among all peoples; namely, that they ascribed intentional and conscious
life to a host of natural objects and phenomena. Hence came the fears,
the adoration, the guardianship of, or abhorrence for, some given
species of stones, plants, animals, some strange forms or unusual
natural object. The subsequent adoration of idols and images, all sorts
of talismans, the virtue of relics, dreams, incantations and exorcisms,
had the same origin, and were all due to this primitive genesis of the
fetish. the internal duplication of the external animation and
personification of objects."
ANGLO-SAXON HELMET.
The remains of a very fine example of the Anglo-Saxon helmet referred to
in chapter ii., was found by the late Mr. Bateman, in 1848, at Benty
Grange, in Derbyshire. He says--"It was our good fortune to open a
barrow which afforded a more instructive collection of relics than has
ever been discovered in the country, and which are not surpassed in
interest by any remains hitherto recovered from any Anglo-Saxon burial
place in the kingdom." Amongst these remains was the head-piece referred
to. After describing the details of its structure, he adds--"On the
crown of the helmet is an elliptical bronze plate supporting the figure
of an animal carved in iron, with bronze eyes, now much corroded, but
perfectly distinct as the representation of a hog."
INDEX.
A.
Abram, 138, 143
Achilleus, 39, 46, 53
Acquitania, 41
Adam's Peak, 117
Adils, 175, et seq.
Agamemnon, 40
Agricola, Julius, 4
Agrimensores, 87
Aix-la-Chapelle, 40
Albinus, St., 20
Alexander, 43, 44
Alfgeirr, 175 et seq. 194
Allectus, 192
Alfred the Great, 44, 63, 77, 81, 168, 173, 175, 194
Ancient Monuments, 44
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, 7, 27, 32, 35, 61, 130, 131, 134, 143, 165, 167,
170, 179, 204
Aneurin, 19, 114
Anlaf, 170, et seq.
Annales Cambria, 195
Anselm, 45
Anthony, St., 116
Arbury, 85
Arminius or Herman, 75
Armorica (Brittany), 18, 20, 38
Artemis, 113
Arthur, 6, et seq., 34, 35, 37, 42, 44, 46, 50, 56, 77, 103, 114, 116
Arthur's Sepulchre at Glastonbury, 8
Aruthur (Welsh word), 21
Aryan Myths, 100
Æsthetic Truth, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 58, 59
Ashton, Col.-Gen., 161, et seq.
Athelstan, King, 41, 164, et seq.
Augustine, St., 32, 94, 184
B.
Baines, Edward, 62, 66, 73, 74, 77, 90, 92, 99, 136, 148, 153, 157
Baines, Thomas, 62, 207
Bale, John, 185
Bamborough, 62
Bamber Bridge, 198
Bangor-Iscoed, 32, 33, 34
Barbarism and Civilization, 129
Bardney, Lincolnshire, 61, 68
Barham-Down, 34
Baring-Gould, Rev., 107
Barrett, 107
Battle Abbey, 42
Beamont, W., 64, 66, 77, 78, 81
Bede, the Venerable, 15, 18, 19, 56, 61, 68, 71, 87, 92, 95, 105
Beowulf, 88, 101, 105, 113, 187
Bickerton, 207
Billangahoh, 130, et seq.
Blackrod, 22, 30
"Blackburnshire, De Statu,", 144
Blackwell, J. A., 168
Boar, or Hog, Wild, 61, 99, 100, 108, et seq.
Boscowen, W. St. Chad, 45
Bewcastle and Ruthwell monuments, 9
Boece, 25
Bojorix, 112
Bolton Hall, Bolland, 150
Bosworth, Rev. J., 65
Bovium, 34
Bramha, 120
Bravalla, Fight at, 42
Brigantes, 3, 5, 30
Brindle, 196, 205, 208
Brinhildr or Brunhild, 197
Brit-Welsh, 34, 45, 67, 75
British Urns, 4
Brockhall, 137 et seq.
Brocmail, 35
Bruce, Robert, 210, 211
Brunanburh, 164, et seq.
Brut, 7, 11, 25, 27, 67, 73, 94
Brut-y-Tywysogion, 195
Bryn, Brun, and Burne, 73, 74, 97
Brynhild, 39
Budda, 117
Bullasey-ford, 138, 139, 146
Buried Treasure, 192, 193
Bungerley hyppyngstones 146, 149, 158
Burial Mound, Ancient British 208
Bury, Adam de, 157
Bury Castle, Traditionary Siege of, 154, et seq.
Byron, Lord, 53
C.
Cadwalla, or Cadwallon, 26, 27, 63, 67, 72, 93, 94
Caldean Heliopolis, 45
Camden, 93, 189
Cærwent, 14
Cædmon, 125, 187
Caerleon on Usk, 14
Camelot, 14
Cannon-balls, 152
Canute, 181, 188
Cardoile, Carlisle, 14
Carausius, 192
Cartismandua, 4
Castle Field, Manchester, 35
Caster-cliff, near Colne, 4
Castle Hill, 70, 77, 78, 84, 206
Castle Stead, near Bury, 157
Carlyle, Thomas, 51, 161, 213, 219
Catraeth, Fight at, 123
Centwine, 9
Chambers, Robert, 222
Charlemagne, 39, 40, 42, 103
Charles I., King, 150, et seq.
Charles Edward Stuart, Prince, 221
Chester, 32, 33, 34
Chevy-Chase, 31
Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, 54
Chivalry, 6
Christianity and Paganism, 165, 166, 172
Christopher, St., Legend of, 135
Chronicles of the Princes of Wales, 195
Civilization, Origin of, 116
Clitheroe Castle, 148, et seq.
Clitheroe Castle, Traditional Siege of, 151, 153
Clifford, Lord, 124
Cocboy, 74
Codoy, 65
Coffins, Oak Tree, 10
Coffin, Stone, at Brindle, 208
Coins, Roman, 200, 204
Colgrin, 24, 27, 148
Conybeare, 101
Constantine, King of the Scots, 171, 176
Coote, H. C., 87
Cox, Rev. Sir G. W., 46, 100, 118
Cremation, 80, 82, 84, 87, 88
Crests, or Totems, 109, seq.
Crusades, 40
Cromwell, 43, 99, 151 et seq., 213 et seq.
Cromwell Legends, 217
Croyland, 43
Cuerdale Find, The Great 188, et seq.
Cuerden, 200
D.
Danes' "Pad", 202
Danish Invasions, 133, 165, et seq.
Dasent, Dr. Sir G. W., 15, 108, 127
Darwen, Over, 5, 208
Dawkins, Prof. Boyd, 31, 32, 73
Deira, 35
Denisburn, 93
Derby, Earl of, 150, 155, 212, 220
Dialects, Provincial, 144
Dickens, Charles, 35
Dietrich, 45
Documents, Destruction of, 182, 184, 185, 186
Domesday Book, 89, 196
Douglas, 7, 11, 12, 14, 21, 24, 26, 27, 34, 37, 133, 148
Dragons, 101, 105, 107, 110, 123, 132
Dublin, 203
Durham, Simeon of, 201
E.
Eardulph, King, 130, et seq., 147
Earwaker, Mr., 64
Easter, 106
Edda, 28, 39, 115
Editha, Athelstan's Sister, 170
Edisford, 146, 148, 161
Edmund the Atheling, 176
Edwall Voel, King of Gwynnedd, 169
Edward the Confessor, 182
Edward the Elder, King, 169
Edwin, King of Northumbria, 26, 27, 61, 95, 185
Ecgfrith, 34
Egbert, King, 180
Egil, 173, et seq.
Ella, King, 166, 168
Ellis, Mr. G., 37
Elmet, 33
Elphin, St., 87
Elston, William, 205
Elton, C., 122
England, Making of, 15, 19, 21
Erich, King, 47
Ethelbald, King, 43
Ethelfrith, King, 32, 33
Ethelred, King, 130, 133
Ethrunanwerch, 201
Etymological, 62, et seq.
Exoniensis Codex, 187
Extwistle-moor, Remains on, 4
F.
Fafnir, 100
Fairfax, Gen., 211
Fairy Mythology, 116
Falstaff, Sir John, 13
Farrar, J. A., 129
Fenton, J., 106
Fergusson, Dr. J., 11, 82, 83
Finns, The, 117
Finnesburg, Fight of, 113, 187
Fiske, Mr., 6, 18, 38, 108, 119
Florence of Worcester, 32
Folk-lore, 129
Forster, Gen., 221
Freeman, E. A., 39, 40, 172
Freya, or Friga, 113, 114
Frey's Howe, Upsala, 83
G.
Galahad, Sir, 50
Gargrave, Skirmish near, 215
Gawain, Sir, 37
Gawsworth, 135
Geoffrey of Monmouth, 5, 6, 7, 13, 18, 19, 24, 26, 32, 37, 41, 42
Geological Phenomena, 141
Geraint, 17
Gerards of Bryn, 74
Gervinus, Dr., 55, 58, 59, 128
Giant Stories, 11
Gilbert de Lacy, 196
Gildas, 5, 18, 19, 20, 33, 34, 184
Giles, Dr., 26, 190
Giraldus Cambrensis, 20
Gladstone, W. E., 18
Glendwr, Owen, 123
Gododin, The, 114
Godrun, 168
Golborne, 66, 77, 78
Gothrun, the Dane, 180
Green, J. R., 15, 19, 26, 33, 65, 73, 97, 104, 125, 136, 145, 166
Gregory, St., 184
Grendel, 101
Grimm, J., 22, 118, 122
Gudrekir, 194, 195
Guest, Dr., 15
Guilds, Preston, 210
Ginevra, Queen, 11
Guy of Warwick, Sir, 41, 106
Gwynedd, 33
H.
Hacking Hall, 138
Haigh, Mr. D. H., 7, 11, 15, 20, 24, 27, 60, 88, 101, 134, 136, 148,
184
Hamilton, Duke of, 99, 153, et seq., 213, 214
Hamlet, 38
Hammerton, P. G., 52
Harald Blatand, etc., 28, 41
Harald Hildetand, 41
Harrington, Sir J., 149, 150
Harold, King, 48
Hartlepool, 101
Hartshorne, Mr., 72
Harvest-Blasters, 109, 126
Hasty Knoll, 21
Hawkins, Mr., 188
Hazlit, 105
Heavenfield, 67, 68, 93
Heathfield, 26, 95
"Heathen-men" (Danes), 132
Helmets, 111, 227
Helmet, Anglo-Saxon, 227
Hengist and Horsa, 6, 110
Henry VI., King, 149, 158
Henry of Huntingdon, 183
Heraclids, 6
Heraldry, 109, et seq.
Herodotus, 110, 118
Hildebrand, Herr, 82, 83
Historia Britonum, 18
Historical Documents, Destruction of, 158
Historical Novels, 47, 48, 50, 52, 54, 57, 59
Historical Pictures, 55
Hodgson, Col., 161, et seq., 214
Hoel, 17
Hollingworth, 15, 30, 66
Homer, 35, 38, 52
Honorius, 15
Horatii and Curiatii, Tombs of, 51
Horse Shoes, Ancient, 23, 24
Howorth, Mr. H. H., 27, 41
Howson, Dean, 62, 68
Hrothgar, 101
Hubbertsty, T., 137, 138, 139, 140
Huntington, Henry of, 12, 25, 195
Hwiccas, or Gewissas, 65
Hygelac, 102
Hyngr, 175, et seq.
I.
Iceland, 28, 42
Iceni, 3
Ida, 16
Idylls of the King, 57
Igerna, 17
Illiad, 35, 38
Inaccuracy of Ancient MSS., 187
Indra, 39, 46, 100
Ingulph, 195
Isdubar, Giant, 45
J.
Jack the Giant-Killer, 47
Johannes, Prior of Hagulstald, 148
Johnson, Rev. H., 66
Joseph of Arimathea, 37
Jylgja, Guardian Spirit, 127
K.
Kabyls, 112
Kains-Jackson, C. P., 44
Kalydonian Hunt, 113
Kay, Sir, 37
Keightley, 116
Kelly, W. K., 108
Kemble, J. M., 65, 135, 187, 198
Kendrick, Dr., 62, 86, 87
King of England, First, 180
Kuerden, Dr., 200, 210
Kyklops, 39
L.
Lake District, 34
Lambert, Major-General, 153, 162
Lancashire Civil War Troops, 153, 163
Lancashire Dialect, 75
Lancashire Militia, 216
Landisfarne, 69
Lancelot, Sir, 35, 37, 50
Langdale, Marquis of, 153, et seq., 213, et seq.
Language, Life and Growth of, 75
Langho, 134, et seq.
Lanscado, Scather of the Land, 122
Lappenberg, 27
Latchford, 74, 75, 86, 193
Leofric, Earl, 145
Lichfield, Bishopric of, 146
Lilburne, Col., 220
Lindeley, John, Abbot of Whalley, 144
Linguistics, 75
Linuis, 11, 21, 23, 35
Littler, T., 62
Lloyd, Howel W., 64
Lombards, 28
Loyalty and Rebellion, 219, 221
Lubbock, Sir John, 116
Luther's Picture of the Devil, 51
Llywarch Hen, 17, 26
Lytton, Lord, 35, 47, 48
M.
Macaulay, T. B., 53
Magic Cudgel, 47
Mallet, M., 57, 117
Malory, Sir Thomas, 14, 50
Malmesbury, William of, 9, 12, 175, 195
Mameceastre, 144
Manchester, 12, 30, 33
Map, Walter, 18, 50
Marcelde, 66, 67
Martin Mere, 23
Maserfeld, Macerfeld, Marcelde, Mackerfield, 61, 62, et seq.
Meldrum, Sir John, 213
Merchant, Guild, 210
Merlin, 17, 37, 114
Mesbury, 64, 72
Metcalfe, Fred, 44, 101, 114, 175, 186
Metempsychosis, 119
Metrical Romances, 57
Milman, Dean, 49, 51
Milton, John, 214
Missionaries, the first, 145
Modred, 34
Moll, Herman, 197
Monsters, Mythical, 113, 115
Morgan, The Rev. R. W., 10, 19, 24
Morley, Prof. H., 6
Morris, 37
Morte, Adam, 212
Morte, D'Arthur, 14, 34
Mote-hill, Warrington, 86
Müller, Max, 41
Myths, 5, 6, 7, 37, 38, 39, 43, 46, 57
Myths, Genesis of, 224
N.
Nennius, 5, 7, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 50, 51, 65, 67, 68, 72, 74,
88, 92, 107, 110, 148, 184
Newbury, William of, 13
Nicholas, St., 117
Nichols, J. G., 149
Nimrod, 45
Northumbria, Southern Boundary of, 143, 145
Nursery Tales, 38
O.
Odin, 38, 44, 47, 101
Odins' Howe, Upsala, 82
Odyssey, 35, 39, 118
Offa, 102
Origins of English History, 122
Ostorious Scapula, 4
Oswald, St., 26, 33, 61, et seq., 133, 224
Oswald's Well, St., 66, 69, 91
Oswestry, 62, 65, 72, 90
Oswy, 68, 73, 96
P.
Palgrave, Sir Francis, 48, 176
Panis, 39
Panizzi, Sig., 6
Paulinus, 89, 94, 144, 185
Pagan Symbols destroyed, 185
Parker, Archbishop, 185
Parkinson, Mr., 140, et seq.
Patten, The Rev. Mr., 218
Penda, 26, 61, 62, 67, 72, 73, 74, 92, 95, 115, 133
Percy, Bishop, 31
Petilius Cerealis, 4, 30
Phene, Dr., 103
Phonetic Laws, 75
Pictish Customs, 103
Pilkington, Sir T., 153
Pitris, or Fathers, 120, 125
Poem, Anglo-Saxon, on the Battle of Brunanburh, 178
Potter's Ford, 143
Prehistoric Battlefields, 3, 30
Preston, Great Battle of, 213, et seq.
Pretender, the Elder, 221
Primitive Culture, 36
Puritan prophetic superstition, 219
R.
Raines, Canon, 137, 138
Ragnar Lodbrock, 166, 168
Rebellion and Loyalty, 147
Red Bank, near Winwick, 99
Ribchester, 12, 151, 210, 211
Ribble-bridge, Battle at, 221
Ribbleton Moor, Fight on, 162
Richard III., 125
Richard Cœur de Lion, 44, 102, 103
Richard of Cirencester, 143
Richmond, Earl of, 126
Roach-Smith, C., 204
Roberts, Askew, 64, 91
Robin Hood, 44, 77, 78
Robson, Dr., 83, 85
Roman Remains at Walton, 218
Roman Wall, 204
Round Table, The, 14, 77
Rosworm, Col., 212
Runes, 184
Russians, 117
S.
Saga, 102, 127, 183
St. George, 100
Salt Hill, Clitheroe, 152
Samson, 45
Sangraal, 37
Saracens, 41, 103
Saxo-Grammaticus, 28, 41, 42, 51
Saxton, C., 197
Scandinavia, 57, 103
Science, Genesis of, 128
Scop, or Gleeman's Tale, 41, 187
Scotch Warriors, Grave of, 217, 218
Scott, Sir Walter, 35, 47, 49, 52
Seaton, Sir John, 212
Serpents, 104, 106
Setantii, Sistuntii, or Segantii, 3, 23
Shakspere, 13, 38, 47, 58, 123, 128
Sharon-Turner, 34, 67, 73, 175, 176, 177, 180
Sherburne, Bishop of, 174
Shuttleworth, Col., 212
Siege of Preston in 1715, 221
Siege of Preston in 1643, 211
Sigurd, 39, 46, 100
Sihtric or Sigtryg, 170
Simeon of Durham, 130, 179, 194, 195
Sibson, Rev. E., 21, 62, 77, 78, 81, 87
Skene, Mr., 15, 19, 68, 189
Solar Myths, 39, 40, 45, 46
Songs resultant from the Stuart Troubles, 222, 223
Spear Heads, Ancient, 85
Spencer, Herbert, 120
Spurs, Ancient, 23, 29
Stephen, Leslie, 48, 50
Stevenson, Mr., 18
Stone Hammers, 85
Stonyhurst, 152, 157, 160
Strachey, Sir Edward, 14, 16, 17
Stubbs and Haddon (Councils of Britain), 19
Superstitious explanations of Natural Phenomena, 147
Surnames, 121
Sweyn, King, 181
Swords, Magic, 47
T.
Tacitus, 114
Talbot, T. and J., 149, 150
Taliesin, 17, 35, 44
Talleyrand, 44
Tarquin, Sir, 35
Taylor, Rev. I., 112
Tempest, Sir John, 149, 150, 162
Tennyson, 37, 60
Thackeray, 35
Theodoric, 45
Theophilus, Story of, 45
Thor, 47
Thorolf, 175, et seq.
Thorpe, B., 101, 102
Tildesley, Sir Thos., 220
Totems, or Crests, 109, et seq.
Traveller's Tale, Poem, 134, 136
Tre, Welsh prefix, 96
Treasure, Buried, 192, 193
Tristan, Sir, 37
Troy, 53
Tumuli, Ancient, 83, 85, 86, 87, 137, et seq., 205, 208
Turketal, the English Chancellor, 176, 177
Turkomans, 118
Turner, J. M. W., 52
Tylor, E. B., 5, 36, 56, 111, 128
U.
Ulster, Annals of, 35
Urien of Rheged, 16, 17, 27
Urns, Ancient, 81, 83, 84
Upsala, 29
Uther Pendragon, 110, 123
V.
Vámbéry, Arminius, 43, 49, 119
Vergil, Polydore, 186
Venutius, 4
Vicinal ways, Roman, 205, 208
Volsung Tale, 120
Vritra, 100
W.
Wada, 130, et seq.
Wada, Weland and Egil, 134
Wade's Boat, 135
Walhalla, 115
Wallace, Mackenzie, 117
Wars of the Roses, 158, 210
Warwick, Earl of, 124
Watkin, W. T., 87
Watling street, 136, 194
Wearden, 199
Weddle, C. A., 190, 199, 209
Well, St. Oswald's, 91, 92
Welsh Tribute, Heavy, 170
Werewolves, 119, 122
West Kent, kingdom of, 145
Weyland's Smithy, 136
Whitney, Professor D., 63, 75
Whitaker, the Rev. Jno., 7, 11, 15, 21, 26, 34, 35, 86, 198
Whitaker, Dr., 136, et seq., 193
White, Dr. A. D., 57
Whittle Springs, 197
Wigan, 12, 22, 30
Wigan Lane, battle of, 220
Wild Huntsman, 45
William, the Norman Conqueror, 182, 189
Wilkinson, T. T., 4, 100
Winwick, 61, et seq.
Winwidfield, 97
Wornum, R., 56
Worsaae, Dr., 188
Worde, Wynkyn de, 10
Worms, Huge, 104, 106
Wright, T., 29, 88
X.
Ximines, Cardinal, 186
Y.
York, 33
Yornzi, 117
Ywain, Sir, 17, 37
Z.
Zumarraga, Archbishop, 186
ABEL HEYWOOD AND SON, PRINTERS, MANCHESTER.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] His. Preston, viii.
[2] Mr. Haigh's ingenious hypothesis, however, is not accepted by
historical students generally.
[3] "It was twenty-six feet high, and had inscribed on it these names,
and two others, Bregored and Beorward. Centwine became King of the West
Saxons, and Hedde, Bishop of Winchester, in A.D. 676; the former became
a monk in A.D. 683, the latter died in A.D. 705. Bregored was an Abbot
of Glastonbury (but not in the times of the Britons, as William of
Malmsbury concluded from his name, for it is clearly Saxon), and
Beorward may be the Abbot Beornwald who attested a charter of Ine in
A.D. 704. The larger pyramid, twenty-eight feet high, which stood at the
head of the grave, is said to have been in a very ruinous condition, and
the only intelligible words in the inscription upon it (as given by
William of Malmsbury), are the names of Wulfred and Eanfled. The
discovery of these trunk coffins at Glastonbury has not been noticed by
Mr. Wright, in his account of the similar discoveries at Gristhorpe,
Beverley, Driffield, and Selby (_Gent. Mag._ 1857. vol. ii. p. 114), nor
by Mr. Wylie in his paper on the Oberflacht graves (_Archæologia_, vol.
xxxvi., p. 129), but deserves to be mentioned in connection with them."
[4] The Rev. E. Sibson says:--"A piece of high ground near the Scholes
is called King Arthur's camp."--_Man. Lit. and Phil. Soc. Transactions,
April_, 1845.
[5] Giving a man "wigan," in the present vernacular of the county, is
synonymous to giving him a good threshing.
Jacob Grimm, in his "Deutsche Mythologie," says the Old High German
_wig_, pugna, seems occasionally to denote the personal god of war.
The modern English word "vie," to contend, to fight, to strive for
superiority, is derived from the Anglo-Saxon _wigian_, _wiggan_, which
are cognate to the Gothic _veigan_ (Collins's Dic. Der.) _Wig_, war,
warfare, battle (Bosworth, A.S. Dic.)
[6] The district referred to is variously written _Linuis_, _Cinuis_,
and _Inniis_.
[7] Nennius calls him "Catgublaun, king of Guenedot," Gwynedd, North
Wales.
[8] Anglo-Saxon Chron. and Bede.
[9] Dr. Giles, Mr. Green, and others, say--"Hatfield, in the West Riding
of Yorkshire, about seven miles to the north-east of Doncaster," and
this seems the most probable site.
[10] Variation, Brocmail.
[11] Dean Howson, in an address delivered at Chester, in 1873, in
reference to the disputed site of Oswald's death, said--"He was not
going to decide between the claims of the two places, but he was
inclined to think both views might be reconciled. Oswald had a palace at
Winwick, and there was a well there that bore his name, and an
inscription that recorded his attachment to the locality. Oswestry was
said to mean Oswald's tree. There was no reason why they should not
believe that he was killed at Winwick, and that his head and arms were
taken away and put on a stump of wood at Oswestry. The conflicting
statements would then be reconciled." Such an act would, in no way, be
inconsistent with the character of Penda. He might send the remains to
his Welsh allies as trophies of his victory over the vanquisher of their
great chief, Cadwalla.
[12] Bosworth, in his Anglo-Saxon dictionary, under the letter K, says,
"Though the A. S. generally used _c_, even before _e_, _i_, and _y_, yet
as _k_ is sometimes found," he gives a list of words commencing with
that consonant under such conditions. The Anglo-Saxon "Cymen's ora" is
now represented by Keynor. Kemble says the homes of the Elsingas
and Elcinghas, are now represented by Elsing and Elkington, in
Northamptonshire. Mr. Green speaks of "those Gewissas, the Hwiccas, as
they were called," and Peille says, "Indo-European _ky_ and _ty_ become
_ss_, as in 'prasso' for 'prack-yo' (root 'prack,' formative suffix
'yo.')"
[13] The etymology on which Mr. Howel W. Lloyd, the recent able advocate
for the Shropshire site, and others, rely, (Earwaker's Local Gatherings
relating to Lancashire, vol. i., 1876, and the summary, by Mr.
Askew Roberts, in his "Contributions to Oswestry History,") is as
follows:--Referring to Mr. Lloyd's paper, Mr. Roberts states his
position thus:--"Mesbury (now Maesbury, called in Domesday Meresbury), a
hamlet in the parish of Oswestry, is now called 'Llysfeisir or Llys
feisydd.'" He adds--"Thus a basis is supplied for a correct inference as
to the order of nomenclature. 1. The Welsh Te-fesen, corrupted by the
Saxons into Mesafelth or Maserfelth, and then into Maserfield, the name
of the district in which is Oswestry, as Winwick is in Makerfield. 2.
The monastery founded on the spot in honour of St. Oswald, called Album
Monasterium, Candida Ecclesia Y Fonachlog Wen (by the Welsh according to
Davies), and Blancmonster and Blancminster by the Normans, all meaning
the same thing, viz.:--White Monastery, applied latterly also to the
town, which grew up around the monastery. 3. Mesbury, corrupted into
Maesbury, when the town in Trefesen, to which a Fitzalan granted a
charter, grew into a borough; and 4, Oswaldestree or Oswestry, from the
'tre' or district, or else possibly from the traditional tree, on which
the king's arm was recorded to have been hung. A further basis is
supplied for reconciling the statement of Nennius, that the battle was
fought at Codoy, with that of the Saxon historian that it was fought at
Maserfield. For just as Winwick is in Mackerfield, so may Codoy have
been in the larger locality of Maserfield; and Nennius, as a British
historian, representing, as his editors believe him to do, a much
earlier author, gives, as might naturally be expected, the precise
situation of the spot, the territorial appellation only for which
reached the foreign and more distant chroniclers. From all this it is
certain that Oswestry had its Maserfield as Winwick its Mackerfield, the
former, however, more nearly reflecting the ancient British name, as
well as character of the place, but both alike designating a district
rather than a town, that being the ancient meaning of the word 'tre.'
Maserfelth is, therefore, Oak-field, a translation of the original
British name of Trefesen (compare English 'mast,') and the arms
connected St. Oswald with the Oak."
[14] There is great difficulty in reconciling the various statements
respecting this Cadwalla. Mr. Skene ("Four Ancient Books of Wales")
thinks it not improbable that it was his father, Cadvan, who fell at
Heavenfield, and not himself. If Cadwalla fought at Maserfeld, Dean
Howson's conjecture is rendered more probable. See Ante, p. 62. Revenge
for his father's death might induce him to display his trophies of
victory over his previously successful rival before his Brit-Welsh
subjects at a locality afterwards named Oswestry.
[15] Mr. Hartshorne, however, refers to this story in connection with
his claim of "Maesbrook, a place in a direct line between Maesbury and
Coedway, and about five miles from Oswestry," as the site of Oswald's
defeat, and connects a local legend with it.
[16] For a long time after the death of Oswald, the present Shropshire
remained British, or as Professor Boyd Dawkins appropriately terms it,
"Brit-Welsh," territory.--See Mr. Green's maps.
[17] The Welsh authorities write this word "Codoy." The Rev. W. Gunn and
Dr. Giles, "Cocboy."
[18] The martyrdom is a very doubtful matter; indeed, it is more than
probable this name of the field, and its presumed etymology, gave birth
to the legend, or it may have been an ancient burial place. A Lancashire
peasant pronounces the word neither, nather and nother, at the present
day, while some clergymen pronounce it nigh-ther. The Lancashire
contraction for James is Jim not Jem, as in the South of England. I have
often heard China pronounced "Chaney" by Lancashire people. The number
of ancient burial tumuli to the north of the ford may possibly have
influenced the local nomenclature. In Webster's dictionary a third
meaning to the word "latch" is thus described: "3. [Fr. lécher, to lick,
pour. O. H. Ger. _lecchôn_. See LICK.] To smear [Obs.]"
[19] The Rev. E. Sibson says--"The streams which unite at this barrow
are the Dene and the Sankey." Mr. Beamont says the tumulus is situated
on the Golbourne brook.
[20] "Siculus Flaccus says that it was the practice of some
_agrimensores_ to place under _termini_ ashes, or charcoal, or pieces of
broken glass or pottery, or _asses_, or lime, or plaster (gypsum)....
The writer of a later treatise, or rather compilation, attributed to
Boëthius, speaking upon the same subject, enumerates as the objects to
be so placed, ashes, or charcoals, or potsherds, or bones, or glass,
or _assæ_ of iron, or brass, or lime, or plaster, or a fictile
vessel."--"_The Romans of Britain_," _by H. C. Coote F.S.A._
[21] This, of course, is disputed by other authorities. Mr. Thorpe
regards the only copy now extant as an Anglo-Saxon version of an older
Scandinavian poem.
[22] Mr. Askew Roberts, in his "Contributions to Oswestry History," has
the following:--"Is not all the alluvial tract of country which lies
between Buttington and Oswestry, called in the Welsh tongue 'Ystrad
Marchell.' = Strata Marcella, at one end of which stood the once famous
monastery of Ystrad Marchell or Strata Marcella? Is it not more likely
that Oswald should have been overwhelmed by a combined force
of Mercians, Welsh, and Angles somewhere in the large plain of
_Ystradmarchell_, which lies on the boundary of the Welsh and Mercian
territories, than at Winwick, in Lancashire, and does not the above line
prove that 'Oswald from Marchelldy [Marcelde the House or Monastery of
Marchell] did to Heaven remove.'--BONION, writing in _Bygones_, August
6, 1873." This would have more value had the inscription been on
Oswestry Church. It is not very probable the Cleric of Winwick would be
a Welsh scholar, or that he would translate the Welsh word into Latin in
preference to the English one by which the locality was well known. What
business had Oswald "somewhere in the large plain of _Ystradmarchell_,
which lies on the boundary of the Welsh and Mercian territory," if Penda
were the aggressor, as Geoffrey and others testify. Besides, as Mr.
Green's maps show, the district in question was, in the seventh century,
a long way from either the Mercian or Northumbrian boundary. To be in
the locality at all would constitute Oswald the attacking and not the
defending party, as Bede's expression, "_pro patria dimicans_," seems to
imply.
[23] This is a very daring assertion, and is by no means confirmed by a
visit to the locality.
[24] "Were there no other record of the existence of our own Richard I.
than the _Romaunt_ bearing his name, and composed within a century of
his death, he would unquestionably have been numbered by the Mythists
among their shadowy heroes; for among the superhuman feats performed by
that pious crusader, we read, in the above mentioned authority, that
having torn out the heart of a lion, he pressed out the blood, dipt it
in salt, and ate it without bread; that being sick, and longing after
pork (which in a land of Moslems and Jews was not to be had),
"They took a Sarezyne young and fat
* * * * *
And soden full hastely,
With powder and with spysory,
And with saffron of good colour."
Of this Apician dish 'the kyng eet the flesh and gnew the bones.'
Richard afterwards feasts his infidel prisoners on a Saracen's head
each, every head having the name of its late owner attached to it on a
slip of parchment. Surely all this is as mythic as it is possible to be,
and yet Richard is a really historic earth-born personage."
Yes, there was a truly historical Richard, as there doubtless was an
Arthur, but the Richard and Arthur of romance, nevertheless, are not
historical characters, in the strict sense of the word, and ought not to
be confounded with them.
[25] At the meeting of the British Association, held at York, in 1861,
Dr. Phene, F.S.A., &c., read a paper on Scandinavian and Pictish customs
on the Anglo-Scottish Border. He spoke of the persistent retention of
curious customs, and the handing down from generation to generation of
the traditionary lore of ages long past, and then referred to some of
those which were corroborated by ancient monuments of an unusual kind
still famous on the Scottish border. These consisted of sculptured
stones, earth works, and actual ceremonies. Quoting from former writers,
from family pedigrees, and other documents, he showed that the estates
to which this traditionary lore pertained, had been held alternately by
those claiming under the respective nationalities, or more local powers,
and which from their natural defensive features must have been places of
border importance earlier than history records. The district was
occupied by the descendants--often still traceable--of Danes, Jutes,
Frisians, Picts, Scots, Angles, and Normans; and by a comparison of
several of the languages of these people, as well ancient as now
existing, and also of the Gothic, it was shown in relation to a
particular class of the most curious monuments, that the Norse "ormr,"
Anglo-Saxon "vyrm," old German "wurm," Gothic "vaúrms," pronounced like
our word worm; and the word "lint," or "lind," also German, and the
Norse "linni," are all equivalent, and mean serpent; and in some cases
the two words are united as in modern German "lindwurm," and the Danish
and Swedish "lindorm." On this apparently rested the names of some of
the places having these strange traditions, as Linton or serpent town,
Wormiston or worm's (ormr's) town, Lindisfarne, the Farne serpent
island, now Holy Island, &c., and also the various worm hills, or
serpent mounds of those localities. It was curious that the contests to
which the traditions referred (like that of St. George) were sometimes
with two dragons, as shown on a sculptured stone in Linton Church, and
on a similar stone at Lyngby, in Denmark, in the churchyard, where there
was a tradition that two dragons had their haunt near the church. From
these and other facts, the author concluded that the contests were
international, and in the case of two dragons, an allied foe, either
national, religious, or both, was overcome. He showed from the Scottish
seals that Scotland used the dragon as an emblem, apparently deriving it
from the Picts; that the Scandinavians also used it, and that these
nationalities were antagonistic to the Saxon. In the time of David the
First of Scotland, the first great centralisation of Saxon power took
place, and the powerful family of the Cumyns took, apparently by
conquest, at least two of the localities having these strange
traditions. And as the political object was to suppress the Celtic and
Scandinavian, or other local national feeling, there could be little
doubt that however they obtained them, the persons dispossessed were of
one or other of the Northern tribes. Hence probably the middle-age
tradition of the slaying of the serpent or dragon, or the serpent or
dragon bearer, on the Anglo-Scottish border. But he considered such
traditions would hardly have originated through such conquests, had not
previous marvellous stories existed of the prowess and conquest by the
dragon (bearers) of the lands they invaded, all the wonders of which
would be transferred to the conqueror's conqueror. Hence these stories
were not to be set aside with a sneer, as in them was a germ of history,
giving us, perhaps, the only insight we could obtain of the prehistoric
customs and mythology of some of the ancient tribes of Britain. Earthen
mounds, tumuli, standing stones, &c., still existed in some of these
localities, with all of which the dragon serpent or worm was associated
in the legends. The author described his personal experiences in the
still existing dragon ceremonies in the south of France and Spain, which
were always either on the present national or former less important
provincial frontiers, and which still formed the subjects of great
ecclesiastical ceremonies. One of the high ecclesiastical dignitaries of
the north of England--the Bishop of Durham--is in the position of having
to take part in such a ceremony. Whenever a bishop of that diocese
enters the manor of Sockburn for the first time, the Lord of the Manor,
who holds under the see of Durham, subject to the following tenure, has
to present the Bishop, "_in the middle of the river Tees_, if the river
is fordable, with the falchion wherewith the champion Conyers destroyed
the _worm_, _dragon_, or _fiery flying serpent_ which destroyed man,
woman, and child" in that district, and an ancient altar called
"_Greystone_" still marks where the dragon was buried.--_Manchester
Examiner._
[26] "Klunzinger: Upper Egypt, 184."
[27] "There exists yet a traditionary superstition very prevalent in
Lancashire and its neighbourhood to the effect that pigs can '_see the
wind_.' I accidentally heard the observation made, not long ago, in the
city of Manchester, in what is termed 'respectable society,' and no one
present audibly dissented. One or two individuals, indeed, remarked that
they had often heard such was the case, and seemed to regard the
phenomenon as related to the strong scent and other instincts peculiar
to animals of the chase. Indeed, Dr. Kuhn says that in Westphalia this
phase of the superstition is the prevalent one. There pigs are said to
smell the wind."--_Traditions, Superstitions, and Folk-Lore, p. 69._
[28] The Rev. Jno. Williams, in a note to his translation of "The
Gododin," says:--"Beli, son of Benlli, a famous warrior in North Wales."
[29] See Chapter I., page 25.
[30] Warksworth Chronicle.
[31] Several cannon balls, fired during Cromwell's military operations
in this short but decisive campaign, have been found in the
neighbourhood of Ribbleton, Ashton, and Walton-le-dale. They are about
eight pounds weight each. One of them is in my possession at the present
time.
[32] This is an error, excusable under the circumstances. Stonyhurst is
about twelve miles from Preston.
[33] So savage a critic as Joseph Ritson seems to have entertained a
much higher opinion of Captain Hodgson's literary qualities than the
"seer of Chelsea." In his preface to the memoir he says--"Without
meaning to dispute the merit of Defoe, in his peculiarly happy manner of
telling a story, or, in other words, in the art of book-making, it will
probably be found, that, truth or falsehood being out of the question,
in point of importance, interest, and even pleasantry, Captain Hodgson's
narrative is infinitely superior to the 'Memoirs of a Cavalier.'"
[34] He had overcome a cavalry officer, and "appropriated" his horse.
[35] Mr. F. Metcalfe, in his "Englishman and Scandinavian," says,--"It
is this same historian (William of Malmesbury), and not Asser, who
relates the story of Alfred masquerading as a minstrel, and so gaining
free access to the Danish camp, meanwhile learning their plans. It is
not mentioned in the most ancient Saxon accounts. Indeed, it sounds more
like a Scandinavian than a Saxon story, an echo of which has reached us
in the tale of King Estmere, who adopted a similar disguise. A story was
current of Olaf Cuaran entering Athelstan's camp disguised as a harper
two days before the battle of Brunanburh."
[36] Some writers say two days intervened, and Sir Francis Palgrave says
the main battle was but a continuation of the night attack, and was
therefore fought on the following day.
[37] Mr. Thompson Watkins, His. Soc. Trans., says the metal is bronze.
[38] In Herman Moll's map, the Etherow, before its junction with the
Goyt and Tame, is written Mersey.
[39] For details of this battle see "History of Preston and its
Environs."
[40] For details respecting this siege, see His. Preston, c. v.
[41] Mr. J. P. Morris, in _Notes and Queries_, says--"Many collectors
have endeavoured, but in vain, to find more of this old Lancashire
ballad than the two verses given by Dr. Dixon, in his 'Songs and Ballads
of the English Peasantry,' and by Mr. Harland, in his 'Ballads and Songs
of Lancashire.' I have much pleasure in forwarding to _Notes and
Queries_ the following version, which is much more complete than any yet
given:
"Long Preston Peggy to Proud Preston went,
To view the Scotch Rebels it was her intent;
A noble Scotch lord, as he passed by,
On this Yorkshire damsel did soon cast an eye.
He called to his servant, who on him did wait--
'Go down to yon maiden who stands in the gate,
That sings with a voice so soft and so sweet,
And in my name do her lovingly greet.'
So down from his master away he did hie,
For to do his bidding, and bear her reply;
But ere to this beauteous virgin he came,
He moved his bonnet, not knowing her name.
'It's, oh! Mistress Madame, your beauty's adored,
By no other person than by a Scotch lord,
And if with his wishes you will comply,
All night in his chamber with him you shall lie.'"
[42] "See Gaussin's _Langue Polynésienne_."
Transcriber's notes:
The following is a list of changes made to the original.
The first line is the original line, the second the corrected one.
Dean Milman, Arminius Vámbêry, and Leslie Stephen.
Dean Milman, Arminius Vámbéry, and Leslie Stephen.
Sir John Lubbock, Arminius Vámbêry, John Fiske,
Sir John Lubbock, Arminius Vámbéry, John Fiske,
The names of places still retained, with only sueh phonetic
The names of places still retained, with only such phonetic
Talbots of Bashall and Salebury. Civil war incidents
Talbots of Bashall and Salesbury. Civil war incidents
influence of the after Danish and Norman-French conquests.
influence of the battle after Danish and Norman-French conquests.
"For "_Downham_ IN _Yorkshire_"
For "_Downham_ IN _Yorkshire_"
"Return of the Heraklieds," says "it is undoubtedly as
"Return of the Herakleids," says "it is undoubtedly as
similar discoveries at Gristhorpe, Beverley, Driffield. and
similar discoveries at Gristhorpe, Beverley, Driffield, and
laid'Ywenec, and the latter is said to be "on the Doglas,"
lai d'Ywenec, and the latter is said to be "on the Doglas,"
mentioned as the husband of Igerna's third danghter by
mentioned as the husband of Igerna's third daughter by
not one capital city, it was the tetrapolis of Babel
not one capital city, it was the tetrapolis of Babel,
we, nevertheless, do gain valuable knowlege of a
we, nevertheless, do gain valuable knowledge of a
ancient correlatives in Sanscrit _agra_, Greek ἀγρὁϛ, Latin
ancient correlatives in Sanscrit _agra_, Greek ἀγρόϛ, Latin
probably accordsboth etymologically and topographically
probably accords both etymologically and topographically
tranformations local nomenclature sometimes has undergone
transformations local nomenclature sometimes has undergone
England)" says--"That Oswiu strove to avert the
England") says--"That Oswiu strove to avert the
called _Burne_, strongly supports the other evidence in
called _Burne_," strongly supports the other evidence in
burial place, raised after the battle fought at Winwick."
burial place, raised after the battle fought at Winwick.
Newton: one of these was held in desmene. The
Newton: one of these was held in demesne. The
cum decima ville;' but there is a belief that there was a
cum decima ville;" but there is a belief that there was a
and to the tradition which Leyland records, 'that at
and to the tradition which Leyland records, "that at
Sum say this was the paroche church of Oswestre.'"
Sum say this was the paroche church of Oswestre."
Bingfield for the site of the Heavenfeld struggle, rather
Bingfield for the site of the Heavenfield struggle, rather
Jacob Grimm says (Deutsche Myhologie)--"A people
Jacob Grimm says (Deutsche Mythologie)--"A people
in power. Thus the notion of _casualty_--the assumption
in power. Thus the notion of _causality_--the assumption
twenty marks a year, from Edward IV,, confirmed by
twenty marks a year, from Edward IV., confirmed by
relatively more recent combat, of some local importance,
relatively more recent combat, of some local importance.
Preston, to operate in the hundred of Blackburn, One
Preston, to operate in the hundred of Blackburn. One
inhabitants of the neigbourhood Wearden at the present
inhabitants of the neighbourhood Wearden at the present
crosses this in its neighbonrhood. This tumulus is
crosses this in its neighbourhood. This tumulus is
the "battle of the Brun."
the 'battle of the Brun.'"
the 'olden time.' In Leland's day, the remains of the
the 'olden time.'" In Leland's day, the remains of the
Colonel Rosworn, the celebrated Parliamentary engineer,
Colonel Rosworm, the celebrated Parliamentary engineer,
sculls, from the banks, and these are almost universally,
skulls, from the banks, and these are almost universally,
of "General" Forster, the partisans of the Stuart were
of "General" Forster, the partizans of the Stuart were
myths have been confounded together;" [See ante, p.p. 44, et seg.,
myths have been confounded together;" [See ante, p.p. 44, et seq.,
"For the devolpment of myth, which is in itself always a human
"For the development of myth, which is in itself always a human