literal, is spirited. It is the publishing of such interesting works, that will most effectually promote the cause of Anglo-Saxon literature. With a revival of our Anglo-Saxon studies, I hope to see a moving in our early English authors. A very early, if not the first English poet and satirist, Peirs Plouhman, deserves the first attention. The able hand that gave us an ample specimen of his powers in your No. for April last, could not be better employed than in an edition of this interesting poet. Mr. Pickering, or some other spirited publisher, could not render English literature a greater service, than by sending forth a neat and cheap edition of Peirs Plouhman. It would be unjust to Mr. Kemble, not to state that he has a new edition of Beowulf, with an English translation, and a glossary, in the press. When this appears, many of the objections of T. W. may be removed. Yours, &c. B. Mr. URBAN, Camberwell. IN reply to the letter of Dr. Lipscomb, impugning the correctness of my statement, that Sir Edmund Verney, the Standard-bearer, was the son of his father's third wife Mary Blackney (the spelling of whose name I derive from the funeral certificate of Sir Edmund the elder, and from the various pedigrees of the family, compiled by the heralds in their visitations,) I shall first submit in its support those very facts which the learned Doctor advances against it. Lady Awdrey, second wife of Sir Edmund Verney the elder, was buried in Aldbury Church in the month of July 1588.* Sir Edmund the younger was born, according to Lloyd, on the 7th of April, 1590, which date is incontestably established by the inquisition held after his father's death at Missenden, 15 May, 42 Elizabeth (1600),† * Vide Parish Register. To Dr. Lipscomb I put the following questions. Did not Queen Elizabeth -ascend the throne in November 1558? -Does not the second year of her reign commence in Nov. 1559? Then how can the 15th May, 42 of Eliz. be the 15th May, 1599? in which he is stated to be of the age of ten years and upwards. And again, by the inscription on his monument in Middle Claydon Church, which tells us that "he was slayne on the 23d of October, 1642, being then in the two and 50th year of his age." For the following document, also confirmative of my statement, I am indebted to the archives of the College of Arms : + "15 February, 1599. "Sr Edmund Verney of Pendley in the countye of Hartfs. Knight, decreased att his house called Stonehouse nere Chalfaunt St. Gyles, within the countye of Buck. on Frydaye the xi of Januarye 1599 [1600]. The said St Edmund mar. to his first wife Frauncys, daughter of John Hastings of Elfuard in the countye of Oxfs. by whome he has no issue. After he maryed to his second wife Awdreye daughter of Will'm Gardener of Fulmer nere Chalfaunt aforesaid, gen. and wydowe of Sr Peter Carewe, Knight, and by her had issue Frauncys, his sonne and heire, att this p'nt of the age of xv yeares or thereaboute, who hath maryed Ursula daughter and one of the Blackney, daughter of John Blackney of heires of Will'm St. Barbe, by Marye Sparham in the countye of Norff. gent. and third wife, survivour of the said Sr Edmund Verney, by whome the said Sir Edmund hath yssue Edmund Verney his second sonne. His funeralls were according to his degree solemnized the 15th daye of February, as above said, att the p'ish church of Alburye in the countye of Hartfs. aforesaid, where he lyeth interred in the chappell on the south side the same church. "In wyttnes of the truith of this certificate, wee have hereunto subscribed our hands the daye and yeare first above wrytten." (Subscribed) JA. PHILLIPS. ROBERT TRESWELL, Som'sett h, inquisition, the only document in truth Let us now, Mr. Urban, examine the which need have been consulted. We there find, as Dr. Lipscomb correctly informs us, that Edmund the younger brother is heir to Francis the elder,a circumstance from which he vauntingly affirms that they must have been brothers of the whole blood. Is the learned historian of Bucks so dull, Funeral Certif. I. 16, p. 73. that he cannot perceive a father, cognoscent of a law which tells him that of two half-brothers, his only sons, the younger shall not inherit from the elder, availing himself of that power which the law has given him, to remove the disabilities of his second-born? That in the present instance, the father did not neglect to accomplish such an arrangement, is proved by the inquisition; wherein it appears Edmund was made remainder man in tail to Francis by virtue of certain deeds of settlement, executed by Sir Edmund the elder; of which one relating to the manor of Quainton, and the advowson of the church of Quainton, was confirmed by Act of Parliament, 24th Oct., 39 of Elizabeth (1598). In other deeds of settlement he is even preferred to his elder brother; and the lands in Wigginton and Tring (subject to a life estate to Lady Mary the wife of the devisor), (in the words of the Inquisition) "descendebant p'fat. Edv. Verney ut filio et hered. masculo de corpore p'd'ci Edv. Verney militis, super corpus p'd'ce Marie le'time p'creat." (!!!) and in default of issue male to his brother Francis and his issue male. The question is now at rest; and the tradition, though upheld by a second (?) champion (D. P.) again slumbers in its "idleness!" Yours, &c. G. STEINMAN STEINMAN. P.S. Dr. Lipscomb has further thought proper to remark on my want of 'condescension' in omitting to mention the fact, that Lady Mary Verney "had a former husband," and also the dates of her marriage and death. That she had a former husband, I am well aware. His name appears in the certificate above; but that she had two former husbands Dr. Lipscomb is not aware, or then the name of the other ·would have graced his pedigree. This gentleman's name was Geffery Turville,* and he preceded St. Barbe. The date of her marriage or marriages, and the date of her death, my censor himself cannot favour me with nor in fact do I require them. That Sir Francis Verney was knighted on the 14th March 1603, and died in Sicily; that Urian Verney, died between the 14th June and the 5th July, : * Visit. Bucks, c. 26, Coll. Arm. 1609, † and that Sir Edmund the Standard-bearer was knighted on Jan. 7, 1610-11, and not in the 8 Car. I., are facts additional to the pedigree in the History and Antiquities of Bucks, and much at the service of the Doctor. MR. URBAN, Sept. 17. AS in the notice bestowed upon my work in your Magazine for March last, p. 299, the Reviewer seemed to feel that the various points which it developed would be more conveniently concealed than grappled with; and as the adoption of such a course was neither just to my interests, nor conformable to the usual tone of your critiques, you will not, I am sure, refuse to make room for the following observations. The Reviewer begins by affirming that the object of my Essay is "to prove, or rather to assert, that Iran is the same as Erin ;" and concludes with a sneer, that if I be right herein, and in making out the Round Towers to have been temples of the worship which I have specifically elucidated, viz. Budhism; in the first place, there was no occasion for so long a treatise as I have exhibited; and in the second place, that the sooner they be pulled down the better! to which he invites the co-operation of all boys and young maids! I now beg leave merely to say that the magnitude of my work was not owing to any prolongation of its ostensible subject, the Round Towers, which in fact are disposed of in a very early stage; as from the numerous other inquiries collaterally but inseparably connected with the investigation; and which a kindred Reviewer, with very little of friendship towards the author, is obliged reluctantly to acknowledge to be "full as many in number as the work itself has pages, viz. 524! And now that I have resuscitated their gross aggregate from your Reviewer's extinction, let us see how far cor On the first date, his will, wherein he styles himself of Fynmor Lodge, Middle Claydon, is subscribed. The second is the date of its probation. "The Round Towers of Ireland;" or, The History of the Tuak-de-Danaans, for the first time, unveiled. By Henry O'Brien, Esq. A.B." THE PRIORY CHURCH OF CHRIST-CHURCH, HANTS. 105, Great Russell-st. MR. URBAN, July 18. IN your Review of the architectural department of this year's exhibition at Somerset House, among the drawings noticed (July, p. 80), I perceive "The Restoration of the priory church of Christ-church, to its presumed design previous to the Reformation." As the author of this attempt, I am induced to offer a few words explanatory of my views, in the composition and arrangement of the several parts of the restoration. Should I be pursuing an irregular course in this step, I must claim your kind consideration, my motive being only to answer the inquiries apparently implied by the expressions used in your critique. My publication on the antiquities of Christ-church, which you referred to as progressing, I have now the satisfaction of stating to you, is completed; in it will be found all that relates to, and which has guided me in the renovation of the several portions of the building. The evidence which is quoted, as justifying the different features adopted in my design, is perhaps not so explicitly worded in the title to my drawing as might have been satisfactory to my own mind; but as the regulations of the institution demanded conciseness of superscription, I endeavoured to avoid being verbose. The authorities given in my work, consist of recorded documents, and deductions which are clearly warranted by a practical consideration of the present state of the edifice; from the deficiencies of the former our only conclusions can be drawn from the latter, and were this course more frequently pursued, the investigation would amply repay the inquirer by developing much that is curious and interesting in construction, and which too often is altogether neglected, or considered of very minor importance. My studies having been particularly directed to this object (during several tours with my late respected friend, Mr. Pugin, whose scientific works are too well known to require my encomiums), I can bear humble testimony to this description of research, and impressed with its value, can highly appreciate the talents of my friend, Mr. Garbett of Winchester; this gentleman has kindly' favoured me with a communication of great interest upon the church at Christ-church, whose observations carry with them almost indisputable evidence of truth, and, in the absence of recorded facts on the various portions to which he refers, may safely be received as practically correct. With this belief, in connection with such information as 1 could glean from the "Historia Fundationis Conobi de Twynham," (given in the Appendix, No. 1. of my work) I have constituted my restoration of the main portions of the fabric. In reference to the ornamental details, I have endeavoured to render them suitable to those still existing, and consonant with the particular date, and other accredited works of the architect Flambard. The foregoing observations being intruded on your notice, I will not occupy more space in your valuable periodical, than the reply to your notice requires. Tradition then states, that the four main points at the junction of the nave, choir, and transepts, formerly supported a superstructure. That a tower (and perhaps a spire) formed a part of the intention of the original founder, we can entertain no doubt: so distinguishing a trait in conventual buildings must have been contemplated in the priory church of Christchurch, and indeed that it was carried into effect, although subsequently destroyed through some casualty, there seems abundant proof, in the shattered appearances still remaining near its precincts. In page 81 of my work, will be found Mr. Garbett's inquiry on this subject, with whose conclusion 1 perfectly agree. The two lower windows of the Tower introduced in my drawing may yet be traced in the (now) eastern gable of the nave roof, and also some portions of the staircase turret at the north-west angle of the tower are still discoverable. On these remains I have erected my tower and spire, the former in the characteristic style of Norman towers of that period; but I have not ventured to place a stone covering of coeval date, not being aware of any remaining specimen of purely Norman stone roof or spire, of such large dimensions, should even such have ever been erected. The termination of turrets cannot aptly be applied to towers of such extent; I chose rather to place a wooden spire similar to those by which Norman towers are now surmounted, if not embellished with an early pointed stone spire.* So many changes have been made in the architecture of this church since its re-construction by Flambard, that it is only by the most careful detection of the original ground plan that we can form to ourselves the primitive beauty of its arrangements, and by comparing its ichnography with Flambard's magnificent erections at Durham, judge of the elevations this prelate had intended. The north transept of Durham cathedral (the accredited work of Bishop Flambard, erected after his translation from Christ-church to that see), not having been subjected to such great innovations as the transept of Christ-church, affords a fair guide for this object. In my drawing I have shewn a turret on the curious projecting staircase at the north-east angle of the north transept, considering the present abrupt termination as effected at the time when the transept gable and other portions underwent modification. The south transept still retains a Norman staircase turret, although its upper parts have been altered in the Tudor times; this transept likewise possesses a curious Norman apsis, with which the north transept, there can be little doubt, was once similarly ornamented. Both the turret and apsis I have restored in my drawing, considering that proofs remain of their former existence. We find the transepts of Durham also flanked by decorative turrets. The Lady Chapel is the next part of my drawing, in which will be seen * The tower of the little church at Than in Normandy, is perhaps the most remarkable instance of the primitive Norman stone roofs, whence arose the elegant pointed spires. a great variation from the present, building. That the upper story called St. Michael's Loft, was an addition of after times, forming no part of the original design, I had long entertained the strongest belief from its incongruity of design; but the recent examinations by Mr. Garbett has further corroborated this fact. His words I here add : "The Lady Chapel with its two wings, now forming the eastern continuation of the choir aisles, were unquestionably built previous to the erection of the present choir and its aisles; which is rendered evident, not only by the junction of the masonry, but by the window, or rather doorway, discoverable in what was the west wall of the Lady Chapel, in a situation now between the vaulted ceiling of that edifice, and the floor of St. Michael's Loft; and it is further evident that the present choir-building must have been erected previous to St. Michael's Loft, inasmuch as it is found that a continuation of the height of the wall last mentioned, formed, upon the rebuilding of the choir, the eastern wall of that part of the church, in which wall another window or doorway is found between the vaulted ceiling and roof. Now to connect this theory of the progress of the structure, we must observe that the facing of the part of the wall first mentioned, is towards the west, and that of the second part is towards the east, forming an outward face before the additional story was raised upon the Lady Chapel, to be dedicated to St. Michael." It will be seen also in my drawing, that the choir aisles terminate on a line with the eastern wall of the choir. The complete and elegant finish of the Lady Chapel both within and without, are convincing proofs that it originally stood unencumbered; the staircases and loft, as well as the eastern compartment of the choir aisles, being evidently subsequent adjuncts. From this singular arrangement, it will be obvious that no communication could previously have existed between the Lady Chapel and choir aisles, as the two eastern compartments of the choir aisles abutting against the Lady Chapel, must have constituted at any time the only connection between the two. This leads me to offer an opinion with great diffidence, that, previous to this alteration, the communication from the rect he is as to his insinuation respecting the only two of them which he has traducingly named. My words are as follow: "Iran, then, and Irin, or, as more correctly spelled, Eirean and Eirein, with an e prefixed to each of the other vowels, as well initial as intermediate, is the characteristic denomination which all our ancient MSS. affix to this country.-The prefixing of this letter (e) in both instances of its occurrence, whether we regard the eastern or the western hemisphere (Persia or Ireland) was neither the result of chance, nor intended as inoperative in the import of the term. was a mere dialectal distinction appertaining to the court language of the dynasty of the times; and, what is astoundingly miraculous, retains the same appellation with literal precision, unimpaired, unadulterated, in both countries, up to the moment in which I write. It "The import of this appellative (Irin, compounded of Ir, sacred; and in, island) having spread itself over the globe before Rome was ever known under that name as a city; and when Greece was but just beginning to peep into the light, the Pelasgi, who were partly Budhists, allied somewhat to them in religion, and still more akin in birth and endowments, conveyed in conjunction with the Phoenician merchants to the early Greek inhabitants; and they by a very easy process, commuted Iren into Ierne, which is but a translation of the word ispos, signifying sacred; and nos, an island. "Of this Greek form Ierne, there were again various inflections and depraved assimilations, such as Iernis, Iuernia, Ivernia, &c.; and from this latter, the Latins without at all knowing what the term meant, conjured up Hibernia; but which, however, with soul-stirring triumph, retains uninjured our original root, the initial H being nothing more than the aspirate of the Greek inpos, sacred; vnos, island, remaining unaltered; and the letter b only interposed for sound sake. So that whether we consider it as Irin, Ierne, or Hibernia, or under the multiplied variations which diverge, almost interminably, from those three originals in the several languages, which they respectively represent, they will be found each and all to resolve themselves into this one great, incontrovertible position of the Sacred Island."* I now appeal to yourself and to your readers, whether all this savours more of assertion or of proof? Nay, *Round Towers of Ireland, pp. 120, 121, 128, 129. whether it be not downright actual and irrefragable demonstration? And as to my solution of the "Towers," from the analysis of the epithet by which they are registered in our ancient annals, viz. Fidh-nemphed, that analysis requires but to be made known to insure for it universal assent. "Fidh, then, as the Ulster annals, or Fiadh, as those of the Four Masters spell it, is the plural of Budh, i. e. linga; the initial F of the former being only the aspirate of the initial B of the latter, and commutable with it. Syncellus accordingly spells Budh even in this singular with an F, while Josephus, from the Scriptures, additionally commutes the final d into t; and Nemphed is an adjective, signifying divine or consecrated, from nemph, the heavens: so that Fidhnemphed, taken together, will import the consecrated Lingas, or the Budhist consecrations."+ That this solution is satisfactory, and has already received the sanction of the learned of the day, is evident, from the annexed lines, extracted from the last Number of the Freemasons' Quarterly Review. "Few subjects," says this critique, "have more puzzled the zeal of the antiquary than the Round Towers of Ireland. Treatises have been written by members of the most learned bodies in Europe; but, however ingenious their suppositions, however supported by seeming proofs, their theories failed to produce that satisfaction, that perfect conviction, which the irresistible voice of truth can alone command. To Henry O'Brien belongs the honour of deciding the question of their origin, antiquity, and purpose. With a power whose strength appals us, he has cast back upon the vast sea of Time its destroying surge, and from oblivion drawn the history of a people, the Tuath-de-Danaans, to whose name the literati of Europe were almost strangers. The peculiar formation of these celebrated structures, the exquisite workmanship of their building, had long attracted the attention of the learned. Some had supposed them to be ancient beacons; others intended for purgatorial columns, or penitential heights. Montmorency makes them dungeon-keeps; while General Vallancey stoutly asserts that they were receptacles of the sacred fire. No man could have been found more capable of investigating the truth of these several positions than our author, who, to an intimate acquaintance with + Round Towers of Ireland, pp. 104, 105. |