented to His Majesty in
St. James's Park, where he had the honor to kiss His Majesty's hand,
and to receive his thanks for that good service."
September 9. 1669.--"Advertisement: These are to give notice that
William Sermon, Dr. of Physick, a person so eminently famous for his
cure of his Grace the Duke of Albermarle, is removed from Bristol to
London, and may be spoken with every day, especially in the forenoon,
at his house in West Harding Street, in Goldsmith's Rents, near Three
Legged Alley, between Fetter Lane and Shooe Lane."
Can any of your correspondents give an account of the subsequent career of
Dr. Sermon?
[Greek: D]
_An Infant Prodigy_ (Vol. ii., p. 101.).--There are parallel cases in the
hagioloists (_Hist. de l'Eglise Gallicane_, par Longueval, tom. iii. p.
430. 1782):
"S. Amand après cette mission étant repassé dans la Gaule, eut bientôt
occasion de montrer l'intrépidité de son zèle ... L'amour des femmes,
écueil fatal des jeunes princes, fit en peu de temps oublier à Dagobert les
leçons qu'il avoit reçues de S. Arnoux et de S. Cunibert. Il se livra à
cette passion avec tant de scandale, qu'il eut jusqu'à trois femmes à la
fois qui portoient le nom de reines, sans parler d'un grand nombre de
concubines ...
"Amand, après un assez long exil, 'refusa d'abord l'honneur de baptiser'
l'enfant de son maître: 'mais les instances que le roi lui fit faire par
Ouen et Eloi firent céder sa modestie à l'obéissance. L'enfant fut aussitôt
apporté le saint évêque l'ayant pris entre ses bras, lui donna sa
bénédiction, et récita les prières pour le faire catéchumène. L'oraison
étant finie, comme personne ne répondoit, Dieu délia la langue du jeune
prince, qui n'avoit pas plus de quarante jours, et il répondit
distinctement _amen_.'"
This happened in 630 at Orleans, and the holy abbot who attests the miracle
was present when it occurred. Had St. Amand learnt ventriloquism during his
missionary excursions?
And now permit me to tell your correspondent CH. that Abp. Bramhall's Dutch
is quite correct. "Mevrouw" is still the title of empresses, queens
duchesses, Countesses, noble ladies, ministers of state's and other great
men's wives.