Notes and Queries, Number 67, February 8, 1851 | Page 5

and would,
I should think, well repay the publisher of a new edition, after a careful
correction of a few deficiencies in composition, incidental to the early
period at which Mr. Gough translated it. There is nothing in the preface,
or in any part of the volume, to indicate the name of the original author.
Should Mr. J. B. Nichols still possess Mr. Gough's more matured and
corrected copy, he might perhaps discover some reference to the
author.
J. M. G.
Worcester, Jan. 1851.
* * * * *
FOLK LORE.
Lammer Beads (Vol. iii. p. 84.).--If L. M. M. R. had taken the trouble
to consult Jamieson's Etymological Dictionary,--that rich storehouse of
curious information, not merely in relation to the language, but to the
manners and customs, and the superstitions of North Britain,--he would
have found interesting notices connected with his inquiry. See the word
LAMMER, and the same in the Supplement. We might accept, without
a moment's hesitation, the suggestion of a learned friend of Dr.
Jamieson's, deriving Lammer from the French, l'ambre, were it not that
Kilian gives us Teut. Lamertyn-steen, succinum. In Anglo-Saxon times
it was called Eolhsand (Gloss. Ælfr.), and appears to have been

esteemed in Britain from a very early period. Amongst antiquities of
the Anglo-Saxon age, beads of amber are of very frequent occurrence.
Douglas has collected some interesting notes regarding this substance,
in his Nenia, p. 9. It were needless to cite the frequent mention of
precularia, or Paternosters, of amber, occurring in inventories. The
Duke of Bedford, Regent of France, purchased a most costly chaplet
from a Parisian jeweller, in 1431, described as "une patenostres à
signeaux d'or et d'ambre musquet." (Leber, Inventaires, p. 235.) The
description "de alba awmbre," as in the enumeration of strings of beads
appended to the shrine of S^r William, at York Minster, may have been
in distinction from jet, to which, as well as to amber, certain virtuous or
talismanic properties were attributed. There were, however, several
kinds of amber,--succinum rubrum, fulvum, &c. The learned professor
of Copenhagen, Olaus Worm, alludes to the popular notions and
superstitious use of amber--
"Foris in collo gestatum, contra fascinationes et nocturna
terriculamenta pueros tueri volunt; capitis etiam destillationibus, et
tonsillarum ac faucium vitiis resistere, oculorum fluxus et ophthalmias
curare."
By his account it would seem to have been received as a panacea,
sovereign for asthma, dropsy, toothache, and a multitude of diseases.
"In summâ (he concludes) Balsami instar est, calorem nativum
roborans et morborum insultibus resistens."--Museum Wormianum, p.
32.
Bartholomaeus Glanvilla, in his work, De Proprietatibus Rerum, has
not overlooked the properties of amber, which he seems to regard as a
kind of jet (book xvi., c. xlix.).
"Gette, hyght Gagates, and is a boystous stone, and never the les it is
precious."
He describes it as most abundant and of best quality in Britain of two
kinds, yellow and black; it drives away adders,--

"Is contrary to fendes,--helpeth for fantasies and ayenste vexacions of
fendis by night.--And so, if so boystus a stone dothe so great wonders,
none shuld be dispisid for foule colour without, while the vertu that is
within is unknowe." (Translation by Trevisa.)
ALBERT WAY.
* * * * *
{101}
ON CATALOGUES OF BOOKS.
A series of notes on the utility of printed catalogues of public libraries
may seem to be a superfluity. It may be said, Who ever denied it?
Relying on a official document, I can assert that it has been denied--in
defiance of common sense, and the experience of two hundred and fifty
years!
At such a time, it behoves every lover of literature to declare himself,
and to furnish his quota of facts or arguments corrective of this upstart
paradox. It is under the influence of that sentiment that I submit, for
consideration in the proper quarter, some short extracts from my
bibliographic portfolios.
BOLTON CORNEY.
"The forwardness of your CATALOGUE [of the public library at
Oxford] is very good tidings.... I would intreat you to meditate upon it,
how it may be performed to both our credits and contents."--Sir
Thomas BODLEY to Tho. James, c. 1604.
Habes, benigne lector, catalogum librorum, eo ordine dispositum, quo
in celeberrima Oxoniensi bibliothecâ collocantur; opus diu multumque
desideratum, et jam tandem editum."--Thomas JAMES, 1605.
"Quamprimum benignis academicorum suffragiis in bibliothecarium
electus essem, viderémque justum bibliothecæ publicæ catalogum ab

omnibus desiderari, ego ut gratiis litatum irem, me protinùs accinxi ad
conficiendum proprio marte novum catalogum."--Thomas HYDE,
1674.
"The general use of catalogues of [of books], and the esteem they are in
at present, is so well known, that it were to waste paper to expatiate on
it."--Gerard LANGBAINE, 1688.
"Quelles obligations la république des lettres n'a-t-elle pas aux Anglais,
d'avoir donné les catalogues des livres que renferment leurs
bibliothèques! Celui d'Oxford est d'une utilité reconnue, par