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1828.]

Romance of Guy rock; the author of which, if he be recoverable, must be pursued in a different direction. There is not the least trace of the author throughout the poem, and the supposed connexion between "The Siege of Carlaverock" and "the Romance of Guy of Warwick," resolves into empty air, leaving not "a rack behind."

To return to the subject of Guy. Of the original French Romance, three copies certainly exist in England, viz. one in MS. Harl. 3775. 2; the second in MS. Howard, Coll. Arm. 14; and the third in Bennet Coll. Camb. No. 50. 6. To the ignorance, however, of the fact of a complete copy existing, we must ascribe the publication of a few fragments of this Romance, communicated by the late Rev. J. J. Cony, beare, in one of the volumes of the British Bibliographer. Of the English metrical Romance, which is a translation of the above, three copies also (at least) are preserved, viz. MS. Coll. Caii, Cant. A. 8; MS. More 690; and MS. Auchinleck. In the latter MS. the whole of the latter portion of this Romance is in six-line stanzas, a large extract from which is given by Mr. Ellis, in his analysis of the Poem. He justly remarks, that it was "one of the most ancient and popular, and no less certainly one of the dullest and most tedious" of our early Romances. Its history has been elucidated, in some measure, by Warton and Ritson; but it may not be amiss to add here the historical authorities in which the fiction is founded. The earliest appears to be Girardus Cornubiensis, in whose work, De gestis Regum West-Saxonum, the story is introduced, and printed by Hearne ad calc. Ann. Dunstap. No. xi. from a MS. in Magd. Coll. Oxon. No. 147. This Girardus is first supposed by Tanner to be the same with Giraldus Cambrensis, and then confounded with him, which confusion Warton (more suo) very much increases in his notice of that writer (vol. i. p. 91, n. ed. 8vo). The account of Girardus was subsequently translated into English verse by Lydgate, as he himself states:

"Out of the Latyn made by the Chronycler Called of old Girard Cornubyence."

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1200, and who is quoted often by Harding, related also the story of Guy and Colbrand; but his work appears to be lost. From these, or similar sources, the fiction undoubtedly passed juto Peter de Langtoft, and his translator, as well as into Le Petit Bruit, a Chronicle in French, composed by Meistre Rauf de Boun, in 1310, MS. Harl. 902. We find it also in the Chronicles of Knyghton, Rudbourne (ap. Wharton, Angl. Sacr. vol. i.), Hardyng, and Fabyan; in the Liber de Hida, MS. Sloane, 471; and in John Rous's History of the Earls of Warwick (partly printed by Hearne, ad calc. Vit. Ric. II.), and Dugdale's Hist. of Warwickshire, p. 374. Of the editions of the English metrical Romance, and of the subsequent prose French work, it is unnecessary to say any thing, as they are pointed out by Ellis and Warton.

The above remarks are not at all intended to depreciate the value of Mr. Nicolas's publication, but written in the fair and open spirit of inquiry every editor ought to court, rather than avoid: and it is on that account I will just notice an example of that " glorious perpetuation of error," Antiquaries, of all beings on earth, are liable to. We mean the singular prænomen of Emlam Touchez, p. 34, which is copied, certainly not from the MS. but from the transcript as printed in Antiq. Repert. But if Mr. N. will take the trouble once more to cast his eye on the Cotton. MS. (in which the Christian name has been added by a hand of the 15th cent.) he will perceive that it is not Emlam, but Guylam, and that the individual in question is undoubtedly the same as the Sir William Touchet, of the contemporary Roll of Arms, Calig. A. xvii. from whom Mr. Nicolas has incorrectly distinguished him.

In conclusion, I have only to add, that, exclusive of the copies of the "Siege of Carlaverock" enumerated by the editor, there is also a transcript of Glover's authenticated copy, preserved in the library of St. John's College, Oxford.

A CLERK OF OXENFORDE.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

This version is still inedited, MS. Laud. 31. We learn from Leland thatter of the Right Hon. Welbore HE following is an original Letan historian, named Colman the Wise,

who is said to have flourished about Ellis, afterwards Lord Mendip, to the

496

Original Letters of English Statesmen, 1765, and 1768. [Dec.

Duke of Grafton, on his having been
offered by that Minister the appoint-
ment to an Embassy to Prussia. Mr.
Ellis, who was born in 1704, had fill-
ed several public stations of high im
portance, having been a Lord of the
Admiralty from 1749 to 1755, and Se-
cretary
at War from 1763 till the
breaking up of the Grenville Admi-
nistration in July 1765. He then re-
tired with the Vice-Treasurership of
Ireland; but having resigned that of-
fice also in October, was quite disen-
gaged when this Letter was written.
It does not appear whether he went
to Prussia, as in the Peerage nothing
is recorded of him between 1765 and
1770.

Paulton's, Nov. 19, 1765.

MY LORD, I am honoured with your Grace's letter of yesterday. The first sentiment which it cannot fail exciting in my breast is that of the highest gratitude for the mark of esteem which his Majesty has conde. scended to give me upon so important an occasion as his sending a Minister from his Court to that of Berlin; I beg leave to add my humble thanks for the polite and obliging manner in which you have conveyed to me these gracious intentions.

When I was employed at Paris, after a faithful discharge of my duty to my own country, my second attention was invariably to the interests of the King of Prussia; of which that great Prince is well apprised, and I have received very honourable intimations of his approbation: thus, as I should have on my part the highest satisfaction in the discharge of every good office and duty of a Minister at his Court, I have some reason also to flatter myself that my person would not be disagreeable to his Prussian Majesty.

If this Commission is merely occasional, as in the case of Mr. Legge, my own private situation would admit of my accepting it; but it would be impossible for me, on account of many domestic reasons, to undertake any employment which would require a long residence abroad. As your Grace has not specified that point, I think it the more candid part to inquire no further till I am informed of it. If this objection is not in the way, I will speedily wait on you in London, as the present critical situation of Government, in which some events have

very extraordinarily affected me, requires in common prudence some explanation before I can appear in a public character with proper credit and

confidence.

I have the honour to be, with great respect,

WELBORE ELLIS.

The Right Hon. Bilson Legge went Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the King of Prussia, in Feb. 1747-8, and returned Jan. 2, 1748-9. Coxe says, "though a man of great talents for business, he was unfit for a foreign mission, and of a character illsuited to the temper of that powerful casuist, whose extraordinary dogmas were supported by 146,000, the inost effectual and convincing arguments in the world."

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I am extremely glad that you undertake to open the debate upon the Address, and particularly so that you

mean

to enter extensively into the American affairs. I very much wish that you should be perfectly informed, with regard to every transaction of my department; and, that you may have this information in the fullest manner, I will beg the favour of you to pass a few hours at my office, and take the trouble to peruse my whole correspondence, and afterwards, if you wish for copies of any particular papers, they shall be made out for you.

I give you a thousand thanks for your very obliging congratulations upon my marriage, and Lady Hillsborough desires me to assure you, that the good opinion you express of her is very flattering to her. She desires her compliments to you.

I am, with the truest and most respectful esteem, dear Sir, your most humble and obedient servant,

HILLSBOROUGH.

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1828.]

Mr. URBAN,

You

Tewkesbury Abbey.

Dec. 13.

YOU have frequently indulged the Gloucestrians with notices and particulars of that interesting feature in the county, the Abbey Church of Tewkesbury; allow me, therefore, to offer a very accurate view of the west front of this beautiful specimen of early architecture, together with the old abbey gateway. (see Plate 11.)

To enter into a full history of the Abbey would be occupying too much of your space, though my collections towards a History of the Town and Abbey, would afford me most ample, valuable, and entertaining particulars. A portion of its early history shall, however, be given.

Antecedent to the erection of the Abbey by two of the Dukes of Mercia in the latter end of the 7th or beginning of the 8th century, for the precise date is not clearly ascertained, we are told that one Theocus, a hermit, had fixed his residence here, and hence the derivation of the name of the place; but this is at the best but legendary conjecture, and a more satisfactory etymon has been offered. It was of the Benedictine order, and dedicated to the Virgin Mother, a circumstance which has also contributed to furnish us with a far-fetched origin of the name of Tewkesbury, William of Malmsbury bringing it all the way from the Greek Theolocus, Mother of God!'

Very little of the subsequent history of Tewkesbury is known till the arri val of the Normans, into whose rapacious grasp it fell, one of whom, Robert Fitz-Haimon, had the grant of it from the red-haired William. The possessions of the church did not suffer by the arrival of the Normans. That otherwise usurping people respected the endowments of the Church; and instead of enriching themselves with its spoil, sought, by largesses of great magnificence, to atone for their temporal and worldly cruelties. This Fitz-Haimon was a gallant lord, of the blood of Rollo, and a great favourite of Rufus. His grants to the Abbey of Tewkesbury were numerous and munificent; he rebuilt the church and offices with increased magnificence; and because the situation was very fertile and pleasant (the monks knew the land flowing with milk and honey), increased the number of its religious by removing hither the monks GENT. MAG. December, 1828.

497

from Cranbourne, previously the superior house. The list of its subsequent patrons exhibits a variety of the most illustrious, royal, and noble names that grace or disgrace our history. To their bounty, largely and liberally bestowed, the monks owed their amazing possessions, and to their power and interest the important privileges. attached to a mitred abbacy. In such great respect was its sacred precinct held, that one of the seven copies of the Magna Charta and Charta de Foresta, granted at Runnymede by John, June 15, 1215, was here consigned for safety and provincial consultation. Amongst the names of the patrons are the De Clares, the Le Despencers, and the Beauchamps, names couspicuously blazoned on the roll of fame.

We are now approaching the æra of the Tudors, a race of monarchs of whom but one deserves the praise of posterity. Henry, whose passions were unbounded in their depth of feeling, and their rapacity of indulgence, having exhausted the stores of his miserly. tyrannical father, turned his longing eyes to the glittering jewels at the altars, and the possessions of the monasteries; and having broken spears with the Pope, gradually proceeded to line his coffers with treasures rendered sacred by long appropriation to the uses of the temple. The work did not proceed quietly though effectually-obstinacy on the part of the monks was often evinced, and Tewkesbury affords: an instance of it, and its consequences.. The place was fired, and in the conflagration perished the cloisters, the abbacy, the chapter house, lady chapel, and other appendages. It was the last religious house in the county that yielded. to his rapacity, and its revenues were valued at about 1600l. per annum. By the piety and good feeling of the inhabitants, the church was saved, but the money once obtained, the devouring Monarch would not return any for the maintenance of a parochial minister.

Since its appropriation as a parish church, it has undergone numerous repairs. In 1666 the great west window was blown down, and in 1686 was rebuilt. "A brief for the repair of Teuxbury Abbey, dated Feb. 25, 1720, stated the value of reparation at 39291. The length of the church from east to west is 321 feet, and the breadth of the cross aisle 136 feet.

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