JOHN ADAMSON.

I take the opportunity of adding that Mr. Adamson's acquirements as a numismatist were very extensive, whether measured by his acquaintance with ancient coins, or by his collections of them. His account of the Anglo-Saxon Stycas found at Hexham, Archæologia, 1834, vol. XXV., pp. 279-310; and vol. XXVI., PP: 346-348, contains representations of about two thousand of these interesting relics of bygone ages. Caermarthen, Nov. 9. GWILYM GLAN TYWI.

THUNDER STORMS ON GREAT DEATHS.

Can such things be,

And overcome us, like a suminer-cloud,
Without our special wonder?

Quoniam non est nobis colluctatio adversus carnem et sanguinem, sed adversus Principates et Potestates, adversus Mundi Rectores tenebrarum harum, contra Spiritualia Nequitiæ, in Celestibus.-Ephes. ch. vi. v. 12.

When in 1658, the Protector Cromwell lay a dying, there came on a mad and ruthless storm suddenly. Cataracts of rain beat upon roof and wall, lightning fell in floods, fierce thunder rolled around the palace where he groaned, and trees, the growth of ages were struck down as by a blow. "Behold!" said his Friends, "the rush of Archangels to marshal into Paradise my Lord's illustrious soul!" "Mark!" said his Enemies, " how the Demons of the air battle for the mastery of his spirit, and assemble to grasp it, when it glides away!" Thus wrote Waller

We must resign! Heaven his great soul will claim,
In storms as loud as his Immortal Fame,
His dying breath, his last sighs shake our Isle
And Trees uncut fall for his Funeral Pile!
Around his palace their broad roots are tost
Into the air-thus Romulus was lost.

He is not dead, he breathes the air
In lands beyond the deep,
Some distant sea girt Island, where
Harsh men the Hero keep.

Island of the main; a lonely rock, but vast, girded and Long generations! There is a bleak grim guarded imprisoned by the solitary sea. The hour is at hand, and the doom. The captive Emperor Napoleon must die. A sudden and supernatural tempest roars along the deep, lightnings rush, thunder boomed and crashed afar off and nigh; the voices of those who watched by that awful couch could hardly be heard; but in the pauses of that storm, there came ever and anon from the throat of the dying, the shout of battle, and the signals of the old command. At length, as his spirit passed away, and as though it rushed to meet the unseen armies of the air, his voice sounded like a Trumpet, TETE D'ARMÉE ! To THE FRONT, he said, and thus, Napoleon died.

And move

In hearts all rocky once, the late remorse of Love. Long years! long years! The sinews of Old England that strove so fiercely in the Belgian field are summer dust! There is joy aloud in France! Shouts in the Gallic City, for the Daughter of English Kings leans on the arm of the Frank caressingly. Amid these multitriumphant rest, rules them from his dust as from a tudes, the corpse of Napoleon the Exile, returned to Throne. His descendant, the avenger of his race; he who wears his very name, he and none other, must lead the Lady of England to stand in homage at the tomb of his ancestor. They pause at the threshold of that sepulchre, an Emperor and a Queen! Hearken! the

sound as of angry waters gathers in the sky; once more lightnings leap, thunder cleaves the air like the charge of demon battalions. Is it the sympathy, or the wrath of invisible armies? The gratulation, or the trouble of the conscious dead?

In the notice of the Queen's recent visit to the tomb of the Emperor Napoleon, it is stated—

The weather, which looked very theatening during the progress of the review, fortunately continued fair, until it had terminated; but then, the rain descended in torrents, and it was in the middle of a thunder-storm, that the Emperor took his guests to the Hospital of the Invalides, there to visit the tomb of the First Napoleon. Morwenstow.

col.

R. S. HAWKER.

The German motto, in Current Notes, page 75, should have been printed thus

1,

Wer nicht Lust hat zu schönen Pferds,

Ein blankes Schwerdt,

Ein schoenes Weib,

Hat kein Soldatenherz im Leib.

No. LX.]

[DECEMBER, 1855.

66

THE DOOM-WELL OF ST. MADRON.

Plunge thy right hand in St. Madron's spring!
If true to its troth be the palm you bring;
But if a false sigil thy fingers bear,

Lay them the rather on the burning share.”

Loud laughed King Arthur when as he heard
That solemn Friar, and his boding word :
And blithely he sware, as a king he may,
"We tryst for St. Madron's at break of day!"

"Now horse and hattock, both but and ben,"*
Was the cry at Laud's, with Tintadgel men;
And forth they pricked upon Roughtort side
As goodly a raid as a King could ride.

Proud Guenever rode like a Queen of the land,
With
page and with squire at her bridle hand;
And the twice six Knights of the Stony Ring,
They girded and guarded their Cornish King.

Then they halted their steeds at St. Madron's cell,
And they stood by the Priest at the cloister'd well-
"Now off with your gauntlets," King Arthur he cried,
"And glory or shame for our Tamar-side!"
'Twere sooth to sing how Sir Gawain smiled,
When he grasp'd the waters so soft and mild;
How Sir Launcelot dash'd the glistening spray,
O'er the rugged beard of the rough Sir Kay.

Sir Bevis he touched, and he found no fear;
'Twas a beniteè stoup to Sir Belvidere.
How the fountain flash'd o'er King Arthur's Queen,
Say, Cornish Dames, for ye guess the scene.
"Now rede me my riddle, Sir Mordred, I pray,
My kinsman, my ancient, my bien-aimé ;
Now rede me my riddle, and rede it aright,
Art thou trait'rous Knave, or my trusty Knight?"

He plunged his right arm in the Judgment-Well,
It bubbled and boiled like a cauldron of hell!
He drew, and he lifted his quivering limb,
"Ha! Sir Judas! how Madron had sodden him!"

Now, let Uter Pendragon do what he can,
Still the Tamar river will run as it ran;
Let King and let Kaisar be fond or be fell,
Ye may harowe their troth in St. Madron's Well.
Morwenstow.
R. S. HAWKER.

VOL. V.

The old phrase for butlery and hall. + Sounded Rowtor, the o open as in brow.

MADRON WELL.

In Current Notes, p. 85, Mr. Pattison says the Madron Well near Penzance "was in repute at the time of the Civil War." The following testimony to this fact, by no less a distinguished person, than the pious Bishop Hall, the bishop of the diocese in which that well is situated, may interest your readers. In his Treatise on the Invisible World, Book I., Sect. viii., he says

The trade that we have with good spirits is not now driven by the eye, but is like to themselves, spiritual; yet not so but that even in bodily occasions we have many times insensible helps from them in such manner, as that, by the effects, we can boldly say, Here hath been an Angel, though we saw him not. Of this kind was that no less than miraculous cure, which at St. Maderne's (S. Maternus) in Cornwall, was wrought upon a poor cripple, on John Trelille; whereof besides the attestations of many hundreds of the neighbours, I took a strict and personal examination in that last visitation (at Whitsuntide) which I either did or shall hold. This man, that for sixteen years together was fain to walk upon his hands, by reason of the close contraction of the sinews of his limbs, was, upon three monitions in his dream, to wash in that well, suddenly so restored to his limbs, that I saw him able both to walk and to get his own maintenance. I found here was neither art nor collusion; the thing done, the Author invisible.

The visitation to which Bishop Hall refers was in 1641, just before his removal to Norwich. Brampford Speke, Dec. 3.

66

G. C. GORHAM.

On the opinions and questions propounded by Mr. Pattison, in reference to Madron Well, I will make some remarks. Few of these structures have been more frequently described: none of the County and Local historians omit making mention of it, and many either transcribe or allude to the poem written by Bishop Hall, entitled The Great Mysterie of Godlinesse," describing "the miraculous cure of the poore cripple," through the agency of its waters. It was probably erected at a very early date, and when the Roundhead zealots, Ceeley and Shrubshall, now more than two hundred years since, destroyed this and other similar buildings, the state in which they left it, continues apparently much the same to this day. I am inclined to think that the appellation of " the holy" well may be in this instance a misnomer, however sacred it may have been as a baptistery, which it was undoubtedly; and that the real Madron Well will be found about a gunshot N. W. of the baptistery, on the same moor. The excavation in the S. W. angle of the building would seem to have been used as a font, the water

being supplied from the running stream above- the waste water being carried off by a gutter along the western side in the interior, that is still remaining. This excavation, it is not unlikely, may have been filled with water at the will of the officiating priest, and in that superstitious age, recourse may have been had to some sleight of hand; as in the interior of the building every drop of water, in the summer, dries up; but, in the winter, there is great difficulty in entering it, from its being then completely flooded. The stream which supplies the water is conducted by an artificial channel to the town of Penzance, and was at one time, for that purpose, the only source.

The stone benches are in a comparatively perfect state; but that the large granite slab now at the east end, was really an altar-stone, has been doubted; I am, however, from its resemblance to a stone which lies within the ruins of a small baptistery near the once celebrated Holy Well, at the Gurnard's Head in Zennor, disposed to think that it was an altar stone. The cavity in this stone is too shallow to have received the shaft of a cross, but possibly, as it has been supposed, the offerings of the piously devout were therein deposited.

With regard to the northern position of the door, I would refer Mr. Pattison to Parc-au-Chapel, near Cape Cornwall, in the parish of St. Just, where in like manner the door faces the north; and whatever may be the Satanic influences attributed to this quarter, they appear to have had no deference from the people, for, to this day, the old building at Madron is visited by persons with weak eyes, who, like the devotees of old, having faith in the efficacy of the water, pass its threshold to wash their eyes, and then place their votive rags on the bushes around and within. The washing doubtless does them good, cleanliness being the chief agent with eyes

which otherwise would never be washed.

When the Chapel of the Mount was constructed, there can be no doubt the reputed dungeon was made at the same time; it has hitherto been considered as a vault, and may have received the body of a priest; but no reason is apparent why a priest should conceal himself there, at a time when the priesthood were dominant. Several other hypotheses have obtained currency Pomeroys having of himself bled to death there; the incarceration of some state prisoners, and other circumstances, all of which are fully related in the histories of this interesting old place.

Exon, Dec. 8.

H. A. C.

SARDINIAN MOTTO F. E. R T., EXPLAINED. The earliest occurrence of the initials F. E. R. T. on the coins of Savoy, appears to be on those of Amadeus VII., Count of Savoy, 1383-91. See the work by D. Promis, entitled Monete dei Reali di Savoia, Torino, 1841, 4to. vol. ii., pl. v. fig. 4. The earliest specimen in the British Museum illustrative of this fact, is of Amadeus VIII., Count of Savoy, 1391, and what the letters F. E. R. T., were intended to imply has long been a questio vexata.

On the occasion of the visit of Victor Emanuel, King of Sardinia, to Guildhall, on Tuesday, the 4th inst. to and Citizens of London, the throne, overshadowed by receive the congratulatory address of the Lord Mayor a cleverly designed canopy supported by gilded Caryatides, is described as standing on a dais, raised four steps high, and covered with rich blue velvet, having embroidered upon it, in the manner of the Imperial Bee in France, the Sardinian knot, and the initials F. E. R. T. supposed to imply

FORTITV DO EJVS RHODIVM TENVIT.

This interpretation, which is M. Pericaud's, refers to the part taken by Savoy, in the succour of Rhodes, in 1523, but as before that event these letters were common to the Princes of that illustrious house, some other definition seems to be required. On the reverse of one of the gold coins of Victor Amadeus I., 1630-37, are four loveknots, placed in the form of a cross, in the centre of which is the shield of Savoy. They are alternate with four groups of hands interlaced, encircled by the legend

FEDERE ET RELIGIONE TENEMVR.

Supplying a definite and satisfactory explanation of the meaning of the letters F. E. R. T., so long and so frequently a matter of dispute.

KNIGHT'S FEE AND KNIGHT'S SERVICE.

Rummaging lately over some old deeds, I have been Puzzled to make out what is implied by a Knight's Fee, in which they occur—and by Knight's service. I however give the sentences

Robert Fitzralph gave the manor to be held by the fourth part of a knight's fee.

William Lord Ross died seized of half a quarter of a knight's fee of the king in capite.

-Stonesby died seized of the manor held by the king, as of his Honor of Leicester, by knight's service. And if yourself, or any reader of Current Notes, could explain the matter, I should feel much obliged. December 7. A. J. A.

A knight's fee anciently denoted so much inheritance as was sufficient to maintain a knight.

Knight service was an ancient tenure, by which several lands in this realm were held of the king, so that it drew after it Homage, etc., but this and all other tenures were abolished 12 Car. II., cap. 24.

EARLY EDITIONS OF AMADIS DE GAUL.

SIR, The uncertain notices which are found in Brunet, respecting the earlier editions of this celebrated romance, have induced me to offer you some particulars of the following editions which are in the Library at Middle Hill. The several portions of this famous Romance describe in the first four books, the Exploits of Amadis de Gaul; the fifth book, those of his son, Esplandian; the sixth, those of Don Florisando; the seventh, those of Lisuarte de Grecia and Perion de Gaula; the eighth also relates to Lisuarte de Grecia; the ninth, to Amadis de Grecia ; the tenth, to Florisel de Niquea; the eleventh, to Rogel de Grecia; and the twelfth, to Selves de la Selva.

Brunet quotes the edition of the FIRST FOUR books, printed at Salamanca, in 1519, as the first, though one printed in the same city, in 1510, is noticed under the word Vasco de Lobeyra, in the Summario de la Bibl. Lusitana. That at Middle Hill is dated 1521, printed in black letter, excepting the title, which is in red; on the upper part of the page is -" Amadis de Gaula ;" and at the bottom" Los quatros libros del virtuoso cavallero Amadis de Gaula: Complidos." On the 298th folio, is this colophon

Acabanse los quatro libros del esforçado y muy virtuoso cavallero Amadis de Gaula &c. Fuero emprimidos en la muy noble, y muy leal ciudad de Caragoça: por George Coci Alema-Acabarose a. xxx. dias del mes de Julio, nel año del nascimiento de nuestro Salvador Jesu Christo, de mil y quinientos y veynte uno.

On the following page, commences the Table which occupies three leaves; the whole volume comprises three hundred and two leaves.

The title of the FIFTH book is also printed in red, except the figure of Esplandian on horseback, which, with the border is black, having at the top-"Las Sergas de Esplädian ;" and at the foot

El ramo que de los quatro libros de Amadis sale: llamado Las Sergas de Espludian, hijo de Amadis de gaula. Las quales fueron escriptas por mano del maestro Helizabad, por bue fuessen magnifiestos los grandes hechos que en armas hizo segun q en el presente libro se cuenta. MDXXVI.

Of the above the date only is in black letter, and is placed below the border. The Table precedes the work, and the whole consists of 126 leaves. On the verso of folio 125, is the colophon

Acaban se las sergas de Esplandian, hijo del muy esforçardo y virtuoso Cavallero Amadis de Gaula, y fueron corregidas y trasladados por el muy honrado y muy virtuoso cavallero Garcia gutierrez de montalvo, Regidor de Medina del Campo, que los quatro libros de Amadis assimésmo corregio y enmedo. Deo gratias.

Then follow on the recto of folio 126, some verses by "Aloso de proaza, corretor de la Obra, al lector," beginning thus, "Los claros ingenios que quiere saber." At the conclusion of these verses, follows the colophon

Fue impressa la presente obra en la muy noble y muy mas leal ciudad de Burgos a costa y espesa de Jua de Juta, Florentin. Acabo se a quinze dias del mes de Mayo. Año del nacimiento de nuestro Salvador Jesu Christo de mil y quinientos y veynte seys años.

An edition of the SIXTH book, Don Florisando, printed so early as 1510, is known, but excepting in a small edition, this portion is not among those at Middle Hill.

Brunet notices an edition of the SEVENTH book, Lisuarte di Grecia y Perion de Gaula, printed by the brothers Cromberger, at Seville, in 1525; but Antonio states his belief that this portion was printed at an earlier date. The edition at Middle Hill is that printed at Saragoça, in 1587, which, being so late in the century, and not in black letter, I do not describe.

The Title of the EIGHTH book, Lisuarte de Grecia, containing the death of Amadis de Gaula, is printed in red, except the portraits and border and the statement of the death of Amadis, which is placed in mourning, by being printed in black letter. The title contains six portraits. In the centre, Amadis is seated enthroned; Esplandian on his right, Lisuarte on his left. Under Esplandian, is Galaor; under Amadis, is Amadis de Grecia, and under Lisuarte is Florestan. Below these is the Title

El octavo libro de Amadis: que trata de las estrañas aveturas y grandes proezas de su nieto Lisuarte y de la muerte del inclito rey Amadis. MDXXVI. This date is printed in red.

The Prologue commences thus

Prologo del octavo libro d'amadis de gaula. Dirigido al illustrissimo Señor el Señor do Jorge hijo del invictissimo rey do Jua el segundo de Portogal, maestro de Vis y santiago: duque de Coimbra, señor de motemayor el viejo, y torres novas, y de las Behetrias. Fecho por Juan diaz bachiller en canones.

Diaz in this prologue states, that Esplandian is the fifth part of Amadis de Gaul; Florisando, the sixth; and that Perion and Lisuarte follow. At folio 220, is this colophon

Fenece el octavo libro de Amadis. En el qual se trata de los-valientes fechos en armas del-cavallero Lisuarte di Grecia hijo del Emperador Esplandian y assi mesmo se trata de lo Griego y Toscano en Castellano por Juan diaz bachilde la muerte del muy esclarecido rey Amadis. Fue sacado ler en canones. Fue impresso en la muy noble y leal ciudad de Savilla por Jacobo cromberger alemant y Juan cromberger. Acabose a. XXV. de Setiembre Año de mil y quinientos y veynte y seys.

The Table occupying three leaves follows, and the volume wholly comprises 223 leaves.

Amadis de Grecia, is the subject of the NINTH book, which is in two parts, the whole containing 232 leaves. The title is printed in red, excepting those words here denoted in italics, the date, the portrait and border.

El noveno libro de Amadis d' Gaula: que es la cronica del muy valiete y esforçado principe y cavallero de la ardiente espada Amadis de Grecia: hijo de Lisuarte de Grecia: Emperador de Constantinopla y de Trapisonda : y rey de Rodas, que tracta de los sus grandes hechos en armas, y de los sus altos y estraños amores.

MDXLII.

From this it appears to me that the proper title to the seventh Book is "Perion de Gaula.”

†This James Cromberger subsequently went to Mexico, and printed the first book in that kingdom, a copy of which is in the library at Middle Hill.

The heading to the Prologue is a repetition to the word' amores' of the Title, and is thus continued: Segun que los escrivio el gran sabio en las magicas Alquife. Nuevamente hallado y emendado de algunos vocablos que por la antiquedad estavan corrompidos. Por Feliciano de Silva corregidos. Dirigida al illustrissimo Señor Dō Diego de Mendoça Duque del infantazgo conde del real: marquis de Santillana; señor de las casas de la Vega. On the Title to the second part, s added

La qual fue sacada de griegoen latin, y de latin en romance segun que la escrivio el gran sabio Alquife en las magicas, etc. And the colophon to this states-

Fenesce el noveno libro de Amadis de Gaula: que es la Coronica del muy valiente, etc. (as in Title ;) y rey de Rodas. Fue impresso en la muy noble y muy leal cibdad de Sevilla en las casas de Jua crōberger q dios perdone. Acabose a veynte y siete dias dl mes de Junio. Año del Señor de mil y quinientos y quarenta y dos años bispera de Señor Sant Juan. Florisel de Niquea, in four parts, is considered to constitute the TENTH book, but I have seen no early edition in which it is positively stated to be so. The earliest edition of the first two parts at Middle Hill, is that printed at Saragoça in 158, which are not in black letter. The third part is in black letter, and the title is printed in red, excepting the names here indicated in italics under the portrait, and the portrait.

El tercera parte de la Coronica del muy excelente Principe Do Florisel de Niquea, en la qual trata de las grandes hazañas de los excelentissimos Principes do Rogel de Grecia y el segundo Agesilao, hijos de los excelentissimos principes do Florisel de Niquea y Don Falanges de Astra. The Prologue commences with the word Prohemio," and after reciting the above words of the Title, continues

La qual fue corregida por Feliciano de Silva de algunos errores que en la trasladacion que se hizo del Griego en latin por el gran hystoriador Falistes campaneo avia, va dirigida al Illustrissimo señor Don Francisco de Zuñiga de Soto Mayor, Duque de Bejar, etc.

in

Colophon. Acabose la Choronica de los vitoriosos vencibles Cavalleros Don Rogel de grecia y el segudo Agesilao hijos, etc. [as in Title] la qual fue corregida por Feliciano de Silva, etc. Impressa en la ynsigne ciudad de Evora en casa de los erederos de Andres de Burgos.

No date. It contains 285 leaves, in black letter. The title of the fourth part of Don Florizel, in two parts, is printed partly in red; on the top is " Don Florizel de Niquca," in red; and at the bottom of the plate, under the portrait, the black part in italics—

La Primera Parte de la quarta de la Choronica de el excellentissimo Principe Don Florisel de Niquea, que fue escripta en Grigeo por Galersis, fue sacada en Latin por Philastes Campaneo, y traduzida en Romance Castellano por Feliciano de Silva.

Unless the ELEVENTH book is formed from the tourd and fourth parts of Don Florizel, we have no other knowledge of it.

The title of the TWELFTH book, Don Silves de la Selva, excepting the proper names, is printed in red. On a scroll, above the portrait, in black letter, is, “ Dō Silves de la Selva;" and at the foot is the following

Começa la dozena parte del invencible cavallero Ama dis de Gaula, Que tracta de los grande hechos en armas del esforcado Cavallero don Silves de la Selva con el fin de las guerras Ruxianas. Junto con el nacimiento de los temidos Cavalleros Esferamundi, y Amadis de Astra. y Assi mismo de los dos esforçados principes Fortunian y Astrapolo. Dirigido al Illustrissimo señor don Luys Ponce de Leon. Duque de Arcos, Marques de Zahira, Conde de Casares, señor de la leal villa de Marchena, etc. The colophon ends—

Aqui se acaba la dozena parte del esforcado cavallero Amadis de gaula, que trata de los grandes hechos en armas del principe Don Silves de la selva: junto con el fin de las crueles guerras Ruxianas: y del nacimieto de los principes Espheramundi: y Amadis de astra: con los nacimientos de otros estremados principes y hermosas infantas.

Fue impresso el presente libro: en la muy noble y muy leal ciudad de Sevilla: por Dominico de Robertis. Acabose a seys dias del mes de Noviembre: Año del nacimieto de nostro salvador d' MDXLVI.

This volume is in black letter, and contains 150 leaves. The above editions are all in folio and black letter, except Book 7 and Parts 1, 2, and 4 of Book 10. I will collect as well as I can the dates of all the editions prior to 1600, and send them to you for your next Number. The 13th book contains the Acts of Espheramundus and Amatis de Astra, but this is not at Middle Hill. Middle Hill, Dec. 2.

T. P.

STERNE'S GRAVE.-Passing this morning by the burial ground of St. George's, Hanover Square, in Tyburnia, I was induced to ask permission to visit Laurence Sterne's grave, which was instantly conceded; and was directed to the west side, that it was close by a tree, and near the wall, over which an opening between some houses in the adjoining mews would serve as a guide. To my astonishment, the grave-stone was in the most perfect order, and on enquiry was informed the whole had been restored within the last three years, the expences having been borne by a shilling subscription, of which one of the curates, named Peate, had been the instigator.

It is to be regretted that on this occasion the error in the inscription was not amended. Sterne died, as faithfully recorded in Current Notes, 1854, p. 31, on March 18, 1768; on the head stone it is inscribed he "Died Sept. 13, 1768." The words at the commence"Near this place lyes the Body," excites feelings no less of sorrow than pain on recurring to the circumstances which are so fully noticed in Current Notes as above quoted. Sterne was buried here on March 22; but in the night of the 24th some resurrectionists took up the corpse, and transmitted it as a subject for the dissection room of Cambridge University. Shepherd's Bush, Dec. 1.

A SHANDYITE.