one Jonathan Bradford. He there met with two gentlemen with whom he supped, and in conversation unguardedly mentioned that he had then with him a considerable sum of money. Having retired to rest, the two gentlemen who slept in a double-bedded room, were awakened by deep groans in the adjoining chamber. They instantly arose, and proceeded silently to the room from whence the groans were heard. The door was half open, and on entering they perceived a person weltering in his blood, in the bed, and a man standing over him with a dark lantern in one hand and a knife in the other. They soon discovered that the gentleman murdered was the one with whom they had supped, and that the man who was standing over him was their host. They instantly seized him, disarmed him of the knife, and charged him with being the murderer. He positively denied the crime, and asserted that he came there with the same intentions as themselves; for that hearing a noise, which was succeeded by groans, he got up, struck a light, and armed himself with a knife in his defence, and was but that minute entered the room before them.

These assertions were of no avail; he was kept in close custody until morning, when he was taken before a neighbouring justice of peace, to whom the evidence appeared so decisive, that on writing out his mittimus, he hesitated not to say, Mr. Bradford, either you, or I have committed this

દ

murder."

At the ensuing assizes at Oxford, Bradford was tried, convicted, and shortly after executed, still however declaring that he was not guilty of the murder. This afterwards proved to be true: the murder was actually committed by Mr. Haye's footman, who immediately on stabbing his master, riffed his pockets, and escaped to his own room, which was scarcely two seconds before Bradford's entering the chamber. The world owes this knowledge to a remorse of conscience of the footman on his death-bed, eighteen months after the murder; and dying almost immediately after he had made the declaration, justice lost its victim.

It is however remarkable, that Bradford, though innocent and not at all privy to the murder, was nevertheless a murderer in design. He confessed to the clergyman who attended him after his sentence, that having heard that Mr. Hayes had a large sum of money about him, he went to the

chamber with the same diabolical intentions as the servant. He was struck with amazement; he could not believe his senses; and in turning back the bed-clothes to assure himself of the fact, he in his agitation dropped his knife on the bleeding body, by which both his hand and the knife became stained, and thus increased the suspicious circumstances in which he was found.

IV. In the year 1742, a gentleman in travelling was stopped by a highwayman in a mask, within about seven miles of Hull, and robbed of a purse containing twenty guineas. The gentleman proceeded about two miles further, and stopped at the Bell Inn, kept by Mr. Brunell. He related the circumstances of the robbery, adding, that as all his gold was marked, he thought it probable that the robber would be detected. After he had supped, his host entered the room, and told him a circumstance had arisen which led bim to think that he could point out the robber. He then informed the gentleman that he had a waiter, one John Jennings, whose conduct had long been very suspicious; he had long before dark sent him out to change a guinea for him, and that he had only come back since he (the gentleman) was in the house, saying he could not get change; and that Jennings being in liquor, he had sent him to bed, resolving to discharge him in the morning. That at the time he returned him the guinea, he discovered it was not the same he had given him, but was marked, of which he took no further notice until he heard the particulars of the robbery, and that the guineas which the highwayman had taken were all marked. He added, that he had unluckily paid away the marked guinea to a man who lived at some distance.

Mr. Brunell was thanked for his information, and it was resolved to go softly to the room of Jennings, whom they found fast asleep; his pockets were searched, and from one of them was drawn a purse containing exactly nineteen guineas, which the gentleman identified. Jennings was dragged out of bed and charged with the robbery. He denied it most solemnly; but the facts having been deposed to on oath by the gentleman and Mr. Brunell, he was committed for trial.

So strong did the circumstance appear against Jennings, that several of his friends advised him to plead guilty, and throw himself on the mercy of the court. This advice he re

jected; he was tried at the ensuing assizes, and the jury without going out of court found him guilty. He was executed at Hull a short time after, but declared his innocence to the very last.

In less than twelve months after this event occurred, Brunell, the master of Jennings, was himself taking up for a robbery committed on a guest in his house, and the fact being proved on his trial, he was convicted and ordered for execution.

The approach of death brought on repentance and repentance, confession. Brunell not only acknowledged having committed many highway robberies, but also the very one for which poor Jennings suffered. The account he gave was, that after robbing the gentleman, he arrived at home some time before he came to his house. That he found a man at home waiting, to whom he owed a small bill, and not having quite enough of money, he took out of the purse one guinea from the twenty which he had just possessed himself of, to make up the sum, which he paid to the man, who then went away. Soon after the gentleman came to his house, and relating the account of the robbery, and that the guineas were marked, he became thunderstruck! Having paid one of them away, and not daring to apply for it again, as the affair of the robbery and the marked guinea would soon become publicly known, detection, disgrace, and ruin appeared inevitable. Turning in his mind every way to escape, the thought of accusing and sacrificing poor Jennings at last struck him; and thus to his other crimes he added that of the murder of an innocent man. Percy Anecdotes,”

66

ORIGIN AND ANECDOTES

OF VARIOUS IMPORTANT INVENTIONS.

(Resumed from page 177.)

LOG BOOK.

Coelbren y Beirdd, or The Wood Memorial of the Bards, is what they formerly used to cut their memorandums upon; such as the ancient wooden Almanacks were; or Staffordshire Clogg,* or Log. Hence originated the Log Book,

* The Staffordshire Clogg seems to be a corruption of the Welsh word, cyflog; that is, wages, or hire; which is still customary among the labourers in Wales, to mark every day's work upon a stick.

which is used by the sailors. Also, there is a similar thing called a tally, or a piece of wood cut with indentures, or notches, in two corresponding parts; of which, one was kept by the creditor, and the other by the debtor, as was formerly the common way of keeping all accounts; (and is still used by the brewers, and the milk-sellers.) Hence, likewise, is derived, the Tally-Office, (of the Exchequer, in London; and a teller; and probably, a Talisman; from the Welsh word, talu, to pay; or from the French word, taille. See Kennet's: Glossary to his Parochial Antiquities; and Plot's History of Staffordshire, p. 418, and 420.

BARD.

The ancient British word Bardd, or Bard, originally implied a Prophet, Musician, Poet, Philosopher, Teacher, and Herald. His dress was unicoloured, of sky-blue, as ar emblem of truth, and of his sacred character; not unlike the primitive priesthood; for the Lord commanded Moses, "And thou shalt make the robe of the Ephod all of blue.” -Exodus, chap. xxviii. ver. 31; chap. xxxix. ver. 22: and Leviticus, chap. xix. ver. 27, and 28. These Seers, or British Beirdd, are mentioned by Lucan, thus :-

"Plurima securi fudistis carmina Bardi.”

"And many Bards that to the trembling chord,

Can tune their timely voices cunningly."-SPENCER. According to Juv. 16, 13. Bardaicus Judex, seems to have been a Judge Advocate in the army. In the primitive times it was the office of the priesthood to sound the trumpet; and Barddhirgorn, we call the Trumpet Major. The system of Bardism having fallen into almost total oblivion, Poetry, and Music are now the only characteristics preserved, by which the ancient Bardd is recognized. In the early state of mankind, the Bards were the most learned and skilful, therefore they were appointed ministers of state, and legislators.

The term Bardd, is derived from Bár, which in Welsh signifies the top, or eminence; also a bush, as the misseltoe of the oak is called Uchelfár, the high branch; or, Pren awyr, the celestial shrub. Likewise Barr, is a court of judicature; Barn, is judgment; Barnwr, a Judge; Breyr, and Barwn, is a Baron, a Lord, or President; hence a Bar-pleader, Barrister; Lord Chief Baron; Court Baron,

&c.

Cæsar inform us, that all decisions and controversies were decided by the British Druids, or Druid-Bards; who were a branch of that institution. The ancient law of this land was administered to the people upon the highest, or most convenient hill of the district; and we find in King Howel's Laws, p. 123; the Lord, or Judge is directed to sit with his back to the sun and storm, so that he might not be incommoded in his deliberation. Many of those ancient Gorseddau, or tribunal seats, still remain both in England and Wales, which fact is corroborated by the names of the following hills, and mounts; Bryn-gwyn, the supreme tribunal, and Barnhill, or judgment hill, in Anglesey; Barrs-Court, in Gloucestershire; Malvern, or Moel varn, the hill of Judgment, in Worcestershire; Moelburgh, or Marlborough mount, in Wiltshire: Tynwald hill, in the Isle of Man (probably derived from Dyfnwal Moelmud, the great law-giver;) Stanton Druw, Bergmote Court, in Derbyshire; Bryn-Barlwm, in South Wales; Eisteddfa Gurig; Parlas; Cader Bronwen, upon Berwyn, in Meirionydd; Pen-bre; Moel-fre; Breiddin Hill, in Montgomeryshire; and, Breon; hence, probably, is derived the Brean Laws of the Irish.

There are likewise a great number of Christian names, as well as of places, derived from the same origin; such as, Par; Barr; Bar-jesus; Bar-jonah; Bardus, the son of Druis; Barton; Bardolph; St. Baruch, and Barry Island, in Glamorganshire; Bardney Abbey, in Lincolnshire; Barbury Castle, in Wiltshire; Bardfield, in Essex; a considerable demesne, which formerly was the land of a Bard. Also, from Cân, and Cell, comes Canghell, the singing-room, or chancel of a monastery, or church; and hence is derived Changhellawr, or Chancellor.-Celtic Remains, by Mr. Lewis Morris; Mr. Richards: and Mr. Owen's excellent Dictionaries; and see more in Mr. Cleland's curious Etymological Vocabulary.

WALES.

Cymbru, Cambria, or Wales, according to the Welsh Chronicles, had its name from Camber, one of the three sons of Brut, (or Brutus ab Silius, which hero is mentioned by Homer, to have conquered Aquitain :) the other two sons of Brut, were Locrin, whence came the name of Lloeyr,