Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

turns; could manage a horse or a boat with admirable dexterity, and at sixty years of age, was the best wrestler in Caernarvonshire. Among her milder and more feminine accomplishments were those of musick and witchcraft; the former was limited to a performance on her national instrument the harp, and the violin; and we cannot be surprized that she was accounted skilful in the latter, when we consider the simple beings among whom she dwelt, and her various occupations. The late Mr. Hutton, who visited North Wales, thus describes Margaret and the simple manners of the natives of this retired spot of the principality:

"Mong the rocks of Llanberis, where foot comes not nigh, [eye, No eye sees their summit except a bird's Nor aught in the prospect appears to the sight, [delight;

But water and mountain, yet they give Quite silent for miles thro' these regions [blow. Except when the surly wind chooses to "But few are their neighbours, and

you go,

fewer their quarrels, [barrels ; And fewest of all are good liquors and In stockings and shoes are no mighty sums spent,

In building, or gaming, or eating, or rent;
Instead of regaling in luxury there,
We see life sustain'd with the most simple

fare;

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

Here liv'd Peggy Evans, who saw ninety-, [100; Could wrestle, row, fiddle, and hunt a fox Could ring a sweet peal, as the neighbourhood tells, [there been any bells; That would charm your two ears-had Enjoy'd rosy health in a lodging of straw, Commanded the saw-pit, and wielded the

saw;

And tho' she's deposited where you can't find her, [her."

I know she has left a few sisters behind

Megan had many suitors; and, as if determined to maintain the superiority which Nature had bestowed upon her, she gave her hand to the most effeminate of her admirers.

* Llanberis is a small village at the foot of Snowdon; near it there is a vale of great picturesque beauty, which takes its name from the village.

Pride of Ancestry.

Giraldus Cambrensis, in his "Cambriæ Descriptio," observes, that the Welsh possessed in an eminent degree an unbounded pride of pedigree; his words are:- Genealogiam quoque generis sui etiam de populo quilibet observat, et non solum avos, atavos, sed usque ad sextam vel septimam, et ultro procul generationem memoriter et promptè genus enarrat in hunc modum: Resus filius Gruffini, filii Resi, filii Theodori, filii Æneæ, filii Oeni, filii Hoeli, filii Cadelli, filii Roderici Magni, et sic deinceps *."-This feeling, always laudable when confined within reasonable bounds, is, in some degree, perceptible among the modern inhabitants of Cambria; but to such an excess has it been carried since Giraldus visited our country, that it has become a matter of derision to our more enlightened neighbours, the English.

A few years ago there lived at Dolgelley in Merionethshire, an individual who, although moving in a low sphere of life, was extremely tenacious of the celebrity of his illus trious progenitors. This was Robin Edwards, Guide General to Cader Idris and the Waterfalls," whose character will be better exemplified by the following copy of a paper, delivered by him to such strangers as visited his neighbourhood for the purpose of viewing its numerous beauties:

"Robert Edwards,

second son of the celebrated Tanner, William Edwards, ap Griffith, ap Morgan, ap David, ap Owen, ap Llewelyn, ap Cadwaladr, great-great-great grandson of an illegitimate daughter of that illustrious hero, no less famed for his irresistible prowess when mildly approaching under the velvet standards of the lovely Venus, than when he sternly advanced with the terrific banner of the bloody Mars,-and Sir Rice ap Thomas, who was the son of Anne, alias Catharine, daughter of Howel ap Jenkin of Ynys-y-maengwyn, thirteenth in descent from Cadwgan, a lineal descendant of Bleddyn ap Cynfin, Prince of Powis. Since his nativity, full four and eighty times hath the Sun rolled to his

"Rice ap Griffith, ap Rice, ap Tudor, ap Einion, ap Owen, ap Howel, ap Cadell, ap Roderic the Great, and so on." This is part of the pedigree of the Royal House of South Wales.

summer

1820.] Robert Edwards.-Harvard College.-Mr. Bowyer. 13

summer solstice *. Fifty years was he host of the Hen and Chickens, Pen-yfront, twenty of which he was Apparitor to the late Right Reverend Father in God, John, Lord Bishop of Bangor, and his predecessors; by chance made a glover, by genius a fly dresser and angler; is now, by the all-divine assistance, conductor to and over the most tremendous mountain Cader Idris; to the stupendous cataracts of the Cayue and the Mowddach; and to the enchanting cascades of Dol-y-melynllyn, with all its beautifullyromantic scenery; Guide-general and magnificent expounder of all the natural and artificial curiosities of North Wales; professor of grand and bombastical lexicographical words; Knight of the most anomalous, whimsical, yet perhaps happy, order of hair-brained inexplicables."

Poor Robin, with all his eccentricities, is now gathered to those fathers he so enthusiastically venerated. I remember him well, and am greatly indebted to him for many an hour's amusement during my boyish days; he was a famous story-teller, and abounded in all the traditionary tales known in Merioneth, and almost every other shire in North Wales; the re

hearsal of which afforded him great delight, and gave full scope to the garrulity and circumstantiality for which he was noted. But his glory consisted in conducting a party to the "most tremendous mountain Cader Idris," and to the neighbouring wa terfalls. Then, arrayed in his best suit, his head decorated with a large equilateral cocked-hat, and his diminutive person bestriding a poney as dwarfish as himself, he proudly led the way; and, I suspect, experienced as much satisfaction as his renowned ancestor Bleddyn ap Cynfyn ever did when riding to the field at the head of his numerous and brave vassals. He was a harmless, and, in his way, a very entertaining persouage; his emory will not speedily be forgotten by those who have had the pleasure of his amusing company. He died in

1810 or 1811.

(To be continued.)

Mr. URBAN,

R.

Boston, N. America,

Nov. 16, 1819.

I SEND you a drawing of a Medal

which has been in my family a

*The paper, of which the above is a copy, was printed in 1806; in the March of that year, he completed his eightyfourth year.

long time. I can trace it back to one of my ancestors who came to this country about 70 years ago, and probably brought it with him from England at that time. It is of silver, about the size of a shilling, but much thinner, and is engraved, and not struck with a die, as those medals intended for circulation *.

Observing the eagerness with which your Correspondents search out every thing relating to your deceased worthies, I have sent you a copy of the Inscription inserted by Mr. Bowyer, the celebrated Printer, in the books he presented to Harvard University; Nichols, in his "Literary Anecdotes:" of which mention is made by Mr. "Collegio Harvardensi,

novi orbis decori et ornamento,
veteris admirationi,
Academiis Britannicis virtuti
et moribus non tam æmulo
quam exemplo,
manusculum hoc donat
Gulielmus Bowyer."

A TRANSATLANTIC READER.

Mr. URBAN,

Oct. 12, 1819. considered the true Antiquarian S your Magazine may be justly Repository, I make no apology for sending you a notice of the discovery of a great number of human bones which were some time ago dug up in the vicinity of Aylesbury. Some workmen employed in digging gravel in the Northern part of the parish, discovered within a few yards of the course of a small brook which separates it from the neighbouring parish of Brieton, and very near to the turnpike road leading from Aylesbury to Winslow, the remains of several skeletons. They were found lying in various directions and postures, some with the heads towards the East, others the contrary way, and, in a word, as if thrown promiscuously into holes which had been hastily dug to receive them. Some of them were within three feet of the surface, others four or five; but according to the information given me upon the spot, none at a more considerable depth. The number of skeletons amounted to thirty-eight; and as the labourers

*The Medal is that of James I. and his son Henry; is engraved in Gent. Mag. for June 1788, and explained in vol. LIX. pp. 799. 805; LX. 218; and LXI, 321. EDIT.

proceed

proceed in getting up the gravel, it seems probable that many more may be hereafter discovered. The bones are for the most part those of adult subjects; and from the appearance of the teeth, with few exceptions, scarcely past the middle age. Some locks of hair were observable still hanging to one or two of the skulls; and at least in one of them the brain had not wholly lost its figure or consistency. These latter were imbedded in the dark-coloured stiff clay, which obtains very generally in and about the vale of Aylesbury, and is known by geologists under the appellation of oak-tree clay. Where the bones had lain in the beds of gravel, they generally appeared drier and more decayed. Some few of the bones evidently belonged to tall men, but afforded nothing very particular with reference to their stature. The meadow in which these relicks have been found, abounds with green patches, irregularly distributed about its surface; and there are evidently enough to be traced, several holes or pits which have not yet been examined. With the exception of a small buckle found lying upon the neck of one of the skeletons, and a piece or two of an horse-shoe, I could not ascertain that any thing whatsoever, which might have been supposed to be buried at the same time with the bodies, was discovered.

Very various conjectures were made by the visitors who, attracted by curiosity from time to time, inspected the progress of the discovery. Some were at first inclined to suppose that there had formerly been a place of execution near the spot: but that idea was, I believe, soon abandoned, in consequence of the number as well as the appearance of the bones. The most probable account is,-that these were the bodies of soldiers slain during the civil wars of Cromwell. History, it is true, has not preserved many par ticulars of the contests to which, at that eventful period, we may venture to refer the loss of so many lives; but it is quite too much to suppose that these bones have lain here ever since the Saxon times, a period of more than twelve hundred years having intervened since the reduction of the town of Aylesbury by that people, under Cuthwolf. The spot in which they have been found is about a mile

Northward of the parish church; the ground immediately contiguous has been of late years considerably raised, in order to form and improve the line of turnpike-road which formerly was in wet seasons frequently overflowed by the neighbouring brook. Over that brook (which by the bye is the original, though here inconsiderable, stream, that, after a course of a few miles, is dignified by the title of "the river Thame") is a small bridge of two arches, forming one of the principal approaches to Aylesbury; and, very probably, a spot where it may have been thought proper to station an advanced guard for the protection of the Southern bank; and to interrupt an enemy in advancing towards the town.

According to Lord Clarendon's account, Aylesbury was garrisoned for the Parliament during 1644 and the succeeding year; and although, as Mr. Lysons truly observes, “it does not appear to have sustained any siege from the Royal army," it was deemed of great importance, and in all probability must have been exposed to the occasional loss of many of the troops stationed there, as well as very likely to have been the means of destroying numbers of assailants in those predatory excursions which there is good authority for believing to have been at the time very common in this neighbourhood, although not parti cularized by the historians of that period. Boarstall or Borstal House (situated upon an antient domain, now belonging to the family of Aubrey), then one of King Charles's garrisons, was a perpetual annoyance to the Parliamentary forces at Aylesbury. In the spring of the year 1644 Boarstall was one of the smaller garrisons which it was thought adviseable to abandon. It was accordingly evacuated by the King's forces, and the fortifications destroyed. Immediately the Parliamentarians, who "had experienced much inconvenience from the excursions of their neighbours," took possession of it, and greatly annoyed the Royal garrison at Oxford, by intercepting provisions, &c. whereupon Colonel Gage undertook to reduce it, which he is related to have effected with great gallantry. Lady Denham, the then proprietor of the mansion, having fled away in disguise; and “the gar

1820.]

The notorious Turpin.-Popladys!

rison left there by Col. Gage, nearly supported itself (says Lord Clarendon) by depredations in Buckinghamshire, particularly in the neighbourhood of Aylesbury." It also appears that the King fixed his head-quarters at Buckingham for some time, in 1644. Hence it seems but reasonable to suppose that severe conflicts might have taken place in the vicinity of so important a post as this of Aylesbury, although not particularly described or handed down to us in the page of History and that the bones now discovered may be more reasonably referred to that period than to one so much more remote, as the days of, our Saxon ancestors, is confirmed by their general appearance, freshness, the mode in which they were buried, the particular spot where they have Jain, and every other circumstance connected with the subject, which has come to the knowledge of

:

AN OLD CORRESPONDENT.

Mr. URBAN,

ON

Thaxted, Jan. 3. N reading your Magazine (Supplement), vol. LXXXIX. part i. p. 604, I find your Correspondent G. B. wishes to be informed where the law which awards the punishment of death for killing a game-cock is to be found, and also of the nature of the crime for which Turpin was tried and afterwards executed.

As to the law, I caunot give any information; but I have in my possession a Newgate Calendar, in which the account of Turpin's life and vil lanies are fully given; by which it appears, that after living some time in a cave on Epping Forest, and having committed a murder, he went to Long-Sutton, in Lincolnshire, and stole some horses, for which he was taken into custody, but escaped from the constable, and went to Welton, in Yorkshire, where he went by the name of John Palmer, and assumed the character of a gentleman. While there he shot a cock belonging to his landlord, on which a neighbour told him that he was doing wrong, and Turpin threatening to shoot him too if he waited while he loaded his gun, his neighbour informed his landlord of what had passed; he was taken into custody, and carried before a Bench of Justices then assembled at Beverley, and being unable to give

15

security for his good behaviour, was committed to Bridewell.

The Magistrates, after making inquiries into his mode of living, and finding him a suspicious character, removed him to York Castle, where he had not been a month, when two persons from Lincolnshire came and claimed a mare and foal, and likewise a horse, which he had stolen in that county. When he had been imprisoned some time it was found out (through letters that came to him) that his real name was Richard Turpin, the noted highwayman. He was brought to trial, convicted on two indictments (the account does not say for what crimes, but I presume for stealing the horses as above), received sentence of death, and was executed at York on the 10th of April 1739. M. L.

Mr. URBAN, Kilbourne, Jan. 4.
S your pages are peculiarly de-

[ocr errors]

illustration of every

thing that is curious in Antiquity; some of your Readers may be able to explain the origin of the following custom.

On returning from the country, I happened to sleep at St. Alban's on the night of the 31st of December last, and was awakened early the next morning by a confused noise of boys and girls in the street, crying for sale Popladys! Popladys!"

66

Enquiring at breakfast-time the meaning of those words, I was informed, that it was a very ancient practice in that town, to cry and sell in the streets and in the Baker's shops, on New Year's Day, a species of cake or bun, called Poplady, one of which was brought to me. It was a plain cake, like the Cross Buns sold on Good Friday; but instead of being circular was long and narrow, rudely resembling the human figure, with two dried raisins or currants stuck in to mark the eyes, and another to represent the mouth, the lower part being formed somewhat like the outer case of an Egyptian mummy.

As the Abbey of St. Alban's is celebrated in Monkish story, it is probable that this cake is a relic of Romish superstition: perhaps a variety of the Yule Cake, which we are told, in Brand's Popular Antiquities, was sometimes made in confectionery to

represent

[ocr errors]

represent the infant Christ or the Virgin Mary. But whence the name of Poplady? Can it be a corruption of Pope Lady-the female Pope- al luding to the fabulous tale of Pope Joan, recorded by Platina in his His tory of Sovereign Pontiffs?

If you, Sir, or any of your Correspondents can throw any light on this curious, though ridiculous custom, it will oblige,

Mr. URBAN,

S. P.

Jan. 1.

W HILST other modern improve

ments in Art and Science stand recorded in the Reports of the respective Societies whose peculiar objects they are, the improvements made during the present reign in the art of Coinage are suffered to pass by unregarded; possibly because they are too artless for the Society of Arts, too little scientific for the Royal Society, and too little like profitable trading concerns to attract the notice of the Board of Trade.

To extend the knowledge of them, permit me the use of a few of your columns to be occupied with a chronological account, extracted from the only work which has hitherto condescended to notice them at large*. Nothing of importance was done until the year 1769, when the Act to continue duties for the encouragement of the Coinage of money was made perpetual.

As the expediency of originally passing this Act was, in the minds of those who considered the subject, extremely problematical, making it perpetual, and thereby satisfying all doubts upon the subject, must be allowed to be an improvement, from which might be augured the rapid progress which the coins afterwards made towards perfection.

At the commencement of the present reign, in the year 1760, the gold coins were known to be considerably diminished by filing, &c. No steps, however, were taken to prevent the practice until the year 1774 t, when a general recoinage of gold was determined upon, and the practice of weighing gold coins (a practice borrowed from the wisdom of the Chinese) was established by statute, which condescended to borrow so much from that people, but was at the same time aware that it would not become the wealth of such a nation as ours, to imitate their economy in not coin. ing the more precious metals.

Tables of the weights at which the gold coined at different periods was to be current, were published by authority, to the great convenience of the filers and sweaters, who were taught by them how far they could legally go. This was undoubtedly an imitation of the Parliamentary wisdom in the reign of King William III. when a proper time was graciously allowed to the clippers of the silver coin, in which they could exercise their talents with full effect, and safety ‡.

In the year 1783 the counterfeit copper money was complained of as a great grievance by the inhabitants of Westminster. This very naturally produced a statute to forbid the counterfeiting of the current coin of Ireland, to the great relief of London and Westminster §.

In 1787, the want of silver money occasioned an effort to supply it, which by great exertion was carried on to the amount of about 80,000/. It was undoubtedly judicious not to extend it beyond that sum, as the great recoinage in King William's reign, which was conducted upon the

"Annals of the Coinage of Great Britain, by the Rev. Rogers Ruding."-The late Lord Liverpool, in a Letter to the King, speaks in high terms of some of them, that is, of the recoinage of gold, and the plan of weighing it in common traffick. The more modern improvements he unfortunately did not live to see. Judging, however, from what he actually did approve, there can be but little doubt that these would likewise have been honoured by his support.

This delay was doubtless intended to furnish Government with a stronger case than it would have had in 1760, from the progress, which the clippers, &c. might make in the deterioration of the coins.

See the Statute 7 & 8 William III. Chap. 1.

Upon mature deliberation, a coinage of copper was determined upon, and issued in July 1797; the impatience of the people, who are not accustomed to deliberate, but to act from their immediate imaginary feelings, having in 1784 commenced a coinage of private tokens.

same

« VorigeDoorgaan »