H IS T O R ICA L S T UD IES

RELA TING CH IEFL Y TO .

STA FFO R D SH IR E

CH ERRY A N D KA R C H ERRY L . L J ,

If any mmgm

' ' ‘ in flmr own mile and forrazners in Meir own

tfi ma so co t ue and there latter (1712, ey y n in , in f ws For suck l ke I [awe not wr tte tlumsd . i i n

Su n bm)

PRIN TED A N D PUBL IS HE D B Y J . C. Mo m , LTD . A nti uities or remnants o histor are as was said Pictures q , f y, , , o a Wreck in which in dustrious ersons b an exact andscru ulous f p , y p dili ence andobservation out o monuments n ames words traditions g , f , , , ,

rivate records and evidences fra ments o stories assa es o books p , g f , p g f that con cern not stor and the like save and re cover somethin y, , g

— 1mm the deluge oftime BACON . PRE FACE.

l The student of medicine is taught his anatomy by many an d ife e e N ot the e i e d f r nt m thods. l ast important of the se s th s his se of se o s e e di play , in mu um , cti n , carri d through th human frame so as to de monstrate the relation on e organ bears to anothe r to show how e xactly the contour ofe ac h is moulded an d accommo date d to that of its neighbour how all are dovetaile d with e ach othe r ; how e ach me mber de pe nds upon the others for standing oo the o for the e o it e r m in c mmunity, and p rf rmance of s prop r ’ c o s the c o o e of s o . se o s fun ti n in mm nw alth man b dy Such cti n , by their swee ping and compre he nsive e xposure of a conce rt of o e s o k n o e e to one s e e e nd ea o as p w r w r i g t g th r upr m , t ch anat my, e e e it w r , imp rially . The s e s n ot e e o e e the os o e s es tud nt mu t n gl ct , h w v r, micr c p lid those insignific ant slips ofglass on whic h are mounte d tiny se ctions t o hr ugh parts of the organs the mselve s . He re again he see s a s a e e e e ce on o e oc s e of on e e imil r int rd p nd n , a m r par hial cal , minut e l o o e s o -s o s o o c l up n an th r, and a imilar j int t ck a s ciati n among the microscopical units of th e human frame . To is se o e of our e to e d play a cti nal vi w rac , xhibit within the compass ofa single work the mutual re action ofall those eve nts t e o e to e E she is is s to be e hat hav g n mak ngland what , a ta k und r take n only by those gre at maste r scribe s of history of whom we see to e e s o e t e o m hav lost th mo t m d rn in he lat L rd Acton . It is e to fe w o e e to e ose s e e sse o s giv n , h w v r, mak th w ping di cti n in ” the a e of the ss c s o s o s has e gr nd mann r cla i hi t rian , and ur b en a far more modest unde rtaking . l o s o o e s e Conscious of our imitati n in kn wledge , in c mpr hen iv es of o o o e s of e e s t o we e ee n s utlo k, and in p w r g n rali a i n , hav b n conte nt to use the microscope on on e or two small subdivisions ofcertain large r se ctions that have been prepare d by able r hands e e e to e e e e c of e se s e s than ours . Still , w v ntur b li v that in a h th tudi the re may be disc e rne d dimly the ele me ntal units and primitive activitie s that have been e ngaged in the cell growth of this country . s s d s re o The e tu ie a c ncerned with the Type. Saints other than Bertelin have founde d other towns than Stafford ; priests n o e ss e n no e Sexwulf a e l humbl tha Chad , less Str nuous than , h v occupie d the se ats ofthe mighty nobleme n other than N orthamp ton have fought and die d for an ide a Boscobel is only one sanc tua o ose s ry am ng th ought by many fugitive kings. It has bee n our e nde avour so to illuminate the Individual t a e er e e o be ofthe ss an d ofth e art hat cl ar p rc pti n may had Cla , p

the a te the e a the . played by l t r , in aggr g te , in making of England e too we shall see so e e of o s or a n a Oft n , , in m fragm nt l cal hi t y mi i ture re plica of that larger islandstory of which the poet has sung. In one respect our work diffe rs from that of the medical micro i The e s his se o s SCOp st. latt r find it ne ce ssary to stain cti n , if he would observe their se cre t and most significant characte rs . Our s—o r at e s a of — e e al e a s ai e the exhibit , l a t , m ny the m w r r dy t n d in ass o e e e s e are m fr m which th y w r take n so me times, ala , th y black w e as re dw ith tr on and ith English blood . TABLE OF CONTEN TS.

PAGE l — or Sr. Bnn s t m m e TI . r AND AN QUITY STAFFORD.

L . C .

racin back the is or of the ocal wors i of St Bertelin the [By t g h t y l h p . Author is able to assign to Stafford an antiq uity of ye ars ]

— — LIGIIT D x . IL SH E N N oc . AND A O CAN CHASE K C .

The i e is used i eral an d fi ura i To an a re ciatlon o fth [ t tl l t ly g t v ely. p e artistic be auties ofth e Chase is adde d an accoun t 0 certain shadows a av e imme its is or w i e re s i h as ee row th t h d d h t y. h l f h l ght b n th n u on a i p th t h story itse lf . )

I - r IN n - — H a R G : P o ST R M . . RE PO O AN J L . C .

[A consideration ofth e e v idence whic h le ads th e Author to assign a p re oman o in t is e A e a i ut o ar f h e R rig o th arthwork . pl s p f rw d or t work ofe xcav ation to be begun un der the superv ision ofth e North Stafi ordshire Field Club. ]

— — m A or O . . IV . o n S S INTS STAFF RDSHIRE K. C,

[An attempt to straighten out the con fused records ofthe Anglo-Saxon ain s of h co ec ia a en ion h as een iv en to h e S t t e unty. Sp l tt t b g t e lif

an d wor ofSt. C a to w ic is a e the se cre is o o hi k h d. h h dd d t h t ry f s a u n wi h a i relics. An cq ai tance th t e e arly S ints s shown to be essential to anyserious study o f‘ the e v olution ofEnglish c iv ilisation ]

— Bosco m:t A R : O R C — 6 S . . . 1 V. LITER TU E S ME E ENT FIND J L C

[An e xamination ofsev eral intp ortan t documents appare ntly unlmown i w i i to rev ious s orian s. N e s s e u on he w o e ama h t l ght h d p t h l dr , an u on its se ue w en the u i iv h ad rea p q l h f g t e Kin g che d France . )

— ALL Tr us n e s K. VL H AND r O C.

[A detailed ac count ofth e perse cution ofStaffordshire Catholics during he i7t h cen ur c u min a in in the in amies of th e in ormer t t y, l t g f f

u a o f i all a . The n arra iv e is ase u on ori in a D gd le . T x H ll t b d p g l documen ts an d in clude s an acc oun t of the local Catholic martyrs It is the firs sin le c om e e and conne c e of th e period. t g . pl t . t d history of the association of Tixall H all with the — TABLE OF CONTENTS continued.

PAGE

— — VIL THE HERO or HOPTON HEATH K . C .

on e a n e ar S affor wi oca An ac co unt of th e battle of H opt H th , t d, th l l m on an d casualties ; a c haracter sketc h of the Earl of Northa pt ’ i ase an e ye -witn ess s accoun t of his de ath ; th e whole be ng b h a e w i en imme ia e on an e xtre mely sc arce account of t e b ttl . r tt d t ly after it was fought. )

— ! — HE or ECCLESHALI. . K . . VIII . T CAPTURE CASTLE C

[A dramatic inc ident in th e Civ il War of the 17th ce ntury is described n in full detail for the first time since th e year of its occurre ce . h e h h a h adac s to a r e or o e an d con e m orar T Aiit or s ce s ar , f g tt n. t p y re cordl

— Icr RIA AN D ALFRED : APPRECI TI COM IX. V 0 AN A ON , A ! PARISON AN D A O C . . C. . , RETR SPE T L

n i wee n th c ar ris ics ofth e two ov ere i n s [A compariso s drawn bet e h acte t S g . eir erson al v ir ues t eir u ic ac iv i ies an d eir o i ic a th p t , h p bl t t , th p l t l Th e ev o u ion of n an urin the ousan e ars is ide als . l t E gl d d g th d y n ot ice and an a em is ma e to an ici a e v er ic of d . tt pt d t p t d t posterity . )

e wi a i i s om he S t ordshire A vertiser Reprint d. th dd t on , fr T afi d . B S . ertelin and Ant u f S ff t the iq ityo ta ord .

Bv . L E Y J . CH RR .

r er of the l o r a s HE w it fol owing c nt ibution to loc l hi tory, having bee n known to hold the opinion that the town of fo a of ha Sta f rd might claim an ntiquity years, s been invited to state the grounds on which that Opinion is based and a so alle e to o H e e l ch ng d make g od the claim . will ndeavour to do 0 5 .

ST. BERTELIN .

Since the whole question ofthe antiquity ofStafford15 bound up with that ofthe identity and personality ofan almost-forgotte n sai be e to e the he e e nt, it will w ll cl ar ground by weighing t vid nce, rs o f his e e ex s e all se o his h V fi t, having v r i t d at ; c ndly , of a ing i e e se e afo r hi v r ttl d at St f rd ; and, thi dly, of s hav ng been of suf ficient san ctity an d attractiveness to gather round himself the e s the nucl u of future town.

O C OF I F R S UR ES N O MATION.

The principal sources of information as to the character and Bertelin re e e e care e r of St . a r f r nces to him by on e ofhis conte m orarie s e e o e G p , a monk nam d F lix, who wr t a life of St . uthlac In ul hus o o f o who was s g p , abb t Cr yland, in talled in 1076 ; a life Be rtelin a e e e 1 of St . by monk nam d Al xand r (220) and the Acta ” oru s sse s all e se o Sanct m , which di cu and criticizes th auth ritie s.

0 Th e Acta San ctorum is a mon ume ntal literary work which probably h as i er he c o in h o n o paralle l n th e We st n world . T py t e library fthe British Museum 64 - o i o mes all in me diaav l n i con sis s of ar e o v u a i . s e a t l g f l l , a L t Th gr t work was e im as on a o as 1607 Pére er er Roswe eda a e ian He b g l g g by H b t . B lg . 1629 e r o in h e His m e die d in aft c mplet g t 7th v olume . antl fell on J ohn Bol was a i an us a so a e ian . H e n e n us as wh o sec ure th e c od cra l d , l B lg th t d tion o fsome of the mos e arne a o ic ivine of th e on in en all t l d C th l d s C t t, an always members of th e Soc iety o f Jesus these together forme d a community kn own from that time forward as the Bollan dists. When J ohn Bollandus die d th e h ee n o e e Slst v olume ad b c mpl te d . Oth r J esuit fathers c arrie d on th e work i 1794 w e n e were in erru e the inc ursion of re nc unt l . h th y t pt d by F h troops in to i e more was on e un i 1837 w en ne w Belgium. L ttl d t l . h a issue was be gun under h e itors i of a er oanne Carnan de t w ose n ame wi e t e d h p F th J . h ll fr q uently appear

in th e o owin a e s. The a es is e is a e 1853 an d the f ll g p g l t t su d t d . great under taking is not yet complete d. 2 ST. BERTELIN AN D

ST Y THE OR OF FELIX .

Felix was n ot only a contemporary of Bertelin but knew him sufficie ntly we ll to have spe e ch with him regarding the biography f u e thlac . e a e O St . G H e says The re was a certain cl rk c ll d B rtel s who ofe e se ofhis own fe e as se to so e linu , f r d him lf r will rvant gr at ’ eso e to e c to God e Guthlac s c orre c a man , and r lv d liv hastely und r tion whose he art the spirit of malice e nte re d and began to puff

w th e es e e of e - or : e e him up ith p tif rous prid s lf gl y and th n , wh n he had drawn him from the path by the fulsome blasts of e mpty pride be began e ve n to sugge st to him that he should by me ans of e o s s o s e e ose dis e a murd r u w rd slay hi mast r , und r wh ciplin he e to e to God s O ec e o e his had b gun liv , putting thi bj t b f r mind , that if he should suc c ee d in doing him to de ath he himse lf would ’ occupy Guthlac s place and enj oy gre at worship from kings and

c e s. S O o e e the o esa e prin up n a c rtain day, wh n af r id cl rk had c o e o to his s o to s e Guthlac the ofGod m , acc rding cu t m, hav man , e e a of 20 he s e e e as he was aft r an int rv l days, thir t d, v x d by the e ess in his soul o o e e s e gr at madn , with unc ntr llabl d ire, aft r the oo ofthe ofGod o e the e inten bl d man , and appr ach d him with fix d tion of slaying him. “ e the s Guthlac o o s ll o Th n aintly , to wh m the L rd ti v uch sa e o e n o e e of s to o e e s oo the e f d a f r k wl dg thing c m , und r t d imp nd s e o s o o e a to es o Bertellin us ing, trang , and impi u h rr r , and b g n qu ti n ‘ s 0 Berte llinus os o o eal the a e aying , my , why d t th u c nc nci nt e nemy in thine oppre ssed bosom ? Why dost thou not cast up the de adly draught ofbitte r poison P For I know thou art de ceive d by the spirit Of malice there fore turn the e from and confe ss the wic ke d thoughts which the hostile accuser of the human race ’ has o e e e Bertellinus e s oo he had put int th . Th n und r t d that e e se e t h e e s se the b n duc d by Spirit of malic , and, ca ting him lf at ee of Guthlac the o o esse his e a e f t , h ly man , c nf d crim with t arful f r e e o Guthlac of esse voice and humbly sue d o pardon . Th r up n bl d me mory not only pardone d his fault but promised that he would come to assist him in his future tribulations . e e e for Guthlac of to But at last th tim cam , that man God , lay e f s es o use he s e down th burde n o hi fl h, which by l ng had tudi d the o r e o e s e he was se e to subdue . On f u th vigil b f r Ea t r iz d with o o a his n r a sudde n indisp siti n, and nnounced to companio Be tel THE AN TIQUITY OF STAFFORD . 3 linus that on the e ighth day after he would pass over from this ’ e of e ars . D o s e son. val t not, aid he , do not w ep , my I go the re of o s to e e s s o to ward my lab ur , v rla ting oj urn with the ’ ’ s e e se e the o of uthla s ll s Ma t r I hav rv d . On f urth day G c i ne s as e was e e e he so e as E t r c l brated, and aft r had lemniz d the P chal Mass and re ceive d the last sacraments of our salvation he con ’ e se Bertellin us s e e the o s v r d with , who had mini t r d to him at L rd e w s s ee ess of s e e e e s o s tabl , ith uch w tn acr d loqu nc and my teri u wisdom that it see me d not he but rather an angel of the Lord w e e e ll c as s . o Berte inu e e the e p aking Th r up n s, p r iving in fac of the man of God that the hour for his laying down the burde n was now e i e of at he had at hand, b gan instantly to inqu r him wh ’ ‘ e e es ask o e ee s he a e n v r pr umed to bef r . I implore th , aid , f th r , ' s s o s es to ea to o by Chri t mercy, that th u hould t deign rev l me m re e h ow was e o s of cl arly it that I heard th e, fr m the fir t day my living e e o a o e se o e a or i with th , h lding mutu l c nv r with an th r d ily, m n ng ’ e e o s s a e and v ning , and with whom th u wa t pe king I hav not known . The e of od re e w his s a e e es fri nd G pli d ith u u l b nignity, My d ar t son s is e n ow at an d o e e me , my la t day ev n hand, it w uld ill b com to s e a e s s s o a e e sc e e p ak lie, wh n ince my fir t conver i n I h v h w d e e se o n o e o e e s o to h s v ry fal h od ; k w, ther f r , that ev r ince I to k t i e e a r i an d e a of solitud I hav lways had, mo n ng ev ning, my ngel n o e an o s his co s lation, who lighten d my labour d temptati n by e o r e i e the re s e e r a s s cel stial c mfo t , pr d ct d futu , h w d fo th b ent thing , and reveale d from on high those celestial mysteries which I may do s n ot o to do so . o o n utter, nor would it pr fit But th u , my , cove r these things in sile nce and tell them to no mortal save only ’ e and er or e i . to my siste r P ga Egb t , the anch it , at any t me On or o the s s so s are s al e s of the m r w, igh and b which the u u h rald e the s of the e sse s death had alre ady shak n brea t bl d aint, and from his mouth there issue d as swe et a savour as if someone had scatte re d roses or poure d forth balsam ; and on the following e the o e - e e o e Bertellinus was c night , wh n ft n m ntion d br th r wat h the of God he saw ee e ing and guarding by man , with d p amaz me nt that from midnight to daybre ak a dazzling Sple ndour of o o e e the sun was n ow light shone about the wh le h us . But wh n thlac the e o e of God a e Bertellinus his dis e rising, Gu , b l v d , c ll d cipl to and sai son is o e a I s o ass him , d, My , the time c m th t h uld p o e to ose se I an d a o s o es th v r Him wh rvant am , th t th u h uld t go y ’ s r rt his a to a ta he own ways. Then, t etching fo h h nd the l r, B R I 4 ST. E TEL N AND

e s the s e e e a his s comfort d him elf with acr d lem nts, n d lifting eye s to e e he e s ee t and hand h av n f ll a l p in he Lord . A celestial sple ndour had p refigure d the passing of the os e sse sa the e o e e s m t bl d int , and int nsity f the h av nly light illu tratad it spiritually for whe n the sun was now in his power and his - e s s o th e e e Bertell nus saw as it mid day b am c rching, bl ss d i e e e rio se o e e the sk s e o r w r a fi ry cha t rai d fr m earth v n to y, the pl nd u ’ of which was so gre at that by comparison with it the sun s light B rte ll n r o fled e e e . e i us se e e e gr w w ak and pal , iz d by gr at t r r , to i e o o e o e e to e the o a l ttl b at and r w d v r with all hast P ga , h ly i f t e e f t e o s h s s o he e e Guthlac . virg n Chri t, i t r bl ss d P ga , with the e sse Bertellin us e o se the al e s due to bl d , gav c ur to natur t ar ’ o e s e e s omme his a br th r d ath , and th n , giving thank and c nding ou to God c o e e e se to his e s e the s l , mm nd d h r lf pray r ; and wh n se e s of the s e e os e o e o d ob qui aintly man had b n m t d v utly p rf rme , his o e to the e his own o o the ss and b dy giv n arth in rat ry , ble ed ” e e to her own s virgin P ga r turned quarter .

So e . far, F lix

C or IN GULPHUS THE ANALE TA .

The n e In ul hus who o e the 11 h r a lear d g p , wr t in t centu y s o of o e has the o o e s i hi t ry Cr yland Abb y , f ll wing r mark bear ng on Bertelin o he s Bettelinus Mo eo e the s , wh m call r v r, in ame island (Croyland) the re we re in those days se veral he rmits who h of ut a c lave to t e man God (St . G hl c ) in holy familiarity while h e e as s c o to th e s e o his s o liv d, i k f lk phy ician , and dr w fr m in tru o e e c so e o f s o for e o s One ti n and xampl a ri h urc alvati n th ir s ul . of e e e n e e o e e to the o a ssa th m had b r c ntly c nv rt d Cath lic f ith , Ci e of o e o e e o by nam , a man n bl birth and f rm rly of gr at auth rity his o es e who e o o e e s his in w rldly tat , l ft all and f ll w d aft r Chri t e wa Bette lin us e o the e o . o s f o s e L rd An th r s , a rvant af r aid fath r

Guthlac e e . A was ( ) and v ry intimat with him third Egbert, wh s a e his se e s o e e e o e en A o o h r d cr t m r d ply than th r m . f urth ’ was Tatwin e o c e his u e s s on his o t , n g id and hip captain v yage o All e se se e o s s e the island . th had parat l dging in ingl cabins not far from the oratory ofour holy father Guthlac to the e n d of their e f the o e me o e o Kenul e s ss o o h . liv , by p rmi i n af r nti n d abb t p Fathe r J oanne Carnan de t has the following re marks on this o In ul hu c o to s o the e xce rpt fr m g p s Ac rding thi acc unt, servant O THE ANTIQUITY OF STAFF RD. 5

f Gu hl c i tteli or Berte llinus o . t a Beccel nus Be mus St , call him , , , as ou ease e e the sa e s e to the en d of his e y pl , ndur d in m olitud lif afte r the death of his master and the e re ction by King Ethelbald ’ (as the narration pre viously de tails) of a monastery at the saint s to o K n ul h e e e e o s e e e . Th sa mb , v r which p h ld rul m Ingulph r c rd him Bertellinus to e ee e s e s o e e ( ) hav b n buri d in thi v ry p t, wh r , e e s s o the e 871 he oc ee s aft r having dat d a Dani h inva i n in y ar , pr d in these words But the Danes broke up with ploughshare s an d axes all the tombs of the saints who we re reposing in high marble monume nts about the tomb of the holy fathe r Guthlac to to e e on th e t s e the o o f right and l ft , nam ly, righ hand id t mb nus . he Be tteli ss r e s c o e t o of . St Ci a , p i t and an h rit , and t mb St , f Guthlac so the o a man ofGod and onc e the se rvant o St . al t mb ’ ’ wine o e Guthlac s e to o his s s of . Tat St , nc guid Cr yland and hip e n e e e c e captain . But wh n the y did ot find th tr asur whi h th y e e e e c e e e e o e all the o e s exp ct d th y b am xtr m ly wr th, dragg d b di of the saints into on e he ap (the pity ofit and se tting fire to the m

r o e the c the [ o s e s bu nt up b th th m , chur h, and all m na t ry building most lame ntably .

THLAC BECCELIN . S r. GU AND

’ Among the me diae val manusc ripts e xhibite d in the King s Library at the British Muse um is a 12th c e ntury roll of vellum be aring e ighte e n c irc ular me dallion drawings illustrating i nci de c Guthlac . . e s de nts in the life of St . Dr Walt r Gray Bir h say o c he has o e s s e of this w rk , whi h ann tat d, that it tand uniqu in its place as an e xample ofthe fin e st Early English style offree ” T e e s oi the e so s the hand drawing . h nam principal p r n in draw ings are ne atly writte n ove r the ir he ads and in se ve ral plac es Bec B cel e s on e c e he is se e o o ce lin or e c in app ar . In pla at d in ad rati n s o n the c l e o th e o e ofthe Eucharist , h w by ha ic up n altar in an th r (the sce ne of the de ath of Guthlac) he is repre se nte d kne eling ee e e his s e e s on his right kn , xt nding hand , and gazing arn tly and affe ctionately at the dyin g face of him whom onc e he had be e n o e o e he is e e the o te mpte d to destroy ; nc m r , d pict d in b at in which Pe ga is to be conveye d to Croyland from her reside nce at the monaste ry of Peykirk in Northamptonshire to pe rform the

e . e s es obsequies of her broth r P ga, in orrowful mood, v ted 6 S B T. ERTELIN AND

ose win ar and e h in lo ly flo g g b with a whimple on her h ad, w ich is in is on r of s e i bowed dejection , the ight, just in the act t pp ng o the flower-s e a t fr m tr wn b nk into he forepart of the boat , while Beccelin es a as s her tak her h nd to si t movements.

' PRIOR G ALEXANDER S LIFE AND LE ENDS .

The biographer who has drawn most freely upon his pre de ' c essor s and his own imagination (though Fe lix has the re run him ose is Ale e Essibie nsis o of ul oo e oos e cl ) xand r , pri r Reg ars at R d Kl t r , B i el um. Ofhim o s Pit eu e ri s s e in g , J anne s s, an arly w ter, ay , Al x a e Essibiensis a o er o e se as so e sa of f nd r , chr nicl of S m r t m y, Sta ford as e s sa was or the e s e e a so be oth r y, b n in W t of England, wh r l e e the h r t e a o s of . us e mbrac d order of regul can n St Aug tin , and s e e r of e t i s H e was of at la t b cam p ior a c r a n mona te ry . a man o o e an d e of e e s o s facile h n urabl godly lif , gr at r ading and ch lar hip, rince s o the e o s e s ofhis our o p p am ng rh t rician and po t age and nati n , as e as n o o e e e o H e e e w ll being c nt mptibl th ol gian . aim d in ev ry i e at s e e s e aso e e th ng rath r impl pi ty than at ubtl re ning, and tr at d of s a e of a He o s e little thing prof ne but larg ly things s cred . fl uri h d the e s a o 1220 . sat e in y ar of alv ti n , when Henry III at the h lm ” of the English state . ' s e is Al a d rs s e the e o Thi , th n , ex n e tory Sinc mor unkn wn to our e e s e has e the e e is the p rc ption om helpful thing be n , gr at r V e we set o we e o i e of I il e e o alu up n it when tak c gn zanc it , w l nd av ur to set out s few o s the e esse e uccinctly, in a w rd , lif of the bl d Bert l s the e ss r the c e s o s as o e e linu Conf o from an i nt hi t rie , I cann t r lat ’

the o e of sa s s. e e re es o i o wh l the int act Th r fo , l t a pr l x relati n e e e ess the s e le t us is e e e to c b g t w arin in li t ner, l t n att ntiv ly a om B l endious e se e the . erte linus s n p pr ntm nt of truth , an Engli hma , t o s fs of o e in e o e e o he pi u o f pring a King, n bl rac , n bl in figur , n bler ’ his o e us s his e his e s ex in Cath lic faith, r f ed to tain lif with fath r e ss the e e e a e r s cess s, andcro ing wat r b cam intim t with an I i h King , me riting above all the grace of love but as our Fathe r which is in he ave n sometimes permits men to sin for the sake of gre ater ’ w s e o e for the re pe ntance to follow, he as mitt n with l v King s daughte r and abducted her to England when she was with child which fact I tell that sinners may not be ignorant of the re ason for his surprising pe nance . THE ANTIQUITY OF STAFFO RD . 7

The y we re in hiding in a de nse fore st whe n 10 ! the time of he r childbirth came upon them suddenly ; bourne of pain and rive r of sorrow ! A pitiful childbed indee d ! While Be rtellin us we nt out to ge t the ne cessary he lp of a midwife the woman and her e e e child br athe d their last amid the fangs of wolves. B rt l linus on his return imagine d that this calamity had - be fallen because of his own in s e A n s e s o s. sk ot , and p nt thre day in m urning rite he e sad e e se e od e e so e if wer a man th n . H rv d G th r in litud with e o s e of mortific ation e o o pr vi u ly unh ard s, having in tru c ntriti n his sin s e o e his e n d e e of o e alway b f r yes a l ading a lif c nt mplation . And o and e u God not es s e c o e h ly m rcif l , d pi ing a humbl and ntrit e a e him s s to the e of his h art , forg v many in , according multitud e es for he o e H e o e God he was o e God m rci , l v d much . l v d l v d of he magnifie d Christ with good works h e was magn ifie d by Christ e s The of e e the o with many miracl . Spirit malic tempt d h ly man , sa ese s o e s e o e e ! Bertellinus ying, Say that th t n may b c m br ad n e the e the o os e of his e o s for h e confou d d D vil by pp it t mptati n , not e s o e s o e on the c o e did chang t n int br ad, but , ntrary, br ad flo te e s e o s o s so u d e s . ese o s int t ne , and the d vili h t mptation Th t n may still be see n as a testimony to the miracle at a place calle d

The following passage purports to be copie d ve rbatim by ’ e Guthlac as Guthlac Alexand r from Felix Life ofSt . Now wishe d to le ad the life ofan anchorite he le ft R ep p Ington [Re pton] taking with him two youths (of whom was the aforesaid Be rte l c s son to the of the fo ri e who e con linu , King Sta f rd t b ) clav tin ually to the holy man that they might order the ir own live s T w s thl c B r llin r . he t o s Gu a e te us a ight aint , and , e e s s o the se c e ofGod pass d many y ar in that i land [Cr yland] in rvi , ” Th s e and many miracles we re done by them . e passage alr ady — quote d on page s 2 4 beginning But at last and ending

w e c o of uc e one r S tafior h b h e Re v . war Hinc hlifie n o r r s o ds ire T Ed d , t M kl t , N th , publishe d some ye ars ago a v olume e ntitle d Barthomle y : Letters from a ”

M . Hin hlifie in orms u a B e former Re ctor to his Eldest S on . r c f s th t rtelin is h e a ron sain of ar om e w ic ace -n ame h e re ar s as a mo ifica ion t p t t B th l y, h h pl g d d t The v o ume a so in c u es a r me v e rsion of th e s or o f of Bertelin . l l l d hy d t y n h m e lin rom the e of Car in a ewman . T e r me s are v er si t . Berte S f p d l N hy y pl , an d sugge st that th e gre at e c clesiastic might hav e written them as a re laxa ” tion after some suc h lofty flight as Th e Dre am of Geron tius. The y are ’ prin te d in th e Cardin al s Liv es of th e En glish Saints . th e i e ofGuthlac e i sa s a er Carn an de t h e is s a e t av In L f by F l x . y F th , t t d o h e ’ h ad two a s mm as c om anion s w en h e re ire rom e on to Cro an l d (p ) p h t d f R pt yl d, but eir n ames are n ot iv en so I do n ot n ow h ow e an er e arn a th g , k Al x d l t th t ” In an o e ace e i Be rt lli Bertellinus was one of them. th r pl F l x calls e n us a ' ”

d the wor uen ma me an se v an s or i e . clerk. an d p y r t disc pl s 8 S T. BERTELIN AND

her own ar s o e e but is not ec e ss to qu ter , c m in her , it n ary to ’ e e t . e ows he r p a them Th n foll , in Ale xande r s manuscript , what

a s . . the e o the c ll chap II with h ading , Bertellinus withdraws int s f af his e a is er o ur e . wild St ford ; d ath , b i l , and miracl Th , Fath Carnande t s s is e or io e ay , appar ntly an iginal composit n by Al x ” ” a e i o nd r , and in h s own notes to the Life in the Acta Sanct rum he takes n o pains to con ceal his belie f that some passages are in “ an d o e s e s o is e e e o . o e e th cr dible th r pur inv nti n H w v r, t ry en e e for e is e e or not o s giv h r , wh ther it cr dibl it f rm part of the f e e e r e o our s e . e al . lit atur ubj ct It r ads thus Fin ly , St B rt l i s e s s e o r a o e e o e the l nu , d pi ing t mp ral glo y lt g th r, appr ach d King his e and e e o for i e s fath r b gg d fr m him , h s he rmit lif , an i land which se s was e m e e o of in tho day quit uninhabite d. O ad irabl r ligi n a son who could show himself to the sight and n ot to the re cognition ofa father The King grante d his re que st and made home to him

the s al s o e le e e n ow fo . o e m l i land f rm rly cal d B thn y, Sta f rd M r e e o he e e e e the o e fr ly w uld hav giv n him wide territory . Th r n bl m o e o e and his s s her it lab ur d l ng in p nance, by piritual triumph he the e ofthe s o e es. e t h n with many miracl But wh n King, fath r e e e r Bertellinus e e r o e of r v r d he mit , had pass d th natu al b urn all es a e se o e o e a s e oo fl h , a gre t p r cuti n b gan in th s p rts and a trang r t k ove r the sway of the kingdom by the paramount autho rity ofhis N w ll the se a eso e s. o e he saw Berte inus roy l r urc wh n , rvant of God e ll e as n in e e e he e e m e to , dw ing pl a tly a d lectabl plac , d t r in d e c o i o for his o al as to e j t him , th ugh hav ng s far regard h ly c ling se t in motion against him n ot the forc e of arms but the rigour of

the . Bertellinus is e e ess so for the law , in th urg nt n c ity , ught s e of his e o s o his assi tanc r lati ns and friend , but f und kin without e e his e e s e his o o te s s confid nc and adv rsari , rath r than c mf r r , itting se e the es es o the o e c o to cr tly with princ to d tr y inn c nt, ac rding ’ o s o o m is e to his e the Solom n w rd , The po r an hat ful kindr d, but ’ f r c e e o e h e o his n s frie nds o the i h are many. Th r f r laid up n ki u s e o e e c e be see folk a c r e , that bor hard up n th ir d lin and may n “ o s e e to the o e e o by plain t ken , not m r ly f urth and fifth g n rati n , e H ow re e e the s his but eve n to th presen t day . g at w r fruit that ’ e e e h e the s o as signal pi ty bor wh n , on is app aring in King c urt be o and e e o defendant , c ncealed his hereditary right all g d nly ’ 6 that of the late ruler s dee d of gift .

a e re in o o -n o e a o ens I in t e au or (1 Father Carn n d t marks a f t t , Wh t t k th k h th ” mlfdidn t now and a his im re c a ion is a ure in v en ion on his ar . him o k . th t t p t p t p t c This other note follows I can nev er be lie v e that Bertellin us was so attache d N or do I ink it ess to his solitude as rather to fight for it than giv e it up . th l ' M an da 9 a ] c lam -Ir! h a v o 9 c a ra t ! a : R e f tfi llin n s s ub s tit u te in ' THE ANTIQUITY OF STAFFORD . 9

The i o at s e e e the r es lit gati n having la t r ach d a h ad, pa ti e e i to e e the o w r fa n d cid issue by single combat . Out up n the ’ s o 1 e ers iniquity of thi w rld While the King s power abid d in fight , no one no on e was an ri , not , found to be good to the poor m in Ch st an d . so Be rtellin us l f a e s e os humble And , fu l o gr c and tr ngth, pr tr e ated i s in e s o e e . 0 h m lf pray r, aying O God, c m to my h lp Lo e s e to e me . o G d e e e rd, mak ha t h lp O L rd my o , in Th hav I o e sa e me o e h p d, v fr m all those that perse cute me and de liv r me . I am a e a s er to e e e e is n o on e to com m d trang my br thr n , and th r

o me . e e me me s e e le t the f rt D liv r and put by Thy id , and th n hand ’ ’ of osoe e e Berte llinus e wh v r will fight against me . Wh n pray r was e e he e o e a s e n ot e o e of s : nd d h ard a v ic th t aid , F ar , b l v d Chri t the o has e e t e a e e s L rd h ard thy pray r , h Lord h s acc pt d thy uppli ’ cation . the o o e he s his o e o On m rr w , wh n had ca t tr ubl up n Him who n ot o the s to a he me t o will all w ju t f ll , with a dwarf (wh m , as the se e s o s o e c c e c o e qu l will h w, I h uld rath r all an ar hang li p w r), ‘ o en h oe s e Be rtellinus s e e with a g ld , who alut d , and aid , Sir, h r e to e e o se the e of e Son am I r ady d f nd y ur cau in nam Fath r, , and ’

o os . Be rtellinus o e v e e o H ly Gh t , comf rt d by di in grac , kn wing a the o e e e s e so n ot s e th t Spirit bl w th wh r it li t th, and , di may d at ’ the insi nific ance of his C o s o e e e how g hampi n b dy , but r m mb ring the s e ten o s s es not s e of lad David l w th u and Phili tin , by tr ngth the e of the o e o eo e the limb but by grac Spirit , not f rg tting , m r v r , ’ ’ so e s saw e s se n ot the s e t of e o philo ph r , D pi tr ng h a littl b dy , Be rtellin s s e e sa e o e c o e u an w r d him and id , Fri nd, th u art w l m the o o e e of s e e o s in mnip t nt grac Chri t ; wh r up n , giving thank ’ o d the s se of es s s e e e o s mes t Go , aintly rvant J u Chri t nt rtain d G d the s e o he le d o to se nge r with e ve ry care . At tat d h ur him f rth e f r the o oo the place appoint d o combat ; and cr wd, l king back, c e E o o e e e i be held a fe llow bla k r than an thi p , m r t rribl than a g ant ,

'

e e for th e . the esse e gnashing his t th, and raging fight But m ng r o s e a his of God, a dwarf in b dy but in pirit an archang l , aw ited

c e . The ul o nslaught with a chee rful counte nan dreadf giant , o as of o e e e as s leaping forward with a r ar a li n , thr at n d an ault e ofGodwas n ot ofirresistible fiercen ess but the messeng r afraid, ’ e e the o s o s and being by the grac of God unharm d by ther bl w , n ot by an e xerc ise of th e pugilistic art but by an infinite supe t of s en oo the e rufiian e s e c e riori y tr gth, t k gr at qui tly and tr t h d e and a him at his f et, crying roaring out with loud voice , I O ST. BERTELIN AN D

’ Be rtellin us se o s he f e er o me . t , rvant God, hav m cy up n At thi , if b -s e s all n e y tand r we re not astonishe d it nee d astonish n o o e , wh n the smallest ofmen held the tallest in his powe r by force ofangelic virtue ne ither was any the re found mad e nough to doubt that this

was e e e . e e o e e e t ind e d a divin miracl Wh r f re all those pres nt , xc p I ’ ‘ Bertellinus s o e l his e e s We e s e kin f lk, f l at f t , aying, hav inn d , e e we o e : o e we hav act d unjustly, have w rk d iniquity h ly fath r ’ Be r llinus was e e c e e o e e have mercy upon us. te n xt r iv d m st r v re n tl the e o s e o s a e y by King , and all that had pr vi u ly be n c nfi c t d ’ was re store d to him by the monarch s own command . And all the s of the o es o men o e e e inhabitant pr vinc , b th and w m n , f ar d God o e Bertellinus s e e ur and l v d in all thing , r ver ncing him d ing his life time as the ir spiritual fathe r .

’

Sr BERTELIN S C . . MIRA LES

the s God e e o o o But aint of , f aring t mp ral gl ry and h nour , o e o e e o e o e e s we nt away and r ame d lik a m untain r v r l n ly h ight , e e o e s s e s se God c wh r , ccupi d with fa t and pray r , rving with mu h c o e the of s o he e e his wat hing and c nd mning vanity thi w rld, nd d e on e e e 9th s is the se v o his o o lif S pt mb r . Thi r ant wh m L rd f und c to o he o i e fiv e e s who wat hful , wh m c mm tt d tal nt and gat him

o e fiv e e e o an de e e o the o ofhis o . s th r th r t , nt r d int kingd m L rd Thi our lord Bertellin us showe d forth admirably in his life and afte r his de ath muc h more admirably by many shining miracles at the e n ow e fo s e the o for o e ofthe e sse plac call d Sta f rd ; inc L rd, l v bl d Bertellin us e the e to al the to s e the e , mad lam w k, dumb p ak, d af o e the to see o c s e to o e e e s the t h ar, blind , and v u h af d th r suff r r e e e s e the e e was c om h alth which th y d ir d, until day wh n a murd r ’ ” mitte d in the saint s ve ry church . ' Th e following paragraph is appende d to Ale xande r s manu s as e e to e s 150 e s e his e cript , but it r f rs matt r y ar aft r tim it may safely be conclude d that it is by anothe r hand N ow the re was the o of ffo e a e illmot c o in t wn Sta rd a c rt in man nam d W , a ok

e . s e s e s e e ost by trad Thi man had during many y ar , n arly ixt n , l the s of his e e s so he was e to o o ight y , that unabl g abr ad without m e e e to o e o e . e e s ss a guid g b f r him At l ngth , aft r any y ar had pa d, w l dto the c f Bertel n us the o of h e as e hurch o St . li , in t wn Stafford was o e of is a . H e ee itse lf, with the bj ct regaining h he lth kn ling

2 1 ST. BERTELIN AN D

and whose name is supposed to be one of the numerous variants

upon Bertelin .

O O O C NFUSI NS AND C NTRADICTIONS .

The re ade r is now in posse ssion of all that is most material e e h s o o re . rt lin . I is in l g nd , traditi n, and i t ry garding St Be e t only too obvious that there are confusions and c ontradictions is now e to oss e to s e ut e c e which it n xt imp ibl traight n o and r oncil . One source of perple xity to which n o re fe ren c e has hithe rto be e n made arise s out of the want of agree ment among the e arly bio ’

ra he rs as to . Bertelin s e s . Molan us Wionius Men g p St f a t day , , s Bucelinus errarius s e s all e e o ardu , , F , and Ca t llanu , l arn d C nti n en tal hagiographers ofthe l6th an d 17th ce nturies and all re cog n iz e d as authorities by the compile rs and e ditors of the Acta ” c o u c e e e e 9 as the e e s e San t r m , a c pt S pt mb r dat , and xpres ly d Berte lin as of Bethn ei s e . o o e e e o crib St , a t wn m r r c ntly kn wn S o e as S tatford . o a s o s Ca rav e s , in England l d p g , an Engli h

e ose e is e the to Ca ravus. writ r, wh nam Latiniz d in Acta pg But J ohn Wilson (1608) anothe r English authority on the lives ofthe sa s es the e as us 12 al eri a sec ond int , giv dat Aug t , t ng that in i e e of h s oo o o to e e 29 . e dition b k, with ut xplanati n, S pt mb r In the s e d o he s s e the e of s 12 fo fir t iti n ay und r dat Augu t At Sta f rd , f line onfe ssour th s me s re the o e o o o . Berte C in e a hi , c mm m rati n St , e e of o e ri s e our ilan d o e who desc nd d a n bl B ti h lynag in , c nt mne d e v anit es of the o the o e of his o the puddl and y w rld in fl w r y uth , e e e for the o e of God e os s and be cam an rmit l v , l ading a m t trict e of e the oo s n ee re fo o es e e and se ver kind lif in w d Sta f rd af r aid, wh r e o e s of e he e e his e sse es in ve ry gr at sanctity and b lin lif nd d bl d day , wa e s o and fin ally re pose d in our Lord . H is body s aft rward br ught fo e e e e e was o e e s to Sta f rd, and b ing th r int rr d w nt , in anci nt tim , to be ke pt with ve ry gre at ve ne ration of the people of that p ro

c the e e o o e e s e 1640 he vin e . In lat r diti n , h w v r, publi h d in , pre fe rre d the fo rm Bertelline and move d his fe ast forward to S ep 29 i The s e fo the s e s e te mbe r , add ng ( am day)at Sta f rd in am hir , f Bertelline Confessour o e of o the c omme moration o St . , b rn a n ble

n who the o e ofhis a e o e the e s Brittish blo d, in fl w r g , c nt mning vaniti e e e m e for the o e ofGod e di s t ofthe world, b cam an r it l v , l a ng a tric e e e o fo e e s an daustere life in a forrest n r unt Sta f rd, wh r in all anc H s was e o o tity he re pose d in our Lord . i body v ry h n urably THE AN TIQUITY OF STAFFORD . I 3

int rre dat af and o a es e St ford, there w nt , in ncient tym , to be kept ” e e o the e ar an det with due v n rati n of inhabitants. Fath r C n suggests that the difference may have arise n from the fact that so se Be rtelin Bethn ei t e o Wil n confu d of with h monk of Cr yland, whereas in the opinion of that scholar they we re distinct person a ge s.

WERE THE DISCIPLE or GUTHLAC AND THE HERMIT or BETHN EI IDENTICAL

That last is the most inte re sting point re maining to be de alt an d s is s us es with, the ubject di c sed by the J uit Father with a degree of acute ness and candour which e ntitles him to respe ctful W e e e e f a attention . have alr ady had the stat m nt o Ingulph s to al of Bettelinus o the buri St . at Croyland and the destructi n of his e 871 e he o f s r t s . tomb by the Dan in , tog the with t mb o St d Tatwine an o e Guthlac . ss an d s a , St Ci a , St . ; up n thi F th r Car n an det s s is e es me to dis e e e a e e ay , Th notic induc b li v ltog th r ’ what Alexander has to say about . Bettelmus withdrawal to th e ’ i s fo Guthlac s his so a e e w ld of Sta f rd after St . death, lit ry life th r , his fin uri a o o s 20 e s and al b al . For lth ugh Ingulph fl uri hed 0 y ar a r a s s et he was fte the D ni h irruption of which he tell , y much — nearer to it than the writer of the Life ne are r by a whole cen e a e Essibiensis was e or 300 s tury if Al x nd r that writ r, by year an d more if we ascribe the Life and th e miracles stated to have

a 1386 one the s o . s es as taken pl ce in to and ame auth r Be id , Ingulph was abbot of the monaste ry of Croyland he was in a p o sition ai e e o a a s a o to obt n much b tt r inf rm tion th n any tr nger, b th ro an e o s o o o the s of his f m cient r c rd and fr m traditi n, ab ut hi tory o s e ? Are we to sa n o o e e el m na tery. What th n y that anch rit B rt n e i e tafo s e or was e o shi d e e ? li us ev r l v d in S f rd hir , ev r w r ppe th r

o n ot e sse e . As for his s That I sh uld ventur to a rt d finitely wor hip , e a the adducement of ar o e s it is rende red ve ry c rt in by m tyrol gi , i e ndold o s of s e o are o e reg st rs, a d cument that am c unty which qu t d o o e mse or e s - o by Wilson , and also fr m the bi graph r hi lf, at l a t fr m of the e a e e e e to him who wrote the account miracl lr ady r f rr d , in e e which express me ntion is made ofa church de dicate d to St . B rt l As for c o e s the o ra e e linus. what nc rn bi g ph r [Al x o his o is o ss o s his ander], alth ugh w rk w rthle in many p int , yet testimony must not therefore be re jected when he speaks of the 1 B 4 ST. ERTELIN AND worship of the saint an d asse rts that a c hurc h de dicate d in his e e s e fo the e n d of 4 e e nam xi t d in Sta f rd at the 1 th c ntury . Rath r it appe ars to me e xtre mely probable that an ac co unt ofthe worship give n to him by the people of Stafford induce d the biographe r e e to e on e Bertellinus out of two or e e to s e the ith r mak , ls tran f r so of o to the s of litary Cr yland wild Stafford . a o o e e s so o e e on the I c nn t , h w v r , pas fav urabl a judgm nt ale e e s e c e of s he o es c o l g d r id n and burial a aint in t af r aid unty . For se e the o of the e e e e es , ing that auth r Life d lib rat ly id ntifi Be rte llin us the e f t e s e of Guthla o o h . c , h rmit Staff rd , with di cipl St , who as we s o e o e was e o , h w d fr m Ingulph , di d and buri d in Cr y an d the o e ss o f the e c o land , that antiquity and trustw rthin r rds / adduc e d by Wilson is by n o me ans above suspicion I cannot he lp doubting whe ther any holy he rmit of this name e ver she d the s e o f hi e r o e f lu tr s lif and bu ial up n th county o Stafford. [It may h e re marke d he re pare nthe tically that Cardinal Newman ’ was of Opinion that the story of Ingulph and Bertelin s burial is n ot incompatible altoge the r with the lege nd which conne cts i the o of Th e n e e e s o him w th t wn Stafford . e l ar d r ad r mu t ch ose what he pre fe rs whe n the whole matte r is so obscure me anwhile e o e e e e e c e see s to me os i e the p nding m r d finit vid n , it m m t l k ly that Be rte llinus of Staffordshire is e ithe r a diffe re nt man from the o s e o fGuthlac or he is the sa e he was o o s e h ly di cipl , if m nly w r hipp d fo n o die w n The o e in Sta f rd and did t and as ot burie d there . f rm r vie w is take n by Mic hael Alford in the Inde x of Saints appende d l f f ’ to v o . 3 o his s o the s e e e s Annal Engli h Church , wh r h ays Bert lmus or Be ttelinus e was th s of e e e . , , a h rmit , mini t r St Guth lac and was burie d with him in Croyland c hurc h ; i o w e s s e h s t mb as brok n up by the Danes. Thi aint diff rs o o e Bertellinus who is e o e on e e e 29 fr m an th r , m nti n d S pt mb r e is e o e o in our (Anglican) roll of marytrs. H r c rd d t have been of o e s oo to e e o o e so e n bl Briti h bl d, hav l ft all and f ll w d a litary lif , ’ to e e t e f s ri The Mart ro and hav di d in h Sta ford di t ct . Anglican y logy supports Alford (1) bec ause Be rtellinus date is the re give n n ot as 9 of e e e as the 29th e e e or the 12th th S pt mb r but S pt mb r, ’ ofAugust (2)be cause no me ntion is made ofGuthlac s institution

s e arn an de t su es s a ou as to the rus wor ine ss o f ilson it i I A Fath r C gg t d bt t t th W , s i o sa a no t on dida c urc e ica e to S t Be r due to that oldwr ter t y th t ly h h d d t d . telin as we av e seen ere were an cie n re cor s re a in e re e xist but that, h , th t d l t g th to, . th e gen uinene ss of whic h is be yon d dispute. o 1 THE ANTIQUITY r STAFFORD . 5

3 e a se the sai is sa to e e and f r () b c u nt id hav liv d died at Sta fo d , ’ ree s all which ag not at with Ingulph s story . To this it may be answe red that conce ivably it is not the date of death but of some other festival which is me ant by the a t o o the o se e n ot as e se e e Anglic n Mar yr l gy, w rd u d b ing , l wh r , de ositis commemorat s e e e p , but i . It might th r for be that in that place some church was erecte d to him or some relics ofhim p re se so e e o e his e o as is rved , and an annual c l brati n h ld in m m ry, the s o o e s f sa s e e e e . t o s o e e cu t m with th r int l wh r [S . Th ma H r o at one e e o of fo is o e o e f rd , tim Archd ac n Sta f rd, c mm m rat d at f s o e e o e . s e o e e c the Engli h C ll g St . Om r ) Thi b c m s x eedingly

o e e e Bertellinus as his o e has was e pr babl h r if , bi graph r it , a nativ of the o of fo Two o e e e c unty Sta f rd . th r argum nts would hav more weight if the antiquity of the records adduce d by Wilson e o e c e r w re ab v suspi ion . But I fe ar that th y a e e ithe r the Life se or e se o e o N or oe e he es it lf l c mpil d fr m it . d s it matt r that giv ’ anothe r day for Be rte llin us worship and has nothing about Guth the s he c an e e o the e s e s c lac fir t hav l arnt fr m church r gi t r , whi h he se ems to me an by registra the second he may have pur osel o e as o to do the eo e of fo p y mitt d, it had n thing with p pl Sta f rd. n ow o ee to the e o s I pr c d r maining p int . The o e e s our s the son of of fo bi graph r mak aint a King Sta f rd, ’ h e he o o is c on o oes not s e . s t r wh m d p cify Wil on , in Ma tyr l gy, ’ h se e tent with t e noble British blood . The first ms to me by n o e s o e the se o e e Be rtellinus be e m an pr babl c nd v ry littl , if id ntical

f . he so is e the sc e o Guthlac . T e with di ipl St r a n that F lix , a o c e o e o Guthlac as we e s s chr ni l r c nt mp rary with , hav aid, mu t be e to e ee e e o of s o e es e as h ld hav b n ntir ly ign rant thi n bl d c nt , es no e o of e e e e e e e e was the he mak m nti n it anywh r , v n wh r th r H e s he e e se most Obvious Opportunity . add that x rci d ’ l s i e - i e f to Guth ac s e o . s s e the office o barbe r St . p r n It lf v d nt that it would have c onduce d n ot a little to enhancing the fame ’ f uthlac s son e di e se to as dis o St . G if a king had d cat d him lf him ci le se o e e e e e m e to p and rvant , and that it w uld hav b n v ry g r an ’ the biographer s matte r to have mentione d the royal e xtraction of Be rtellinus in this place at any rate ; but he does so ne ithe r N or was Be rtellinus so i e o to e he re no r e lsewhe re . l ttl kn wn F lix be s ose e of his s e he that he could upp d unawar kingly birth , inc o of month kne w him n ot merely from re port but by sight and w rd . ass e " sa s e This is cle ar from the p ag in which he y , At that tim 1 6 ST BERT . ELIN AND

e e e Guthlac on e o Be c l n th r dw lt with him [ ] br ther, ce i us by name , to ose a e we owe our es o ofthe e of uthlac wh n rrativ d cripti n d ath G , ’ he of t God. es es is he was man B id th , acquainte d with Cissa, the s c c e sso of Guthlac as as o e who e e u r , well th rs had had conv rs with Guthlac (and also with Beccelinus)for a conside rable pe riod as he e o e se on his own sse his o and l arnt fr m th , a rtion in pr logue, of the s of Guthlac so he i e e o of e o act , m ght hav l arnt als th r yal s o ofBecc lin us The o o o ofBecc elinus w t ck e . r yal c nditi n as e qually ’ o s e the o s e of o as is unkn wn in Ingulph tim at m na t ry Cr yland, the o s se c 8 o o s . plain fr m w rd in ti n , in which Ingulph call St Cissa a man ofnoble birth and forme rly ofgre at authority in his worldly es te is o e to e e to Bec ce lin us as the se ta , but c nt nt r f r rvant of the ’ s l e e e o e e . e e o e e a s is e af r aid fath r If, th r f r , x t d d c nt attribut d to Bec celinus his o e he s be s s e the by bi graph r, mu t di tingui h d from e l disc ipl of Guth ac . What is said in the Life of Be rtellinus about his flight to ’ e his o of th e s e her e Ir land , abducti n King daught r, d ath and that Of he r s of o es is e e or child by the fang w lv pur fabl , at any rate w s o o e lo s e eme . s e se c ntaminat d ith fabu u l nt Fabul u lik wi , we may consider the foolish and ridiculous narrative of the litiga “ rfi s of e e e s no tion and the dwa sh champion . Thi kind fabl n d o o e e es the e e o e so e e re futati n . H w v r, l t r ad r w nd r why l g ndary s o e ee all he s o a Life h uld hav b n put in print at , mu t kn w that this was o nly done that he might have a cle ar V ie w by what right we e o e so a he use his own hav c nd mned it, and al th t might judg ment as to what can prude ntly be maintaine d with re gard to the ’ ” e e es e e al fo saint s royal d sc nt and r id nc and buri at Sta f rd. Be fore finally quitting this part of our subject we Should like to submit what we will venture to de scribe as a novel and original ’ o o o H e sugge stion contribute d by the pre sent write r s c llab rat r. write s I strongly suspe ct that we have in the early history of l l ofth e e s c e to the so o of h Ethe ba d, King M rcian , a lu luti n much w ich c o o e e is oss er is Confusing and ntradict ry, and that th r p ibly a g m of e e out th b o ftruth in the (re pute d)stateme nt F lix . L aving e O v i l e c se s e o e s se e o ous y imaginary , b au up rnatural , ad rnm nt , I n thing ss for th e s e of e the incredible in th e story . A uming ak argum nt o e ofBe rtelin the s diflicult truth ofth e allege d r yal parentag , fir t y o e e e who e se that oc curs to me is, what King c uld it hav b n p r cute dthe he rmit and wante d to turn him out of his cell ? It may e oo a e e en 700 and 750 be pre sume d that the incid nt t k pl c b twe , 1 THE ANTIQUITY OF STAFFORD . 7

a e l s of r e ssed r s s but during th t tim the ru er Me cia w re profe Ch i tian , the os o s e Ethelbald who e ears m t vigor u b ing , for tw nty y had ove rlordship of the whole o f Britain south of the Humbe r . H e — had on e e xcelle nt re ason for le aving Be rtelin in pe ace they we re ld se s of thl s s me se o o o Gu ac . b th rvant St . Thi bring to the c nd ’ point : is it n ot possible that Ale xander s legend has refere nce n ot to Be rte lin to so eo e ose sso e , but m n cl ly a ciat d with him , with whom he h as be e n confuse d ? I think it is highly probable that the he ro Ofthe incide nt which forme d the ge rm ofthe le gend was o e o e a Ethelbald se We e n o e chron i n n th r th n him lf. l ar fr m anci nt ’ cles that among those who sought and shared Guthlac s re tire l me o was Ethe bald e e of e a. H e nt at Cr yland , a n ph w King P nd ’ was the i o f Coelreds e e h e o e v ctim King hat , and wh n appr ach d his o h e was e off a t e rightful kingd m driv n again and ag in , and e e c e to the e but he e ec e es es turn d a h tim littl had r t d b id St . Guth ’ s e e e e he was o o o c lac h rmitag , wh r br ught int daily c nta t with l n s we e of o l oo s e e Berte i . Thu hav (i)a man r ya bl d ; (ii) ubj ct d to pe rse cution and turne d out of his rightful posse ssions ; (iii) hla h e e o o of ministe ring to St . Gut c ; and (iv) t intimat c mpani n Be rtelin while (V )the man had many ofthe qualitie s ofan ancho e e e s e o e to rite an d a saint . Wh n in aft r y ar th y b th cam live in Staffordshire what more natural than that subsequent historians s o e o se the two o e s e e e h uld hav c nfu d , ign rant , p rhap , that th y w r both in attendan ce on Guthlac at the same time ? e h e o e e the It may b obj ected that t is th ry , whil xplaining t o to Bertelin of es e oes n ot o for ascrip i n a kingly d c nt , d acc unt the imputation of youthful sin as e vidence d in the story of the To e is s e abduc tion ofthe woman . my mind that narrativ urround d s an e Of the s o of r the by e very circum t c truth , and t ry the bi th in fore st is so full of poignan t trage dy and so unlike an ything that

“ th e e - e o e s of the e o would he in ve nte d by w ll m aning r manc r p ri d , that it must be care fully e xamine d in the light of the suggestion that the prin ce and the saint we re hopelessly confused by the for the e o of Ethelbald e e is chronicler . Unhappily r putati n , th r nothing in this story of the abduction inconsistent with what we e f s c o ual erso a i know to have been the charact r o hi uri usly d p n l ty. B c s o e e esse . o e The following e xtra t fr m a l tt r addr d by St nifac , f e o to Ethelbald ro s e an Englishman o D v n , King , th w con id rable light upon the private characte r of the erstwhile anchorite a s and to rr all To Ethelbald, my de re t lord, be prefe ed to other C 1 8 B ST. ERTELIN AND

s the n e s the o of is o e s o King of A gl in l ve Chr t , B niface th Archbi h p, e e to e the of o e wisheth e l gat G rmany from Church R m , p rpetual e h alth in Christ . We confess before God that whe n we he ar of your p ro s e i o o oo o s we o e at p r ty , y ur faith , and y ur g d w rk , rej ic ; and if e we e of e s e e ou e e any tim h ar any adv r ity b fall n y , ith r in the e f o or the e o of o so we are afllic ted. chanc war in j pardy y ur ul , We e e e o e to al s i ou o e t hav h ard that , d v t d m giv ng, y pr hibit th f e are o e Of e e e e e of o s and and rapin , a l v r p ac , and a d f nd r wid w of the oo for s we e o p r and thi giv G dthanks. f o o e for f o e for chastit s Y ur c nt mpt law ul matrim ny , wer it y sa e o be e s e ou a o k , w uld laudabl ; but inc y w ll w in luxury and e e e i e v n in adult ry with nuns it s disgrace ful and damnabl . It i s the ri e ss of o o e o e od s d m b ghtn y ur gl ry b f r G and man , and tran o s ou o an o e e se ou e o e the e e f rm y int id lat r, b cau y hav p llut d t mpl

of God. e e o e e es son s e n ou Wh r f r , my d ar t , h wi g y oo ou se we ou to ess e e ou the g d c n l, call y witn , and ntr at y by living God H is Son es s s the o r ou , and J u Chri t, and by H ly Spi it, that y o e o e how ee is the e se e how s or w uld r c ll ct fl ting pr nt lif , h t and o e is the e of the l es how o o s m m ntary d light fi thy fl h, and ign mini u for on e whose e xistence is so transitory to le ave a bad e xample

to os e . e e e o e to e e ou e e e p t rity B gin , th r f r r gulat y r lif by b tt r s o e the s e o s of o o habit , and c rr ct pa t rr r y ur y uth, that you may have praise be fore men he re and be blest with e te rnal glory he re afte r ’ We e wish your Highness health and proficiency in virtu . This fe arless e xhortation quicke ne d the be tte r side of Ethel ’ a s e as be se e the o o e e b ld natur , may n by f ll wing chart r he grant d s e s o the e 749 ju t aft rward , ab ut y ar Ethelbald ofthe e s out of o to e e I , , King M rcian , l ve H av n e to own so e e th e e c e ss of o s e and r gard my ul , hav f lt n ity c n id ring n For how I may by good works set it fre e from e very tie of si . the o e n God o the e ess ofHis e e since Omnip t t , thr ugh gr atn cl m ncy , o e o s e on e s o e on me with ut any pr vi u m rit my part, hath b t w d c e of o e e e e o e e a out of the s ptre g v rnm nt , th r f r I willingly r p y him

that which he hath given . s o so o as e all o s er es On thi acc unt I grant , l ng I liv , that m na t i e s i o s be e e e o e s andchurch of my k ngd m hall x mpt d fr m public tax , o os o s e c e the i of o s r es w rks, and imp iti n , x pt build ng f rt and b idg , a e d e e the se s from which none can be rele s d. An , mor ov r, rvant

20 ST. BERTELIN AN D any so-calle d historical work written in those ages of faith o e a as e s s ine with ut b ing f ced, Carlyl ay , with a bewildering, x tricable e s o s o s o s b urdi jungl of delu i n , c nfu i n , falsehoods, and a s ” was s tie s . It ju t such fan tastic storie s as Ale xande r has to tell whic h th e gre at Bishop Hooke r had in mind whe n he wrote Of “ le ge nds having grown to nothing e lse but he aps of frivolous an d scandalous vanities that have bee n eve r with disdain thrown ” out . The utmost that can be said for the le gendist is that the Church — of his day taught the doctrine or is re pute d to have taught it h e n d that t e justifies the me ans . It is observable that Ale xander e s to i e o to his e s e e he e tri g v a m ral turn fabl , but ev n th n blund rs s for he e ese s his o e his s tupidly , r pr nt g dly h ro as cursing kin folk with a curse that may be see n by plain tokens n ot me rely to o rt an d e e o e e e se the f u h fifth g n rati n , but v n to the pr nt day i to sa o 500 e all e se e that s y, for m re than y ars. And b cau th y to o s o his e e N ow wanted u t him fr m h rmitag of wattle and mud . the J esuits are specially associate d— whe the r fairly or othe rwise — is n ot the que stion he re with the immoral doctrine that the e n d e s the s s is too for e justifi mean , but thi much even Fath r Carnan “ det : he contemptuously e xclaims What tokens ? I think the author himse lf did not know and that this imprecation is a pure invention on his part . Two other strong points of Father Carn andet are these s a e e el n or In ul hus a e s e o of fir t, th t n ith r F ix g p m k any m nti n ’ o for s e e e a the two Staff rd, the tat m nt in F lix narrative, reg rding who a e Guthlac o e o to o youths accomp ni d fr m R pt n Cr yland, of one was o e s Bertellinus son of the whom the af r aid , King of the ” S fo was e o sc s ta f rd tribe, actually int rp lated by the un rupulou se o es Ale xande r and, c ndly , that Ingulph relat with circum t Bettelinus as a s hi his e r stan tiali y the death of ( he c ll m), int n o s e his m s e Guthlac the subse me nt at Croyla d al ng id a t r, , and que nt desecration of their tombs an d destruction oftheir remains

s s is e of s o . by fire by Danish pirate , which incur ion a matt r hi t ry So of the record of Ale xande r Esse biensis it may fairly be said that it has allthe inefficien cy and incredibility of a mythological tale . 2 1 THE ANTIQUITY OF STAFFO RD.

N ‘ ‘ THE A TIQUII Y or STAFFORD.

o i e to the e e e for the of fo C m ng at l ngth vid nc antiquity Sta f rd , we have to re mark first of all that the limit of ye ars p re c lude s all connec tion of the plac e with Ro man and p re - Roman e is no t e n o time s. The r e vidence whateve r that he ar a w cove re d by the town of Stafford was occupie d during the Roman do o o es o few es to the o of the e mini n , th ugh it li nly a mil n rth gr at R two a— es to the ee o . Watling Str t r ad If Bury ing , and half mil e s of the o is re - o a e o the e sub w t t wn , a p R m n arthw rk (and writ r mits in anothe r part ofthis volume some c onside rations in support of that V ie w)it may be assume d that the re was in the ne ighbour hood a suffic ie nt population to justify the construc tion of that e of e e the e be e e e re - s o plac r fug , and dat may anything b tw n p hi t ric t e AS times and the Saxon invasion e arly in the 6 h c ntury . that is e quivale nt to saying that the moat might have be en dug out eo c we are e off o e on the sub by N lithi man , warn d fr m nlarging j ce t in this plac e . If Stafford originate d e arly in th e 8th c e ntury it is of course i e c e o e s c e o as ts s. a Saxon t wn , nam indi at C mpar d with uch pla ” es as an d o e e fo h as nam Birmingham Utt x t r, Sta f rd unde rgone onlyslight c hange s but the name has n ot be e n in v ari ” the o - o o c e 89 1 on ably so spelt . In Angl Sax n Chr ni l ( ) and e f o - o c o s e fo the s s e som o the Angl Sax n in mint d at Sta f rd, fir t yllabl ” s so e e s e Stae th c se Staethford o i m tim Sp lt , and in that a w uld r - e signify a fo rd at which the re was a small j etty o landing stag .

EARLY IMPO RTANCE OF T HE TOWN .

Again : the fact that Stafford was sele cte d as the co unty town whe n Me rc ia was parc elle d out into Shire s and hundre ds is so e e s e oose is e vide nce of great antiquity . It m tim rath r l ly was so e l e the e who e said that England divid d by A fr d Gr at , di d

the e 900 is e s o e or es. D o in y ar , but that qu ti n d by high auth iti g is e e for the c se of e c e e matism on the point xclud d, in a M r ia v n ” the Anglo -Saxon Chronicle is sile nt as to the age nt by whom o was c e and the date at whic h this gre at civic re f rm arri d out . ” e his C uest of s s o s e a Gre n, in a England, ay , Int Engli h M rci 2 2 ST. BERTELIN AN D

the shire can hardly have bee n introduced before the annexa o of dis 919 as th few e ti n that trict by Edward in , and e r maining years Of that King are spe nt in warfare it probably dates from the days of Athelstan . I cannot agree with the sugge stion that Al e e or e the es of t fr d may hav f m d Shir English Me rcia . In tha se the o s of th e e c e s o ca , b und M r ian Shires would corr p nd with the o s f e s o the e . s e do n ot do b und Dan law Thi th y , which mak a e e th o f The dat aft r e c nquest o the Danelaw pre tty ce rtain . es e e so e e se h as e to pr ent writ r, aft r a m what car ful arch , fail d find

in ancient records any me ntion of a Me rcian shire be fore A . D . the o e se e of the c o es e sse On th r hand , v ral unti in W x and othe r parts o f the south and we st of England are re ferre d to as co untie s as we ll as kingdoms in the Anglo -Saxon Chron i l s 9 is o e e c e a e as the c e r . ffo o arly th ntu y Sta rd t wn , h w v r , ” e o e the o e as e s e e 913 e the m nti n d in Chr nicl in xi t nc in , wh n Ethelfle da e ofthe of e c e of l e Lady , wif Earl M r ia and daught r A fr d th e c e o s the e s e e e . e few e Gr at , built a ca tl th r With v ry x pti n ,

chie f towns of the Me rc ian Shire s are topographic ally ce ntral. fo is c se o less i o c e as e Sta f rd a a in p int , but , un it had mp rtan w ll as e to ec o me ou s e e ee re c ntrality r m nd it , it w ld carc ly hav b n p e e e o e Lic hfield is e as c e ee f rr d b f r , which n arly ntral and had b n the se of s o o the e of the 7th c e at a bi h pric fr m middl ntury , and for e f s o a Short tim o an archbi h pric .

B RT THE CHURCH OF ST. E ELIN .

It is the re fore beyond dispute that Stafford was a town of e e c e ea the loth en all has r lativ importan rly in c tury , but that so ee sa o n ot o e e c e s e es e far b n id , th ugh with ut r l van , till l av a Spac For the e s oftwo ce nturies to be bridge d ove r . mat rial with which to carry out that bit oflite rary e ngine e ring we turn ye t once again l c of r o c e to the sainte d Be rte in . It is a fa t p imary imp rtan and Be rteln su e inte re st that a Saxon churc h de dicate d to St . i rviv d o the s e is en in Stafford until the beginning f la t c ntury. It m For e e : the tione d se ve ral times in me diae val rec ords . xampl In 1272 we e e Assize Roll ofthe 5oth ye ar ofHenry III . ( ) r ad Agn s

e l e se the o f . Bertelin fo d Bake yn put h r lf in church St of Sta f rd , g It is n ote worth y that Giraldus Cambrensis in his Itin erary Through Wale s e s c oun ies an d in e e we now a ose coun (1 188 ) ne v e r spe aks of W l h t . , d d, k th t th

ti we av e em now were n ot se e un i th e rei ns of enr V II . and es , as h th . ttl d t l g H y

V III . '

rHE AN TIgurTY OF STAFFORD . 2 3

and fess ers l a r e e or r ra r con ed h e f obb r b f e Be t m de Bu gh , the

r . H e r s are o 12d t r ar s was e co oner chattel w rth . Af e w d it t stified t the sa e o e to o r i of f hat id chatt ls bel ng d R be t the sm th, Sta ford, r ose s sa es rse the th ough wh uit the id Agn put he lf in church . The ” t afo o her is o ore e . e own of St f rd t k not , and theref in m rcy Anoth r a e of ee to c s fl ing the church of St . Bertelin for sanctuary occurred s me e The of th in the a y ar . jury e borough of Stafford p re sente d (inter alia) that Henry Bryle ston e and Sibilla de Asshe his e s i of a son of e de burn , wif , at the u t Rich rd, H nry Merston, e the c of . Bertelin of S fo and took refug within chur h St ta f rd, acknowledge d various robberie s be fore the corone r and abjured ” the kingdom . In the l6th c entury the following me morandum a ars the o e c o s e ppe in Corporati n r rd 32 H nry VIII . Mr . ’ a f ome Pe ke ac cte f . or . s B ili f H and Wm y d. St Bartram church f t ” 8th o Oc or. e e i Of f his o e Dugdal , tr at ng Sta ford in Bar nag sa s e e was Bertelline a u whereIn y , Th r a guild of St . with ch rch, f so e is the e s sc o o a e I ound m buried , which pr ent ho l , c rruptly c ll d ’ " tl e Bar em w s . ei of es . e e was o St . In the r gn Jam I th r litigati n th e e respecting difice . We also know that subse quen tly the old church was use d as a place of asse mbly by the Common Council o o of the b r ugh . The e ec o of s e c is not xact date of the er ti n thi littl chur h known , ’ but it will be reme mbere d that St . Mary s was a collegiate church in the i e of ar the onfesso who e e 1041 t m King Edw d C r, r ign d from 1 e e e s to e e e the o c was to 066 . Th r is r a on b li v that N rman hurch e an to the e se at all e e s its a Similar in siz d plan pr nt v nt , bre dth was he s e for suflicien t o o the o es t am , a p rti n of N rman w t front

to s s to the . is e e e remains thi day to te tify fact It cl ar, ther for ,

e e . o s ess that the noble edific found d by a pi u Saxon King, doubtl o a ec s s s e o e ar from designs by N rm n archit t , uper ed d , ab ut the y

o c of . Bertelin o neces 1050, the early Sax n chur h St , th ugh the e the s an d arac e of the r sity for so great a chang in ize ch t r chu ch,

o of e a an d e is n ot a a e . beyond the app intment a d n chapt r , pp r nt But for the Stafford men of the loth and 11th ce nturies the little e e e asso o s for e sanctuary had sacr d and t nd r ciati n , , unlik the vandals of th e early part of the 19th century, the y did n ot cart r s e e the s e e it away as so much ubbi h , but l ft it und r h lt ring wing ’ os was co e e S . a s of t M ry , with which imp ing edifice it nn ct d by t e o is s s and e e e a doorway (h situati n till vi ible), h r aft r put it

to various useful purposes. 2 4 ST. BERTELIN AN D THE ANTIQUITY OF STAFFORD

O Z O OF BERT CAN NI ATI N ELIN .

us s ose as we e Let now upp , fairly may, that for a hundr d and fifty years it had suffice d for the religious Obse rvance s of the nasce nt town ; that would make the date of its e re ction about h s 900. T is bring us to another material fac t it was de dicate d l n o . Be e N ow the t St rt i . tradition is that the holy he rmit se ttle d

o n on s e Bethnei or e e o d w an i land call d B thn y, and alth ugh it would n ot be corre ct to say that the Stafford o f to-day stands ’ o an s o e who e s o e flood up n i land, any n will asc nd St . Mary t w r at time will have n o difficulty in coming to the conclusion that the swolle n rive r and undraine d swamps of those e arly days would

t e . u e f e justify h s o th word island . Tradition furthe r saith that this se ttle ment took place towards the e n d of the first de cade of the 8 e r so e e e th f Be r lin e th c ntu y , that b tw n e arrival o te and th i ofthe e e was s n f20 e build ng church th r pos ibly an i te rval o 0 y ars . Be elin e e e e rt o e . The e of his c an M anwhil , had b n can niz d dat oniz ation is n ot give n in the Ac ta Sanc torum and probably ou n ow o be s o e e all ese c e s the c ld nly di c v r d, if at , by r ar h in Vatican library but whate ve r doubt may be thrown on some o f the inc i e s oi his c e e as a e e diae al e s s is c e t d nt ar r n rrat d by m v writ r , thi r ain , t e of o e oe s n ot c o e that h Church R m d an niz imaginary pe rsonage s . The Papal authorities do not se e m to be bound by any rigid rule as to the time which shall elapse be twe e n the de ath of a holy man or wo man and the honouring Of the me mory of the same by can on iz ation : much appe ars to de pe nd upon the importance of the a the o e sso o s a e e individual . Edw rd C nf r and Th ma B cke t w re raise d to the dignity o f saintship within a ve ry fe w ye ars of the ir the c se of o o e o the e was 26 de ath . In a Cardinal B rr m int rval

" e s of n s o o 66 e s e e are s e on y ar , Ig atiu L y la y ar ; but th r in tanc s re cord of comparatively obscure de votees in whic h the time was 250 e a s e the o e o e s o e are s e y r , whil pr p r auth riti at R m in thi v ry ye ar ofgrace unde rstood to be making up the ir minds as to whe the r e c o e o of Arc who was o or not th y will an niz J an , burnt at R uen e e is o si the e w in 1431. Th r n thing at all ngular in tim which as se the se ofBertelin nor oe s allowe d to lap in ca , d it militate against The e s e e of the authe nticity of the tradition . xi t nc this pio us se e e e e now le S ffo his an he rmit , his ttl m nt at B thn y, cal d ta rd , c t e e o of to his e o the sur oniz ation , h d dicati n a church m m ry , and v iv al Ofthat church until the be ginning of the 19th century may

is s e be e e as s o s . Ey o the re fore , it ubmitt d , acc pt d hi t ric fact g , f f so is se o s o a o e s. Stafford can, if d po d, b a t an ntiq uity y ar L n S ight a d hade on Cannock Chase .

BY KARL CHERRY .

UTSID E fo s e se so s o e e s s as Sta f rd hir it lf, much mi c nc ption xi t to the re al characte r of th e gre at Midland moorland of Cannock Chase that a fe w words on the subj e ct from on e to whom that moorland is something of a swee t familiar e to e may t nd nlighte nment . ’ It has be e n the write r s privilege to Show the be autie s of the se to who e e e v o s it c e Cha many w r pr i u ly unaware of s harms . Th y came to sc off at co al and banks of slag and cinde r ; the y le ft to pray for more of that wonde rful he athe r-sce nted hone y and for e o anothe r glimps of the banks whe reon that he athe r grows . C al and hone y ! Th e imagination re coils from an association so in Yet r e is the ls es of o congruous. t u it that hil and dal Cann ck se do s ee to the e e e Ofthe c o e i Cha w p up v ry v rg Bla k C untry, nd ng i as as oes the se a s so e e fs. e e abruptly d again t m barr n cl f Ind d, e s e c se s be e e to oc e o s in some r p ts the hill may lik n d gigantic an bill w , andth e far distant smoke almost sugge sts the spray ofsuc h rolle rs s e The i s oo is e e e o e e oc s. o t breaking v r un n r k llu i n , , h ight n d by l o fthe e as oes ofan o e e e e the qua ity air, qualling it d that y c an br z

- in purity and health re ne wing pro perties . To state in bare figure s that th e Chase contains upwards of 25 square mile s is to c onve y but a faint ide a o fthe contrast afforde d by such a swee p of open c ountry afte r on e has e xpe rience d the r e more c rampe d c onditions Of the ne ighbouring towns . Fo mil afte r mile the v isitor may go plunging on into solitude more and more pro found into sce nes eve r chan ging in their tone and type of natural be auty . As he e nte rs into the sile nce and solitude of the moors the Spirit ofthe place will appe al to him as it did to those anchorites e H e be s e who of old made the Chase the ir abod . will tartl d in Spite of himself at the rush of so me black-c oc k that rise s e xp lo e He se siv ely from the he athe r at his f et . will find him lf taking a fre sh inte re st in the bassoon ing bee homeward bound to 2 6 LIGHT AND SHADE ON

e some cottage hive . If h have a companion he will findhis voice unc onsc iously lowe red as though he we re e nte ring the vaulte d l e ofso e e e sti ln ss m gr at cath dral . ’ As the travelle r re sts by Hangman s Oak ne ar the he ad ofthe idyllic She rbrook Valle y he will re alize how this gre at lon eli ne ss has in the past appe aled to some whose inte ntions we re le ss s f e e r H e pe ace able than tho e o th anchorit o student of nature . may we ll find himse lf in imagination back in those turbule nt times s e e the o e e e e the s e se that u h r d in f urt nth c ntury, wh n hill , d n ly o e e o es ee s fo e o e mise en 302716 for c v r d by f r t tr , a f rd d an appr priat e e s of ole e o n ot o e s e d d vi nc wr ught , by highway r bb r , but by w althy le e the e of squire s and law ss and arrogant nobl s. Amid solitud ese e s e o out e e s o e th e o e o th glad th y f ught th ir f ud , and v r wh l c untry side e stablishe d a state of anarc hy that for we ll-nigh a c e ntury

e the of . oc de fie d suppre ssion . Ev n in days He nry VII Cann k se was e e of - o n o oc e Cha a c ntr high b rn anarchy, with l al Parliam nt — — as in the case of Dartmoor to suppre ss viole nce or to c of o e wa the s e e compensate the vi tims utrage . Tixall H ath s c n of e s ece of ess e ss ii— is— we are to e i a charact ri tic pi lawl n , that cr d t r e e e o a sto y pr s rv d in family traditi n . For some ge ne rations there had been a good de al of se cre t antagonism be twee n the Chetwyn ds of Ingestre an d th e an cie nt o e e house ofStanle y . B th Sir William Ch twynd and Sir Humphr y e e e of the o se o of the l e Stanl y w r h u h ld King, Sir Wil iam b ing a e e Us e to his es re oc G ntl man h r Maj ty, and Sir Humph y cupying th e s s e os of t e To less di tingui h d p t a knight in h guard . Sir Hum hre the e e e c e c o e to his was so c e of rr p y, pr c d n ac rd d rival a ur i ita o o o be e o e e ff c ti n that c uld nly r m v d by a ing that rival himself . To en d so s the s o he e e e o hi that , run t ry, inv igl d Ch twynd fr m s house by me ans of a bogus le tte r that purporte d to be an invita ’ t e tion o a n ighbour s se at .

li oo the . e he set out Sir Wil am t k bait Unatt nded , and, e - oss e was s e e es e wh n half way acr Tixall H ath, p dily d patch d by f e e en The e e w the swords o tw nty arm d m . d d as pe rpe trate d in the ese e of a e who e out pr nc Sir Humphrey St nl y, gav it that he happe ne d to be passing as he was going a-hunting Lady Che twynd a- e i — for s e she e e e e went b gg ng the ju tic n v r r c ive d. So a so e e the o e s e s o e of ss n to his , l , w r Wr tt l y , R b rt E i g n and

e s the s o e s o s o c . e h ir , Hilary , and many th r in c n tant c nfli t He r ’ ’ they laid sie ge to each other s manors drove off their e nemies

2 8 LIGHT AND SHADE ON

e s his e es on s s as s and e he a the f a t y uch view thi , th n , if h ve mind , ma to the es oft e y hark him back antiquiti h Chase . In his ramble he will not infre que ntly and une xpec te dly come o s a e s r On of the os acr s nci nt barrow o fune ral mounds. e m t intere sting of the se will be found c lose to the e ntrance to She r brook Valle y on the Milford Side o f the old Roman c art track . Th e o pe ning of this bury afforde d a re markable instanc e of h e c o o of o o e c t nfirmati n ral traditi n by mod rn re se ar h . Such tradition had fro m time imme morial de scribe d the Milfo rd bury as the grave of thre e Kings slain in a gre at battle th f e e o fo ught on the spot . At e base o the mound w r f und e e se e s c e s of o e s s o n thr parat and di tin t lay r human b n , all h wi g th e ac tio n of fire and surro unded by a few coarse fragments of f is e s o e . AS o r o o the i o anci nt Briti h p tt ry c nfi mat ry trad ti n , it

“ of ou se o e o n o o e e s e e o c r n t w rthy that th r r main w r f und , and that apparently n o pre vious disturbance of the tumulus had take n place . He re those three warriors found the slee p that lies among

e o e s and s e as the c e ries o e . th l n ly hill , lay undi turb d ntu r ll d by ’ An oldwive s tale alone ke pt their me mory gre e n a he athe r-c ove re d t e e e wayside mound alone marke d he place whe r th y fell . Sur ly e e is so e o e s o e e for a e e s e th r m c mp n ati n h r b ttl , murd r , and udd n o s c e vi s we e for e e c e de ath . Fr m all u h l may w ll pray d liv ran ; but if suc h we re to be th e e n dit we re re stful to the so ul to picture o as s e e to lie e the c e some suc h sp t thi wh r in . Th n might hildr n Of o e s e e o e Of make nosegays wild fl w r gath r d fr m our grav and, ’ s e e s to e c e s c e the s o winte r night , t ll afr h th ir hildr n hildr n t ry o e the y the mselve s had had from the ir fathe rs be f re th m . e e e too Of o e e o e e e We find vid nc , , an antiquity m r r m t v n than s of the se the that of the Milford bury . In many part Cha visito r may well be puzzle d by th e presence of rounde d granite e s e e oe s n ot e e o the eo o boulde rs ; puzzl d , inc granit d nt r int g l gy

On e s c o e e o c so e of the Chase . u h b uld r n ar Cann ck Chur h r ly s o Erde swic k who 1593 pe rple xe d th e county hi t rian , , writing in , c e e s e was oblige d to let its origin and significan r main a my t ry .

e the e . oss Thanks to th e labours ofMr . H . G . Mantl and lat Dr Cr a ke of rm the s e h s n ow e e so e . y, Bi ingham , my t ry b n lv d on e of ese o e s s se e As we rest upon th b uld r , thu parat d by it a e bed the o s o e t many mile s from s n tiv , imaginati n will fa hi n y As far as a h s o is anothe r picture of Cannock Chase . hum n i t ry OCK CANN CHASE . 2 9

o o e c ncerned, that b uld r takes us straight away into the Back o fBeyond to the time whe n the Chase was the be d of an Arctic e se a e e sea. Ov r that th r floate d ice bergs de tache d fro m the glac ie rs o f is n ow the e s Of the e s e what Lak Di trict, Ar nig , n ar Bala , and o f the G fe o n i s of l on e of e c e e s ri f l m u ta n Ga loway . On th se i b rg s o e was c Its e l thi glacial b uld r arried . icy cradl slowly me te d the o se e to the f t e the and r ck it lf plung d bottom o he sea. Th n ocean gradually re ce de d ; forest tree s appe are d whe re se a-wee d e e o to e c e of me n e s o e s had b n w nt wav , and a wild ra mad thi f r t

" - e e . As e es sse e the e o s of c on th ir hom c nturi pa d, whil l gi n all e o e e e as et k o the ese s es qu ring R m w r y un n wn in land , th avag gradually e volve d for the mselves a religion and ordaine d an Arc h e e its es o ese e s o u es o . s Dr id to pr id v r rit And am ng th v ry hill ,

o has s e s h s o e . traditi n it , thi High Pri t had i ab d was the c o e le Such hildh od ofCannoc k Chase . Aft r a turbu nt e c men s e ofas l s s o middle lif , during whi h much that p ak Eng i h hi t ry sac e a its es the oo has se le was tran t d mid g lad , grand m rland tt d o s ol a e But she s has e co e for all down int taid d g . till a kindly w l m of us mode ms who c ome to her to re ne w he alth and take a fre sh f e le ase ofthe joy o lif . N o atte mpt has bee n made he re to se t forth in detail all the natural be auties and relic s of antiquity that await the e xplore r e e he as e es to se e o f the Chase . It has b n assume d that h y and ’ such knowle dge of his c ountry s past as will give him an unde r e r If he e e se e he l be e e standing h a t . hav th , th n wil w ll r paid by " “ ’ th e most casual v isit to gre at Arde n s e lde st child . Bu R n n arSt ff : Pre or P -R man ? ry i g, e a ord ost o

BY . J L. CHERRY .

T a conference of archaological societies held in 1901 a committee was appointed to pre pare a scheme for a sys tematic record ofancie nt de fe nsive earthworks andfortified s r s was o osed a e e s e o s lass enclo u e . It pr p th t d f n iv w rk be c ified, so far as i t u the ol o ea s m gh be, nder f l wing h d

r a ac e ss e re as c s A. Fo tresses p rtly in c ibl , by on of pre ipice , fs or a io a l e d ar al a s clif , w ter, addit n l y d fende by tifici b nk

or walls. B or e on - o s a s o own . F tress s hill t p with artifici l defence , fll i g the natural line ofthe hill s al on o ess a ra Or, though u u ly high gr und , l dependent on n tu l

slopes for prote ction . l or o e e e os e s r s 0. Rectangu ar th r simpl ncl ur , including fo t o- and towns o f the Roman British period . or o of ou i r l or D . F ts consisting nly a m nt w th enci c ing ditch

E r ed o n s e e or a a ra . Fo tifi m u t , ith r artificial p rtly n tu l, with a es e c o t or ai e o or r tr c of an attach d ur b l y, r of two mo e

such courts. s a o s s as o in s a dis Home te d m at , uch ab und ome lowl nd tricts o sis i ofs e e osu es or e o art cial , c n t ng impl ncl r f m d int ifi

islands by wate r mo ats. e o e of es ea Works which fall und r n n th e h dings.

IT G A THE NAME : S ORIGIN AND SI NIFIC NCE .

R the s e of s e o s e the ea Bury ing, ubj ct thi pap r, c me und r h ding “ i n f is o . s o e o a s D . Its name Sax n Bury many deriv tive ” i s es e of e e s e e and from burh , wh ch ignifi a plac r fug , a h lt r ; before we enter on the wide r fie ld of e nquiry we may linger for of a l r a few moments in the bypath verb l arche o ogy. Whethe BU G : OR O - O 1 RY RIN , NEAR STAFFORD PRE P ST R MAN 3 the derivatives of burh be bury or burg or borough ” or bu o or o or o o e the s e rr w barr w b rr w , th y all have am m a i and so e f e n e b e n ng , m O the m have been us d i terchang a ly. To de fine borough as a town having a co rporation (as J ohnson oes is suffi e for os ses es e r d ), in ci nt , in m t ca plac nam d Bu y or i as suf e e or al so ca e e a se hav ng bury a fix, w r igin ly ll d b c u t e e o To s e e o e t the hey w r f rtified places of re fuge . h lt r and pr t c re mains ofthe de ad until the trumpe t shall sound we bury ’ ” e . s e s ero o Re artus the o th m Say Carlyl h in Sart r s , t mb is now my ine xpugnable fortre ss yet a little while and we shall ’ ” all e e e e our o e s l sc e e us m t th r , and M th r bosom wil r n all . Sir il e e o s the c of he 17th e o e W l iam T mpl t ward lose t c ntury wr t , Possession o f land was the original right of elec tion among the o o s o s e e e e to sit as e e e osse ssed c mm n , and burr w w r ntitl d th y w r p ” f c e e e e rs o s. e on e of the e s e rtain tract Nathani l Gr w , arli t m mb “ of the o oc e o e o of e e e s us R yal S i ty and a c nt mp rary T mpl , giv , It is his e to se es as the c o e s do e natur dig him lf buri n y , whil Sir ” o s o n e s e of e of o the se se Th ma Br w , in t ad Sp aking a barr w , in n of se u c o s s he saw as n as se e o o s a p l hral m und, ay ma y v n b rr w ” - i on s . o e s for se s Sali bury plain Rabbit burr w sp ak it lf, but it n ot so ge ne rally kn own that the le e ward Side ofa he dge is a bur row that a hurdle with plaite d straw for the prote ction oflambs is r o - e e who s c e was a bu r w hurdl that Carlyl , in u h a matt r a law o se s s o e se es e o i or s unt him lf, ay burr w th m lv wh n rd nary m tal would write bury that it is good old English to say the is s the o o fthe o me n use ouse s mind hut up in bor ugh b dy that h , "

s s e to o or s e e o th e o h . hill , and uch lik burr w h lt r fr m n rt wind Bury is sometime s applie d in old docume nts to moate d home s e s of e e are s e s Litt wood c o usse t ad , which th r in tanc at y , A t n Tr ll , e o e a o Rodbaston o o Chartl y . C pp nh ll , Haught n , , Pillat n , and Sand n , l f s l on s o o e s al o . in the Sta f rd di trict Fina ly, thi p int , a h m ly illu tra tion will occur to some ofour re aders within a few mile s ofStafford is a picture sque spot bearing the not ove r-picturesque name of e s s o be Tinkerburrow. Local printers will hav it that thi h uld in kerborou h e are not os e o e se S pelt T g th y p itiv ly wr ng, b cau , we e see o o s the s e e or l as hav n , b th w rd had am m aning iginal y ; but the little re cesses Scoope d out of the soft re d sandstone we re he o of e e s e e o ss o e sure ly t w rk trav lling tink r , or w r c mpa i nat ly e as e e s for e e r e o s s e mad sh lt r th m and th ir f i nd Aut lycu , that napp r ” ri up of unconsidered t fles. 32 G O ! BURY RIN , NEAR STAFF RD

C O OF DES RIPTI N THE EARTHWORK .

But to our the me : Bury Ring occ upies a slight e le vation o e the s o c o o i e o o ab v urr unding untry, ab ut a m l bey nd Staff rd i t s e . The e s se e c e s th e or is e ou Ca tl ar a v n a r , and f t irr gular in e it e 50 t e e 158 . s e s is 2 s an d s s lin In id , l ngth yard i gr at t width

s. The o is so e e s 30 e e e e is not c on yard m at in m plac f t d p, but it tinuous o the e e e e wa e e r und ntir ar a . Th re s an ntranc gate at e e e n d the a on ese e s s oo h as e e ith r , and l nd which th gat way t d n v r ee e h O e o o i fc o s e e b n disturbe d . W p t Sh w that this fact s O n id rabl significanc e in re lation to th e age in which the work was con s truc te d for o as we e see e s o ; alth ugh , hav n , Bury Ring b ar a Sax n e n nam it by o me ans follows that its builde rs we re Saxon . ri e s s is e e o s to P ncipal Windl , F ay , It v ry dang r u lay down laws about matte rs which have bee n so imperfe ctly e s e e e e on e e e to s se inv tigat d at pr s nt . P rhaps may v ntur urmi that there we re thre e c lasses o f e arthworks more or le ss o ve r lapping on e anothe r [in their pe riods! : there was the strongly or e e e as c e of e o e e e f tifi d hill camp int nd d a pla r s rt in an m rg ncy , n ot as c of was c e to the but a pla e habitation . It a pla which s of the e s e oo e se e s e ie s inhabitant vall y b t k th m lv , with th ir famil e e s e c e or e e e e e es and th ir h rd , wh n atta k d [ thr at n d] by n mi , but a e e ser e for s c oc c s o s e s on c o of its plac r v d u h a i n and p rhap , a c unt e ess or of e s e e e for bl akn want wat r , un uitabl and unint nd d any wa e e o c e o t o . e e e s the l s o pr tra t d ccupa i n Th n th r vi lag , urr und d low s e s of e use for oses of e e e by bank and ditch , littl purp d f nc , s se o e e s e e was ss but ub rving th r nd ; and , finally, th r a third cla e e e c se the o c e th e w e s th e e e wh r , b au l cal limat , at r upply, and g n ral o o o o s e e o e the o was so t p graphical c nditi n w r fav urabl , t wn al a

c se e the oses o of o o ess . amp, and rv d purp b th habitati n and a f rtr The term British camp should be dropped as misle ading and that of re - o e o o e e o s us to ess p R man arthw rk ad pt d, Sinc it c mmit l the o e for e e c an e e o s o than th r, th r b littl d ubt that in thi c untry, e so e of e se o s e e o ll c on as ce rtainly in Franc , m th w rk w r rigina y is e e e in structe d in the Neolithic age . It g ne rally r cognis d by esti ators is oss e to ss e in o v g that it imp ibl a ign any dat , an rdinary a e to the e of the eo e o chronologic l mann r , b ginning N lithic p ri d ; e s h as ee s se so o es ten thousand y ar b n urmi d by me auth riti , and or is or e r that may be taken f what it w th . Th most t ustworthy PRE OR POST-ROMAN 33 data as to age are those derived from objects obtained by exca va o an d e e ti n, v n then we are faced with difficulties arising out o u o sa e s e r e of the cc pati n on the m it by diffe ent rac s. Old Sarurn , for was o -R example, which pr bably pre oman in its inception, was e ai e a s a o or ess a Sa a or a c rt nly aft rw rd R man f tr , xon burh , N m n ” s o e a es a l trongh ld, and a Medi v l city. (William of Malm bury actu l y r ers to old ar . S as S carburh or r . s o ef um , rock fo t ) Thi c ndition s ma als ll stra e a ea er o of thing y o be i u t d by an inst nce much n r h me. a ear o was re - as we are li d If Bury B nk, n St ne, p Roman , inc ne e ie e was a s the s of a ac l Wul ere to b l v , it l o ite a p l e bui t by p h , o e r at the end 7th ce and the n tabl King of Me cia , of the ntury, excavations might therefore bring to light both British and Saxon r emains.

PRE-ROMAN OR POST-ROMAN

We take it that Bury Ring is one of the e mergency s r o s es ri ri a e t ongh ld d c bed by P ncip l Windle . It is w ll known that the chie f distinction be twe e n pre-Roman and Roman earth s is fo er are a o work , that the rrn lm st invariably irregular in their o li es c o a o or a the s se ut n , whi h foll w the natur l c nf m tion of plot le cte d e d s of R a s are a , whil the groun plan the om n camp ne rly all e u a s e s so s r ctang l r or circular. Thi rul i con tant and the ex cep tion s are so few as to make out a primdfacie case for the greater a of r R and a te ntiquity Bu y ing, that c s e is suppor d by the fact , alr a e i t at the mo t n t ar e o l e dy m nt oned, h a is o c ri d c mp etely rou the s e but a has e e n e as an an xe the nd it , road b l ft ne to gate It is s e s a ri s e s of ur way. ur ly obviou th t had the o ginal de ign r B y Ring k nown how to bridge a moat by means of a lift-bridge or a sliding platform they would have e ncircled the camp with a moat a was e e t and r e for s e in e e ofa th t p rf c unb ok n, the te p n r fac con ’ tinuous moat would not only have added greatly to the garrison s powe r of resistance but would have been especially se rviceable the e r as the a s s a i on at gat ways ; whe e , with g teway t nd ng the same le ve l in relation to both the garrison andthe attacking force the y would be so much the we akest part of the de fence as to invite the assailants to avoid the stiff climb and delive r the ir assault e s s us er ear had the on the gat ways. It eem to p fectly cl that defende rs known of any method of spanning an unbroken moat by a movable bridge both moat and bridge would have been D “ 34 BURY RING, NEAR STAFFORD .

a d. e e e e e o is e o was dopte The inf r nc th r f re , that this arthw rk constructed by a people who did not know how to make a sliding or n or l - e e e e e to e e platf m a ift bridg , and th r for we re compell d l av ou is e e the gr nd und turb d at the gat ways. a s e o n ot o u e th e e W iving a id , th ugh abs l t ly ignoring, Sp cula t o o eo i we are o e o e o s o i n ab ut N l thic man , f rc d t th c nclu i n that the c amp has an antiquity of at le ast ye ars and was the o of the ri e o is e e o e o s w rk t b wh m it conv ni nt t call Anci nt Brit n , is to sa the s who e o e o e e or that y, Brit cam v r fr m ith r Gaul what we n ow B — e c . the o e call Ce ntral Germany abo ut 300 ye ars . p pl who occupie d the south and midland portions of the island whe n Julius Ce sar invade d th e country in 55 and the Empe ror s the 4 rd e of ur e ra e o e e o Claudiu in 3 y ar o . W kn w v ry littl ab ut s e for e we are e e to e s c on thi trib , and that littl ind bt d Pyth a , a temporary ofAristo tle and a cle ve r navigator who twic e c onduc te d e xpeditions to Britain on be half of c e rtain me rc hants of Massilia now e to ie o e s c s se s o 340 B . C d r ( Mar ill ) ab ut an b f n tic by Ta itu , Ostoriu is n to our ose to o o s. ot e ss Strab , and It n ce ary purp g into minute de tails regarding them : it is sufficie nt to say that the y we re savages ofa type similar to that ofth e N ew Z e alande rs of or s s a o e o e e e e e s o fifty ixty year g , b f r th y w r tak n in hand by Bi h p c Se , e e the s h s o e to o e lwyn xc pting that Brit , w ile a cu t m d ff r human c r e are n o o e ee s as e e so e sa ific s t pr v d to have b n cannibal , w r m e e is e ri ofthe neighbouring trib s to the north of th m . What mat al to our purpose is that be yond some slabs ofunhe wn stone standing n e s s ose to be upon rude uprights o Dartmoor str am , and upp d e o of e ri o s e e is no e e c e e e th w rk Anci nt B t n , th r vid n what v r that these ancestors of our fellow-citizens of the Principality had the l e e of s oss e e e s ight st id a making a bridge . It i p ibl th y may hav

e s oss i e s and is all. es e e e corre s on thrown tr e acr r v r , that An t m d p dent se nds us the following note bearing upon this subj e ct Out e r s e o e es of 237 plans of British a thwork xamined at y ur r qu t , in no single instance have I found a ditch comple te ly surrounding

e the e a . e e o e ou the are a or unbrok n at ntr nce I think , th r f r , y are justified in concluding that the contrivance ofthe drawbridge

e o . s e e is s e was quite unk n own to th Ancient Brit n Thi b li f tr ngth of the e r s e as e e n e d by a conside ration hug ampart at Maid n C tl , o e e i s ro Dorset . This is pr bably a v ry lat Br ti h work, th wn up

was arr e e so . Fon n id to oppose Vespasian , by whom it c i d in p r n a ri i e it is o i s able though the l by nth ne entrance would prov , bv ou

6 3 BURY RING, NEAR STAFFORD : PRE OR POST ROMAN

O O O H THE C NCLUSI N UP N T E ARGUMENTS .

The conclusion ofthe whole matter is the re fore that Bury Ring is a re - o oss re - s r o p Roman w rk and p ibly a p hi to ic w rk, which might throw its date oforigin hack into the dim and distant past e s e e be fore th Briti h s ttle m nt .

A SUGGESTION .

Seeing how strong a presumption there is in favour of the re - o o of r s e o o s the p R man rigin Bu y , Ring, it ur ly f ll w that time has arrive d for testing the ac curacy ofthe conclusions he rein sub e of c ef l s e e e e o s We mitte d by m ans ar ul y up rint nd d xcavati n . ’ suggest that Lord Stafford s re pre sentatives be approache d with ’ a vie w to obtaining his lordship s sanction to the ope ning of the m e f o ff e ground by a com itt e o the N rth Sta ordshir Field Club . m n So e Sai ts of Staffordshire .

BY KARL CHERRY.

T has become the fashion with a ce rtain school of historians to tre at the early saints ofourland as persons whose lust for powe r and for monastic we alth was as ign oble as their e uli w cr d ty as contemptible. We are told that such of them as e e to be e e e s on o a o s happ n d laym n w r fanatic , wh m c n ni ation was confe rred as a re ward for the ir libe rality to lazy monks and fat o s r m na te ies. s us rst i ese a s and to e r It behove fi to exam ne th ch rge , l a n e in o a o of fo wh ther, our brief c mp ni nship with the Saints Sta f rd s e we e o e W - e e hir , hav t d al ith self se king Charlatans or with s lf sacrificin es i who e e r e or on g hero w th men degrad d th i r ligion, , the o r who e to es e s a a s c ntra y , gav W t rn Chri ti nity th t impul e to she o e s e s which w her pr ent place and powe r . es r s are r e we s a e e e ole If th e c itic ight , th n h ll xp ct to find, nr l d the a a n es i of are se in C lendar, m ny am wh ch, in point fact , ab nt

e e o . Ethelbald se e e o e o to the th r fr m , who chart r gav pr t cti n ai u ose r s es e s "of se u ess to the f thf l, and wh iche gave fr h m an u f ln ai to o o e o o as e es o e e F th Edgar, wh m m r than f rty m n t ri w d th ir e s e e Wulfrun a the sa t e e o of o e a o 6- xi t nc , in ly b n fact r W lv rh mpt n whe re are the names of th e ? In the c ase of the last-name d the re seems no re aso n why the honour should not have be en con ferre d but in that of the othe rs we do kn ow that their private l o e was not e o . The e s lif fr e fr m taint arly Church , impu ive th ugh sh ha e ee her e o- o s did not e e s e may v b n in h r w r hip, dir ct pray r to be addresse d to those who might be standing in n e ed of he r own Re uiescat in ace was the os she o e to the emo . q p m t c uld giv m f e al rs al e s at i s s r e so ries o th se du pe on iti who, t me , had t iv n hard afte r righteousness. e e e a s We are to se e was the fe of W r th y f natic , what e f ct their fanaticism upon hearts that were inflamed with lust of blood and with animal desire 8 O OF 3 S ME SAINTS STAFFORDSHIRE .

By their e xample andpersistent prece pt the fe rocity of their o was e e e e e f e was e e c untrymen mitigat d, r v r nc or wom n quick n d , and a n ew ide al was awaken e d by a n ew conce ption ofsocial o bli ation s—the eal f the e e who e ses o o . to o g id h m And, any n r ali the on e s to o s e how what Sax had be n , it i amazing b erv quickly his e e e o e r g n rati n cam to pass . Historians are agree d that the Saxon invaders of Britain e e os oo rs e s e e r e w r the m t bl dthi ty, ruthl s, and d prav d t ib that e e e e e e no v r inhabit d Europe . Th ir th ology recogn is d Sin but ” o a e e but e e e no i e o e . c w rdic , and r v r d v rtu c urag If, by any chanc , the e of e was s was as a a o he was lif a captiv pared, it f v ur that o s e to e e al l e c n ign d p rp tu s av ry . The most ele me ntary natural afe o s e e e u s e s o e Of ood e s f cti n w r xting i h d in a h w r bl , and family ti we re sacrifice d to the de mands of avarice and lust : incest was ri e amo e e s o s e the o e f ng th m, and th y old int lav ry on C ntin nt n ot o i own o n e e e e nly the r c u trym n , captur d in privat f ud, but the i e en of e own e n a o e e w f and childr th ir hous holds. O e S x n qu n acte d as a procuress of Saxon maide ns for contine ntal noble s ; e e e e too or too e o s n and, wh n childr n b cam hungry num r u , i fanti c was s e e th e o ide con id r d e natural and obvious re me dy . Th ir g ds e e s o s e e o s of e e s o be e se o w r mon tr u r fl cti n th mselv , t app a d nly e e e of e by human sacrifice s. Th ir h aven was to h e an lysium un nding e er e e the os e of s l n ale o the sk of d bauch y , wh r in pr p ct wil i g fr m ull an e e l e n n my fi l d the soul of the Saxon with prese t bliss. was the e the i ts of That , then , raw mat rial with which Sa n f s e to e al is e e o o Sta ford hir had d ; and, what v n m re imp rtant, t was er al o ose n s e e se es hat the mat i fr m which th Sai t wer , th m lv ,

e o o rs a and a al . e ee e v lved in the c u e of century h f Sur ly , it n d d some thing of fanaticism to drive into the he arts of suc h as the se the e e e ar e a We l m nt y but r volution ary notions of Christi nity . may sympathise almost with Charle magne whe n be de termine d that their kinsmen on the Continent should re ceive eithe r Christ or the sword . e e e s ? e is e e er W r they cr dulou Cr dulity a pur ly r lative t m, and the point whe re belief e nds and credulity begins de pends e ntirely upon the knowle dge Of natural cause s possesse d by an

- i a . s e sa s no ndividual , a nation , or Church The e old tim int had e i a e knowledge whatsoever of natural scienc . They l ved in an g when the whole ofChriste ndom accepte d as a fact the daily occ ur n so i r was o rs the e ce of miracles. Their le l teratu e c mp i ed in Bible, U F U SS . W L HAD AN D R FIN . 39

the M ssa and i a e - a a i l , the m r cl ridden lives of the e rly F thers. Not the r s a a e e e e e was s o Ch i ti n lon , but everyone b li v d h urr unded by

' Spirits who influence d for good or e vil the most trivial occurrences his Is s s of life . it urpri ing that their biographies have been e m broidere d with much that is crude and childish Ought we not to be surprised rathe r by the e xquisite beauty of many of these e ed m s the ru of e s ols r put iracle , and by t th th ir ymb i m, typifying, as o e e e and s e e e ? e so al it ft n did, t rnal piritual xperi nc P r n ly , I doubt whe ther the Anglo-Saxon saint was half so truly cre dulous as the o e r A e has s e o his e e e a m d n m rican , who bani h d fr m l m nt ry s oo s all oo s offable of e e o r es his ch l b k and fa ry , the whil he n u ish s Of n its soul on the product a lying a dpestilential press . And at worst the credulity ofthe pious saint was preferable to the cruelty

of the pagan savage .

WULFHAD A N D RUFIN . SS .

l The subj e ct ofSt . Berte in has been considered so e xhaustively a e o s e in pr vi u Study that , in our imaginary pilgrimag through w f he th c o e ss his c e on the s o t Sow. e e unty , will pa by ll bank W l n ot o e e e to e e the oo s e fo for shal , h w v r , hav l av w d n ar Sta f rd , we are o to s o e a s e e was o a g ing Darla t n , and in M rci n day , th r pr b bly wo es no break in the swampy forest between the t plac . e e on Wulfhe re the had H r , Bury Bank , king built him a of palac e where in was raise d a ve ritable brood saints. Fierce s e o Wulfhere was his was n ot the i and ma t rful th ugh , dom nant f e ce his o se o Ermenhilda e o . Sexbur a influ n in h u h ld , daught r St g , e To e o e te to s r re igne d h re as quee n . hav c nv r d Chri tianity a uler so turbule nt and he adstrong as he r husband was n o small achie ve o he se o the s o her me nt and alth ugh lap d fr m Faith , till , thr ugh e e he not o e e e his o s e e e e influ nc , nly r n w d v w but k pt th m, and h lp d s was the e her to carry out the gre at Work ofh er life . Thi xtirp a tion from his kingdo m of the last remnants of Saxon paganism and he r suc cess must have afforde d her some consolation for a State marriage that had de barred her from the quie tude of the

cloiste r . ’ The disappointment cause d by Wulfhere s temporary apostasy e of r d e was softened by the more e arnest attitud he chil r n . In e erbur a She e e l a e se l her daught r , W g , b held a r p ic of h r f in her a dRufin an a r ri s r h st sons Wulfh dan , e ge cu o ity conce ning the C ri , 0 O OF 4 S ME SAINTS STAFFORDSHIRE .

a r s was to os cle or o ere e cu io ity that fated c t her ar. F s on th cam the a tra er e s o o ed wful gedy of h life. The murder of h r sons wa f ll w ’ b the a al o ess Wulfhere s e i e s the s e y m niac c nf ion of v l g niu , de picabl er e - e W bode . Th n came the panic stricken re morse of the onc se -suflicient ar h s ea lf mon ch, i d th, and in the e nd the convent a a s she where lw y had longed to be . ’ It was he r e s o and re sh e her a s moth r c nvent , he e end d d y , o e e a her e e t gladdened by the kn wl dg th t , through influ nc , tha o e n ow s in the s a rs a a withered h m tood mid t of Ch i ti n, pe ceable , and contented people . ’ Me ntion of the murde r of Errnenhilda s sons brings us to the l d fin e f . of . Wu fha Ru th s o t account SS and , victim that ragedy The story of the de ed cannot now be trace d back beyond the

a ofthe e e . The r e o e e l tter part tw lfth c ntury Latin na rativ , h w v r, e se e the Monasticon of e is so pr rv d in P terborough, circum stantial that it is n ot unreasonable to infer that it was base d upon a e o e e n ot o e o w r cord much m r anci nt , if actually c nt mp rary ith

the se . r e o e we e Wulfhad murder it lf Fu th rm r , find that at that tim o e s has bee n e s s e was alre ady inv k d as a saint . Thi fact tabli h d beyond all doubt by the discove ry of a hymn invo king his p ro i n fl —e o of . he o le tection . It s written a y l af a MS in t B d ian Library

. and e ts are ee the (Bodley MSS . No exp r agr d that hand e a s writing is that oi th twelfth century . It reads s follow

s r e r a s a e a Gaude ti p egi in ignit M rci , e e i fiunt sacrificia In te, dum gr g a , er sumit ladium am strues aratur Pat g , j p , Wilfadus ro saa n s molatur , p I c ag u y , iferus al e a a ascen dit o W , t r Abr h m , [ ] in m ntem ,

arcit filio eti insontem. P prior , f t hic s ernis su emans e n s r s Regnum p , in p r g an glo io e. re r ei re c N os tue ma tir vere D p iose .

In the following lines I have trie d to convey an idea of the motifof this ancie nt andinteresting hymn W U F D A UF . SS . L HA N D R IN 41

’ ai ru se s of r i H l, b i d tem Me c a s kingly tree ! lre is the e e e for ee A ady pil pr par d th . h e e e e s e e W il Sacrific Supr m i b ing mad , ee e s hi e On th thy fath r draw s ruthl ss blade . s e of s o the to i In t ad I aac , th u lamb k ll , For s n ew e thi Abraham who climbs th hill . ’ Earth s pomp is dross ; e te rnal glory thine ! a us an d e r s s r e Gu rd , ch i h u , Marty divin

one the s r o ea sc r s At time to y c uld be r d, in ibed in ver e beneath the Cloiste r win dows at Pete rborough but more de taile d is the a o n t Latin cc u t in he Mon asticon . his s ulfher s e e At bapti m, W e had ol mnly vow d to de stroy the o s his o and be e e t e e t id l in kingd m, r n wed h pl dge at he altar whe n he marrie d Ermenhilda. But in the distraction of war and the e s s of the ase God was o o e in pl a ure ch f rg tt n , and e ve n his wn o so s e ai e se . H is e Werbur a o n r m n d unbapti d daught r, g , th ugh o ed e to ris was O e of e s e to We rb l ng d icat d Ch t , an bj ct d ir ode , a of - e the e o n se t c pagan ill r pute, and chi f c u llor in he ourt of the a of a r an d the c e o st the o rs King, man me n bi th hi f am ng id late of Me rcia . ’ h e Werbode s Werbur a s an a the W n ought g h d in marri ge, w s e e hi so s e o s he n K a s s e r t ee s . ing pl a d, n w r fu i u , and Qu di tracte d The young men thre ate ne d him with instant de ath did he presume a of e c e to offend ag in . All which did We rbode r ive with mee kn e ss to hide es o c o e his e r his e . H and r ignati n , nt nt in h a t tim e had e lost ground but he still had the ar ofthe King . a e to ss on h e was st It c m pa e day , w il Chad praying by a ream ea his el a e im s e es n r c l , that a h rt , with quiv ring l b and br athl s o the ase o the e e o e the e e s ofthe com fr m ch , plunged int wat r b f r y

e . s e e e an d e o e passionat saint And Chad h lt r d it, plac d a r p about

e led o o s to r e . its n ck, and it int the f re t g az l e e Wulfhad e e s e e Hard y had he r turn d than , h at d and di ord r d, “

c e as er the eas fled. the approa h d him, king whith b t had Am I e e ofthe as e the o o his k pe r hart k d h ly man , making play up n Ye t h o is nis of the e ec o e words . , t r ugh th mi try hart, hav I b m The r the o the guide of thy salvation . ha t bathing in f untain

f adoweth for e the le v er of o s . For s oresh the h ly bapti m , aith t the e - o s so e the te xt As the har pan teth after wat r br ok , pant th ’ Wulfhad a a s e my soul after thee, O God. To which m de n w r 2 O E S OF 4 S M AINTS STAFFORDSHIRE .

The things you tell me would be more likely to work faith in me t ” if he hart we re to ap p e ar in answe r to your p raye r . e did d os e se a e an d th e e Th n Cha p r trat him lf in pr y r , thick t s d o e r e d an be o the was s di e e . ti r , , h ld, hart tan ng b f r th m And the s Wulf d a n s c e h a and o se . int i tru t d , an n bapti d him

Wulfhadbe too k him home and told his bro the r Rufin that he o a the o e e o ec e ris . so s had b m a Ch tian I , al , id th r, hav l ng f b ” o s o ad. wishe d or aptism . I will g ee k h ly Ch We rbode o e e a e se to was , h w v r , had m d him lf privy all that he n m the oo . e e o e he so out t o hi af t Wh r f r , ught Ki g and t ld that o me n e co e s a s e at o e y ung had b m Chri ti n , and w re that m m nt worshipping with the man calle d Chad . The n the Kin g in ange r set out for the cell but Ermenhilda implore d Werbode to haste n away and warn her sons of the ir ’ e s o c s he o se to do co en e fath r ap p r a h . Thi pr mi d but nt t d him se on e e o the o of the o o e u n lf with glanc thr ugh wind w rat ry , r t r ing to Wulfhere to re port that ' his sons obstin ate ly re fuse d to abandon the ir religion . Wulfhe re e a e urs o the o com , pal with ng r, b t int orat ry, and mande i the m to renounc e at once the Christ ; but Wulfhad an swere d him e no s to e the s or to ose the that th y had wi h br ak law , l fathe rly affe c tion Of one who himself had onc e ac c e pte d Christian ity but that n o torture that he could de vise would turn the m t fro m ChIiS . U o th ai s c i p n which e King str ghtway tru k off h s he ad . Rufin who see s to e e e e o on i s e , m hav b n m ti al and mpul iv , e c t e o e of i n fl His h h s o e e ed. whil la king m ral fibr br th r , tur d and e o e e s e s o e so fath r , h w v r , pur u d him and at Bur t n , n ar Sandon ,

the s or s s s e him so . t y ay , l w al The e is erbo de was sie z ed s que l Gre ek trage dy . W with mad ess on the o his s e a th s n Sp t, and in raving publi h d broad e tory f The ell e o s e he e o his c e . o e e rim King f dang r u ly ill , and wh n r c v r d

o e ou s e to his es o e . his bo dily he alth St . Chad al n c ld mini t r d p nd ncy So e s e Ermen hilda an d s o e e e , at l a t , urg d , at la t, br k n and p nit nt, he sought out the man ofGod. was s i the ss Wulfhe re e n ot a St . Chad ing ng Ma , and dar d pproach

n he e e ri e the s . . o e e k e u til had b n Sh v n by aint St Chad, h w v r, n w the e s the e os the what King desir d, and rai ing figur , pr trate at

oo e his o ess o e him o oo out o a d r, h ard c nf i n and bad g r t id l try t e a from h l nd .

O 44 S ME SAINTS OF STAFFORDSHIRE .

l al a d e e s s by on y one me ay, andh r tirno was largely d v oted to ati f in for She u y g her craving exhausting and painful prayer. wo ld e ai an d o e i in a o r m n in church all night w uld r cite da ly, dditi n to s a o s fi s the o e s r ma the u u l m na tic of ce , wh le of th P alte , re ining her es is sa the e w . on kne , it id, until labour of lov as done To my unchastened mind it seems th at she might have be e n much more se o e s e o u fully empl y d ; but the story i probably a pious exagg rati n . Were any woman to re main on her knees while she recited the w the sal h o e bursitis atella; hole of P ter, s e would pr bably suff r from p so a as to e cutely pre ve nt h r kneeling at all.

. rbur a e e n l . St We g lived to an advanc d ag a d then, ike St a and ers r e e o of her end. She Ch d oth , expe i nc d a premoniti n there fore retire d to Trentham whe re she passe d away peacefully f e 99 o u . on the third F br ary, 6 e s w s e o as Her body , at her own r que t, a tak n t the mon tery ! had e a u a e ar She found d at H nb ry , where it rem in d until the ye

708. was e s e the e of Coelred the It th n di inte rr d in pres nce , King ofMe andwas e to es er t e c o rse er rcia , carri d Ch t . In h u of time th e was e o e e s s m e er cted v r the r lic a tately church , which ulti at ly e a e c e we o to-da b c m the ath dral kn w y. for e 1 0 we a her e s e n re In a record the y ar 1 8 , re d of r lic b i g car i d through Cheste r in orde r to quell a raging fire which had baffle d all ar e o s c o r the e n ordin y m th d of extin ti n . Du ing r ign of He ry

s e was s s e a r . VIII . the hrin desecrated and the relic catt red b oad What re mained of the shrine was converte d into the throne that is e is a e use d by th bishops of Cheste r at the present day . It dorn d with sculptures of the Kings of Me rcia but probably the fabric was not erecte d until the close ofthe 15th ce ntury.

ST. S EXW ULF.

The year 675 was memorable in the history ofthe see of Lich é s o or was s field . Archbi h p Theod e re olved that the unwieldy ol of e a ul be s di e diocese, occupying the wh e M rci , Sho d ub vid d s o was r so v a s o mai as Win frid, the bi h p, e l ed th t thing Sh uld re n

“ o w s the o O os and they were . Theod re a not man to bro k pp ition, ' e se In in the year 675 be formally depose d Winfrid from th e .

aff rds r . his place he appointed another of our Saints of St o hi e , St ST. SEXWULF . 45

Sexwulf founded the gre at abbe y of Medeshamp ste ad (now ro and his e a Peterbo ugh), xtraordin ry activities throughout the of the s arn for " o o r of c o whole dioce e e ed him the h n u an nisation . in the s a os a e s And, truth , epi cop cy in th e days w s ev n le s of a s e a is - inecur th n it to day . s o s was o a t a a o s o Fir t and f remo t, it blig tory h t m ny h ur , b th

‘ da and n s e in a a n e e man by y ight, hould be Sp nt pr yer. Ag i , v ry trained to the priesthood was compelled to practice some kind s w of manual labour . Thi as a duty imposed on the priest while s is n his a o an d on s s o e n uperv i g vill ge fl ck, the bishop whil t g v rni g a di ese o e one th s of a o e ofthe oc m r than third e ize Engl nd . S m e o i t f l e o he e a e o . o the o cl rgy , f ll w ng x mpl St Paul, f l owed m r humble a s o e s o e a e e e e al rs s cr ft th r , m r cultiv t d , nrich d th ir ta with chalice and e s o o s e als and e e re s pat n wr ught in preci u m t , add d to th ir libra i ri e s manusc pts mbelli hed with ex quisitely finishe d illuminations. s n for m o e th ' et was o e St . Dun ta , exa ple, w rk d in all e m als and , m r

r a e r e s o a s . i o ove , mak r of chu ch b ll and rg n . St Wilfr d wr te the o os e s ers o on e an d ese f ur G p l in lett of g ld a purpl ground, pr nted t the u the wulf the o R . s ofSex them ch rch at ipon In day , dignity u was e o e o of labo r som thing m r than a political catchw rd . H e e e e and s o Sp nt much tim in t aching alm giving, and m re

se i the e se . s of o a s o .O o till, c ur , in the dmini trati n di c Further was e o e h e an al e of the a . T rs mor , ex ted m mb r judici ry travelle of all nations and to the eccle siastic with a grievance he was by re e o s er sel sm o o law di ct d to c n id him a kin an and a pr tect r, a phrase whic h exactly e pitomise s the revolution that Christian ity o the l co s e was no e ras hadwr ught in nationa n ci nce . It mpty ph e . e oc es was es o e the a s the s o of a Wh n R h ter d tr y d by D ne , bi h p th t place sought refuge with Sexwulf who at once found him a church the ad e e . H e o as e s a at H r ford to k, I hav aid , an ctive part in o of il e a e the ie o s ministrati n the law, and d ig ntly tt nded ch f c urt c e hi s o e es e a the - ea s e - es of justi in s dioce e, m r p ci lly half y rly hir mot , e i his oflice he e s e e the e c of c a o wh re, by v rtue of , pr id d ov r b n h ld r e e hi s r o e c o e e him to s men . H r s upe i r du ati n nabl d in truct the a s s o al o e e to o o the ss o e ignor nt , and hi epi c p auth rity h lp d c ntr l pa i nat e o o s e e the ese and pre judic d ; m re imp rtant till , it ch ck d b tting tendency of litigants to appe al to the pagan practices of their forefathe rs. H is sacred calling gave him power also to arbitrate ove r family t a is a a s a feuds and to put an end to domes ic strife . Th t lw y 6 O OF 4 S ME SAINTS STAFFORDSHIRE .

’ thankless task an d it says muc h for Sexwulfs fo rce of characte r o e e es be s e es that, far fr m making n mi , in pir d that warm t and most re ve ring form of affe ction that could e xp ress itself only in the e of o sa rit can ni tion .

ST . KENELM .

Sex lf we . wu e se e e o o as e e In St hav en th p rs nificati n , it w r , ofthe c laim made by the Church to p rote c t t h e wido w and fathe r e ss wh are e ose o ffl c e r s ess . l , and all th in any way a i t d o di tr d In the c anonisation ofour n e xt Saint we re c ognise the be autiful com e e Of a sen e a e the u o n an d e ul pl m nt th t tim nt , n m ly , f ll , l vi g , grat f apprec iation by the Christian Churc h of its indebte dn e ss to the u o s o s m s r of The rue ofthe e nc n ci u ini t y Childhood. c lty infanticid has e c e to the of e giv n pla Cult th Child . Ken e w . hn as th e son of K enul h of e an dwas St p , King M rcia , o se e e s of a e e the e 8 19 he s c ee e to nly v n y ar g wh n , in y ar , u c d d ’ th e o e . The c hi s s s e the ri ess uen dreda was a thr n ld i t r, P nc Q , p o e a his n u re i s di . en d da s e to the on e p nt d guar a Q a pir d thr , and she wo uld have made a wo rthy mate for on e of the wicke d uncles

e oss b n o - on The es in that path tic and p i ly A gl Sax drama, Bab ” the oo - . e c o s S he so e he r cc i in W d V ry auti u ly und d guard an , Askbert who o onse e t e o e e n e o th o . , pr mptly c nt d r m v child at c e fo s e e e is e o al e c ow At Cl nt , in Sta f rd hir , th r a m ad w c l d c e e e en e of o n a- Askbert ba h , and thith r, und r pr t c g i g hunting, e ce his e so n he i e t e l e e . s t out w h nti d litt v r ig At la t , ch ld , tir d ith e Of the e s e e e e a e e w e e o Askbe rt h at day , f ll a l p b n ath tr ; h r up n ,

e to e The c e e o e and c c . o o b gan dig a grav hild , h w v r , w k , a rding to the e e e c e is in n a ou n to l g nd, x laim d, It vai th t y thi k kill ” me e e s be s o e s o in o en e eo h r I hall lain in an th r p t , t k wh r f, and ” he s s c in o the o e o d see s rod osso thru t a ti k t gr und, b h l , thi bl m . Askbe rt e n da n e d b s is a Of the o s , quit u u t y thi d p l y miracul u (a fac t that mars the artistic value of the story by its inconsiste ncy n n a e oo the bo at his o d le d to a o e with huma tur )t k y w r , him n th r d an e the bo e s o e e ade d d . p t , b h him, buri dy in a thick t The legend that asc ribes the finding ofthe body to the guidance of a ray of heave nly light is n e ithe r instructive n or suggestive . ne e s for us not in e The re al significance of St . Ke lm li the mann r of h s ea or in a s r s a s of the e of i d th , the f nta tic ci cum t nce r covery MOD EN N A . ST. W 47

his o the a c en b dy , but in f ct that a hild should have be canonise d all e so e e e sc e o s e at by a rac r c ntly r u d fr m barbari m . A chap l o e s the S e e the c was e e o e ccupi it wher hild murd r d, and f rm rly a st t e of e o e one a a u a crown d child ad rn d of the w lls.

T MOD WEN N A S . .

e e s e e e his e N arly two centuri b for St . K nelm met d ath at e sa s - e s Cl nt , a intly and trong mind d woman was pre iding ove r a c o e e w we nna n e a . s as Mod o e ose c o nv nt in Ir l nd Thi , wh nam ann t be o e o o N mitt d fr m any acc unt of the Saints of Staffordshire . ot o was her sso o the c ou e ben efice n t nly a ciati n with nty gr atly , but has e se se e s of s s l s it giv n ri to a ri biographie o hope es ly muddle d, an d so full of anachronisms as to se rve as a warning to future

es o s. o e es e a as we s al see s o the s e inv tigat r M r p ci lly, h l , h uld tud nt avoid taking on trust the unsupported statements of e ithe r Cap e or grav Dugdale . h e Modwen na was e o e her s o e Alfrid W il mpl y d in Iri h c nv nt , was s s ri e has e e c on tudying in her country . Thi p nc actually b n founde d with Alfre d the Gre at but in re ality he was the ille itimate s n o The e c e o Osw of m . g of y, King N rthu bria tim am for s o to e to his own o the s thi y ung man r turn c untry, and Iri h n di o e e s e to e him ese . Ki g wi h d mak a pr nt Fin ng, h w v r, that his t e as was the li e o a e on e of his r ury e mpty, King b th ly c mm nd d courtie rs to go rob so me church or convent and return with the o ee s he the s e the es pr c d , that , King, might p ed parting gu t in a manne r be fitting his estate . The conve nt selecte d by the nobleman was that which was o e dw d was e o g v rne d by Mo enna, an it pillaged in a mann r w rthy

oft e e o s Ofthe e . a e was an dis h most ch rished traditi n rac That r c , , f a fe arle ss race ; an dModwenna was the daughter o a king . All e ce of se s os ec of undaunte d by the turbul n wintry a , by the pr p t e r os e s n ers th e e in t rcourse with indifferent o h til tra g , and by p ril s e w her e o she o e Alfrid c oss in which h as placing r putati n , f llow d a r e e and o um t l she a U o th wat r across N rth bria , un i c me p n him at r was is Strenshall? Strenshall. Now whe e th ae n min Arch olo ical our al Mr. Cu In a paper In the g j , Syer g his or for a Streanshall o r cites Bishop Tanner as auth ity pl cing ,

Strenshall r s r So S af r s r . o i , in the Fo e t of A den in uth t fo d hi e Acc rd ng 8 S ME SAIN T F 4 O S O STAFFORDSHIRE . to him Strenshall se e ms to have been the place where Mod ’ we nna a e at the e inni of e built monast ry b g ng the ninth c ntury, or in e o s e she had e e the e s o , oth r w rd , wh n r ach d matur wi d m of As . Modwenn a e o e o her two hundre dth birthday . St b l ng d t the o of f e se t e s a . e e not to o h rder St B n dict and that M thu lah , t te e se e s to m nt m de mand some verification .

- . r o his e e e of o e e e Mr Ba ing G uld, in nt rtaining lif R b rt St ph n ’ has e of e Co e e ori e s . e Hawk r, trac d the gin Tann r blund r Tann r pi d fro m Dugdale ; Dugdale copie d from Capgrav e ; and Capgrav e o e o e e i e Con c hubran the e ofe e c pi d fr m an arli r l f by , prim f nd r in h s o H e he e n d of the r ee t i bi graphical muddle . lived at t thi t nth e r an dhe se c ess to s e ofM on rma of c ntu y, him lf had a c an Iri h lif y e who e e e e o e o t e N wry , r c iv d the v il fr m St . Patrick and di d ab ut h e 518 or o e a e o e o n was al e . dwen a y ar , m r than h f c ntury b f r St M or b n . Conchubran a i r the e ofthe tafo s re Mod , f m lia with fam S f rd hi wenna ass e the two s e e one the s e e so , um d that Saint w r and am p r n, with the re sult that Modwe nna is she wn to have live d through two complete ce nturies ! o e se to so Conc hubran n o Having c mmitt d him lf much, , ig rant ofthe e al o a ofStreanshall e ffo s e his r l c lity , plac d it in Sta rd hir , and e s e ss as ee e e o t e re ckl s gu h b n p rp tuate d t h prese nt day . The est on e al s s is was n e qu ion that natur ly a k , What Pri c Alfrid of Northumbria doing in the Forest of Arde n in Mercia And by what right could he bestow on the saint lands belonging to the King ofMe rcia These obj e ctions are my own the re ply - ’ w o e is . o s e al e e as s t th m Mr Baring G uld . What r ly happ n d thi he s o the e not afo s e Stre onshale t aint f und Princ , in St f rd hir , but at or Stre ansh alch was the e e of o , which anci nt nam Whitby in Y rk e e did not e e its se e e shir . That plac r ceiv pre nt nam until aft r its e s r a s 876 e ne w white d t uction by the D ne in , and aft r a and e on it e w Alf d e ow s s s. e e as ri t n had ari n ruin H r , th n , it that mad es o to Modwenn a e e he ce her in the o s r tituti n , and h r pla d fam u

e . double monast ry that had been founde d by St . Hilda

It was while re turning from a pilgrimage to Rome that St . odwenna e s s e se fo s e was M tabli hed h r lf in Sta f rd hir , and it with - - e o e Burton on Trent that the Saint was specially ass ciat d . Here she undoubte dly founde d the monaste ry which in afte r ye ars became so powe rful an d renowne d but e ven in this conne ction w o a r . h her biographers h ve blunde ed Camden , copied from sr M DWEN N . . O A 49

' Ca rav e s s o t e en n onc hubran at p g ver i n of h terprisi g C , wrote that o She d e i s a Andre ds e e Burt n, [ ] live , r t red, in an i land c lled y wh r

she was u e e f o e e he i e in . b ri d . It is tru that or s m tim s did l v St ' Andre w s Isle and founde d a religious house near Scealclifi or e l do n t s e a d S a scliff. e s o or e s es nt S al di p t th m lv in the Tre , n

Andreds is the o oss n ea al a s . y m dern Ardr a , n r S tco t The Staffordshire monaste ry founde d by Modwenn a was gre at o its o e the e s of e of fr m birth , and f rm d nucl u the pow rful Abbey o of o Burt n that was establishe d in 1004. In the Book Abingd n we e se of e e e Ulfric o u r ad A rvant King Eth lr d, nam d Sp t, b ilt the o an d e his r a es e o abbey at Burt n , gav it all pate n l tat w rth £700 the o f s s a e , and, that ratificati n o thi gift might tand he g v e e 300 a os of t e s o 5 a es andto King Eth lr d m n gold , o ach bi h p m n , l r c s o of a e e a o the n of A f i , Archbi h p C nt rbury, ov r and b ve, tow " e o Dumbl t n . o to ar - u Modwenna d at Acc rding Mr. B ing Go ld , die Long e o fortin in Ireland but he re that inve stigator is himself in rr r. H e r e e o o a and r mains we r translate d to Burton fr m Sc tl nd, that it was in Scotland she die d is made plain by the quaint ep itaph that was insc ribe d over her shrine at Burton

Ortum odwe e er a finem M nni dat Hib nia, Scoti ,

turn ulum e s as o . Anglia dat , dat D u tra p li Prirna e a sed o e a se a d dit vit m , m rt m terr cund ,

Et te rrain te rrae te rtia terra de dit . fe rt Lanfort e Conallae r r Au in quam t rra p ofe t , e Felix Burtonium virginis ossa t net .

ese l es o the e a s i d the Of th in , G ugh, ditor of C mden , uppl e following English version

e Modwen r a a a e Ireland gav bi th, Engl nd gr v ,

s o a e God her s s a sa . A Sc tl nd d ath , and oul h ll ve e st e the s o Th fir land lif , ec nd death did give, e e e The third in e arth her earthy parts r c iv . ’ e o e s o s Lan fortin tak s whom C nn l c untry own , ’ s And happy Burton holds the Virgin s bone .

be se e o e e a ra s a i the i and It will n , h w v r, th t in t n l t ng th rd fourth lines Gough had forgotten that the e xigencies of rhyme E 0 O OF 5 S ME SAINTS STAFFORDSHIRE .

i had pre v ously led him to transpose the orde r of the countries a e c s s has n ot e e e ee e o s n m d, a uriou lip that , I b li v , b n pr vi u ly note d . Anothe r intere sting vestige of Modwenn a was describe d in ' Gentleman s M z ine for e e 9 i c e a a e 178 . s o the g D c mb r , It ntain d in c c o ofPilaton e e r e o e e e an a unt Hall, n ar P nk idg , and the wh l l tt r is so e e s the e o e of ar so int r ting , and arly v lum s the pe riodical e fic of ess n o e e dif ult acc , that it may t p rhaps se m too discursive to quote the lette r in full

s e s e Pilaton l has e the Thi anci nt man ion , call d Ha l , b en re side nce for many ge ne rations of the re spec table family of the e o e s ese is o c e onl a Littl t n Baron t ; at pr nt it c upi d , in part y , by e the o e s e e o farm r , w rthy d c ndant , Sir Edward Littl t n , having e e e n ew o T ddesle il ton l i . P a r ct d a habitati n at y Park Hal , is sai soo be so e ols e as to e e to e it d, will n far d m i h d r duc it a m re - h s o o f e a o se . o i s f o s has e e e f rm h u Pl t , in hi t ry Sta f rd hir giv n s v ral ’ e s of e e s sea s n l e Per vi w g ntl man t but I do ot reco l ct Pilaton . haps this hint may induce some one ne ar th e spot to effe ct a drawing e o e its al e o or o e o e e s o b f r t rati n t tal d moliti n . A v rbal d cripti n would conve y no just ide a ofthe beauty and grande ur of the place s c o s al e e o e o be e s e o a ummary a c unt h l th r f r nly giv n , ab tract d fr m

o e l o e s. The al is s c o s s the m r particu ar n t h l , which pa i u , fill mind w ose e e s we e e of a c e os the ith th fix d id a nt rtain n i nt h pitality, e e e o e e s o s o e e l ngth n d ak n tabl , tr ngly upp rt d, having carri d many o of s sta oo e e al i o the a l ad ub ntial f d, and xhilarating, h thful l qu r ; arc he d stone chimne y whe re logs of solid oak have chee rfully ’ e the e s are all s s of o blaz d and butl r pantry, tanding mark c nvivial The s e e s e o ec i oo ee . o th m rth and g d ch r wain c t in carv d pan l , pr j t e s o e s oc e s o e ing h ad with l ng b ard and j und fac , plainly ann unc the spirit and disposition of those times ; but it see ms that all s was e e e is o e e o al for o e thi t mp r d with w d m , prud nc , and m r ity , v r the e e e e e ese o s ES U C the gr at chimn y I p rc iv d th w rd , J MAR Y, f d o - o e e s n ot o o e o o e s an s . l tt r G thic , but f rm d fl w r cr ll w rk The windows are at this day [1789] filled with painte d ss o s s of s e s o the N ew e s e gla , and c n i t ubj ct fr m Old and T tam nt, es o s the e e e o s e ese the d ignati n of tw lv cal ndar m nth , r pr nting o c e io s e o s ofe c se so o e e pr du and var u mpl yment a h a n , and v r th m, s o e s the e e s s of the Z o ese in di tinct c mpartm nt , tw lv ign diac ; th s ofthe s e o e are comprise d in c ircular pane s. Other am f rm app ar

o be o os em e a a e i e s not e s e s o t c mp ed of bl m tic l d v c , a ily und r to d ,

2 O OF STAFFORD SI-IIRE 5 S ME SAINTS .

or the a o lo the o s e e e e t in ye r f l wing, h u e r c iv d a rich endowm n

o Wulfruna the o ofthe o f fr m , wid w Earl Northampton . We learn ofthe e xiste nc e ofan e arlie r churc h from the priva ’ le ium of s o Si e fr g Archbi h p g ic on the subj ect of Wulfrun a s gift . s o e he n ot o ec o s In thi d cum nt , nly r apitulates her own donati n , but de scribes and confirms the be ne fac tions made to the church o e s in f rm r day . ’ Wulfrun a s e ndowme nt provide d for the maintenance of a e se e se ano s e e e s e e o e e d an and v ral cular c n . Gr at privil g w r c nf rr d upon the priory It was e xe mpt from the jurisdiction ofthe bishop o f the o ese was s e o l t e e o of di c , and ubj ct n y to he supr m auth rity 1054 E th e king . In dward the Confessor raise d it to the dign ity of o e e c e the to the a r yal fr hap l , with all immunities attaching ” e ri e e s of sac o f udal p vil g and s c . Wulfruna was the o f e e o e e o I . nly daught r Edmund , and th r f r the s s e of o she s o e e on e i t r King Edgar, wh m tr ngly influ nc d b half o fthe rio the o n ow o o e or p ry and t wn that , th ugh in a c ntract d f m , ea her e b rs nam .

Sr. CHAD .

s oc ess o of s the e of o o the s In thi pr i n Saint , plac h n ur, at la t , has ee e se e for who was the e es of e b n r rv d him gr at t th m all , and whose me mo ry is impe rishably prese rv e d in the eccle siastical o of the o hist ry c unty . Lic hfie ld Cathe dral has bee n truly c alle d the most be autiful f t e e s s of o se t e ess e s o h . h e cath dral It lack , c ur , impr iv imm n ity

' ofYork s e the ss e e of co ose l Min t r, ma iv grand ur Lin ln , and th thri ling to E e e assoc o s i s o se s e o . iati n w th hi t ric cri that b l ng x t r Still , for u e o - i e ea for e of e c om p r Mad nna l k b uty, grac and dignity lin bined e ec o its o o o s Lichfield is s ss with p rf ti n in pr p rti n , un urpa ed e e the Saint who first by any c athe dral in England . In lik mann r Z Z rule d as bishop of the dioce se shine s out among the o ther local ” s n s v elut e es o e s s e e ai t int r ign luna min r , tran c nding th m all not e s of s e n ot his sso o the in maj ty circum tanc , in a ciati n with e s of s the o e s s e ss d tiny a dyna ty, but in m d t tilln and humility e was s ri the os e ofhis pe rsonal c haracte r . H pi tually m t b autiful o f s e ofthe Saints fSta ford hir . — for of c o se is of s ea — was the St . Chad , ur , it him that I p k s ese e o s be e ofGe younge st offour brothe r . Of th , m nti n mu t mad dd sr. C HAD. 53

se he has e e e o se his o e becau b n fr quently c nfu d , with br th r, the e f - t o ou se r . ou s r e Ce adda o . ubj c pr nt Study, Chad Mr Baring G ld, for s e o he s o to the e of con in tanc , alth ugh draw attenti n dang r s the two e e c eldre d s h o es to e . Eth fu ing , wh n m d al with St fall o the e s The c o s o is the o e int id ntical mi take himse lf . nfu i n m r e s e e se e e s e e e s e o e e xcu abl b cau th ir nam w r v ry imilar, th y b th w r o e e s s e o e c e s o s ofLichfield rdain d pri t , th y b th b am bi h p , Chad and f Ge o o o e o e e e o se . dd L nd n , and th y b th w r ultimat ly can ni d ’ o is o f o f s N thing kn wn o e ithe r the date or place St . Chad

. e s e c s as o s s o as birth D mp t r laim him a Sc tti h aint, and C lgan s is almos e he was e e an Iri h but it t c rtain that an Angl , a nativ 20 of o ri an d o o o the e 6 . N rthumb a , b rn pr bably ab ut y ar o th e s e o of s e on o s Fr m Aidan , aint d abb t Lindi farn H ly I land , the youn g priest imbibe d a lo ve of sacre d le tte rs an d of the con

— - temp lativ e habit of mind a habit of self de tachme nt which is the ve ry opposite ofthat morbid introspection with which it is o s c s c s is not e ess i o so o fte n confuse d . M na ti my ti i m n c ar ly m rbid me lanc holia ; that is suffic ie ntly e vident in the c harac te r of this s in who the e ess o f his e e e his a t , in blith n t mp ram nt and in sympathy with the lowe r animals approac he d more ne arly to he e of s of ss s o e s t typ St . Franci A i i than did any th r Engli h saint . e e d e e the e of . o r e to On d ath Aidan , St Chad j u n y d Ir lan , wh r o be de vo te d himse lf to good works and to the cultivation ofh line ss . e e too he c e e the e e of the o - o o e H r , , am und r influ nc Angl Sax n n bl

who me was o e xie e . St . e r man , Egb t, at that ti a v luntary l in Ir land was e c o c e to o of s e c s By him St . Chad r n il d that th rny path a c ti i m e e e s o o e is fi e o e o he v r aft rward f ll w d and , what in nit ly m r imp rtant , was fire d by him with the fe rvour o f a Christian missionary . e e his s o s e now e or St . Chad r main d in Iri h m na t ry ( M lf t)until e his o e Ge on his e -be d oi e ot 664 , wh n br th r dd d ath app nt d him abb

f . s e e e of th e monaste ry o Lastingham Thu B d but Alban Butl r, o s s he was o e on without quoting any auth rity, ay that app int d ’ Ge dd s promotion to the bishopric of London . The of o In 666 the se e ofYork be c ame vacant . King N rthum i c e e . se bria had first appoint d St Wilfrid, and had nt him nto Fran

e . The es o e e e e so o o to be consec rat d pri t, h w v r, r main d l ng abr ad

e e an d o e his ce . e that the king lost pati nc , app int d Chad in pla Wh n o e the a c s o of e is e the Theod r , milit nt ar hbi h p Cant rbury , v it d e e to o or the a of o dioce se , he obj ct d the f rm , rather to l ck f rm, O F 54 S ME SAINTS O STAFFORDSHIRE .

’ of . a s se o and e o ofthe se ee St Ch d con crati n , declar d in fav ur ab nt ,

r . To e s o . s e e Wilf id which d ci i n St Chad an wer d, If you judg t e n ot u e e e e o hat I hav d ly r c iv d the piscopal ordinati n , I willingly r s s a e e e o o of e ign thi ch rg , having n v r th ught myself w rthy it , but ”

o e e or s e to e e in o e ie c e . which , h w v r unw thy , I ubmitt d und rtak b d n So esse was the li impr d primate by this display of humi ty , he s e e s as he o s e e ee that uppli d c rtain rite which , c n id r d , had b n o the wanting fr m original conse cration . 669 on the e of s o of the e s In , d ath Jaruman , bi h p M rcian , e o o e e use to o s e new s of er o e e Th d r r f d c n ecrat a bi hop M cia, but rd r d to in e e e . s he for the rs e Chad tak ov r charg Thi did, and fi t tim i o the o r l h st ry g ve nment of the diocese was fixe d at Lichfie d.

. to his new the s e s of e St Chad brought duties am pirit pray r , li se - rifi i N or humi ty , and lf sac ce as had distinguishe d h s work in

thumbria. e e as the o e n s he e his v s H r , in n rth r di trict , mad i ita e n s t o e tions on foot . H did ot wait for the poor and outc a t o c m to mse so e out s e o so e him , but hi lf ught th m , bapti ing th m , c n ling th m , an d s e e an e e ee e all is h e trength ning th m , d v n f ding th m ; and th did

- the se ef e e of o s e ris es . To the with lf fac m nt an b cur pa h pri t him , o s e of e s o e e e he was p mp and circum tanc pi c pacy w r hat ful , and e e so e e his e e e as e in the O e e s or n v r ntir ly in l m nt wh n , p n fi ld in

o e s of e e al e his of e s se . h v l mud and wattl , he x t d fic by aba ing him lf e he o e r to Lichfield o e co o s Th n w uld r tu n , and in c ng nial mpani n hip enj oy the only luxury he allowe d himself— the privilege of wor shipping God in the society of the chosen few whom he had settle d in a religious house near his own church . His huge diocese stre tche d from the banks of Seve rn to the e e to the e e n d he e his iss o G rman Oc an , but v ry mad all m i nary i ri es on oo s e e e e a o s p lg mag f t , di playing in v ry und rtaking a z l u ” se of e e e esses love of pious toil . That phra B d xpr in a highly compressed form the most striking charac teristic of the Saint ’ work for work s sake . ’ s e the i of e e s o is As I have ju t hint d , literary qual ty B d w rk ofno me an orde r and in no place does his prose e xhibit a simple r grandeur or a more auste re dignity than in his account of the death of St . Chad When he had most gloriously governe d the Churc h in that province two and a half years in the dispensation ofthe Most High d e e e a e the m of c es s e s s a s : Ju g , th r c m round ti e whi h Eccl ia t pe k ’ e to e e There is a time to cast stones an da tim gath r them tog ther, C . sr. HAD 55

for e s ess se o e c e o the e to a d adly ickn , nt fr m heav n , am up n plac , transfer by the de ath of the flesh the living stones ofthe Church e from their earthly abodes to their he ave nly building . And aft r many of the c hurc h of that most re ve rend prelate had been take n out of the e s his o so e e e e h e was to ss fl h , h ur al dr w n ar wh r in pa of s o r out thi w rld to ou Lord . e e on e Oswini o e r It happ n d that day , a m nk of gr at me it, was s o o e e the o e e the s o was bu y lab uring al n n ar orat ry , wh r bi h p

o e o s o e to the . is o praying , the th r m nk having g n church Th m nk , sa ear the o es of e so s s n os s e e re I y, h d v ic p r n i ging m t w tly, and i t e o c e oic n e to e s e o e e . H e h j g, and app aring d c nd fr m h av n heard v i approac hing from the South-East until it came to th e roof of the or o e e the s o was e e e e e the s e at ry wh r bi h p , and , nt ring th r , fill d am e e e e c e e the s e so of o and all about it . Aft r a tim h p r iv d am ng j y e e s th e s e e s e e ess r turn h ave nward am way it cam , and with w tn e ese the s o o e e the i o of the ine xpr ssible . Pr ntly bi h p p n d w nd w o o an d o se his n o e e to ask rat ry , , making a n i with ha d, rd r d him ce the se ve n bre thre n who were in th e c hurc h to come to him at on . en e e e o e he s d o s e e to ese v e Wh th y w r c m , fir t a m ni h d th m pr r e e s o s the the virtue o fpeace among thems lv and t ward all faithful , andto prac tice without ce asing th e rule s ofregular disc ipline whic h e e e ee see him o se e or th y had ith r b n taught by him , had n b rv , had e he notice d in the words or actions of the forme r fathe rs . Th n e adde d that the day of his de ath was at hand . That amiabl guest said h e who was wont to visit our bre thre n has vouc hsafe d

- o o e to e also to to me o s o . e u t c m m day, and call fr m thi w rld R t rn, e e o e to the c c s e to the e e e th r f r , hur h and p ak br thr n , that th y in to he ss e the ir prayers do comme nd t Lord my pa ing, and that th y o e for e own the o e e is e ai be careful to pr vid th ir , h ur wh r of unc rt n, ’

e oo o s. by watching , by pray r , and by g d w rk e e e c e e his ess had o e Wh n th y , having r iv d bl ing, g n away

swini e e alo e s se on the in sorrow , O r turn d n , and , ca ting him lf e the s o to el the so of o was ground, pray d bi h p t l him what ng j y The s o di o . which he had heard coming to the orat ry bi h p, bid ng e his e s e him conce al what he had he ard until aft r d ath, aid, Th y me to e e e we re ange lic spirits who c ame to call my h av nly r ward, which I have always longe d after and they promise d the y would ’ re turn afte r se ve n days and take me away from he nce . “ on the se e His languishing sickness incre asing daily, v nth

e e e for e e the o day, when h had pr par d d ath by r ceiving B dy and 6 some or sr 5 SAINTS arronnsmne .

of our r his s l Blood Lo d, ou being delivered from the prison of the b d a els as ma s e a e o y, the ng , y ju tly be believ d, tt nding him, he d the s e eparted to joy of heav n .

ma as e e c e a We y e ily b lieve that St . Chad did experi n pre

his . s or of e a e s o monition of end The t y the h v nly voice , h wever, and the ec t e i w o of proph y with i s fulfilm nt, s ith ut doubt an addition , a e er r wini s ose Os . . a m d v y p obably by him elf St Chad, wh gre t ara e s was his m ou e s s ch ct ri tic hu ility, w ld not hav p oken with uch ” e e e is a confid nc of his h avenly re ward . What more fat l to the r di the s o is sa a e a c e bility of t ry the injunction, id to h ve b en m de sai a Oswini s e by the nt, th t hould conceal what he hadh ard until ’ a s . e w o e e e s after St . Ch d death Th re as no c nc ivabl r a on why such co ncealment should be made but there was very good re ason ’ e e e s r s e e to why, wh n the br thr n after their ma te d ath cam inquire i the o rre e Oswini s o s o his o erwse nto ccu nc , h uld thu acc unt for th i e inexplicable silence . We may lay it down as a gene ral rul that where ve r this or any similar injunction is give n to the rec ipie nts of an alle e o ec o e o s to the ost has g d pr ph y, that pr phecy b l ng p t de e r as . s o s e o o e oes n o vari ty of fo ec ting Thi c n id rati n, h w ver, d ’ Its tract from the be auty or sign ificance of Be de s narrative . beauty is obvious its significanc e lies in the e vidence it affords ’ us of the hold that the saint s pe rsonality had take n on the a t o im gina i n of his disciples.

A . THE RELICS or Sr. CH D

a e s s s The story of the relics of St. Ch d r olve it elf into two s o r o e in e s o e s of phases : the public hi t ry, ec rd d the pi c pal chronicl c e e andthe se s o co e the er e s d the dio s , cret hi t ry, v ring p iod that lap e after the desecration of the shrine in the re ign of Henry VIII . This late r chapte r has fortunately been prese rved for us in the d l r of . s us an . a . records ofthe Jes uit College of St Aloy i , ate , St Ch d e o s be a of o a s First however, m nti n mu t m de the mem ri l of ,

a . St . Ch d N o fe wer than thirty-one c hurches hav e be en dedicate d to his honour in various parts of what was once his diocese . Holy o e r his a e wells both at Lichfieldandin Lond n b a n m , and Chadwell ,

R r is ss o i Chadswell. one source of the New ive , po ibly a c rrupt on of In the burial-ground ofChadshunt in Warwickshire there formerly rm: C or sr. C RELI S HAD . 57 stood an ancie nt oratory de dicate d to the saint and containing

e of . To s a e and to o e e an imag him thi pl c a h ly w ll n ar by, also d e to his e o e o s i r es ofe de icat d m m ry, num r u p lg imag and f rings e e b - e e o s. N i w r mad in y g n day o or ginal writings of St . Chad e t e of i fi l r main but a MS . in h library L ch e d Cathe dral is known ’ as . s s e o St Chad Go p ls. It c ntains se ve ral marginal notes from which we le arn that the volume was purchase d by Gelhi the son of ’ Arihtuid on e Cin al e e Gelhi s es o se from g , in xchang for b t h r , and e e to e o o o e o e w by him d dicat d God and St . T il . Fr m an th r n t e e o the son of rw e e se l arn that G dwin , Ea ig, publicly cl ar d him lf from the charge of unchastity brought against him by Bishop f Le o ar. N ow s e t he s o e 102 1 the . a o g , inc bi h p di d in , MS c nn t be of e e the e of the e e e e u lat r dat than b ginning l v nth c nt ry, and Profe ssor Westwood conside re d that it be longe d to the ninth or oss e e to the e e c t e p ibly v n ighth c ntury . It ontains h Gospel

cc o t . f di o . e o a r ng St Matth w and St Mark , and a portion St . ’ e i e s sio . e Luk v r n Again , in th Bodle ian Library there s an

- - o o o i e f r the o . s Angl Sax n h mily wr tt n o fe ast day f St Chad . It i writte n in the Mid-Anglian diale c t use d in the district be twee n ic fi l L h e d e e o o . o s the e o s of and P t rb r ugh Finally, am ng t m m rial the i we s e o the e l - n o n e e Sa nt , mu t m nti n w l k w and des rv dly e e e c n l c sc oo e s o e o le e c is so c l brat d Angli a pub i h l , D n t n C l g , whi h al dedicate d to the hono ur and in me mory ofSt . Chad . ’

c o i to e e the e i s e e rs e . s A c rd ng B d , r ma n w r fi t buri d in St Mary ’

c Lichfield e s s ed to . e e s Chur h at , and aft rward tran lat St P t r , The ne he e ls us was e was o e e . s wh n that building c mpl t d hri , t l , “ oo e es or e n e e e e o se c o e e a w d n ch t tab r acl , mad lik a littl h u , v r d , e the o ose o e e for and having a hol in wall , thr ugh which th that g th r e a e out so e of the s de vo tion usually put th ir hand and t k m du t , e o e e to s c c e men to which th y put int wat r and giv i k attl and drink , upon whic h the y are pre se ntly e ase d ofthe ir infirmity and re store d is e e o e n ot o e o h s e . to h alth It , th r f r , impr babl that thr ug thi t e s e the s e e s o h custom ofmixing h du t with wat r , aint in aft r y ar

n o to sso o of e s the c c e of o tai ed, wing an a ciati n id a , hara t r patr n i saint of med cinal sprin gs . ’ the e s e e e o e to the e o . e e s From th t mb at St P t r , r lic w r r m v d to cathedral whe n the latte r was re built and de dic ate d St . Mary

s o to e e e on the e ul and St . Chad . Bi h p Lang n xp nd d b autif t e was the s e s shrine he ere c te d in he Lady Chap l , which la t r ting place the bones obtaine d within the precinc ts Although He nry 8 some or 5 SAINTS STAFFORDSHIRE .

. s e the of s e the o s VIII par d fabric the hrin , Cath lic thought it e e ie to e o e so e e s of the e cs s s xp d nt r m v m at l a t r li , and thi bring us to the se e s o ofthe o es as set o e esu cr t hi t ry b n , f rth in c rtain J it r e cords . The first document is e ntitle d : A relation ofhow six ofthe e r bones o S t Ch ame nto r ate . ad c i m h nd Written b F ather g f y a s . y Peter Turner an d F ather William A tkins M ission ar Priests o the , y / o e S ci ty ofjesn s . From this declaration we gathe r that on the e of e e e 1615 e e was su o e to the ighth S pt mb r , , Fath r Turn r mm n d - f e be do e H odshe eds ofWoodsaton e e . e d ath H nry , n ar Sedgl y Aft r he e o e the s ri e s of the t e es e e had p rf rm d la t t Church , h pri t r cit d the of the s the e the e cl e re Litany Saint , whil dying man x aim d ’ eate dl o for me The e s os p y, H ly Saint Chad , pray Fath r curi ity ei o se he s e his e e so c o e b ng ar u d , a k d why p nit nt parti ularly inv k d “

dshe eds e e . . . H o is ese o e on St Chad r pli d, St Chad pr nt y nd r the uppe r part of th e bed the te ste r of the bed] this is a e s e w s to be u e w e o o e e tr a ur which I i h g ard d ith gr at h n ur, and th r i fore I give t to you. The es ece e the e c s w e in c c pri t r iv d r li , rapp d bla k bu kram, d e oo e box e ce h se e . e and pla th m in a w d n , which duly al d Th n h e aske d the dying man how he had obtained possession of the bones . H e was told that at the time of the Reformation a ce rtain Pre be ndary Dudle y took away the bones from the shrine in Lich field e e s e e to two o e s o e of Cath dral , and ntru t d th m n bl kin w m n his own who e sse o se e o es e to , liv d at Ru ll H u [n ar W rc t r] close ’

o dle s c o r se . the de of the e L rd Du y unt y at On ath pre b ndary , the die s ec e e the o of the s e la b am alarm d by rig ur law , and divid d the el s e e e e e ou s e an d ilia H odsheed r ic b tw n th ir n ighb r , H nry W l m , two o e s o e e e on e Subse br th r with wh m th y w r fri ndly te rms. ’ e as we e see e s s e e o the o qu ntly , hav n , H nry har cam int possessi n of e e e e 1652 ese e e ec e the Fath r P t r Turn r , and in th w r insp t d by s o c of th e e s s o e e e o e Engli h Pr vin ial J uit , by wh m th y w r appr v d , ’ and Fathe r Turne r s state me nt was e nte re d among the local arc hives .

The story is n ow c ontinue d by Fathe r Atkins. This William i s was es e so e e s er s c o e c o Atk n arr t d, m y ar aft ward , in nn ti n with

the s e s o e his ce fo o . t e Titu Oat Pl t , and di d in ll in Sta f rd ga l On h de ath of Father Turne r in 1655 the relics were deposite d wit h e the Le v eson men o Le v eson . He c s e e J hn , I fan y , mu t hav b n n o tione d in anothe r re cord as kee ping a school i W lverhampton .

60 O OF S ME SAINTS STAFFORDSHIRE .

AN APOLOGIA .

Thus in our c ompanionship with the Saints of Staffordshire ' we e ee o e e — Bertelin s ee - c e hav ind d j urn y d far fro m St . r d that h d c e of e e the o es of fo to the ll mud and wattl , hidd n in f r t Sta f rd , e e ses os o the e e of the o o e t mpl that ri alm t fr m pav m nt l ng , unl v ly s e e o e c tr t in m d rn , manufa turing Birmingham . To soe e o e s s owe e o e e e be what v r p w r Chri tian th ir b di nc , it to o e to a e r or to o s e e e s e o R m , C nt rbu y , C n ci nc , th y ur ly cann t fail to re alise what the lives of the se sainte d men and wome n e e for e E T ose e c o s s for so e hav m ant mod rn ngland . h r rd tand m thin g more than glowing examples of isolate d and in dividual sa is the c of e e e e e e nctity . It fa t th s Saints having b n appr ciat d the eo e an e c o has e c ed its e e e i i by p pl , appr iati n that r a h xtr m l m t o o es e e e e s s e s of in ad rati n , that giv th m th ir chie f int r t to tud nt

ls c i s o . For s as the c e of be Eng i h iv li ati n , ju t chara t r a man may o the c o he e e s so the e s of e be kn wn by mpany k p , id al a rac may e t t gaug d by h e qualitie s e xhibite d in the Obj e cts of i s adoration . Me n do n ot T e o - o s worship what they do not admire . h Angl Sax n re cognise d in the se Saints ce rtain attribute s they we re bound to e we s e e se e s now e o e admir , and mu t inf r that th qualiti had b c m t f e f f he ide als o the race . Inst ad o anarchy ,an d the tyranny o — might ove r right a S exwulf; instead of foul traffic in maide n — hood an Erme nhilda inste ad ofthe courage that kne w only how to for e — a Wulfh ad who e how to die for God fight S lf , kn w ; — instead of the arroganc e and c rue lty of the conqueror a Chad — instead of infantic ide a Kenelm . And so this brie f Study has been some thing more than the biography of our local Saints ; it has given us a glimpse of the s e e e of e e es o e r e and piritual d v lopm nt th ir arli t bi graph rs. C ud c hildish that stage in their religio us history may have be e n but To e e the C s an e s of ese e it was ne ve r ignoble . d rid hildi h f ci th arly s e e as e e as to o e i e i who Christian w r ind c nt p k fun at a l ttl ch ld , c e the sun s ea e e God has o having wat h d di app r , xclaim d, g ne ” t e e to bed out the h . We sm e h se e and put lig t may il , but in pr nc t w e t o f childhood we must not sne e r . Soon he child ill l arn tha ”

H e o e s e sl e e n ot n or s ee s. H e , watching v r I ra l, umb r th l p may e too so e i e s the c i oo of c e has ase l arn , , that m t m in h ldh d a ra it ple d t the s e low ee es His c e be e Him o turn light v ry ind d, l t hildr n dazzl d by the light of a Knowledge gre ater than they could endure . B c b L u : S m R n F os o el iterat re o e ece t inds .

BY J . L . CHERRY .

HE s o of t e e e e t ry h flight of Charl s II . aft r th battle of Worce ste r and his ultimate e sc ape to France is gene rally e e as one of the s o c E s r gard d mo t r manti in ngli h History . has i i e e s for e c s ee e e o It an abid ng nt r t a h ucc ding g n rati n , and not least be cause the adve ntures have been fully and vividly e sc i e es e Th e e e s so fo d r b d by King Charl hims lf. v nt al a f rde d a t e e for se e a e e e s e o o was s h m v r l pamphl t r , chi f am ng wh m Thoma o ose brochur s Bl unt , wh e were publishe d within a ye ar or two of the es o tio e f e “ R t ra n , and th works o nearly all thes Restora tion chroniclers we re e dite d in 1831 by that scholarly c ompiler ose e e . J ph Hugh s. In quit recent ye ars Mr Allan Fea has place d e an o l io e e und r b igat n all int rest d in the later Stuart period . By his r n ss o ec n e w e s his s e unti i g a iduity in c ll ting mat rial , by ma t rly e e of a e s o old new h s e e o s arrang m nt n rrativ b th and , and by i g n r u use o f informing illustrations he has illuminate d the whole mise en scen e and the e of ri c e o e e se figur the p n ipal p rf rm r. Th fasc inating volume s constitute an abundant harve st but a humble gle ane r has followe d and has pic ked up a fe w e ars some of which see m hithe rto to have escaped the notice of this the ke ene st o e all e e s th e e to m d rn obse rve r . At v nt matt rs which allusion is e e e Fe a or o e se t e e are not o e . h h r mad m nti n d by Mr , th rwi ri e o e n o e se for i e s e w t r w uld hav had xcu includ ng th m in thi articl , in for t t e s e ee e o h . or, d d , r turning ubj ct at all ’ The re is a touc h of the wonde rful with which Charle s s adv en tures are investe d e ve n in the history ofthe trac ts in which those ’ e ri T e s own s o was i e adventure s are d sc bed . h King t ry d ctat d the o s ris 1680 his e s to . e e s by Maj ty Mr Samu l P py , fam u dia t , in , The or a or ne arly thirty ye ars afte r the fight and flight . igin l oc e c is s o was c e the c d um nt , whi h in h rthand , in lud d in library whi h e e to the U e s of ri e was not P pys be que ath d niv r ity Camb dg , and it e e 1766 e was sc r e s e printe d until th y ar , wh n it tran ib d , and publi h d 62 BOSCOBE I. LITERATURE : SOME RECENT FINDS .

a e e e e e e as o a e s by Sir David D lrympl , b tter r m mb r d L rd H il ,

e e e s o e of . o so . an min nt judg and hi t rian , and a fri nd Dr J hn n e e is so e s n ot e c o Th r m thing my tifying, if xa tly romantic, ab ut ’ o s t e i a e e e c al e or e Bl unt narra iv , which m ght h v b n l d an auth iz d e s o for o the e e s for s 1660- 1 is v r i n , am ng Stat Pap r Augu t, , ’ th e following memorandum : It is the King s pleasure that ’ o s o o of os o e o n e to er e Th ma Bl unt , auth r B c b l , c nti u p f ct that s o ofhis o e ese o e the e of o es e hi t ry w nd rful pr rvati n aft r Battl W rc t r, and that all persons instrume ntal there in give him information ofth e r s also o e e es e to pa ticular , that n n but h pr um print any part ” e e o in 1662 the c a se to be o e th r f . But King u d it ann unc d that a little book named Boscobel had errors in it and was the re fore ’ not a perfe ctly trustworthy account of his Majesty s delive rance . see s to e ee e for e t e It m hav b n tak n grant d up o that tim that Mr . o s o a s o o e e Th ma Bl unt , a Roy li t, a R man Cath lic , and a m mb r of the n e e e o e os o e he s e the In r T mpl , wr t B c b l , but di claim d authorship with e mphasis and de sire d that the rumour asc ribing to him s o be o c e is ss e e e e e two it h uld c ntradi t d. It po ibl th r w r so s of t e s e e o e c s on c e per n h am nam . Among th r tra t whi h lat r ’ h t rea e r c ompile rs mainly depende d was Mr . W i g v s na rative of oo e ose e The e of s o r o e s what t k plac at M l y. titl thi c nt ibuti n r ad as follows A Summary of the Occurre nc es relating to the Mirac ulous Pre se rvation of our late Sove reign Lord King Charles f his o e e 165 e the e e o s the e 1 . II . aft r d f at army at W rc t r in y ar Faithfully taken from the e xpress te stimony of those two worthy o ol s o s e e of ose e he o R man Cath ic , Th ma Whitgr av M l y in t C unty

of fo s e . o Huddlestone e ofthe o Sta f rd, E quir , and Mr J hn , Pri st H ly f he s e s e o . e e Be e c t r e God of Ord r St B nn t [ n di t] , In t um nt , und r , e o o e e s of the sam Prese rvation . (Am ng th r inv ntion the infamous Titus Oate s was the story that he overhe ard a J e suit priest say ’ to one ofhis co- o s o s was the o s s o e e c n pirat r , It w r t day w rk he v r ’ ” did whe n Jack H udle stone saved King Charles s life ) This was ’ s e the s r e 1688 e e of publi h d by King P int r in , and, aft r an int rval ’ f 100 e s in the e ema s e . One o the os y ar , G ntl n Magazin m t valu able sources of information as to what took place on the Susse x ’ coast durin g the King s flight was a document written at the time o o e Goun ter who O a e the s es sa e by C l n l , bt in d hip in which Charl il d wa e . e a e s us s e s to Franc from Shore ham Mr. F t ll that thi pap r u Old e 1830 e was so o fo nd in an bur au in , wh n it ld by aucti n , with

e on t e G unter s o e s e . the bur au , h o man ion at Ract n b ing di mantl d ” 6 BOSCOBEL LITERATURE : SOME RECENT FINDS. 3

Be fore we go any furthe r it may n ot be amiss to state con l e t cise y how Charle s came to be at Worceste r . Aft r he e xe cution of his a e 1649 es his o e ou e s f th r in Charl and m th r, with many c rti r , s e to the o e on e of the o o e lipp d away C ntin nt , but Jun f ll wing y ar his adhere nts in Sc otland induce d him to cross the sea and raise his s e e H e was o e of the co s c o e tandard th r . cr wn d King S t at S n , an r was ot o e e on the lst Of s 1651 his a my g t g th r , and Augu t , , es e his c o o s o o Maj ty b gan mar h int England , pr mi ing by pr clamati n e e a o e for o e o e s who c a g n ral p rd n , exc pting Cr mw ll and all th r a tually H e e sat and voted at the c onde mnation of his father . gain d a te mporary advantage at Warrington Bridge and on the 22nd of e e s e s August took possession of Worc este r . Thr day aft rward a c onside rable force of Royalists unde r th e c ommand of the Earl of e was o e e on the 3rd of e e e D rby r ut d n ar Wigan , and S pt mb r s es e For a similar fate befe ll the King and his adhe rent at Worc t r . the time be ing the triumph of the Parliamentary forces was com p lete . N ow among those who afte r the Restoration in 1660 hastene d o is c ou s of the e s e of e s was one Lee t publ h ac nt cap Charl William , f is and this we have good re ason to believe is o gre at rarity . It e ntitle d A Brie f Chronicle ofthe Happy Escape by a Wonde rful e e e of His estie o es e o e e esse D liv ranc Maj at W rc t r, m r fully xpr d e His e sties e o e e i than hith rto : with Maj happy r turn , t g th r w th

s es of o e ha n ed to s e se o e e 166 1 . what pa sag n t p thi pr nt N v mb r , o : The like e xac t account hath n ot as yet be e n printed . Lond n - l 2 stree t 166 . Printe d for William Lee at the Turks Head in F eet . The author modestly informs the c ourte ous re ade r that this use ful manual is the English Iliad in a nut-shel ' ; and afte r re flec tions on the abundance ofEnglish blood she d profusely ” se e e s o o e o e o e he e s in v ral quarr l , b th at h m and abr ad, b f r , mak lament as follows But behold the greate st mise ry Ofthis War the issue ofit when it was past was ten time s worse than the War

e he e e e s the o o of . The its lf, like t Vip r , that xpir in pr ducti n many o o of e ce in e e e Me dusa of War br ught f rth a Hydra P a , a S rp ntin We os was Commonwe alth and De mocratic Anarchy . had l t what pre te nded to be fought for as soon as we had done fighting suc h our ”

c our s e se . is not e e ss to fury , su h trang ca It n c ary add that Mr

Le e was as he s s on the o s ustist s e . William , ay , R yali t and j id e e is n ot e e to l e As has been alr ady hint d , it int nd d inc ud in ’ e re es at s e for this article the de tails of th King s expe i nc Bo cob l, but 6 Bosconnr. : 4 LITERATURE SOME RECENT FINDS . the sake of giving an appearance of contin uity we will print a few ’ i es o s e l a ee s e ee l n fr m Ma t r Wi li m L pamphl t , which may have b n writte n afte r an inte rview with the Pe nde rels or pe rhaps adapte d o o e fr m Bl unt . Sp aking ofwhat took place shortly afte r the arrival of the n Whiteladies he s s h e e o all s was Ki g at , ay , W r up n di patch ’ a e to e t the out e The s m d g King befor any further danger . King hair was first cut offby my Lord Wilmot the n rounde d by William

Pen drill the s e i e har e c o of . and at am t m Ric d had , by dir ti n Mr f e his es c loaths e eec es of ee Gi fard, f tcht b t , b ing a jump and br h gr n o se o doe-s e e e e was o e c ar cl th , and a kin l ath r doubl t th hat borr w d of u e Pen drill the i e e an old e on e e H mphr y M ll r , b ing gr y that turn d its r s the shi c o e e up b im ; rt , whi h in that c untry languag th y call e or o e -s of in e is e of the an Hard n , N gg n hirt , a kind l n n that mad o se s of e was of he e eo e c ar t the h mp, had t afor said Martin ; G rg Pendrill e the ess e th e s oe s c l nt band and William Cr w ll h , whi h the ese unstri t e of his own cloath s King , having pr ntly p hims lf , did c n H is f-c e e e qui kly put o . bu f oat and linn n doubl t and a gr y ’ i of e e e s he o e e o e he e o his o e s pa r br ch , which w r b f r , gav unt br th r s who o e e e t o e e e hand , f rthwith buri d th m und r he gr und , wh r th y la fiv e e e s e e e The e e s y w k b for th y durst take them up again . j w l offhis h e e to arm gav one of the Lords then de parting . s s t e c the oo Thi Thur day h King ontinue d all day in w d , o the o c Pen drill e o s up n gr und, Ri hard b ing c n tantly with him and

so e e s the o e e . t ai m tim th r thr e It proved o be a very r ny day , e w e o c s and th King as we t with the showe rs . Ther up n Fran i e s his e e o the oo on o the s Yat wif cam int w d , wh m King at fir t looke d some what dubiously yet resolute ly aske d her whethe r she b To c she e e would e faithful to a distre sse d Cavalie r . whi h r pli d , ir ou She o w he r S e die a sco e ou. , I w ld rath r th n di v r y br ught ith e to e e the his firs e he ate e e a blank t k p King dry , and t m at th r , e ess of i e s s in e r e nam ly , a m m lk, gg , and ugar , a black a th n cup , the esse to be es s he o e which King gu d milk and appl , and aid l v d e he so e e at so e e e it very well . Aft r had drank m and m in a p wt r s oo e the s to eo e and eat for was e p n he gav re t G rg , bid him it it v ry good The King was hardly brought to fashion himself to their

The e his s he o e e e . os gate . languag in tay c uld tun pr tty w ll M t s s c o o to e o s o of the day wa pent in nf rming him th ir w rd , till ab ut ’ e e the his ll e e of fiv e o clock that v ning King , with ga ant r tinu e e o e s e s e th e oo Richard , Humphr y, G rg , and Franci Yat , l ft w d : BOSCOBEL LITERATURE SOME RECENT FINDS. 65

’ e o se to s li e o se e e he e er and b t ok him lf Richard ttl h u , wh r w nt und the of i o e s oo e o e f name W lliam J n , a w dcutt r newly c m thither or

o . his o the oo e for his er e s w rk At c ming , g d wif , ent tainm nt at upper, was e fricass of o e s e w o pr paring a bac n and gg , and whil that as d ing the e his e on e e e . He ate e e King h ld kn th ir daught r Nan v ry littl , u e r minating and pausing on his inte nde d passage into Wales . Aft r s e e e the o e ofthe ndrills c e e e oo upp r nd d , m th r Pe am and kn led and t k h e r e e ofthe so the es of s oo e s l av King did r t hi p r m an attendant . i e on the to o and d Only R chard w nt al g with King, c nduct gui e him , e e the u it b ing th n dark and way tro blesome . s or c o e e e o e e was e e After a h t nf r nc t g th r , it judg d by th m o as the robable st e a s of se c the s ou b th , p m n urity , that King h ld e e se di the to the oo . o s b tak him lf again w d Acc r ngly , Saturday, ixth of e e e the o e e o the o o e e S pt mb r , in m rning , th y w nt int wo d t g th r , the Colone l [Carlos] le ading the way to that n ow so muc h k e e e e o a e e o e he ee o e se . c l brat d , wh r b f r had b n l dg d him lf William Pen drill brought a ladde r by which they got up into the boughs e s ofth e e e c e e e e s e and branch tr , whi h w r v ry thick and w ll pr ad of e es so was no oss e for o se e and full l av , that it t p ibl any t o e e e e e o e thr ugh th m . Wh n th y w r b th up , William brought th m up two pillows to lie upon whe re the arms and branc he s were es the e o e e e his o e thick t and King , b ing v rw ari d with j urn y and T so e a e e e o e s to s ee . he m travail , w x d v ry h avy , with a pr p n ity l p o o e to e se his e s the es he o es e him to C l n l , a Maj ty b t c uld, d ir d lay his he ad in his lap and re st the other part of his body on the o the e e oo s e e pill w, which King did ; and aft r he had tak n a g d l p (while William and his wife J oan were pe aking up and down o s o s e r of s s - oo with anxi u th ught , gath ing tick with a nut h k) es e awake d ve ry hungry and wishe d for some victuals. That d ir was soo s s e the o o e l out of his o e oo n ati fi d , C l n l pu ling p ck t a g d c e o of e eese e for lun h n br ad and h , which Joan had giv n him o e C a e o pr vant that day , and had wrapp d it up in a le n lin n cl th , e e e r was e e se ofwhich th King fed v ry h a tily, and w ll pl a d with it , o o e e of and highly commende d th e good fare . S me th r pittanc e e he so was to e r li f in drink had al , which put up him in a bottl ” by a long stic k .

This vivid description of that so much celebrated oak establishes beyond question that it was not a full grown oak in his o r o c al and e t a which the King and c mpanion we e c n e ed , y t h t F 66 nosc one r. LITERATURE : SOME RECENT FINDS; w as for a time the popular idea as many an old inn signboard still es - t tifie s. It is doubtful whethe r the re has ever bee n a full grown oak in which two men could co nc e al the mselves against obse rvation o the e a the o se rs e e s ose fr m ground, esp ci lly if b rve w re soldi r wh keenness ofvision had bee n increased by the prospect ofa re ward o sa The Ro a Oak had se e e of a th u nd pounds . y l of cour b n ole an wa p l d, dthe bran ches were so Spre ad out an d the foliage s so thick as to form a nidus or n est in which not only was co nc eal me nt possible but which provide d a sufficient stage for the e nac ting ofthat touching scene ofloyal and affe ctionate devotion displaye d the la r his s ul o r by gal nt Cavalie r fo distre sf S ve eign. ’ The following lette rs from the Gentleman s Magazin e s o fi all s ea so o s s ll e so h uld n y di pel the id , tenaci u ly ti h ld by me , that the oak now standing in the enclosure at Boscobe l is the actual tree in which Charles an d Colonel Carlos conceale d them s s rs a e and ea s elve . The fi t is d t d May, r d ’ do e e to e seen e s s o of I not r memb r hav , eith r in Plot Hi t ry fo s or e e in a a a i Sta f rd hire in any oth r r lat g to th t county. p rt cular de scription of the Royal Oak whic h some years ago was standing os o e e e e in e in B c b l Wo od. Having b n lat ly on a tour that n igh bourhood an d s the e e e o r s e vi iting plac wh re the old tr e fl u i h d , o had se a s o a l i an d s o I f und it been enclo d by tr ng w l of br ck t ne, e c s Ol ee ha but at pre sen t n glected and mu h in ruin . The d tr s ee a r e a a e e e the io s isitors an d so e no b n c r i d w y pi c m al by cur u v , m doubt fro m a loyal motive and attachment to the memory OfKing ar es w o was e t a l s e e r esi s of Ch l IL , h provid n i l y h lter d f om the d gn his e es the s h s ee a s ff- s o r en mi by mean of t i tr . M ny nu boxe and the s e o s of s a o s s nt toy hav been made fr m piece thi f m u oak. At pre e the re is another of a middling size growing within the wall but n ot the e e o a the old e e in c ntre , andwas v ry pr bably pl nted when tr d c e e . a ar s o e o e oss an e d cay d Upon squ e t n , v rgrown with m pla d o ar r o se e a a s o ab ve the ch of the doo , I b rv d L tin in cripti n which afte r scraping with a knife became very legible . If you think it deserving of a place in your use ful repository I herewith se nd it , ” to w a ransla o of th e sa e . l i is the you, ith t ti n m The fol ow ng ’ s oo and All- r om i s tran lation God, All G d G eat , by wh K ng e was eas a is s o s re s e o is r ign , pl ed th t th au pici u T e hould h re fl ur h e e e o for a safe Retre at to the most pote nt King Charl s th S c nd. to e e or so at Basil and J ane Fitzhe rbert, p rp tuate the Mem y of gre an a d s e r uns k al K s b il the Event , n te tify th i ha en Loy ty to ing , u t

68 O O LITERATURE : son s C B SC BEL RE ENT FINDS .

he o n ot Charles Cha les o e that c uld find in r ; till having l ng r , an d o e e e s e e s of o h e e m r arn tly b h ld him , at la t , full j y, thr w se the ee of his e L ord M aster as e to him lf at f t d ar and , w ll e ec e the of hi s o as to e is d pr at fault s l w duty , giv vent t o h s o pa si nate gratulations. The ne xt day (the fame of this ac cide nt having spe e dily e c e is the ueen o En land the D uke o Orlean s r a h d Par ) Q f g , f , with a e o ofN obles oe o to e o e on t gr at c mpany , g f rth w lc m him , and c duc the Cit e s f e o e o the o e . e e him int y, with gr at applau P pl Th y mbrace e o o c e ese e for the o D eli ht of him , th y pr n un him pr rv d j y and g e c a th e H o e an d S tren th o En land e Mankind , th y ll him p g f g , th y e e e he artily pray that God would v r k e p and pre serve him . Thus did that sacred Person e scape the snare s and malice of his oo - s E e e s o e En lish men bl d thir ty n mi , by wh m all tru g o e e e rsec o s of ose remous e Go triumph v r th ir P ut r ; wh p Lif , if d se n ot e c e e s o him lf had tak n harg , it had many tim unav idably

e s e e e e es o e . o so p ri h d , and b n utt rly d tr y d That am ng many e so s of the e e s so of c o r el o P r n m an t rank , many a ntra y R igi n , so many of the Fe male Sex (whose natural prone ne ss is n ot e asily e s e o ratlin so o o s to o is e r train d fr m p g), many tim r u , wh m it d ath e o to e e e e s so oo or en less n ugh h ar it thr at n d , and la tly, many p r p y e so s of o e o e s wh o o n ot e ro P r n , and br k n F rtun , c uld but w ll app ve th e e of e s for two o s o e e he e t nd r a gr at umm , that M nth t g th r , sh o n ot be e e is e e e e e e e e the uld b tray d , plainly (if v r th r w r a gr at r) most M iraculous Work of a Divine Hand .

We have at le ngth see n the King safely lande d in France N o o e and surro unde d by friends in Paris. t l ng aft rwards his e e e o e the of e in o of Maj sty appe ar d b f r King Franc C uncil , which proc e e ding the follo wing is a record

The De claration of the King of Scots to the King and Councel l e o c l- of e his ee e v e e th C un e e at. Franc , and Sp ch d i r d at tabl , e o a Ge ne ral Asse mbly and Conve ntion . By Ord r fr m the

es c . his e s o or e o s e Kings Maj ti With Manif t , R m n tranc , is own ese e to the i : written by H Hand , and pr nt d K ng And s e o a fullNarrative o fall his Proc eedings. Publi h d by Auth rity.

o o for e o e o o 1651 . Imprinte d at L nd n , G rg H rt n , May it ple ase your Maj e sty and this Honourable Coun cel The o e e of the e s e m o s s s kn wl dg I had d ir of _ y Sc tti h ubject e of due ts es i e for the re stauration to m my Righ and Digniti , ntimat d 6 BOSCOBEL LITERATURE : son s RECENT FINDS. 9

o me the o ss e s o he e e ofBredaw was unt by C mmi ion r f t lat Tr aty , the se e e to s s o e w e e cau that induc d m ca t my elf up n th m ; h r in , e was e e a o s e h ad e e e e e s c e e wh n I th r , m ng t th m , I b n b li v d, I in r ly s se e is n o think that thing had n ot faln out as n ow we . But it o e a me n are s o e to e e e so e e o s e s w nd r th t l w b li v , that gr at j al u i and se on s o be se on so e ro for e o the s diti h uld rai d littl g und , inde d fr m fir t o of o o s e to th e s e of e h ur my c ming am ng t th m , la t minut my r tiring ro e o s o the s of e e e f m th m , n thing but divi i n and pirit nvy app ar d visible ; and so gre at we re their distractions at the late fight at o es e not o of the o s e e s the W rc t r , that ab ve half Sc t ngag d again t e for e of e s e afoe r e the En my , with gri f h art I p ak it , I had giv n s se e oo e e e o e fir t On t , I mad g d my r tr at with advantag ; and r d up to e - n Ge . e f . e s es the e o od to Li ut David L l y , d iring him in nam G a e the e his e o o who ch rg En my with Brigad at F rt R yal , at that time we re c o me up e ve n within half pistol shot ofthe same but he e se to e o e e e to e n e s e es s s r fu d yi ld b di nc my ar t r qu t , aying, The re was mo re safe ty an d' c onv e nien c e in ke e ping the m in a Bo dy e e e e s oo to e e c e e o wh r th y th n t d, than hav th m hang th ir gr und e e o e w o wn e of s con Wh r up n I again charg d ith my brigad Engli h , s s of n f Cle v lan s o Ge . ss e s Re e th e E o a e d i ting Maj r Ma i gim nt , arl , the o o s e s s e e o e - o e e and L rd Wilm t , but aft r a harp di put , b ing v r p w r d, was o c to e o e to the s e e e . e e s I f r d r tr at Th n I again r d up aid L l y , using th e same e xpressions that I did befo re ; but he unworthily e me e so the of e e gav a flat d nial , in much that Earl Cl av land es e me to e se the e an d to s fo r se for d ir d d rt fi ld , hift my lf, that was be traid the c o s e e e ac e o s so was I , and S t w r tr h r u , that I e o e s of o se to o e ss e o nf rc d with a mall party h r , f rc my pa ag int the o n e r s o e sc e as e s the T w ; and aft ward narr wly ap d , app ar by e s e s o e e e se n uing Manif t , which I h r humbly pr nt in writing with this insc ription

e o s er to m D sires The S ucc ss n t an w able y e .

N o soo e the E e e e e o es e e di e n r had n my nt r d W rc t r , but imm at ly d as he e l. e e to e s an one Co Gobb t mad up my quart r , cam in at

' o n o e out o e the e o e d or I w nt by an th r , and n xt day (with my L rd o e oo se to oo e e e se s Wilm t) b t k my lf a W d , wh r dilig nt arching were made by th e English the n I c ame out of the said Wood in e - e e oo se to es o se 2 e s th night tim , and b t k my lf a Ladi h u within mil who dl e e e me but for e s o l be dis the reof, kin y nt rtain d f ar I h u d co vered she cut offmy hair and put me on a re d p erewig which 0 BOSCOBEI LITERA 7 , TURE f SOME RECENT FINDS .

o e , W o se a e s being d n my Lord ilm t and my lf, ccompani d by thi o o e e e o oo our sse for o o e e h n urabl G ntl w man , t k J e L nd n , wh r I o he r as se e the s of e e e e s waited up n a rvant , and aft r pace thr w k e o the e s s ese e e cam d wn Tham in a pair of oar to Grav nd , wh r a e was o e for us and e e we e Dutch barqu pr vid d , imm diat ly w nt a o se e Seamens a o the of b ard her, I my lf b ing in h bit , d ing duty fi s e e de e o my of ce , until uch tim as we lande d at Lovr Grac fr m e e as e to o o e e e o e wh nc I h t d Rh an [R u n] , wh r I pr cur d (but with e fi r oo gr at di f culty fo I had n ot a penny ofmoney)a gray suit . S n a e se e e to o to he r ft r my arrival , I nt a l tt r my M ther acquaint e w who o sa e to o e the s e o o th re ith , v uch f d c mmunicat am unt y ur Maj esty : whe rein your Highn ess was graciously ple ase d to o rde r me o o e e e o for e ai an h n urabl R c pti n , which I r m n , o u e e affe o e Y ur nalt rabl and cti nat friend,

C . R . Then follows a more detaile d Narrative of the flight of s the o e o as o lo s Charle , d cum nt c ncluding f l w The Queen his Mothe r re ce iving an e xpress from him made e se s o the of e for his e e o pr nt upplicati n to King Franc R c pti n , in c he e o e c e so he was e e whi h t Que n M th r very a tiv , and p rmitt d , and an Express sent to the Duke ofOrle ance for instructions the re wa e o u h acc om in . He s e ai e e o tr m nt rt n d in gr at h n ur and y p , and p anied by the chie f of the Nobility through th e City of Paris to the s o e e a s e e osse s es s King C urt , wh r many b ll w r t d, and undry j t ut o the e of Ginse of c o s i p f rth by Duk , which the King S t tak ng o e of ec e as o o e o A o s e ss n tic d lar d f ll w th My L rd , lth ugh the ucc not e s e e to es es se et o hath b en an w rabl my d ir at pre nt , y I d ubt n ot but in time to have it corresponding to my affections : And although your lordship may be accounte d an Arteist for tossing a the o n e e Br a is ball , implying that G ver m nt of Gr at itt in a e ou b ase to e o c e lmost off th hinges ; yet y may e ple d tak n ti , llf l e e e a his he That a ski ul watchmak r to mak cl n watch , will e s e e is e er it o the e e tak it a und r, and wh n it put tog th will g b tt r f ’ so that he le ave not forth one pin o it . s e was e e off w Thi Quibbl v ry well tak n , and put ith much ’ Laughture on all parties.

The fiction about the passing through Lo ndon and down the Thames will not be harshly judge d when it is re me mbe re d that do ubtless the motive ofthe King was to throw offthe scent F 1 BOSCOBEL LITERATURE : SOME RECENT INDS . 7 the authorities in the South of England and so save his friends fro m the fe arful conse que nces of having aide d him in his flight . the e o th e e e for so e e rs At Fr nch C urt King r main d m y a , but , says Cunningham in his Live s ofEmine nt and Illustrious English " n his e o s e so s e of e re s e me , lic nti u charact r on tripp d him th p ct of the Fre nch Court and in a moment of splee n he retire d to o o e he o e e to his the een C l gne , wher c mplain d , in a l tter Aunt , Qu e a e e wa t oo fiddlers so e o e of Boh mi , that th r s a wan of g d and m n " of e e capable t aching himself and his court the new dances . Sur ly nothing more se ve re has e ver bee n said about Charles II . than rofi a f that his p ig cy offende d the Court o Louis XIV . Tx H i all all and Titus Oates .

BY KARL CHERRY .

o appre ciate the full signific ance of the wrong that was e to o s o al the ea 1678 we don L rd A t n of Tix l in y r , must for a mome nt glance at the wrong-he ade dness of which his a es or a e s o was u e e o e nc t , Sir W lt r A t n , g ilty , a c ntury b f r that date . It will be instructive to e xte nd this Study ove r the whole of that ce ntury ; for the history of Tixall H all affords an inte re sting e e of the s of the e c e of the xampl wing p ndulum , and in id ntally utte r futility ofpe rsecution as a we apon in high c ontroversy . In 1579 we fin dthat Tixall Hall is the local he adquarte rs of a party ple dge d to the perse cution and uprooting of the Catholics. The re

o e 1679 the e of o c s . f r , in Hall has be come the lo cal centr Cath li i m

N o re action could be more logical n o seq uel more ine vitable . al e was e e s as s c ofthe Sir W t r an ard nt Prot tant , and a ju ti e ” pe ace ke pt a sharp e ye on the dire c tors of th e J e suit strong o s of fo s e — o s o os o e h ld Sta f rd hir Alt n , A t n Hall , Biddulph , B c b l ,

os e fo . o s e fo e o M el y , Sta f rd , St Th ma (n ar Sta f rd), Swinn rt n , and

- o e a o . ee the s o the e s W lv rh mpt n Ind d, in la t name d t wn , fath r had become so nume rous and so influential that the place was known " as o a e o e . R ma P rva , or Littl R m

e e . ev so or Le uson e a s oo c H r Mr L i n , , k pt large ch l whi h a fe w ye ars late r was made the subje c t ofa raid . Mr . Levison and is s e e e e e se to o o the o se h pupil w r appr h nd d and nt L nd n , and h u

was s e . t o oo s e e se z e e s ran ack d Many Ca h lic b k w r i d , and a ch t e e al e e s of containing sacre d vessels . S v r r mind r that raid are e e e c o s f prese rve d among th Domestic Stat Pape rs. Th y n ist o e e s the of Sir o o e e sse to draft l tt r in handwriting J hn C k , addr d

the ns o of e e e s . As e e the ki f lk the juv nile d linqu nt an xampl , o o is the o e was se Sir e rs of f ll wing n t that nt to John P all , o s e af s e H r l y , St ford hir

e as o or s e of o of Wh re , J hn Stanf d , onn William Stanf rd , e al the o s of fo Es e e o MS P rry H l , in C unti Sta f rd, quir , b ing ab ut [ f e w e o o o e e the torn] ye ars o ag , as lat ly f und am ng th r childr n at TIXALL HALL AN D TITUS GATES . 73

o se of ne i e e he was o . Le uson e Coun t e o e s h u Mr in th af r aid , wh r e as e his train d up a scholle r under a Priest or J e suit . In r gard of e ss bloude he e c a e o n arne in , b ing your grand hild , we h v th ught fitt to o s or he ese re put him into y ur hand f t pr nt , praying and quiring you to ke e p him in your custody until furthe r orde rs shall be e for his e o c tak n ducati n , & . 1 35 e the o e a 9 D ec . 6 . Dat d at C urt at Whit h ll ,

c h . of . Signe d . Lo . Ar p Cant

ee e . Lo . K p r

e . e . Mr . S cy Cok

The e of al e s o was ess a s attitud Sir W t r A t n l pate rn l than thi , and the victim of his most virule nt animosity was Fathe r Sutto n . In c oss-e s e s e c e e r xamining thi pri t , Sir Walt r put an a ut acc nt on his e s o s c e s r the so e is s f qu ti n by twi t iking pri n r with h ta f, and by f o knocking him down . Sir Walter committe d him to Sta ford ga l

and insiste d upon giving e vide nce against him at the Assizes . H e prote ste d that if his e vide nc e we re n ot ac c e pte d he would ne ve r sit on he was os ec so t be nch again . That a pr p t alarming that the o le t e his s o e s e C urt him hav will , and h rtly aft rward Fath r o was offthe e c ut o e e for h e Sutt n put ladd r , and d wn v ry liv ly , s o o his e e e e s e e e s o e ese t od up n f t , and aft r b ing di m mb r d p k th o s o oo c e God o e ou ! e w rd , O , th u bl dy but h r , f rgiv y Th n , calling ”

o es s an d he e x e . up n J u Mary , pir d oo c e e the o fo h o th e That t k pla n ar ga l at Sta f rd, in w ich t wn following Roman Catholic s we re arraigne d by Sir Walte r Aston for having he ard Fathe r Sutton rec ite the Mass : Erasmus oule sle Maxfield s e s a c s W y and William , E quir ; Edw rd and Fran i e t e e M nors Thornton and Edward Spratt , g n l m n ; and William y , ” e e e all se e ce to e e e e ye oman . Th y w r nt n d d ath , but w r ultimat ly field o e e e l f e s. Max et off on payment o he avy fin , h w v r , di d in H e was th e Stafford gaol while still unde r se nte nce of de ath . f o s axfield who was o e s e o fathe r o Th ma M , b rn at Ch t rt n Hall ,

and was subse que ntly e xecute d for offic iating as a prie st . f e o e su ss o e That also was the fate o Fath r S utham , a J it mi i n r was se z e the al e s c e fo . H e of Ba wi h , n ar Sta f rd i d at tar , hurri d i e s e s fe w ee s his e to Staffo rd gaol n his v tm nt , and in a w k h ad

on a spe ar adorne d one of th e gate s of the town . fo o e Many Roman Catholics die d in gaol at Sta f rd , am ng th m i ware s e ss o V z e of be ing William Knowle s of K d , Mi tr J an y K L . L AN D D 74 TI A I HAL TITUS ATES .

and V z e of t e e of o -on - e Edmund y S oke William D g , Burt n Tr nt , was c o e to the o was e s mmitt d ga l , but privately hang d by a magi e his o s The V z es trat and c n table in the house of the forme r . y e e o of the s e as f s V z e the w r pr bably am family that o Ur ula y , o e of s ee m th r Lady Stafford . In that case Stawn (Stawnton )ha b n s e o s or o e o an e s s for mi tak n by a c pyi t , m r pr bably , by amanu n i ,

o e . was e se c s e ere in St k Burial r fu d in a hurchyard , o th y w all “ terre d The r in F iary at Stafford . he c e sse es . was on the o e t A ntury pa d, Charl II thr n , and f The J esuits o Staffordshire we re still unde r close supe rvision . e o s o o e e was se o at r igning L rd A t n , h w v r, him lf a Cath lic , and al e ce e the e as o o e e e e at Tixall H l r iv d Fath rs h n ur d gu sts . H r , an e e o e sc e o e of e o c y rat , th y c uld ap fr m that R ign T rr r whi h had bee n institute d by the supposed disclosure s of Titus Oates . It was belie ve d that a wide -spre ad p lot was on foot to murder the to e th e e of o on the o e to e s s King , plac Duk Y rk thr n , and tabli h e e e the Catholic religion in England . W are n ot c once rne d h r the s or o s oft e with right wr ng h Plot as a whole , but only with it e ec o the o of i e is e o s ff t up n l rd Tixall Hall and h s gu sts . It n ugh to sa e e the c se of o n ot one o ofe e e y that , xc pt in a C leman , i ta vid nc was o c e ee o e s o o e pr du d which , had it b n pr p rly ifted , c uld pr v on e f the that any o prisone rs had bee n guilty of tre ason . That the re was a c onspirac y is c e rtain so much is conclusive ly prove d by the ciphe r le tte rs in the posse ssion of the Fitzhe rbe rts but it was a c onspiracy that had as its o bj e ct nothing more criminal — than the introduction of the Catholic religion into England a w s e e o e ai n ot e so . e e is mi d m an ur, but c rt nly high tr a n Th r a ide mo ral diffe re nce as we ll as te c hnical distinction be twee n the two but the English pe ople had soon re ache d that stage in the de velop f di c i e me nt o Lynch Law at which s riminat on nds. To e the s o is s fe o e r ad t ry to u f r humiliation . A wh l nation sudde nly be came incapable of the most e le mentary e xe rcise of e aso o o se se o e o s al e s e e r n and c mm n n a wh l nati n , piritu ly d c nd d e ess e was s its s e o from f arl Luth r, haking in hoes ; a whol nati n dishonoure d itse lf in the most conte mptible trave sty o f justice that has e ve r disgrac e d the annals of English history ; a whole ’ o the s o foe of e s r out-Lo ola d o o the er e nati n , w rn J uit y , y L y la in p p tration of r e oo c o e o e o o e ss c im that g d might m a wh l nati n , pr f ing for the es o s of o e e c e e be conte mpt J uit v w b di n , allowe dits lf to ose the e s of s e ledby the n at b he t a wa tr l and a charlatan .

6 TIXAL . - 7 I HALL AND TITOS ou t s.

e e e the o r c iv d pr mise ofanother 400to accomplish the work . Gavan

e e o ss e me e for se es s ou th r up n a ur d that , in r turn my rvic , I h ld be e olle the ft e e who o e o h s. nr d in Cal ndar Saint Turn r , [ v luntarily ’ s e e e se as e s two e rs a o Ev e r s c e urr nd r d him lf a J uit) y a g , in y hamb r , o e the e of th e oo to o o e the pl tt d d ath King , and undert k pr m t o c e s e s s w e r e s e c o affair in W r t r hire . I a a l tte r from Wa ing [J uit R t r of o o e s e e n s o o e o e L nd n , aft rward x cute d o thi inf rmati n] dat d Oct b r 4 1678 c ese o s e e s e s e e , , in whi h th w rd w r di tinctly writt n Thi v ning ’ s e o e is Ju tic G dfr y despatc he d . On this information Lord Aston was impe ache d and c om mitte d to the e e e o e e e e es e Tow r . S v ral th r laym n w r arr t d and ale e s e lodge d in Stafford g aol . H ow thoroughly Dugd had refr h d ” his me mory is appare nt in the following lette r from Sir Robert o e h e e e to . . e se e o s t S uthw ll Mr G Tr by, and pre rv d am ng t Fitzh rb rt Manusc ripts — 16 9 . e s I e n ow o e e e 7 Marc h 28 . Spring Gard n hav in b di nc to the orde rs of the Lords of th e [Committee] o f Examinations o the o e the 15th or 25th s e e e ose ab ut Pl tt , dat d in tant , r vi w d all th bundle s that we re se nt from the Counc ill of matte rs arising sinc e e f The 4 Tixal e th first o January last . 2 pape rs found at I gav ou e o e e s e e s of e c on y in th ir rd r Tu day night , with a g n ral li t th ir e s e e wri f fo t nt . In thre le tt rs tt from on e William Southall o Sta f rd e e o er shire he says that Mr. Higgens wh o [w nt] by th name of R b t e was e H i h one he o e s e s Palm r tak n at g [High Onn] , that pr v [a] pri t

‘ i e o s anloe e s r e s and s s nt to gaole . That Th ma M prov a p i t and c s e so was e se nt to gaole . That Fran i L vi n tak n and

se to o e . One e e s e su o e c c se e nt ga l P t r , a J it (ft n a u d by Dugdal i e o so o e for the c onspirac y) s the re also in gaole . Ge org H b n (f rm rly e to the o o e e the or a t nnant L rd Staff rd , and lat ly t nnant to L d

s o o of the c o s c as is e s e . A t n , and kn wing n pira y t tifi d by Mr Dug ’ f dale s e vide nc e of the 24th or 29th Dec e mbe r and l t o Fe b . ) n o se t t e o s o is in the same gaole . O e N r[th] ( rvant o h L rd A t n and nephe w to Pic ke ring)is in the same gaole for infamous words

‘ i s n e . e o o s his Ma e stie e s e . e e s again t j , t tifi d by Mr Dugdal Th r al

on e s to . e e o e o e e o s Cott , pri t Mr H v ningham , wh m Dugdal ft n m nti n e the c o s c e 86 e tes of a e to be engag d in n pira y, but b ing y a g and he e i s mi s th e s of o s e infirm , r ma n with a ttimu in hand a c n tabl the re . ’

S outh all s s e e of the 20th of Fe b . o e is In Mr . aid l tt r n tic of o e - oss who e o l e take n of Mr . Howard H r Cr , , wh n S utha l cam TIXALL HALL AN D TITUS OATES . 77

to his o s to e e o e a s o . h u e with a warrant s arch , h kn ck d pi t l at him h s Lewson That in t e ame le tte r it is said that Mr .

' o a e th e se ss o s o se e e D e to e G wr , b ing at i n , did b rv Sir Sym n g giv the e o e o c o c e s s e s charg m r fav urably n rning Papi t than oth r , and did e e o el e th r up n t l him that he spoke more like a J e suit than a justic . e t i l e 9 e e o u . o he T xa s N o . M m rand m That am ng pap r , th r is e e o f the 28th e e e 1676 ritt the ese a l tt r D c mb r, , w from pr nt o s o to his e s o s how e e ss th e L rd A t n fath r, which h w gr at kindn o fo o e sse o s e e e e ro L rd Sta f rd pr f d t ward th m , and that th y w r p c so e e e of o o his a e stie c se e s uring m l tt r fav ur fr m M j whi h , it m , os e e e e e c t this Lord much hammering . P rhaps if such l tt r w r se e o e to o e s n [it w uld] giv light th r thing .

A so h Ti 3 e e i e e e os . l in t e xal bundle N o . th r s a l tt r sign d Th Whit rev e o e or e c e s the o g with ut dat plac , by whi h it app ar L rd s o e e e his o se e e e e writt A t n had b n twic at h u , and if that l tt r w r ' s e m ort uc e e . e s sco e r o i v er m s inc Mr Ot di v y it w uld p y h , p cially if this be the same Whitgre v e who IS a justice of the p e ace of o le i e e e e of his o e wh m Mr . Dugda can g v t vid nc c rr ” s on d c p en y with the Papists . e E e s or E e th e e e Fath r v r v ry, Tixall chaplain , aft r a numb r f o e es e s c o e to e s e to the o e . hairbr adth cap , ntriv d cap C ntin nt Fathe r Gavan ofWolve rhampton and a gue st at Tixall was arre ste d ’ in o o c o c e e the c o c s be d the s e s of o L nd n , n al d in a hman in tabl C unt l Wo e ste n . o e o e o e e e e y y Sh rtly b f r that , h w v r , Fath r Ir land , ’

o e es of o s o s ee e e e e . an th r gu t L rd A t n , had b n tri d and x cut d During the trial of Gavan we get an interestin g glimpse of on f e e e phase in the c he que re d history o Boscobel Hous . Fath r e s o be e o e was e e to o th e f s Ir land , it h uld m nti n d, r lat d b th Gi fard the Pe n de rels is c o ec o osc o el and , and it in nn ti n with him that B b ’ ente re d at on e point into Gavan s trial

drell his e e Pe ndrell s oo . Pe n Gavan . Call Mr and wif [Th n t d up ] w e ou see . e ? sa The L ord Chief justice . Wh n did y Mr Ir land I

him on th e 2n d and 3rd of Septe mbe r .

did ou see osc o e . C . e e The L . Wh r y him At B b l H ow do ou o ou saw e e ? e The L . C . y kn w y him th r My wif _

being paid for his die t se t down the day . H e e to so o ou e e e The L . C. What cam j urn with y Th y w r

with me for their me als and so my wife set it down . 8 E 7 TIXALL HALL AND rrrus GAT S .

h T e L C. o e . Do you set down the day ofthe month Whe n any n o e s to see ou P Ye s o e we are for e c m y , my l rd , wh n paid th ir e di t . he L e C . e T . What D o you ke e p a public house I k p The Ro O yal ak .

The of e was e e s too for o e trial Fath r Gavan int r ting , , an th r re ason : h e de mande d to be trie d by the obsolete but still legal e o of o e e n or e f s o e o al m th d trial by rd al. N ither that fort m r rati n in his ably c onduc te d de fenc e could save him for the prose c ution attache d an ine xplic able degree of importance to the following le tte r addre sse d by Edward Pete rs to a ne ighbour and fellow je suit in Burton-on -Tre nt ese for ono i his e r . s a Th h ur d f end, Mr William Tun t ll at

Burton .

. e Hon and d ar Sir, e to o the o o c s to o I hav but time c nvey f ll wing parti ular y u. s to e ou o e see e to our Fir t , I am giv y n tic that it hath m d fitting lt ro c to e s e Consu . P v . & th t of e o Ma t r , fix l day April n xt (Stil Vete ri for e e o o of our c o e o on ) the m ting at L nd n ngr gati n , which all ose s f e are to be ese e e day th that have a u frag pr nt th r , that e be e to e e o the s e on the 24th th y may r ady giv a b ginning t am , ’

is the e e . e o e s You are e to e which n xt aft r St G rg Day . warn d hav us e e o e o oc s o s o not e j and th r f r , if y ur ca i n h uld p rmit ou to be e se ou are to s as to the e nd o e s y pr nt , y ignify much that th r e s be o e e to s e c e one i in th ir rank rd r d upply your abs n . Every s e also not to s e to o o o e o e the e o e mind d ha t n L nd n l ng b f r tim app int d , n or to e o the o the e e be o e app ar much ab ut t wn until m ting v r , e s o s o s o be e to s s e the es n a l t cca i n h uld giv n u p ct d ig . Fin lly , se c re cy as to time and place is much re c omme nde d to all those e e e s o s as w l e ofits wn e that r c iv umm n , il app ar o nature ne c ssary . D o o olono Di o e o o e ro . L Terti pr min S sc B n fact. P v uniensis " n i Lugdunne s sj. This le tte r was ne ithe r addre sse d to Gavan n or writte n by wa e e o e m ss e e e c e s . c o o him , and th r f r inad i ibl in vid n In njuncti n th e s o e s e e of e o e e was with un upp rt d tat m nt Dugdal , h w v r, it e to the f As e instrumental in s nding him sca fold . r gards the le tte r he e e e o t . ul e its lf, a docum nt am ng Harl ian MSS f ly xplains the

” e warn in h as een iv en us a ou are en i e to a vo e. i. ., g b g th t y t tl d t TIXALL HALL AND u rn s on e s. 79

e e es e e e o e we o s e e o e e s o ref r nc th r in . B f r c n id r th m , h w v r, it h uld be state d that the J e suits had e laborate d a complic ate d and in e nious s s e of c e s e oo so dis e g y t m iph r. In thi th y t k chil h a d light o e e e s e o s we e e t o that ft n , in xamining J uit r c rd , find p rf c ly inn ce nt re marks hidde n away in a c ryptogrammic maze of figure s and e o e s s s e e os esse s s e e g m tric ign . Had thi l tt r p s d a ini t r m aning is it likely that the write r would have made it de ciphe rable But the e e n o s e s was e e e e l tt r had uch m aning, and thi mad p rf ctly cl ar at the trial an dis confirme d by the Harle ian manuscript to whic h e e e e The e s of the o e o was to e ec I hav r f rr d . d ign C ngr gati n l t from its numbe r a proc urator to procee d to Rome to inform ” the e e of e e The G n ral th ir particular and privat affairs . Latin passage at the en dofthe le tte r e mbodie d nothing more tre asonable a o o u o e e s be ofe e for the th n a Cath lic f rm la , rd ring that pray r f r d e ose f o e e the e e c e r p o s m b ne factor ofthe Society . In pr s nt instan thre e Masse s we re to be said on be half of a de ce ase d be ne factor ofthe o e of s pr vinc Lyon . It was on the Christmas Ev e of 1678 that Dugdale laid his f s o o s the al ro o o c s. e fir t inf rmati n again t Tix l g up Cath li Wh n , in the o o e he was e e e o e the f ll wing F bruary , xamin d b f r King in ” o c he s l r e e e s e his e o C un il , had til fu th r r fr h d m m ry and had broc ade d his original aflidav its with pic ture sque and imagina h e o is sc of was e tive de tails . T foll wing a tran ript what tak n o on s e o s is e e e to be se e o l d wn thi latt r cca ion , and , I b li v , n n y r o it in the Fitzhe rbe rt Colle ction of Manuscripts . Apa t fr m s e e e es to oc e so s e s the o e is e e s r f r nc l al p r n and plac , d cum nt int r ting as showing how pure ly he arsay was the charac te r of the evide nce dm e for o e ofth e e o e e e e l e o to con a itt d, n n p pl nam d w r ca l d up n firm the information : o o e the e sai he e ore The inf rmant wr t Cl rk th that hath b f , ds o se c ai e the o s of the o ee e in i c ur , a qu nt d L rd C mmitt that , whil he was in prison at Stafford and be fore he c ame to make his con fession e e was c s o se s e o he o , th r mu h di c ur pr ad abr ad that w uld o e o c e o e E e was se o er c nf ss. Up n whi h r p rt , Elizab th ld nt v by f the e s o . o e . o s he o s o to . e t L rd A t n Mr Fitt r, pri t Mr F wl r at St Th ma , de siring him to have a me e ting with his Lordship in a c e rtain e c o e e the e s e c was o e cc o field call d Bran t , n ar Riv r id , whi h d n a rd ’

i l W e e e o e he o one of . o e s ng y. h n Fitt r cam h m t ld Mr F wl r

Re fresh your memory was th e fav ourite e xhortation o fLord Chie f J ustice i i se S a oggs when a Crown witn ess contrad cte d h m lf. 80 TIXALL HALL AND rrrv s OATES .

e s sse e s o c e o e e daught r what had pa d , h ar ay n e r m v d , nam ly , that e s o s of his dis th y, di c ur ing of the informant and of the dange r

o e i. e . sc os o s o e e e e c v ring [ , di l ing] all , L rd A t n did v n w p , and that Fitte r did tell his lordship be suspe cte d that the informant would o e r e i o e he did not pr v unt u , and that h s lordship had d n ill that i de spatc h him be fore e ver he (Dugdale ) we nt out of h s house . ’

s is ou se . o e o to e e Thi d c r Mr F wl r s daughte r t ld Elizab th Eld , e s c e e o e she e e sse e of s e o e h ar ay twi r m v d, b ing a m ng r tru t mpl y d to e s o e to the o b pe ak the said me e ting . And Elde did c m inf rmant e he was so fo c is two e s o whil in pri n at Sta f rd, whi h but mil fr m ro h e so e esse e e e da did Tixall f m which had m m ng r v ry y, and ” e th e t i e e o e e o e e o . s e s r lat wh l matt r him That h ar ay thric r m v d , Dugdale himself making the fourth me dium through which the s o e e it o i t ry had filt r d in s j urne y to ts pre se nt audie nce . H e e s i e he e his sc o e furth r a th that , aft r that , mad di v ry [ s e e the e s e for the disclo ure] . Th r upon Justic issu d warrants se izure ofGe orge Hobson and Ge orge North (which North is ne phe w to o f e Picke ring)b th o th m se rvants in the ho use ofth e Lord Aston . The s e e se e e s o the o s e of warrant w r rv d by Edward Pr t n , c n tabl the e a so se to the s o o o s plac , and l a rvant aid l rd . What f ll w , o n ot se c i was en o es e to alth ugh in it lf in rim nating , ing i usly d ign d s o o s o e e f e - The s o was h w that L rd A t n w nt in f ar o his x bailiff . t ry n e base d o h arsay that had passe d through at le ast four c hannels . It was reported [the italic s are mine] that Lord Aston there upon said in a gre at passion that he was sorry he had n ot run th e ih o i f rmant through with h s sword be fore he went out of the house . The e o of ese o s c e to r e e e so r p rt th w rd am Ma y and Elizab th St v n n , e s of the e o of afo one of e to daught r th n May r St f rd, and by th m ’ ft e the e o h o s o e wh o o the o e o . wif inf rmant ga l r , t ld inf rmant th re f ' H e e e s s o to ose o o e of o s o s did r p at thi t ry J ph Tarb y , an th r L rd A t n w se s ho e to see so . o e rvant , cam him in p ri n Inf rmant bid him t ll his lordship that he was sorry Lord Aston should have had any t The e e e thoughts o do him such injury . n xt day Tarboy r turn d to the o the o s e e s o inf rmant , having with him c n tabl , Pr t n , to te stify that he had ne ve r he ard his lordship say isofan d that his ’ lordship did se nd him word that he ne ve r wishe d the informant s e to ak e s e all the ess he o e fing r , but wi h d him , happin c uld imagin , and hope d all would do well and that the informant might come i e back to h s se rvic . r 81 rxau. HALL AND m us on e s.

o e the of one of he s s a witn ess Unf rtunat ly, at trial t su pect , o r the Crown , a the S fo s e s e f Sir William B got , ta f rd hir magi trat , s o e o s so e his e ff the o s w r that L rd A ton di wn d lat baili with w rd , " e i o se of e The o was o e to H s n rvant min . contradicti n all w d ss the e e e e m s t e a pa , and inf r nc r mained in the ind of h jury th t o s e so to s i e e L rd A ton had r a n ingratiate him elf with h s lat s rvant . I have de vote d a good de al ofspace to the record ofthis trumpe ry e is s e as s e e o the so of incid nt , but it in tructiv a p cim n f rt flimsy s f was e e as se o s ev e e s c se tu f that acc pt d ri u id nc again t the ac u d . e es was o to s e e e Wh n Oat finally br ught ju tic , it b came vident who ee e e e e e e . e that had Fath r Ir land , had b n x cut d, call d Mr G rard

of e s e he s e o e alibi. was e Hild r ton , mu t hav pr v d an Why G rard n ot c alle d ? Because the prisone r had been fore stalled by Dug a e who c o sc ous the e e e e in is o e d l , , n i of vid nc G rard had it h p w r to e e o e s e e e of give , d priv d him of that p w r by the impl exp di nt

e i of his e . The o o o e e as so d pr ving him lib rty inf rmati n , h w v r, w o o s alse the o n ot e to al bvi u ly f that Cr wn dare bring G rard tri . Ne ithe r was the re any ne e d to do so it was sufficie nt to kee p him f e o ke . s e or e e e o s und r l ck and y Thi th y did n arly tw lv m nth , after e el was s e e e e w e o e which tim Ir and af ly x cut d, hile G rard btain d his rele ase by dying miserably of exhaustion in solitary con fin e ment . a e - so of Sir e ar H e w s the gr at grand n Gilbert G r d, Attorne y e s e ofthe o s to e e E e wa Ge n ral and Ma t r R ll Qu n lizab th . It s this e who r e o e s o in ffo Sir Gilb rt du ing that r ign b ught Hild r t ne, Sta rd ’ e o on e e o e o . the se of Du dale s shir , fr m G rg C llier In ca g victim , it is inte re sting to obse rve that some poetical justice was done ’ e on l 1685 was on e the sses by G rard s s , Wi liam , who, in , of witne es was s u e al the e against Oat , and in tr m nt in bringing perjur r i - the m under the s x thonge d whip of public hang an . ’ Dugdale s e ne rgie s we re be gin ning to flag but still the panic o e s his s e ss stricke n public crie d for m r victim , and ucc in bringing e s of o e o o e e to the sc affold Fath r Atkin , W lv rhampt n , c mpl t ly restore d to him the confide nce and re gardof the magistrates and e e the gratitude of his fe llow countryme n . That gratitud b came ” was e esse e e e e o s e lyrical, and xpr d in an xtr m ly rar br ad id , a few lines of which will se rve to show the state of feeling in the country 82 TIXALL HALL AND rrrus oars s.

' The World is all on fire in J e sus Name ' By quick n os d J e suits who hunt for Game ; Whose hidde n subtile souls in Malace burn To o s an d to r ruin mighty Nati n , tu n e e s es the r s Th ir Citi s into A h , cut St ing all o e e s to s Of S ci ti , murder King n e ee ! And Kingdoms at o e blow . O wick d S d

Such monsters Affrick never yet did bree d .

01!

’ e nd s o e so st They min d , a thou did t c untermin fa To ei o s on e l s blow the m and th r Pl t up at b a t , e s i a a s sue Lik a Phy ician that s lw y r , ’ Thou did st not use thy re medies for Cure Till the dise ase was ripe the n from thy sk once The y an d the ir Fire wo rks we re blown up at once A pill so bitte r to the Vulgar sight The e th e o s e e o to Plott rs and Pl t w r br ught light , Force d and compelle d by thine ingenious Art

To vomit up the poyson of the He art . ’ And had not Provide nce thus stop p d the Flood ” England had swum in he r own scarle t blood .

The ve ry fact that these forgotte n line s e xhibit conside rable literary powe r indicate s the hold that fanaticism had obtaine d e ve n upon the e ducate d and cultivate d classes. the s of the e e s no e e was In ca e ag d Fath r Atkin , pret nc

e to he o e wa c e o . mad implicate him in t pl t . H s indi t d at Staff rd for high tre ason he was found guilty ofadministe ring the sacra di is he e e . o t m nt In c nclu ng h summing up , Lord Chie f Justic denounce d him to the jury as one wh o had de parte d from the ’ s e e e ss of s s e o r implicity and m kn Chri t t aching , and w uld b ing o of oo ee n ot sa o e to ou in a religi n bl d and tyranny . I n d y m r y ’ he e ou ee n o o the box t matt r s plain . I think y n d t stir out fr m ” do as ou wl The r e e e d of but y i l . ju y r turn d a v r ict guilty and the judge showed his abhorre nce of a religion ofblood and tyranny by passing upon the oldman a sente nce so re volting and harrowing s c o be For al that in these day it ann t put into print . m ignant cruelty it has ne ve r been surpasse d by the most de base d of cannibal ost sses e e an e o savages. It alm pa b li f that y Christian judg c uld o ss is s e ve r have force d such w rds to pa h lip , that any man can al as to s e r an s o r ever have been so c lous mangle , di memb , ddi hon u

8 TIXALI. rr 4 HALL AND rus GATES.

o s no o for r That , h wever, doe t ex nerate Bishop Burnet b anding his e o the o e e . e e m m ry in ab minabl way h did He had b n guilty , ro e s o of e c es is o hadal o s w t that hi t rian , gr at vi in h y uth which m t e a to t i e is not o n prov d fat l him . T ha s a state m nt that nly u s o e a s e o ofe e e is e o i e upp rt d by ingl i ta vid nc , but dir ctly c ntrad ct d all we of t f - T e by know he e arly life o this ill fate d noble man . h worst that can be said of him is that he was childish and ove r fond of the airing of small grievances on e whose life was largely governe d by small pre judices and fille d by small an d inoffe nsive o e H e was e a s . o f e H w s h bbi a Fell w o th Royal Soci ty . e ee e o e Rere sb to be e a e th e o e o s d m d, wr t y, w k r than th r l rd in the o e as e e e b T w r, and w ther for purpos ly marke d out to e first " o t on An d o on he was e o e h e o se of br ugh . br ught , b f r t H u s e e e e as o Lord , wh n Dugdal gav evidenc foll ws I e e e e e e e was a ser a hav b n fr qu ntly acquaint d , whil I vant t ’ ’ o s o s o o om to o s o se my L rd A t n , with my l rd Staff rd c ing my l rd h u

the o . o ee e e se e e s in c untry And, my l rd having b n th r v ral tim , ’

e to s c . e s e s o o I cam u h intimacy, by Mr Ev r m an , that my l rd w uld

e e s o s me . o the e en of s fr qu ntly di c ur e with Ab ut latt r d Augu t, or so e e e e o s o o fo ands e m day in S pt mb r, L rd A t n , L rd Sta f rd, ev ral ’ o e e e e e oo o s on s o se th r g ntlem n w r in a r m in my l rd A t h u , and e s was e to e for ou by means of Mr . Ev r I admitt d h ar my enc rage e e e e e he me nt. And th r I h ard them fully d termine that to tak t life of the King was the best way the y could resolve on , as the es e s to o e e ow e o speedi t m an intr duc th ir n r ligi n . ’ o e e in e e e o e bne tt s o se S m tim S pt mb r, my l rd b ing at Mr . A h u fo or fo e to ix o a o in Staf rd. my l d Sta f rd cam T all up n Sunday m rn i e t e e ss. e at the o e e ing to he ar Ma I me ting him ut r gat [ . h w ll ” - i ouse a e o h s o se . e e o con k nown gate h ) he light dfr m h r Wh r up n, ti ued i e ss o fo o se £500 to ass s t e n w tn , L rd Sta f rd pr mi d him i t h m he wa in bringing in the Roman Catholic religion . T King s to e wa to be o The ess also be killed and Dugdal s can nise d. witn alle ge d that he he ard treasonable conve rsation whe n he was e e e o ak ee ee i standing conc al d b hind an tr at Tixall . That tr s e e s e t is so e still standing on th e ast rn id of he present hall. It m ’ ”

e fo s . o his s or times call d Sta f rd Oak , and Dr Langf rd, in Hi t y fo sh w c s e le es o s oak of Sta f rd ire and War i k hir , whi d cribing fam u ees s s e s Oak at e e its e so e tr , ay Oat , Tixall , d riv d nam in m way ” from Titus Oates. 8 TI XALL HALL AND u rns GATES . 5

o o a e s a e who e s e L rd Staffrd c ll d Sir Thoma Whitgre v , att t d t al we s es e eso e e e the e x tha Dugd e , h n fir t arr t d , had r lut ly d ni d istenc e of o l s s o u e any pl t at al . Othe r witnes e sw re that D gdal ofe e e e c e s the so e had f r d th m h avy bribe s to give e viden again t pri n r , ’ and finally Lord Stafford urge d the fact that Dugdale s e vide nce was s o e its un upp rt d in material de tails. e the i as e six s e nd was e e a i Aft r tr al had l t d day , an r ach d m d e e o c r m ny and circumstance which are worth re cording . The so e e e e o e l o was pri n r having b n r m v d , proc amati n made for s e the o e oo his se on the oo ilenc , and L rd High St ward t k at w l

s . He was e e e f s Rod ack att nd d by Gart r King o Arm , Black , and

- e e e e s . e e n the s e o s he oo nin mac b ar r Th n , b gi ning at pui n bar n , t k the e ofthe e e s o of o as s v rdict p r by w rd m uth , thu o e of e s o is li o s o My l rd Butl r W t n , Wil am L rd Vi c unt S f of e so e eo he s s ea e or not ta ford, guilty tr a n wh r f tand imp ch d , guilty N ot u o o o . g ilty, up n mine h n ur The es o was to the es who e e e o qu ti n put r t , mad r ply, ach up n i ’ h s o o as e e of the . s n e s s e h n ur a p r realm Of the pri o r kin m n , o o e o N ot c e s Lord M wbray al n f und him Guilty, a fa t that l nd s s e e s s to e e n the di r s H e was ini t r mpha i a r mark by Ev ly , a i t , ot ll i n a man belove d e specia y ofh s own family . a o of e - ou o fo was o By maj rity tw nty f r, L rd Sta f rd f und guilty of so he c s o se te e c has ee high tre a n , and t u t mary n nc , whi h b n f e e e to l e was sse o . th e e e o r f rr d a r ady, pa d up n him By cl m ncy the King the horror of that se nte nce was re duce d to simple be The e s o was se e e es o e he ading . qu ti n rai d wh th r Charl had p w r to e o h of e the s e o sse p rf rm t at act m rcy, and u ually human L rd Ru ll ve he me ntly de mande d that the full pe nalty of the law should be i o e e hi we do n ot a r out. The s c r ie d K ng , h w v r, had way, and c perhaps sufficie ntly re alise the grave dange r he was thus in urring. Charle s has le ft be hind him a me mory sadly besmirche d by unkingly

- o rofli ac . H e was o e e e e f lly and unmanly p g y , h w v r, kind h art d oss to the — an d he was o too indole nt , p ibly , play tyrant f rgiving to his c e o e e ss . Le t us e e o e ce to the point fw akn , th r f r , pla it r dit that on this occas ion he playe d the king and save d his peo ple from this crowning dishonour . e e e t e e 1680 se a e so s On the 29th of D c mb r in h y ar , ver l p r n t e o o fo as as hadgathered on h scaffold n which L rd Sta f rd , far he wo re o rs or w to see the old e r out . T was concerned, as Y a p rte , 86 S TIXALL HALL AND rrrus GATE .

l s re s c erk , we bu ily noting the throng of upturne d faces around them an d recognising the fe atures of more eminent personages in the s e e e e o a window and balconi s above . Th y w r j ined by man e er his o s o er s o . s who carri d ov h uld a t ut bag Thi he laid d wn , and o e i dtwo o s h s res. e e f a e an pr duc d wa Th y consist do an x bl ck ,

one was n ew t e o e l c e . e of which , h th r o d, ha ke d, and stain d Th n the headsman spre ad out a pie ce of black cloth some two yards and al e t c the s e who was n ow a o a h f in l ng h, on whi h pri on r , p pr ach o e o c oflin as o s e on ing , w uld hav t stretch himself . A w h i t d up

e e e the e s S . it w r paint d l tter W .

s the r so e o fo o e the s fo . At la t p i n r, L rd Sta f rd , m unt d ca f ld He aske d at on ce for the e xe cutione r and bought from him for se ve n guine as the clothes which h e himself was at that mome nt ’ e e e e he e w aring ; th y we re th he adsman s pe rquisite s . Th n w nt to the e e oft e i dg h scaffold and re ad h s spee ch . was and o e n t e e e It long , c ntaine d littl that had o alr ady b n l i e e e s said at the trial. H e conc ude d by publicly forgiving h s n mi ’ n he s a d by praye r for the King s happiness and welfare . T gi t ' of the old man s addre ss was e ntirely containe d in his closing words do n ow and sal o e e e I , upon my death vati n , av r that I n v r S o e one o ei e to es or Turbe rv ile or to o e e p k w rd th r Oat , , my kn wl dg , e e saw f r e e e S o e o v r them until my trial and o Dugdal , I n v r p k unt of t o o -bo or oo c e him any hing but ab ut a fo t y f tman and a ra , and e he e s e n ve r was then alone with him . All t punishm nt I wi h th m is that they may re pent and acknowle dge the wrong that they have done me . God forgive them ! I do with my las t e sse in o e e t e o o e -see br ath a rt my n c ncy, and hop h mnip t nt , all ing , s d i al ju t Go w ll de with me accordingly . sc f is S e to e if With that , be hande d a manu ript copy o h pe ch Sh r f s the es be or e to the - Corni h , with re qu t that it might f ward d King e s ed too e a e e to e his o e d ir , , that h might h v lib rty pray aft r w nt d

s o . ea e was e he e o e c e fa hi n L v grant d him, and kn lt d wn and r it d

i e e s e . e . e e ose to s e a Latin pray r Th n h r h f et , calm and r fr h d d ese e od ess ou e e 1 he e . Go G bl y , ge ntl m n cri d pr rv is s o as as a e o e God ess h Maje ty ; bey him faithfully I h v d n , and bl o all e e en y u , g ntl m I A ministe r approached and said o s n the e s the s Sir, d you di ow indulg nce of Romi h Church P 8 K I. TI AL HALL AN D TITUS OATES . 7

l r so sa a ou to do Sir , rep ied the p i ner dly , what h ve y with re o o e e sa the rc of ome o s my ligi n H w v r, I do y that Chu h R all w n o i u e c s for e e s nd lg n e murd r and lying, and whate ver I hav aid i e s tru . Have you re ce ive d n o absolution ” e e e e I hav r ceiv d non at all . You say that you ne ve r saw those witne sses e e saw of e e and I n v r any th m but Dugdal , that was whe n I ” s o to a o oo -b p ke him b ut a f t oy. s r e so e e e s e s o hi r e s he Having di t ibut d m k p ak am ng s f i nd ,

a o e his e to s ofhis o e e e , ll w d pag trip him c at and p ruk , and th n laid his e on the oc s e c e e o h ad bl k and tr t h d hims lf ut . e e was se due to so e s e s i on the Th r a pau , m mi und r tand ng part f o the e s . H e see e The s e rifs h ad man m d smitte n by stupidity . h f

s e e o w . Was he e s e for so e s t pp d f r ard waiting , th y a k d , m ign o the so e o fo who was e e s e fr m pri n r L rd Sta f rd , v ry d af, crambl d stifll his ee e He was s e y to f t and inquir d what they wante d . a k d

s h e e . e own e . what ign would giv N o sign at all . Tak your tim ’ b e o s t e God s will e done . I hOp y u will forgive me ? aid h

s do . e e e the s he s . The he ad man . I Th y w r last word aid e was al se e e at on e o So e e the s o f h ad virtu ly v r d bl w . nd d la t ’ D u dale c s an d th e s e e g s vi tim , la t phase in th trag dy of Tixall l Ha l . the Dugdale himself soon vanishe d from the sce ne . In trial o fColle dge in the following ye ar he swore to the truth ofa c e rtain e e e he e so e he de nial in vid nc had giv n , adding l mnly that had ne ve r suffere d from the dise ase me ntione d (whic h he was said to have cloake d by saying that he had bee n poisone d by Papists) and prote ste d that if it c ould be pro ve d by any physician that he had so suffe re d he was conten t that all the evidence he hadever given or e er should be discreditedf v . e o o e e as h e s For a witness to mak s b ld a chall ng that , mu t e e e e his own oce ce or h e be have perfe ct confid nc ith r in inn n , if ’ the r m r of the or e s . Du dale s guilty, in c i inal pa tiality auth iti g e was u ustifie d—n ot o e e the o s o s ess confide nc f lly j , h w v r , by c n ci u n

ofhis own innoc e nc e . s c o o o es t The most e minent phy i ian in L nd n , and a Pr t tan o e the el o ee e ea e for the withal , pr v d that f l w had b n und r tr tm nt dise ase mentione d his e vide nce was c onfirme d by the apothecary The ow e s e se who dispensed the presc riptions. Cr n , aft r that , di p n d 88 n q r r HALL AND r us DATES .

w s r s e e o a dl be ith the e vice of St phen Dugdale . Th y c uld h r y e e e to se xp ct d pro cute their own witne ss . It is a beneficent rule in mode rn c ourts ofjustice that a jury ’ s a be e o so e s e o s e o h ll k pt in ign rance of a pri n r pr vi u r c rd, until the y have re turned their verdic t conce rning that partic ular offe nce f o he s s e . The o e h as now o e o e e which tand charg d m m nt c m , h w v r, us e r e for v ry b i fly to rev ie w the previous re cord ofTitus Oates . H e s e s to h 1667 he e m ave bee n born to be e xpelled . In ’ e e e rs oo e ce he was e e e the nt red M rchant Taylo Sch l , wh n xp ll d in

s e e . He e e e e s o e e e am y ar nt r d at Gonvill and Caiu C ll g , Cambridg , ’ wa s o e e s e e . o s and c mp ll d wiftly to migrate . H ent re d St J hn l f o e e o se o r he was e e e . e C l g , fr m which at lea ning xp ll d H manage d

to e e s s . cr p into orde rs, and be came curate to his fathe rat Ha ting In conjunction with his paren t he trumpe d up a blac kmailing f The charge o an abominable nature against a sc hoolmaste r . e was s e and s e to t e ma e s indictm nt qua h d Titu , unabl pay h da g of w o f was as thrown int gaol . An indictme nt o pe rjury e e e ns ‘ was e so W e o pr f rr d agai t him while he in Dov r pri n , her up n he contrive d to esc ape from confine me nt and obtaine d a be rth ’ as on one s sh s . He was e e e e chaplain of the King ip xp ll d , and n xt became chaplain to the Protestants in the house hold of the Duke s he f o se ofNorfolk . Here he fir t conceive d t notion o w rming him lf o the se s the es e s s e se to the int cret of J uit fath r , and ubmitt d him lf e e o o Roman obedience . H e j oined a J e suit Coll g in Vallad lid , fr m

e s his oss al he was s ee e e e . which , by r a on of gr immor ity, p dily xp ll d e an was e e He joine d the English Seminary at St . Om r d xpell d

e 1678 . in Jun , wa man o 1689 e the e of e That s the for wh m , in , aft r Princ Orang e the o e the o se of o o s e sse e had asce nd d thr n , H u C mm n xpre d th ir e s eso the ose o re gard in the following t rm R lved , that pr cuti n of Titus Oates upon two indic tme nts for perjury in the Court of ’ o s e e s o the e s King s Be nch was a design t tifl th Popi h Pl t, that v rdict e e e o e e s e giv n th r up n wer corrupt, and that the judgem nt giv n thereupon we re corrupt and ille ga a was also to e e rs d e s This was passed , s a bill r v e the two ju gm nt e o e was o the o s in que stion . The latt r, h w ver, thr wn out by L rd , andthe most noto rious perjurer in the history ofEurope re maine d d a his a a ea a e in prison , and continue to m ke annu l pp r nc in the p illory. 8 TIXALL HALL AND rrrus on e s. 9

Of a s o of l o e s to- sa e that m n i n Tixa l , n thing r main day v the e s e e e - o s t o e e b autiful and ju tly c l brated gat h u e , tha ut r gat at o fo s o e e e a s e which L rd Sta f rd di m unt d , littl dr ming that the plau ibl se a who e was few o s to to the rv nt aid d him , in a m nth , bring him - s ffo . T e c e e ca ld h an i nt portal stands to day, calm and dignifi d , four-square to e ve ry troublesome storm that may beat upon its h o e o ve ne rable face . It as see n a nation g ad d int barbarity o e e s to- s s as e e le t us o by unf und d f ar day, it tand an mbl m, h pe , of w s s e e her e e n o a i er, an r, calm r England, guarding inh ritanc but e ss e e se e to the l watchful ov r h r lf . Unmove d by panic and d af e s s s of a s he a o o e h er es to vil ugge tion f natic , s h s thr wn p n gat o e s of all s e s of e l o s elie s e f llow r had r igi u b f , a king only that th y e e n ot the e of er ow e o s nor o e e e m ddl in ord ring h n d v tion , f rg t to t nd r to he rself the courtesy and conside ration that is due from uninvited est gu s . The Hero of Hopton Heath

BY KARL CHERRY .

r is perhaps n ot surprising that so little is known locally all the of the de tails of the battle of Hopton Heath . Of e s o s ofthe o o e e als w gr at hi t rian Civil War, Clarend n al n d ith

his c c o is c o se t s f o e e es it,and a unt mpri d in he pac e o s m tw nty lin , in whic h he hardly more than hin ts at the de spe rate nature o f the fighting and of the stake for which they fought . Equally me agre is his re fe rence to the heroic end of the irrec onc ilable ie who on 19 1643 s e out o the e Caval r , March , , da h d fr m imp r e o n of fo o e os fe s ill d t w Sta f rd and, f r m t fighting , Thi e e was e e o o 2n d a of o o the l ad r Sp nc r C mpt n , E rl N rthampt n ; story of his personal prowess and of the e ngage me nt in which he fell forms the subj e c t of this brief histo ric al study . c o e o o of the the ossess o of A nt mp rary p rtrait Earl, in p i n ' th e s o f or a o be se e the e s se Marqui N th mpt n , may n at latt r at Th f w c es of Castle Ashby . e handsome face still be ars a e tra of bygone dissipation ; but the c ounte nance is one of truly t e o o . The e e s are set e ea e ss e h r ic m uld y wid apart , frank, f rl , y kindly withal ; chin and lips seem informe d by the very spirit of the battle axe ; and the nose is that of one who had ne ve r snivelle d in shame or dishonour ; who had ne ver c ringe d e ve n t the se who al m e o e his God o King him lf ; had w ked hu bly b f r , and be fore Him alone . o the ss s o s are s on the s e Alth ugh cla ic hi t rian ilent ubj ct , the re has be en discovere d in the Library of the British Museum e -s e e t e a dusty, tim tain d pamphle t of gr at rarity , and h little tract adds considerably to our knowle dge of the Earl and of f hi The e was e the circumstances o s de ath . pamphl t writt n by the f w e t e an e yewitne ss of fray a e days aft r he battl , and is e ntitle d The Battaile on Hopton He ath in Staffordshire ’ betwe en his Majestie s Forces under the Right Honourable

92 m s HERO or HOPI‘ 'ON HEATH

s o a e o e o e e e e troublOus p ent in c mp rativ peace . Th s , h w v r, w r es for our o n the e ose of the rr s tim county t w , and r p ga i on was soon to be rude ly broke n About 12 of the clock we had intelligence that Sir Wil e e o an d o e o e all e liam Br r t n Sir J hn G ll , having j in d th ir orc es of o se e e e o f about H r and Foot , w r plac d up n a e e o o e e o a e e s o H ath , call d H pt n H ath , n ar a t wn c ll d W t n , ” so e two es sic m mil [ ] from Stafford . ” oo s e ! was o e for all e t B t and addl the rd r , kn w tha the two gre at parties we re to come to grips at last ; and fo ee o As the o s e s s e e Sta f rd had b n waiting l ng . w r hipp r tr am d ’ ’

t f . ou o s . a s o the St Mary and St Ch d int nipping March air,

' they be held a party of 900 horse go clatten ng through the gate to offer battle to a force nearly four times their numbe r . e e o of o a r e And at th ir h ad Compt n , Earl N rth mpton , od

fie rce ly to his doom . We e out o se Dra ooners sa s the dr w our H r and g , y o c e the e s e we e so e to e chr ni l r , and H ath e ming fair r lv d charg e the e of e o e ha s e s o th m , br adth it b ing m r t n mu k t hot fr m As we e o e e we s o e e s e si e to s e . a d id adv nc d , h w v r , di c v r d mu k te ers place d within a walle d Close ; and the ir right wing was also ambuscade d by muske te ers conceale d behind he dge s. The This double ambush gave the impetuous Royalists pause . Horse halte d and fo rme d on the western approac h to the e e s s e s e e o out on oo the o e H ath , whil kirmi h r w r thr wn f t in h p of sile ncing the sharp rattle of those hidden muskets . For a fe w minute s it se e me d that the sortie so bravely e was to o e or e for was soo e t initiat d pr v ab tiv , it n appar nt tha the skirmishers we re nume rically too weak to ac complish f was e was e e to e s . o o th ir ta k A c uncil war h ld , and it d cid d advanc e the whole line and rush the ambush with the full o e e ose e e es strength of Ho rse . And s th y charg d th bank d h dg and that walle d Close and they charge d with co mple te

T e s e s e ee s o e fle d iso e . success. h ambu h d mu k t r br k and in d rd r Northampton was not slow to take advantage of the con ’ fusion cause d to the e nemy s front by the panic-stric ke n out ’ R - or he u his o e o e o Brereton s posts. e f ming, fl ng wh l f rc up n T centre who we re occupying th e middle of the He ath . he

Parliament men stood the ir groun d ; but not for long . After ’ -t - rer t his a bod an hour s hand o hand fighting, B e on with m in y THE HERO or HOPTON HEATH 93

e ea s e i h o r tr ted in confu ion , l av ng be ind him the wh le of his o cann n . N ow o e e the , h w v r , Royalists were guilty of that same e edle ss os s se e on ase e was h impetu ity that ub qu ntly, N by Fi ld , es e to ose for e e c se i e the d tin d l th m th ir au and , ndir ctly, e so of e o e e - p r n th ir S v r ign . This is how our soldie r historian quaintly puts it But our me n following up the e xe c ution o the c o our s e s not o bey nd mmand , and mu kete r c ming up, e ot so e of e a o a ai et we th y g m th ir c nn n b ck ag n , y brought ’ off e ece ight pi s. N ot o e too soo e the al c al d for a m m nt n w re cav ry re le , ’ ra e a e was e e a is e e e Gell s g v d ng r thr at ning the Roy l t L ft , wh r Horse and Foot were rallying in forc e preparatory to charging ’ o a o s e se e s so o his e of c om N rth mpt n r rv , and cutting int lin - munic ation with Stafford . Hastily re forming on th e sloping o s rts of the e e ss lie e ut ki H ath , the br athle Cava rs flung th m se es at s es e c e the ri ee lv thi fr h m na , and all pe l that had b n e e a s e as e e e e was thre at ning th m v ni h d th y charg d. Again th r the shoc k of Horse charging Horse ; again the clash of sword n e of e on ss of s -s n o e o halb rt , halb rt cuira , and wiftly wu g p l axe upon both ; and again the Parliament men we re broken

and to . up put , flight It was now le ft to Sir Thomas Byron (commanding the ’ ’ r e s e i e to s the s o and to o e P inc R g m nt) fini h day w rk, c nv rt ffi e wa e e o o . o e o e s e a retr at int a r ut That c r , h w v r, imm diat ly wounde d so severely that he was compelle d to quit the o e s o e , the al of ess s fi ld and f l darkn brought , ab ut a c ati n of ’ e e be no o th e the day s hostilities. Th r can d ubt but that Royalists had won the day ; but the y had no intention of o e s e was the ke to the quitting Hopt n H ath , which ju t th n y

of fo e e . e e e me nace d town Sta f rd that lay b hind th m H r , th n , the y bivouace d until the next morning by bre ak of day we n o e e we e on . made re ady to fall again But , finding n my, th n e the unde rstood that the y had march d away in night , an ” e e did hour after our parting with th m . What th y find , e e the es ec e o c e e e o s e howe ve r , w r lin r ntly c upi d by Br r t n tr wn o s a o the fore carri with ammunition wagg n , mmuniti n , and e a o es us e e e e e age s oi th ir c nn n , which mak b li v th y hav thrown the re st of the ir cannon into some pooles there ’ d a s r is rr c t s a o abou An , if th t writer theo y co e t, ho e c nn n 94 THE HERO or HOPTON HEATH are probably lying in the bed of Hopton Pools at the present moment ! The Parliamentarian casualties were 300 kille d or take n riso e s 500 o o e 300 o es e e p n r , w unded, v r h rs captur d , and ight ’

s e s o es of a o . e gun and larg t r mmuniti n taken G ll, drily ‘ e l H e s o is e a r i e . r mark the chr nicler, c rt inly hu t , but not k l d is n o o t t o forward to come into dange r . T o e is he Royalists had about 45 casualties. Am ng th m more than one whose name is borne honourably by desce n - s a la o e e dants in the county to day . This i p rticu rly n tic abl in the c se of the two Ba ots e e o s r e an a g , wh r b th u nam d Christian name will be linke d familiarly in the ears of many of r o o the s o s ou reade rs. We qu te fr m full li t of R yali t casualties e e e 25 e the e e eo e e Th r wer kill d, chi f wh r f w r Capt . ’ r o f o s own e e e e Hu y my l rd r gim nt , Captain Bak r, lat ly a sc hollar o s o e i e o in Oxf rd, En ign B wy r, Capta n Middl t n , Lieu ’ e a re e o o e in o e all e e t n nt G n , C r n t Bill g , and Cor n t H . Th r f e t e e so e e o e os o rs. o he w r m tw nty w und d , m tly fic Am ng e s e o e are ose of Sir o s o o o e nam r c rd d th Th ma Byr n , C l n l Stan o e o o e s f Kn otsford h p , C l n l Wag ta fe , Captain , Captain Richard o e o i o a e a Bag t , Captain Harv y Bag t , Capta n J hn Cl rk , Capt in o s oo s e e e e e Lev in Th ma Harw d, Ma t r Sp nc r Lucy , Li ut nant g, o o e Mettham o o e s o s e s e C r n t , C r n t Wa hingt n , and Ma t r Lanca t r. the o e o n is s two a es the es of e From f r g i g l t n m , nam fath r son e e ose o e as e se o e and , have b n purp ly mitt d, d rving m r e e wa s e e o . The th of o o s p cial m nti n fath r, Earl N rthampt n ,

o the s . H is son e o o o was am ng lain and h ir, L rd C mpt n , e the le H e was o l e e e is tw wound d in g. n y nin t n and h o — younge r brothe rs afte rwards they all bec ame highly distin ’ uished— so e e s s o o e g al fought by th ir fath r ide at H pt n H ath . o e e e e e o s e the e Badly th ugh Br r ton and G ll had b n w r t d, r al e of the e n ot o the s e on trag dy fight f ll , up n vanqui h d, but the o s for o o the ec ess and c o s was e vict r N rthampt n , r kl hivalr u , d ad . ’ the s e so c a c e his e s o o Of Earl p r nal h ra t r , adv r ary at H pt n e a e e o s o e in o o e e o s H ath , Sir Willi m Br r t n , p k the f ll wing g n r u s N o e e o e c ous o e te rm brav r, tru r , or m r hivalr n bl man ’ o e the n s s he who was os foll w d Ki g tandard than l t this day . H e was on e whom trial had ennoble d and re deeme d from the and i was t t t luxury licence of the t me, which hen hough

96 THE HERO or HOPTON HEATH

’ s a ee s lin s n r o e mu t h ve b n the mother fee g when, havi g ec gniz d ’ he r s ri n i e e - o d boy handw ti g, hav ng r ad the first car fully w rde s e she e to a u s si a u e ent nce , turn d that f tef l and ignificant gn t r , ” t a o an d n o o Nor h mpt n , k ew that her son was C mpt n o r and a the a he r s was o no l nge , th t E rl, hu band, no m re ? The letter ran as follows

a o r u s we t e d of the De r M the , On S nday la t had h ay ’ e e s our oss s e a o o s e is R b l , but l (e p ci lly your H n ur and min ) no or o e al o to the t to be e xpressed . F th ugh it be a g ner l ss

o o e us res . a am s Kingd m, yet it t uch th nea t But , M d , ca ual s in h s o and in s a se who tie t i w rld will happen, uch a c u o a e re o e o u e ? w uld not have dv ntu d b th lif and f rt n Pray, a let s be o o or was s e for Mad m , thi y ur c mf t that it impo sibl a o e to e o e e a I se ru er ny n hav d n brav r th n he did. nt a T mpet to o b c o e Of He r me kn w what had e m my father. b ought o Sir o e am re ss r a letter fr m J hn G ll and Sir Willi Bre ton , a u ing ’ me of e s e and s e re my fath r d ath, making a trang demand [ his o s as e e e e o e garding] b dy, uch w re n v r heard of b f r in any a e e a e i a n o r so w rr , namely the xch ng of all the r mmu iti n, P i n e rs and o we had I se o , Cann n which taken . nt them w rd back that their demands were unre asonable and against the law r s es e e to e ass to so e of a m , but d ir d th m give fre p age m r eo s to e or to let r h u e o s do chi urg n mbalm him , thei c ir rg n

o sa s em e s. e s it, and I w uld ti fy th for th ir pain Th ir la t answe r is that they will neither send the body nor suffe r our eo s o e to al il see t chirurg n to c m emb m it, but w l tha e own e s e e o w w s th ir chirurg on do it . Th ir r lati n as that he a ss e e e an d his own s ed a ault d by many tog th r, with hand kill t e o e o s so wa n o s the e h C lon l , and ther al , but s u h r ed by multitud , his horse being shot . be r e and no Pray, Madam , comfo t d, think that man could more honourably have ende d his life to be partaker of

ea o es. We s e o o h venly j i mu t c rtainly f ll w him, but can f r e s o hardly hOp e o so brav a de ath . Thu humbly craving y ur I s a i il e blessing, h ll rema n t l d ath o ed Son Y ur ob ient , N N ORTHAMPTO .

ff r ar 22 1 3. Sta o d, M ch , 64 THE HERO or HOPTON HEATH 97 Th e Capture of Eccleshall Castle : 1643.

BY KARL CHERRY.

I have done M r S eaker and there remain s nothin now but , . p ; g that I become a petitioner to Almighty Godthat H e will be pleased ’ to bestow u on ou all the atriarch s blessin even the dew o p y p g, f H ea S t de ven andthe fatn ss 0 Earth andI endwith that o . u e / , f I , ’ M e I a a ain rc eace an d ove be multi lied unto ou. s y, p , l p y y g with a reli ious and a ectionate heart M erc eace and love g fi , y, p , be multi liedunto ou I —Robert Wri ht Bisho o Lich eld p y g , p f fi , at the bar o the H o m o s —From t e Har an f ouse fCo m n , 1641. h lei M iscellan y. J

Ew e of s s s a ts are am lar , ven the re ident in Eccle h ll i elf, f i i , we u to the e ls of one a vent re think, with d tai dram tic so e e The al epi de in th history of that quiet littl town . f l of the Castle at the hands of the Parliament men is vaguely unde rstood to have come about at some period of the Cromwel

lian Revolution . Eve n oral tradition is silent concerning the particulars of a fight which afforde d a fine instance of grim he roism on the part of a remnant of the shatte re d garrison ; w r e the s ee ee o s s t e hich tu n d l py High Str t int a hamble , and h a e n o l o o se s i the nci nt church i t a mi itary bl ckh u , re ound ng with s of s e e of o e cla h arm and r dol nt gunp wd r. In the Bibliotheca TOp ograp hica Britannica mention is of s e o the s a made the ieg and capitulati n , but author add th t no ” account of the siege and surrender is e xtant . And it is a fact ’ that all ordinary sources of inforrnation— Clarendon s History ” ’ ’ e o o e s r a c D e s e o rs of the R v luti n , Camd n B it nni a , Foe M m i e o is se e o ks con of a Cavali r (pr bably in th ca auth ntic), the w r e e sc e a an n os rs tain d in th Harleian Mi ll ny , d i th e of the Some — Collection will be searched in vain .

1 00 THE CAPTURE or ECCLESHALL CASTLE

sa e a r a s e e e s rr e the me gen ral who fte w rd d f nd d Colches te r, u ender d to a r o sa e e s o of s a e o the F i fax thr ugh a mi ppr h n i n terms, e c p d fr m e was e r ed oa £20 was a Tow r , b t ay by a b tman for , and str ightway

- e e . H e was e e e e a o e o s e e s beh ad d Li ut nant G n r l v r Shr p hir , Ch hire , and or ales he o N th W , and had been left to himself would pr bably e e e of es e e was o a s have achi ved the r li f Ch t r . Und r him that R y li t he o l t s Co . s n s o s of o De Wet, ubiquit u Ha ti g , with his c rp Cann ck

ers . Son ofthe of i o oo w a sus min Earl Hunt ngd n , he, t , as f ted to ’ tain a siege in his fathe r s house at Ashby-de-la-Z ouch ; but with such bravery did he de fe nd the place that he marched out with all o s of and e ssa e e o s the hon ur war a fr e pa g to th c ast . Ju t now he for his ol e e so e of the soi : in a as e he had c l agu a ldi r l me ur , wa l was on e se . s s Co . o the son of a oo an him lf Thi Bag t , g d d o er ul s ou who e e o o p w f family in thi c nty, had r c ive d pr m tion at e a s of ri er se e e se e o th h nd P nce Rup t him lf , aft r b ing ver ly w unded at Hopton He ath . With this force the beleagured garrison had contrived to e e e h e n . e o e s e e t s commu icat Th y r p rt d t at, aft r a i g of igh week , e e in extremis the o of he l e they w r , that b dy t o d Bishop lay d ad r e the es e also e he and un bu i d within gat , that th y had in k eping t ' ' Woolsele and o e e to Bishop s lady, Lady y, many th r gentl women, la and e s e of e ge ther with p te tr a ur gr at value. w e e e An advance as imm diat ly made upon Eccle shall . Cap l e o os s e o n e e s an rush d the utp t , occupi d the t w , and aft r a bri f resi t ce e the s e o s ars o t ff d e nter d Ca tl , th ugh, add Vic , in c mplain , Sta or ” e e o e e men had had notic th reof en ugh to have prev nt d it. In a a a e affo was not so e e s as she is those d ys, pp r ntly, St rd nt rpri ing o- a andto the o a o r - o k it st e as o t d y, l c l c unt y f l mu have s emed th ugh w ” the war in Eccleshall as practically ove r . e e s s and ari s d The relief , ex cut d with uch da h d ng, re ulte ,

in e dlo . however, a d a ck o a is s ea n o e the s e The R y l t , now gr tly rei f rc d , were in Ca tl , and we re making e laborate preparations for the funeral of the

. its r a the Bishop The church , which in tu n comm nded town,

ro eli so diers er a . o e a . was packed with C mw l an l und C pt B wy r, C pt — e S o . so an d th o o aff was o . n w, and Capt Ma n r ad fr m St ord pen a e s o the a s r inn an d A force of C vali r ccupied m in t eet , the , the buildings that commanded the thoroughfare ; but the y dare d not leave a fo e so stubborn in their rear ; besiegers and

besieged had merely changed occupations. THE CAPTURE or ECCLESHALL CASTLE 1 01

As the morning sun broke through the mist over the marshes e o e e on t e e o the o -out os e which at that tim b rd r d h littl t wn , l ok , p t d on the e o e o The fo was church , r p rt d g od news. road from Sta f rd not only Open along it was streaming a flying column de tache d o the rr so the o e 1 fr m ga i n in c unty town and command d by C0 .

e . e e o L igh Wh r up n they in the church gave a great shout . e o e s o e l e or u Th y did m r than h ut . Th y sal i d f th and fl ng ’ ’ e se e s o e -e th m lv up n th K ing s party at Eccleshall town s nd. a eo s the o s r iso of the as e e Simult n u ly , R yali t ga r n C tl , p rceiving the ur e s e e e s o o e the e sc e t n ev nt had tak n , d tach d a tr ng f rc to r u , d e e an th y had b en be tte r advise d to re main whe re they we re . The s e e eso e se o e e an d o the c i g had r lv d it lf int a fr fight , r und hurch , whe re the Royalists we re nippe d be twee n the Old enemy and the n ew the o was s e n the es of the e st , gr und quickly tr w with bodi r e o while conqu r rs. The e w s soo e e e o s a o . o o th truggl n v r Thr ugh ut R v lution , ’ the King s troops seldom withstood for long the shock tac tics of s f e e s o e the men who the soldie r o Cromw ll . In a v ry h rt tim had so gallan tly galloped in but a few hours before we re paralyze d by a o of e c o e o s e e s the o e n p nic unw rthy th ir urag u l ad r , and t wn b i g o e o e the s ofthe Cromwellians the e e nc m r in hand , latt r again mad

the Castle their obj e ctive . e e o wr es s all e e the s e Wh r up n , it Vicar , that w r in Ca tl ’ and all the King s partie in the town c rye d out Horse ! Horse s c o The o r and pre se ntly fle d away in haste and di tra ti n . c unt y side and the neighbouring marshe s we re soon swarming with Cava e e i ec o — s e one for on the dis o o lie rs flying in v ry d r ti n av , tant h riz n , ’ e e offthe o n the state ly towe r of St . Mary s warn d th m t w which at f e e e th e psychologic al moment had furnishe d the means o th ir d f at. Whe n Vic ars tells us that the fugitive s included all that we re in the Castle he is only c onve ying what was in the minds of his

e of c o . s ess o o e e comrades at the mom nt vi t ry Thi impr i n , h w v r , to o e for on e 10 men e e he haste ns c rr ct , captain and had r main d so e e was one o e who be s true to their post . Al th r th r may aid the es e e s not o e of ms s e to have resisted b i g r , by f rc ar , but by il nt or e the a e men e e the as e e protest . F wh n P rliam nt r ach d C tl gat o s e the o ofthe e e e s e the y discove re d , ut id , b dy ag d pr lat , ham fully

of the . e e so ee c s abandone d in the hurry flight H r , al , had b n a t away a trunck of plate whic h they had meant to c arry away ere we s e on all e e e with them . H upon , eiz d th y had l ft b hind 1 02 THE CAPTURE or ECCLESHALL CASTLE

[there is a grim touch about that all j a gre at de al of e s e o f s tr a ur w rth many thousands o pound .

So e e o e e was the e s s e me t the e fi rc , h w v r, r i tanc with at gat the Cromwellian s e o the c c e e e e that withdr w t hur h , and th r th y h ld c ou of ne f the s e e a ncil war . O o the prisoners c apture d during tr t i w s th a s o e e o e e . U e e o e fight ng umm n d b f r th m nd r xaminati n , Chic ke n-hearte d fellow c omple te d the disgrace of his party by disc os e l ing the nume rical we akne ss of the de fe nde rs. Wh re ”

o e th s e . up n , that n xt night our me n set upon e Ca tl Naturally but it was not without a struggle that they at last posse sse d the m se s ofthe e e the en lve gat and drawbridge and th n came d. Capt . o the c i the s e e er on s or arlie Sn w and apta n within Ca tl nt ing a h t p , the as e was soo e e e on e e e e e C tl n d liv r d up fr quart r [b ing giv n), an d so the e s o l os e e s e c e v ry tr ng and a m t impr gnabl Ca tl , and a pla o f e o se e c e e se s was the oo o e e gr at c n qu n in th part , , by g d Pr vid nc ” of God e us. , tak n by c o c s o fe w s be s of the s o In n lu i n , a wo rd must aid Bi h p ose e a f t e I wh d ad body w s an unc onscious witness o h fray . ” e o e of him as e o e so h e o e was hav Sp k n b l v d , and und ubt dly ; but outside his dioc ese he was looke d upon askanc e as a man

of c o e o s s os o . o oo es of o r e s v t u di p iti n Anth ny W d , blunt t bi g aph r , “ describe s him in his Athe na Ox on ie nses as much give n up " to the f of t e H e was c e im o e af airs h world . harg d with p v rish to his own e es the e s o o er s o o ing, int r t , pi c pal pr p ty in Bri t l, pri r to his o to ichfield H e e re translati n L . c rtainly acqui d during his e s o e o o s of e o e c pi c pacy an n rm u quantity land d pr p rty , whi h e the o of e m our e e o s e for includ d Man r N wnha C t n y , in Oxf rd hir , whic h h e paid eq uivalent to about in our e o t t present mone y . H is als said o have made havoc with he e on th e e o es e l timb r pisc pal tat at Ecc leshal . On the other he e o e e e of c e he o ese hand r n vat d a larg numb r hurch s in t di c , e e t t e e a and gr atly improv d he quality of h music . H w s s olis who sis e o the use of the o e his a ymb t, in t d up n c p by

Cle rgy . H e was arreste d in anticipation of an impeachment for e so at the o f the o se of o o s e high tr a n , and, _ bar H u C mm n , mad th e spee ch an e xtract from which stands as an ironical te xt ” “ the ea of s e . I es e he o e to e at h d thi articl d ir , c nclud d, r gain t e ee e bee o e os h est m which I hav n l ng in g tting , and have l t in

a o e . s o l e sa not s o bu m m nt If I hould ut iv , I y my bi h pric, t

V c ra andAf e : an A r c n i to i l r d pp e iatio ,

a C m ar n and R r c . o p iso , a et ospe t

B Y . 1. L CHERRY.

WEEK o s at on was mi e u n r an t t ag thi n i l d pon to e du e, d ha for rs o e a si e rs e on the fi t time in m r th n xty y a , acute anxi ty ! wi h acc ount of the serious illn ess of its So vereign . N ot t ’ s a i ee s a a e the a ar n ti s of t nd ng the Qu n gre t g , l mi g bulle n Saturday found her lovin g subje cts quite unable to realize th at her life was in imminen t danger ; but in a few short hours it am ear o o f r Th e bec e cl that h pe re cove y must be abandoned. e nd a r so for es e e n the s o e c me ve y on, on Tu day v ni g almo t id liz d Mo r her e sse the the of Peopl pa d away into Unse en . It is cause for devout thankfulness that the august patient was s ar a li e s is one of os o p ed death of ng ring pain . Thi th e th ughts which console andsustain the nation unde r the shock of her almost e The e of the eo e of sudden r moval. gri f p pl this country has no ara in its s o e se e e e o e has the o p llel hi t ry, b cau n v r b f r nati n, as such, ee so s r ere Its rec o s b n o ely b aved . rd are rich in me mories of th e ’ o and a ta o e e g od the gre t, but ke t g th r Quee n Victoria s nobility of c ara er her ast er e ce and the he r n and h ct , v exp i n , glory of reig , it se ems to be beyond dispute that she is the grandest figure in English

It is becoming that we poin t out some of those qualities of la r s es i e ofher i s r . the te Sove e gn which ju tify thi t mat wo th And, s ofall s was n ot on s s s fir t , her Maje ty ly di tingui hed by the posse sion of i s and r s es h a or h the h ghe t pu e t virtu w ich d n humanity , but S e s s e e el the of wa uprem ly xc lent in practice the m. Such words may sound like adulation the y would be tray that weakness if applie d to any other Royal personage in English history but our delibe rate a s are ose ofs conviction is th t the word th imple truth and soberness.

Th e re ader will un derstan d that this article appe ared in The Staflordshire ’ Advertiser at the time ofthe Queen s death . V ICTO RIA AND ALFRED . r05

' e for e e en o c as a Tak , xampl , the Que s c ndu t wife nd mothe r . Was e i e o e e e o e confidin e ab o ver w fely d votion m r t nd r , m r g, mor s lute ? And what e xalte d ideas of widowhood had the Quee n ! Twenty years of spotless fidelity did not satisfy her conception of what was due to he r husband ; she live d with him in spirit for

o e o e s. And as o her e r a es i an th r f rty y ar t mat n l duti , it s only necessary to re mind ourse lves that of all her many descendants of thre e gene rations the re is not one whom the Queen did not inspire a and e e a fe o i of is e with w rm t nd r f cti n , the qual ty which b autifully e e an e shown in the le tters of the Princess Alice . By pr c pt d x e her e n she e e se e e o ampl and by natural b nig ity , x rci d an xc pti nal ’ influe nce on the moral training of he r childre n and her childre n s

childre n . And what shall we say of the display in the Que en of suc h i es as or es o s s o to the pe rsonal qual ti f titude , r ignati n, and ubmi si n e s o e of us e li e Divin will It i d ubtful wh ther any fully r a z that, e as ofthe een in th c e Qu , e sor o s e e not e s s Wh n r w cam th y came Singl pie , i al But n batt ions. Think only Ofthe de aths in her own family since the passing away r e o so s the c t m e s of the P inc C n rt, and add to thi fa that any y ar

ago the last ofthe friends of her earlie r years was take n from he r. Suc h a suc cession of bere avements would have saddened the life of the humblest of her subjects ; but they were calmly accepte d and endure d the while the Quee n bore without in termission a full e of s e an d e se en share in th e gove rnm nt a va t Empir , fac dwith r ity

all the one rous duties of he r high station . o s o we e to The Que e n being an e sse ntially religi u w man , trac these freque nt and heavy trials anothe r noble an dprecious Charac e s s fe u a c so te ristic , nam ly, that ympathy with u f ring h m nity whi h the o has see how r i e distinguishe d her. All w rld n pu ify ng and xalt ' ing e ven the most grie vous be re ave me nts be came in her Maj e sty s

se how e i e e o e es o th e c o ss o e ca , and th y qu ck n d int liv li t acti n mpa i nat e Her o i s e s e e a s qualitie s of her gentle natur . l v ng ubj ct w r lway ai e c e her so e disin re ady to honour her unass labl re titud , ab lut e e terested ess her o a to the o s , her s e e n , l y lty C n titution va t xp ri nc f h r s o the beneficen c e of e u o e . in statesmanship , th mat rity wi d m,

ce he sa c o cil her ele t s he r moral influe n , r gacity in un , int l c ual gift

c t be sai e e c of e s e s, , and grace s. Mu h migh d und r a h th e h ad but

l wa t a a ofs t re a thi after al , it s h t qu lity ympa hy which mo th n any ng m6 v r mRr c A AND ALFRED . else inspired the nation with a fervour ofaffection without precede nt ’ was on r o ei s o al in history . It e of the fin e st of ou late S ver gn m r so al es he s e e is e as a s and cial qu iti , and at t am tim it that which l t c ll f s o e ee has ss s e the o e or illu trati n . Scarc ly a w k pa ed inc utbr ak of this de plorable war in South Africa which has not its re cord of he r tende r conside ration for the sick and wounde d and yearning t o we v the c ss o ror the e e e so e . e e o ompa i n b r av d and de lat H r , , ha e source of anothe r unique fac t brought out by the death of the Quee n— that not only he r own pe ople but all the world held her in reve rence and regarde d her as a model in every re lation of life. ti

The mortal remains ofthe great and good Quee n Victoria have been laid to rest by the Side ofthe husband whom she love d so well . se es e e o of e n The ob qui w r a happy c mbination grand ur , dig ity, s and e e e e o s o s of and implicity , th y w r p rformedamid dem n trati n fe o so o e e e e e e of the a f cti n , rr w, and r v r nc which , lik the charact r ho e e o e e no e e s o . lat S v r ign , have had pr c dent in hi t ry The w l civilized world was prese nt in spirit at the funeral ofhe r Majesty. In all countries the ministers of religion bore eloquent te stimony to the e r o s ene o e se -sacrificin e of pur , g aci u , b v l nt , lf g charact r the e e o to the e al e of her e a e and d part d M narch , b auty and v u x mpl , e ss to her loyalty as a constitutional Sove reign . In a scarcely l als f l a degree that may o be said o the Press ofa lcountries. Hum nity has for the first time united in one sublime chorus to the praise nd onou of on e a of ts one a a h r individu l i many millions, and that u e s was c l s e woman . S r ly thi a limax to al the homage that ha e v r ee to her sex ee c or so o e e e e b n paid in Sp h ng , and w me n v rywh r may well be proud and conte nte d at the reve re nc e shown forthe m oft in the perso n he illustrious Mothe r ofher people . The re is just one in te re sting aspect of the subj ect which has e e e o e o our o e o ie s and bar ly b n t uch d up n by c nt mp rar , regarding few o s not be out Of e e e to th t which a w rd may place . W r f r e e markable analogy that e xists betwe en Que en Victoria and the os s o s of he r e e ss s an d es ors m t illu tri u all pr d ce or anc t , that rule r who asse e t o s e s a o— e p d away xac ly a th u and y ar g Alfr d , King e w ofthe West Saxons. Th re as a striking re semblance in the two o s the o of e te s e i M narch in n bility th ir charac r , th ir enl ghtened d t e s an ei e s . stat sman hip, h r int n e patriotism The o essor e his o es late Pr f Fre man, in N rman Conqu t , of l re he is the st e a e r t says A f d that mo p rfec t ch ract in his o ry .

1 08 V I CTORIA AND ALFRED .

o e s a s e e s an as a it c v r va t area, probably a hundre d squar mil , d h o of e the p pulation betwe en four and fiv e millions. Alfr d built s s - o s e s fir t Engli h navy boats manned by ar m n , and with uch esse s he W e we i the v l fought our first naval battle . h n th nk of e al the s ill the e e andthe ro is a e se re w th , k , n rgy , pat i t m which h v cu d for us o ee s o es one of c s o s wh le fl t f floating fortress , whi h quadr n stretche d across th e Solent to pay the last honours to its late

s e ss the o t . Mi tr , imagination is bewildere d by the c n rast ' Such e ducation as the English had at the beginnin g ofAlfre d s reign was almost exclusively monkish ; it was in the hands of c e ec l siastics and its chief motive was the training of ecclesiastics. was r e on e e of the est It car i d in Latin , but Alfr d had a numb r b ’ books in that language (Boe thius Consolations of Philoso phy ’ ” e e s c s or e sl e n o the and B d Chur h Hi t y , for exampl ) tran at d i t on e of the c o o eo le os s e e the t gu mm n p ple , whi Or iu gav th m

r di e s of s o e o and r s e e . e his u m nt hi t ry , g graphy , natu al ci nc Lik e e s e e wa e sse not o e o al gr at d c ndant, Alfr d s ntially and c nv nti n ly e o s o e o s to o e i the o to r ligi u in th r w rd , qu t aga n bi graphy which we e e e e H e n ot ai e e f s ow hav alr ady r f rred , did m ith r at di fu ing kn e e or in o e to e e the e i e e e e s l dg , limiting it , rd r m t imm d at r quir m nt of eo o i s c is s n s he e e th l g an , whi h ob cura ti m , but aim d at l tting ’ o e s o en s i s e c se an illumi light and rd r and wi dom int m m nd , b au nate an d informe d manhood is more to the glory of God than an o oo God is e e ser e e li e t ign rant manh d, and b tt r v d by an int l g n ” ess o e than a mechanical Obe dience . Quee n Victoria had l p w r of e e e se our e is o the e s initiativ than Alfr d, b cau Parliam nt b th l gi la e the e ec e o e o al e s we tiv and x utiv auth rity in ducati n matt r , but know e nough of h er private opinions to fee l sure that her asp iraf tions for the ele vation of her people we re as high-min de d as those o fthe e i and she as l e s m as he gr at K ng , that had ittl y pathy with obscurantism . Alfre d re forme d th e judiciary he develope d the germ of the jury system which the Saxons brought over from the ir homeland ’ he was England s first gre at e conomist he was patron of the as e of his es e e s l m a o s n c nt art day, and p cially of writ r and i lu in t r f e a scr s his o e o r e was on e o lit rary m nu ipt c inag , th ugh ud , an ampl e Was e e e e ee s e o c e e ie e scale h p ac mak r b tw n litigant , but nf r d ob d nc to the law and he was far ahe ad of his time in recognizin g the o principle of the brotherhood f nations. V C O I T RIA AN D ALFRED . 1 09

Of course the alte red conditions of modern life pre vent the attribution in e ve ry case of corresponding personal service on the art of e e e si i a res ec p Qu en Victoria but in v ry m l r p t , and in ve ry o e not e o e e e her in e w much m r m nti n d h r , fluenc as powe rfully and

o s e e e on the s e ofe en e s ce c n tantly x rt d id nlight m nt, ju ti , truth , and

r eo s ess. e is the o s o of t e o ight u n What , th n , c nclu i n h wh le e ? s : all a e o e e e matt r Thi th t Alfr d did, th ugh exc ll nt in its lf, was on a scale so minute that its smallness can only be re aliz ed a s ro e al efo et is o by t ng m nt f rt, and y he h noure d and re vere d by the whole English-speaking race after the lapse of a thousand e years . Ev ry good work of the King was multiplied an dre pe ated on n e s ale in the e n ee a mag ific nt c r ig of the Qu n , andvast territories never dre amt of by Alfre d or his conte mporaries have share d in the

ess . As we e alre i i e the e e e bl ing hav ady nt mat d, g n ral levation the e e e e e its firs i s o e has of p opl , which r c iv d t mpul e fr m Alfr d, r e t s in the s o ofthe o e his r l w ought gr a change po iti n S v reign of t ea m , with whom the initiative of bene ficent legislation n o longe r rests ; but not only has e very proje ct of Parliament for the amelioration ’ ofthe o di o ofthe eo e hadthe ee s o ial o e e c n ti n p pl Qu n c rd c ncurr nc , but during the whole ofher reign she brought her unique pe rsonal influence to be ar with the view ofmaking such legislation as e flica w o c ious as ss e . i a e a ee o e e h po ibl Tak ng ch ract r and c r r t g th r, will presume to set limits to the duration of the fame of Quee n ' Victoria Adapting a few line s ofTennyson s Ode on the Death of he e of e o us sa t Duk W llingt n, let y

Her work is done e s an i e e But whil the race of m k nd ndur , Let her great e xample stan d ossa see e er Col l , n of v y land, ee the so e firm s a esm e And k p ldi r , the t t an pur Till in all lands and through all human story o The path of duty be the way to gl ry.