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Priestesses in the Seam.

"In the Seam, an isle by the coast of the French Bretagne, nine virgins consecrate to perpetual chastity, were priests of a famous oracle, remembered by Mela. His printed books have" Gallicenas vocant;" where that great critic Turneb reads, " Galli zenas" or "lenas vocant." But White of Basingstoke will have it "cenas," as interpreting their profession and religion, which was in an ar bitrary metamorphosing themselves, charming the winds (as of later times the witches of Lapland and Finland) skill in predictions, more than natural medicine and such like; their kindness being in all chiefly to sailors." -SELDEN'S Illustrations of DRAYTON'S PolyOlbion. Song the First.

St. David.

ST. DEWY, as the Welsh call him, was prognosticated above thirty years before his birth. "The translation of the archbishopric was also foretold in that of Merlin, Menevia shall put on the pall of Caerleon; and the preacher of Ireland shall wax dumb by an infant growing in the womb.' That was performed when St. Patrick, at presence of Melaria, then with child, suddenly lost use of his speech; but recovering it after some time, made prediction of Dewy's holiness." Reports of him affirm that he was uncle

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Who of a British nymph was gotten, whilst she played

With a seducing spirit, which won the goodly maid:

As all Demetia through there was not found her peer,

Who being so much renowned for beauty

far and near,

Great lords her liking sought, but still in

vain they prov'd.

That spirit (to her unknown) this virgin only loved;

Which taking human shape, of such perfection seem'd,

As, all her suitors scorn'd, she only him esteem'd,

Who feigning for her sake that he was come from far,

And richly could endow, a lusty batchelor, On her that prophet got, which from his mo

ther's womb

Of things to come foretold until the general doom."

His mother was a nun, daughter to Pubidius, king of Mathraval, and called Matilda. Ibid. Song the Fifth.

Mathraval.

"MATHRAVAL is five miles west of the Severn, it shows at present no remains of its ancient splendour, there being only a small farm house where the castle stood, whose

site occupied about two acres, guarded on one side by the steep over the river, on the other by a vast rampart of stone and earth and a deep fosse. A high keep at one corner. In Gwern Ddu, a wood over against it on the opposite side of the river, is a circular entrenchment, and in a field beyond a round mount."-GOUGH's Camden.

Images.

tage with a field like an island of fertility; looking from thence down a little glen, in whose bottom flows a brook; the sea appears about 100 yards distant, breaking on a rough shore. The stones in this brook were some green, some of the brown yellow iron hue. The single rock in sight. Sand bank at Poole harbour mouth. Our separation. Breakfastless walk. View of Corfe. Branksey. Sturt's hideous house. Entry of the vessel from Newfoundland. Sand shower.

DISTINCT Shadows on the water in cloudy Effect of wind in confusing the head. Rickweather.

Earthy smell of moss.

Smell of the autumnal leaves.

Thin, misty, unreal appearance of the hills in a fine October morning.

The grass in an orchard gaily chequered with the sunshine falling between and through the trees.

A country house. No sound but the click of the clock. The hollyhock still in blossom. Oct. 29.

Morning. A grey cloud rising like a hill along the horizon.

man's bush shelter from a storm at the ha-
ven mouth.

Tom-I pray thee cherish it.
For it must never meet the common eye.
Were I a single being I would be a wan-
derer. Why?

Siege of Orleans. MONSTRELLET writes it Clacedas, and Clasendas at his death.

"A une dicelles escarmouches fut occis ung tresvaillant Chevalier Anglois et renomme en armes nomme Messire Lancelot de Lisle.

Gray's Inn Hall in a November afternoon. A faint light through the unpainted part of the windows. The fire in the middle, equally "Allerent avecques elle assaillir la bataille in all parts affected by the air, flaming up de Saint Loup qui estoit moult fort, et avoit bluely to a point, and often showering up dedans de troys a quatre cens Angloys ou sparks lost in the gloom above. Objects tremulous seen across the charcoal fire. environ, lesquelz assez tost furent conquis Lower end of the roof beams strongly light-ladicte fortificacion fut toute demolie et mise et mors et prins et mis a grant mischief. Et ed. Above, all gloom. Add to this the trophied armour damp gleaming to the central fire, and it is the hall of chivalry.

Trees marked by their ramification in winter. Minute and many branchings of the elm. What tree is it that hangs down its globular seeds by a long thin stem?

The mist by its light tinge as it passes over the sun, marks its place.

Unwholesome green in trees, &c. in damp

places.

I purposed epistolizing my attempt to visit Corfe Castle, and would preserve the images if ever leisure may occur to use them.

en feu et en flambe."

"Le Seigneur De Moulins et Le Bailly Deureux"-killed.

The forts were burnt as soon as taken, and when the English had fled "lesdictes bastilles et forteresses furent prestement arses et demolies jusques en terre, affin que nulles gens de guerre de quelconque pays quilz soient ne si peussent plus loger."-ff.

43.

Battle of Patay.

Ar Patay, "les François moult de pres Early rising. Ileford-Evilford-bridge. mirent pied a terre, et descendirent la plus Poole heath—no grass there. The little cot- | grant partie de leur chevaulx.”

"The Duke of Bedford, recovered a little from the astonishment into which the late singular events had thrown him, collected about 4000 men, and sent them to join the remains of the English army, now commanded by the brave Lord Talbot. When this reinforcement, conducted by Sir J. Fastolf, joined Lord Talbot, they formed an army which the French a few months before would not have dared to approach. The French commanders held a council of war, in which they consulted their oracle the M. of O., who cried out "In the name of God, let us fight the English, though they were suspended in the clouds." "But where," said they, "shall we find them." "March! march!" cried she, "and God will be your guide." She stood by the King's side, with her banner displayed, during the whole ceremony; and as soon as it was ended, she fell prostrate at his feet, embraced his knees, and with a flood of tears entreated his permission to return to her former station."-HENRY.

French Wars ruinous to the English.

"In the last year of the victorious Henry V. there was not a sufficient number of gentlemen left in England to carry on the business of civil government.

"But if the victories of Henry V. were so fatal to the population of his country, the defeats and disasters of the succeeding reign were still more destructive. In the twentyfifth year of this war, the instructions given to the Cardinal of Winchester, and other plenipotentiaries appointed to treat about a peace, authorize them to represent to those of France," That there haan been moo men slayne in these wars for the title and claime of the coroune of France, of oon nacion and other, than ben at this daye in both landys, and so much Christiene blode shede, that it is to grete a sorow and an orrour to think or here it."-RYMER'S Fœdera, vol. 10, p. 724. HENRY.

Johanne la Pucelle.

"Er fut demande a Johanne la P. par aucuns des princes la estans quelle chose il estoit de faire et que bon luy sembloit a ordonner. Laquelle P. respondit quelle scavoit bien pour vray que leurs anciens ennemis les Anglois venoient pour eulx combattre. Disoit oultre que au nom de Dieu on allast hardiment contre eulx et que sans faille ilz seroient vaincus. Et ancuns luy demanderent ou on les trouveroit, et elle dist chevauchez hardiement on aura bon conduyt. Adonc tous gens darmes se mirent en battaille et en bonne ordonnance tirerent leur chemin ayans des plus expers hommes de guerre montez sur fleur de coursiers allant devant pour descouvrir leurs ennemys jusques au nombre de soixante ou quatre vingtz hommes darmes, et ainsi par certaine longue espace chevaucherent, et vindrent par ung jour de Samedy a une grant demye lieue pres dung gros villaige nomme Patay en laquelle marche les dessusditz coureurs Francois veirent de devant eulx partir ung cerf, lequel adressoit son chemin droit pour aller a la battaille des Anglois qui ja sestoient mis tous ensemble,

cestass avoir iceulx venans de Paris dont dessus est faicte mencion, et les autres qui estoient partis de Boysiency, et des marches dorleans. Pour la venue duquel cerf qui se ferit comme dit est parmy icelle bataille fut desditz Anglois esleve ung tres grant cry et ne scavoyent pas encores que leurs ennemys fussent si pres deulx, pour lequel cry les dessusditz coureurs Francois furent acertainez que cestoient les Anglois." MONST. 44.

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Song on the Battle of Azincour.

"DEO gratias Anglia.
Redde pro victoriâ.

"Owre Kynge went forth to Normandy,
With grace and mytz of chyvalry ;
The God for hym wrouzt marvlusly,
Wherefore Englonde may calle and cry,
Deo, &c.

"He sette a sege, the sothe to say,
To Harflue town, with royal array,
That toune he wan, and made a fray
That Fraunce shall rywe tyl domes day.
Deo, &c.

"Than for sothe that Knyzt comely,
In Agincourt feld fauzt manly,
Thorow grace of God most myzty
He had bothe felde and victory.

Deo, &c.
"Then went owre Kynge, with all his oste,
Thorowe Fraunce for all the Frensche boste,
He spared for drede of leste ne moste
Till he come to Agincourt coste.

Deo, &c. "There Dukys and Earlys, lorde and barone Were take, and slayne, and that wel sone, And some were ledde into Lundone, With joye and merth, and grete renone. Deo, &c. "Now gracious God he save owre Kynge, His peple, and all his well wyllinge; Gef him gode lyfe, and gode endynge, That we with merth may safely synge,

Corwen.

Deo, &c. BURNEY.

"CORWEN is a small town on a vast rock at the foot of the Berwyn hills, and famous for being the rendezvous of the Welsh forces under Owen Glendwr, who from hence stopped the invasion of Henry II. 1166.

The place of encampment is distinguished from the church southward to the village of by a mound of earth, and the sites of tents Cynwyd. On the south side of the church wall is cut a very rude cross, which is shown to strangers as the sword of Owen Glyndwr. Near the porch stands a pointed rude stone, called Carreg y big yn y fach newlyd, which it is pretended directed the founder to place the church there. The river Trystion bursting through the hills forms Rhaider Cynwyd, or the fall of Cynwyd. The Berwyn mountains are the east boundary of Corwen vale. Their highest tops are Cader Bronwen, or the White Breast, on which is a heap of stones surrounded by a pillar; and Cader Forwyn. Under their summits is said to run Fford Helen, or Helen's Way; and about them grows the Rubus Chamomorus, cloud berry, or knot berry, used in tarts." -GOUGH'S Camden.

Plinlimon and Severn :-Mathraval, Pennant Melangle, and St. Monacella.

"PLINLIMON, where it bounds Montgomeryshire, on that side pours forth the Severn. Immediately after its rise it forms so many meanders, that one would often think it was running back, though it is all the while advancing, or rather slowly wandering through this country."

Mathraval is upon the Warnway.

"In Pennant Melangle church was the tomb of St. Monacella who protecting a hare from the pursuit of Brocwell Yscythbrog, Prince of Powis, he gave her land to found a religious house, of which she became first Abbess. Her hard bed is shewn in the cleft of a neighbouring rock. Her tomb was in a little chapel, now the vestry, and her image is still to be seen in the churchyard; where is also that of Edward, eldest son of Owen Gwynedh, who was set aside from the succession on account of a broken nose, and flying here for safety, was slain not far off, at a place called Bwlch Croes Jorwerth. On his shield is inscribed 'Hic jacet Etward."" GOUGH'S Camden.

Victim to Apollo.

the chief magistrate, and second man in the kingdom of North Wales, next to the King. Her virtuous parents desired above all things to breed her up in the fear of God, and to preserve her soul untainted amidst the corrupt air of the world. About that time St. Beuno, a holy priest and monk, who is said to have been uncle to our saint by the mo

"Ar Terracina, in Italy, it was an impious and barbarous custom, on certain very solemn occasions, for a young man to make himself a voluntary sacrifice to Apollo, the tutelar deity of the city. After having been long caressed and pampered by the citizens, apparelled in rich gaudy ornaments, he of-ther, having founded certain religious houses fered sacrifice to Apollo, and running full speed from this ceremony, threw himself headlong from a precipice into the sea, and was swallowed up by the waves. Cæsarius, a holy deacon from Africa, happened once to be present at this tragical scene, and not being able to contain his zeal, spoke openly against so abominable a superstition. The priest of the idol caused him to be apprehended, and accused him before the governor, by whose sentence the holy deacon, together with a Christian priest named Lucian, was put into a sack and cast into the sea, the persecution of Dioclesian then raging, in 300.”—Lives of the Fathers, &c. by ALBAN BUTLER. Dub. 1780.

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in other places, came and settled in that neighbourhood. Thevith rejoiced at his arrival, gave him a spot of ground free from all burden or tribute, to build a church on, and recommended his daughter to be instructed by him in Christian piety. When the holy priest preached to the people, Wenefride was placed at his feet, and her tender soul eagerly imbibed his heavenly doctrine, and was wonderfully affected with the great truths which he delivered, or rather which God addressed to her by his mouth. The love of the sovereign and infinite good growing daily in her heart, her affections were quite weaned from all the things of this world; and it was her earnest desire to consecrate her virginity by vow to God, and instead of an earthly bridegroom, to choose Jesus Christ for her spouse. Her parents readily gave their consent, shedding tears of joy and thanking God for her holy resolution. She first made a private vow of virginity in the hands of S. Beuno, and some time after received the religious veil from him, with certain other pious virgins, in whose company she served God in a small nunnery which her father had built for her, under the direction of S. Beuno, near Holy Well. After this, S. Beuno returned to the first monastery which he had built at Clynog Vaur, about forty miles distant, and there soon after slept in our Lord. After the death of S. Beuno, S. Wenefrede left Holy Well, and after putting herself for a short time under the direction St. Daifer, entered the nunnery of Gutherin in Denbighshire, under the direction of a very holy abbot, called Elerius, who governed there a double monastery. After the death of the Abbess Theonia, S. Wenefrede was chosen

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