The History of William Marshal, Earl of Chepstow and Pembroke, Regent of England. Book 1 of 2, Lines 1-10152.

The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.

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Several Observations Edward Lyhwd

Several Observations Edward Lyhwd is in Prehistory.

IV. Several Observations relating to the Antiquities and Natural History of Ireland, made by Mr. Edw. Lhwyd, in his Travels thro' that Kingdom. In a Letter to Dr. Tancred Robinson, Fellow of the College of Physicians and Royal Society.

Bathgate near Linlithgow, Scotland, Dec. 15. 1699.

Sir,

Your last, dated some time in July, overtook me about a Month after in Ireland; whence I had returned my Thanks, but that I was desirous to see somewhat more of the Country, in order to some Materials for a Letter. But having no conveniency of dispatching Letters from the Highlands of this Kingdom, I find I have now so long defend it, that I have by me Materials for several Letters; which must serve hereafter, when; we traverse Places affording fewer Curiosities.

We continued not above three Days at Dublin, when we steer'd our Course towards the Giants Causway. The most remarkable Curiosity we saw by the way, was stately Mount at a Place called New Grange [Map] necar Drogheda having a number of huge Stones pitch'd on end round about it, and a singe one on the Top. The Gentleman of the Village (one Mr Charles Campbel) observing that under the green Turf this Mount was wholly composed of Stones, and having occasion for some, employ 'd his Servants to carry off a considerable Parcel of them; till they came at last to a very broad flat Stone, rudely Carved, and placed edgewise at the Bottom of the Mount. This they discovered to be the Door of a Cave, which had a long Entry leading into it.

At the first entering we were forced to creep; but still as we went on, the Pillars on each side of us were higher and higher; and coming into the Cave, we found it about 20 Foot high. In this Cave, on each hand of us was a Cell or Apartment, and an other went on streight forward opposite to the Entry. In those on each hand was a very broad shallow Bason of Stone, situated at the Edge. The Bason in the Right Hand Apartment stood in another; That on the Left hand was single; and in rhe Apartment straight forward there was none at all. We observed that Water dropt into the right hand Bason, tho' it had rained but little in many Days; and suspected that the lower Bason was intended to preserve the superfluous Liquor of the upper, (whether this Water were Sacred, or whether it was for Blood in Sacrifice) that none might come to the Ground. The great Pillars round this Cave, supporting the Mount, were not at all hewn or wrought; but were such rude Stones as those of Abury in Wiltshire, and rather more rude than those of Stonehenge:

But those about the Basons, and some elsewhere, had such Barbarous Sculpture (viz. Spiral like a Snake, but without distinction of Head and Tail) as the fore-mentioned Stone at the Entry of the Cave. There was no Flagging nor Floor to this Entry nor Cave; but any sort of loose Stones every where under Feet. They found feveral Bones in the Cave, and part of a Stags (or else Elks) Head, and some other things, which, I omit, because the Labourers differ'd in their Account of them. A Gold Coin of the Emperor Valentinian, being found near the Top of this Mounts might bespeak it Roman; but that the rude Carving at the Entry and in the Cave seems to denote it a Barbarous Monument. So, the Coin proving it ancienter than any Invasion of the Otmans or Danes; and the Carving and rude Sculpture, Barbarous; it should follow, that it was some Place of Sacrifice or Burial of the Ancient Irish.