Welsh Journals

516 BYE-GONES. Dec. 3, 1890. coachman who could not do that was of little use on a good many coaches in those days. This, how¬ ever, is a digression, as it was on the return journey of that day that I nearly came to grief at the Llanymynech toll-bar. It occurred in this way—The "Royal Oak" did not carry a guard, and Tom Loader, the coachman, having resigned his seat to me when the coaches met, had retired to the one usually occupied by that functionary. As, however, he was not accustomed to guard's work, he was deficient in the activity necessary for slipping the skid pan under the wheel whilst the coach was in motion, and when he tried to do so at the top of Llanymynech hill he failed in the attempt. Consequently, we got over the brow of the hill without the wheel being locked, and as there were no patent breaks in those days, there was nothing for it but a gallop, as the wheel horses were unable to hold the big load of passengers and luggage, and, of course, the lurches of the coach became considerable, to say the least of it. The turnpike gate, which was at the bottom of the hill, was rather a narrow one, and a collision seemed not altogether improbable, when, just as the leaders reached the gate, the passenger sitting on the roof seat behind me became so much alarmed that he seized hold of my right arm, thereby rendering any use of the whip impossible if it had been necessary, which, fortunately, it was not, as the coach was then in a safe direction, though rather too near the off-side gate-post to be pleasant. If the whip had been wanted to make the off-wheel horse pull up clear of the post I was helpless, and a collision would have been attended with an awful smash, as we were going at the rate of a mile in five minutes at the time. DECEMBER 3, 1890. NOTES. ENGLISH ENGLYNS OF THE XVIIIth CENTURY.—These Stanzas are found in one of the Manuscript collections of the last century. From their belligerent spirit, the poet, I surmise, was a combatant of some degree or class and engaged in some of the nation's wars, and com¬ posed these lines perhaps under the cannon's roar. Who was " R.P.": can anyone suggest ? T.W.H. Pitty my ditty enditing,—a deluge Of dolor amazing, My courage these savage sing, My fall—God help my fayling. Cannons roare before me firing,—bullets They bellow like thundring, Fatall they are in fighting, Their message in rage they ring I bemoan my foes be many,—I doe pray But in pride they are haughty, Foaming out curst blasphemy, Unblest in minde they blast me. To God for help and guide I goe—by lott O lett thou my fierie foe, By some thriving unfayling fellow, Of noble blood have an able blow.— R.P. " NEWS LETTERS " OF THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD.—EXTRACTS FROM, RELATING TO SHROPSHIRE, CHESHIRE, AND NORTH AND SOUTH WALES. (Continued.) (Sep. 4, 1889.) Numb. 6. THE TRUE INFORMER. From Saturday, Octob. 21, to Sahirday, Octob. 28, 1643. SHROPSHIRE. From Shropshire we have this weeke intelligence of a late skirmish betweene a party of the "Lord CapelSf&nd. severallof Sir W illiam Breretons Forces ; of the particulars whereof we are not yet informed, onely that Colonell Beaumont, a great Commander in the said Lord Capels Army was slaine in the skirmish. And that the said Lord gave a Troope of Horse an hundred pound to carry his dead body safely to Oxford. But in their way thither within some few Miles of Warioicke Castle, they went into a Taverne to spend some of their money in riot and ebriety: of which Major Bridges Governour of Warwick Castle, having intelligence, sent out some Forces thither,who tooke forty of them prisoners, as many Horse, and carried them and their money to Warwicke Castle. Novemb. 3. (1) Numb. 1. Wem fortified by Sir William Breiverton. INFORMATOR R US TIC US: OR THE COUNTREY INTELLIGENCER. From Friday, the 27 of October, to Friday, the 3 of Novemb. 1643. London, printed by Robert Austin, and Andrew Cor, November 3, I643. Since the Papisticall forces obtained the towne of Sillington in the County of Salop, or in Shropshire, which happened through the negligence (as supposed) of Colonell Cromwell his Scout, himselfe with some few others, were constrained to take refuge and flye into the Church, where the infamous actions of the venerable Lord Capel soon spread over all the King- dome, fit to bee contracted into a Coat of Amies, or inrolled in stone, for the continuing of his honour in that service atchieved to future posterity, as his commanding the church and Steeple to be tired, the souldiers therein refusing to yeeld up themselves, or take quarter, by which cruelty were burned to ashes three men, and six brave horses, the Colonell with others yeelding themselves prisoners, but the night being so darke that they could not discerne each other, they escaped their present danger. After which exploit so bravely managed and performed, through the valorous and magnanimous spirit of the Lord Capel, the said Lord sent to Oxford, for two Regiments of horse and foot (pre¬ suming, it seems, with such resistance to make nothing of subduing those Countries) which were