[But little appears to be known of the personal history of Thomas
Scot. Sir S. Egerton Brydges, in his _Censura Literaria_, vol.
iii. pp. 381-386., and vol. iv. p. 32., has given some account of
his works, but no biographical notice of the author. The
dedications to his poems being principally to the Norfolk and
Suffolk gentry, it is probable he belonged to one of those
counties. The first edition of _Philomythie_ was published in
1610; the second in 1616; but some copies of the second edition,
according to Lowndes, are dated 1622, others 1640. There is a
third portion which our correspondent does not appear to possess,
entitled _The Second Part of Philomythie, or Philomythologie_,
containing Certaine Tales of true libertie, false friendship,
power united, faction and ambition. By Thomas Scot, Gent. London,
1616, 1625. Thomas Park thought that, from the great disparity of
merit between this and the preceding part, there is little reason
to suppose them to be by the same author, though they bear the
same name. Scot's works are considered rare, especially his first,
entitled _Four Paradoxes of Arte, of Lawe, of Warre, of Seruice_:
London, 1602, consisting of twenty-four leaves, in verse,
dedicated to Ladie Helena, Marquesse of Northampton, which is
marked in _Bibl. Anglo. Poet._ at 25_l._, and resold for 7_l._
12_s._ (Hibbert, 7243.)]
_Robin of Doncaster._--Give me leave to ask for an explanation of the
following enigmatical epitaph, which will be found in the _History of
Doncaster_, by Dr. Edward Miller, p. 74.:
"Howe, Howe, who is heare?
I Robin of Doncaster and Margaret my feare.
That I spent, that I had,
That I gave, that I have,
That I left, that I lost. A.D. 1579.
Quoth Robertus Byrkes, who in this world did reign
Three score years and seven, and yet liv'd not one."
Dr. Johnson latinized a part of it thus:
"Habeo, dedi quod alteri;
Habuique, quod dedi mihi;
Sed quod reliqui, perdidi."
See _Works of English Poets_, vol. lxxii.
Lond. 1790, small 8vo. Poemata,
p. 99.
In _Magna Britannia et Hibernia, antiqua et nova_, vol. vi. p. 429., it
is stated that Robin of Doncaster gave Rossington Wood to that
corporation. Perhaps some reader may be able to supply more of his
biography.
--> F.
[A similar epitaph to the above will be found on the tomb of
William Lambe, in the church of St. Faith under Paul: see Strype's
Stow, book iii. p. 146. Dr. Miller does not appear to have given
any biographical notices of Robert Byrkes, except that he was
Mayor of Doncaster during the years 1569, 1573, and 1577. The
following explanation of this inscription is given by Bland in his
_Proverbs_, vol. i. p. 23.:--"By prudence in the distribution of
his benevolence, by giving only to good and deserving persons, he
procured to himself friends, on whose advice and assistance he
might depend whenever occasion should desire it; and by expending
only what he could conveniently spare, and laying it out on such
things as administered to his comfort, he enjoyed, and therefore
had what he expended; but what he left, not being enjoyed by
himself, nor going perhaps to persons of his choice, or being used
in the manner he would have preferred, that portion might be truly
said to be lost."]
_Horæ Belgicæ._--In what language is the second part of Hoffman von
Fallersleben's _Horæ Belgicæ_ written? This, from its title being
written in Latin, may seem a foolish question, but it is also called (N.
& Q., Vol. v., p. 7.) _Holländische Volkslieder_: and where can it be
procured or seen?