Note 77 — Chapter IV · THE KNOWLEDGE OF EMBLEM-BOOKS IN BRITAIN, AND GENERAL INDICATIONS THAT SHAKESPEARE WAS ACQUAINTED WITH THEM.

In two other Letters Drummond makes mention of Devices or Emblems. Writing from Paris, p. 249, he describes “the Fair of St. Germain:”—

“The diverse Merchandize and Wares of the many nations at that Mart;” and adds, “Scarce could the wandering thought light upon any Storie, Fable, Gayetie, which was not here represented to view.”

A letter to the Earl of Perth, p. 256, tells of various Emblems:—

“My noble Lord,—After a long inquiry about the Arms of your Lordships antient House, and the turning of sundry Books of Impresaes and Herauldry, I found your V N D E S. famous and very honourable.”

“In our neighbour Countrey of England they are born, but inverted upside down and diversified. Torquato Tasso in his Rinaldo maketh mention of a Knight who had a Rock placed in the Waves, with the Worde Rompe ch’il percote. And others hath the Seas waves with a Syren rising out of them, the word Bella Maria, which is the name of some Courtezan. Antonio Perenotto, Cardinal Gravella, had for an Impresa the sea, a Ship on it, the word Durate out of the first of the Æneades, Durate et vosmet rebus servate secundis. Tomaso de Marini, Duca di terra nova, had for his Impresa the Waves with a sun over them, the word, Nunquam siccabitur æstu. The Prince of Orange used for his Impresa the Waves with an Halcyon in the midst of them, the word, Mediis tranquillus in undis, which is rather an Embleme than Impresa, because the figure is in the word.”