TALBOT2441

Markeaton ¹

23^d October 1832

My Dear Mother

Yesterday we went to see the ruins of Tutbury Castle, 11 miles from here on the banks of the river Dove, in a very fertile but unromantic part of its course. The day was a beautiful autumnal one, with a bright & cheerful sun. The Castle stands on a slight eminence the remains of it are not very considerable but derive interest from the recollection of its former grandeur, when John of Gaunt ² & his wife the Queen of Castile ³ lived there. An excellent history of the castle has lately been published by Sir Oswald Mosely ⁴ who was induced to do so by the extraordinary circumstance of a prodigious number of coins, no less than three hundred thousand being found last year in the bed of the river. They were silver pennies of Edward I & II. ⁵ On examining history it was found that on a certain year in the latter king’s reign the castle was in open rebellion against the king, whose army approaching unexpectedly the garrison took to flight, in crossing the Dove the boat containing the military chest upset, & the treasure descended to the bottom of the river where it lay buried until 1831 when it reappeared to the astonished eyes of the modern inhabitants –

I am very anxious to hear about Caroline ⁶ I hope you will send me good news in a few days – Direct here –

Yours affectionately

Henry

Here is a specimen of feudal justice from Sir Oswald’s history. On a certain day at Tutbury one John accused one William of theft, in that he had stolen a Cow, whereupon he was ordered to maintain the charge by wager of battle.

So he, the said John, overcame the said William.

So he, the said William, was hanged.

This is an authentic document; is it not much more convenient than our modern tardy proceedings by indictment?

Lady E. Feilding
31 Sackville Street
London