robed in red velvet, or blue velvet furred with martins, and wrought with gold at the edge, he doffed his hood of russett, or his "hatte of bever, lyned with damaske gilt." His accoutrements too, for sporting, are all detailed in the list. For these he would often lay aside his courtly robes, and exchange the jacket of "sateyne fugré" [figured] for one of "derys lether" or camlet, and in "hosyn of lether or blakke keyrse," would ride forth amid his tenants and retainers, with hawk on hand, the foremost of the group.

Among the banners, the pennons, and cote-armure, stand foremost those that bore the image of Saint George, his patron as Knight of the Garter, and those embroidered with his own arms. On two pencils of red satin were braided his motto me faut fere. This armour and his weapons are described in great variety.

Of the furniture of Caister Castle none is more remarkable than the rich stores of tapestry. Nearly fifty dif ferent draperies of arras once clothed its now bare walls; and the diversity of their subjects is remarkable. There were the Adoration of the Shepherds and the Assumption of our Lady, for sacred history; the Nine Conquerors, for profane; "the geyaunt and wodewose," for romance; a hunting of the boar and a man with a blood-hound, for rural sports; groups of "gentilwomen crowned, with hawkes, or whelpes in their hondes, and Agnus Dei's about their necks ;" and in the great hall was a representation of the siege of Falaise, in which Sir John himself had borne his part.

In the concluding part of the inventory is an enumeration of the twentysix bedchambers in the mansion, as also of the more important apartments, and the articles of furniture they contained. The pillows stuffed with lavender, and covered with red, purple, and gold velvet, wrought with escucheons, blue lilies, and other fanciful devices, are particularly remarkable for their ornaments; yet are they not disgraced by the counterpanes furred with minever, and the "conyngs" stretched over the beds, or by the testors and draperies, embroidered with every fancy of art, and tinted with every hue of the rainbow. By way of final remark, attention may be directed

to the "wafer-irons," used for impressing the consecrated bread; the bottles of leather in the buttery; and the stores of salted herrings, eels, and ling, deposited in the larder, all indicative of the times, or characteristic of the nature of the country in which the castle was situated.

Such was the castle, and such the riches, which Sir John Fastolfe left to a disputed succession. His nearest of kin was John Paston, and from that invaluable picture of our mediæval times the Paston Letters, Mr. D. Turner has derived a very interesting detail of the subsequent history of Caister Castle, into which we have not here space to enter at length. There were various claimants to Sir John Fastolfe's property. The most persevering of Paston's competitors was the Duke of Norfolk, who at length resolved to assert his claims by force of arms. John Paston, the first heir, died seven years after Sir John Fastolfe, in the Fleet prison: his eldest son Sir John Paston had committed Caister Castle to the charge of his younger brother, also named John, when in 1468 the Duke of Norfolk beleagured the place. Besides his immediate servants, Sir John Paston sent four experienced soldiers for its defence. Altogether, its defenders seem to have amounted to about thirty but the powerful Duke raised his tenants from the whole surrounding country, and, after some bloodshed, he forced the garrison to capitulate.

:

The Duke of Norfolk retained possession for only a brief period, for six years after he died, whilst still a young man, leaving no male heir; and the Pastons, who had never been reconciled to their loss of the property, immediately took the opportunity to reoccupy it, and shortly after had their title confirmed at court.

Here Sir John Paston the younger, the former defender of the castle, having inherited the estate after his brother's death, lived for some years in worshipful degree; as did his descendants throughout the fifteenth century: but in 1599 the Pastons removed to Oxnead Hall in the same county, a more spacious and convenient mansion, of which a view was given in our Magazine for January 1844. Caister has since been occupied only by stewards

r farmers, and, with the exception of the portion inhabited by them, it has fallen into ruin and decay.

In conclusion, it may be expected that we should say something as to the presumed identity of the founder of Caister Castle with one of the most favourite characters of our great dramatic poet; but we believe the real facts of the case are now generally understood. The name of the personification in question was originally Sir John Oldcastle: and when it was thought desirable to change that name, from offence taken either by the Lord Cobham of Shakspere's time or by the friends of the Reformation, of which Sir John Oldcastle, Lord Cobham, had been one of the earliest promoters, the name of Falstaff was substituted,-a

name that might in itself have sounded appropriate to the character of a coward and evil councillor. The story of some isolated defeat many indeed have attached itself to Sir John Fastolfe's memory, however gallant his general career; but we rather think, after all, that Shakspere was chiefly attracted by the name itself, and that he knew very little of our noble knight's actual history. There is, however, no longer any deficiency of information on this subject, for the biography of Sir John Fastolfe has been minutely investigated, first by Anstis in his Register of the Order of the Garter; afterwards in the Biographia Britannica; and lastly in the pleasing volume by Mr. Dawson Turner, to which we have here been so much indebted.

*

CURE FOR CHOLERA.

THE following simple prescription for the cure of cholera was communicated to the Board of Health by an officer of rank long resident in India. It was discovered in an Arabic manuscript of great antiquity which came into his possession while in that country, and was employed by him with complete success in numberless cases, in many of which the sufferers were at the last extremity.

Ingredients. Asafoetida, opium, black pepper pulverised. These ingredients, more or less pure, will be found in every town and village. The dose for an adult is from a grain and a half to two grains of each, made into a pill.

The medicine should be made up into pills of one dose each, and kept for use in a phial well closed, as it is of great importance to check the disease the instant of its attack.

The best mode of administering the pill is, not by swallowing it whole, lest it be rejected in that state, but by chewing it and swallowing it with the moisture of the mouth, and a very little brandy and water to wash it down. The next best way of administering the medicine is by bruising the pill in a spoonful of brandy and water,

and then swallowing it. Much liquid thirst, which is great, brandy and water must not be given; but to relieve the by spoonfuls occasionally is the best mode.

The dose should be repeated every half or three-quarters of an hour, according to the urgency of the symptoms, until they have been subdued. From three to five doses have generally been sufficient for this, although as many as eight have been given before health has been restored in bad cases.

Should great prostration of strength prevail, with spasm or without spasm, after the other symptoms (vomiting, purging, &c.) have been subdued, the medicine must not wholly be left off, but given in half or quarter doses, so as to keep up the strength and restore the pulse.

Friction, with stimulating liniment of some kind, ought to be applied carefully to the stomach, abdomen, and legs and arms; and when pain in the stomach has been severe, and there was reason to fear congestion of the liver, eight or ten grains of calomel have been given with good effect.

The favourable symptoms of recovery are-restoration of the pulse, returning warmth of the body, and sleep; and, after being refreshed by sleep, the recovery being complete, a dose of castor oil may be given. (Times, Sept. 14.)

GENT. MAG. VOL. XXX.

B

robed in red velvet, or blue velvet furred with martins, and wrought with gold at the edge, he doffed his hood of russett, or his "hatte of bever, lyned with damaske gilt." His accoutrements too, for sporting, are all detailed in the list. For these he would often lay aside his courtly robes, and exchange the jacket of "sateyne fugré [figured] for one of "derys lether" or camlet, and in " hosyn of lether or blakke keyrse," would ride forth amid his tenants and retainers, with hawk on hand, the foremost of the group.

Among the banners, the pennons, and cote-armure, stand foremost those that bore the image of Saint George, his patron as Knight of the Garter, and those embroidered with his own arms. On two pencils of red satin were braided his motto me faut fere. This armour and his weapons are described in great variety.

Of the furniture of Caister Castle none is more remarkable than the rich stores of tapestry. Nearly fifty different draperies of arras once clothed its now bare walls; and the diversity of their subjects is remarkable. There were the Adoration of the Shepherds and the Assumption of our Lady, for sacred history; the Nine Conquerors, for profane; "the geyaunt and wodewose," for romance; a hunting of the boar and a man with a blood-hound, for rural sports; groups of "gentilwomen crowned, with hawkes, or whelpes in their hondes, and Agnus Dei's about their necks ;" and in the great hall was a representation of the siege of Falaise, in which Sir John himself had borne his part.

In the concluding part of the inventory is an enumeration of the twentysix bedchambers in the mansion, as also of the more important apartments, and the articles of furniture they contained. The pillows stuffed with lavender, and covered with red, purple, and gold velvet, wrought with escucheons, blue lilies, and other fanciful devices, are particularly remarkable for their ornaments; yet are they not disgraced by the counterpanes furred with minever, and the "conyngs" stretched over the beds, or by the testors and draperies, embroidered with every fancy of art, and tinted with every hue of the rainbow. By way of final remark, attention may be directed

to the "wafer-irons," used for impressing the consecrated bread; the bottles of leather in the buttery; and the stores of salted herrings, eels, and ling, deposited in the larder,-all indicative of the times, or characteristic of the nature of the country in which the castle was situated.

Such was the castle, and such the riches, which Sir John Fastolfe left to a disputed succession. His nearest of kin was John Paston, and from that invaluable picture of our mediæval times the Paston Letters, Mr. D. Turner has derived a very interesting detail of the subsequent history of Caister Castle, into which we have not here space to enter at length. There were various claimants to Sir John Fastolfe's property. The most persevering of Paston's competitors was the Duke of Norfolk, who at length resolved to assert his claims by force of arms. John Paston, the first heir, died seven years after Sir John Fastolfe, in the Fleet prison: his eldest son Sir John Paston had committed Caister Castle to the charge of his younger brother, also named John, when in 1468 the Duke of Norfolk beleagured the place. Besides his immediate servants, Sir John Paston sent four experienced soldiers for its defence. Altogether, its defenders seem to have amounted to about thirty but the powerful Duke raised his tenants from the whole surrounding country, and, after some bloodshed, he forced the garrison to capitulate.

:

The Duke of Norfolk retained possession for only a brief period, for six years after he died, whilst still a young man, leaving no male heir; and the Pastons, who had never been reconciled to their loss of the property, immediately took the opportunity to reoccupy it, and shortly after had their title confirmed at court.

Here Sir John Paston the younger, the former defender of the castle, having inherited the estate after his brother's death, lived for some years in worshipful degree; as did his descendants throughout the fifteenth century: but in 1599 the Pastons removed to Oxnead Hall in the same county, a more spacious and convenient mansion, of which a view was given in our Magazine for January 1844. Caister has since been occupied only by stewards

or farmers, and, with the exception of the portion inhabited by them, it has fallen into ruin and decay.

In conclusion, it may be expected that we should say something as to the presumed identity of the founder of Caister Castle with one of the most favourite characters of our great dramatic poet; but we believe the real facts of the case are now generally understood. The name of the personification in question was originally Sir John Oldcastle: and when it was thought desirable to change that name, from offence taken either by the Lord Cobham of Shakspere's time or by the friends of the Reformation, of which Sir John Oldcastle, Lord Cobham, had been one of the earliest promoters, the name of Falstaff was substituted,—a

CURE FOR CHOLERA.

THE following simple prescription for the cure of cholera was communicated to the Board of Health by an officer of rank long resident in India. It was discovered in an Arabic manuscript of great antiquity which came into his possession while in that country, and was employed by him with complete success in numberless cases, in many of which the sufferers were at the last extremity.

Ingredients. Asafoetida, opium, black pepper pulverised. These ingredients, more or less pure, will be found in every town and village. The dose for an adult is from a grain and a half to two grains of each, made into a pill.

The medicine should be made up into pills of one dose each, and kept for use in a phial well closed, as it is of great importance to check the disease the instant of its attack.

The best mode of administering the pill is, not by swallowing it whole, lest it be rejected in that state, but by chewing it and swallowing it with the moisture of the mouth, and a very little brandy and water to wash it down. The next best way of administering the medicine is by bruising the pill in a spoonful of brandy and water,

name that might in itself have sounded appropriate to the character of a coward and evil councillor. The story of some isolated defeat many indeed have attached itself to Sir John Fastolfe's memory, however gallant his general career; but we rather think, after all, that Shakspere was chiefly attracted by the name itself, and that he knew very little of our noble knight's actual history.* There is, however, no longer any deficiency of information on this subject, for the biography of Sir John Fastolfe has been minutely investigated, first by Anstis in his Register of the Order of the Garter; afterwards in the Biographia Britannica; and lastly in the pleasing volume by Mr. Dawson Turner, to which we have here been so much indebted.

and then swallowing it. Much liquid thirst, which is great, brandy and water must not be given; but to relieve the by spoonfuls occasionally is the best mode.

The dose should be repeated every half or three-quarters of an hour, according to the urgency of the symptoms, until they have been subdued. From three to five doses have generally been sufficient for this, although as many as eight have been given before health has been restored in

bad cases.

Should great prostration of strength prevail, with spasm or without spasm, after the other symptoms (vomiting, purging, &c.) have been subdued, the medicine must not wholly be left off, but given in half or quarter doses, so as to keep up the strength and restore the pulse.

Friction, with stimulating liniment of some kind, ought to be applied carefully to the stomach, abdomen, and legs and arms; and when pain in the stomach has been severe, and there was reason to fear congestion of the liver, eight or ten grains of calomel have been given with good effect.

The favourable symptoms of recovery are-restoration of the pulse, returning warmth of the body, and sleep; and, after being refreshed by sleep, the recovery being complete, a dose of castor oil may be given. (Times, Sept. 14.)

GENT. MAG. VOL. XXX.

3 B

MR. URBAN, Grove Hill, Bray. IN the shadow of the Colosseum, amidst the crowding reminiscences that rose from the hills, the ruins, the river of Rome, the project of the "Decline and Fall" of its empire was conceived; and, on the summit of that farseen eminence, which observations at sunset have invested with the title of the Gilt-spur Hill, but which is popularly known as the Great Sugar-Loaf, another literary work was designed, that, in the nature of the subject, though not so classical or of such general interest, should be, and yet more at the present moment, practically recommended at least to every subject of the British empire-the history of that county from which I now write to you; a history pre-eminently calculated to illustrate, on the one hand, the chivalrous enthusiasm that with daring, but undisciplined, and faintly abetted efforts, withheld its territory exempted from English government to the close of the sixteenth century; and, on the other, the arts and stratagems which such a bold but isolated opposition induced for its reduction. What a lesson of government would it teach! What affecting testimony should the pages of that history afford, to the people, of the utter inefficacy of such lonely resistance, however nourished with desultory triumphs; and to the government, what appeals must it evoke from the oppressions and cruelties this resistance was deemed then to justify!

Fifteen years ago I presumed to think that, even in my hands, the latter work might have been serviceably though not adequately compiled, and I may be permitted here to repeat, on the faith of five works which I have since published upon Irish topography, that, while the truth of history should not be compromised, no comment of mine would be volunteered to loosen the reciprocities that ought to unite every portion of the British empire, much less to disturb the Christian charity and honest fraternity that should be the Palladium of Ireland's

prosperity and happiness. I knew, however, that without sufficient en couragement I ought not to undertake the expense of its publication, either in justice to myself or to the county. I therefore, as I recently did with some better success in the instance of the county Kildare, offered, if the noblemen and gentry of Wicklow guaranteed my indemnity to the extent of 400 guineas of outlay, to publish its statistics and history,—but my proposal was not responded to. I have fixed my annual summer residence in the county ever since; I have walked its lovely glens, scaled its sunny hills, accompanied its witching trout-streams to the sea; I have identified the scenes of its annals, the defiles of its people's warlike achievements, the castles and fastnesses of their power, the abbeys and churches of their piety, and the monuments of their by-gone generations; I have collected the records, the registries, the manuscripts, the wills, pedigrees, and documents that could. verify my statements, and during the whole interval have I occasionally renewed my advocacy for co-operation, -but ever still in vain. Its "magnates" may be considered chiefly absentees; its residents dissociated by circumstances of tenure or station, anti-religious or political repulsions; and each class seems averse to the development of their local history; an obstacle too generally interposed against the cultivation of Irish literature. My three closely-written volumes of compilations on a county, that may be classified as once our Switzerland, have been therefore consigned to undisturbed oblivion.*

*Mr. D'Alton would publish these or any other of his Manuscript Collections (two hundred volumes), classified at the commencement of his "Annals of Boyle," on being indemnified to a reasonable extent, or would consign any of them to persons undertaking their publication. They are at all times open to inspection on appointment; and he fears may perish with himself.