[The first German chap-book upon _Faust_ appeared in 1587. A
translation of it into Dutch was published as early as 1592, at
Emmerich. It was again printed at Delft in 1607; and there have
been several editions since that date. The curious history of this
romance has been well investigated by H. Düntzer, _Die Sage von
Doctor Johannes Faust_, in the 5th volume of _Das Kloster_; and
even more fully by the Freiherr v. Reichlien Meldegg, in the 11th
volume of the same work.]
_To Fettle_.--Your correspondent L.C.R. (p. 142) is referred to the late
Mr. Roger Wilbraham's _Cheshire Glossary_, or (as he modestly termed it)
_An Attempt_, &c. This work, privately printed in 1820, is the
republication, but with _very considerable additions_, of a paper in the
_Archaeologia_, vol. xix.
The explanation of the present word is an instance of this expansion.
Your correspondent and Mr. W. agree as to the meaning of this verb, viz.
"to mend, to put in order any thing which is broken or defective." Being
used in this sense, Mr. W. differs from Johnson and Todd, and he is
inclined to derive Fettle from some deflection of the word _Faire_,
which comes from Latine _Facere_. I must not crowd your columns further,
but refer to the _Glossary_.
May I point out rather a ludicrous misprint (doubtless owing to an
illegible MS.) at p. 120. For Mr. Pickering's _Lives_, read _Series_ of
Aldine Poets.