Silsden Hoard

The Silsden Hoard is a collection of coins, excavated near that Yorkshire village, which are now proudly displayed at Cliffe Castle Museum, Keighley. They were struck by the Corieltauvian tribe, over which the famous Caractacus was king. Yet they were unearthed in another tribe’s territory, one which never bothered to mint any. Dating to the first century, it is thought that they belonged to refugees fleeing Emperor Claudius’ invasion. Yet as the burial testifies, life in the north was not beyond Rome’s reach, for she was the terrifying fourth beast of Daniel’s prophecy, and the conquest of Brigantia was already being planned. Four hundred years later, Rome’s empire was dismantled; all earthly empires, no matter how great, have limited life spans. 1900 years later, men from this misty isle would invade Italy itself, relieving her of her fascist ruler and his Germanic ally's iron grip. Yet there is a wrath to come from which no place can offer refuge, to those laden with gold, or otherwise. The rocks and the mountains will not hide them, nor their own good deeds or pious acts, behind which they cannot be concealed:

Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Luke 3:7b

William Gadsby poetically offers the answer: 

Poor sinner, dejected with fear,

Unbosom thy mind to the Lamb;

No wrath on his brow he does wear,

Nor will he poor mourners condemn;

His arm of omnipotent grace

Is able and willing to save;

A sweet and a permanent peace

He’ll freely and faithfully give.