[201] See Cunningham’s London Past and Present, p. 41.
[202] Burnet’s History of the Reformation, Lib. ii., vol. ii., p. 14. It is possible also that the White Bear was set up in compliment to Anne, daughter of the Earl of Warwick, queen to Richard III., who, as a difference from her father’s bear and ragged staff, had adopted the White Bear as a badge.
[204] Bagford, who was present at the excavations, relates this story in a letter prefixed to Leland’s Collectanea, p. lxiii., 1770. See also Sir John Oldcastle.
[205] “Lambspring, das ist ein herzlichen Teutscher Tractat von Philosophischen Steine, welchen für Jahren ein adelicher Teutscher Philosophus, Lampert Spring geheissen mit schöne Figuren beschrieben hat. _Frankfort am Main_, 1625.”
[206] “This is a great wonder, and very strange: the dragon contains the greatest medicament.”
[207] “Mercury rightly precipitated or sublimated in its own water dissolved and again coagulated.”
[208] “There is a dragon lives in the forest who has no want of poison: when he sees the sun or fire he spits venom, which flies about fearfully. No living animal can be cured of it; even the basilisk does not equal him. He who can properly kill this serpent has overcome all his danger. His colours increase in death; physic is produced from his poison, which he entirely consumes, and eats his own venomous tail. This must be accomplished by him in order to produce the noblest balm. Such great virtue as will point out herein that all the learned shall rejoice.”
[209] Bossewell, Workes of Armourie, p. 61.
[210] Allusions to the unicorn occur frequently in the Old Testament, and commentators inform us that these references were typical of the coming Saviour.
[211] “It is reported that the unicorn’s horn sweats when it comes in the presence of poison, and that for this reason it is laid on the tables of the great, and made into knife-handles, which, when placed on the tables, show the presence of poison. But this is not sufficiently proved.”--Albertus Magnus, De Animalibus, lib. xxv.
[213] Relation of the Island of England, published by the Camden Society.
[214] See Bib. Harl. 5953, vol. i., p. 407.
[216] Henry Peacham’s Compleat Gentleman.
[217] Fuller’s Worthies, _voce_ Middlesex.