Shortly will be published, in square 12mo, beautifully printed, price
3s. 6d.,
=The Book of Vagabonds and Beggars=, (LIBER VAGATORUM: _Der Betler
Orden_), with a Vocabulary of their Language (_Rotwelsche Sprach_);
edited, with Preface, by MARTIN LUTHER, in the year 1528. NOW FIRST
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH, WITH NOTES, by JOHN CAMDEN HOTTEN.
⁂ This very singular work is comparatively unknown in this country.
The first edition appears to have been printed at Augsburg, by Erhard
Öglin, or Ocellus, as early as 1514—a small quarto of twelve leaves. It
was frequently reprinted at other places in Germany; and in 1528 there
appeared an edition at Wittemberg, with a Preface by Martin Luther,
from which the present translation has been made. The work is divided
into three parts or sections; the first gives a special account of the
several orders of the “Fraternity of Vagabonds;” the second, sundry
_notabilia_ relating to the different classes of beggars previously
described; and the third consists of a CANTING DICTIONARY. It is
singular that more than three centuries ago Martin Luther should have
declared that the cant language of beggars comes from the Hebrews,
and that in our own time a similar statement should be made by Mayhew
in his _London Labour_. Mayhew says that many of the most expressive
street terms in every day use by London and provincial vagabonds are
derived from the Jew _Fences_.
Now ready, fcap. 8vo, beautifully printed by Whittingham, price 2s.,
=Letters of the Marchioness Broglio Solari=, one of the Maids of
Honour to the Princess Lamballe, &c.; with a Sketch of her Life, and
Recollections of Celebrated Characters (intended to have been sold at
5s.)
The Marchioness Broglio Solari was the natural grand-daughter of Lord
Hyde Clarendon, and consequently one of the collateral branches of the
Queens Mary and Ann, and their grand-father, the great Chancellor of
England. She played an important part in the French Revolution; was the
friend of Emperors and Princes; was intimately acquainted with George
the Fourth, Burke, Sheridan, Madame de Stael, the Duke of Wellington,
Sir Robert Peel, Sir H. Davy, Paganini, &c., of most of whom she gives
characteristic anecdotes. The Marchioness endured many troubles, was
robbed of her fortune, and for some time obtained her living as an
actress at the theatres of London and Dublin. This work was published
by an intimate friend, and the entire impression (with the exception
of a few copies) passed into the hands of the family. It is believed
that only 150 copies were printed. The book (by those who know of its
existence) has always been considered as a _suppressed work_.
[In preparation.]
=The History of English Popular Literature=, WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF CHEAP
OR CHAP-BOOKS, Penny and Sixpenny Histories, Old Romances, Fairy Tales,
Books of Wonder, Garlands and Penny Collections of Ballads, Books of
Recipes and Instruction, Jest Books, &c.; ALSO THE HISTORY OF THE RISE
OF CHEAP SERIAL LITERATURE. 8vo.
This very important work will range with _Nisard’s History of French
Popular Literature_, 2 vols., Paris, 1854. It will be illustrated with
numerous exceedingly curious woodcuts, many by FAIRHOLT, and several
from the original blocks used by the old London Bridge and Aldermary
Church Yard publishers.
Printed by TAYLOR & GREENING, Graystoke-place, Fetter-lane, London, E.C.
* * * * *