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28 To the Rev. William Cole [1774
punishment than hers, and I hope it will fall on you before
eleven months are over. |
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1552. To THE REV. WILLIAM COLE.
DEAR SIB, Matson, near Gloucester, Aug. 15,1774*
As I am your disciple in antiquities, for you studied them
when I was but a scoffer, I think it my duty to give you some account of my journeyings in the good cause. You will not dislike my date: I am in the very mansion where King Charles the First and his two eldest sons lay during the siege, and there are marks of the last's hacking with his hanger on a window, as he told Mr. Selwyn's grandfather afterwards. The present master has done due honour to the royal residence, and erected a good marble bust of the martyr in a little gallery. In a window is a shield in painted glass, with that King's and his Queen's arms, which, I gave him.—So you see I am not a rebel, when alma mater antiquity stands godmother.
I went again to the cathedral, and, on seeing the monu-
ment of Edward II, a new historic doubt started, which I pray you to solve. His Majesty has a longish beard, and such were certainly worn at that time. Who is th© first historian that tells the story of his being shaven with cold water from a ditch, and weeping to supply warm, as he was carried to Berkeley Castle ? Is not this apocryphal ? The house whence Bishop Hooper was carried to the stake is still standing tale guale. I made a visit to his actual successor, Warburton, who is very infirm, speaks with much, hesitation, and, they say, begins to lose his memory. They have destroyed the beautiful cross; the two battered heads of Henry III and Edward III are in the postmaster's garden.
Yesterday I made a jaunt four miles hence that pleased
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