No. LXIV.]

Sr.-I ame to advertis you that on Wednesday the xvth of this instant, Duke Charles, the King's Mats, second sonne, wth my Lo: of ffyvie, Lo: Prsedent of the Sessions in Skottland, who hath charge of his Grace, entendeth to bee at Lecester, whear thaye mean to rest Thursday all day, and on Friday after dinner to goe forwards on their jornye, ffor wch cause theise are in bis Mats. name to require you to make choyce of a sufficient house for the lodgine of the Dukes Grace wth the Lo: Predent, whear ther must be xij bedds, with all nessicaries for a kytchine, and yt their bee iij hogsheads of beare layed in the same house, for the wch you shall have satisfaction; for pewter and lininge, [linen] his Grace must bee furnished wth from you; before his cominge their shalbee one sent for the makinge of p'vision, vnto whom I would, if hee find it nedfull, he maye have your assistance. Thus, not doutinge of yor care herein, I byd you hartelie fare well, Yor lovinge ffrend,

ffrom Worsop, the ix of August, 1604.

JOHN CRANE.

The Mayor immediately despatched a messenger to Sir William Skipwith, to procure the use of his town mansion for the Prince and his train, which being obtained, in accordance with long customary arrangements, the walls of the rooms were decorated with green boughs, and the floors strewed with rushes and green leaves, for perfume and coolness during the warm weather. Pewter and linen were borrowed, and bedding and furniture were moved to Sir Thomas Skipwith's house, from the Recorder's chamber at the Town-Hall.

The Prince arrived on Wednesday the 15th, and during his stay, the Corporation presented to him and his retinue a banquet, or as we should now term it a dessert, with several gallons of sack and other wines and a sugar-loaf. Rhenish and claret wine was presented to Mr. Grimes, who had the charge of the king's horses, and twenty shillings were given to the King's

VOL. VI.

[APRIL, 1856.

trumpeters. The Prince remained until after dinner on

Friday, and then departed for Dingley.

As on former occasions the attendants on royalty evinced the disposition to make the most of their opportunity, without respect to the rights of property, for these manuscripts record that after their departure the Corporation had to pay "for certain Flanders fruit dishes, which with divers sorts of banquetting dishes were sent to the Duke, but of which fruit dishes some of Duke's officers and followers." them were broken,* and the rest carried away by the A portion of the pewter and linen that had been borrowed for the Duke's use was also abstracted by the royal attendants, of whom Scott, (Fortunes of Nigel,) quoting from the proclamations of the period, terms them "a beggarly rabble," and "an importunate crowd of disrespectful suitors." Some one with singular audacity actually stole one of the bolsters belonging to the Recorder's bed! Leicester, April 9. WILLIAM Kelly.

*To many persons this extract from the borough records will afford much to interest them. The garniture for the bouffet and the table in England, was at this period, for the most part silver and pewter; gold and glass rarely, and both more for ornament than use. The richly embossed cream coloured ware, dishes and plates, with perforated borders, erroneously termed by most dealers, "Elizabethan ware," have no reference to that period; the English made pottery of that time, being black earthenware pots, in general use at ale houses, and commonly in domestic usethe red earthen pots, with a partial green glaze are ascribed to an earlier date. Oriental porcelain was then rarely to be found even on the tables of royalty-the deficiency was made up by importations from the continent, and the coarse stone bottle ware of Cologne; with the coarsely glazed dishes of Flanders, now more generally designated Delft ware, were brought into requisition, hence the appellation before made of "Flanders fruit dishes." By others, whose discernment has shown them the embossed ware is really not so early as the time of Elizabeth; it is asserted that they were manufactured at Stratford-le-Bow, in the reign of Anne, and hence obtained the distinction of "Queen's ware." This assertion is, however, as vague as the former, they are from the Staffordshire potteries, some of it, early in the last century; and the characteristics of the earlier fabric will be perceptible by the dark coarse colour of the clay. far improved the fineness and colour of this cream coloured It was not till the aspiring energy of Josiah Wedgwood, so manufacture that soon after her marriage he obtained the patronage of Queen Charlotte, when in compliment to her he named it "Queen's ware," and multiplied an infinity of articles in pottery of all denominations, forms and sizes, for the most part impressed with his name.—ED.

F

OXFORDSHIRE HISTORICAL MEMORANDA.

A correspondent (G. H. Barnett, Esq.) having kindly forwarded some original papers pertaining to the manor of Glympton, for selection of memoranda for Current Notes," the following extracts have been considered as affording some interest.

The first, an autograph letter of Sir John Sedley, Knt. and Bart., sheriff of Kent, 1621. He married Elizabeth, only daughter and at length heir of Sir Henry Savile, Knt., Provost of Eton College. The letter addressed to Mr. Wheat, relates to the Sedley property in Glympton, and to an annuity on Mrs. Pollard's life, the particulars of which Sir John Lentall knoweth punctually.

He adds

Your seruaunt can giue you some notice of my howse att Aylesford* which is the only commod yous seate in England; and I am very willinge to sell itt: if a wiseman, whoe is not very auaritious vew it: I knowe he will have it. Thus commendinge my best respects vnto you, I rest your very louinge frende, JOHN SEDLEY.

This 14 Nou: Anno doì. 1633.

Charles the First, in May, 1634, issued writs to the ports and maritime counties, for the providing a fleet for maintaining the sovereignty of the Narrow Seas. This affair of the ship-money was the commencement of the King's troubles; and the writs, in 1635, were enlarged and extended to the inland as well as the maritime counties. These created a general disgust, and were everywhere opposed, although the entire sum purposed to be levied by these writs amounted but to 236,000. The following is the substance of the paper addressed to the Sheriff of Oxford:

Instructions from the Privy Council to the High Sheriff of Oxford, dated from Whitehall ye 12th of August, 1635; requiring him, the Mayor, and Head officers of the Corporate Towns in Oxfordshire to assess themselves for the raising of 35007, the charges for providing a ship of 350 tons, to be furnished with men, munitions, tackle, victual, and other requisites to be set forth for the safeguard of the Seas and the defence of

The Sedley family were seated at Aylesford, in Kent. Sir William Sedley, of the Friars in Aylesford, Knt., wes created a baronet, May 22, 1611. He purchased from Sir John Gerrard, Knt., Lord Mayor of London, 1601, the manor of Southfleet; hence his son, Sir John, on inheriting both houses, was desirous of disposing of the latter. He was, however, unsuccessful, as Sir Charles Sedley, his son, was born at Aylesford in 1639. He married Catharine, daughter of John Earl Rivers, and from this marriage was an only daughter, Catharine, who became the mistress of King James the Second, eternised in Dr. Johnson's maledictory line

And Sedley cursed the form that pleased a King. Sir Charles Sedley, the dramatist and wit, died August 20, 1701, when the title of Aylesford and Southfleet became extinct.

Sir John Sidley, or Sedley, died August 13, 1638. probably at Southfleet. The baptismal register at Aylesford dates only from 1653.

the Realme, at the charges of the said County. The Privy Council suggested the assessments to be thusthe Cytie of Oxford may well beare one hundred pounds; Henley, sixtie pounds; Banburie, fortie pounds; Chippinge Norton, thirtie pounds; Burford, fortie pounds; Woodstocke, twentie pounds, and the residue to be assessed upon the rest of the County, according to their judgment.

The following relates to the mischiefs caused by the conflicting powers of commanders among the Royalists. Diuers complaints have been this day made, amongst others one by Mr. Wheat of this county, that the carts bringing in provisions of corne and other victualls for the mayntenance of the Garrison here, at Oxford, are taken for other imployments, contrary to the King's express agreeconcerneth, are desired to take this into their consideration, ment and proclamation. The cart-takers and others who it and what preiudice this may bring to the King's most importune service at this time and in this place. April 17, 1644. RO. HEATH. The signature is that of Sir Robert Heath, Chief Justice, K.B., then attending upon the King. He died in 1649.

the army would greatly impoverish the county, so, in As might be supposed, the provisions and forage for the following paper, the parishes of Glympton and Kiddington declare their inability to comply with the requisition made on them.

To ye Chiefe Comander of his Maties Forces at Godstow. Whereas we haue receiued a Warrant this present Monday from the High Constable of Wootton Hundred; These are to lett you vnderstand that since the 28th of May last we have been so ouerburdened with his Maties forces of horse and dragoons vnder the Comand of Prince Maurice, the Lord Cleeueland, the Lord Wayntworth; and last the Lord Wilmott and the Lord Wayntworth, our charges being so great for theyr entertainment, that we are vtterly disabled to prouide Sustenance for our poore families, except we may haue reliefe from some neighbouring towns which baue not quartered att this time; besides our store of wheate and mault, which shaulde haue kepte our houses till haruest, they have spent and wasted vpon theyr horses and carried away and imediately vpon theyr departure came the parliament forces who swept the remainder. Wherefore, We do most earnestly request that we may be freed and excused from the Charge imposed upon vs by this Warrant, and so soone as God shall enable vs, we shalbe ready and willing to do the best we can for the supplieing of his

maties souldiers.

A receipt, dated June 5, 1657, acknowledges twenty shillings having been paid by William Wheate, Esq. for a license for retailing wines in the parish of Glympton, in the Hundred of Woodstock. The rent for this license was for the half year ending Dec. 25, 1656. The yearly license was charged at forty shillings, receiveable by the agents for granting wine licenses, for the use of his Highness and the Common Wealth.

under a certain penalty, allowed to be grown in EngTobacco during the time of the Commonwealth was, land, but at length was interdicted; the prohibition continued after the restoration, but the mandates against

tails the King's purposes with the aqua fortis; but by another, dated April 22, it is stated the aqua fortis had been spilled by the way, by accident, but that a saw, for the royal use, had been taken from a plain fat man about four o'clock on the preceding day. The time assigned for the King's escape was May-day at night, but sooner if opportunity served.

Charles remained at Carisbrooke till December the first, in that year, when, by order of the army under Fairfax, he was taken to Hurst Castle, in Hampshire. Penzance, April 10. HENRY WILLIAMS.

THE LATE W. H. SCOTT, M.D., EDINBURGH.

Numismatic Science and its followers have sustained an irreparable loss in the late William Henry Scott, M.D., who died at Edinburgh, much lamented, on the fourth of October last, in his twenty-fourth year. It is difficult to imagine, how it was possible, in so short a life, to acquire so varied an amount of knowledge, as Dr. Scott possessed; but his mind from his earliest years was directed to historical and philological researches, which his never failing memory enabled him, whenever it was required, to embody and utilize with undeviating accuracy. His earliest perception of the use of Coins in verifying history, and tracing the progress of society, was perseveringly followed amid all the delays and interruptions of impaired health and a toilsome course of education, to which a sense of duty alone induced him to adhere; but when free to exercise his great acquirements, he combined them with surprising adroitness in furtherance of a design, to which he had proposed to devote his life had Providence permitted it, by granting him time, but of this, he always spoke doubtfully, and with exemplary resignation.

Having decyphered thirty or more languages, with no other aid, than that derived from books, which he had collected with much acumen and sagacity; his purpose was to compare all the alphabets of ancient and modern times, and as far as possible, the languages, the remains of numismatic art and other records, with the general history of the world as deduced from a widely extended course of inferential reasoning based on known facts; nor is there any cause to doubt, that from his rapid powers of calculation and combination, he would have fully accomplished his self imposed task. Much of the partly arranged material remains, though frequently retarded by enervating sickness, but the master spirit that had conceived the glorious plan is no longer a dweller on the earth.

A member of the Royal Asiatic Society of France, and of other learned societies abroad and at home, he maintained an interesting and instructive correspondence with savans of many countries, most of whom were personally unknown to him, but whose invariable kindness made him feel a sincere confidence in their association and friendship; among these his unseen and kind correspondents in Ireland, Mr. Lindsay and Mr. Sainthill were ever near his heart. One thing may fairly be

said in his praise, when he received continental letters from persons usually considered as competent authorities, consulting him on abstruse points in oriental language or history, his diffidence was manifest, and his hesitation unequivocal; he was wanting in the presumption to direct or inform men so much older than himself; these were with him difficulties, not easily overcome, while on all occasions, the results of his erudition were, when asked for, freely at the service of his friends, and invariably advanced by him in the gentlest and kindest manner- qualities which never failed him, even in any of the more depressing vicissitudes of health.

As a Numismatist, Dr. Scott's character will be better understood, by the following encomium from his valued friend, Mr. Lindsay, so well known to the numismatic world.

66

To exhibit a proper estimate of the acquisitions and powers of my lamented friend in the definement of either science, Numismatology, or Archæology, would require far greater abilities than I possess, and a far more extensive acquaintance with the subjects so ably discussed by him. In the several branches of numismatic lore which relate to the British Islands, or to the continent of Europe, we have many eminent writers, sufficiently able and conversant to describe the coinages of their respective countries; and to appreciate the researches of their brother numismatists; but Dr. Scott had this singular merit, not only was he intimately acquainted with these ordinary facts; but he aimed at far more important objects, and his general success was such as to excite the admiration and approval of those who had themselves laboured in the embarrassments attending researches into the ancient coinages of Central Asia.

A wide field for the students of archæology has been presented in little more than twenty years by the labours and observations of Colonel Tod, Dr. Honigberger, Sir Alexander Burnes, Mr. Masson, and the French generals Allard and Ventura, in the northern provinces of India; and in the more western parts of Asia, by Messrs. Layard, Botta, Rich, Major Rawlinson, and others, but the majority of those persons being deficient in the knowledge or taste, constituting the indispensable requirements of a numismatist, their progress has been unsatisfactory and barren of results, yet, here it was, that the great talents of Dr. Scott, shone forth, and his zeal for his favourite study enabled him to take the lead, while his acquirements in the ancient and for the most part dead languages of Asia, withdrew as it were the veil that enshrouded the prospect we had so long and so ardently desired to explore; unhappily, notwithstanding what he had achieved, much remains to be elucidated and explained, and while grateful for the light with which the splendour of his researches has enriched us, his premature death leaves a hiatus which it is feared will long remain unsupplied.

I feel a degree of pleasure in directing the reader's attention to a slight abstract of what this highly talented writer has done for the advancement of numis