265. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 20 October 1797 ⁠* 

October 20 1797 Bath

My dear Wynn

Can you tell me what were the arms of Salisbury & Talbot? they may be alluded to with good effect. Of Hungerford I accidentally found a singular circumstance connected with Hungerford. I rambled to Farley Castle, once the seat of that family, now a pile of ruins — small & trifling but well situated. the chapel is still roofed, & in a vault beneath lie five of the Hungerfords in pickle, in leaden cases bearing much such a rude resemblance to the human form as the mummy outsides a small leaden box contains their entrails. a hole has been bored by the shoulder of one, & in probing with a stick the bone xxx the shoulder may distinctly be felt, & the leathery fleshliness of the neck.

I have had no Coke [1]  yet. Bedford has a mischievous habit of delaying what he has to do. to instance in trifles — he has never yet given me a Musæus. [2] 

I have now omitted every thing miraculous, & given the historical account of the Maids first appearance. the burning of the Herald also is done. what remains to do is trifling — little alterations of lines & words, & a few insertions to mark the costume.

Madame Elizabeth [3]  cannot be connected with the names of Brissot & Rolands wife [4]  on account of the sentiments which associate with them. if a place can fitly be found I will willingly make mention of her — so as to but I must be careful not to be considered as confounding revolutionary excesses with revolutionary opinions.

I have procured an old translation of De Serres. [5]  but I am told the best account of the Maid is in the Histoire de l’Eglise Gallican par Berthier, [6]  a book I have sought for in vain. in Weys book from Le Grand [7]  there is a note from the Journal of Paris at that period, relating to her, which furnished me with subject for some of my best lines — they relate to a place she frequented in Lorraine called the Fountain of the Fairies. do you know either of these books?

I mean to consult Burneys History of Music [8]  for the instrument of the 14^th century. in Chaucer I for ever find the ribible [9]  — but nothing else & no explanation of that. now tho I have used one word which nobody understands. the jazerent of double mail — I shall not take the same liberty with another. jazerina often occurs in the Guerras Civiles de Granada. [10] 

fare you well. I shall keep term the 20^th of next month.

God bless you.

yrs sincerely

R Southey.

I forgot to say I saw Old Sarum. [11]