Worcestershire, of melancholy aspect. Speaking of France, says Burgundy "Her vine, the merry cheerer of the heart, But hateful Docks, rough Thistles, Kecksies, Burs, And as our fallows, meads, and hedges, Defective in their natures, grow to wildness, Even so our houses, and ourselves, and children, Here, again, is desolation well delineated King Henry V., Act V. Sc. 2. "The trees, though summer, yet forlorn and bare, Titus Andronicus, Act II., Sc. 3. Horticulture, in Shakespeare's hands, too, can afford spirited political satires— "Go, bind thou up yon dangling Apricocks, Cut of the heads of too-fast-growing sprays * The pretty custom of decking graves with flowers is thus given— "With fairest flowers, While summer last, and I live here, Fidele, I'll sweeten thy sad grave: Thou shalt not lack, The flowers that's like thy face, pale Primrose ; nor * * Yea, and furr'd Moss besides, when flowers are none, To winter-ground thy corse.' Cymbeline, Act IV., Sc. 2. Such are a few of Shakespeare's many illustrations from flowers and plants. More might be added, did time and space admit. Poor Ophelia's rhapsody, must There's Fennel for you, and Columbines: there's Rue Hamlet, Act IV., Sc. 5. The paper was read amidst interruption from the tramp! tramp! tramp! of the Warwickshire militia returning home, and the usual station noises; but it was Shakesperean, and thus had to be read on the spot. By the time it was finished, the special carriages appeared for the return journey. This journey, too, was very pleasantly accomplished though a very interesting paper, by the President, on the "Life of Shakespeare," had to be read to the occupants of a single carriage. (We hope, however, that this may be sent to us for publication, that the occupants of the other carriages may be in some measure consoled for their loss). The Woolhope Club has thus been able to accomplish a pilgrimage to the birthplace of Shakespeare, which has long been contemplated. He, of all poets, deserves admiration and devotion from the members of Naturalist Field Clubs, for he, of all others, has best described their aim and objects. "And this our life, exempt from public haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, As You Like It, Act II., Sc. 1. Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club. AUGUST 20TH, 1883. CAYNHAM CAMP AND TITTERSTONE CLEE HILL. Retirement, rural quiet, friendship, books, SUCH are the fascinations attributed by the Ludlow Handbook "to the beauties of Nature lavished around within ten miles of the town." Beautiful, certainly, the scenery is. Ludlow itself, its castle, its church, and the walks on Whitcliff, are sufficiently attractive, and the interest in the country around is exceedingly diversified and beautiful. A Club Field Meeting at Ludlow is always appreciated, and the members of the Woolhope Club rarely pass a year without going there for some object or other. The meeting this year was a joint one with the Malvern Club, and at the station at Hereford the Woolhope members welcomed the arrival of Mr. Henry Wilson, the Malvern President, with the Rev. I. Gregory Smith and his sons Masters Arthur and Basil Smith, Colonel Twynam, Messrs. W. Barkley, E. R. C. Hayes, E. L. Lakin, and G. H. Williamson, with Mrs. Taylor. The Woolhope members present at the meeting were: The President, Mr. G. H. Piper; the Revds. W. Bowell, Godfrey Buckle, C. Burrough, Dr. Robert Dixon and Master Charles S. Dixon, E. R. Firmstone, J. E. Grasett, H. B. D. Marshall, A. Palmer, H. W. Phillott, David Price, and H. W. Tweed; Drs. Bull and Chapman; Major Doughty; Captains Kerr, R. E., and Morgan, R.E.; Messrs. H. G. Apperley, A. Armitage, W. Beacall, T. Davies Burlton, J. Docking, P. C. Cleasby, T. W. Fortey, Charles Fortey, G. H. Hadfield, W. Hebb, E. E. Ingham, Edwin Lloyd and Miss Lloyd, H. C. Moore, T. C. Paris, G. H. Phillott, William Phillips, A. J. Purchas, H. T. Purchas, J. Riley, O. Shellard, and J. Stanley Whittock. On arrival at Ludlow carriages were awaiting the visitors, and drove off at once for Caynham camp. Here the party were joined by Sir William Curtis, Bart., Mr. G. B. Charleton, Miss Charleton, Master J. E. Charleton, Miss Dyke, Rev. J. Ross (vicar of Caynham), Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd (Ludlow), and some few others whose names did not get on the list of those present. The visitors having examined an outwork on the western side then entered the camp, and walked along the outer vallums on the southern side. The camp occupied the summit of a hill some 600 feet above sea-level, and its strong entrenchments must have made it very formidable to attack. These advantages, however, are dealt with in the papers which follow, and it is sufficient to say that having reached the high embankments which guard its eastern entrance, the President's whistle was heard, and the visitors soon clustered around him to hear the following paper read by Mr. Wilson, the President of the Malvern Club: CAYNHAM CAMP. (BY A SOLDIER ASSOCIATE OF THE BRITISH ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.) On my last visit to Ludlow you expressed a wish to have my opinion noted down about your very interesting encampment about two miles east of the town, which goes by the name of the Roman camp. Here I differ completely from the public as to this origin of Caynham, and I will give you my reasons. The Romans under Cæsar, when first in Britain, 53 years before the Christian era, were very expert in the rules and methods of the art of castrametation, and were equally if not more clever in this respect about 100 years afterwards, which was the time of the final conquest of England. They had experienced in their long continental wars the necessity of constructing their camps in the form of a square as the true way of sound defence, facing the enemy on all its lines and obtaining flank defence (flank fires as we should call them now). This figure, either a perfect square or a parallelogram, has ever since been adopted by modern nations. The camp at Caynham is of the shape of a broad ellipse, and has not the regular outlets to the four points as was always the case in Roman camps. Perhaps the north and south sides being very precipitous these doors or outlets might have been unnecessary, but two would have existed and would have been made in the centre of the faces, and not, as at Caynham, in a corner of the west and east sides or faces. However, here the opening in the east face led into the camp from what was formerly an esplanade, a level land of a triangular shape which might have served for the purpose of assembling, or marketing, or storing for a while provisions outward bound or inward due, and some kind of rude path must have led from there to the bottom of the hill. Not the slightest geological or topographical vestige remains to give even the faintest idea of any Roman "via" thereabouts. The opening in the west side of the parapet led to a second camp which adjoined the great one. Its form is that of three sides of a square and was protected on its west side, facing the Ludlow valley by an epaulment or breastwork some 130 yards on the brow of the declivity, the only vulnerable point in the whole encampment. My opinion is that this addition was of a later date and was erected to strengthen the former on that side, or for the purpose of securing impedimenta which could be brought up hill. In this square camp there exists a sort of deep cavity which may be the site of a quarry, but perhaps more probably the remains of some well or natural cistern for rain water so much needed by living beings. The great camp is about 400 yards in diameter. Now none of these features belong to Roman genius. All is contrary to their notions of camps. The choice of the position it is true was perfect, and exhibits a shrewd notion of self preservation and defence. Situated on the round summit of a large hill, isolated from higher ground, very steep on every side but one, the access was difficult and the stormings must have been very hard work in those days. The earthen defences or parapets at Caynham are good, and were higher no doubt. They must have |