The people appear to have been in a great degree enlightened, and their humour to run in a channel perfectly reverse to that of superstition. Hence the introduction of the ceremonies of the fourth and fifth centuries caused bitter and deeper feelings against Charles than the impolitic measures of his government. Even the ceremonies sanctioned by the first reformers could scarcely be retained in divine service. And yet in the face of the people, and contrary to their feelings, their wishes, or desires, he chose this time, of all others the most improper, for renewing the rites of the fourth and fifth centuries, when the Christian Church, as is well known, was sunk into those superstitions which were afterwards continued and augmented by the policy of the Church of Rome. So openly were these tenets espoused, that not only the discontented Puritans believed the Church of England to be relapsing fast into the Romish superstition, but the court of Rome itself entertained hopes of gaining its authority in this island. To forward Laud's good intention, an offer was twice`made to him, in private, of a cardinal's hat, which he declined accepting. It must be confessed, however, that though Laud deserved not the appellation of a Papist, the genius of his religion was, though in a less degree, the same with the Romish. Equal respect was exacted to the sacerdotal character-the same submission to creeds, synod, and councils was required-the same pomp and ceremony was effected in worship-and the same superstitious regard was paid to days, postures, meats, and vestments. Orders were given, and rigorously insisted on, that the communion table should be removed from the middle of the area, where it had hitherto stood in all churches, except cathedrals. It was placed at the east end, railed in, and denominated the altar; as the clergyman who officiated commonly received the name of priest. All kinds of ornaments, especially pictures, were found to be the very same as those in the mass book. The crucifix, too, that perpetual consolation of all pious Catholics, and terror to all Protestants, was not forgotten on this occasion. Thus it will be seen that the religious measures introduced by Laud, tended more to irritate and inflame the feelings of the great mass of the people against Charles, than all the unwise schemes, adopted by that ill-fated and unfortunate monarch, to extend and establish his prerogative. John Bradshaw, president of the Court which tried king Charles I., was of a good family in Cheshire, his mother being the daughter and heiress of Ralf Winnington, of Offerton. Both the time of his birth and the place of his education have been much disputed but partly set at rest by his will, in which he has left legacies to several schools where he received his ed cation. He was a student in Gray's Inn, where he had considerable chamber practice, especially amer the partisans of Parliament, and was undoubtedly a man of considerable ability and legal knowledge, as i admitted by Lord Clarendon, one of his bitteres enemies. In October, 1644, he was employed by th Parliament, in conjunction with Messrs Prinne and Nudigate, to prosecute Lords Macquire and Maenhon, the Irish rebels. In October, 1649, by a vote the House of Commons, in which the peers wi desired to acquiesce, he was appointed one of the co missioners of the great seal, for six months; and i February following, by a vote of both Houses, he was appointed Chief Justice of Chester. About this tim our illustrious neighbour seemed to bask in the shine of popular and public esteem-for in June, 1641 he was appointed, by Parliament, one of the cours. to prosecute the royalist judge, Jenkins; and i October 12, 1648, by order of the Parliament, he ceived the degree of serjeant. On January 1st, 19. it was adjudged by the Commons, that by the fundsmental laws of the land, it is treason in the king England, for the time being, to lay war against th Parliament and kingdom. On the 4th a law passed, for erecting a high court of justice, for tri of the king. The commissioners chosen for tryi the king, elected Sergeant Bradshaw for their pres dent. He was much surprised, and resolutely refuse. it. The refusal and acceptance of it are very streng evidence of his courage, and the staunchness of is republicanism. The Court ordered that John Bradshaw, Serfe at-Law, who is appointed President of this Cer should be called by the name and have the tith Lord President, and that as well within, as wither the said Court, during the commission and sitting the said Court. The Deanery House, in Westminste was given him as a residence for himself and his pe terity, he had the sum of five thousand po allowed him to procure an equipage suitable to new dignity, and Parliament settled four thous pounds yearly upon him and his heirs, in landed p perty. He was now made Chancellor of the Duchy Lancaster, besides being Lord President of the St The accumulation of so many offices in one maner tainly looked something like pluralism in the Com wealth. When Cromwell seized the Government, Bradsh was one of the few that opposed his ambitie, designs with their might, and maintained their firmness to the last. His courage and determination almost equalled that of Ludlow's, and his bold answer to Cromwell, when he came to dissolve the Council, is well known. Cromwell insisted upon every one taking out a commission from him, if they chose to retain their places under his Government. Bradshaw boldly refused, alleging that he had received his commission as Chief Justice of Chester, to continue quandiu se bene gesserit, and he should retain it without any other, unless he could be proved to have iujustly forfeited it by want of integrity; and if there should exist any doubts he would submit it to the trial of twelve Englishmen. He soon after set out on his circuit, without waiting for further orders; and Oliver was too prudent and sagacious to prevent or recall him, as he had declared that "nothing but force should make him desist from his duty." It cannot be expected that conduct like this could find any favour in the eyes of Cromwell. He therefore did all he could to prevent his election for Cheshire; and though Bradshaw was returned by the sheriff, yet the Cromwellian party returned another, consequently neither sat, it having been so decided in case of a double return. (To be concluded in the next issue.) WILLIAM LEWINS, THE HIGHWAYMAN. [637.]-The following account of this noted highwayman, a native of Cheshire, is taken from The St. James's Chronicle, or British Evening Post, from Tuesday, July 6th, to Thursday, July 8th, 1790: General Post Office, July 6th. "There are the strongest reasons to believe that one William Lewins, the person advertised in the London Gazette of the 26th of June last (also on the 13th July), and in all the London papers about that time, by the names of WILLIAM LOUNDS, or LOWINS, otherwise WILLIAM HOPE, on suspicion of having robbed the mail between Penrith and Keswick, on the 25th of February, 1790, is the person who also robbed the mail between Warrington and Northwich on the 11th of March, 1788, and likewise robbed the mail between Chester and Frodsham on the 29th of June, 1789. The said William Lewins was born in the parish of Astbury. near Congleton, in Cheshire, and was married at Alfreton, in Derbyshire, the 11th of July, 1785, to Amy Clarke. He lived at Chesterfield, in Derbyshire, for about two years previous to the first robbery of the mail, and followed the business of a weaver. He negotiated a bill of exchange for £20, which was taken out of the said mail, at Chesterfield, a few days after that robbery. On the 22nd of March, 1788, he negotiated to Messrs Roper and Rayner, of Leeds, another bill of exchange, taken out of the same mail, for £69 5s 6d, which he endorsed in the name of William Brown. On the 18th of April, 1788, he negotiated to Messrs Wilberforce, Smith, and Co., of Hull, a bill of exchange for £111 likewise taken out of that mail, and endorsed the same name, William Brown thereon. He absconded from Chesterfield in the same month, and was advertised in the London Gazette of the 26th of May, 1788. On the 11th of April, 1789, about 11 weeks previous to the 29th of June, 1789, the day on which the mail between Chester and Frodsham was robbed, he went with his wife and child to live at Beaumaris, in North Wales, assuming the name of WILLIAM HUTCHINSON, and lodged with one Mrs Corry. In a few days after this robbery he absconded from Beaumaris, and early in August following he negotiated at Oxford a bill of exchange for £14 18s, which was taken out of this mail, and endorsed it in the name of William Mall. The said WILLIAM LEWINS is about 35 or 36 years of age, five feet eight or nine inches high, stout made, of a dark complexion, has remarkable good black hair, which he lately wore tied behind; has a florid complexion, large lips, is rather heavy limbed, and thick about the ancles, and has a wife whose Christian name is, and whom he generally called, Amy. It is supposed that he went with his wife and a little child, between two or three years old, named Polly, to Ireland, in the autumn of 1788, and returned to Beaumaris in the spring of 1789. Whoever shall apprehend and convict, or cause to be apprehended and convicted, the said WILLIAM LEWINS, of any of the said robberies of the mail, will be entitled to a reward of TWO HUNDRED POUNDS, over and above the reward given by Act of Parliament for apprehending of highwaymen; or, if any person, whether an accomplice in any of the said robberies, or knowing thereof, shall make discovery whereby the said WILLIAM LEWINS may be apprehended and brought to justice, such discoverer will, upon conviction of the party, be entitled to the same reward of TWO HUNDRED POUNDS, and will also receive his Majesty's most gracious pardon.—By command of the Postmaster-General, ANTHONY TODD, Secretary." The Gentleman's Magazine, July, 1790, adds to the above account that he had the appearance of a seafaring man:-"He was first married in Sunderland, He has rebut did not live long with that wife. sided at Hexham, in Northumberland, since the 8th of March; left that place on the 4th of June, with his wife and family, with whom he parted at Darlington; and, after transacting some business at the two banks there, came to London in the mail-coach, where he arrived on Monday, the 7th of June, and negotiated a bill with Messrs Smith, Wright, and Gray, since which he has not been heard of." (Vol. 60, p. 663.) ALFRED BURton. MATTHEW LAWTON: A STOCKPORT WIT. [638.] In the Stockport Advertiser for March 25th, 1824, appears the following regarding a worthy of this name, under the head of Poetry :-" To the Editor of the Advertiser,—Sir,—Where is the man who does not know Matthew Lawton, the eccentric shaver, the facetious fruiterer, and the ingenious compounder of ginger beer, for which he deserves a patent? The following jeu d'Esprit is sent you by one who has often visited Matthew's shop, and whilst quaffing his imperial or sucking a real saville, has admired his oddities, and laughed at his whimsicalities. The proposed plan of diverting the turnpike road through the town has caused much serious discussion, and at last attracted the notice of Matthew. He attended the town's meeting, and made a speech, short but pithy, and, as the lines below will testify, not without a seasoning of wit. They are sent to you by one whom Matthew has often, in his tonsorial capacity, taken by the nose,but who bears him no malice, nor wishes that his good things should blush unseen, and waste their sweetness on the desert air.-W. B. A meeting was conven'd the other day. To keep the road before his own dear dwelling. When Matthew rose, and much amured each gazer; He made a speech, keen as his own good razor. The plan propos'd is good, and beg you'll try it; Nought, ia my mind, can beat the Orange Line, I've tried it long, and gained a living by it.'" We should like to hear further of this Hillgatonian worthy, whose wit was so famous in our fathers' days. ED. COMING OF AGE FESTIVITIES AT ALDERLEY. [639.] The following paragraph is taken from the Stockport Advertiser of January, 1824: ALDERLEY FESTIVITIES ON SIR JOHN STANLEY'S WO SONS COMING OF AGE.-On this joyous ccoa sion, which continued the whole week, at Alderley Park, the following is a short account:-Monday, Jan. 5.-This morning at an early hour the bells at Alderley Church began a merry peal, which continued at intervals the whole day, and which was also the case at the following churches, viz., Macclesfield Old and New Church, Prestbury, Wilmslow, and Mobber. ley. At twelve o'clock several rounds of cannon were discharged from the Park, previous to which a large company had assembled to witness the joyous scene, which was additionally enlivened by an excellent band of music, and various flags displayed on the lawn and church steeple. At two o'clock dinner was announced in the great hall, at which upwards of 150 sat down to an excellent dinner, consisting of gentlemen from Macclesfield, Congleton. Knutsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow, and also of the farming tenants of Sir John, and others of the neighbourhood. After dinner, Sir John and his two sons each ad. dressed the company by excellent speeches suited to the occasion, which were received by the company with continued and hearty cheers, and they continued together in the greatest harmony, over the flowing bowl, with the band of music playing at interva's, and many excellent songs, till a late hour in the evening. Previous to the bonfire and fireworks. which commenced at six in the evening, about a thousand persons, who had assembled in the Courtyard, were regaled with several hogsheads of strong ale, brewed for the occasion. The bonfires, one of which consisted of forty loads of faggots and gorse illuminated the whole neighbourhood. The village of Alderley was also illuminated, and varions devices were exhibited in the windows. Tuesday.—The wives of the farmers and others of the neighbourhood, and heir sons and daughters, consisting of nearly 200, met in the great hall, in the afternoon, and partook of tea and an excellent supper. Dancing began at an early hour, and was kept up with great spirit till one in the morning. At intervals, the company received much pleasure from various amusements, such as the hermit, (the character of which was admirably surported), the wild man, old hob, &c., &c. Thursday.— The great hall was this day.tastefully and elegantly fitted up as a dining room for more than 40 gentle men of the county, who partook of a most excel ent dinner. The company appeared much gratified by an excellent speech from each of the young gentlem en after his health had been drunk, and the evenin was spent with great hilarity and pleasure till a late hour. Friday.-On this day the labourers and cottagers sat down to an excellent dinner in the great hall, at least one hundred. After dinner, many loyal toasts were given, anl the company were highly delighted with many excellent songs, and the various amusements, some of which were similar to those of Tuesday evening, and broke up at a late hourSaturday.-At twelve this day, about one hundred and fifty children from the two Alderley Schools, at tended by their master and mistress, assembled in the great hall to dinner. After dinner, they enjoyed themselves with their usual amusements till four o'clock, when they partook of cake and wine and then returned home. Two fat oxen were also distributed among the working people and poor of the neighbourhood, upon the present occasion. [We shall give next week a more lengthy account From the same source of the proceedings in the fol owing week.-ED.] Replies. OTTERSCOE. (Query No 67.-Oct. 27.) [640] Otterscoe probably signifies otters' haunt. he modern equivalent given in most of the maps of he district is otterspool, and there are several places f that name in the neighbourhood, two being on the Iersey and its tributaries. The etymon of coe is very oubtful, but among words possibly akin to it there ay be suggested-the Welsh curian, cwr, a corner den. The German kau, a narrow place, a retreat, or en; also kauchen,and kauen, to cower or squat. Anglo axon cofa, a cove, cave, den, or recess. Reddish. WELT. ADDISON CROFTON. (Query No. 556.-Oct. 1.) [641.] Welt v. trans, signifies to beat severely; it a slang term corrupted from an older cant word quilt," to slash or beat. "Quilt" was used by the stage coachmen as a term for whipping up the am, and is to be found in one of the early caricatures Punch which represents a stage coach on bad ound endeavouring to keep pace with a railway in; the guard of the coach is at the horses' heads dis saying, "Quilt 'em, quilt 'em, and we'll pass em yet!" evidently meaning that the coachman is whip up his horses. Quilt is given in the slang tionary as meaning to beat. GRIMLOW. (Query No. 369, 564.-June 25, Oct. 8.) [642.] For the information of " E.H." and others I forward the following respecting Grimlow, which appears to have been in possession of the Birch family about 1340. I believe representatives of the Birches are still residing near Manchester:-"1340, April (14 Edw. 3rd). John la Warre, lord of manor of Manchester, granted to Margaret Sherples 12 acres of land in Grenelowemeth (which William de Birches held) for a term of 16 years; rent 16s 9d." S.F.C. 7, Molyneux-street, Stockport Road. REV. W. GADSBY. (Query No. 598, 635.-Oct. 27, Nov. 19.) [643.] Someone has sent me a copy of your paper o 19th ult., containing an anecdote of my late father MrW. (not Mr J.) Gadsby. The anecdote is simply absurd as far as my father is concerned; for, in the fist place, he did not believe in a "chance" religion. He believed that the purposes of God according to election were fixed and settled (Rom. ix., ii.), no "chance" work about them; and in the next place, the anecdote was in existence long before my father was known as a minister. The writer of the anecdote says his father was the only person he ever heard tell the anecdote. This I can believe, as his father may have heard it of some other person; but I should be sorry to believe his father told him he really heard my father make the remark; as I am sure he never did. If Mr "Semper" would like to see a fund of anecdotes about my father, who was certainly an original, he may buy a shilling book from John Heywood, OldhamJOHN GADSBY. street. THE OLD STOCKPORT WINDMILL. (Query No. 176, 224, 258, 259.-April 9, 23; May 6.) [644.] The following advertisement, copied from the Macclesfield Courier and Stockport Express, or Cheshire General Advertiser, Saturday, March 15, 1817, marks a period in the history of the old windmill, at the top of Edward-street :-" Peremptorily, to be sold by auction (under and by virtue of a deed of trust for that purpose), at Mr Robert Downing's, at the Castle Inn, at Stockport, on Friday, the 28th day of March, 1817, at five o'clock in the afternoon, subject to such conditions as will then be produced, the inheritance in fee-simple of and in all that capital windmill, for the grinding of corn, comprising two wheat mills, one meal mill, one shelling mill, a flour machine, a pair of malt rollers, a drying kiln, and other the appurtenances thereto belonging, situate in Stockport aforesaid, at or near the top of a street called Edwardstreet, now in the possession of Charles Bolsover, subject to a yearly chief rent of nine shillings and sixpence halfpenny. For further particulars apply to Mr Chetham, solicitor, Stockport." ALFRED BURTON. AN A MENAGERIE.-In the course of an interesting conversation with the keeper, the writer warned some facts about elephants. They are wondertany cunning," he said. "I have seen an elephant untie a chain from the stake to which he was fastened and make for a cornfield. And he was too cunning to walk through the fence from the road, where ho could have been tracked. He struck off into the woods, where his steps would leave no tracks on the dead leaves, and carried his chain with his trunk, so as to prevent its dragging and making a trail. In that way he went round to the back of the field, entered from the woods and went to eating. On one occasion our largest elephant quietly untied himself, one morning, and started off for a promenade through the country on his own ecount. He strolled out to the suburbs of Luo town, was attracted by the appearance of a little garden, went in, found it to his liking and ate it up. Then he went around to the back of the house that the garden belonged to am found there a half barrel of soft soap, which ne took up with his trunk and showered all over him. Next he pushed open the door of a little summer kitchen at one end of the house, and there he found a barrel of flour. The flour he used as he had the son, dusting it all over him. You can imagine how he terrified the family that lived in the house. They are revengeful, too. One of the clephants that I have been obliged to punish has tried to kill me at various times. I interfered once to prevent a big elephant called Bismarck getting out of his stable. He was at the door when I met him with a club and drove him back, for which he always had a grudge against me. After that season I lost sight of him for two years. Then one day I was in the Cincinnati Zoological Gardens, when a great stone came flying just past my head. Somebody yelled, Look out!' and I did look out' just in time to see an elephant throw another large stone at me, which, if I had not dodged, would have killed me. That elephant was Bismarck, who, though he had not seen me for two years, still owed me the grudge, and did his best to kill me. He could throw as straight as a man could, and the stones zame as if fired out of a cannon.' "" SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10TH, 1881. Notes. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF JUDGE BRADSHAW, Concluded. [645.] Bradshaw's power and popularity must have been very great, for, notwithstanding his having been engaged in several designs against Cromwell, one of which was connected with the fifth monarchy men, who were to “destroy and pull down Babylon, and bind kings in chains and nobles in fetters of iron,” Cromwell did not dare to seize him, but watched and defeated his designs with his characteristic policy; and he soon after deprived him of the office of Chicr Justice of Chester. The two former friends watched each other with the vigilance of two crouching tigers, each waiting the decisive spring that was to destroy the other. And some credit may be given to the assertion of some of the Royalist rulers that Bradshaw would have had no objection to perform for Olive the "unhereditary tyrant," the same office he had performed for Charles, the hereditary one; and he would not have been sorry to have had an opportunity to convince the world he was no respecter of persons. On the death of Cromwell, and abdication of his son, Bradshaw obtained a seat in the Council of State, was elected Lord President, and appointed one of the Commissioners of the Great Seal; but his health, which had been some time declining. became so precarious that he was unable to perform the duties of that office. The last act of Bradshaw's life was consistent with the free and brave spirit which he had always shown. The army had again put a force upon the House of Commens, by seizing the Speaker Lenthall, whilst passing through the street on his way thither, which at once suspended all further proceedings of the existing Government. The expiring but unsubdued spirit of Bradshaw felt the insult; he repaired to the Council of State, which sat that day; and when Colonel Sydenham, one of the members, endeavoured to justify the army in its proceedings, and concluded his speech according to the cant of the day, that they were "necessitated to make use of his last remedy by particular providence," Bradshaw, weak and extenuated as he was, yet animated by his ardent zeal for the common cause, stood forward, and, interrupting Colonel Sydenham, declared his abhorrence of that detestable action, and told the Council that, as he |