23. A BIBLE printed at Cologne, 1480, folio.

Mk. iv. 3—4. Hort, de dar seyet, de is uitgegaen to seyen. En do he seyede, dat eyn vyl by den wech. en de vogel des hemels quemen en eten dat.

24. A BIBLE printed at Lubeck, 1494, folio.

Mk. iv. 3-4. Horet. seet de dar seyet is vtghegan to seyende. vn do he seyede. dath ene vyl by dewech. vn de voghele des hemmels quemen vn eten dat.

25. MIRROR for the Laymen (Speygel der Leyen), printed at Lubeck, 1496. This work is quoted in Brun's Old Platt-Ger. Poems, Berlin, 1798. Der leyen speygel heft hyr eyn ende,

Den les gherne in desseme elende
Uppe dat god dy syne gnade sende,

Vn eynt leste dyme sele entfange in syne hende.

De dyt boek leeth maken. vnde ok de dar inne lesen,
Leue here god wyl den io gnedig wesen. Amen.
Anno dm. мccccxcvi, Lubeck.-Scheller, p. 107.

LITERAL ENGLISH.

The laick mirror has here an end,

Read it willingly in this distress

That God to thee his blessing send,

And at last thy soul receive into his hand.

(He) who this book made and also those who read in it,
Dear Lord God, be merciful to them. Amen.

Anno Domini 1496, Lubeck.

26. REINEKE Vos,* an allegorical and satirical Poem in the LowSaxon dialect, by Hinreck van Alkmar, founded and for the greater part literally translated from the Flemish original of Willem van Utenhoven. The first edition of this Low-Saxon poem was printed at Lubeck, 1498. In the years 1517 and 1522, two other editions accompanied with remarks were published by Nicholas Baumann, and printed by Lewis Dietz at Rostock. All the numerous subsequent editions are founded on these three.

Dat êrste bôk.

Dat êrste kapittel.

Wo de louwe, konnink aller deren, lêt ûtkrejêren unde vasten vrede ûtropen unde lêt beden allen deren to synem hove to komen.

* See Netherland, or Holland, VI. § 17, and High-German, X. § 56, 57.

fast

de dach was schone, dat weder klâr.
Nobel de konnink van allen deren
hêlt hof un lêt den ûtkrejêren
syn lant dorch over al.

dâr quemen vele heren mit grotem schal,
ôk quemen to hove vele stolter gesellen,
de men nicht alle konde tellen:

Lütke de krôn un Marquart de hegger,
ja, desse weren dâr alle degger;
wente de konnink mit synen heren
mênde to holden hof mit eren,

mit vrouden un mit grotem love,
un hadde vorbodet dâr to hove
alle de dere grôt un klene
sunder Reinken den vos allêne.

he hadde in dem hof so vele misdân,

dat he dâr nicht en dorste komen noch gân.
de quât deit, de schuwet gêrn dat licht,
also dede ôk Reinke de bosewicht,

he schuwede sere des konninges hof,

darin he hadde sêr kranken lof.

Reineke Vos, p. 1.*

LITERAL ENGLISH.

The First Book.

The First Chapter.

How the lion, king of all animals, ordered to be proclaimed and published a peace, and commanded all animals to come to his court.

It happened on a Whitsunday,

That men saw the woods and fields
Green, standing with leaves and grass,
And many a fowl joyful was,
With song in hedges and on trees;
The herbs and the blooms sprouted,
Which well perfumed here and there:
The day was fine, the weather clear.
Nobel the king of all beasts
Held a court, and had it proclaimed
Throughout his land every where.

There came many lords with great noise

Also came to the court many stately fellows

Whom men could not all tell.

Lutke the crane, and Marquart the magpie,
Yes, these were there altogether;

For the king, with his lords,

Meant to hold court with splendour,

With rejoicing and with great honour,

And had summoned there to the court,

* Reineke Vos. Nach der Lübecker ausgabe vom jahre, 1498. Mit einleitung, glossar und anmerkungen von Hoffmann von Fallersleben. Breslau, 1834.

N

All the beasts great and small
Except Renard the fox alone.

He had at court so much misdone

That he there durst not go or come.

Who does a wrong shuns much the light,

So did Renard, the wicked wight,

He shunned much the king's court

Wherein he had a sad report.

27. THE BOOK of the holy Gospels, Lessons, Prophets, and Epistles, &c. Brunswick, 1506, fol.

Mk. iv. 3-4. He ghink vth de dar seyede sin saet vn do he seyede do vil des sades ein deel bi de wech vn wart ghetreden van den luden vnd de voghele des hemels ethen yd vp.

28. A BIBLE printed at Halberstadt, 1522, fol.

Mk. iv. 3-4. Horet, seet, de dar seyet, ys uthgegan tho seyende. Und do he seyede, dat eyn veyl by den wech, und de voghele des hymels quemen, und eten dat. 29. THE NEW TESTAMENT, printed at Cologne, 1525.

Mk. iv. 3-4. Hoort toe, siet, het ginck een Saeyman wt om te saeyen. Ende het gescyede als hi saeyde dat Saet, dat somige viel by den Wech, doen quamen die Vogelen onder den Hemel, ende aten dat op.

30. A BIBLE-Lübeck, 1533, fol.

Mk. iv, 3—4. Höret tho. sêth, Ein sädtseyer ginck vth tho seyende. Vnde ydt begaff syck, jn dem alse he seyede, vell etlick an den wech: do quemen de vögel vnder den hemmel, vnde fretent vp.

31. BUGENHAGEN'S Bible, Magdeburg, 1578.

Mk. iv. 3-4. Höret tho. Seet, Eyn Saedtseyer gynck vth tho seyende, Vnde ydt begaff sick. yn deme alse he seyede, vell etlyck an den Wech, Do quemen de Vögele vnder dem Hemmel, vnde fretent vp.

Low-German Dialects.

32. The following are specimens of the provincial dialects, spoken in Low, or North-Germany, as collected and written down in 1827.

33. The provincial dialect spoken about Nienburg, 1827.

Mk. iv. 3-4. Hört to: Seeth En seyer günk ut to seyen. Un et begaff sick, unner't Seyen vull etlick an de Wech, do kemen de Vägels unner'n Himmel un fretent up.

34. PLATT-GERMAN dialect spoken about Hanover, 1827.

Mk. iv. 3—4, Härt tau, et gunk ein Sägemann ut, tau sägen. Und et begaf seck, weil hei sögte, fellen edliche Kören en den Weg; da keimen dei Vögeln under dem Himmel und fratten sei up.

35. PLATT-GER. dialect of the Old Mark of Brandenburg, 1827.

Mk. iv. 3-4. Horch tau, et gink en Buer up't Feld tum seén. Un (et begap sick) indem hê seété, föhl wat an der Side (oder: ob de Halve); da kamen de Vögel von Himmel (oder : von boben) un fratent up.

36. PLATT-GER. dialect of Hamburgh, 1827.

Mk. iv. 3—4. Hör't to: Een Buhr güng ut, sien Saat to say'n: As he nu зay't, full een Deel von de Saat by den Wegg, un wurr von de Vägel unnern Himmel oppfrêten.

37. BRUNSWICK dialect, 1827.

Mk. iv. 3-4. Höret tau! Süh et gung en Saiemann ut to saien, Un et begaf sik, bi den Saien, fell wat an den Weg; do kaimen de Vöggel under den Himmel un freiten et up.

38. MECKLENBURG-SCHWERIN dialect, 1827.

Mk. iv. 3—4. Hüret to: Sü, dâr gink een Sajer uut, to sajen. Un et begav sik, as he sajete, feel weck (wat) an de Straat, dâr kemen de Vägel unner den Hewen, un freten't upp.

VI.—THE NETHERLANDS, OR HOLLAND.*

1. Holland+ is as remarkable for its origin, as for the intellectual energy of its inhabitants. About fifty years before the christian era, Cæsar speaks

The author has been very anxious to be correct. He has generally cited his authorities, and to secure as much accuracy as possible, he has consulted his friends, amongst whom he ought to mention Professor Siegenbeek, with gratitude for his kindness in correcting the manuscript. Those who wish for a more minute acquaintance with the Dutch language and literature, will find ample information in the following works:-Beknopte Geschiedenis der Nederlandsche Letterkunde, door Professor M. Siegenbeek, 8vo. Haarlem, 1826.-J. de 's Gravenweert, Essai sur l' Histoire de la Littérature Neerlandaise, 8vo. Amsterdam, 1830.-Beknopte Geschiedenis der Nederlandsche tale, door Professor A. Ypey, 2 vols. 8vo. Utrecht, 1812-1832.-Collot d'Escury Hollands roem in kunsten en wetenschappen, 6 vols. Hague, 1824-1833.-Proeve eener Geschiedenis der Nederduitsche Dichtkunst, door J. de Vries, 2 vols. 8vo. Amsterdam, 1809.-Beknopte Geschiedenis der Letteren en Wetenschappen in de Nederlanden, door N. G. van Kampen, 3 vols. 8vo. Hague, 1821-1826.- Biographisch, Anthologisch, en Critisch Woordenboek der Nederduitsche Dichters, door P. G. Witsen Geysbeek, 6 vols. 8vo. Amsterdam, 1821-1827.—Verhandeling over de Nederduytsche Taal en Letterkunde, opzigtelyk de zuydelyke Provintien der Nederlanden, door J. F. Willems, 8vo. Antwerpen, 1819.—Over de Hollandsche en Vlaemsche Schryfwyzen van het Nederduitsch, door J. F. Willems, 8vo. Antwerpen, 1824.-Batavian Anthology, by John Bowring and Harry S. van Dyk, 12mo. London, 1824.-Sketch of the Language and Literature of Holland, by John Bonring, 12mo. Amsterdam, 1829.-Van Wijn's Huiszittend Leven; also van Wijn's Historische en Letterkundige Avondstonden, 8vo. Amsterdam, 1800.—Aenleiding tot de Kennisse van het Verhevene Deel der Nederduitsche Sprake, door Lambert ten Kate, 2 vols. 4to. Amsterdam, 1723.

+ Mr. Halbertsma observes, that the name of Holland, applied to the Netherlands, is not heard of before the eleventh century [1064]. The meaning of Holland exactly suits the fenny and boggy soil which it designates. The oldest Dutch authors write it ollant. Thus Maerlant says—

"Doe wart coninc Loduwike

Karel die caluwe, die wel geraecte,
Die eerst graue jn ollant maecte."
Vol. iii. p. 13, v. 8.

And again, "Comes de Ollandia," a Count of Holland. See Huydecoper on Melis Stoke, vol. i. p. 524. Look for this word in the Teuthonista of van der Schueren, and you will find "Beven daveren als eyn ollant, Seatere," tremble under the feet as a marshy ground.

The word ol, in the sense of dirty or glutinous matter, mud, does not appear in Anglo-Saxon, but it is found in a derived signification. Ol, occasionally changed to hol, signifies calumnia. Wachtendonk, in his Rhyme Chronicle, observes:

"Hollant, een nieuwe naem, die schijnt 't lant te passen,
Alsoo het meest bestaet in veenen en moerassen."

Matthæus de Nobilitate, p. 50.

of the Batavi,* the first inhabitants on record, as being located towards the mouths of the Rhine, between the Whaal,† the most southerly stream of the Rhine, and the other branches to the north: thus the dominions of the Batavi appear to have extended from Dordrecht to about Haarlem. The country is generally low and marshy, and seems formed or enriched by the alluvial deposits brought down by the various streams into which the Rhine was divided as it approached the sea. Pliny, the naturalist, about a century after Cæsar, gives a minute description of it as a land, where, "the ocean pours in its flood twice every day, and produces a perpetual uncertainty whether the country may be considered as a part of the continent or the sea." The genius and industry of men have prevailed. The Hollanders or Dutch have originally taken their possessions from the dominion of the deep; and the exercise of the perpetual thought, care, and industry, necessary first to raise, and then keep up such mighty embankments as defend them from their constant assailant the raging sea, has educated a people, adventurous, brave, and cautious. The Dutch, applying these habits to the cultivation of their intellectual powers, have thus taken the first rank in polite literature, and have also been successful cultivators of the arts and sciences. We are indebted to the Dutch not only for the discovery of oil painting,§ but for the finest specimens of the art: they were also the inventors of printing,|| painting on glass, and, as some say, of the pendulum, the microscope, &c.

*

Bataver is thought by many to be contracted from Bat-auwers, that is, inhabitants of good or fruitful land, from bat, bet good (still found in beter), and auwe ground or country. It is supposed that the name is preserved in a part of Gelderland, the Betuwe fruitful country, in opposition to Veluwe bad land, from vale falling, defective, and ouwe land, country.—Hist. of Dut. Language, by Ypey.

+ Cæsar's Comment. lib. iv. 10.

Plin. Hist. Nat. lib. xvi.

§ By John van Eyck, better known by the name of John of Bruges, in 1410. Korte leevensschets der Graaven van Holland, door Ludolf Smids, 4to. Haarlem, 1744.

|| At Haarlem, by Laurence Koster, about 1423. His real name was Lourens Janszoon Koster, a celebrated citizen of Haarlem, born about 1370, He was treasurer of the city, and held other important offices. I once thought that Gutenburg of Mayence was the inventor of printing in 1440, (Elements of Anglo-Saxon Gr. p. 16); but every impartial person, upon a close investigation of the evidence produced in recent works, must ascribe the honour of the invention to Koster. Ample proof will be found in Verhandeling van Koning over den oorsprong, de uitvinding, verbetering en volmaking der Boekdrukkunst te Haarlem, 1816, bij Loosjes. Gedenkschriften wegens het vierde eeuwgetijde van de uitvinding der Boekdrukkunst door Lourens Janszoon Koster van stadswege gevierd te Haarlem den 10 en 11 Julij 1823, bijeenverzameld door Vincent Loosjes, te Haarlem 1824. Mr. Jacobus Scheltema's geschied en Letterkundig Mengelwerk, vol. v. vi. One authority, among many others, is so strong in favour of Holland, that it cannot be omitted. A German Chronicle of the year 1499, acknowledges that though Mayence improved the art, it was first known in Holland. “Item wie wail die kunst is vonden tzo Mentz, als vursz up die wyse, als dan nu gemeynlich gebruicht wirt, so is doch die eyrste vurbyldung vonden in Hollant uyss den Donaten, die daeselffst vur der tzyt gedruckt syn. Ind van ind uyss den is genommen dat begynne der vursz kunst. Ind is vill meysterlicher ind subtilicher vonden, dan die selve manier was, und ye langer ye mere kunstlicher wurden." Item, though this art was found (out) as aforesaid at Mayence, in that manner in which it is now commonly practised, yet the first idea was taken in Holland from the Donates which were there published before that time. And from and out of them is taken the beginning of the aforesaid art. And is much more masterly and neatly performed than the former manner was, and the longer (it has continued) the more perfect it has become.—Cronica van der hilliger stat v ́ Coellē. Gedrukt te Keulen, by Johannes Koelhoff, in den jare 1499. Gedenkschriften van de uitvinding der Boekdrukkunst, p. 437.