The Henson Journals

[21]

Wednesday, October 15th, 1913.

The "Times" reports a terrible colliery disaster in South Wales, not far from Cardiff. More than 400 lives are said to have been lost.

I attended service in the cathedral both morning and afternoon.

Raleigh sent some clever verses on King James's Room. We had a dinner party in the evening in order to bring Professor Maclean & his wife into contact with some of the academicks here. He is making an official inquiry into the English Universities.

There dined here:–

Professor	Jevons	& Mrs Jevons
“	Robinson	& Mrs Robinson
“	Ellershaw	& Mrs Ellershaw
Dr	Dawson Walker	& Mrs Dawson Walker
Mr	Dolphin	& Miss Wragge

[22] [symbol]

When James rode south to take a crown

At your great Church he lighted down:

He scanned her towers with careless eye

But marked the Deanery close by.

"This is the place", King James said

"To find a dinner and a bed".

Now if that Dean had been a sage,

To read the future's cryptic page,

He might have spoiled the monarch's rest

With dreams, unquiet and unblest.

"Even here, on this exalted level

"Pipes may be smoked, or witches revel,

“And Deans, with much elaboration

"May preach a godless toleration.

"Even in that nobly carven bed,

"Where now you lay your sacred head.

"Some wandering Scot may calmly slumber,

"Though given to errors without number –

"Who reads, & marks, but sets no store on

"The teaching of your princely Doron.

[23]

"And, where your Majesty knaps logic

"With wisdom more than pedagogic

" Logic may roam, demure but gay,

"And bark your syllogisms away."

The Dean had only mortal powers:

His eyes were holden, even as ours.

The King rode on, in all his glory

See Gardiner for his later story.

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