Per Saxon kings, in an engagement, was fomewhere between it and the dragon, or principal banner, which, as I gather from the two quotations adduced above from Hoveden and Florilegus, was carried immediately before them. But hear Mr. Speed concerning both the antient and more modern ufe of the dragon : "Others will have him [Uther Pendragon] fo named from his royal banner, borne ever before him, wherein was portraied a dragon with a golden bead, of which standard' fince neighbouring nations have had good experi ence, and in far country it hath bin difplied in the caufe of Chriflianity, to the terror of the Pagans, as in Syria by that invincible English king, Richard the First, furnamed Cur-de-Lion; in Scotland and Wales by that conquering prince Edward the Firft, and the fame as yet is in field born for an imperiall ftandard in our English camps." I think it not improbable, that it was owing to these dragons in the enfigns that Jffrey feigned his comet of that fhape, and formed his other prodigies in the fame mould. Thus, having a mind to forethew unto king Vortigern, in a fa drare depicus, acriter fævit, &c." as if the whole Saxon nation, employed this enfign, which I fcarce think to be true, but rather that it was the peculiar colours of the Weft Saxons. Roger Hoveden, freaking of this very engagement, makes Æthelhun to be of the other party, and to carry the enfign of Cuthred, King of Weffex: "Ethelhun præcedens Weffexcenfis regis infigne, draconem feilicet aureum, gerens transforavit vexilliferum hoftilem 2." haps, therefore, we ought to lead in Matthew, procedente Ethelbuno, that is, Ethelbin advancing forward. But, however this may be, the dragon is called exclufively, by Hoveden, the Weft Saxon enfign; and I think one may dif cern pretty plainly why Jeffrey makes Uther, the British king, place one of his golden dragons in the church of Winchefter, namely, becaufe it was the enfign of Weflex, whofe capital Winchefter antiently was; and becaufe, in his time, there was fome old banner of the kind remaining there, which, he would infinuate was the identical enfign offered by Uther, and that he was the perfon that lodged it there. Matthew of Weiminfer himfelf, writing of Ed-bulous and poetical manner, the future mund Ironfide, favs. "apparuit autem ibi virtus regis Edmundi, qui, cum Danos folito acrius pugnare videret, reTo regio loco, qui ex more erat inter draconem et fandardum, cucurrit in aciem primam, &c.3" where draco is the royal banner of Weffex difplaying the figure of a golden dragon; and it feems there was a difference between the banner and the ftandard, which I conceive might be this; the banner was what the foldiers fought under, and mored along with the forces, but the Standard was a maft fixed to a place, where the troops upon any diforder were to rally and rendezvous. Thus the ftandard, in the war of the flandard in king Stephen's time, is defcubed by Ealedus Rievallenfis to have been a pole with a fiver pix containing the confecrated hot, and the banners of St. Peter and St. John of Beverley, at the top of it, to direct the English where, upon occafion, they were to refort. The ftandard was placed in the rear of the army; and the ordinary poit of our 1 Matth, Wem. p. 141. 2 Hoveden, Annal. fol. 134. 3 Matth. WeДm. p. 204. * See the pallages above from Matthew and Hoveden. conflicts of the Britons and Sixons, with the event thereof, he prefents him with a battle between two dragons of different colours, and then introduces the prophet Merlin explaining the emblem3, which feems to be just such a figurative way of defigning the two na tions as modern writers now ufe when they fpeak of the Britith lion, the Hanover ho,fe, and the like. The dragon being a creature of the imagination, at least in thefe parts, is varioufly defcribed by writers and painters. Speed draws that of King Uther and the Weft Saxons with wings 4, but the true figure of it, as it was difplaved in the banner, perhaps may be beli feen upon this penny, to which I may add, from the hiftorians, that his colour, to fpeak with the heralds, was Or. Thus, the Danish raven was not proper upon their banner, as is fometimes repre The words banner and fandard are often ufed in authors promifcuously, notwithtanding the diftinction we are here eftablithing. 2 Speed, Hift. p. 271. It was used as late as the battle of Creffy, Stowe, Hift, P. 242. 3 Galfrid, Monum, fol. LII, fented, fented, but spread, as it appears on a coin of Anlaf's, to be mentioned below. So long then as the dragon was the imprefe, or device, of the Weft Saxon monarchs, a dragon of their form, upon any coin, would affix fuch coin as certainly to that kingdom as the figure of an harp or thiẞtle now hews a piece to be Irish or Scotch. And it is a very common thing for the antients to delineate their enfigns on their coins; they appear both on the confular and imperial 3 medals of the Romans, and on thofe of the lower empire perpetually; and, in particular, the raven is feen on a penny of Anlaf, the Danish king of Northumberland 4. It appears alfo from the Northumbrian tuxf, and the Danish raven, both fo renowned in our hiftory, but more efpecially from the French oriflamme, and the banner of St. Martin, of which you may read much in Monf. Menage?, and father Daniel 8, though they are of fomewhat a later original, that the Western nations, as well as the Romans, held their banners in the utmost regard and vene ration. 3dly, The Northumbrian intended, we prefume, mult be Edbert, whofe ame approaches nearest to the legend of the coin, and who afcended the Northern throne A. D. 737; but we can never get Edbert, or we will fay Eadbert, from Eotberehtus. The etymologies of the two names are different; and, were the latter to be abbreviated, which it is the property of time and pronunciation to do, it would make Etbert, or Otbert, and not Eadbert. But what is more cogent, and more fully in point, Eotberehtus was actually a fervant of Egbert the Great, as has been already fhewn, and not a king in any part of the island. Whence the prefumption is, that he was the fame perfon with him on the coin in question, which confequently must appertain to King Egbert; a prefumption which acquires much strength from the dragon appearing upon it, the known ftandard at that time of the Weft Saxon kingdom, and therefore feems incontestably to fix it to that ftate exclufively of all others. Certainly, to make an end, one may reafonably expect, upon this state of things, for fome proof or argument why Eotbehretus upon the two coins fhould be thought different perfons; as likewife, how the dragon comes to be connected with the Northumbrian kingdom, to as to be a common emblem or badge of that, as the adverfe fuppofition implies. We are of opinion it will be extremely difficult for gentlemen to adduce a proof in regard to the first, and to affign a reafon in refpe&t of the latter, I of thefe queftions. Ethelbald, the Merciap king, at the battle near Burford, A. 750, againft Cuthbert, King of the West Saxons, had on his banner a go'den dragon depicted. See Rog. Hoveden, Annal. past, prior, in An. citat; alfo, Camden's Britannia in com. Oxford. I am not fo fanguine, Sir, as to expect that the obfervations I have been making upon this curious, though not uncommon, coin, fhould pleafe and fatisfy every body; there will still probably be fome, who, adhering to the authority of Mefirs. Walker, Thorefby, Sir Andrew Fountaine, and the editor of the Earl of Pembroke's Tables, may inchine to compliment the kingdom of Northumberland with it, to the prejudice of Egbert, the Weft Saxon fhall therefore beg leave, for a conclu. fion, and to affift the candid reader in forming his judgement on the cafe, to Rate the argument in a fummary way, and particularly in regard to the Northumbrian claim. Fift, fome evidence is demanded, that the Northumbriaus coined any filver during the heptarcny, or before the year soς. 2dly, That before A.D. 500 they placed any device upon the regal fpecie but a crofs of fome kind. Speed, p. 438. Wife, in edit. Afferii Menev. 2 Spanheim, Differt. VI. 3 Argeloni, ed t. Bellorii, p. 59. 4 Sir Andr. Fountaine, tab. 111. Anlaf. 3. 5 Beda, P 97. 6 Chron. Sax. An. 873. Affer. Menev. p. 3. 7 Menage, Orig, de la Langue Franc, 8. Daniel, tom. II. p. 408, 360. But there is another claim in respect of this penny to be difcuffed, it is made in favour of Egbert, a Kentish prince, who accided A 664, and did 675. It more relembles, it is obferved, the French moucy di Childebert, which has Likewile a dragon of the fame fize and hape on the reverte (ie Le Blanc, p. 30), than the coins of Egbert, the hue monarch whole money is much ruder, broader, and heavier. It is thought to that the Saxons in thofe early days, as well as in later times, coped ather their neighbours, the French, an arts, manners, &c. This, it mull be allowed, is a more rational appropriation of the piece than the former, and is better fupported. But ftill it is a forcible objection with me, that we have no Saxon coin of this antiquity. Weight and fize, as objected against Egbert the Great, are very precarious things in thefe early days; and as for the dragon, on which the Kentish claim chiefly depends, this fancied animal was an cofign of the Romans, Veget. 1. 23. Stewech. ad loc. Idem, II. 7; alfo, Spelman Afpilog. p. 14, 17, 26; Byfshe ad Upton, p. 703 and from them both nations, both Francs and Saxons, might take it. On the whole, I cannot think the obferva tions above are fufficient to invalidate the claim of Egbert the Great, grounded fo firmly on the mintmafter's name, efpecially when it is confidered, as was ftated before, that the dragon was the undoubted ftandard of Weffex, and that no evidence is given of any connexion that animal had with the Kentish kingT.Row... dom. Mr. URBAN, OЯ. 12. S feems well acquainted with the antiquities of Stepney church, I thould be glad to know whether he thinks there is any foundation for that univerEl tradition of the lady, who has a monument erected to her memory at the Eaft end of that church, being the heroine celebrated in a popular old ballad. I am apt to think it has arifen only from the circumftance of a fish being in the lady's arms with an annulet over it, which the vulgar opinion his fettled to be the fith gaping to fwallow the ring, The infeription is fo much obliterated that I cannot trace it all out, not that I imagine it has any allusion to the hiftory in the ballad; though I do not difpute but many of our old ballads have a real foundation. Yours, &c. As your correfpondent Mr. Malcolm Mr. URBAN, 08. 13. T O Mr. Woolfton, who has warmly interefted himfelf about one of our most antient and “el. quent fonnetteers" (p. 610), the follow ng fhort account from Ant. Wood may not prove unacceptable: "Thomas Watfon, a Londoner born, did fpend fome time in this univerfity (Oxon), not in Logick and Philolophy, but in the fmooth and plea ant studies of Poetry and Romance, whereby he obtained an hourable n me among the fludents in thofe faculties. Afterwards, retiring to the metropolis, ftudied the Common-law at riper years; and, for a diverfion, wrote, "Ecloga in Obitum D. Francifci Walfingham, Eq. aur. Lond. 1590;" "Amintæ Gaudia, Lond. 1592. Written in Latin Hexameter, and dedicated broke, who was a patronefs of his ftudies. to the incomparable Mary, Countess of Pem "He hath written other things of that nature or strain, which I have not yet feen; and was highly valued among ingenious men in the latter end of Queen Elizabeth.” Ath. Ox. vol. I. col. 262-3..' luded to, was probably his volume of Among the "other things" here alamatory poems, intituled, "The Miftreffe, or Book of Love Pattions and pallionate Sonnets;" black-letter 4to; cited by your correfpondent, Mr. Steeto which, without doubt, in the paffage vens alludes. A number of extracts from this very fearce work are to be met with in " England's Parnaffus, Erat ille dignus amari. NCOURAGED by the example of Kewenfis, p. 389, and impelled by kindred feelings, I tranfmit to you the following particulars of Dr. William Walley, whofe death I first few announced to the publick in your Obituary, p. 481. He was defcended from a Chefire family of the fame name, part of which, for the term of three generations, have been fettled in the county of Herts. His grandfather made a competent fortune as corn contractor and maltter, which occupations be carried on at Ware. His father practifed as a phyfician in the fame neighbourhood, for near forty years, with the highest reputation and fuccefs, and refided at Hertford when William, his eldest fon, was born on the 12th of April O. S. 1728; who, after purfuing his scholattic ftudies at Hadley, near Barnet, and Standon, by Puckeridge, was entered of Clare-hall college, Cambridge, where he took his progreffive degrees in phyfick. He then proceeded to London for the purposes of practical experience, and attended the hofpitals there during two years. In 1754. he visited France, and for a twelvemonth resided principally at Paris, in order to obtain a more extenfive knowledge of the obstetric branch under that celebrated accoucheur, cheur, Dr. Joupe. On his return to England, about 1756, he entered upon his profesional engagements at Bishops Stortford, and practifed with much and deferved credit both there and at Hertford. But at length, experiencing fome very illiberal, or rather infidious, treatment, from a difiant relation, who pretended to advance his interefis, he took the hafty refolution of retreating from a Icene of probable contention, and retired to a freehold eftate at Rufh-green, which he inherited from his grandfather; where he paffed the remainder of his days. The houfe, which before was only a cottage, he re-built and enlarged, took the farming land into his own hands, united agricultural with phyfical ftudies, and concluded that thofe who were defirous to confult him would at leaft rake the trouble of fending a few miles farther for his ad. vice, In cafes of difficulty, or acute difeafe, this was continually done; and numberiefs infances occurred in which bis fuperior skill became eminently confpicuous: but it was oftentimes in cri. tical cafes only that he could be reforted to by thofe who were anxious for his affiftince, from the inconvenience of fending to his diftant and fequeftered habitation. This, added to the increafe of medical prefcribers, the extinction of many wealthy families, with the non-refidence of others at their fummer feats, gradually contratted the fphere of his practice, and gave him reason to with that, in early life, he had turned his attention towards the metropolis; but, at a later period, he had conceived fuch an infurmountable antipathy to the very latitude of London, that he never could be prevailed on to fleep a night in the place, even when bulinels has compelled him to vifit it. In the cultivation of his own farm his attention latterly was chiefly occupied; and he used to admire its lonely fituation becapfe it did not render him fubject to the intrufions of any purse proud fquire. But, though his dwelling was folitary, is owner was truly focial. In the animating fo ciety of his friends, his heart overflowed with cheerfulnels, his eye gliftened with delight, and his tongue teemed with intelligence. Hiftorical anecdote and claffical atlufion were as familiar to his memory, at the diftance of for y years, as at the time he quitted college. His converfation evinced a thorough knowledge both of men and books, was en. GENT. MAG. Oduber, 1793. riched with native humour, and enli- Could the profpect of fame or opolence have allured him to the capital, his me rits might have found a full reward; for, his profeffional ability had been long known and acknowledged by fereral of the faculty, who were more the favourites of Fortune than himself, and who had liberality enough to avow their genuine fentiments of a contemporary's kill. But, though prevented by his feclufion from being very extensively engaged to the arduous duties of a phy fician, he confcientioufle conformed, and, in the year 1781, when a contagious fever raged at the town of Ware, had nearly fallen a victim to his #ve exertions-" However," he concludes (in a letter written about the time of recovery), "I confoed myfelf with this reflexion, that, if I fell, I fhou d have died in a good caufe, and have done my duty.” His habits of living were early and regular, nor could the attractions of a felive evening, much as he enjoyed it, divert him from his itated hour of retirement. Hence, his activity of body and mind terminated only with his life. When paft his grand climacterick, I have feen him outftrip in walking those who were not half his age; and have known him pen feveral flanzas of occa fional verfes while half-a-dozen people have been difcourfing fomewhat loudly in the fame room. Poetical compofition bad indeed become an habitual amulement, and his friends were commonly entertained by fome novel jeu-d'-fprit whenever they entered his ftudy. His productions in this way were molly extemporary, and excited by the inpulte of the momert. The longest L ever caught fight of was the Borough of Hertford on repaning "A Hint to the -earth For wit and learning, amity and worth! the Church of All Saints," and "Friend- So liv'd, fo died, the friend long priz'd on fhip à-la-Mode" a didactic effusion, which occupied 18 pages. In the year 1782 he compofed a profe effay On the pernicious Effects of Gaming," in confequence of an advertisement from Cambridge requesting an English differtation on that fubject, with an offer of fifty guineas for the ableft attempt by any perfon who was or had been of that university. But, I doubt whether the Doctor's performance was ever fent, though fairly tranfcribed for that pur pofe, as I well remember his reading it over with uncommon force and perfpicuity; which, in truth, was the cafe with all he undertook to read. Of his critical judgement the late Mr.Scott, of Amwell (his worthy neighbour), thought fo well, that he ufually fubmitted the perufal of his writings to Friend Walley before publication, and always prefented him with a copy of them afterwards. Though he difdained the oftentation of piety, yet its influence he fedulously cherished. His uniform custom was to go through the leífons and fervice of the day before he left bis chamber, and he then pursued his other avocations with a gaiety which re&itude of con. duct only yields. Though his death appeared fudden and unexpected to thofe who attended him in his fhort illness, yet I have reafon to think he had felt its approaches for a confiderable time before; and he accordingly made every proper arrangement as to the difpofal of his worldly effe&s. On the 7th of April laft he was attacked by a fevere cold, which, about the 20th, brought on a difficulty of refpiration; this increafed fo much, that, in two days afterwards, he anticipated his fpeedy fare, and, with the moft collected refignation, wrote down the names of feveral perfons whom he wifhed to have employed about his funeral, with directions for conducting it. On the day following he came down ftairs as ufual, and, in his cheerful way, exclaimed, "I think I fhall rally fill" In the evening, however, it was with much difficulty he managed to reach his chamber. An extreme debility took poffeffion of his whole frame; and, having defired to be left by all but his attendant for the space of two hours, at the expiration of that time he died without a groan, and was interred in the chancel of Ware church on Thurfday, the ad of May. Your ingenious correfpondent, Dr. Crane, of Wells, having paid a valu able compliment to the merits of Dr. Walley, I hope to be excufed the liberty now taken of annexing his lines to this imperfect biographical narration. "To him who calmly for his death prepares, tear; remove, 'Tis furely fin to mourn his envy'd bier; have obferved feveral letters on the circles of grafs which are fometimes found on grafs-lands, and have fince then difcovered one as I was accidentally looking-from the windows of an inn`at Cardiff. I have read Mr. Pennant's British Zoology; and, to my great fatisfaction, have found his opinion of them; which, for the fake of yourself and readers, I beg leave to infert: *The four laft lines are taken from a MPS opy of verfes, by Dr. Walley, on the death airiend. |