Remarks on Mr. Long's Papers. 



51 



It may be said, no doubt, that Popham had probably purchased 

 the estate in 1585, in the name of Rogers and Clarke for £800, 

 (see p. 220, vol. iv). But this was certainly a very inadequate sum 

 to pay, (even if it was bona fide paid) for the handsome mansion 

 and estate of Littlecote with seven manors and 3400 acres of land, 

 30 farm houses, 20 cottages, 3 mills, and other appendages ! 



It may be justly argued that these latter points taken by them- 

 selves by no means warrant implicit belief in so grave an accusation 

 against Judge Popham as that with which the tradition preserved 

 by Aubrey charges him. But they tend at least to add some 

 probability to this part of the narrative. 



On the whole, without going the length of asserting that the 

 documents with which Mr. Long has favored us contain conclusive 

 evidence to the entire truth of the tale as related by Aubrey, it is 

 evident that they do confirm it in many of its most important 

 particulars. And it seems strange indeed that the gentleman to 

 whom we are indebted for their discovery and communication 

 should be the one of all others to declare that through their means 

 "the facts of the story have one by one melted away," "leaving 

 little or nothing of the dish first served up to us by our good gossip 

 Aubrey," and to sneer at the "credulity" of those who still think it 

 may have some foundation ! (vol. vi. p. 395.) 



If it had none before, other than " gossip" and "old wives" tales," 

 it has now, thanks to Mr. Long, a far more substantial one. It is 

 not often that legendary tales or local traditions have turned out 

 to be so well supported by the discovery of contemporary docu- 

 mentary evidence, as has happened through his aid to the Littlecote 

 Legend. 



I remain your's very truly, 



" A Credulous Arch^ologist." 



e 2 



