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son, who bore the name of Ambrose, became concerned in the Barclay Conspiracy, and was hanged at Tyburn, in the year 1696. The following singular paper was delivered to the Sheriff by the condemned man on the scaffold upon the day he suffered --namely, April 29th, 1696.

"Having committed the justice of my cause, and recommended my soul, to God, on whose mercies, through the merits of Jesus Christ, I wholly cast myself; I had once resolved to die in silence; but, second thoughts of my duty to others, chiefly to my true and liege Sovereign K. James, moved me to leave this behind me. I do, therefore, with all truth and sincerity, declare and avow, I never knew, saw, or heard, of any order or commission from K. James for the assassinating of the Prince of Orange, and attacking his guards, but I am certainly informed he had rejected proposals of that nature when made unto him. Nor do I think he knew the least of the particular design of attacking the guards at his landing, in which I was engaged, as a soldier, by my immediate commander (much against my judgment,) but his soldier I was, and as such I was to obey and act. Near twelve years I have served my true King and master K. James, and freely now lay down my life in his cause. I ever abhor'd a treacherous action even to an enemy. If it be a guilt to have complied with what I thought, and still think, to have been my duty, I am guilty. No other guilt do I own. As I beg of all to forgive me, so I forgive all from my heart, even the Prince of Orange, who, as a soldier, ought to have considered my case before he signed the warrant for my death. I pray God to open his eyes and render him sensible of the much blood from all parts crying out against him, so to prevent a heavier execution hanging over his head, than what he inflicts on me. London, printed in the year 1696,"

A younger branch of the Rookwood family, resided at Euston. Here, Edward Rookwood, who, although a Roman Catholic, signed a paper in conjunction with other persons declaratory of his attachment to the crown and person of Elizabeth, and renouncing his belief in the deposing power of the Pope, received

his Royal Mistress with much hospitality at his house, and regaled both her and her retinue at no little cost. The Queen, however, in return, we presume for the expression of his loyalty, grossly insulted Rookwood in his own mansion, and had him sent off to Norwich Gaol. Not content with this, she afterwards visited him with a heavy fine, and heaped upon him many indignities," grievous to bear." He ended his days in the gaol of Bury St. Edmund's, and was buried at St. James's Church, in that town. The register contains the following entry of his funeral-" Mr. Rookwood, from the Jaill, buried June 14th, 1598." The affairs of the victim's family, it appears fell into irretrievable confusion, and the estate at Euston, was sold to relieve their distresses.

MRS. INCHBALD.

The village in which was born a dramatist confessedly ranking higher in talent than the immortal Centlivre, and the authoress of one of the most affecting tales in the English language "The simple story" is certainly entitled to a place among the historic sites of the county. There are few shires in the kingdom honoured as they all are by being the native spots of some of the children of genius, that can boast of producing three so eminent in literature as Crabbe, Bloomfield, and Elizabeth Inchbald. These worthies are, however, all natives of Suffolk, and with many others, serve more closely to rivet the connection of this part of the kingdom with much that is noble in the history of the nation.

In our notice of the village of Stanningfield, we have not to voyage up the stream of history almost to its earliest source. The time since Stanningfield became famous has as yet not past away from being part and parcel of the remembrances of living memories. There yet exist many old and garrulous people, who still chatter of their recollections of the Simpson family, at

Stanningfield, and can picture to themselves the lively Lizzey, who afterwards became the celebrated Mrs. Inchbald, even as she lived.

The parents of our heroine occupied a farm for a considerable number of years, in the above-named village, which is situated in the western division of the county, and about five miles from the town of Bury St. Edmund's, and the lady herself was there born on the 15th day of October, 1753. She was one of a numerous progeny, and the girls, especially Elizabeth, were much admired for their extreme beauty. The family were of the Catholic religion, and being of a highly-respectable character, were much visited by both Catholic and Protestant families of the neighbourhood.

It would appear from the biographies of Mrs. Inchbald, that in her earlier years her mind was of a very simple cast and gave no evidence of the strength it possessed, and which shone so conspicuously in after years both in her productions and her personal conduct. The town of Bury St. Edmund's appears to have bounded the extent of her early notions, and the delights of its great fair, with an attendance at the theatre during the season, to leave nothing beyond as enjoyments worthy of being sought. As time rolled on, and the girl approached the middle of her teens, a desire to see the world entered so strongly into her determination, that it was found impossible either to eradicate or subdue it. Although suffering under a stammering affection of her speech, she made a secret application for an engagement in the Norwich company of theatricals, to the manager Griffith, which was, of course, rejected. It is considered that this application was the result of a feeling of admiration towards the person of the leader of the Norwich corps of Thespians, whom she had seen repeatedly at Bury St. Edmund's, and his refusal to employ her, gave her much pain. The existence of this feeling is much strengthened, if not confirmed, by the fact, that in a blank leaf of her pocket-book, the name of Richard Griffith, is written, with the commentary, "Each dear letter of thy name is harmony," attached. It is also known, that in after years the visits of this gentleman always gave her real and deep pleasure.

It appears that the family at Stanningfield, were not more free from the visits of misfortune than others, for in April, 1761, the father died, and left his widow to struggle with difficulties and bring up a numerous family as she best could. And to the honour of the mother of Mrs. Inchbald, it is necessary to say, that in all matters, she proved herself a most exemplary parent. Instruction flowed from her mind and was effectively shewn in her behaviour. She does not appear to have been prudish, or even strict in her government over the conduct of the different members of her family, but to have watched their morals, taught them their duties, and directed their studies with a just knowledge of propriety and a sensible judgment. The good qualities of her parent appear never to have been forgotten by Mrs. Inchbald, but to have merited and engaged her love with few exceptions, until the day of her death.

Although the career of our heroine as an authoress, affords tempting opportunities for dilation, we must forego them, and restrict ourselves in our notices of her life, to the connection which she maintained with the "old accustomed place," at Stanningfield, and recording such changes in the circumstances and persons of the family as will keep us to the spot.

The intense desire to see the world, which we have before observed became the ruling passion of our heroine, was at last productive of an act of indiscretion, which cannot be too highly blamed. Perceiving no means of indulging her wishes in the usual course of things, she determined on forsaking the quiet of her home, and reaching that "ocean to the river of her thoughts," the mighty London. Accordingly, on the 11th April 1771, she left her mother's house at a very early hour, and meeting the Norwich Fly, reached the metropolis in due time, and took lodgings at the Rose and Crown Inn, in St. John's street. The indiscretion of so strange a proceeding, appears to have been fully apparent to her mind, as also a consciousness that the pain inflicted upon her parent would be great. These matters appear in the following letter which the fugitive left upon the table of her room, before she

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quitted the quiet home which had for so many years sheltered and maintained her. "By the time you receive this, I shall have left Stanningfield—and perhaps for ever. You are surpri sed-but be not uneasy;-believe that the step I have taken, however indiscreet, is in no ways criminal; unless I sin by not acquainting you with it, which it was impossible for me to do, though strongly pressed by the desire of giving you a personal farewell. I now endure every pang-one not lost to all feeling must-on thus quitting the tenderest and best of mothers; I would say most beloved too, but cannot prove my affection;— yet time may;-to that I must submit my hope of regaining your regard. The censure of the world I despise; as the most worthy incur the reproaches of that. Should I ever think you wish to hear from me, I will write." Doubtless the mother felt the sentiment of the valedictory epistle as strongly as the child.

One of the first consequences of this journey to our heroine, was her marriage with Mr. Inchbald, and her entrance upon the stage of life as an actress. Her husband who followed the drama as a profession, having accepted an engagement at Bristol, both he and his newly acquired wife, travelled with more than due celerity to that city. On the boards of the theatre of that place, Mrs. Inchbald made her appearance, on the evening of the 4th September, 1772, in the character of Cordelia. Her debut was not marked by any developement of sterling or lofty talent, and created little or no remark. Her utterance, marred by a natural stammer, and the profession to which she had attached herself though the favorite object of her life, being new in its practice, it is not to be expected that she should have made any impression. The character, however, intrusted to her delineation, being one of a difficult nature, and never placed in the hands of any who would be likely to spoil its fine effect, it is but natural to conclude that her abilites were considered equal to engage with it.

The engagement of herself and husband in the Bristol company was not of long duration, and taking an opportunity of a

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