Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 10.djvu/301

 10 s. x. SEPT. 26, 1903.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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retiring from the world, he made a tour of Europe, and was after this fatal encounter appointed Master of the Staghounds. He did not give up society until his son had offended him by marrying contrary to his father's wishes a daughter of Admiral John Byron. It may be mentioned that the sword which caused Mr. Chaworth's death is kept among the " Byron relics " at Newstead, where it has been ever since the fatal duel. From the evidence given at Lord Byron's trial, it is clear that there had been some previous " bad blood " between these kinsmen, and that the dispute about " game " was Mr. Chaworth's pretext for insulting Lord Byron. The former was the better swordsman, and admittedly made the first thrust. It would have been all over with Lord Byron if the dim light had not deceived Mr. Chaworth's eye, for his thrust was aimed at his kinsman's breast. What followed was a natural consequence.

RICHARD EDGCTJMBE. Edgbarrow, Crowthorne, Berks.

COWPEB THORNHILL'S FAMOUS RIDE. The late CUTHBERT BEDE, who was a valued contributor to ' N. & Q.' for many years, wrote an interesting account of the above ride at 5 S. iii. 503 (26 June, 1875), in which he said :

"It is singular that, in the researches of myself and others, in Stilton, and its neighbourhood, on this subject, we have never been able to obtain a sight of the poem, ' The Stilton Hero,' printed in London in 1745, or of the engraving representing him

performing the match Can any correspondent

quote from either of these ? "

As this query has remained unanswered for thirty-three years, and I have also made many unsuccessful searches for it until the other day, it may be worth while recording that I have found a copy in the Bodleian Library, which was " bequeathed by Richard Gough in the year MDCCXCIX." It has apparently hitherto escaped notice by readers of ' N. & Q.' The press-mark is " Gough Hunt I.," and the title is :

" The | Stilton Hero : | a I Poem | Tempora ! O Mores | London : | Printed for M. Cooper, | at the Globe in Pater-noster Row 1745 I price 6 d I ." 4to, pp. 14.

HERBERT E. NORRIS.

Cirencester.

HORSEFLESH. I see it stated in a foreign scientific paper that Pope Gregory III. (731-41) issued a bull in which he declared horseflesh and hippophagi unclean. Accord- ing to the same source, the modern practice of eating horseflesh was started by the Danes during the siege of Copenhagen in 1807,

and has gradually spread all over the Euro- pean continent. The horse-butchers' shops in the market-place in Boulogne are known to all visitors. L. L. K.

HIGH COURT OF* LIBERTY, WELLCLOSE; SQUARE. Perhaps this description of an old London lock-up from The Globe of 20 August may be interesting enough to record in ' N. & Q.' :

" A Glimpse of Old London : High Court of Liberty. There is an interesting bit of Old London to be seen in Wellclose Square, E., the thoroughfare which during the last few days has been the scene of ' vulture hunts.' Behind a building known as the Old Court House stands what are said to be the oldest police cells in London, and under these is the entrance to a subway which is believed to have once led to the Tower, nearly a mile distant. This subterranean passage is now blocked up, and at the entrance there stands a skeleton of awesome appearance. The building was formerly known as the High Court of Liberty, and it is supposed to be over 300 years old. Parts have been demolished, and much has been altered, but there still remains a great deal that is interesting.

" The courthouse is now the home of the German Oak Club, and the tine apartment in which trials took place is used for dancing, while the adjoining rooms provide accommodation for billiards. The place is more spacious than many courts of modern construction, and the woodwork includes several fine specimens of hand-turned oak. A winding stone staircase leads to the two cells which still remain in a building at the rear of the courthouse, and at the top of the stairs is a massive and strongly barred door, with a peephole in it. This leads to the first of the two fearsome apartments. The only light which penetrates these gloomy dens comes through gratings high up against the ceiling, and each is fitted with a shutter, by means of which the cells can be plunged in inky darkness. Nearly half the floor space in each room is filled by a wooden bed, and attached to the walls are the rusty chains with which the prisoners were manacled. Another object of interest is a strait- jacket, made of stiff canvas with iron rings which can be fastened to the chains.

" Many names, inscriptions, and pictures are carved on the wooden walls. Some or the letters are now undecipherable, but one can still read, clearly the name of Edward Burke, who is said to have been hanged for murder. Close by is carved 'Edward Ray, December 27, 1758'; and another inscription runs thus : ' Francis Brittain, June 27, 1758. Pray remember the poor debtors.' On the floor of the first cell can be distinguished the squares of a chessboard, cut in the solid oak. Over the door between the two cells can be traced the words, rudely shaped : ' The rule of the house is a gallon of beer ' ; and just below, in neater characters, are the words: 'John Burn came in April 11, 1751.' One prisoner broke into verse thus : The cup is empty, To our sorrow ; But hope it will

Be filled to-morrow.

Another prisoner, evidently proud of his profession, signed himself : ' James Carr, smuggler, 1787.' The