_Hornbooks_ (Vol. ii., pp. 167. 236.).--In answer to MR. TIMBS, I send you
the following particulars of a _Hornbook_ in the British Museum, which I
have this morning examined.
It is marked in the new catalogue (Press Mark 828, a. 55.). It contains on
one side the "Old English Alphabet"--the capitals in two lines, the small
letters in one. The fourth line contains the vowels twice repeated (perhaps
to _doubly_ impress upon the pupil the necessity of learning them). Next
follow, in two columns, our ancient companions, "ab, eb, ib," &c., and "ba,
be, bi," &c. After the formula of exorcism comes the "Lord's Prayer" (which
is given somewhat differently to our present version), winding up with "i.
ii. iii. iiii. v. vi. vii. viii. ix. x." On the other side is the following
whimsical piece of composition:--
_"What more could be wished for, even by a literary gourmand under the
Tudors, than to be able to Read and Spell; To repeat that holy charm
before which fled all unholy Ghosts, Goblins, or even the old Gentleman
himself to the very bottom of the Red Sea, and to say that immortal
prayer, which secures heaven to all who _ex animo_ use it, and those
mathematical powers, by knowing units, from which spring countless
myriads."_
Now for my "Query." Can any of your correspondents oblige me with the
probable date of this _literally_ literary treasure, or refer me to any
source of information on the subject?