506 Mr. Taylor on certain Passages of Aristotle and Plato. [July 1, The principle and cause however of these mutations is this, that the inward parts of the earth, in the same manner as the bodies of plants and animals, have their acme and old age: except that to the latter these things do not happen according to a part, but it is necessary that the whole should at once arrive at its acme, and at once decay; but to the earth this happens according to a part, on account of heat and cold." He adds, "when rivers are changed, disappearing indeed here, but being generated analogously in other places, the sea is necessarily changed. For where the sea being impelled by rivers superabounded, there when it recedes, it is necessary that it should make dry land; but where abounding with streams it becomes dry, there, when it is again spread abroad, it becomes stagnant. In consequence, however, of all natural generation about the earth subsisting from succession, and in a very great length of time with respect to our life, we are ignorant of these mutations: and entire nations are destroyed and corrupted before these changes are remembered from beginning to end." Afterwards, he observes, "We should conceive however that the cause of all these particulars is this, that as winter is produced in the seasons of the year, so in destined times, in a certain great period, there is a great winter and an excess of rain. This, however, does not always happen in the same regions, but takes place just as that did which is called the Deluge of Deucalion. For this happened principally about Greece, and especially ancient Greece; and this is about Dodona and Achelous. For this river has in many places changed its stream; for the Selli dwelt there, and those who were then called Graikoi,* but now Hellenes.". The principal part of the commentary of Olympiodorus, one of the best of the Greek interpreters of Aristotle on this chapter, is as follows: "The thing now proposed by Aristotle, says Olympiodorus, is to show that the parts of the earth change according to dryness and moisture, from being Tgain. This word, says Olympiodorus, the Romans mark with an acute accent in the penultimate syllable, calling it ygainos, He adds, "But universally, the Romans mark every noun in this way, in consequence of their arrogance and ostentation; whenee they are called by the poets "beyond measure proud." moist becoming more dry, and from being dry becoming moist. But moisture being triple, viz. either potable, or salt, or marshy, he shows that all moisture changes into dryness. For that earth changes from potable moisture into drymess, and from dryness into potable moisture, is evident from the disappearing and appearing of rivers. For places which were formerly aqueous have now become dry, and those which were formerly dry now abound with moisture. And this happens indeed with respect to potable moisture. It also happens with respect to salt or marine moisture. And that this is true is evident from the continent becoming sea, and the sea becoming continent. This, however, Olym piodorus adds, happens, in consequence of what is called the great winter, and the great summer. But the great winter is when all the planets become situated in a wintry sign, viz. either in Aquarius, or in Pisces. And the great summer, is when all of them are situated in a summer sign, viz. either in Leo, or Cancer. For as the sun alone when he is in Leo causes summer, but when he is in Capricorn, winter, and thus the year is formed, which is so denominated, because the sun tends to one and the same point, (Evalos), for his restitution is from the same to the same; in like manner there is an arrangement of all the planets effected in long periods of time, which produces the great year. For if all the planets becoming vertical heat in the same manner as the sun, but departing from this vertical position refrigerate, it is not unreasonable to suppose that when they become vertical, they produce a great summer, but when they have departed from this position, a great winter. In this great winter, therefore, the continent becomes sea: but in the great summer the contrary happens, in conse quence of the burning heat, and there being great dryness where there was moisture. Aristotle also assigns another cause of the sea becoming continent, and the continent sea. For rivers in running into the sea, by the mud which they bring them, form shores. and thus that place becomes land; but when they do not run into the sea, they cause the land to become sea. Except that rivers, both when they run, and when they do not run into the sea, produce each of these changes, yet not after the same manner. For if a river should happen to run into the sea about the southern part, the sea becomes continent. In 1815.] Meteorological Observations for 1814. this case, however, it is necessary that the sea should be impelled to the opposite continent, and that continent become sea. And this happens indeed, if a river runs into the sea. But if it does not, the water again returns to its proper place; and thus that which was formerly sea becomes continent, and that which was formerly continent becomes sea. That the sea however becomes continent, and the continent sea, Aristotle evinces from Egypt. For for merly it was sea; and the Nile always bringing with it fresh mud, (whence also it was called Nile) which became accumulated in the oblique parts of the river and the sea, from the addition which by this means was gradually made, the sea at length became a continent. Hence Herodotus calls Egypt the gift of the Nile; but Aristotle calls it the work of the Nile. And Aristotle denominates it better than Herodotus, because he calls it by an agricultural name; for the Nile as it were cultivates Egypt. Not indeed that Herodotus uses an unappropriate name; for the Egyptians possess the formation of their land as the gift of the Nile. "But that Egypt was formed from the mud accumulated by the Nile, Aristotle shows from three arguments. First, that all the mouths through which the Nile exonerates itself into the sea, except the Canobic (or Canopic) were made by tire hand, viz. by human art, and not 507 by the river. Hence it is a sign that The coldest day, Jan. 10, Thermometer 15°-The hottest day, July 5th, Thermometer 76. • Some of the Observations in January, are extracted from the London Journals. The above Observations were taken in the County of Chester, and may be depended A NATURALIST. upon as accurate. It is much to be wished that a regular Series of Monthly and Annual Meteorological Observations for the last 20 or 30 years were collected and published. In London such a collection might easily be made, and a ready sale would cover the expense. 508 Queries suggested by a History of Basing House. MR. EDITOR, I HAVE just had put into my hands a pamphlet, lately published, entitled "The History of Basing House, in Hampshire; containing an interesting Account of the Siege it sustained during the Civil War: with Notices of Distinguished Persons concerned in its Transactions." It appears to have been compiled by some person in the neighbourhood; but it is so brief as to render it desirable to obtain further information respecting the family who resided there, the history of the house, and particularly of the transactions of the siege. These particulars, perhaps, some of your readers may be both able and willing to communicate. I will take the liberty to make some extracts from the work on which to found my inquiries. "Basing, or Old Basing, is a considerable village in Hampshire, about two miles north-east from Basingstoke. The name is Saxon, and signifies a coat of mail; to which it is said the place once bore some resemblance, referring perhaps to its military strength. That it was previous to the Conquest, a place of more importance than Basingstoke, there is no reason to doubt, from the Saxon addition of stoke (or hamlet) added to the latter. Basing is memorable for a bloody battle fought here between the Danes and the Saxons, commanded by King Ethelred and his brother Alfred, in the year 871, in which the latter were defeated. It became still more famous, however, for the gallant stand made against the forces of the Parliament, in the reign of Charles the First, by John Pawlet, Marquis of Winchester, a lineal descendant of Hugh de Port,* Lord of Basing, who, at the period of the Doomsday Survey, held 55 lordships in this county. Basing, the head of these extensive possessions, appears to have been very early the site of a castle, as mention of the land of the old castle of Basingt occurs in a grant made by John de It appears that "Hugh de Port, Lord of Basing, held at least two manors, Cerde. ford and Eschetune, by inheritance from his ancestors, before the Conquest ;" and "Wm. Rufus he took the habit of a monk at Winchester." "His son, Henry de Port, Lord of Basing, was buried at Cerusie in Normandy. (Gent. Mag. Aug. 1787.) Was he, or was he not, of Norman descent? Can any of your correspondents favour us with an account of his ancestors; or of his descendants prior to Sir Wm. Powlet, the first Marquis of Winchester? +Can any of your readers inform us when the Old Castle of Basing was built, or give any other information respecting it? [July 1, Port, to the neighbouring priory of Monk's Sherborne, in the reign of Henry the Second. William, his grandson, assumed the name of St. John; and Robert, Lord St. John, in the forty-third of Henry the Third, obtained a license to fix a pole upon the banu of his moat at Basing, and also permission to continue it so fortified during the king's pleasure. In the time of Richard the Second, Basing, with other estates of this family, was transferred by marriage to the Poynings; and again, in the time of Henry the Sixth, to the Pawlets, by the marriage of Constance, heiress of the former, with Sir John Pawlet, of Nunny Castle, in Somersetshire." "Sir Wm. Pawlet, knt. third in descent from this couple, created Baron St. John of Basing by Henry the Eighth, and Earl of Wiltshire and Marquis of Winchester by Edward the Sixth, was a very polite nobleman, and greatly in favour at court through most of the successive changes that occurred in the reigns of Henry the Eighth, Edward the Sixth, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth. He held the office of treasurer nearly thirty years. Being asked how he contrived to maintain his situation in such perilous times, wherein so many great changes had taken place in church and state, he answered, by being a willow, and not an oak. He rebuilt the castle at Basing in a magnificent and even princely style; so much so, indeed, that Camden, in allusion to the vast expense of living entailed on his family by its splendour, observes, that it was so overpowered by its own weight, that his posterity have been forced to pull down a part of it.'” "Here King Edward the Sixth was entertained by the Marquis of Winches ter, with his retinue, for four days.t King Philip and Queen Mary, whom the Marquis had accompanied to Winchester after their marriage, were also entertained here for five days. Here also, in the year 1560, he entertained Queen Elizabeth with all good chear,' and so He is said to have left a manuscript account of his life; and also gave a particular detail of the siege of Boulogne, where he was one of the principal commanders. Can any of your correspondents oblige us by an account of either of the above manuscripts, or of their contents, or of any thing else respecting him? + Can any of your readers favour us with an account of either of the entertainments at Basing House?-The writer believes Warner has an account of them in his collections for the History of Hampshire, pab lished in five or six volumes, folio. 1815.] Inquiries suggested by a History of Basing House. 6 much to her satisfaction, that she playfully lamented his great age; for, by my troth,' said the delighted sovereign, if my lord treasurer were but a young man, I could find in my heart to have him for a husband before any man in England.' This nobleman died in 1572, at the age of 97, having lived to see 103 of his own immediate descendants: he was buried in Basing church. William, his great grandson, and fourth Marquis of Winchester, had likewise, in the year 1601, the honour of having Queen Elizabeth for a guest, and that for a period of 'thirteen days, to the greate charge of the sayde Lorde Marquesse. During her residence here, the Duke of Biron, accompanied by about 20 of the French nobility, and a retinue of nearly 400 persons, were lodged at the Vine, the seat of Lord Sandys, which house had been purposely furnished with hangings and plate from the Tower and Hampton Court, and with sevenscore beds and furniture, which the willing and obedient people of the countrie of Southampton, upon two dayes warning, had brought in thither to lend the Queene.' When Elizabeth departed from Basing, she affirmed that she had done that in Hampshire that none of her ancestors ever did, neither that any Prince in Christendome could doe: that was, she had in her progresses, at her subjects' houses, entertained a royal ambassador, and had royally entertained him. This marquis died in 1628, at Hawkwood, now Hackwood, the present seat of his descendants. 509 could not take it. The Marquis declared, that if the King had no more ground in England than Basing House, he would hold it out to the extremity. At first there were none but the Marquis's own family, and 100 musqueteers from Oxford, but afterwards the King supplied him as occasion required. To inspire the garrison with courage and perseverance in the resolute contest, he wrote with a diamond in every window Love Loyalty; for which reason the house was called Loyalty House, and the words in French, Aimez Loyaulté, afterwards became the motto of the family arms, as they are to the present day. "The investment commenced in August, 1643: the first material assaults were made by Sir Wm. Waller, (called from his former successes, William the Conqueror,) who thrice within nine days attempted to take it by storm, with 7000 men, but was repulsed, and obliged to retreat with great loss to Farnham. "The final investment of Basing House appears to have been undertaken by Cromwell. When the king's cause declined every where, this general came with his victorious troops out of the west, and attacked Basing House, and so vigorously pushed on the siege, that the royalists saw it impossible for them to hold out as they had formerly done, and thereupon desired a parley; but Oliver was resolved to chastise them for their obstinate loyalty, and would hearken to no proposals, intending to take it by storin. Having therefore posted his army around the house, the "John, his son, the fifth Marquis of attack was begun, and Sir Hardress Winchester, was the brave nobleman Waller's and Colonel Montague's regiwho rendered his name illustrious by his ments having forced the works of the gallant defence of Basing House, in the besieged, mounted the walls and entered cause of Charles the First, during a tedi- the house before the defendants perceiv ous siege and blockade, or rather a suc-ed their danger. Thus Basing House, cession of them, with short intermissions, which had held out so long, and had been continued upwards of two years. thought almost impregnable, was length taken by storm, Oct. the 14th, 1645, and burnt to the ground. Seventytwo men were lost on the king's side, and about 200 (another account says 400) taken prisoners, among whom was the Marquis himself, and several other persons of distinction, whom Cromwell sent up to the parliament, and received the thanks of the house for these successful services. The number of soldiers slain before the walls, from the first commencement of the siege, is recorded to have been upwards of 2000. "This noble mansion was built upon a rising ground, and was surrounded with a brick rampart, which was lined with earth, and all encompassed with a dry ditch. Basing House is not to be confounded with the castle; to the east of which it was situated at a small distance, some remains of the foundations still existing. "In the beginning of the Civil Wars, this garrison much distressed the Parlia mentarians by the command it had of the western road, insomuch that it was several times besieged by their forces under Col. Norton, Col. Morley, and Sir Wm. Waller, who greatly distressed, but NEW MONTHLY MAG.-No. 18, at 510 Inquiries suggested by a History of Basing House. The plunder obtained on this occasion is said to have amounted to 200,000l. in cash, jewels, and furniture, among which was a bed worth 1,400l. A private soldier is said to have received 300l. as his share of the booty. Among the distinguished persons taken prisoner was Sir Robert Peake, who commanded the garrison under the Marquis. Lieut.-col. Wiburn, and Serjeant-major Cufaude, of the Loyalists, are said to have been slain in cold blood. Dr. Thos. Johnson, the celebrated botanist, being with the royal army, received a wound of which he died. Six Catholic priests (the Marquis being a Catholic) were also among the slain. Robinson, a stage-player, was killed by Major-gen. Harrison, who is said to have refused him quarter, and shot him in the head when he had laid down his arms. Hollar, the celebrated engraver, who was there at the time, made his escape. Dr. Thos. Fuller, author of the Church History of Britain, and other works, being a chaplain in the royal army under Lord Hopton, was for some time shut up in Basing House while it was besieged. Even here, as if sitting in the study of a quiet parsonage far removed from the din of war, he prosecuted his favourite work, entitled The Worthies of England; discovering no sign of fear, but only complaining that the noise of the cannon, which was continually thundering from the lines of the besiegers, interrupted him in digesting his notes. Dr. Fuller, however, animated the garrison to so vigorous a defence, that Sir Wm. Waller was obliged to raise the siege with considerable loss, by which the fate of Basing House was for a considerable while suspended. When it was besieged a second time and fell, Lord Hopton's army took shelter in the city of Exeter, whither Fuller accompanied it. "Hugh Peters was at the taking of Basing House, and being come to London to make a report of it to the parliament, said it was a house fit for an emperor to dwell in, it was so spacious and beautiful. The Marchioness of Winchester, second wife of the Marquis, was distinguished for courage and prudence, like the celebrated Blanche, Lady Arundel, who so nobly defended Wardour Castle. The Marchioness valiantly aided in the defence of Basing House, which was Can any of your correspondents favour us with an account of either or all of the above distinguished persons, or inform us where an account of them is to be found? [July 1, taken during her absence. She wrote a journal of the proceedings relative to the siege.* "After the original house was destroyed, a mansion was built on the north side of the road opposite the ruins. This house was pulled down about fifty or sixty years ago, and the materials carried to Cannons near Kingsclere.t "The brave Marquis, whose property was thus reduced to ruins in the cause of his sovereign, lived till the Restoration, but received no recompense from an ungrateful court for his immense losses. His loyalty was the more remarkable as coming from a Catholic subject to a Protestant King. During the latter part of his life he resided at Englefield, in Berkshire, where he built a noble mansion, the front of which resembled the face of a church organ, but it has suffered by some late modernizations. Dying in 1674, he was buried in the parish church: the epitaph on his monument was written by the poet Dryden, and is as follows: "He, who in impious times undaunted And midst rebellion durst be just and good; more before, Rests here; rewarded by an heav'nly Prince in thee, Few subjects could a King like thine deserve; * Has any of your readers seen the Journal of the Marchioness? Was it ever published, if so, where is it to be seen? The Journal of the Siege of Basing House, printed at Oxford in 1845, is considered as one of the most eventful pieces of history during the civil war. Can any of your readers favour us with it, or extracts from it, or inform us where it may be procured or seen? + An engraving of Basing House accompanies the history. It appears to be copied from the plate in Warner's collections for the History of Hampshire. Is Warner's engraving intended for the house destroyed by Cromwell, or for the more modern mansion built afterwards? From its being bounded on one side by water, it is supposed to be intended for the latter, which was built on the edge of the river Loddon. ↑ Can any of your correspondents furnish further particulars respecting him, or refer to any work where they may be found? |