not the man (to say no more) we took him for: And therefore I would advise you for y'r own honor, to have a speciall care of him and his company hence forward, that they stir as litle as may be from the Castle, to vse violence towards any man for the myling of moneys for themselves (as I am tould he still persists to doe) contrary to S'r Thomas's mind & the Comitties inhibition. But that all things may (by your good providence) rest quietly as they (now) are, untill S'r Thomas's retourne, whoe will hastne the sooner (I suppose) vpon notice of the late insolent mutinie, to setle the distempers of this (poore) afflicted Countie. S'r it cannot be but to a heart so tender of the welfare thereof, you must beare y'r share in the Comon Calamitie, but let me perswade you to take nothing to heart, a few moneths will ease us from those evil contemplac'ons w'ch now we groane under, by Sweetening all (formerly) bitter Crosses to our future Comfort. Such is the hope of

Y'r Humble Servant

LLOYD PIERCE.

26 Ap. 1645.

[Endorsed]

To the Honorable Sr John Pryce Baronet at Montgomery Castle

present

XL.

NOBLE S'R

We are dayly vexed w'th the perverse Cariadge of Major Swift touching Mr Hawkins tenant, we put up all Affronts that he hath & still doth offer us & our Orders, only we desire you (untill S'r Thomas's retourne) you will be pleased to protect the tenant & his goodes from any violence that shall be offer'd them by him or any of his Company wherein upon the matter you doe but protect us (the Comittee whereof y'r self is a principall one) from the scorn & contempt of such insolent fellowes as I hope to see rewarded ere long w'th their deserts. S'r I have no more in hast to be comended unto you besides the service of one that honors you under the notion of

The next letter is one from Esay Thomas, an influential burgess of Bishop's Castle,' to his "cosin" Henry Powell, at Montgomery, urging the liberation

or

enlargement" of the Bailiff and some of the townsmen of Bishops Castle, who appear to have been apprehended for stealing Capt. Webb's horses, ringing the bell, and otherwise showing their favour to the Royalist cause.

GOOD COSIN

XLI.

By a l're rec'd yesterday from Mr. Sam. Moer2 I perceive that that Comittee hath some sollicitations aboute the enlargem't of our Townesmen & to that end he hath written to S'r John Pryce & desiers answer thereof, a hynt wherof I gather in a note to mr Griffiths last Saturday-for mr. Bayliffes ymprisonment it must needs bee esteemed a great abuse both for manner and matter, first I know hee hath been ever affected to yo'r partye, next hee was like some Rebell or Traytor in church taken out of his seate & throwne before his adversary & now kept 8't dayes in prison for noe cause by an inferior officer & for ought I can learne onely in expectancy of a bribe which expectation will be frustrated or else to make his power to

1 Esay Thomas was the representative of a genuine Bishop's Castle family, being the son of Edward Thomas (one of the head burgesses from April 1594 to his death in 1632, being then also Town Clerk), and the grandson of John Thomas, one of the original members of the Corporation appointed on the grant of the Charter in 1573. He was elected Capital Burgess in 1621; Town Clerk (succeeding his father) in 1632; Bailiff in 1629, 1649, and 1657; Chamberlain in 1655, and M.P. for the Borough in Feb. 1645. He was one of those Members who were either secluded by the army in 1648, or afterwards excluded by their fellow-members.-Ex inf., Ernest Griffiths, Esq., Town Clerk of Bishop's Castle.

2 Samuel More, of Linley, was the son of Richard More of the same place, who was M.P. for Bishop's Castle in the Long Parliament, and died in 1643. He was a zealous supporter of the Parliament, ard made an heroic defence of Hopton Castle, near Ludlow. He was a member of the Parliament's Committee for Shropshire, and was one of "the Gentlemen, Ministers and well-affected of the County of Montgomery," who signed a Resolution of May 20th, 1648, to assist the Parliament. Phillips' Civil War in Wales, ii, p. 373. He was a member of Cromwell's Parliament in 1656. He died in 1662.

3 The Bailiff at this time was John Baker.-Ex inf., E. Griffiths,

Esq.

ex his Collonels. I am invited to come this day myself to Attend Syr Thomas Middleton thereabouts, where I should not doubt of Justice, yet I had rather passe by his threats to mee then complayn at p'sent least hee make it a thing of revenge I pray you therfor p'swade his enlargement in Low least complaints produce his disgrace wherin if you fayle there wilbe noe further delayes but the best processe taken as may be for manyfestation of the truth of all & that instantly to Sir Thomas or else sending up of an ymediat messenger to the Parliament where I am confident of audience. I am loath to trouble your Governour therin himself knowing how he suffers dayly two much by all that should bee under his obedience & I doe seriously much pitty his condition that his good nature is continually abused. I pray you express all yo'r power in this particular & in case Ed. Richards should also complayn I would desire you in a private manner to let mr. Bayliff be examined who the partye was that caused our Bell to be rung for Rising of the Town w'th intenc'on to surprize Captayne Web when his horses were stolen, had not mr. Bayliff & my self then rescued him for upon the then examinac'ons it was proved against Edw. Richards first & a consent of Edw. Wollaston & the thinge attempted in Wollaston's house, soe that will p'vide a good ground for his de . . wing and oblige him to make satisfaction or else to bring in the bodyes of the persons & their parents (?) that did strike (?) them (as they bee all now in Town) or else to make satisfaction, this done if his libertye might be else graunted for some ffew dayes upon good bayle it could not choose but produce fit satisfaction in all & preserve them more firmly to yo'r cause. I hope I shall not neede many words of perswasion for yo'r best joyning in furtherance with my few other friends in all both for mr. Baylif and his brother Samuel & that I shall see mr. Bayliff at home this day. I desire you also to know of Captayn Thelwal his Reasons of large unworthy language ag'st mee for w'ch I shall desier an accompt hereafter, if spoken Really as hee doth it in all companys & to persons of all qualities-pardon my Tediousness, comend mee kindly to Captayn Lloyd & honest Mr. Griffiths & vouchsafe me yo'r answer & I shall Remayne

5th May 1645.

[Endorsed]

Yours ever assured

E. T.

For my worthy good Cosin Mr. Henry Powell these delr'

Mountgom'y Castle.

VOL. XXXI.

I

Much Honored S'r

XLII.

I had thought my selfe to have wayted on you instead of this message but hearinge of the greate menaces breathed out of Caurse and Shrawardine in speciall against me if they can catch me I am constrayned to send this sonne of mine who is the best messenger I now have to bringe this to kisse yo'r hand. He hath buisnes at Newtowne, Mountgom'ry Poole & Llanvilling. I humbly crave yo'r protecc'on for his saffe passage. S'r further I make bould to acquaint you that I have aboute 6 weekes sithence sent you a l're from mr. Spencer w'ch he tells me wo'd produce 10li. from you. I desire to know yo'r pleasure there abouts, also my self above 2 yeares past deliv'red for yo'r howse 7 lodes of mlt [malt?] at 22s. a lode then soe sould for ready money. I am yet unpayd being 7li. 14s. 0. I was before unwilling to presse hopeing of better tymes. Nowe meanes growing short I desire you will be pleased to pay it to my sonne. I say no more but desire to subscribe my self

Sallop 12 of June 1645

Yo'r most Humble S'rvant

[Endorsed]

JOHN LLOYD.

To the Honorable S'r John Pryce Baronett at Mountgom'ry Castle present.

Upon this letter payd John Lloyd's sonne x for the use of Mr. George.

JO'N PRYCE.

(To be continued).

MONTGOMERYSHIRE FOLK-LORE.

BY THE REV. ELIAS OWEN, F.S.A.

Bird Superstition.

THERE are many superstitions of birds still lingering in Wales. The raven, or perhaps the carrion crow, is a bird still dreaded in many parts. They are credited with destroying chickens and lambs, and keepers and farmers are their mortal enemies. Their nests on the rocks, or on tall oak trees, are objects watched by many eyes; and if the birds are allowed to nest and

hatch their young in peace, it is a wonder. I heard of

a single raven who saw a brood of chickens; and the next day a couple of these birds made their appearance near the cottage where the innocent chickens were, and forthwith the onslaught began; and as long as the brood wandered about, the ravens continued their visits to the cottage, and one by one snatched up a nice fat chicken for their breakfast, until at last the little ones all disappeared. Lambs, too, are the special favourites of these birds, and whenever a dead lamb with empty eye-sockets is discovered, the raven has the credit of being the murderer. The low croaking of the bird is dismal enough to rouse the attention of the solitary cottagers, and forthwith the gun is brought to play upon the unlucky culprit. Still, the raven is supposed to do some good; as shown by the following tale, recorded by Gough in his History of Middle, which is not far distant from the Breiddin Hill. I will give the narrative in Gough's own words.

A Tale of a Couple of Ravens.

"As a couple of men were passing on the road, they saw two ravens sitt upon a coake of hay, pulling the