Then Reason drew her cloak aside, Fast fell the rain they both expected. And hoarse the thunder roll'd above, The vivid lightning flash'd before them; "Oh Dame! the shiv'ring boy then cries, She said; and closer to her breast, But now the thunder ceas'd to roll, The lightning ceas'd to flash; the rain Gave way unto the sun's control, And all was warm and bright again. And nature wore a lovelier green, The doves renew'd their am'rous vows; The boy soon felt the change, he flung The maiden now the young god view'd, BRITISH ANTIQUITIES. No. III. Instead of being raised with stones, and cemented like the Roman roads, it has been excavated. The soil has been thrown up on each side, and the chalk rock has served as a pavement. Another person and myself dug a few feet through the mould, which has gradually fallen in and covered the road, but the chalk rock soon impeded our progress. The Roman roads usually run in direct lines, but this follows the winding eminences of the dales. This position would serve the double purpose of a road and a trench, to act upon the defensive against an invading enemy, especially from the lower parts. That it has been used for military purposes is further evident from triple trenches having been made on the plains, through which it has run between the dales. What has been advanced is corroborated AFTER Rome had become the mistress of the world by her extensive conquests, the most successful means she could use to unite the heterogeneous members of her empire was facility of intercouse between herself and them.. Hence the numerous military roads, diverging from the seat of empire to its various dependencies. The celebrated Via Appia led to the southern, and the Via Flaminia to the northern parts. In Germany, France, and Spain, Roman military roads are numerous. Great Britain is intersected by them. The four principal Roman ways which are most conspicuous in this country are Watling-Street, Ick nield-Street, Ermin-Street, and the Foss-way. To these might be added a number of collateral roads, but inferior in form and of less extent. Of the latter description is one which is omitted on all our antiquaIt diverges from the eastern branch of the Ermyn-Street, to the west of Market Weighton, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and connects with another Roman road, running from Flamborough Head to York. It may be traced through the Parishes of Pocklington, Milling-rendered necessary a correspondence ton, Huggate, Wetwang, &c. to the above mentioned road, near Great Driffield. rian maps. The origin of this road seems dubious, as it is differently made from the Roman roads; though there is little doubt of its having been used by the Romans. The occasional occurrence of a Tumulus, of detached pieces of Roman armour, and of a number of human bones, and complete skeletons in confused order, having been found in a field at Wetwang, are inductive proofs of the Romans having used it for military purposes. There is a probability of its having been made by the Parisii or Brigantees, the original inhabitants of the eastern parts of Yorkshire, as a channel of communication between the low lands on each side of the Wolds. This conjecture is supported by its being formed like the other ancient British roads. by the opinion of Brewer, in his Introduction to the Beauties of England and Wales. "It may certainly be inferred, without an unwarrantable freedom of conjecture, that the early Britons so familiarly acquainted with the use of chariots, and engaged in commercial pursuits, which between the interior parts of the country and the coast, could not be destitute of roads so carefully amended as to assume a permanent character. That such, indeed, existed, and were in many instances adopted by the Romans, is uniformly admitted by those antiquaries, who unite the labours of local investigation with the erudite researches of the etymologist." This is further confirmed by the opinion of the Rev. T. Leman, in the History of Hertfordshire. "These British roads are so totally distinct from the Roman causeways, which succeeded them, that it is surprising so many persons should confound these works of the rude inhabitants of the island, with those, perhaps, of the most enlightened military nation that ever appeared in the world; for the British roads were merely driftways, running through the woods, or wind ing on the sides of the hills, and made only for their petty commerce of cattle and slaves. Unlike the military labours of their successors, they were hardly ever drawn in straight lines; were not regularly attended by tumuli or barrows; were never raised; and had a peculiar feature, the reason of which is not Huggate, April 25, 1823. A DRAMATIC FRAGMENT.-(Star Light.) VICENTIO-ISIDORA. Vic.-'Twas an enchanting dream!—An ivory throne, With blooming cheeks, bright eyes, and golden hair. Was worth them all. The second next drew near A violet, newly gather'd, from its breast To place in her's: the frowning seraph then Isid.-Dear Vicentio! thou'rt eloquent forsooth, And I did play the Queen right nobly, Love? Vic.-Most nobly! and look'd so fair, that indeed Were the seven daughters of the Theban Queen Isid-.'Twas not in envy, but in justice, Love! Vic. Look ! Among the glowing orbs that throng so fast Isid. It hath indeed Who sleeps with her belov'd Endymion. How soon abash'd would thousands hide their heads To glide in splendid majesty along Thro' their wide host. Vic. Isid. See! now How swiftly it sweeps on from flower to flower, Whose sweets it steals, and bears them blithely on Making them drink each other's perfumes-then, To claim Dominion o'er the skies once more. Vic.-And, when she hath arisen, we'll sit us down H. AD "Peace, ho! the moon sleeps with Endymion, SHAKSPEARE. EPISTLES BY MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS. Epistle from MARY to her UNCLES.-February, 1567. YES-I must write to vent indignant rage, My throne's support, my court's accomplish'd pride, Forth to disgrace as Darnley's murderer hold!* Hence, impious charge! which can't my soul deceive; But meet the bloody charge with dauntless brow, * Every one's imagination was at work to guess who had contrived and executed this execrable deed the suspicion fell with almost a general consent on Bothwell. "Two days after the murder a proclamation was issued by the Queen, offering a considerable reward to any person who should discover those who had been guilty of such a horrid and detestable crime.”—Robertson, p. 400. "We now know for certain that it was Murray's faction who murdered the King, and that Morton, Bothwell, and Maitland, were the eminent characters who were attainted by parliament for the deed, though many inferior persons, indeed, and some of them innocent, were tried and punished for the same crime."-Chalmers, p. 204. +" and it was resolved to bring Bothwell immediately to trial. But, instead of confining him to any prison, Mary admitted him into all her councils, and allowed a person, universally reputed a murderer of her husband, to enjoy all the security, the dignity, and the power of a favourite.-Robertson, p. 404. I cannot see how Mary could do otherwise. It was impossible, that, justly prejudiced in favour of Bothwell as she was by his devoted loyalty and respectful attachment, she should for a moment believe that he was even privy to the murder of Darnley; and, if convinced of his innocence, it was her duty to act on that conviction, and uphold him to the extent of her power. Besides, such daring was that of innocence-conscious guilt would have been more wary. I subjoin the following simple, unaffected letter, written by Henry Kyllygrew to Cecil, from Edinburgh, who carried to Mary, Elizabeth's letter of condolence; and this letter is important, as it shews that Bothwell was countenanced by Murray, &c. as well by the Queen, though'accused of the King's death : Eur. Mag. July, 1823, B. |