Fawkes stated that he was born in the city of York, and that his father's name was Edward Fawkes, a gentleman, a younger brother, who died about thirty years before, and left to him but small living, which he spent." The diligence of Mr. Jardine discovered that one Edward Fawkes, described as "Register and Advocate of the Consistory Court of the Cathedral Church of York," was buried in the cathedral on the 17th January, 1578, i. e. 1578-9, and he conjectured, not only that this Edward, the Register and Advocate, was the father of the conspirator, but also that he belonged to the well-known family of Fawkes of Fernley, in the county of York.

The writer of the present brochure, building upon this foundation, has established the truth of the first of Mr. Jardine's conjectures, and has given greater probability to the second. He has found that William Fawkes, grandfather of the conspirator, was a notary or proctor, established in the year 1530, in the parish of St. Michael le Belfrey, in York. A person of the same names and profession, and who was unquestionably a member of the Fernley family, died in the same parish in 1501, and the author thinks it can scarcely be doubted that there was some consanguinity between them, although as yet its exact nature has not been discovered. William Fawkes of 1530 married Ellen, one of the daughters of William Haryngton, an eminent York merchant, sheriff of the city in 1531, and Lord Mayor in 1536. A few years after 1536, William Fawkes was appointed Registrar of the Exchequer Court of the province of York, and continued in possession of that office up to and beyond 1556. He was living in 1558, but probably died before 1565. His widow survived him. Her will, dated the 22nd August, 1570, and proved in the registry of the Dean and Chapter of York on 20th April 1579, establishes that William and Ellen had at least four children; two sons, 1 Thomas, and 2 Edward; and two daughters, 1 Edith, afterwards married to John Foster, and 2 another daughter married to Umfray Ellis. Ellen Fawkes's will consists principally of a series of bequests of trinkets and articles of furniture as remembrances. To her eldest son Thomas she leaves ten pounds, her only money legacy, with various articles of furniture. He was a merchant stapler at York. His will, dated 18th February 1581, and proved August 8th 1584, indicates that he died in respectable circumstances, without children.

But it is with Edward the second son, to whom his mother leaves her wedding

ring and all the unbequeathed residue of her estate, that we have to do. He at first followed the same profession, and lived in the same parish, perhaps in the same house, as his father; but he was subsquently advanced from being a notary to be an advocate in the Consistory Court. He married a person whose Christian name was Edith, and had four children; one son, Guy Gawkes, the conspirator; and three daughters, Anne, who died an infant, a second Anne, and an Elizabeth. Edward Fawkes died in 1578-9, as already found by Mr. Jardine, and was buried in the cathedral.

The early traces of Guy Fawkes are few, but satisfactory. He was baptised in his father's parish on the 16th April 1570. His grand-mother Ellen Fawkes left him, he being at the date of her will under a twelve month old, her "best whistle and one old angel of gold." At the death of his father he was in the ninth year of his age. He was educated at the free foundation grammar school in "Le Horse Fayre," near the city of York, where his master was the Rev. Edward Pulleyne, appointed by the Dean and Chapter of York, and amongst his school-fellows were Thomas Morton, afterwards Bishop of Durham, and Thomas Cheke, afterwards Sir Thomas, grandson of Sir John. There can be no doubt that the great conspirator was by birth and education a Protestant.

After some short term of widowhood, Edith Fawkes, his mother, married again. Her second husband was Dionis Baynbridge, of Scotton, in the county of York. On their marriage Guy Fawkes removed with his mother to the residence of his stepfather. The author shows that there were several Roman Catholic families resident at that time in the neighbourhood of Scotton, and argues from the parentage and family connexions of Dionis Baynbrige that he was a member of the ancient faith. Two unquestionable Roman Catholic families lived there; the Pulleynes and the Percys; and it seems probable that, either from the influence of Fawkes's family connexion with Baynbridge, or from association with the neighbouring Roman Catholics, or from both influences combined, his conversion was brought about. The author infers with probability that the second marriage of his mother, from which his change of faith proceeded, took place anterior to February 18th, 1581-2. On that day Thomas Fawkes, the paternal uncle of Guy, made his will. He left the bulk of his property to his nieces Anne and Elizabeth, Guy's sisters, without any mention of their mother, and

appointed Anne and Elizabeth his executrixes. On his death in 1584,* the executrixes were still minors, and after a delay, and probably a litigation, of ten months, administration was granted on their behalf, not to their mother, but to their uncle-in-law Foster, the husband of their aunt Edith. In this will Guy Fawkes is remembered with a legacy of the testator's gold ring, his bed and one pair of sheets with the appurtenances."

The author favours a conjecture made some time ago that Percy the gunpowder conspirator was a member of the family of Percy of Scotton, and shews that if that were the case Fawkes probably be. came acquainted with him at that place, and not only with Percy, but also with the Winters and the Wrights, who were afterwards engaged in that terrible treason; but this is at variance with Fawkes's own statement and with Thomas Winter's letter. Fawkes said in 1605 that he had known Percy "two or three years" only, and Thomas Winter does not seem to have been personally acquainted with Fawkes when he went to Flanders to induce him to come into England to take part in the plot. (Jardine, pp. 149, 157.)

In 1591 Guy Fawkes came of age. His father's real estate, which had descended to him, consisted of a farm-house with a barn and about twelve acres of land in Clifton, an outlying township of York. The author proves by the original deeds that on attaining 21 Fawkes let the barn and 4 acres to Christopher Lumley, a tailor, a friend of his late uncle Thomas, for 21 years, at the rent of forty-two shillings per annum, and sold the farm-house and the remainder of the land for a money payment of 297. 13s. 4d. What ultimately became of the land let to Lumley does not appear. This was the whole of the "small living" left him by his father, which he "spent," and then embarked in the service of Spain as a soldier of fortune.

Dionis Baynbridge probably lived until 1623, but there seems reason to believe that Guy Fawkes's mother may have been spared the misery of bewailing her son's ignominious fate. There is trace in the parish register of another wife of Dionis Baynbridge, by whom he had several children, the first of whom was baptised in 1607.

This information, however minute, is neither devoid of interest nor importance. All great crimes are phenomena in the moral history of our species, and we investigate the facts and incidents connected with them with the same feelings, and for the same reason, as the natural

*The author says 1585 (p. 30).

and

philosopher examines the course history of experiments in the sciences to which he devotes himself. In the present instance the facts are neither so clear nor so unquestionable that any very certain result can be deduced from them. So far as they go, we are not inclined to agree with the author before us, that there is anything in the facts adduced which can "assist to diminish the exaggerated vituperation with which the name of Guy Fawkes is generally assailed." That he had a kind of minor gentility of birth-that is the most that is proveddid not hinder him from being a scapegrace and a hardened ruffian. That he should have been cozened out of the faith of his fathers was a great misfortune to him. That his change of faith was followed by an intense and bitter hatred of those who still held to the Protestantism which he had abandoned, is an indication of a violent and ill-regulated nature. The subsequent facts of his history darken the shadows upon his character. He spends -probably squanders-his patrimony. He then betakes himself for support as a mercenary soldier to the service of a power and in an army as much distinguished by cruelty as by bigotry. Whilst he was in that service it would seem that Catesby, a man of somewhat similar character, but of higher connections, became acquainted with him. Some years afterwards Catesby devises the scheme of the powder plot. He communicates it to persons around him. They are not quite so unscrupulous as himself, but their scruples are overcome by the winning eloquence of "sweet Robin." The scheme is full of peril to the person who shall actually put it in execution. He who shall fire the train must run imminent risk of self-sacrifice. Who will do it? No one. A ruffian more determined than any of those who had yet joined the devilish crew is needed for the purpose. Where shall he be found? All those who had as yet entered the band were linked by ties of relationship or connection, and were at hand in England; is there no other person similarly situated daring enough to execute the atrocious purpose? It seems not. They have to look far and to seek at a great distance and at a great expense for the bold villain whom they need. Fawkes is suggested by Catesby. mercenary soldier in the army of Spain is a fit man for the "execution of whatsoever we should resolve." One of the conspirators is sent into Flanders to seek for him. He is found. What were the money terms upon which he was induced to return we do not learn. But he comes back. We hear of no scruples, nor of any of

The

that religious enthusiasm which has been attributed to him. He plays his part like what his companions believed him to be, "a plain, bold-faced villain," remains amidst unheard-of wickedness untroubled by any twinges of conscience or feeling, and when discovered, astonishes mankind by the daring effrontery of his atrocious avowals as much as by the needless exhibition of his callous and obdurate nature. Sorrow, compunction, hesitation, scruple, commiseration there was none. His whole being seemed possessed by a rancorous and scornful hatred of his intended victims;

"from face to foot

He was a thing of blood, whose every motion

Was timed with dying cries;"

his only touch of human feeling was a vulgar, vain, anxiety, not uncommon amongst great criminals, to make the world believe that he was-a gentleman!

We are obliged to the author for his researches and his book, which is skilfully put together; but we think Guy Fawkes remains throned in his pre-eminence of infamy, and will so continue, even although the author may ultimately succeed in proving him to be a scion of the respectable house of Fernley.

Memoirs of the War of Independence in Hungary, by General Klapka. Translated from the Original Manuscript by Otto Wenckstein. 8vo. 2 vols.-These volumes are too closely connected with present politics to fall within our customary range, but, without entering into the rights or wrongs of the movement in Hungary against Austria, we may notice the book as containing a clear and valuable narrative of the chief events of the insurrection, authenticated by the pen of the brave governor of Komorn, the last person in authority who surrendered to the combined arms of Austria and Russia. He writes in a free tone in reference to all his compatriots. Kossuth is highly praised for eloquence, and indeed for every quality save energy the one qualification absolutely indispensable in a revolutionary leader. Görgey is described as brave to excess upon the field of battle, but undecided in his plans, close, designing, ambitious, cold, practical, and un-enthusiastic. The melan. choly circumstances connected with the deaths of Batthyáni, and the other leaders who were executed by the Austrian government, are related with of course a strong and indignant feeling against Austria. Of 106 generals and colonels in the Hungarian army, who are here enumer

ated, 13 are said to have found refuge in Turkey, and 15 in other countries; 14 have been executed by the Austrians; 47 sentenced for long terms of imprisonment; 6 have died; 1 deserted; and 10 procured safety (amongst them Görgey) by voluntary surrender.

Lives of Mahomet and his Successors. By Washington Irving. Vol. ii. 8vo.In our Magazine for February last we gave a full notice of the first volume of this work, which contained the life of Mahomet. In the present volume, which concludes the book, the history is carried on from the death of Mahomet, A. D. 622, to the Mahometan invasion of Spain, A. D. 710. In the intervening space the caliphate was possessed by 1, Abu Beker; 2, Omar; 3, Othman; 4, Ali; 5, Hassan; 6, Moawyah I.; 7, Yezid; 8. Moawyah II.; 9, Merwan; 10, Abdallah; 11, Abd'almalec; and, 12, Waled. Of these Omar was unquestionably the greatest. To him may be attributed, more than to any one else, the foundation of that Islam empire which now, after the lapse of twelve hundred years, seems fast crumbling into decay. Mr. Irving's narrative of this great reign, with its triple conquests of Syria, Persia, and Egypt, is extremely interesting. The same praise may especially be given to the account of the insurrection against the heroic Ali, headed by Ayesha, the widow of the prophet-the Mother of the Faithful. Indeed the whole volume fulfils adequately the design of the writer. It represents the most wonderful “ career of fanatical conquest "" which the world has ever seen; "a handful of proselytes of a pseudo-prophet, driven from city to city, lurking in dens and caves of the earth; but at length rising to be leaders of armies and mighty conquerors; overcoming in pitched battle the Roman cohort, the Grecian phalanx, the gorgeous hosts of Persia; carrying their victories from the gates of the Caucasus to the western descents of Mount Atlas; from the banks of the Ganges to the Suz, the ultimate river in Mauritania; and now planting their standard on the pillars of Hercules, and threatening Europe with like subjugation." This stirring history is developed in a form somewhat between biography and chronicle, and will be found to be what the author designed, a faithful digest admirably adapted to popular use.

Memoir of the late James Halley, A.B. student of theology. By the Rev. William Arnot. 12mo.-A valuable memoir of a young man of promising attainments and exemplary piety, who fell a victim to consumption in the 28th year of his age.

He resided for two years in Madeira, whence his letters are of touching interest.

He was born in Glasgow, and being designed for the ministry in the Scottish church, was educated at the college in that city, where he was a favourite pupil of the late Sir Daniel K. Sandford. Whilst there, the present Dr. Tait, Dean of Carlisle, was his class-fellow, and it tells as well for the scholarship of the Doctor, as it does for that of Halley, that on one occasion Sir Daniel Sandford introduced the latter to an eminent scholar of Edinburgh as "the man that beat Tait."

The History of Charlemagne. By G. P. R. James, Esq. [Churton's Library for the Million] 8vo.-This is the first number of a Library which is to consist of works of standard authors reproduced "in an abbreviated form, carefully condensed and rewritten."

The Life of Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury. Translated and abridged from the German of F. R. Hasse, professor of Evangelical Theology in the University of Bonn. By the Rev. William Turner, M.A., 8vo.-Möhler, Franck, Hasse, and other Germans have done a great deal towards reviving the memory of Anselm, and instructing the present generation in the merits of the great dispute which he waged with William Rufus and Henry I.; the same dispute between Church and State, although in another form, which seems about to be revived in our own days. We ought to be much obliged to any one who will make us better acquainted with the writings of these learned foreigners, but we cannot help wishing that the translator of Hasse had been a little better acquainted with the historical literature of his own country. Such words as Orderich, Lymings, Heptarcy, Herriot, Mortelach, &c. &c. &c., do not tell favourably for the translator's competency, whilst such references as, "William of Malmsbury de gettis regg. Angl. i.-iii. in Saville Script. &c." can only be accounted for by the strange and melancholy fact disclosed in the preface, that

there is a district in England so far removed from literature and civilization, that in it no access can be had to "Mabillon, William of Malmesbury, &c." This land of darkness lies under the shadow of the cathedral of Chichester, in which Mr. Botfield told us there was an excellent library.

The Baths of Rhenish Germany: with Notices of the adjacent Towns. By Edwin Lee. 12mo.-The most prominent feature in this pocket volume is Wiesbaden, in the Duchy of Nassau, a district of which the author says, "Perhaps no part of the world contains within so small a space so many valuable and efficacious medicinal springs, differing in nature, as this duchy. They lie, for the most part, at the foot of the Taunus range of hills, and are consequently but a short distance one from the other. Thus, within a drive of five or six hours, one may pass by the sulphur springs of Weilbach, the cold saline ones of Soden, the acidulous of Kronthall, the hot saline of Wiesbaden, the warm of Schlangenbad, the chalybeate of Schwalbach, and the alcaline ones of Ems; and there are many others, in various parts of the duchy, from some of which the water is largely exported, as Selters, Fachingen, Geilnau, &c." To this remarkable circle of healthgiving springs, and to all the other watering places of Rhenish Germany, Mr. Lee in turn pays attention, beginning with Chaude Fontaine, and ending with Stuttgard, the whole being twenty in number. He speaks of them upon old acquaintance, having previously published a more extended work, on the Baths of all Germany, and he appears to be well read in the native medical literature, from which he has given many valuable extracts, accompanied by useful particulars with respect to the present medical staff, as well as the local accomodations, &c. This book is enlivened by some agreeable general information, and cannot fail to be acceptable to the invalid, and to the "few English families" which are found as residents in almost every place noticed by the author.

THE ARCHEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE.

The annual meeting of the Archæological Institute has been held with great success within the walls of the University of Oxford. It was opened in the Sheldonian Theatre on the morning of Tuesday the 18th of June, when the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Plumptre, in the absence of the Right

Hon. Sidney Herbert, President of the previous year (whose unavoidable absence was announced by the Provost of Oriel), introduced the Marquess of Northampton, President elect. A very eloquent discourse on the study of Archeology was then read by Charles Newton, esq. M.A., Student of Christ Church, and an officer in the

department of Antiquities in the British Museum. He reviewed in a masterly and comprehensive manner the nature and value of the several sources of archæological evidence, which he arranged under the three general classes of oral, written, and monumental, illustrating the utility of each by many interesting facts and striking examples. At the close of his discourse the thanks of the auditory were moved by the Rev. Vaughan Thomas, seconded by Mr. Hallam, and conveyed by the noble President, in terms of the warmest praise and admiration.

At an evening meeting in the Town Hall, Dr. Harington, the Principal of Brazenose, read a memoir on the history and architecture of St. Mary's, the University church. It was fully illustrated by documentary evidence relative to the rebuilding of the church in the reign of Henry VII. which was effected chiefly by a general subscription. This rebuilding was completed in 1492, the church having been erected some years earlier by Walter Hart, Provost of Oriel college, and afterwards Bishop of Norwich, who died in 1472. The architect of the nave and aisles is unknown. The tower and spire are of more early date than any other portion of the edifice; but, having been much injured by a storm, they were, as Dr. Plot has recorded, "repaired and thus thick set with pinnacles" by Dr. Walter King, who was Vice-Chancellor from 1607 to 1610. The renewal of these pinnacles is now again in progress; and, after considerable discussion, it is understood that a design by Mr. J. C. Buckler has finally been adopted. Dr. Harington added to his memoir some interesting notices of the old house of convocation, which is attached to the north side of St. Mary's church, and has been latterly degraded to the purposes of an enginehouse. Its upper chamber was the receptacle of the first public library, which was bequeathed to the university in the 14th century by Thomas Cobham, bishop of Worcester.

Wednesday, June 19. Three Sectional Meetings were held contemporaneously this morning at ten o'clock.

THE SECTION OF HISTORY met in the Convocation House under the presidency of Henry Hallam, esq. V.P.S.A.

The first paper read was on the site of the Battle of Ashdown, by W. Nelson Clarke, esq. D.C.L.

The next memoir consisted of Remarks on the Rent-roll of Humphrey Duke of Buckingham, 26-27 Hen. VI. with notices of that peer, and other members of the house of Stafford, by James Heywood

Markland, esq. D.C.L.* In the course of his remarks Mr. Markland drew a parallel between the cases of the Duke of Buckingham in the reign of Richard III. and that of the Duke of Monmouth in the reign of James II., in their respective attempts to claim the throne.

:

The Rev. Charles Hartshorne, M.A. delivered a lecture on the Castle and "The Provisions" of Oxford. A large ground-plan of the castle was placed before his auditory. The ancient keep still remains it is singular from its rude construction and the extent to which it batters or diminishes in diameter towards the top. No castle at Oxford is mentioned in Domesday Book; but the empress Matilda was here besieged by Stephen in the year 1142. It cannot be doubted that the earliest parts of the structure now remaining were then in existence; and, notwithstanding the silence of Domesday, the castle mound has probably seen the Saxon times. The town was walled round in the middle of the 11th century. That part of the castle adjoining the keep which has been commonly called Maud's Chapel is supposed by Mr. Hartshorne to have been a crypt under the great hall. It is a fine example of early Norman work, having bold vaulting, and its voussoirs carefully worked with stools. The capitals of the piers are highly curious. In the Liberate Rolls of the reign of Henry III. Mr. Hartshorne has found mention of the garrison chapel, as well as of the private oratory of queen Alianora, but its site cannot now be determined. From these rolls several extracts were given, mentioning most of the usual features of a royal residence; and some other passages relating to Woodstock were also introduced. In the 51st Hen. III. it was found upon an inquisition that during the thirty-seven previous years Oxford castle had been gradually becoming much dilapidated, its gaol had fallen down, as well as the brewhouse, and all the rest of the buildings threatened ruin. With these and similar details Mr. Hartshorne interweaved some remarks upon the principal councils and parliaments known to have been held at Oxford. In 1177 Henry II. held a council in the new hall, at which his youngest

* There is a Survey of the Duke of Buckingham's lands, preserved in the Chapter House, Westminster, of which an extract was given by the late Mr. Rokewode, in his memoir on the Household Book of Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, for the year 1507, communicated to the Society of Antiquaries by Lord Bagot, Archæol. vol. xxv. p. 311,