"A On ANCIENT CASTLES and CHURCHES. [From CoXE'S HISTORICAL TOUR in MONMOUTHSHIRE.] MONG the principal objects of historical importance, the castles arrest the attention of the curious traveller. From the want of authentic documents, and the doubtful characters of our ancient architecture, it is not easy to ascertain the precise æra of their construction, and to distinguish their different proprietors. Stone castles were undoubtedly used by the Romans, and occupied on their departure by the Britons, who had been trained under their military discipline. The Saxons, in their gradual conquest of England, obtained possession of these strong holds, and constructed others in various parts of the country. The roundness of the arches, and other leading characters of Roman architecture, were still preserved: but the simplicity and elegance were lost in a more ponderous style; their buildings were loaded with rude and fantastic ornaments; and as the arts of war changed, new modes of defence were introduced, particularly during the contest between the Saxons and Danes. It is, however, acknowledged that these castles were few in number, and much dilapidated at the time of the Conquesta circumstance which principally contributed to the success of the Norman inva sion. "From the necessity of retaining the natives in subjection, the conquerors repaired the old fortresses, and constructed new castles in different parts of the kingdom. These strong holds became so numerous, that in little more than a century their number exceeded eleven hundred. "On their first arrival the Normans employed the same mode of architecture as the Saxons, but with larger dimensions, and perhaps with a greater number of capricious ornaments; and hence arises the great difficulty of distinguishing a Saxon from a Norman building erected at this period. "Towards the commencement of the twelfth century a criterion of distinction was derived from the introduction of the pointed, or, as it is usually called, the Gothic arch, which probably owed its origin to the intersection of the semicircular arches in the ornamental parts of the Saxon or Norman buildings. It was at first sparingly employed; but was gradually intermixed with the Saxon or Norman style, until it came into general use, before the latter end of the same century. "At its first appearance, which seems to be earlier than is generally supposed, the Gothic architecture was plain and unadorned, but was gradually distinguished by slender and clustered columns, lightness of the walls, numerous buttresses, and by a profusion of ornaments. In the age of Henry VI. it reached its highest perfection, as may be seen in the beautiful specimen of King's College in the university of Cambridge. Soon after that period the arch became wider and less pointed, and gradually tended to a cir cular form. Towards the middle of the sixteenth century, a whim sical intermixture of Roman, Saxon, Norman, Norman, and Gothic architecture was introduced, and retained until the adoption of the Palladian style. with rag-stones. As this rough manner of building with ragstones and other irregular mate to make them fair without and 'neat within, we find that those small churches and other buildings which were built in this 'manner, were always plastered in the inside, and frequently on the outside, with a composition of lime and sand, the remains of 'the Saxon and Norman churches, " and in some more modern.' "Most of these styles are obrials, required a coat of plastering servable in the castles, churches, and other ancient buildings of Monmouthshire. Few Roman remains exist; and the Saxons, being never possessors of the whole country, could leave but few specimens of their architecture, and those of a period when it is difficult to distinguish it from that of the early Nor-which may be traced in many of mans; but the Gothic is most prevalent. From these circumstances, as well as from historical evidence, it is probable that the greater part of the castles in this country owed their origin to the Normans, and were built or repaired after the introduction of Gothic architecture: none, perhaps, except Scenfreth, are wholly Saxon or early Norman; a few exhibit an intermixture of the Norman and Gothic; and the rest are entirely Gothic. "The churches are singularly picturesque, from their situation, form, and appearance. They stand in the midst of the fields, and on the banks of the rivers; are often embowered in trees, and generally at a considerable distance from any habitation. "A whimsical and not unpleasing effect is sometimes produced by the coat of plaster or lime with which they are covered. The body of the church is usually whitened occasionally also the tower: in some instances the tower is uncoloured, and in others the battlements only are whitewashed. This intermixture of colours is ingeniously accounted for by Essex in his remarks on ancient brick and stone buildings in England: The Normans frequently raised large buildings with pebbles only, and sometimes with pebbles intermixt "These churches exhibit different styles of architecture. Many of them, particularly in the mountainous districts, are very ancient ; and it is probable that a few were constructed by the Britons, some by the Saxons, and several at an early period of the Norman monarchy, as is evident from the rounded arches and mouldings peculiar to those styles; but the far greater part were built since the introduction of Gothic architecture. "The first are generally of a simple form, of small dimensions, shaped like a barn, without any distinction in the breadth or height between the nave and the chancel, and without a belfry. "The second species is of somewhat later date: the chancel is narrower and less lofty than the church; a small belfry is also placed over the roof, at the western extremity, with one or two apertures for bells, the ropes of which descend into the church. "The third species consists of a nave, a chancel, and a tower or belfry, which is sometimes placed at the western extremity, sometimes in the middle, and sometimes at the side. The tower was at first rude and massive; afterwards in creased day: the bread then given is called bara ran, or dole bread. "The fonts are in general remarkable for size and rudeness of workmanship-circumstances which bespeak antiquity, and prove that they were formed when baptism was performed by immersion, and not by sprinkling. "A remarkable custom, of high antiquity, which greatly disfigures the churches, is prevalent in these parts. The inside of the church is often the common place of sepulture. When a corpse is buried, the pavement is taken up, a grave raised in the same manner as in common church-yards, and this heap of earth strewed with flowers and evergreens. As this custom is annually repeated, and considered as a testimony of remembrance, the stones are seldom replaced, the faded plants rot on the surface of the grave, the floor is damp and dirty; and these tributes of affection, though pleasing objects in the church-yards, become offensive and disgusting." The LORD of MISRULE-the KING of CHRISTMAS-the FESTIVAL of [From STRUTT'S SPORTS and PASTIMES of the PEOPLE OF ENGLAND.] "IT T is said of the English, that formerly they were remarkable for the manner in which they celebrated the festival of Christmas; at which season they adınitted variety of sports and pastimes not known or little practised in other countries. The mock prince, or lord of misrule, whose reign extended through the greater part of the holy-days, is particularly renarked by foreign writers, who consider him as a personage rarely to be met with out of England; and, two or three centuries back, perhaps, this observation might be consistent with the truth: but I trust we shall, upon due examination, be ready to conclude, that anciently this frolicsome monarch was well known upon the continent, where he probably received his first honours. In this kingdom his powers and his dignities suf fered fered no diminution, but on the contrary were established by royal authority, and continued after they had ceased to exist elsewhere. But even with us his government has been extinct for many years, and his name and his officers are nearly forgotten. No doubt, in many instances, the privileges allowed to this merry despot were abused, and not unfrequently productive of immorality: the institution itself, I shall give the passage in the author's own words, and leave the reader to comment upon them. First of all, the wilde heades of the parish, flocking togither, chuse them a graund captaine of mischife, whom they innoble with the title of lord of misrule; and him they crowne with great solemnity, and adopt for their king. This king annoynted chooseth forth twentie, fourty, threescore, or an 6 even if we view it in its most fa-hundred lustie guttes, like to himvourable light, is puerile and ridi self, to waite upon his lordly ma culous, adapted to the ages of ig-jesty, and to guarde his noble pernorance, when more rational amusements were not known, or at least not fashionable. "At the feast of Christmas,' says Stowe, in the king's court, wherever he chanced to reside, 'there was appointed a lord of misrule, or master of merry disports: the same merry fellow made his appearance at the house of every nobleman and person of distinction; and among the rest the lord mayor of London and the sheriffs had severally of them their lord of misrule, ever contending, without quarrel or of fence, who should make the rarest pastimes to delight the beholders. This pageant potentate began his rule at All-hallow eve, and continued the same till the morrow ' after the feast of the Purification; in which space there were fine ' and subtle disguisings, masks, and 'mummeries.' son. Then every one of these men he investeth with his liveries of greene, yellow, or some other light wanton colour; and, as though they were not gawdy ynough, they bedecke themselves 'with scarffes, ribbons, and laces, hanged all over with gold ringes, pretious stones, and other jewels. This done, they tie aboute either legge twentie or fourtie belles, with riche handkerchiefes in their 'handes, and sometimes laide acrosse over their shoulders and neckes, borrowed, for the most part, of their pretie mopsies and loving Bessies. Thus all thinges set in order, then have they their hobby horses, their dragons, and other antiques, together with their baudie pipers, and thundring drummers, to strike up the devil's daunce with all. Then march this heathen company to'wards the church, their pypers pyping, their drummers thundring, their stumpes dauncing, their belles jyngling, their handkerchiefes fluttering aboute their heades like madde men, their "This master of merry disports was not confined to the court, nor to the houses of the opulent, he was also elected in various parishes, where, indeed, his reign seems to have been of shorter date. A wri-hobbie horses and other monsters ter, who lived at the close of the skirmishing amongst the throng: sixteenth century, places this whim and in this sorte they go to the sical personage, with his followers, church, though the minister be at in a very degrading point of view. prayer or preaching, dauncing 1801. and singing like devils incarnate, with such a confused poise that no man can heare his own voyce. Then the foolish people they looke, they stare, they laugh, they 'fleere, and mount upon the formes and pewes to see these goodly pageants solemnized. Then after this, aboute the church they goe ' againe and againe, and so fourthe into the churche yard, where they have commonly their sommerhalls, their bowers, arbours, and banquetting-houses, set up, wherein they feast, banquet, and daunce all that day, and paradventure all that night too; and thus these 'terrestrial furies spend the sabbath day. Then, for the further innobling of this honourable lardane, lord I should say, they have 6 certaine papers wherein is painted some babelerie* or other of ima'gerie worke, and these they call my Lord of Misrule's badges of 'cognizances. These they give to every one that will give them money to maintain them in this their heathenish devilrie;-and who will not show himself buxome to them and give them money, they shall be mocked and flouted shamefully; yea, and many times carried upon a cowlstaffe, and 'dived over heade and eares in 'water, or otherwise most horribly ' abused. And so besotted are some, that they not only give them money, but weare their badges or cognizances in their hats or cappes openly. Another sorte of fantasticall fooles bring to 'these helhounds, the Lord of Misrule and his complices, some bread, some good ale, some new cheese, ⚫ some old cheese, some custardes, some cracknels, some cakes, some flauns, some tartes, some creame, "Childish, trifling." some meat, some one thing, and some another.' "The society belonging to Lin. coln's-Inn had anciently an officer chosen at this season, who was honoured with the title of King of Christmas-Day, because he presided in the hall upon that day. This temporary potentate had a marshal and a steward to attend upon him. The marshal, in the absence of the monarch, was permitted to assume his state; and upon New Year'sday he sat as king in the hall, when the master of the revels, during the time of dining, supplied the marshal's place. Upon Childermas-day they had another officer, denomi hated the King of the Cockneys, who also presided on the day of his appointment, and had his inferior officers to wait upon him†. "Selden asserts, and in my opinion with great justice, that all these whimsical transpositions of dignity are derived from the ancient Saturnalia, or Feasts of Saturn, when the masters waited upon their servants, who were honoured with mock titles, and permitted to assume the state and deportment of their lords. These fooleries were exceedingly popular, and continued to be practised long after the establishment of Christianity, in defiance of the threatenings and the remonstrances of the clergy, who, finding it impossible to divert the stream of vulgar prejudice, permitted them to be exercised, but changed the primitive object of devotion; so that the same unhallowed orgies, which had disgraced the worship of a heathen deity, were dedicated, as it was called, to the service of the true God, and sanctioned by the appel "Dugdale's Origines Juridiciales, fol. 247.". |