[122] Cowel's "Interpreter," art. _Acephali_. This by-name we
unexpectedly find in a grave antiquarian law-dictionary! probably
derived from Pliny's description of a people whom some travellers
had reported to have found in this predicament, in their fright and
haste in attempting to land on a hostile shore among savages. To
account for this fabulous people, it has been conjectured they wore
such high coverings, that their heads did not appear above their
shoulders, while their eyes seemed to be placed in their breasts.
How this name came to be introduced into the laws of Henry the First
remains to be told by some profound antiquary; but the allusion was
common in the middle ages. Cowel says, "Those are called _acephali_
who were the _levellers_ of that age, and acknowledged _no head_ or
superior."
[123] _Vocabulario di Santa Caterina e della Lingua Sanese_, 1717.
This pungent lexicon was prohibited at Rome by desire of the court
of Florence. The history of this suppressed work may be found in _Il
Giornale de' Letterati d' Italia_, tomo xxix. 1410. In the last
edition of Haym's "Biblioteca Italiana," 1803, it is said to be
reprinted at _Manilla, nell' Isole Fillippine_!--For the
book-licensers it is a great way to go for it.
[124] Bodin's "Six Books of a Commonwealth," translated by Richard
Knolles, 1606. A work replete with the _practical_ knowledge of
politics, and of which Mr. Dugald Stewart has delivered a high
opinion. Yet this great politician wrote a volume to anathematise
those who doubted the existence of sorcerers and witches, &c., whom
he condemns to the flames! See his "Demonomanie des Sorciers," 1593.
[125] Wood's "Inquiry on Homer," p. 153.
[126] Bodin's "Commonweal," translated by R. Knolles, p. 148. 1606.
[127] Burke's Works, vol. i. 288.
[128] The modern word _cheater_ is traced by some authors to this
term, which soon became odious to the populace.
[129] Daines Barrington, in "Observations on the Statutes," gives
the marginal _note_ of Buck as the _words_ of the duke; they
certainly served his purpose to amuse, better than the veracious
ones; but we expect from a grave antiquary inviolable authenticity.
The duke is made by Barrington a sort of wit, but the pithy
quaintness is Buck's.
[130] These "Private Instructions to the Commissioners for the
General Loan" may be found in Rushworth, i. 418.