POET LAUREATES

Can any of the contributors to your most useful "NOTES AND QUERIES" favour me with the title of any work which gives an account of the origin, office, emoluments, and privileges of Poet Laureate. Selden, in his *Titles of Honour (Works*, vol. iii. p. 451.), shows the Counts Palatine had the right of conferring the dignity claimed by the German Emperors. The first payment I am aware of is to Master Henry de Abrinces, the *Versifier* (I suppose Poet Laureate), who received 6*d.* a day,—4*l.* 7*s.*, as will be seen in the *Issue Roll* of Thomas de Brantingham, edited by Frederick Devon. Warton (*…