PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB l8l 



Many other figures rise before one in looking luick at 

 the CotteswoUl Cluh during its mediaeval [)eriod, besides 

 those ah-eady named. Foremost, of course, was the 

 President, W. V. Guise, a born captain of men, who, 

 to his position as a Baronet of old family united a very 

 remarkable power of description of whatever came under 

 his observation : then Dr Paine, George F. Playne, Edwin 

 Witchell, Canon Lysons, and J. D. T. Niblett. The last 

 two often enlivened the Field Walk or the Meeting by 

 their friendly sparring : for both were enthusiastic, both 

 highly original, each amusingly intolerant of the other : 

 and each, like the chief subject of this sketch, eminently 

 lovable. 



" I say Niblett — you know the Iron Well at Matson. 

 Well, they worked iron on Robins' Wood Hill in the 

 middle ages ! " 



" How do you make that out ?" replies Niblett, with a 

 politely incredulous grin. 



"I can show you a deed in w-hich the Abbot of Glou- 

 cester is entitled to work iron on the Hill." 



" Well — let us see it. Seeing is believing : and when 

 I see it I'll believe it." 



" Here it is ! . . . so and so . . . Fcn-uni!" 



" Let me get my glass to bear on it." . 



This was a magnifying-glass the size of a cheese-plate, 

 which he carried with other items in a leather bag slung 

 at his side. He usually prefaced its employment with an 



aside 1 always carry this glass, you know. It is very useful in making out old documents and 



coins. It has a large field, and my eyes are not so good as they were . . . 



A httle squaring up : and then, with a triumphant smile : 

 '' Ferruin ! '' — it isn't Fcrriim ! It's Foenum, as plain 

 as a pikestatf: and you always jump to conclusions like 

 that, Lysons ! The Monks of the Abbey had the right 

 to cut hay there : they were not such fools as to work 

 iron, for it wasn't there ! " 



And, thereafter, sudden collapse of the Canon : great 

 roaring, merciless laugh of the President, and unconcealed 



