Welsh superstition that even Death must listen to So he goes forth and kills George Bowring, that he may, put Bowring's watch in his dying child's hand. Is this superstition recorded elsewhere; or is it the invention of the novelist? ED. therefore given by Venetia to the cavalier who, from the Telling House," turns on an alleged rescued her from the wolf, must all be sought in the pages of our author. At last there is a secret marriage between Digby and Venetia, but this is far from the end of Digby's adventures. He persuades the King to give him a commission, and leaves England for the Mediterranean, as admiral of a fleet of what we should now call privateers, and his doings there, though they must be judged by the manners of the times, "If I had but a gold watch I could save her!" he scarcely raise Sir Kenelm in the estimation of cried in his agony, as he left the house. "Ever the reader. Four years after his return Venetia since the old gold watch was sold, they have died died, and thereafter "Sir Kenelm never again-they have died! They are gone, one after one, shaved, and allowed a long and unkempt beard to the last of all my children!" take the place of his former dainty and curled moustache. He substituted a perfectly plain collar for the rich lace which he formerly wore from his neck to his shoulders ;" he dressed himself in black, and, says Aubrey, made himself look "like a hermite." He continued to have a chequered career, and there is much dispute as to his religion, and as to his conduct at the time of the Commonwealth, when, although he was Chancellor of Henrietta Maria, he entered into friendly relations with Cromwell, and was a guest at his table. After the Restoration he interested himself in the foundation of the Royal Society; and soon afterwards he appears to have withdrawn from civil and political life, and "fell to frequenting men of learning. At his house in Covent Garden he endeavoured to establish a literary salon after the fashion already prevailing in France, and it became a rendezvous of mathematicians, chemists, philosophers, and authors," Digby_himself being the author of several works. In 1665 he died, at the age of 62, and on his tomb Ferrar wrote Under this tomb the matchless Digby lies, Skilled in six tongues, and learned in all the arts. LEGAL OPINIONS. THE KENYON MSS. Continued (Sep. 30, 1896.)— It PHILIP YORKE to SIR LLOYD KENYON. ashamed of breaking in upon any part of your 1788, January 7. Erthig." I should have been Lordship's precious time, had you not expressed some wish and pleasure (when I had last the honour of being with you at Gredington) in collecting the MSS. opinions of old lawyers of rank in their profession; as such, I send the two enclosed for your Lordship's acceptance, and if I should find any more, I will venture to send them also. seems not a little singular that these should be the opinions on the same case of eminent lawyers, both dismissed from great employments, one be fore, the other at, the Revolution; and both returning to their practice without the Bar (Pemberton, I believe, Williams, certainly) and giving common opinions, as in the present case. I remember the late Mr Charles Yorke repaired Lord Chief Justice Pemberton's monument at Highgate, and that Charles the II. turned him out,upon Lord Russell's trial. I recollect none such good symptom in Sir William Williams' case. I wonder whether Burnet is well founded in saying that Pemberton got all his law in jail; I believe Serjeant Davy, of later times, certainly did." Enclosures.-Original opinions of Sir William Williams, dated 17 February, 1691, and Sir Francis Pemberton, undated, on a question concerning the Dymock property. ED. TURNPIKE ROADS. Continued (Nov. 11, 1896). --It appears that the allowance of an extra horse for the hills had been abused, and therefore the following order was issued: the Bowling Green was the present Wynnstay Arms: -"At the Bowling Green, in Oswestry, May 26, 1768. Whereas by an Order of Allowance made at the last meeting all narrow wheel'd carriages are admitted to draw an additional horse above the Statutable complement to assist in drawing their loads up the hills on each side of the bridges of Chirk and Newbridge for a particular length here described. Be it explained that the s'd indulgence is limitted & restrained as far 60 as the Trustees are empower'd so to do in favour of such carriages only w'ch have paid their tolls at Penyclawth or black park Turnpike Gates. The Trustees apprehending that every Indulgence by them granted sho'ld be extended for the benefit & interest of the Turnpike road, and not otherwise, whereas several carriages wearing the Turnpike road for a considerable length turn to the black park colliery thro' a back passage so as to evade the payment of the Turnpike Tolls w'ch carriages the Trustees do not mean to include in this indulgence." J.P.-J. (To be Continued.) SHREWSBURY PLAY BILLS. (Oct. 28, 1896.) A Performance on Wednesday and Friday, in which Continued Miss FOOTE will sustain the Principal Characters. THEATRE, SHREWSBURY. MR BENNETT Doors to be opened at Half-past Six, and the Tickets, and Places for the Boxes may be had at Has the Honour to announce to the Nobility, Gentry, and Inhabitants of SHREWSBURY and its VICINITY, that he has concluded an Engagement with the Highly-popular and CELEBRATED ACTRESS [J. FRANCE, Printer.] [Stage Manager, Mr DYER.] MISS FOOTE To conclude with the musical Farce of THE WEATHERCOCK, With an additional Scene, written expressly to introduce Miss FOOTE as a Bavarian Girl, in which character she will sing the Popular Song of "BUY A BROOM," With the original German Verse and Waltz; ALSO, QUERIES. R.W.C. THOMAS (Nov. 18, 1896).-I have referred to three pedigrees, one of them in manuscript, of the Coed Helen family, but in none of them is Herbert mentioned. Of his existence, of course, there can be no doubt, as he was witness to the deed of 29th December, 1614; but, judging from the foot notes in Lewis Dwnn (vol. ii., p. 153) the editors appear to have investigated the pedi gree so thoroughly that it is safe to assume that if Herbert had left issue it would not have escaped their notice. F. PILGRIMAGE TO ST. DAVID'S (Nov. 11, 1896). In the Chronicon Anglia Petriburgense reference is made to the privilege referred to, in these words :-A.D. 1124. "Hic (Calixtus) etiam oblationes fidelium, antea potentium libita direptas, ad usum ecclesiasticum revocavit ; et 'FAR, FAR FROM ME MY LOVER FLIES. Anglis ac Scotis, pro viarum periculo, pro uns peregrinatione Romana bis sanctum Davidem Louis Lucien Bonaparte, the library has been petere concessit."-" He (Calixtus) brought back purchased by Mr H. S. Nichols of 3, Sohoto religious uses even the oblations of the faith-square, London. The Times says it is probable ful, hitherto plundered at the pleasure of the the library will remain in this country. nobles; and granted to the English and Scotch, on account of the perils of the roads, twice to visit St. David instead of one pilgrimage to Rome." Nothing else is said about the motives which influenced the Pope to make this liberal grant. We may notice the restriction to English and Scotch. The Welsh people and the piratical Irish are excluded from the benefits. SEMPER FIDELIS. DR. BENSON AT TREFECCA (Oct. 28, Nov. 11, 1896).-Short biographies of Joseph Benson appear in the Dict. of Nat. Biog. and in The Georgian Era (vol. i. p. 580). According to the latter he was son of John Benson by Isabella Robinson, his wife, and born in the parish of Kirkoswald, Cumberland, and he had a cousin Joseph Watson. In Foster's Alumni Oxonienses he is described as "s. John, of Melerby, Cumberland, pleb.," and is stated to have matriculated at St. Edmund Hall on 15th March, 1769, aged 21. He married a Miss Thompson at Leeds in 1780, "by whom he had issue (Georgian Era). "They had no issue" (Dict. Nat. Biog.). The late Primate's parentage is not given in Burke (Peerage, 1892 ed.), but in Walford's County Families he is described as ❝ eldest son of Edward White Benson, Esq., of Birmingham Heath, and formerly of York, by Harriet, dau. of Thomas Baker, Esq." Who, or what, is the authority for the statement that the Anglican Dr. Benson was of the same family as the Methodist Dr. Benson (who became a Metho. dist because his application for ordination into the ministry of the former Church was refused by one of its Bishops)? And was Joseph Benzon a "Dr."? CURRENT NOTES. A. F-R. The Rev Gilbert C. Joyce, M.A., sub-warden of St. Michael's Theological College, Aberdare, has been appointed by Mr Gladstone to be the first Warden of St. Deiniol's Library, Hawarden. The death took place on Sunday, after a long illness, of the Rev. William Wynne Burton Phillipson, vicar of St. Paul's, Foleshill, Coventry. Mr. Phillipson, who was 70 years of age, was at one time chaplain to Viscount Combermere, and vicar of Burleydam. At the Montagu sale of coins last week, a pound piece, 1642, one of the finest examples existing, the reverse being from a Shrewsbury die, and interesting as showing that the Shrewsbury moneyers brought their dies with them to Oxford, was sold for £35 103.; and a pound piece, 1643, fine and rare,£32 5s. The Committee of the London Corporation having failed to raise £6,000 for the purchase of the unique philological library of the late Prince A report comes from Merionethshire of a discovery of gold dust in the estuary of the Mawddach, at Barmouth. Samples of sand have been taken, and they are found to be charged with gold dust. The Barmouth Harbour Trust have given permission to dredge the river on the condition that the navigation is not interfered with. Archæological and Historical Society at Chester At a meeting of the Chester and North Wales last night week, Dr J. C. Bridge lectured on Thomas Bateson and Francis Pilkington, two Chester madrigal writers. Bateson became master of Chester Cathedral choir about 1600, and remained in the city until the end of 1609, and Pilkington was a minor canon of the Cathedral from 1612 to 1638. The death of the Rev Prebendary Herbert Williams, vicar of Brecon, took place on Thursday evening. The late prebendary was the third son of the late Very Rev Thomas Williams, Dean of Llandaff. He was educated at Oriel College, Oxford, graduating B.A. in 1860 and M. A. in 1862. He was ordained a deacon in 1861 and a priest in 1862. He was appointed vicar of St. John's and St. Mary's churches at Brecon in 1864, and held the living up to his death. He was 65 years of age. At the meeting of the Manchester Welsh National Society, on Friday evening, Professor T. Willon Davies, of Nottingham, gave a lecture on Welsh Orientalists, including Sir William Jones, the greatest Oriental scholar Britain had ever produced, Major D. Price, of Brecon, whose history of Mahometanism was the most remarkable work of the day on that subject, Dr Richard Morris, the English philologist, Professor Rhys Davies, of London, the greatest Pali and Buddhist scholar living, and Professor A. H. Sayce, the most renowned Assyriologist which this country ever gave to the world. Among Welshmen who had made for themselves a mark as Professors of Hebrew and related languages, mainly, however, for purposes of Biblical criticism, the following were noted:-Dr Rowland Williams, of Lam peter, Dr Benjamin Davies, of Toronto and followed up by a reference to the earliest transLondon, Dr Harris Jones, of Trefecca. This was lations of the Welsh Bible; commentators who evinced in their writings an acquaintance with both Bible languages, lexicographers and missionaries. The lecturer called attention to Professor Caspari Rene Gregory, of Leipsic, the greatest living authority on the New Testament text, and also a considerable scholar in Hebrew, Syriac, and Arabic. On his mother's side Dr Gregory was Welsh; he had relations living in Manchester at the present time, whom he occasionally visited. The name of his mother's family was Jones, and they belonged to North Wales, although it was from Manchester that his maternal grandparents emigrated to America. His wife was the daughter of Dr Thayer, editor of the best New Testament lexicon, and she was likewise on her mother's side Welsh. pays a tribute to the learned Principal as "Our New Vice-Chancellor," and says: ship, Principal Reichel alone is a non-Welshman; Of the three qualified for the Vice-Chancellor | the others, Principal Roberts and Principal Jones, are Welsh to the core. But by this time it is well known in the Principality that the present Vice Chancellor, except in the accident of his birth, is also thoroughly Welsh. On his first arrival in Bangor, he made a solemn vow to himself that be would do his best to understand the nature and We understand that a third edition of "Battle-characteristics of the people among whom he ment and Tower" is now in the press; and we realized to a very high degree. He has stayed for lived this aim he has studiously pursued and bas believe a new work from the writer may be ex-long periods in Welsh rural parts, and he has taken pected in the spring. NOTICES OF BOOKS. The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland contains a large number of articles, including "The Shamrock in Literature: a Critical Chronology," and an illustrated account of the meeting of the Society at Omagh. ture. On the University Senate he invariably en enormous pains to be able to read Welsh literacourages the University to develop the national characteristics of the Welsh people, and he most strongly insists that the study of Welsh History should form a prominent part in the history Cheshire Notes and Queries has reached its course of the new University. He can talk Welsh with third number, which contains a variety of a correct accent, and the style of his Welsh letters articles, including a description of Knutsford, in And lately he has redoubled his efforts to improve would serve as a model to many Welsh writers. which, however, there is no reference to the his knowledge of Welsh, for I hear, on very relifamous novel which has made that town known able authority, that he is afraid for Mrs Reichel to all the literary world. The writer gives us to outpace him in this most important course of several epitaphs from the churchyard, one an study. old friend in a new dress, the number of surgeons being particularised Affliction sore five weeks I bore, But death gives ease when God doth please, A poet's corner is introduced into this publica- The Archæologia Cambrensis for October contains "Notes on the Fortifications of Medieval Tenby," continued, a 66 Catalogue of the Early Christian Monuments in Pembrokeshire," "Notes on Encaustic Tiles and the Designs Portrayed on them," "The Tomb of the Earl of Richmond in St David's Cathedral," "Notes on Late Celtic Art," and a continuation of the account of the Launceston meeting. Mr A. Neobard Palmer contributes a Note on the Inscription on Bangoris-y-Coed Bridge, which seems, curiously, to contain the dates 5662 from "the creation of the world," 1658, A.D., and 1036 from the year of the Hegira. Mr Palmer tells of a newspaper correspondent who, taking Hegyr for a Welsh word, explains it as agor to open, and asks whether the bridge was opened in 1036 ! This reminds Mr Palmer of the gentleman who translated trowch ("turn over ") at the bottom of the pages of Edward Llwyd's Itinerary Notes as tres vici, and wrote a disquisition upon it. We are glad to find in Young Wales for November a revised report of the admirable address recently delivered by Principal Reichel in connection with Newtown School, upon which we commented at the time. Intermediate In another article Professor Edward Edwards It is interesting to learn on another page of the magazine that the new Archbishop of Canterbury "as far back as fifty years ago, when he resided in Wales for only three months, learnt enough Welsh to follow the service and even the has not altogether forgotten what be learnt. sermon," and after the lapse of half-a-century The writer says the Archbishop takes a sympathetic interest in Welsh national life, and be has advised Welshmen to "cling to the language which appeals peculiarly to their heart, which comes from the heart and goes to the heart." Anview with Mr A. E. Fletcher, the distinguished other interesting paper is an account of an interex-editor of the Daily Chronicle, who gives his views on Welsh subjects. IN THE FIELDS AND LANES. THE SACRED FISHES OF NANT PERIS. Two new fishes have just been put in the "Sacred Well," Ffynon-y-Sant, at Tynyffynon, Nant Peris, Llanberis. Invalids in large num bers came during the last century and the first half of the present century to this well to drink of its "miraculous waters," and the oak box, where the contributions of those who visited the spot were kept, is still in its place at the side of the well. There have long been two "sacred fishes" in this well; and there is a tradition in the village to the effect that if one of the Tynyffynon fishes came out of its hiding place when an invalid took some of the water for tain; but if the fishes remained in their den the drinking or for bathing purposes cure was cerwater would do those who took it no good. Two fishes only are to be put in the well at a time, and they generally live in its waters for about half a century. If one dies before the other, it would be of no use to put in a new fish, for the old fish would not associate with it, and it would die. The experiment has been tried. The last of the two fishes put in the well about fifty years ago died in August. It had been blind for some time previously to its death. When taken out of the water it measured 17 inches, and it was buried in the garden adjoining the well. It is stated in a document of the year 1776 that the parish clerk was to receive the money put in the box of the well by visitors. This money, together with the amount of 6s 4d, was his annual stipend. THE DIVINING ROD EXPERIMENTS ON THE QUINTA ESTATE. On July 22 we reported the visit of Mr John Stears of Hessle, Yorks., to Trehowel for the purpose of discovering a water supply by means of the divining rod. Mr Stears marked out the course of several streams, and recommended that boring should be carried on at a certain spot, underneath which he said two streams crossed, probably at different depths. The result may now be placed before our readers. Some little time elapsed before an opportunity occurred for beginning the work, and it was then decided to drive down a 1 inch pipe as a test. At a depth of thirty feet water was tapped, which rose to a height of seven or eight feet. Further driving becoming difficult owing to the hard nature of the ground, it was considered advisable to sink a well, and this work has been going on during the last few weeks. The well is four feet in diameter. At the depth indicated by the test pipe a small supply of water appeared, and the sinking was continued. On reaching a depth of about forty-five feet a much stronger supply was met with, but the ground being very gravelly it was This common round the sea coast, the one shot at Corwen is the only specimen of which I have a record from the upper parts of the Dee. There were three mergansers on the Dee near Llandrillo on the 20th of April. This is a very late stay for this duck-like bird to remain in the spring, because it is not known to neat here. On the 21st of April I was much pleased to observe the great spotted woodpecker. beautiful bird is very scarce with us. There were two nests of the merlin in this neighbourhood during May; one was on a moorland north of Llandderfel, and the other on the northern slopes of the Berwyns, near Llandrillo. The eggs were laid in a slight hollow on the ground with scarcely any lining to the nest. This interesting hawk still survives the persecutions of the gamekeeper, but it is much scarcer than it used to be in former years. The hawfinch nested with us in May; this being the third year it has nested here in succession. I am glad this handsome bird has become resident with us. But the most interesting of the birds which nested here in May was the shoveller-duck. Sir H. B. Robertson observed a pair by the side of one of his small moorland lakes on the 21st of April. I kept up observations during May and June. They had a young brood in May. When on the wing the pair kept close together, and flew in a circle round the little lake. One of the young ducks was shot in mistake for a teal on the 8th of August, much to the regret of Sir Henry, because he took much interest in the parents and their young. However, the specimen shot clearly established the identity of the bird. It is a curious fact that I have no record of any other specimens of this rare duck having been seen or shot in this part of the country. Mr Rawlings says it occurs sparingly in winter at Barmouth. I hope it will remain with us as a permanent resident; it is certain of strict protection. During the last few years, several birds, which were only migratory before, have now become resident with us. Owing in June and July, the house martins could to the exceptionally dry weather we had scarcely get any mud with which to build their nests. After a shower of rain, they were busy on the roads picking up the mud by the mouthful, but with dry walls and halfdried mud, there were but few nests finished until late in summer. One pair persisted in nesting above a stable door here, and although The following notes are from my observations the nest was pulled down several times, and even during the past ten months. In the middle of paraffine oil smeared on the spot, the birds kept January there was a scoter duck shot on the on building in the same place. I found two or river Dee near Corwen. Small flocks of this bird three larders of the lesser butcher bird in July. are common enough round the coast of North There were remains of small birds, humbleWales, but they usually keep well out to bees, a grasshopper, and several short-tailed Mr Rawlings, in his interesting list of field mice hanging up on thorns. One field Barmouth birds (mentioned in BYE-GONES, mouse had its head cut off and was hanging October 28, 1896,) says this duck is with a thorn through its neck. This bird common in winter at Barmouth. Although destroys many mice, so that it does much good. was found necessary to sink lower in order to obtain a firm bottom. This was accomplished with difficulty, owing to the rapid rise of the water, which rose five or six feet in a night. Even tually clay was reached at a depth of fifty-two feet, and the sinking was then completed. "A pump will now be fixed to supply the adjacent cottage and land. A sample of the water, which seems to be of excellent quality, has been sent up for analysis. sea. NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. |