together in the north aisle. In the ruins of the elegant pointed chapel, close to the south transept, a discussion ensued between Mr. George Godwin and Mr. Crichton, a local artist relative to "mason's marks." This is a subject not generally understood, and at the evening meeting Mr. Godwin was requested to prepare at an early date a paper on the subject.

thickness of the wall. An opening in the lower chamber, now railed in, forms the entrance to the so-called dungeon or storehouse, within which is the well. The fire-places on the various floors and the little chapel are fine examples of twelfth century work. This castle was well described by Mr. Edward Roberts, who, however, did not direct attention to the singular groining of the walls of the ballium, nor to the heavy mural towers which The picturesque ruins of the Cistercian Abbey supported it opposite the barbican and drawbridge. of Roche were visited on Wednesday during a A castle of such a small extent might have afforded heavy shower of rain, but as the foundations of an opportunity for a monograph on military archi- the buildings are buried beneath the mud of Capatecture in relation to medieval fortresses. The neigh- bility Brown's ornamental waters, Roche Abbey is bouring church was of the same date as the castle not so fine an example of conventual buildings as buildings. Its Norman arcade and chancel arch either Kirstall or Fountain Abbeys. The grey, were fair specimens of ordinary Norman work. At gaunt walls of the transept alone testify to the Tickhill Castle a portion of the outer walls and ancient grandeur of the structure, which was began gateway alone remained, save the old mound on and finished in the latter part of the twelfth cenwhich the citadel or keep once stood. The castle tury, under Abbot Osmund. The gatehouse, which was demolished, or "sleighted," in the time was built later than the other buildings, remains in of the Civil Wars, and a very interesting me- a better state of preservation. Amongst the other moir of both castle and church was prepared by the monastic buildings visited was a small priory Rev. J. Stacye. The west front of the church was at Ecclesfield, near the church—a churchyard peculiarly fine in its proportions. The nave, though to be remembered, as it contains all that is somewhat short, was noble and handsome. The mortal of the pains-taking antiquary, Hunter, the monuments and tombs, as at Exeter, were passed historian of Hallamshire, whose mantle has deby without a word of explanation or comment, un- scended on the present vicar, the Rev. Alfred Gatty. less we except the Shrewsbury monuments in Shef- This gentleman and the Rev. J. Stacye rendered field parish church from the category, but even great service to the congress. here the explanation was only satisfactory in the sense of regret that no better description was to be had. The fine bronze effigies of George, the Fourth Earl of Shrewsbury, and his two wives, deserved better treatment, even if the exquisite details of the armour of Gilbert, the sixth earl, was passed over with a remark on the worldly-minded inscription on this large mural tomb.

It was

Amongst the most interesting churches visited was the little Norman gem at Streetley, which it is hoped will be at least roofed in at once. Thorpe Salvin had also some interesting Norman work. At Rotherham the association had not only the opportunity of inspecting the very fine large cruciform church there, but also an interesting wayside chapel on the bridge, dedicated to "Our Ladye." It is slightly smaller that the one at Wakefield, and has been subjected to as many vicissitudes. once a gaol, and is now a tobacconist's shop. At Rotherham, Mr. Guest was at once the "guide, philosopher, and friend" of the excursionists. The late perpendicular church of Almondbury was only remarkable for a rhyming inscription round the roof of the nave, and Sheffield Church itself has been recased and altered until we can only admire the fine flowing tracery of the windows, which may or may not be copies of the originals.

The first visit on Tuesday morning was paid to the poor remains of Beauchieff Abbey, a house belonging to the Premonstratensin canons, an order never popular in England. The remains were not interesting, save as illustrating the arrangement of monastic buildings in relation to the water supply and drainage. Beauchieff was the hereditary seat of the Rev. Samuel Pegge, the well-known antiquary, and is now in the possession of his descendants, the Pegge Burnells. Worksop Priory amply repaid the association for any disappointment at Beauchieff. There were some exquisite decorative The domestic buildings visited, were the remains remains to be found at the gate house of the priory, of Sheffield Manor, where Wolsey was detained for the wooden ribs of the gateway, and the carved a few days ere he set out on his last journey, which figures were really worth a long study. The nave ended fatally at Leicester Abbey. Here the party of the old church is yet standing, and though "re- were shown a tower which Mary Queen of Scots stored," seems to have been satisfactorily done. occasionally occupied during her long captivity at The nave presents some fine points. The triforium Sheffield, under the care of the sixth Earl of Shrewsand clerestory windows are peculiarly arranged, and bury. The restoration of this tower will mark the the carving is well done. Greater care might, how-visit of the association to Sheffield. The ruins of ever, be taken of the two or three alabaster effigies the manor house also might be cleared of the huts of the earlier Lords of Shrewsbury, which are piled and styes which now disfigure them. Mr. R. N.

Divers Notes.

Old

Philipps, gave an interesting account of timbered houses in connection with the gable of his house at Broomhall, which was said to date from the time of WEATHER SIGNS.-In this month of September Richard III. The old seat of the Kayes, at Wood- the learned in weather signs begin to observe and some, ought to be noted for its peculiar ballusters, forecast the kind of winter we are to have. They the old timber work in the quadrangle, the mould- take note of the crop of hips and haws-"Cankers" ings in the disused rooms, and the peculiar arrange- we call the first in Derbyshire-" bullasins" and ment of the great hall. Here the minstrel gallery "slaws"-the bullace and sloe, crabs and crabruns along the side opposite the windows. Near apples, holly-berries, acorns, hazel-nuts, and chesthe large window is a large and massive fire-place nuts; then from the quantity and quality of these over which is inscribed in large ornamental capitals, various kinds predict, with tolerable faithfulness "Arthur and Beatrix Kay." The house presents the and much satisfaction to their learned selves, usual features of a domestic residence of the time the coming "hard" or "soft" winter. If "the of James I., though many of the details are much devil casts his club over the blackberries" in Sepolder. Some curious legends surround the portrait tember, beware of a bad winter. The proper time of one of the Kayes, but these have been printed for "the devil to cast his club over the blackin Hunter's work. On Saturday, Wentworth Park, the berries," is on, or a day or two before, the 10th of seat of Earl Fitzwilliam, was visited, but this fine October; so if this happens in September, it is conpalace was remarkable more for its fine gallery of sidered a very bad omen of the winter which is coming. paintings and of sculpture than for any archæological If on the 19th of September there is a storm from features. One of the few reputed portraits the south, a mild winter may be expected. of Shakespeare (said to have belonged to Dryden), Derbyshire people say "Should the wind blow is preserved within its walls. After a brief from an open quarter on the 18th of September, sojourn, the party drove to Wharncliffe Chase, and continue in the same quarter to the 27th, the where they were hospitably entertained by Lord winter will be an unusually mild one." NottinghamWharncliffe. Here they inspected the Dragon's shire people pin their faith to the adage :Den, the inscription on the rock telling how Sir "If there's ice in November that'll bear a duck, Thomas Wortley erected a lodge there in order There'll be nothing after but sludge and muck." that he might hear the "hart's bell." Here, too, Mr. Spencer Stanhope, M.P., showed a war bow, said And of my own observation I can endorse this The early or late to have belonged to Little John. It is seven feet rhyme in several instances. high, and is said to have required a force of 160lbs. flight of our migratory birds is taken note of, and to pull it when strung. It bears an inscription, the weather for the next few months ruled thereby. stating that it was strung by Colonel Naylor in 1715, of night birds, when a whistling and a twittering over A few nights ago I was out listening to the sounds who then shot a fat buck with it. It was long preserved in Hathersedge Church, near which Little John head, something like the twittering of swallows, is said to have been interred. Many years ago it drew my attention. I inquiried of a man who was was removed to Callon Hall, Barnsley, for safety. passing the meaning of the (to me) very unusual On Saturday, a fine collection of manuscripts, missals, and early specimens of the bookbinder's art were exhibited at the Cutler's Hall, and Mr. W. De Gray Birch, of the British Museum, gave an account of them in relation to Paleography generally. The discovery on the fly-leaf of one of them of some original verses by Skelton, gave increased interest to the proceedings. VALENTINES.-When King Charles I. was at Amongst the principal papers read, was one by Edinburgh in 1641, it was proposed to him that the Rev. Dr. Gatty, on "Sheffield and its Church." the Lord Chancellor should be chosen as they do One by Mr. T. Morgan, on "The Earliest Tribes of valentines, and the king consented. The old mode Yorkshire." "The early Lords of Holderness," by of making valentines is now quite out of fashion. Mr. J. R. Planché, Somerset Herald. "The Life and Brand in his "Popular Antiquities" says, "The Times of Earl Waltheof," by Mr. E. Levien, F.S.A. names of a select number of one sex are by an The courteous and pains-taking officials of the asso- equal number of the other put into some vessel; ciation did all they could to make the Congress a and after that, every one draws a name, which for successful one. The local committee were too the present is called their valentine, and is sanguine and too anxious. On Friday an accident looked upon as a good omen of their being man happened to one of the carriages near Doncaster, and wife afterwards." The following extract from when eight of the passengers were more or less a letter from Sir Patrick Wemyss to the Earl of injured, in sight of YOUR REPORter. Ormonde, given by Carte in his collection of

sound. "Them's curlows," he said,
some folks
caws 'em cur-lues, their a-hoverin' about, an' it
falls to be that we'll ha' some slushy weather when
they hover soo low at nights." I shall be glad to
see further notes in LONG AGO on weather signs,
especially those of the months from September to

December.

THOMAS RATCLIFFE.

letters, 1739, is an interesting illustration of the understanding the kings inclination, used their customs of the time, and perhaps worth extracting. utmost endeavour to cross it. So irresistible did the "They are this day about the nomination of the justice of these claims appear, that if such neglect Lord Chancellor; but what time that will take up, were suffered in one borough it might be in more, God knows. But first it was moved amongst them and consequently in all the boroughs in England, that every man should give his voice, after the and then it might follow that for want of burgesses question was stated, in a piece of paper, and put there might be no Parliament. It appearing, therethem, like Valentines, in the clerk's hat; and so to be fore, that the three boroughs never had a charter, numbered. This His Majesty yielded to in the and were ancient Parliamentary boroughs by preforenoon; but in the afternoon came to the House scription, and the committee reporting they had and told them he had forgot himself, and entreated proved their right, the House ordered writs to be them to let that alone. But their hearts are issued. The precedent ought to justify the city of hardened, and till that be granted they will hearken Ely and the ninety-four other boroughs who sent to to no other business." This plan of electing a Parliament in former reigns in now demanding to Lord Chancellor, like a valentine, by converting the have their ancient rights restored." The three clerk's hat into a ballot box, was not carried out; Buckinghamshire boroughs thus restored to the for in a subsequent letter dated the October, franchise, had ceased sending representatives to 1641, Sir Patrick says, "Upon Friday last my Lord Parliament since the reign of Edward III. Should London was chosen Chancellor in great state, the resolution of the House of Commons in this being nominated by the king, and approved of by instance be held good now, it is to be assumed the Parliament." EDWARD SOLLY. that Doncaster will have little difficulty in proving its right. W. D. PINK.

King-street, Leigh, Lancashire.

OLD CLAIMS REVIVED.-The following, cut from the Sheffield Daily Telegraph, may probably be worth a corner in LONG AGO:-"The inhabitants of Don- WELSH NAMES.-A mild joke after it has done caster are raising the question whether their its service becomes a serious fact. The Daily borough does not possess the right of sending News correspondent is told at the Mold Eisteddfod members to Parliament. During the reign of by a Welsh friend that there is a village near Edward III. Doncaster was represented in Parlia- Menai Bridge called "Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogeryment by two members. At a subsequent date, but chwyrndrbwlltysiliogogogoch," whereupon he telestill in the time of the third Edward, the inhabi- graphs the fact to his paper. On the strength of tants abandoned their privilege owing to the great this the Court Journal says, "At the Eisteddfod expense of sending representatives. Pontefract at Mold, Mr. Gladstone's allusion to the beauties did the same, but Pontefract, unlike Doncaster, of Ll- (here follows the name), rather puzzled petitioned at a still later period to have its privi- most men of letters. The meaning of this wonleges renewed, and renewed they were. Doncaster derful collocation of letters is now said to be 'The from that time to this, however, has never availed Church of St. Mary by the foot of the White itself of its rights-if rights they are-but there is Hazels, near the whirlpool of St. Tysilio the Red.'" this fact in its favour. Neither by the Reform Act Of course Mr. Gladstone made no such allusion of 1832 nor by that passed at a more recent date-unless he was the friend of the Daily News has it ever been disfranchised. The question, correspondent alluded to! The name "Llanfair" therefore, arises whether through the indifference of is as common in Wales as that of "Weston" is former inhabitants it has lost its ancient rights, or in the West of England, and so has to be distinwhether they still remain intact. The Town guished by something descriptive after it; thus Council have decided to take counsel's opinion on Llanfair-Dyfryn-Clwyd usually written "Llanfair the subject." In connection with the above, the D. C.," and "Llanfair-pwll-gwyngyll" known, for following from Oldfield's "Representative History short, as "Llanfair P. G." This is the Llanfair of Great Britain" (vol. i., p. 87), will be read with referred to by the Daily News and the Court interest :-" In the 21 James I., Mr. Hakewell, a Journal. The extra letters, and the combination barrister of Lincoln's Inn, discovered amongst the of the whole in a single word, are inventions unancient Parliamentary Writs in the Tower, the re- known to Welshmen. "The name of the parish turns for the three boroughs of Wendover, Great is derived from the dedication of its church to Marlow, and Agmondesham. Petitions were pre- St. Mary, and its distinguishing adjunct from its ferred to the House of Commons, May 18, 1621, position nearly opposite to a formidable whirlpool and May 4, 1624, praying they might be restored in the Menai Straits, which rages with impetuous to their ancient right. Notice of these petitions violence, and of which the term "Pwll-gwyngyll " was given to the king, who opposed it, declaring is emphatically descriptive." (See Lewis's "Topothat he was troubled with too great a number of graphical Dictionary.") A. R. burgesses already, but the House of Commons Croeswylan, Oswestry.

PEOPLE AND STEEPLE Rhymes (vol. i., p. 277).— without warning, but even before the townfolk "Pious parson, pious people, knew he was afoot (1557).

Knightly Hatchments; yea, a Poet observes, (Mr.
Drayton, in his Poly-olbion, Song ii., p. 71):
'The Lands that over Ouze to Barwick forth doe
bear,

Have for their Blazon had the Snaffle, Spur,
and Spear.'

Indeed, the best Spurs of England are made at Rippon, a famous Town in this County, whose Rowels may be inforced to strike through a Shilling, and will break sooner then bow. However, the Horses in this County are generally so good, they prevent the Spurs, or answer unto them, a good sign of thrifty metall for continuance."

SPARKS HENDERSON WILLIAMS, F.R.H.S. 18, Kensington Crescent, W. QUOTATION (vol. i., p. 283).—The lines quoted by Mr. T. Ratcliffe, commencing with "Some drill and bore," occur in Cowper's "The Garden." For "they" in the third line, as quoted, WM. PENGElly.

read "we."

Torquay.

Death Rides a HORSE OF RAPID SPEED (vol. i., 283).—I do not seem to doubt that this is a direct allusion to Rev. vi. 8: " And I looked, and behold a pale horse; and his name that sat on him was Death." For although no mention is made of speed, the description so naturally implies and suggests it, that it seems barely possible to separate in our minds the one from the other. It would be perhaps too much to say that the "idea" in this epitaph is positively taken from the following lines in Phineas Fletcher's "Elisa" (stanza 31), but it certainly, I think, has a resemblance, that is to those which I have put into italics :

"Yet had not hasty death prevented me,

I would repay my life and somewhat give thee: My Sonnes for that I leave; and so I leave thee:

Thus Heav'n commands; the lord outrides the
page,

And is arriv'd before: Death hath prevented age."
EDMUND TEW, M.A.

I

Picardy they call this sort of bread Watell. This Wastell bread seemed to have been much in use in the monasteries (the monks of those times never chose the worst of anything); for among the institutions of the Abbey of Evesha:n ("Monast. Anglican.," vol. i., 149) we find: "Debent habere monachi ....... in eisdem festivitatibus singulos fiffuls de frumento ad wastellos de granario." On the same festivals the monks should have each one fifful of flour from the storekeeper to make Wastells. The bread eaten on ordinary days was called panes monachiles, common monkbread. It is not improbable that this is the derivation of Wassel, or Wassel-bowl, which I believe was a bowl of wine or some other liquor, with a sippet of bread floating on the top. remember, on festive occasions, to have seen such a wassel-bowl in my early days-Consule Planco-and, if remembering rightly, in my own father's house. A passage of Matthew Paris, in his "Lives of the Abbots of St. Albans," seems to give colour to this notion. It is "Abbas solus prandebat supremus in refectoris habens vastellum.” "The Lord Abbot supped alone in the refectory, having the Wastell." I am aware that the more of drinking healths. Having done what I can common derivation is was-heal, the Saxon form clude by putting another. Can anyone tell me to answer the query, I may be allowed to conthe meaning of the word fiffuls, which occurs in the quotation from the Monastican? Du Cange only says, "Mensuræ frumentariæ apud Anglos species," -a kind of corn-measure used by the English. EDMUND TEW, M.A., F.R.H.S.

I have the book before me, similar to the one referred to by "Vertigo," the title of which runs thus :-"The ASSIZE of BREAD, together. with sundrie good and needfull ordinances for Bakers, Brewers, Inholders, Victuallers, Vintners, and Butchers. And also other Assizes in Weights and Measures, which by the laws of this Realme are commanded to be observed, and kept by all manner of Persons, as well SYMNEL BREAD (vol. i., p. 283).—Simnel Bread within Liberties as without," &c. London: 1621. an earlier has been discussed already (see p. 141 of this (B. L. Illustrated.) I have seen periodical). According to Du Cange, Wastell edition than the above (Illustrated). "Here beappears to be a kind of bread very similar. He gynneth the boke named the Assyse of Breade," says of it:-"WASTELLUS, VASTELLUS, GAS- &c., "Imprynted by me Robert Wyer." (B. L.) TELLUS, Panis delecatior, vel placenta species, There is an old Shropshire tradition respecting nostris Gasteau. Ita forte dictus à Saxonico Simnel cakes, i.e. "A happy couple, having a PITEL, tegulum, tegmen; est enim wastellus, domestic dispute as to whether a pie or pudding panis in cinere tectus, coctus. Picardi etiamuum should form part of their day's dinner, wisely deterWatel ejusmodi panes vocant." That is, Wastell mined to compromise the matter by first boiling is a more delicate kind of bread, or that kind of and afterwards baking their pieces of confectionery. cake which by us (the French) is named Gasteau This double act of cookery produced the Shrews- Gâteau. Probably so called from the Saxon bury Simnel; and the cake received its cognomen PITEL, a tile or covering; for Wastell is bread from the names of the couple whose tastes and baked under a covering of (hot) ashes. In differences caused its discovery, and who respec