Part 25

Thomas Warcup prepar'd this stone, To mind him of his best home. Little but sin and misery here, Till we be carried on our bier. Out of the grave and earth's dust, The Lord will raise me up, I trust; To live with Christe eternallie, Who, me to save, himself did die.

Mihi est Christus et in vita et in morte lucrum. Phil. i. 21. Obiit anno 1653.

Thus it appears his decease did not take place until some years after the date at which he records his death; probably a period marked by some important change in his life, or of unusual solemnity reminds us that only thirty-five years ago, at a very few miles from its base, one who served the pastoral office more than fifty years, eking out a wretched maintenance upon a small farm; while his sons were at the plough, was of necessity compelled to send his daughters with horses and carts for coals and lime, and to lead manure to the fields and distribute it over the land; whilst the Dean and Chapter of his diocese were the patrons of his cure.

Such things can hardly be witnessed at this day. But a minister may be seen even now (1867) on the other side of the district, leading the choir in the aisle, in his surplice, with bow and fiddle in his hands, and then resuming his place at the desk, with becoming solemnity, until the course of the service requires his instrument again. His sense of harmony is acute; for in the middle of the psalm, his arms will fly apart, and the volume of sound be stopped, until an offensive note has been ejected, and the strain rectified, and renewed.

A curious discovery has recently been made in the venerable parish church of Windermere. The plaster having come away over one of the arches, a band of red and black was revealed. On the removal of more of the thick layers of whitewash, a beautiful inscription in old English characters was found. Further search was instituted, and similar inscriptions have been discovered on all the walls between the arches in the nave. It is conjectured that these inscriptions were placed in the church at the time of the Reformation, as they are mostly directed against the dogma of transubstantiation, whilst they give plain instructions in the doctrine of the Sacraments.

On the north side of the nave the following have been deciphered:--

"Howe many sacramentes are their?--Two: baptisme and the supper of the Lord.

"In baptisme which ys ye signe yt may be seene?--Water onelie.

"Which is ye grace yt cannot be seene?--The washinge awaie of synnes by the bloode of Christe.

"In the Lordes supper which is ye signe yt may be sene?--Breade and Wyne.

"Which is ye grace yt cannot be seene?--The bodie and bloode of Christe."

On the south wall the inscriptions are as follow:--

"In goinge to ye table of the Lord, what ought a man to consider or doe pryncipalie?--T examine him selfe.

"Is the breade and wine turned into ye bodie and bloode of Christe?--No, for if you turne or take away ye signe that may be sene it is no sacrament.

"For the strengthenynge of your faith, howe many things learne yow in ye Lordes Supper?--Two: as by ye hand and mouthe, my bodie receiuth breade and wine: so by faithe, my soule dothe feade of ye bodie and blood of Christ: secondlie all ye benefittes of Christ his passion and his righteousness, are as surelye sealled up to be mine as my selfe had wrought them.

"To the strengthening of your faithe how many thinges learne you in baptisme?--Two: first, as water washeth away the filthines of ye fleshe: so ye bloode of Christ washeth awaie synne from my soull; secondly, I am taught to rise againe to neunes of life."

G. AND T. COWARD, PRINTERS, CARLISLE.

SECOND EDITION.

_Small Crown 8vo. In neat Cloth binding, Price 3s. 6d._

THE FOLK-SPEECH OF CUMBERLAND and some Districts Adjacent; being short Stories and Rhymes in the Dialects of the West Border Counties. By ALEX. CRAIG GIBSON, F.S.A.

The tales are remarkable for their spirit and humour. The poetry, too, is marked by the same characteristics.--_Westminster Review._

The stories and rhymes have the freshness of nature about them.--_Contemporary Review._

Brimful of humour, homely wit and sense, and reflect the character and life and ways of thought of an honest sturdy people.--_Spectator._

The stories, or prose pieces, are wonderfully clever and well done.--_Saturday Review._

This is an uncommon book, combining, as it does, in an extraordinary degree, the recondite lore which throws antiquarians into ecstacies, with the shrewd humour, the descriptive force, and the poetic charm which, garbed in the old Norse-rooted vernacular which Cumbrians love so well, will secure for it a cordial reception among all those who claim "canny Cumberland" for their childhood's home.--_Eddowes's Shrewsbury Journal._

His poems are pictures in very natural colours.--_Durham Chronicle._

Destined to an honourable place among the choicest productions of our native literature.--_Carlisle Journal._

Besides being a learned antiquary, he has wit, humour, and a true vein of poetry in him, and the literary skill, in addition to turn all these to the best account.--_Carlisle Express._

In its way perfectly unique.--_Carlisle Examiner._

CARLISLE: G. AND T. COWARD. LONDON: J. RUSSELL SMITH.

_Small Crown 8vo. In neat Cloth binding, Price 3s.6d._

"CUMMERLAND TALK;" being Short Tales and Rhymes in the Dialect of that County. By JOHN RICHARDSON, of Saint John's.

A very good specimen of its class. The ordinary subscriber to Mudie's would not for a moment dream of ever looking into it, and yet Mr. Richardson possesses far more ability than the generality of novelists who are so popular.--_Westminster Review._

Good and pleasant.--_Saturday Review._

There are both pathos and humour in the various stories and ballads furnished by Mr. Richardson. We congratulate Cumberland on having so many able champions and admirers of her dialect.--_Athenæum._

Some of the rhymes are admirable. "It's nobbut me!" is a capital specimen of a popular lyric poem.--_Notes and Queries._

He has seized on some of the most striking habits of thought, and describes them simply and naturally, without any straining after effect.--_Carlisle Patriot._

To all lovers of the dialect literature of this county the volume will be heartily welcome.--_Whitehaven News._

A worthy companion to Dr. Gibson's "Folk Speech."--_Wigton Advertiser._

The sketches are quite equal to anything of the kind we have seen.--_Kendal Mercury._

A very pleasant addition to the records of the dialect of Cumberland.--_Westmorland Gazette._

The best and most comprehensive reflex of the folk-speech of Cumberland that has been put into our hands.--_Soulby's Ulverston Advertiser._

There is plenty of variety in the volume.--_Ulverston Mirror._

CARLISLE: G. AND T. COWARD. LONDON: J. RUSSELL SMITH.

_F. Cap 8vo. Price 2s. 6d._

SONGS AND BALLADS By JOHN JAMES LONSDALE, Author of "The Ship Boy's Letter," "Robin's Return," &c. WITH A BRIEF MEMOIR.

_From the ATHENÆUM._

Mr. Lonsdale's songs have not only great merit, but they display the very variety of which he himself was sceptical. His first lay, "Minna," might lay claim even to imagination; nevertheless, for completeness and delicacy of execution, we prefer some of his shorter pieces. Of most of these it may be said that they are the dramatic expressions of emotional ideas. In many cases, however, these songs have the robust interest of story, or that of character and picture. When it is borne in mind that by far the greater portion of these lays were written for music, no small praise must be awarded to the poet, not only for the suitability of his themes to his purpose, but for the picturesqueness and fancy with which he has invested them under difficult conditions.

_From the WESTMINSTER REVIEW._

Poetry seems now to flourish more in the north than in the south of England. Not long ago we noticed an admirable collection of Cumberland ballads, containing two songs by Miss Blamire, which are amongst the most beautiful and pathetic in our language. We have now a small volume by a Cumberland poet, which may be put on the same shelf with Kirke White. Like Kirke White's, Mr. Lonsdale's life seems to have been marked by pain and disappointment. Like Kirk White too, he died before his powers were full developed. A delicate pathos and a vein of humour characterize his best pieces.

_From the SPECTATOR._

"The Children's Kingdom" is really touching. The picture of the band of children setting out in the morning bright and happy, lingering in the forest at noon, and creeping to their journey's end at midnight with tearful eyes, has a decided charm.

_From NOTES AND QUERIES._

A volume containing some very pleasing poems by a young Cumberland poet, who but for his early death, would probably have taken a foremost place amongst the lyrists of our day.

CARLISLE: G. AND T. COWARD. LONDON: J. RUSSELL SMITH.

_Small Crown 8vo. Price 3s. 6d. Cloth Limp._

A GLOSSARY of the WORDS and PHRASES OF FURNESS (North Lancashire), with Illustrative Quotations, principally from the Old Northern Writers. By J. P. MORRIS, F.A.S.L.

We are thoroughly pleased with the creditable way in which Mr. Morris has performed his task. We had marked a number of words, the explanation of which struck us as being good and to the point, but space unfortunately fails us. We commend the Furness Glossary to all students of our dialects.--_Westminster Review._

The collection of words is remarkably good, and Mr. Morris has most wisely and at considerable pains and trouble illustrated them with extracts from old writers.--_The Reliquary Quarterly Review._

Mr. Morris is well known in the district, both as a writer and an antiquarian. His labours in the work before us evince him to be a zealous and untiring student. We trust his book will have the success which we think it well deserves.--_Ulverston Advertiser._

The stranger who takes up his abode in Furness will find Mr. Morris's little book a capital helpmate.--_Ulverston Mirror._

Apart from its etymological value the work is highly acceptable as a contribution to local literature.--_Carlisle Journal._

We cordially recommend the glossary to admirers of the old writers, and to all curious philologists.--_Carlisle Patriot._

Valuable as tracing to their source many good old forms of the Furness dialect, and as explaining not a few archaisms which have been stumbling-blocks to students of their mother tongue.--_Whitehaven News._

CARLISLE: G. AND T. COWARD. LONDON: J. RUSSELL SMITH.

_Price 3s. 6d. in Cloth; or 5s. in Extra Gilt Binding._

POEMS. BY PETER BURN. A NEW AND COMPLETE EDITION.

If Mr. Burn's genius does not soar very high, he leads us into many a charming scene in country and town, and imparts moral truths and homely lessons. In many points our author resembles Cowper, notably in his humour and practical aim. One end of poetry is to give pleasure, and wherever these poems find their way they will both teach and delight.--_Literary World._

If Mr. Burn will confine himself to pieces as expressive and suggestive as "The Leaves are Dying," or as sweet as "The Rivulet," he need not despair of taking a good position amongst the ever-increasing host of minor poets.--_The Scotsman._

Throughout the volume there is a healthy, vigorous tone, worthy of the land of song from which the author hails. The book is a desirable contribution to the already rich literature of Cumberland.--_Dundee Advertiser._

* * * * *

THE SONGS AND BALLADS OF CUMBERLAND AND THE LAKE COUNTRY; with Biographical Sketches, Notes, and Glossary. Edited by SIDNEY GILPIN.

(_A New and Revised Edition in preparation._)

CARLISLE: G. AND T. COWARD. LONDON: J. RUSSELL SMITH.

_F. Cap 8vo. Price 2s.6d., in neat Cloth binding._

MISS BLAMIRE'S SONGS AND POEMS; together with Songs by her friend MISS GILPIN of Scaleby Castle. With Portrait of Miss Blamire.

She was an anomaly in literature. She had far too modest an opinion of herself; an extreme seldom run into, and sometimes, as in this case, attended like other extremes with disadvantages. We are inclined, however, to think that if we have lost a great deal by her ultra-modesty, we have gained something. Without it, it is questionable whether she would have abandoned herself so entirely to her inclination, and left us those exquisite lyrics which derive their charms from the simple, undisguised thoughts which they contain. The characteristic of her poetry is its simplicity. It is the simplicity of genuine pathos. It enters into all her compositions, and is perhaps preeminent in her Scottish songs.--_Carlisle Journal, 1842._

In her songs, whether in pure English, or in the Cumbrian or Scottish dialect, she is animated, simple, and tender, often touching a chord which thrills a sympathetic string deep in the reader's bosom. It may, indeed, be confidently predicted of several of these lyrics, that they will live with the best productions of their age, and longer than many that were at first allowed to rank more highly.--_Chambers' Journal, 1842._

* * * * *

_F. Cap 8vo. Price 2s., in neat Cloth binding._

ROBERT ANDERSON'S CUMBERLAND BALLADS.

As a pourtrayer of rustic manners--as a relator of homely incident--as a hander down of ancient customs, and of ways of life fast wearing or worn out--as an exponent of the feelings, tastes, habits, and language of the most interesting class in a most interesting district, and in some other respects, we hold Anderson to be unequalled, not in Cumberland only, but in England. As a description of a long, rapid, and varied succession of scenes--every one a photograph--occurring at a gathering of country people intent upon enjoying themselves in their own uncouth roystering fashion, given in rattling, jingling, regularly irregular rhymes, with a chorus that is of itself a concentration of uproarious fun and revelry, we have never read or heard anything like Anderson's "Worton Wedding."----Whitehaven Herald._

CARLISLE: G. AND T. COWARD. LONDON: J. RUSSELL SMITH.

_Small Crown 8vo. Price One Shilling._

FORNESS FOLK, THE'R SAYIN'S AN' DEWIN'S: or Sketches of Life and Character in Lonsdale North of the Sands. BY ROGER PIKETAH.

We have been greatly entertained by these stories, which reveal to us traits of a humoursome, shrewd, sturdy race, of whom from their geographical isolation, very little has been communicated to us by the compilers of guide books or by local sketchers.--_Carlisle Patriot._

We can honestly say the tales are not spoiled in serving up. They come upon the reader with almost the full force of _viva voce_ recital, and prove conclusively that Roger Piketah is a thorough master of the "mak o' toak" which he has so cleverly manipulated.--_Whitehaven News._

Whoever Roger Piketah may be, he has succeeded in producing a good reflex of some of our Furness traditions, idioms, and opinions; and we venture to predict it will be a favorite at penny readings and other places.--_Ulverston Advertiser._

_F. Cap 8vo. Price 3s. 6d._

POEMS BY MRS. WILSON TWENTYMAN of Evening Hill. Dedicated, by permission, to H. W. LONGFELLOW.

_F. Cap 8vo. Price 2s. 6d._

ROUGH NOTES OF SEVEN CAMPAIGNS in Spain, France, and America, from 1809 to 1815. By JOHN SPENCER COOPER, late Sergeant in the 7th Royal Fusileers.

CARLISLE: G. AND T. COWARD. LONDON: J. RUSSELL SMITH.

_Crown 8vo. Price 1s. in extra Cloth Binding: or 6d. in neat Paper Cover._

OLD CASTLES: Including Sketches of CARLISLE, CORBY, and LINSTOCK CASTLES; with a Poem on Carlisle. By M. S., Author of an "Essay on Shakspeare," &c.

WISE WIFF. A Tale in the Cumberland Dialect By the Author of "Joe and the Geologist." Price Threepence.

THREE FURNESS DIALECT TALES. Price Threepence. Contains:--Siege o' Brou'ton, Lebby Beck Dobby, Invasion o' U'ston.

THE SONGS AND BALLADS OF CUMBERLAND With Music by WILLIAM METCALFE.

1. D'YE KEN JOHN PEEL? Words by John Woodcock Graves. Price 4s.

2. LAL DINAH GRAYSON ("M'appen I may"). Words by Alex. Craig Gibson. Price 4s.

3. REED ROBIN. Words by Robert Anderson. Price 2s. 6d.

4. "WELCOME INTO CUMBERLAND." Words by the Rev. T. Ellwood. Price 3s.

5. THE WAEFU' HEART. Words by Miss Blamire. Price 2s. 6d.

THE WELCOME INTO CUMBERLAND QUADRILLE. Price 4s.

THE JOHN PEEL MARCH. Price 4s.

(_To be continued._) _The above at Half-Price._

CARLISLE: G. AND T. COWARD.

Transcriber's Notes

Obvious punctuation errors repaired.

Hyphen removed: wicker[-]work (p. 42), extra[-]ordinary (p. 141), eye[-]balls (p. 301), ferry[-]man (p. 171), hearth[-]stone (pp. 19 (twice), 44), high[-]road (p. 263), loop[-]hole (p. 74), noon[-]day (p. 282), out[-]buildings (p. 174), out[-]worn (p. 279), pre[-]eminent (ad for Miss Blamire's Songs and Poems), two[-]pence (p. 18).

Space removed: water[ ]spout (p. 190), wicker[ ]work (p. 79).

Spelling normalized to "Souther Fell[-side]".

P. 13: Herlingfordbury Park -> Hertingfordbury Park.

P. 26: Sire de Couci -> Sire de Courci.

P. 122: Darwentwater -> Derwentwater.

P. 127: Of brighest laurels -> Of brightest laurels.

P. 159: gave lands in Leakly -> gave lands in Leakley.

Pp. 177, 292: Phillipson -> Philipson.

P. 269: the story is old -> the story is told.

P. 291: that that through which he had entered -> than that through which he had entered.

P. 329: served him as a guage -> served him as a gauge.

Ad for Poems by Peter Burn: she leads us -> he leads us.

Ad for The Songs and Ballads of Cumberland: The abore at Half-Price -> The above at Half-Price.