The reader may refer to Dr. Hickes's _Criticism_ (Atterbury's _Correspondence_, i. 492.). Calamy's expression is a significant, if not a very complimentary one, as regards Burnet's candour (_Life and Times_, i. 59.). I.H.M. Bath, Dec. 1849. _Viz., why the contracted form of Videlicet._ I shall be much obliged if any one of your readers can inform me of the _principle_ of the contraction viz. for videlicet, the letter _z_ not being at all a component part of the three final syllables in the full world. [Cross symbol] [Is not our correspondent a little mistaken in supposing that the last letter in "viz." as originally a letter z? Was it not one of the arbitrary marks of contraction used by the scribes of the middle ages, and being in form something like a "z," came to be represented by the early printers by that letter? In short, the sign3 was a common abbreviation in records for terminations, as omnib3 for omnib_us_, hab3 for hab_et_. Vi3, corruptly viz. is still in use.] _Authors of Old Plays._ We are enabled by the courtesy of several correspondents, to answer two of the Queries of Q.D., in No. 5. p. 77., respecting the authors of certain old plays. G.H.B. informs us that _Sicily and Naples_ was written by Samuel Harding; of whom, as we learn from J.F.M., an account will be found in Wood's _Athenae_. NASO informs Q.D. that _Nero_ was written by Matthew Gwinne; there are two editions of it, viz. 1603 and 1633,--and that a copy of it may be procured at 17. Wellington Street, Strand, for 2_s_. _Birthplace of Coverdale._ Can you inform me of the birthplace of Miles Coverdale? W.C. ["Bishop Myles Coverdale is supposed to have been born in the year of our Lord 1488, in the district of Coverdale, in the parish of Coverham, near Middleham, in the North Riding of Yorkshire; and it is the opinion of the learned historian of Richmondshire, that it is an assumed, and not a family name." These are the words of the Rev. Geo. Pearson, B.D., the very competent editor of the works of Bishop Coverdale, published by the Parker Society. His reference is to Whitaker's _Hist. of Richmondshire_, vol. i. p. 17.] _Caraccioli--Author of Life of Lord Clive._ In reply to K.'s query in No. 7., I have to inform him that "Charles Caraccioli, Gent." called himself "the Master of the Grammar School at Arundel," and in 1766 published a very indifferent _History of the Antiquities of Arundel_; and deprecating censure, he says in his preface, "as he (the author) was educated and till within these few years has lived abroad, totally unconversant with the English tongue, he flatters himself that the inaccuracies so frequently interspersed through the whole, will be observed with some grains of allowance." His _Life of Lord Clive_ was a bookseller's compilation. WM. DURRANT COOPER. * * * * * QUERIES. LOVE, THE KING'S FOOL OF THAT NAME.