this parchment was kept in a box in Redcliff Church Muniment-Room, for three hundred years, it must have been miraculously preserved, as it is perfectly smooth, perfectly clean, not more yellow than the tinges of many new parchments are, and completely devoid of those mildew spots which soon affect both paper and parchment, when placed in a damp situation. It should be remembered also, that the Muniment-Room is a sort of attic, lying over the north porch, with numerous apertures, open to the wind and rain, where a box of papers would literally decay in twenty years, and yet these delectable poems and records, (not the smallest vestige of which had ever transpired,) are stated to have been preserved, immaculate, in this situation, for fifteen times twenty years! Number 4, is the "Roll of St. Bartholomew's Priory." The first line is composed in the large modern round-text hand, with which attorneys commence their deeds; then, a sudden transition takes place, and the remainder is written in characters so small, and unintelligible, that if Chatterton, at the time he gave it to Mr. Barrett, had not accompanied it with what might be called a translation, it is hazarding little to say, it never could have been made out. Sixty-three lines are crowded into a space of 5 inches. It is more than probable, that Mr. Barrett had often importuned Chatterton for a sight of the originals, the communication of which, would too severely have taxed his ingenuity; the wily boy, there Syke keene thie ate; the minstrels plaie, The dynne of angelles doe theie keepe; Butte nodde yer thankes ande falle aslape. Thus echone daie bee I to deene, Gyf Rowley, Iscamm, or Tyb Gorges be ne scène. Account of W. Canynge's Feast. fore hit upon a most ingenious plan for allaying this troublesome curiosity; which was, to present a few of the originals, but written in characters, almost as inexplicable as the Chinese. This expedient appears completely to have succeeded, for, in order not to be teased with these antediluvian parchments, Mr. B. was satisfied to transfer the labour of development to the blue-coat boy, (who did not regard the trouble, and was, moreover, expert at such things,) and contentedly to receive from him, the inestimable communications in Chatterton's own handwriting, doled out in proportion to his success in deciphering! Number 7, is entitled "Vita Burtoni," partly written with brown ink, and, in other parts, with ink, perfectly black. In the centre, it is smeared with brown varnish, to assume, perhaps, the appearance of age, but the writing strongly resembles the attorney's common engrossing hand. There are some drops of red ink in different parts of this parchment.* Number 8, is called "St. Mary's of the Port." The characters here are large, but so confused, and involved, that they could be solved by no one but by him who wrote them. Number 11. This is a mere scratch with a pen, of an ancient castle. To this original is affixed a more correct drawing by Chatterton, which he denominates "The Chapel, beinge the Wardour's Palace Affronte." In this * The Pedigree of De Burgham (in the author's possession, with other MSS. of Chatterton and Rowley,) presents a systematic use of red ink. All the proper names are written with red ink, as are all the authorities in the margin, and all the numerous coats of arms at the bottom of the pages; nor is there a single obliterated line or word in the whole MS. The MS. resembles an almanack, from the intermixture of black and red letters. parchment are found, it is true, some faint marks, which a strong imagination might suppose once to have been writing, and Chatterton having given a correct translation, shows that he could comprehend what would puzzle all others. a church, Number 12. This is a sketch with a pen, of (neither Rowley nor Chatterton ever drew with any thing but a pen!) in one place rather soiled, or otherwise the parchment is as white as the paper to which it is affixed. At the bottom of this notoriously modern drawing, appears a portion of the true old writing, so illegible, that as Chatterton did not think proper to declare its import, the signification must heuceforth be buried in oblivion. Number 20. This is a view of the pretended old Bristol Castle, scratched with a pen, on a piece of new parchment with the name of Thomas Rowley, affixed, but which bears a resemblance to no Saxon, or Norman Castle on record. The old Priest of St. John's has exhibited, oddly enough, at the top of the castle, eight heraldic fields, alternately, a chief two bendlets, and a chief two clarions. Number 30. This is a drawing of the Strong Hold of Bristol Castle, by Thomas Rowley, on a strip of new parchment, 9 inches by 4. No one could possibly suspect this to be AUNCIENT, if they did not perceive at the bottom, in the genuine old hand, "This Stronge Holde onne the Banke of Avonne ybuildenne, bie R. G. neere the olde walle of the myttier Castle." It is presumed that this brief description of a few of Rowley's original MSS. will satisfy every reader, that, in the aggregate, they are totally spurious; yet, on a question like the present, which has so long, and resolutely been contested, nothing ought to be admitted which is not proved. But, before the writer proceeds to other reasoning, as a little divertisement, he will here bestow a remark or two on Horace Walpole, who, in the affair of Chatterton, has been screened from more censure than he equitably deserves. Mr. Walpole received a long letter from a stranger, professedly versed in antiquities, who announces to him that he is possessed of several curious and ancient MSS. and, as a specimen, transmits "The Ryse of Peyncteyne in Englande, wroten bie T. Rowlie, 1469, for Mastre Canynge." This communication completely deceived Horace Walpole, who subsequently became ashamed of his credulity, but the tenor of his answer best evidences what were his immediate impressions. He wrote thus in reply: "I cannot but think myself singularly obliged by a gentleman, with whom I have not the honour of being acquainted, when I read your very curious letter, which I have this moment received. I give you a thousand thanks for it, and for the very obliging offer you make me of communicating your MSS. What you have already sent, is very valuable, and full of information, but instead of correcting you, Sir, you are far more able to correct me. I have not the happiness of understanding the Saxon language, and without your learned notes, should have been unable to comprehend Rowley's text. The Abbot John's verses, (written about 1186,) that you have given me, are wonderful for their harmony and spirit." How it was possible for a man, endued with an ordinary measure of discernment, to have supposed that a poem, written in the barbarous reign of Henry II, could bear any resemblance to a modern ditty, is inexplicable! beginning in the true lyrical cadence, though obscured by old spelling. "Harte of lion! shake thy sword, Bare thy murther-stained hand!" &c. Chatterton now transmitted to Horace Walpole a second letter, containing a continuation of "Peyncters in Englande," including a poem by Ecca, Byshoppe of Hereforde, wroten in 1057, in gode Saxon, and which Rowley had translated; commencing thus, "Whan azure skie ys veylde yn robes of nyghte," &c. Chatterton sends also another poem by the same hand, beginning thus, "Whanne sprynge came dauncinge onne a flowrette bedde," &c. After Walpole had received this second communication, without, as it appears, entertaining any apprehension of a forgery, he wrote to Chatterton, doubtless in a strain similar to his first letter, earnestly soliciting some further account of Rowley, and his productions; and received, in reply, a large portion of these professedly ancient poems. The moment was now arrived for a grand development. Walpole declares, in his narrative of this affair, that his suspicions were excited, and this declaration, which he advanced as a palliative, re-acts on him with an overwhelming force! Chatterton, with all the simplicity of one who knew little of the callous structure of the human mind, with a touching, and generous confidence, threw himself on the pity of Walpole, and disclosed his necessitous condition: declaring that he was only sixteen years of age, (at which period all Rowley had been written!) that he was the son of a poor widow, who supported him with great difficulty: that he was clerk to an attorney, but had a taste for more elegant studies, and delicately intimating that he, to whom he was writing, might, if disposed, render him a service. This is the very point on which the question turns. |