2

In a differtation on the people called Gypfies, after other accounts, it is given as the most probable opinion, that they were fome of thofe miferable Egyptians, who, when their country was conquered by Sultan Selim, in the year 1517, rather than fubmit to the Turkish yoke, chofe to disperse themfelves in fmall parties over the world, fubfifting by begging, and their fuppofed fkill in chiromancy and magic, to which that nation had always pretence, and to the belief of which the grofs ignorance and fuperftition of the times were extremely favourable. This agrees very well with the time of their arrival in England, viz. about the year 1563, after having been expelled from France and Spain. The first comers, or their children, were probably foon reinforced by many idle perfons of both fexes; fwarthy fkins, dark eyes, and black hair, being the only qualifications required for admiffion; and fome of thefe might be heightened by the fun and walnut juice. Their language, or rather gibberish, might foon be learned; and thus their numbers, in all likelihood, increafed till they became alarming, when those severe ftatutes were promulged againft them, whose great feverity prevented their intended effect.-Had the punifhment been only hard labour, whipping, or imprisonment, it would have been much more efficacious.-Thefe ftrollers at present seem likely either to degenerate into common beggars, or, like fome of their brethren in Spain, to be obliged to take to a trade or bufinefs for a livelihood. The great increase of knowledge in all ranks of people, having rendered their pretended art of divination of little benefit to them, at leaft by no means fufficient to procure them fubfiftence, and fhould they attempt entirely to live by pilfering, the great quantities of provifion neceffary for their fupport, when in large bodies, could not be taken without alarming the country, and their numbers and affumed peculiarities would prevent their escape.'

The account of a defperate action, and signal victory, faid to be gained by an English captain, commanding one fmall privateer, over a large Turkifh fleet, while it must be acknowledged gallant, is indeed, as the Author fays, almoft, if we may not add entirely, incredible. It is given, we are told, by Roger, Earl of Caftlemayne, in his relation of the war between the Venetians and the Turks, drawn up in form of a letter, dated 23d May, 1666, and addreffed to King Charles the Second: as the book is fcarce, and the fact not much known, à correfpondent defired that it might be inferted and preferved in the Antiquarian Repertory. We fhall alfo infert it here, fuppofing that it may be acceptable to our Readers. It is as follows:

"Among the English that fought bravely, Capt. Thomas Middleton (who had his fhip hired in his fervice) did a moft prodigious action. It happened that the Admiral, intending a

defign against the Dardanels, put Middleton in fo defperate a place that he was in danger from land to be funk at every hot. He advifed the commander of it, and withal told him, that the peril of himself and ship did not fo much trouble him as to be fet where it was impoffible for him to offend the enemy. Having no answer, or at beft a bad one, and feeing it. could not prejudice the fleet, he drew off a little the veffel (his only livelihood) from the needlefs danger it was in. When the bufinefs was over, they difmiffed him (in a council of war) with the title of coward, and all the foldiers being taken away, he was left only with fome 50 English to return home, or whither elfe he pleased. He had not parted long from the Armata, but in a ftark calm met with 25 fail, of which 18 were the best gallies the Great Turk could make in all his fleet: thefe crying out in derifion, that they would eat English beef for dinner, fell on him, wanting no affurance, being affifted with the ftillness of the air, and their own ftrength and number. But for ail this confidence they miffed their aim, for after a long and sharp encounter, the two Baffa's that commanded were killed, with 1500 to accompany them; and befides the many that were wounded, the whole fquadron was fo fhattered, that they had hardly oars to get off, and were all unfit to ferve, at least for that year. The Captain had neither wind, fails, nor tackle. left to follow them; but with much-a-do he yet afterwards came fafe to Candie, and there prefented to the General a whole ton of falted heads of those he had killed, in their often boarding. His Excellency was aftonished at the thing, and after all the careffes imaginable, he acquainted the Senate with it, who with univerfal confent ordered him a chain and medal of gold, as a teftimony of their high esteem and his own commendable valour. Middleton afterwards died on his journey home, leaving a fon, who commands here a fhip, and is very well efteemed for his refolution and conduct."

The above relation favours ftrongly of the marvellous; as does, though in a different way, an Article entitled, The Great Eater, or Part of the admirable Teeth and Stomack's Exploits, of Nicolas Wood, of Harrifom, in the County of Kent. To this curious title is added the following paffage," This exceffive manner of eating, without manners, in ftrange and true manner defcribed by John Tailor." It is faid to have been publifhed about the year 1636; and Mafter Tailor acquits himself with much more learning, humour, and fentiment, than could have been expected. After another introduction, he thus proceeds:

"Be it knowne unto all men, to whom these presents shall, come, that I John Taylor, waterman*, of St. Saviour's, South

*The famous Water-poet, we fuppofe, w

wark,

wark, in the countey of Surrey, the Writer hereof, &c. will write plaine truth, bare and thread-bare, and almoft ftarkenaked truth, of the defcriptions, and remarkable, memorable actions of Nicolas Wood, of the parifhe of Harrifom, in the county of Kent, yeoman, for thefe confiderations following: Firft, I were to blame to write more than truth, because that which is knowne to be true is enough. Secondly, that which is only true, is too much. Thirdly, the truth will hardly be believed, being fo much beyond man's reafon to conceive. Fourthly, I fhall run hazard to bee accounted a great lyer, in writing the truth. Laftly, I will not lye, on purpose to make all those lyers that efteeme me fo."

"Yet by your leave, Master Critick, you must give me license to flourishe my phrafes, to embellish my lines, to adorne my oratory, to embroder my fpeeches, to enterlace my words, to draw out my fayings, and to bombafte the whole fuit of the bufineffe for the time of your wearing. For though truthe appeareth beft bare in matters of juftice, yet in this I hold it decent to attire her with fuch poore raggs as I have instead of robes."

We cannot enter into any particular account of the marvellous exploits of Mr. Nicolas Wood, to whom Two loynes of mutton, and one loyne of veal were but as three fprats;' for farther matters we muft refer to the book.

In one Article an account is given, with an engraving, of an ancient piece of household furniture, which is faid to have cfcaped the notice of our antiquaries, or at least not to have been before engraved or mentioned by them. It is called a Curfew, or Couvre-feu, from its ufe, which is that of fuddenly putting out a fire: it is of copper, rivetted together, as folder would have been liable to melt with the heat. The late Rev. Mr. Goftling of Canterbury, to whom it belonged, says it has been in his family for time immemorial, and was always called the Curfew. Some others are ftill remaining in Kent and Suffex. This utenfil is fuppofed to have been firft ufed in the time of William the Conqueror, to whofe orders about putting out fires and candles, is attributed the rife of the Curfew-bell.

:

A collection of indulgences, which is exhibited in another fhort number, manifefts the astonishing manner in which Popifh impudence and oppreffion triumphed over the credulity, ignorance, and fuperftition of mankind. They are granted to those who repeat certain Latin prayers. The following are fpecimens:

"To all them that be in a state of grace, that daily fay devoutly this prayer before this bleffed Lady of Pity, the will thew them her bleffed vifage, and warn them the day and hour of death; and in their laft end, the angels of God shall yield their fouls to heaven; and he shall obtain 500 years, and so many

Lents

Lents of pardon, granted by five holy Fathers, Popes of Rome."

"Our holy Father, Sixtus the Fourth, Pope, hath granted to all them that devoutly fay this prayer before the image of our Lady, the fum of 11,000 years of pardon."

"Our holy Father, Pope Innocent the Second, hath granted to all them that fay this prayer devoutly, in the worship of the wound that our Lord had in his bleffed fide, when he was dead, hanging on the Crofs, 4000 days of pardon.'

This collection feems to be taken from a book for the use of the church at Salisbury, printed at Paris, 1526.

Tintern Abbey, Monmouthfhire, appears to deferve the attention of the curious, whether confidered, according to the Editor's remark, as a pleasing object, or a venerable remain of antiquity. The short account here given of these ruins is accompanied with a neat engraving. It was founded anno 1131, by Walter de Clare, brother to Gilbert Strongbowe, Earl of Pembroke. His Grace the Duke of Beaufort merits the public thanks for the care with which he causes it to be kept, as well as feveral other monuments of antiquity, which are his property, and may be confidered as national ornaments. The Abbey is moreover ftill applied to a fort of religious use, the keeping of it being intrufted to a poor widow, who, by fhewing it, gains a comfortable livelihood.'

One Article in this collection we may infert entire it is ⚫ the form of an old deed of gifte. I Kyng Athelftan gyves to Paullane, Odhiam, and Rodhiam, als guid and als fayre, als ever yay mine wayre, and yarto witneffe Malde my wyfe.'

There is no account from whence the above little curiofity is taken it appears to us one defect in this Repertory, that the Articles are not attended with any remarks, or notes, which might have rendered them fometimes more intelligible, or however, more instructive, fatisfactory, and entertaining to the reader.

The long ftory of an apparition at Pertfch in Silefia might, we think, as well have been omitted. It is found in Dr. Henry More's collection of philofophical writings, and is faid to have been taken from the relation of Mortinus Weinrichius, a Silefian phyfician. But it had been quite as well if the Editor, or Editors, had fuffered it to remain in Dr. More's works.

Blackfriars-bridge we did not expect to have found in a vo-, lume of antiquities; which may, however, ferve to tranfmit an account of it to pofterity; and the print is, like the reft, well, executed.

Westminster Abbey, with its print, is very properly described, and depofited here; as are alfo Queen's Crofs, near Northampton; the Old Gate and Banqueting Houfe, Whitehall; Windfor Caftle, and St. James's Palace.

Befide

Befide the engravings already mentioned, fo far as we have proceeded in our account of thefe volumes, we should alfo take notice of the following; the Lodge in Bushy Park; Ruins of Bothwell Caftle; the Water-fall of Lodore, on Keswick Lake, Cumberland; Cluer Wall or Clearwell, the feat of Charles Windham, Efq; and, the Great Gate of St. Auguftine's Monaftery, Canterbury; to which are to be added fome mifcellaneous plates.

Here, for the prefent, we fhall take leave of the Repertory; propofing to lay before our Readers fome other particulars, in the next Number of our Review.

ART. III. A Voyage to New Guinea, and the Moluccas, from Balambangan: Including an Account of Magindano, Sooloo, and other Ilands; and illuftrated with Thirty Copper-plates. Performed in the Tartar Galley, belonging to the Honourable Eaft-India Company, during the Years 1774, 1775, 1776, by Capt. Thomas Forreit. To which is added, a Vocabulary of the Magindano Tongue. 4to. il. 11s. 6d. Robfon. 1779.

SOME

OME few years ago, Mr. Dalrymple, an ingenious gentleman in the Eaft-India fervice, projected, and ftrongly recommended, the making an English fettlement, or establishing a factory, on the island of Balambangan, near the north extremity of Borneo *. We gather, from the prefent publication, that this plan took effect+; that Mr. Dalrymple, who first made the English acquainted with the Sooloos, an active mercantile people who inhabit an archipelago between Borneo and Magindano, or, as it is generally termed, Mindanao, procured from them, for the Eaft-India Company, a grant of the north part of Borneo, with some islands on that coaft, which are prefumed not to be within the claim of any European power what

ever.

In Auguft 1774, ambaffadors came from the heir apparent of the Sultan of Mindanao to Balambangan, in whose train was a native of the Moluccas, who having been long employed there by the Dutch, had gained an accurate knowledge of those iflands. This man, whose name was Ifhmael Tuan Hadjee, had been beyond Pitt's Straits, as far as the coast of New Guinea, called Papua; and reported that nutmegs grew there. On this intelligence, and with a view to obtain fpices from places unconnected with the Dutch, Mr. Herbert, the chief, and his council, refolved to attempt a small embarkation to New Guinea; and intrusted the management of it to Capt. Forrest.

* See Review, vol. xl. p. 94. 427, and vol. xliv. p. 290. Though fince rendered abortive.