1820.] THE Description of Beeston Castle, Cheshire. Mr. URBAN, March 1. HE Castle of Beeston, in the county of Chester, (see Plate I.) affords a fine specimen of Norman Architecture. It is built upon the summit of an insulated rock, at an altitude of upwards of three hundred and fifty feet; and owes its foundation to Randle Blundeville, the sixth Earl Palatine of Chester, who exercised the authority of a Sovereign Prince within his dominions.* Higden informs us, that after the Earl" was come from the Holie Land," he built the Castle of Beeston, about the year 1220. The fortress is irregular in its architecture. The keep (the entrance to which forms the subject of the accompanying Plate) occupies nearly an acre of land; and the only access to it is over a narrow platform, up a steep flight of steps, between the towers. Two sides of the keep are protected by a moat cut out of the solid rock, and of considerable depth: the other sides are now open to a frightful precipice. The outer court of the Castle is defended by a wall and eight round towers. In the inner balium is a well, once nearly 300 feet deep, and originally sunk to the level of the brook below; the bottom of which the peasantry of the neighbourhood firmly believe to contain a vast store of riches, concealed there during the civil wars. The walls are beautifully covered with ivy, and the base of the hill abounds with a variety of plants, of much rarity. The Castle continued in the possession of the local Earls until 1237, when, on the death of John Scott, Henry III. took possession of the earldom, and with it this magnificent fortress. In 1265, it was honoured with the presence of Prince Edward, with his prisoners Humphrey de Bohun, Henry de Hastings, and Guy de Montfort. In 1333, Edward III. gave it to his illustrious son the Black Prince. It was garrisoned for Ri *The first Earl of Chester was Gherbod, but it can scarcely be said that he took possession of his territory. He was succeeded by Hugo Lupus. All criminal indictments were in the name of the Earl; and, instead of "contra coronam et dignitatem," the form ran" contra dignitatem gladii Cestriæ." Edit. 201 chard II. in 1399, but surrendered to the ambitious Harry of Lancaster, who found in it a considerable treasure of the King's, exceeding 200,000 marks. In 1460, it was given to the Duke of York by Henry VI. It subsequently fell into a dilapidated state; and Leland, about 1500, describes it as being "ruinated." In January 1636, Lieutenant-Colonel Coningsby, being appointed Commissary-General of aud for all the Castles and Fortifications of England and Wales, on behalf of the Parliament, Beeston Castle was, with others, put into a tenantable state, and, on the night of February 21st, 1642, received a garrison of 300 men. In December 1643, the Parliament troops were dispossessed by stratagem: the celebrated Captain Landford, who rendered himself so conspicuous in the Irish war, and eight of his men, availing themselves of a dark night, mounted the precipitous ascent, escaladed the wall, and got possession of the upper ward. The governor, Captain Steele, who surrendered the place, was afterwards shot, at Nantwich, for cowardice. In the winter of 1644, it was closely besieged by the troops of the Parlia ment; but, the ensuing March, was relieved by the two Princes, Maurice and Rupert. It was again attacked in April; but the besiegers abandoned the works they had constructed, and retreated towards Nantwich, on hearing of the approach of the King. The event of the battle of Rowton, on the 25th September, again placed it in a state of siege, and after a long and spirited resistance, it was, on the 6th Nov. 1645, surrendered to Sir William Brereton, the provisions being entirely exhausted. After the capture of Chester, it was completely dismantled by order of the Parliament, and soon fell into ruins. The site of the Castle was alienated from the Earldom by Elizabeth, who gave it to Sir Christopher Hatton, from whom the Beestons purchased it. It is now the property of Sir Thomas Mostyn, Bart. M. P. The view from the summit of the hill is truly splendid, extending over the whole Vale Royal of Cheshire to the estuaries of the Dee and Mersey. The precipice side of the Castle rises †The outer court of the Castle contains perpendicularly from the base of the a quarry of grey stone. GENT, MAG. March, 1820. hill at least 160 feet; and looking downward downward brings to mind the words of our immortal Shakspeare, "How fearful And dizzy 'tis, to cast one's eyes so low! The crows and choughs that wing the midway air, Shew scarce as gross as beetles. -I'll look no more, Lest my brain turn, and the deficient sight Topple down headlong." The key of the Castle is now in the hands of the Female Warden, an old woman in the village of Beeston, who receives occasionally a few shillings from the curious visitor. Beeston Castle, during the period of the threatened invasion in 1803 and 1804, was fixed upon by the Lieutenancy of the County as the site for a signal station and beacon. The Emperor of St. Helena, "not having screwed his valour to the sticking place," did not attempt his promised visit; and the projected preparations to "give note" of bis arrival were, consequently, not made. It is distant about 11 miles E. S. E. from Chester; and, the canal to Nantwich, &c. passing close to the.hill, a trip to the old ruin is a favourite holiday indulgence among the Cestrians. EXPLANATION OF CERTAIN ANTI QUATED WORDS. (Continued from p. 116.) 18. DISEASEST, for troublest, disturbest, &c. is of frequent occurrence in the Bishops' Bible; "Why diseasest thou the Master?" 5 Mark, 35. "Thy daughter is dead, disease not the Master!" 8 Luke, 49. and I can find no reason why it may not be retained. Johnson gives it as a verb active, and quotes Shakspeare, "Let her alone, Lady! as she is now, she will but disease our better mirth." I think it very expressive, and full as good a compound as any of the other diss's now in use. 14. DISPERPled. "They leave traiterously the flocke to the woulfe, to be disperpled abrode and torne in pieces." Erasmus, 10 John, p. 76. b. 15. DISPARCled. "Then all his (Darius) men for feare disparcled." Brende's Quintus Curtius. Both these words are now well supplied by the word dispersed, (derived from the Latin). 16. EAR. EARING. EARED. "And will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest." 1 Sam. 8. 12. "The oxen likewise, and the young asses that ear the ground, shall eat clean provender." 30 Isaiah, 24. "And yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest." 45 Genesis, 6. "In earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest." 34 Exodus, 21. "Unto a rough valley which is neither eared nor sown." 21 Deut. 4. "Then auswered the labourer, I go to eare my land." Esop's Fables, B. L. 101. "Shewed him the labourer, as he eared Ibid. 120. the earth." "When the labourers that cultured and eared the earth," Ibid. 128. 66 The words ear, earing, and eared, are in such common use in the Scriptures, and in divers authors, for "to plough," ploughing," and "plowed," that I am quite astonished at Dr. Johnson's entire omission of them, especially as Bailey (as well as Skinner) has the Saxon verb active, “to ear, (derived from the Latin aro) to till, to plough," &c. and gives us one of the quotations above (45 Genesis) and also the word “earable," from whence our present word arable. They ought each of them to have a place in the new Dictionary. 17. EVEN. "The more pity that great folk should have countenance to drown or hang themselves more than their even Christian." Hamlet. "Despitous is he that hath disdain of his neighbour, that is to say, of his even Cristen." Chaucer. The Persone's Tale. De Superbia. "Yf thy brother or even Chryslen offende the correcte him." Bishop Fisher on the seven penetency all Psalmes. I need not multiply the instances in which the word even was formerly used in the sense of equal or fellow Christian. Latimer has it frequently in that sense, and so have Gower and other antient authors. Ash (from Carew) admits it, but says it has grown obsolete. (Vide also Skinner). I must own I could wish to retain it in this sense, for surely it is very expressive, and had doubtless an allusion to the path of life all humble-minded Christians were travelling together, pari passu. 18. FORCE. FORCING. "It is lytel force to the, it skilles the nothing, whether we be saved or damned." 1820.] Explanation of certain antiquated Words. "It forceth not for our purpose, tho' Jonas in holy Scripture signify Christ." Bishop Fisher on the Psalmes. "A miserable Foole evermore shall he be "Few are that force now a days to see "Save deepest to drinke, "Be it true or false, it forceth not greatly." Taverner's Proverbs. "Such as force not whether they are seen or not, draw down the cowl." Becon's Reliques of Rome. "It is not sufficient to have attained the name, &c. of a shepherd, not forcing howe." Erasmus. The instances in which the words force and forcing are used in the senses above quoted are too numerous for further quotation. Examples from Chaucer alone might be produced without number, and from him Chaucer gives the word as obsolete; but it has been in such general use, that I should wish it to be retained and used. 19. GEASTES. "Ye the geastes and dorechekes moved at their cryinge." Tindall's Bible, and Cranmer's Bible, 6 Isaiah. The word here rendered geastes is now changed to "lentils." Query, Whence is geast derived? 20. GEER, or GEAR. "Tho' it were no better than Amadis de Gaule, the four Sonnes of Amon, the Tales of Robin Hoode, and such other like Fables, yet were they thought very trimme and gay geare to occupy the people's ears withall." Preface to Gaulthere's Homilies. "So that we now run hither and thither to find out mediators; aud therefore for the cutting off of all this geare, it is said that God holpe himself," &c. Calvin. "Let us paciently abide all this geare."" [i. e. jests, scoffs, derision, &c.] Ibid. "And yet overcame all this geare, and bare it paciently." Ibid. "And therefore when we see all this geare." [i. e. worldly cares, frauds, &c.] Ibid. "This geare is in those places to be seen." [i. e. Popish canons, masse, &c.] Ibid. 203 "Seeking of prebends, &c. is symonie; for you shall hardly find one or two among a thousand that come by these geare lawfully," &c. Musculus. "Were not all these geare newe, when they were first instituted?" [viz. Popish doctrines and ceremonies.] Ibid. "To say the truth, the welthiness of the rich men, which consisteth in gold, silver, and other like gay geare." Ibid. "Hear not him, it is hard geare that he teacheth, hear the world!" Erasmus. "This is the most heavy fruit of that pleasure that is delectable, promising sweet geare." Ibid. "This geare must be look'd to." Dekker's Gull's Hornbook. "Come I long to be about this geare." Green's Tu Quoque. "To study out the hid mysteries of the law: but let that geare be left to your judges," &c. Fortescue on the Laws of England, 24. "O thou daughter of Egypt ! make ready thy gear to flit." Bishops' Bible, Jeremiah 46, 19. The too general sense in which the word geare was used by the above, and many other old authors, renders the retaining of it useless. The Saxon word, from which it is derived, meant furniture, ornament, dress, &c. but all the authors above quoted have used it in the place of the words matters, things, stuffs, doctrines, ceremonies, &c. &c. and generally in a degrading sense. 21. GOBBETS. I know not why this word (derived from the French) should, by Johnson and others, be called a low word; they, at the same time, quoting the use of it by Sir Roger L'Estrange, Spenser, Shakspeare, and Addison. With giving you a passage from Tindal's Bible, as under, and referring you to Skinner, I can only express my opinion that it ought to be more generally used; for a better single word has not been substituted. "And they took up twelve baskets ful of the gobets and of the fishes." 6 Mark. 22. GYE, or GIE. "O Lord, my soule and eke my body gie." Chaucer's Second Nonne's Tale. "And if that ye in clene love me gie.” Ibid. "Noble Princes, your reason do applye "So prudently to govern them and gye." Lydgate's Bochas. Skinner calls it vox nautica, and I am told a certain rope is so termed by mariners. Ash says, this word is obsolete, and so it is, guide being now used used instead, but whether with any advantage is questionable. Both are from the French. 23. GLADE. Most of the instances given by Johnson of the usage of this word, are in direct opposition to the derivation (interstitium sylvaticum), and I beg leave, amongst other reasons for its being always understood to mean (when used) a gloomy glade, a glade obscure, to adduce the following quotation from Erasmus on St. Matthew: "Though nyghte were at hande, for now the sun was gone to glade." (To be continued.) Mr. URBAN, Melksham, Feb. 20. 'N his hours of lucubration, the events, which have distinguished the various epochs since that period, have certainly borne ample testimony to the truth of the position) that these two nations have, both in the cabinet and in the field, swayed jointly with an unusual preponderance the balance of power on the great theatre of Europe. Of vast internal resources, and inhabited respectively by a people of active and enterprising genius, their most sagacious statesmen have perceived the advantage which their situation by nature, joined with their other springs of wealth and of power, has given them among civilized nations; and employed it accordingly in usurping occasionally a more than equal voice in the councils of those individual states whose inhabitants, I student of literary habits will from their superior knowledge, must sometimes find amusement in tracing resemblances between writers of different countries, who may at various periods have fallen under his notice. He is apt to fancy that he discovers in their style and character some points upon which they mutually assimilate; and even, if he should be mistaken, the inquiry may tend to elicit some new light in connexion with their subjects, or illustrate some new trait in the authors themselves. The boundaries of general literature are wide; and although criticism, in its various shapes, has been multiplied, in almost every age, there still exists room for new associations of thought, or suggestions of fancy. If the following should appear to have any such tendency, or be found worthy of a place in your Miscellany, they are at the service of yourself and your various readers. E. P Some Comparative Remarks upon a few of the most eminent Writers of our own and a neighbouring Country. OBSERVATIONS ON FENELON. However dissimilar in point of national character and moral disposition, the French, as a people, have exhibited through a long series of years some points of resemblance to the English, which can hardly fail to strike the student who glances over the respective annals of their political, domestic, and literary history. For upwards of the last three centuries it has been admitted by the Historian, (and the grand political ever obtain the ascendancy among mankind. This high political influence (which indeed the philosopher and the philanthropist could fain wish had not so frequently been exhibited in the contentions of rivalship) is not the only parallel of similitude which they in common possess. In their scientific and literary records, the student, upon a comprehensive survey, will occasionally be struck with the resemblance which may be elicited between their eminent men, both in the departmeut of Philosophy, and likewise of Poetry and the Belles Lettres; for, although the general character and complexion of their literature in the aggregate may materially differ, yet the bent of individual genius may assimilate more than we are at first apt to imagine. It has been assumed by some theorists (although it must be owned that, however ingenious this alleged mental process may be, it, like many other hypotheses which are not strictly formed on experience, savours somewhat of mere chimera) that, in the first stage of civilization and the advancement which a people make in intellectual culture, their genius displays itself in poetry, and the generous, though imperfect, effusions of ardent imagination. As experience confirms the mental powers, and men gradually ascertain their own strength, History, Criticism, and the other branches of polite erudition, are cultivated in their turn, until at last they terminate in Philosophy, as requiring the 1820.] English and French the highest and most arduous effort of human industry and perseverance. Against this arrangement of the intellectual sciences, antiquity may certainly be quoted as an example, as Philosophy had, in Greece, and likewise in Rome, attained a distinguished proficiency at a time at least coeval with that in which literature and the elegant arts had arrived at their acmé; and the modern eras of France and England may be thought, on the whole, to offer as little which can fairly be adduced in its support, as indeed they also do (with one or two splendid exceptions) to the hypothesis of Goldsmith, who places Philosophy in the middle, and Criticism in the last period of the human sciences. The actual existing state of mind, as it has developed itself in France and England, however, in relation to the ornamental and the abstruser sciences, may be thought, on the other hand, to have appeared irrespective of all or any of these arbitrary classifications. The growth of genius, like a wide and luxuriant field, uncultured by any hand save that of nature, has, in its fruits and the maturity of its productions, been promiscuous and irregular, often producing fruit contrary to the expectations of calculating theory. Between the early and infant efforts of genius in our own country and that of our neighbours, it would not perhaps be altogether idle to attempt to trace parallels of resemblance; for, although it may be said that coun tries, contemporary in their effects towards the expansion and higher exercise of the human mind, advance towards some similitude in their general features, yet more than this gene ral similitude may often be discerned. If it be true, then, that every nation, which has attained a literary æra, has had its great poets, historians, philosophers, naturalists, and critics, in their respective days, still, in nations differing so much in complexionality of genius and moral disposition's, as the French and English, the assimilation between individuals of a contemporary age is occaionally striking. Concerning the sprightly wit of Clement Marot, of Balzac and Voiture, although these last are somewhat later in date, the obscurity of Ronsard, or the comparative merits of Amyot, the licentiousness of Ra Authors compared. 205 belais, the high poetical services of Matherbe, and the progress which many other French writers, during the early part and middle of the 16th century, it may be said that their authors possess in common a general similarity with those of England, so far as the feeble attempts of poets and prose writers in every country concur, in their endeavours to emancipate to a degree of positive excellence. But, as we pass on, writers present themselves in either country, between whose general merits and habitudes of thinking a more than fancied agreement may perhaps be found. The deep views and general talents, as an historian, of Thuanus, may, in many respects, be paralleled with those of Raleigh, although the latter wrote several years after him, and although his genius, if not more acute, was more comprehensive, and his matter of greater dignity and weight, than the records of political intrigues and military operations, which, for the most part, occupied the attention of the former. If, in reading Montaigne, we are struck oftentimes with his sagacity and penetration of mind, whilst we are amused with his sprightliness of remark, his force of expression, or his eccentricities of genius, similar impressions will frequently accompany us when recreating with Burton, whose "Anatomy of Melancholy" may be thought to instruct while it amuses, and to convey, on the whole, as high an idea of his learning as of his eccentric turn of mind. If, in England, the votaries of science feel a native pride in acknowledging a Bacon, and claiming him as a countryman, the French boast a Des Cartes, exalt the sublimity of his genius and of his views, and the greatness of his innovations; and, in accomplishing the mighty schemes of reform in the world of Physics, admit the former only to have been a joint instrument in opening the eyes of philosophy, and teaching the true principles of science. If every Englishman of intellectual habits glories in the transcendent genius of a Shakspeare, the man of letters in France, by an instinctive rivalship, brings forward the name of Corneille to assert the honour of their name and nation. Although, in pri |