—In Hutchins's Dorset, vol. i. p. 91., is a pedigree of Lovel of Tarrant Rawson carried back to the later years of Hen. VII. In that genealogy the first person is described as William Lovel of Tarent Rawson, alias "Antiocheston." Under what circumstances did he come by this cognomen? Was he connected with any branch of the house of Yvery, and in what manner?
The arms are Barry nebulé of six O. and G., quartering 2. Arg. a cheveron G. between three ermines; 3. Erm. a cheveron sab.; 4. Erm. on a chief indented G. three ducks A.
Crest: a fox az. bezanté collared with a coronet O.
AMANUENSIS.
137. Cagots.
—Can any of your readers give me any information about the Cagots in the south of France, whose history has been written by Mons. Michel, in a work entitled Sur les Races Maudits? There seems to be great doubt about their origin; are they remnants either of the Saracens or the Paulicians? They still, I am told, exist in the deep Pyrenean vallies, and are a most degraded race. Is there any analogy between them and the Cretins of the Alps, with the difference, that in the Alps Cretinism is regarded with kindness, in the Pyrenees with scorn? If so, does this point to the existence of a Celtic and non-Celtic element in the races inhabiting the respective mountain chains? idiotcy being reverenced especially among the Celtic races. Then, as before the first French revolution, the Cagots had a particular place and door set apart for them in the churches. Does not this look like their being Paulicians forced into orthodoxy, or equally, perhaps, Saracen Christians, similar to the Jew Christians of Spain?
RUSTICUS.
138. Execution under singular Circumstances.
—I have read somewhere, but failed to "make a note of it" at the time, an anecdote of a singular occurrence at Winchester, to the following effect.
Some years ago a man was apprehended near ——, in Hampshire, charged with a capital offence (sheep-stealing I believe). After being examined before a justice of the peace, he was committed to the county gaol at Winchester for trial at the ensuing assizes. The evidence against the man was too strong to admit of any doubt of his guilt; he was consequently convicted, and sentence of death (rigidly enforced for this crime at the period alluded to) pronounced. Months and years passed away, but no warrant for his execution arrived. In the interval a marked improvement in the man's conduct and bearing became apparent. His natural abilities were good, his temper mild, and his general desire to please attracted the attention and engaged the confidence of the governor of the prison, who at length employed him as a domestic servant; and such was his reliance on his integrity, that he even employed him in executing commissions not only in the city, but to places at a great distance from it. After a considerable lapse of time, however, the awful instrument, which had been inadvertently concealed among other papers, was discovered, and at once forwarded to the high sheriff, and by the proper authority to the unfortunate delinquent himself. My purpose is brief relation only; suffice it to say the unhappy man is stated under these affecting circumstances to have suffered the last penalty of the law.