Welsh Journals

126 BYE-GONES. Nov., 1884. 1643 Brereton's Famous Victory at Namptwich. 1643 Morgan's Welsh Doctor. 1644 Howell's Progress of St. Paul. 1645 Love's Sermons on England's Distemper. 1645 The Parliamentary Successes in Pembrokeshire. 1645 The Three Stars seen in Cheshire. 1645 Parry's Summe of the Christian Religion. 1646 Edwards's Gangreasm. 1646 The Surrender of Ruthin Castle. 1646 The Surrender of the Citie of Chester. 1647 The Vindication of Judge Jenkins. 1647 Howell's Despised Protestant. 1648 Marshall's Fermons on Successes in South Wales. 1648 The King's Declaration on Fight at Namptwich. 1649 Bayly's Conference between the King and M. of Worcester. CURRENT NOTES. The Bishop of Bedford has written a little book for young folks. It is a story in verse, called a " Boy Hero." The death is announced of Mr. John William Jones, editor of the DrychK of Utica, at the age of 56 years. Mr. Jones was a native of Llanl'yfni. The Glimpse of Wales a Hundred Years Ago, which we have already mentioned as one of the papers in this month's Cornhill, conta'ns an interesting account of the experiences of a Mrs. Baker, lady-housekeeper to Mr. Vaughan of Nannau, who, at the time she writes, bad got himself into pecuniary difficuUies, and fled the country. Mrs Baker took refuge in the Dower-house of Doluwcheo- gryd, and there remained_ in a state of quasi siege, spend¬ ing much of her time in abusing the bailiffs, and still more in gossip with her neighbours, The writer of the artic'e (said to be Mis3 Cobbe) has had access to Mrs Baker's journal, from which she constructs her picture. The following is from " Leaves from Our Early Issues," appearing in the North Wahs Chronicle (Oct. 29th to Dec. 31st, 1812):—"The Royal Carrarvon militia have volun¬ teered their services to serve in Spain and Portugal, which was tran-mitted through the Lord-Lieutenant of the county to Lord Ba^hurst, by whom it was laid before his Royal Highness, the Prince Regent, who was pleased to express himself highly gratified with the manner in which that distinguished corps had, upon all occasions, acted, and thanked them for their present loyal and patriotic offer. Thf> Carnarvon were under orders for Ireland during the rebellion, and again tendered their ser¬ vices in 1807, and were the first that landed in that coun¬ try since the Act passed for the interchange of militia; Bince their arrival they have formed into a rifle corps, the arms, etc., etc., furnished by Government, and their uniform changed from scarlet to green." Shropshire Archaeological Society.—The annual meeting was held in Shrewsbury on Tuesday, Oct. 21, when, in the absence of the Earl of Bradford, Mr Jasper More presided. In the course of the proceedings the question of a statue to Lord Chancellor Burnell was mooted ; but at present put on one side for lack of funds ! If such propositions as these are to be made at the meet¬ ings without strong protest we think it is high time mem¬ bers of the society outside Shrewsbury should rebel. Our society was established for the purpose of publishing parish records, corporation documents, and valuable MS3. slowly decaying in the British Museum and else¬ where ; and not for the purchase of Btuffed birds for a museum or the erection of statues Thanks to our much- valued editor, many papers have been published in the Transactions of the Society, that would never have seen the light but for the gratuitous labours of his long and use¬ ful life; and we owe it to the pen and purse ot the respected junior member for the county that the Oswestry Corpora¬ tion muniments have been brought to light; but apart from these our seven volumes show but a scanty reference to parochial and municipal histories ; and if we are to succeed in the object for which the Society was created, a fund must be found to pay an expert to copy MSS. both in town and country. NOVEMBER 5, 1884. NOTES. OLD TRADESMEN.—In an advertisement of ;1 Daffey's Original Elixir," published iu 1755, I find the following names of tradesmen who wereagents for its sale : —"Mr Edward Griffiths, in Mold; Mr Kobert Simon, in Flint; T. Griffith, grocer, in Wrexham ; Mr. R. Perrot, in Ellesmere; Mr. S. Griffith, in Wem; Mr Whittingham, iu Whitchurch." Tyro. MERIONETH ELECTION, 1654.— Petition of Rice Vaughan to Council.—Maurice Lewis, Sheriff of co. Merioneth, finding that I and John Vaughan of Kenen- bodig competed for the place of Knight of the Shire, ordered the election to be at Bala, in a corner of the county, and very inconvenient. This was at the instance of E dw. Vaughan of Lloydart, co. Montgomery, and other Malignants. At their instance also, though my electors were at the place on 12 July by 8 a.m. he delayed reading the Writ till late in the day, because Edw. Vaughan had gone into Montgomeryshire, to promote the Election of his kinsman, promising to return in time. He returned next day, Thursday, with 40 armed men from other counties, who were received with shouts by the rabble, and requested the Sheriff to command me out of Court, asking what I had to do there, and as aulted me, but I took it patiently. John Vaughan had before offered to get me returned unanimously, if I would not prosecute Edward Vaughan at Haberdashers Hall for the arrears of £9,000 due to the State out of Herbert Vaughan's estate, but I refused the terms. During the Election, which lasted till Friday night, many of my electors were tired and discountenanced by the justices of peace then sitting at quarter sessions, and some were taken into custody and abused. I was much abused and affronted, yet still I was elected by a majority, as I can prove by the votes of the two clerks ; but the Sheriff would not let me see the number of votes told, but counted them himself in an obscure place, and so returned John Vaughan, who was a Commissioner of Array against Par¬ liament, I beg examination, and if John Vaughan is not qualified, an order to the Sheriff to amend his return, aa directed by Law. Reasons why there is no need for a New election in co. Merioneth in case Council judge John Vaughan incapable to sit. The 16th article of Government voids all elections con¬ trary to law, but allows the Competitor to have the return amended. The 21st article does not authorize a new election if one of the competitors is a capable person, so as not to give the people undue trouble. The Committee of Privileges never order new Writs, but only amend false returns. In John Vaughan's case, the miscarriage of the Sheriff would make void the election, were he capable ; therefore the return should be amended, not a new writ issued. (Aug. 14th, 1654.)