port in dismay and the squire clutched frantically at his collar, his face ablaze, his veins swollen. Maud [the real daughter] promptly fainted away, but no one seemed to notice her." All, however, goes well in the end. The squire tardily renders justice to the French lady and her too frank daughter. A death-bed marriage makes everything right, and as the second Mrs. Redland, who ought to have been the first, expires unaccountably immediately after the ceremony, and a convenient Lord Exborough is found for Maud, there is nothing to prevent the French young lady from marrying Frank Redland and reigning as mistress of the house, where it may be hoped she ceased to become the ignorant beauty she cottage at the gate. Perhaps, however, we depreciate her intellect, for although she did not know what it meant to be "single" or "double," and described money as something given for lace and beads and ribbon because the silly people like it better than lace or beads or ribbon," she could quote Mrs. Browning. was in the As for the recruit, we have all too little of him. Frank does indeed go away when out of favour with his uncle, and enlist for a soldier, but we see or hear nothing of his life in barracks, which is speedily brought to an end by his succession to Redland. To all those who like an old-fashioned novel with no "purpose" and no introspection, or over-subtle analysis of character, but a rousing scene or two and a happy ending, we can thoroughly recommend this amusing and well-printed book. The appearance of Vol. iv. of the Verney Memoirs marks the completion of this work, of which the historical value and absorbing interest have not been equalled by any history of a family in this generation. All who have followed Sir Ralph Verney's career will read eagerly the story of its happy close, and to dwellers in Essex there is much that will interest. In the opening chapter we first meet the person of Mary Abell, young Edmund Verney's wife. Her mother Anne was the daughter of John Wakering, of Kelvedon, and was born and baptized there on 5th and 17th April, 1641. Anne's brother, Dionysius Wakering, was a magistrate for the county, and married Ann, daughter of Sir John Everard, of Langleys, Great Waltham. William Abell's second wife was also an Essex woman, apparently a Wiseman, but as Lady Verney says, there were three Essex baronets of the name of Wiseman in the time of the Stuarts. Mrs. Wakering seems to have married another Wiseman after her first husband's death, and to have had yet a third spouse, whose name was Fytche, and who lived at Woodham Walter. Sir Ralph's sister Betty Verney, finding herself homeless and dependent, with only £30 a-year, seems to have made a "stolen matching" with a poor parson, one Charles Adams, for whom the efforts of her disgusted relations finally procured the living of Great Baddow. From there she writes in October, 1665, to her brother: "The sickness is at Chelmsford a litel mile from me which coseis me to be veri fearfull, so many of our town goes that way to Markit, those which bee shut up would run About did not sum stand with guns redy to shoot them if they stur." Most callously she goes on to remind Sir Ralph that so many ministers are dead "in thees times of Mortolity" that she thinks it will be strange indeed if he cannot get for them another living. This looks as if they did not appreciate Great Baddow. Another match is to an Essex man, Jenny Nicholas, Sir Ralph's godchild, "to one Sir John Abdy, a Bart., of Albins, in Essex, his estate is £1.500, the house very well furnished thorowout the joynter 6,000, no father nor mother, a debt of some £1,400, that I hope they will wether out prety easily heare are many qualifycations for making a wife happy." So writes her mother Nancy Nicholas. "Sir John Bramston," she adds, says he [Abdy] was never drunk in his life, that he never gaimes, that he understands his business very well, is good humoured, frank, and for entertainments in his house." Nevertheless he is rather elderly a bridegroom for Jenny, who dutifully presented him next year with a son and heir. Another glimpse of Chelmsford is gained in the letters from the scapegrace of the Verney family, one Dicks Hals, a cousin. whose exploits as a highwayman landed him in Chelmsford gaol. Thence, on August 11, 1674, he writes a despairing appeal to Sir Ralph, expecting to be hung on the following Monday. His end, however, was delayed, it seems through the intervention of Sir Moundeford and Sir John Bramston, and in February, 1675, he again writes to Sir Ralph saying that if he is not hanged next week he will have no shirt," although his aunt had promised him an ould one a longe time." The post mark on this letter is " Essex Post goes and coms every day." In his last communication dated 27 April, 1685, he says, with a dash of devil-may-care courage, "I have noe great news, but only that I am to die next week." John Verney indeed saw him "in the cart" going to Tyburn. NOTES AND QUERIES. Poor Relief in Finchingfield, 1630.-A copy of the following document referring to Finchingfield parish, Essex, has been given me by Sir Richard Tangye, who, among many other M.SS, owns the original. It is interesting as showing the system of relief of the poor practised 260 years ago, also that Saffron Walden was their nearest market town, and for the light it throws on the inhabitants of the village at that time. The Stephen Marshall is of course the famous divine, Chaplain of the Long Parliament, and a favourite preacher of Oliver Cromwell. He was one of the Smectymnuans. The name of Choate is still known in Finchingfield, and I do not know it elsewhere in the county. C.F.S. At the meetinge at Gyles Wolfes this 24th of February, 1630. Imprimis it is agreed that goodman chaplyn goodman Wolfe and goodman Chote shal goe to Waldone to bye some Corne for the poore. It is agreed that Edward Johnsone shall have somethinge allowed him for a while vntill it please god his wife recouer her health. It is agreed that Murgan shold Carry a letter to Mr. Wallis about some Corne he is to be allowed xvid for his Jurnye. It is agreed that Watsone should kepe garrettes Child a while should be allowed 20d. by the week for kepinge of it afterwarde that it should be putt out a Sume of monye is to be given wth it. It is agreed that John Brewster should be allowed somethinge out of the Common monye now in the tyme of his sicknes. It is agreed that Mr. Brouen Mr. Sparrow Mr. Tyme Rich. Harrington Tho. Whithead Will Moswell and Simond Wyborowe should be spoken to for to Joyne with us in or Monthly Meetinge. John Berners Stephen Marshall James Chaplyne Tho. Wolfe Edward Chot John Guye Gilbert Harrington The next meetinge to be at Mr. Berners. Allex Baylye John Chote John Hamond Giles Wolfe Nath. Smith Henry Taylor |