There has recently been discovered on the moor near Fullwood, by Sheffield, a chalybeate spring, which flows into a small covered recess formed of ashlar stone, and this stands just as it did when the wretched inhabitants of Eyam, believing the water to have sanatory virtues, came to drink of it, until a watch was placed on the spot by the Sheffield people, and they were driven back to their infected homes.
_Raleigh's Ring_ (Vol. v., p. 538.).--Sir Walter Raleigh's ring, which he wore at the time of his execution, is, I believe, in the possession of Capt. Edward James Blanckley, of the 6th Foot, now serving at the Cape of Good Hope. It is an heirloom in the Blanckley family, of which Captain Blanckley is the senior representative, who are directly descended from Sir Walter, and have in their possession several interesting relics of their great ancestor, viz. a curious tea-pot, and a state paper box of iron gilt and red velvet.
_Pandecte, an entire Copy of the Bible_ (Vol. v., p. 557.).--Your correspondent C. H. has noticed this word; I send you a short account of the Irish MSS. in the Bodleian Library, which I laid some time ago before the Royal Irish Academy, and which is printed in their _Proceedings_, vol. v. p. 162. I have there noticed a curious work by Oengus Cele De, or Oengus the Culdee, a writer of the eighth century, in which the word _Pandecte_ (or, as the Irish scribe spells it, _Pantecte_) is used in the same sense as that in which Alcuin employs it, for the _Bibliotheca_, or Bible of St. Jerome.
I have marked the passage, pp. 9, 10. of the enclosed paper, which if you think it worth while you may insert. But perhaps it may be enough to refer your readers to the above-mentioned volume of the _Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy_.
If among the writers of the present day there is one whose opinion with regard to Robin Hood and the cycle of ballads of which that renowned outlaw is the hero would be looked for with anxiety and received with respect, it is the Rev. Joseph Hunter, a gentleman in whom are happily combined that thorough historical and antiquarian knowledge, and that sound poetic taste which are required to do justice to so interesting a theme. The announcement, therefore, that the fourth of Mr. Hunter's _Critical and Historical Tracts_ is entitled _The Great Hero of the Ancient Minstrelsy of England, Robin Hood_. _His Period, real Character, &c., investigated, and perhaps ascertained_, will be received with welcome by all who rejoice "that the world was very guilty of such ballads some three ages since," and who, loving them and their hero, would fain know something of the history on which they are founded. Mr. Hunter dissents, and we think rightly, from two popular and recent theories upon the subject,--the one, that which elevates Robin Hood into the chief of a small body of Saxons impatient of their subjection to the Norman rule; the other, that which reduces him to one among the "personages of the early mythology of the Teutonic people." Mr. Hunter, on the other hand, _identifies_ him with one "Robyn Hood" who entered the service of Edward II. a little before Christmas 1323, and continued therein somewhat less than a twelvemonth: