Bank of England.
[The earliest edition of _Reynard the Fox_ is that printed by Caxton in
1481. Caxton's Translation was again printed by Pynson, and afterwards
by Thomas Gualtier in 1550. Caxton's edition is of extreme rarity; but
there is a reprint of it by the _Percy Society_ in 1844: with an
introductory Sketch of the literary history of this popular romance, in
which our correspondent will find a notice of the principal editions of
it which have appeared in the various languages into which it has been
translated.]
_Campvere, Privileges of._--May I ask the kind assistance of any of your
readers on the following subject? Sir W. Davidson, who was political agent
or envoy in Holland under King Charles II., is stated to have been
"resident for H.M. kingdom of Scotland, and conservator of the Scots
privileges of _Campvere_ in the Low Countries," &c.; {263} and under his
portrait, engraved by Hagens, he is described, among other titles, as being
"conservitor and resident for His Majestie's most ancient kingdome of
Scotland in the Seventein Provinces." What were these privileges, and
whence was the term _campvere_ derived?
I have seen mention made of a mercantile house at Calais, in the sixteenth
century, who had their "campfyer schypp, hyr saylls hallfe blewyw hallfe
yewllow:" but this, I think, must refer to the trade in camphor, in the
purification of which the Venetians, and afterwards the Dutch, exclusively
were occupied.