The truth and virtues of thy SONS and FAIR? GEO. COUGHRON, Wreigh-hill. THE BROWN MAN OF THE MUIRS. 66 FROM SURTEES'S HISTORY OF DURHAM." N the year before the great Rebellion, two young men from Newcastle were sporting on the High Moors above Elsdon, and after pursuing their game several hours, sat down to dine in a green glen, near one of the mountain streams. After their repast, the younger lad ran to the brook for water; and, after stooping to drink, was surprised, on lifting his head again, by the appearance of a brown dwarf, who stood on a crag covered with brackens across the burn. This extraordinary personage did not appear to be above half the stature of a common man; but was uncommonly stout and broad-built, having the appearance of vast strength; his dress was entirely brown, the colour of the brackens, and his head covered with frizzled red hair; his countenance was expressive of the most savage ferocity, and his eyes glared like those of a bull. It seems he addressed the young man: first threatening him with his vengeance for having trespassed on his demesnes, and asking him if he knew in whose presence he stood? The youth replied that he supposed him to be the lord of the moors; that he had offended through ignorance, and offered to bring him the game he had killed. The dwarf was a little mollified by this submission; but remarked, that nothing could be more offensive to him than such an offer; as he considered the wild animals as his subjects, and never failed to avenge their destruction. He condescended further to inform him, that he was, like himself, mortal, though of years far exceeding the lot of common humanity, and (what I should not have had an idea of) that he hoped for salvation. He never, he added, fed on any thing that had life, but lived in the summer on whortle-berries, and in winter on nuts and apples, of which he had great store in the woods. Finally, he invited his new acquaintance to accompany him home, and partake his hospitality: an offer which the youth was on the point of accepting, and was just going to spring across the brook, (which if he had done, the dwarf would cer tainly have torn him in pieces,) when his foot was arrested by the voice of his companion, who thought he tarried long, and on looking around again, the wee Brown Man was fled.' The story adds, that he was imprudent enough to slight the admonition, and to sport over the moors on his way homewards; but soon after his return, he fell into a lingering disorder, and died within the year. THE PIPER. The following curious entry occurs in Gateshead parish register under the year 1633. "To workmen, for making the streats even at y King's coming, 18s. 4d.; and paid the piper for playing to yo menders of yo high waies five severall daies, 3s. 4d." "It was not unusual, I believe," says Mr. Surtees, "to amuse the labourers on these bounty days with music; a piper generally attended on highway days. I recollect reading a trial at Durham, in which a Mr. Spearman made a forcible entry into a field of Mrs. Wright's, at Birtley, and mowed and carried away the crop whilst his piper played from the top of the loaded wains. It was observed in Court that Mr. Spearman piped the corn away: 'Aye' said he (when he had gained a verdict), 'but you see I knew who would pay the piper.""— History of Durham. THE Jolly Huntsman's Garland. The Jolly Huntsman's Garland, with considerable local interest but little poetic merit, was transcribed from a printed copy in possession of the Rev. John Hutton, of Houghton-le-Spring, and of Hole, near Rolveden, Kent.-It must have been written about 1670-80, as it presents a catalogue of most of the sportsmen living at that period in the neighbourhood of Houghton-le-Spring.-Sir C. Sharp's Collections. SI walk'd o'er the mountains Where shepherds feed their flocks, I spy'd a troop of gallants A' hunting of the Fox. With clamours and with hollows They made the woods to ring; Brave Beauty, she did cry him, Hard by the break of day, He could no longer stay. Brave Countess and young Nancy Did freely cry him out, Betake them to their foot. Then came Tickler and Towler With Cappe and Tryall. Ꮮ Nic. Conyers' cries, Hi, Golksounge! Cap. Conyers, bravely mounted, Nicholas Conyers, of Biddick, in the county of Durham, and Bowlby, in the county of York, esq. high sheriff in the county palatine. He married Margaret, daughter and co-heir of Nicholas Freville, of Hardwiek, esq., widow of Thomas Lambton, governor of the Leeward Islands. He died 27th March, 1687, æt. 57, and lies buried in the church of Houghton-le-Spring, with the following bouncing epitaph: "See, here his dust shut up, whose generous mind "In him shew'd nature, which in most is art." This is all very well;-but how much more familiar a view of the high sheriff we obtain in the ballad, where he is represented as crying, Hi! Golksounge! and again when he threatens to pay the fox's dock. 1 Captain Robert Hutton, (who is said to have built Houghton Hall with the gold taken at the sacking of Dundee) a brave officer under Monk, was a mighty hunter, and sleeps in his own orchard, surrounded by his favourite hounds and horses. His portrait, sallying forth with his hounds, dressed in a blue shag coat and red lining, was and is perhaps still preserved at Houghton Hall. He died 9th Aug. 1680. (V. Surtees, vol. 1. p. 148.) 2Freville Lambton, of Biddick, afterwards of Hardwick, esq. son of Thomas Lambton, governor of the Leeward Islands, by Margaret Freville, who re-married Nicholas Conyers before named, and Robert Hutton, son of Captain Robert Hutton, above mentioned-they were slender striplings at the time of this gallant chase. Lambton was born in 1662, and Hutton in 1666. Then follow'd bravely after Two other gallant squires, Brave Middleton did rant it; He made the ground to knell : With Comely and with Fancy, Jack Lamb' he came a whipping Upon his bonny bay; And over hedges tripping O'er hills and over mountains, Crying, Trowley-In Lady. W—e! Then Vulcan he came plying, Upon his metal fee; But when the hounds came by him, He quietly let it be : ' Son of the high sheriff, by his second wife, Jane, daughter of Sir William Lambton, aged 11 in 1666. ' Of Eppleton, esq. was an ancient sportsman, born in 1605, father-in-law to Captain Hutton: so that the whole of the sportsmen seem to have been nearly related by blood and connection. * Richard Middleton, of Offerton, esq. who married Catherine, the daughter of the high sheriff, by his second wife. * On reading this passage, the author was strongly suspected of being little better than a Cockney; the allusion, however, must evidently apply to St. Mary-le-Bow, in Durham. 5 Mr. John Lamb, of West Herrington, an alderman of Durham, buried at St. Giles 31st March, 1710. |