Welsh Journals

142 BYE-GONES. Nov., 1876. ingB of Civil Liberty and Social Order " was published at Shrewsbury in 1793. He was Master of the College School at Hereford in 1778, but very little mere is known about him. RUDD, Anne, who died in 1781, at the early age of 28, was a native of Herefordshire, and a person of remark¬ able ability, the Rev. A. Rudd, put up to her memory a marble monument at Hereford Cathedral, with a simple and elegant inscription, in which he records that she possessed "A soul elevated by religion, and a mind enriched by a familiar acquaintance with useful science." And he truly states that this tribute to her character was not inscribed from vanity, or custom, for her letters which have been preserved prove that she had mastered some of the most abstruse problems in scientific knowledge, arjd was able to state them ia a plain and convincing manner. RUDH ALL, Bichabd, Son of William Rudhall was born at Rudhall near Ross, in Herefordshire, and was knighted on account of a victory he gained near Caiiz. He after¬ wards embarked in another expedition, but died in the 24th year of his age when engaged upon it. His remains were brought over to England and were interred at Plymouth. RUSSELL, Richabd, who was born in Herefordshire in 1611, and was the founder of a good family of that name in America, went out to that country about 1635, and settled at Charleatown, which town he represented in the General Court from 1648 to 1659, and being a per¬ son of marked ability he was in the latter year chosen a Councillor of the State, in which office he continued till his death in 1676. RUSSELL.Thomas, sometimes called de la Clyve from the place of his birth in Shropshire. He appears to have died in 1333, having filled the office of Town Clerk at Shrews¬ bury, for in his will he styles himself Clericus burgi Salop. That document is a curious example of the care with which our ancestors provided for their interment,and the celebration of Mass for the benefit of departed souls. The good old clerk is not only careful about his own soul, but " the souls of my wife, and my sons, and particularly for the souls of those to whom I am bound in any debt, with or without my knowledge," a sort of general commission not to be despised by those who followed him, however much we may be dis¬ posed to smile at the religious simplicity of the legal mind. RUMSEY, Walter, was born at Llanover, in Mon¬ mouthshire, in 1584, was brought up to the bar, and was afterwards made a judge in South Wales. He was so noted in his profession that he wa9 usually called " The Picklock of the law." In 1640 he was elected one of the Knights for Monmouthshire, to serve in that Parliament which be¬ gan at Westminster, April 13, and might have been chosen again to serve in the long Parliament, but refused it. He wrote several works and died in the year 1660. RYLE, John Chables, a noted clergyman of the English church, was born at Macclesfield, Cheshire, in the year 1816. He was educated at Eton and Oxford, and in 1841 ordained by Bishop Sumner at Winchester. He has held preferments in Hampshire and Suffolk, and has been aleading man among the evangelicals for many years past. Mr Ryle is well known as a powerful preacher and speaker, bat even better so as a writer ef religious tracts and essays. Many of his works have been translated into foreign, the Welsh and the Gaelic languages, and his success in this department of literature has been marvellous. He was appointed Rural Dean of the Hovere Hundreds ia 1869, and more recently he has been made honorary Canon of Norwich, November 1, 1876. NOTES. CRIME IN SALOP, 1801.—From Feb. 2 to Mar. 3, 1801, twenty-eight prisoners were committed to the county gaol at Shrewsbury, many of whom were for capital offences. Soeobbbs Btbig. MR DRURY OF WEM.-The Salopian Journal of May 27, 1801, contained the following extraordinary obituary notice:— On Sunday last, universally esteemed, Mr Drury, tanner, of Wem, alter a long and severe fit of the stone in the kidneja. " The Head aches no more, the eye forgets to weep; the flesh is no longer racked with acute, nor wasted with lingering dis¬ tempers.'—Habvey. No more the friendly social board shall rintr, With Hearts of Oak*, or yet God Save the King*. ♦Favourite songs of his. Did the sorrowing relatives pay for the announcements that used to appear in the local papers when their friends died ? Ano». ' PSALM SINGING AT LLANFECHAIN. (see " Gwallter Mechain," Oct. 25, 1876). — That ancient and voracious institution " The Psalm Singers," with its " vested rights" in the •• Psalm Sincere' Money," " The Church Ales," " The New "Sear's Gifts," " The Christmas Boxes," " The Christmas or Singers' Supper," has now quite passed into the category of bye- gone times. The organ and harmonium have ousted the clarionette, the violin, the bassoon, the sacred "bass viol," and the German flute, instruments the one or other of which necessarily formed part of the church choir, and the paid vocalist is now a respectable volunteer taking his place beside the lady singers. Instead of the usual perquisites of his ancient calling, he is now content with the smiles and good company of his superiors. A queer and unique lot were the Llanfechain singers, especially when David led the singing. There was the old parish clerk, Dafydd Meredydd, who added to his other calling that of landlord of the Ty'nyllan, called " Plas yn dinas." This house, bv the way, held the monopoly in all the " church ales." The last remnant of these continued in connection with the funerals to a very late period, in the form of "hot" or "spiced ale," partaken of at the house just before the body was taken up, and the friendly glass, " tak«n out of respect to the family," after the burial, when the mourners and friends would adjourn to the " Plas yn dinas," which is conve¬ niently situate clase to the churchyard. Next to the clerk in importance in the gallery was John Owen the smith, and Evan Chidlow, Hendre, John Jones, Brook, the ever faithful old caroler and professional bellringer John Davies, and the young aspirant for gallery hononrs David Benbow, who outlived all his fellow singers, and was like " The last rose of summer left blooming alone, His lovely companions all faded and gone I" The "key note" was most commonly struck by David Jones, either on his violin, or, when that was out of tune, the flute or " pitch-pipe" would be called into service, and for convenience' sake were kept hanging close at hand on the church wall. Having found the key note, the whole choir would take up the note in harmony, and ere the vibration of this concord of sound had ceased, the " hymn'' or " anthem" would be started with a vigour that was truly astounding. The great centre of importance in the gallery was David Jones with his violin. But not the least in prominence i»