MS Hampshire Record Office: Heathcote Family Scrapbooks: 63M84/234/61
My dear Bea,
I think I might add these two bits from ‘Old Times at Otterbourne’ as the thing turns out so short1
I heard a very odd thing from Anna Bramston. She says she has seen a sword said to be old Oliver Cromwell’s in the possession of old Mr Comely. He said that at the sale in ‘the old home’ a blacksmith had obtained it, and it had descended to him. Could the old house be the Cromwell house? It was a curious sword,, sharpened on both sides towards the point, but all the Comelys are dead, and Anna does not know what became of it I think they must have been blacksmiths for the smithy as I first recollect it was in charge of a certain ‘Betsey Comely’ who used to preface her speeches with ‘I am but a fay-male, sir’
Is the water found yet?
Your affectionate
C M Yonge