How they came to be made no man knowes; perhaps the mortar
was digged there for the building of the church.
* Marne is an old French word for marle.
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Having spoken of mists it brings to my remembrance that in December,
1653, being at night in the court at Sr. Charles Snell's at Kington
St. Michael in this country, there being a very thick mist, we sawe
our shadowes on the fogg as on a wall by the light of the lanternes,
sc. about 30 or 40 foot distance or more. There were several gentlemen
which sawe this; particularly Mr. Stafford Tyndale. I have been
enformed since by some that goe a bird-batting in winter nights that
the like hath been seen: but rarely.
[A similar appearance to that here mentioned by Aubrey is often
witnessed in mountainous countries, and in Germany has given rise to
many supernatural and romantic legends. The "spectre of the Brocken",
occasionally seen among the Harz mountains in Hanover, is described
by Mr. Brayley in his account of Cumberland, in the Beauties of
England and Wales, to illustrate some analogous appearances, which
greatly astonished the residents near Souterfell, in that county,
about a century ago.- J. B.]
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The north part of this county is much influenc't by the river Severne,
which flowes impetuously from the Atlantick Sea. It is a ventiduct,
and brings rawe gales along with it: the tydes bringing a chilnesse
with them.
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