Leamington.
* * * * *
Minor Queries with Answers.
_Books burned by the Common Hangman._--
"Historia Anglo-Scotica: or an Impartial History of all that happen'd
between the kings and kingdoms of England and Scotland from the
beginning of the Reign of _William the Conqueror_ to the Reign of Queen
Elizabeth, &c., by James Drake, M.D., 8vo., London, 1703."
Of this work it is said, in a note in the _Catalogue_ of Geo. Chalmers'
library (fourth day's sale, Sept. 30, 1841), that--
"On June 30, 1703, the Scotch parliament ordered this book to be burned
by the hands of the common hangman, and that the magistrates of
Edinburgh should see it carried into effect at eleven o'clock on the
following day."
Will any correspondent of yours furnish me with some notice of Dr. Drake,
the author, and also explain the ground of offence upon which his book was
condemned? I confess to be unable to discover anything to offend; neither,
as it seems, could Mr. Surtees, for he says:
"I quote Drake's _Historia Anglo-Scotica_, 1703, a book which, for what
reason I never could discover, was ordered to be burned by the common
hangman."--_History of Durham_, vol. iv. p. 55. note _l_.
Any notices of books which have been signalised by being subjected to
similar condemnation, would much interest me, and perhaps others of your
readers.