OF AN INSECT-HUNTER. 397 



leaped in the air to the height of fifty-three feet, and fell on 

 his back. His wings stretched out for a moment, quivered, 

 and then folded over him, and he died. But the stench which 

 the monster sent forth, came through the bung-hole of the 

 hogshead, and killed the man ; which shows vei'y clearly that 

 he should have taken the precaution to take out the bung from 

 the inside, and instantly replace it when he had fired. 



Eegenb t\)t Second. 



m)z Eton of Hug. 



Merivald, or Merowald, or Merwald, or Merewalch, was 

 king of Hereford, a.d, 625. This kingdom originally formed 

 part of the great kingdom of Mercia, founded by Crida, a.d. 

 584, but was separated therefrom by Ethelred, in favour of 

 his brother Merowald. Now Ethelred himself had no title 

 to the kingdom of Mercia, but therein supplanted his nephew 

 Kenrid, the son of Wolpher, the son of Penda. Merowald was 

 a man of very good intentions, but it does not appear he had 

 the honesty to act on them. He was always lamenting that 

 his brother Ethelred and himself should usurp that which 

 belonged to their nephew Kenrid, but he had not the honesty 

 to give up even that portion which he himself held. His heart 

 constantly wavered between avarice and generosity. Merowald 

 held his court at Llednau, now Lemster,"^ the principal town in 

 his kingdom, and his mind was ill at rest. So he left his palace 

 one night, and wandered down to the banks of Lug, and made 

 as though he would have drowned himself in its waters. And 

 he reasoned with himself: " Wherefore," said he, " do I hold 

 a kingdom that is not mine ? I will hold it no longer ; yet will 

 not turn out a beggar and a vagabond ; I will die, and my 

 kingdom will pass to its rightful owner." He stood on the 

 river's bank. Then there was a loud rushing noise, and a 

 huge lion came up out of Lug, and shook himself thrice, and 

 came and stood before him. Merowald trembled with affright. 

 Then the lion spoke and said: " Merowald, I know thy de- 

 termination, and I come to turn thy mind to better things : thy 



^ Leland says that king Merwald had a castle or palace on a hill-side by the 

 town of Lemster. "The place," he adds, "is now called Comfor Castle, and 

 there are to be seen tokens of ditches where buildings have been." The Insect- 

 Hunter is not aware of the precise spot to which Leland refers. 

 NO. V. VOL. IV. 3 F 



