_Christopher Barker's Device._--I have often been puzzled to understand the
precise meaning of the inscription on Christopher Barker's device. Whether
this arises from my own ignorance, or from any essential difficulty in it,
I cannot tell; but I should be glad of an explanation. I copy from a folio
edition of the Geneva Bible, "imprinted at London by Christopher Barker,
printer to the Queene's Majesty, 1578."
The device consists of a boar's head rising from a mural crown, with a
scroll proceeding from its mouth, and embracing a lamb in the lowest fold.
The inscription on this scroll is as follows:--
"Tigre . Reo.
Animale . Del.
Adam . Vecchio.
Figliuolo . Merce.
L'Evangelio . Fatto.
N'Estat . Agnello."
I venture my own solution:--The tiger, the wicked animal, of the old Adam,
being made, thanks to the Gospel, a son, is hence become a lamb."
I presume _N'Estat_ to be an abbreviation of "ne è stato." Any correction
or illustration of this will oblige.