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The Ancestry of Francis Galton   29


3. Yet with calm and stately mien, Up the streets of Aberdeen Came he slowly riding; And to all he saw and heard, Answering not with bitter word, Turning not for chiding

4. Came a Troop with broad-swords swinging, Bits and bridles sharply ringing, Loose and free and froward ; Quoth the foremost ' Ride him down ! Push him, prick him through the town Drive the Quaker coward !'

5. But from out the thickening crowd Cried a sudden voice and loud, 'Barclay ! Ho ! A Barclay !' And the old man at his side Saw a comrade, battle-tried, Scarred and sunburnt darkly.

6. Who with ready weapon bare; Fronting to the troopers there Cried aloud : 'God save us ! Call ye coward him who stood Ankle deep in Lutzen's blood With the brave Gustavus l'

7. ' Nay, I do not need thy sword, Comrade mine,' said Ury's lord ; 'Put it up I pray thee;. Passive to His Holy Will Trust I in my Maker still, Even though He slay me."'

Galton had as much to thank his Barclay ancestors for as his Darwin descent ; it was not less, possibly more notable (see Pedigree Plates A'and C). And Galton knew it ; writing in the summer of 1906 he says':

"It is delightful to hear that you are so pleasantly placed among old Quaker associations. They-the Quakers-were grandly (and simply) stubborn."

That stubborn persistency was a wonderful asset of nearly half Francis Galton's immediate ancestry. David Barclay, younger son of the Apologist, walked from Ury to London, and, commencing life afresh,

' Letter to K. P. 13/7/'06.


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