It would be an interesting fact if we could ascertain the last bondsman by blood--_nativus de sanguine_--who lived in this country. The beginning of the seventeenth century is the period usually referred to as the date of the extinction of personal villenage. In the celebrated argument in the case of the negro Somerset (_State Trials_, vol. xx. p. 41), an instance as late as 1617-18 is cited as the latest in our law books. (See Noy's _Reports_, p. 27.) It is probably the latest recorded _claim_, but it is observable that the claim failed, and that the supposed villain was adjudged to be a free man. I can supply the names of three who were living near Brighton in the year 1617, and whose thraldom does not appear to have been disputed. Norden, from whose unpublished _Survey of certain Crown Manors_ I have extracted the following notice, adverts to the fact, but seems to think that the times were rather unfavourable to any attempt by the lord of the manor to put his rights in force. "There are three bondmen of bloude belonginge unto this manor, never known to be anie way mannumissed, namely, Thomas Goringe, William and John Goringe. Thomas Goringe dwells at Amberley, William at Piddinghow, and John Goringe at Rottingdean. What goods they have the Jurie know not. All poor men. Thomas hath the reversion of a cotage now in the tenure of William Jefferye. But mee thinks this kinde of advantage is nowe out of season; yet, were they men of ability, they might be, upon some consideration, infraunchized." (_Survey of the Manor of Falmer, Sussex_.) I shall be glad to know whether any more recent instance can be pointed out. E. SMIRKE. * * * * * THE DORE OF HOLY SCRIPTURE. In Herbert's edition of Ames's _Typographical Antiquities_, 1785, vol. i. p. 492., is noticed _The Dore of Holy Scripture_, 12mo., printed by John Gowghe in 1536; and, at p. 494., a reprint of the same work is mentioned in 1540, by the same printer, and a description of a copy given from one then in the possession of Herbert himself. In the preface prefixed by the printer, he calls the work "the prologue of the fyrste translatoure of the byble out of latyn in to Englyshe;" and at the end of the work is this note:--"Perused by doctor Taylor and doctor Barons, Master Ceton and Master Tornor." As I am much interested in the subject to which this publication refers, may I ask for information on three points?--1. What evidence is there of this edition of 1536, beyond the statement in Ames? 2. What has become of the copy of the edition of 1540, formerly belonging to Herbert? and, 3. Who are the persons who _peruse_ and revise the latter edition? There is not copy of either edition, as far as I can trace, in the British Museum, in the Bodleian, or at Lambeth. I may add to these queries the following remarks:--