to the Manor, at present held by Mr. Lockhart, is a marble tablet in memory of "Sarah, wife of Richard Saunders, of Aylesbury, Gent. who died 26 Nov. 1749, aged 54 years: and of Richard Saunders, who died 6 Dec. 1751, aged 56." A piece of land of about two acres, in the contiguous parish of Oving, is said to be annexed to the stipend of the Minister of this parish, on condition that the vault beneath be never suffered to be opened; or, in default, the said land to be forfeited to the lord of the manor. The Chancel has its Western end fitted up in the manner of a choir, with three stalls on each side, of oak, having folding seats very richly carved and ornamented with foliage. Before these stalls, and also continued on either hand against the side walls, are desks with much carving, but of inferior design and execution to that of the seats. The cieling is of wainscot, in compartments, and the pannels over the East end, within the communion rails, have bosses or knobs in the centre of each. The beams rest on brackets, with figures of birds and angels bearing shields. On the South side of the Altar are three stone seats or stalls, with Gothic pillars, canopies, and tracery, all of equal height. The canopies are vaulted, with eight ribs, terminated by a rose in the centre of each. They are in good preservation, excepting that in front the ornaments above the niches have been disfigured by the erection of an ill-designed monumental tablet, which destroys the symmetry of the arches, of which some of the carving and decorations have been even chipped off to make room for it. A long clumsy wooden desk has also been fixed up within the pillars of the stalls, to which is chained the book of Homilies, accompanied by some other religious tracts; Erasmus's Colloquies, the Works of Ursinus, translated by Hy. Parrie, fol. Oxon. 1587; Bishop Jewel's Works in English 1609; and a large folio without a title, printed in 1578. By whom placed there, is unknown. Close to the upper or easternmost stall is a piscina, under a sharp pointed arch, of the time of King Henry III. ornamented with foliage. Against the North wall, within the rails, is a lozenge of white marble, with the following: On a tablet of variegated marble, affixed to the North wall, are notices of the death of "Eleanor Saunders, an iufant, 14 June, 1696." "Thomas Saunders, an infant, 18 Nov. 1699," "Thomas Saunders, Gent. 4 Jan. 1704, aged 44 years." "Elizabeth, widow and relict of Thomas Saunders, April, 1744, aged 84." Three large stones in the middle of the floor appear to have been sepulchral, but have no inscriptions remaining. In one of them are grooves, in which a label, and probably coats of arms were inserted. In the centre of the North wall, on a plain brown stone, with the figure of a hand in relief, at the bottom, pointing to the floor, and encircled with the words "He lise just downe thare." "Heare lieth the body of Mr. John Virgin, minister of North Maston, who deceased this life the 11th day of January, 1694, aged 77 years." On a large brass plate, also in the North wall: widow, who died Feb. 11, A. D. 1615, "In memory of Elizabeth Saunders, ætatis suæ 74.” Johan. Saunders, Dr. of Physick, Though Though nor my skill nor prayers could save On another large brass, affixed to the South wall, in capitals : "The body of Richard Sanders, Gent. who died A. D. 1602, ætatis 67." Then the engraved figure of a man, in a long cloak, kneeling at a desk with books (shut) before him; his hands pressed together in a devotional attitude; near the portrait a shield of arms. Party per chevron, Argent and Sable, three elephants' heads, erased, changed. Below, a skull encircled with a garter, and the motto "Sum quod eris, fuerimo quod es." The bones of a leg and foot, of a hand and arm, and two thigh bones, saltirewise. Underneath, the following lines: "'Tis as you see, nought but the spoiles of death, [taker; God's high Controller and impartial Freehold we had of land, but none of breath, [maker. All, one day, must resign unto their I was the world's acquaintance in my time, Acquainted and no more, so should ye be. I had my part, as thou perhaps hast thine, In wealth and friends, such as were fit for me. I yielded up my reckoning, when I died What wanted in the sum, Christ's blood supplied!" On the North side of the Chancel, is a door leading into a small square turret, divided into two apartments, one above the other, and communicating by means of a flight of steps, art wood and part stone. In the lower room is a piscina, on an octagon pedestal, under a canopy or arch of stone, projecting from the South wall near the entrance. This is conjectured to have been a cell or confessional, belonging to the Monk, who had the care of the lights which were accustomed to be kept burning at shrines and altars; and the upper room is supposed to have been his dormitory; a square hole through the wall affording an opportunity of looking into the Chancel. There is also a fire-place in this apartment, which is at present converted into a school-room for the children belonging to the parochial sunday-school. The Tower contains five bells, besides the sermon-bell, and a clock. The first bell has the motto "Sonoro sono meo sono deo." The second and third, the initials J. K. and date 1627. The fourth has the words "Richard Chandler made me, 1699;" and the great bell (which was re-cast in 1763) the names of Lester and Pack of London. The Register commences in 1587 (29th Eliz.), and the baptisms appear to have been regularly entered from that time to the present day; but during Cromwell's usurpation, from the year 1642 to 1646, no burial is inserted; and no marriage from 1642 to 1648. At the end of one of the Register-books, is the following memorandum: "Jan. 29th, Ed. Övïat, an obstinate absentee, who would not be buried in ye Church-yard, bnt in his orchard." The year is not stated, but the entry appears to have been made in the hand-writing of the Rev. Purchas Deuch field, who became minister in 1742, and died in 1774; and it is reported by persons still living, that they remember Oviat's widow having been buried in a similar manner. The orchard adjoins the Churchyard. The accompanying sketch of the parish Church (see the Plate) has been kindly supplied by a young Gentleman residing at North Marston, to whom, and to his respectable family, the writer respectfully acknowledges his obligations for many of the above particulars, and other useful information. VIATOR. Mr. URBAN, Dec. 1. To the memoranda respecting the family (Vol. Hungerford LXXXVIII. i. p. 295), which was sent in answer to a request of Sir R. C. Hoare, I wish you to insert the following, which appears on two tablets in front of one of the galleries in Calne Church: "Benefactor.-Walter Hungerford, Esq. did, in the year 1745, of his free bounty, give 20 pounds per annum for ever, to the poor, sick, and maimed of ye parish of Calne." "The Hungerford Charity for the sick, wounded, or maimed of this parish, hav ing from non payment for 20 years, accumulated to 4007. the same was placed in the 4 per cent. A. D. 1793; and the interest, with the original charity, is now annually distributed, agreeable to the gift of the Donor." COM 1 COMPENDIUM OF COUNTY HISTORY. OXFORDSHIRE. (Concluded from p. 502.) MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS. ADDERBURY Was the seat of John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, wit and poet; and of John Campbell, the great Duke of Argyle Argyle, the State's whole thunder born to wield, In the churchyard is the monument of its Vicar William Bew, Bp. of Llandaff, 1705. At ALKERTON was buried its native and Rector Timothy Lydiat, astronomer and mathematician, 1646. "There, mark what ills the Scholar's life assail, Toil, envy, want, the patron and the jail If dreams yet flatter, once again attend, Hear Lydiat's life, and Galileo's end.”—Johnson. AMBROSDEN was the vicarage of White Kennet, afterwards Bp. of Peterborough, who wrote his " Parochial Antiquities" at this place. In BALDEN were buried John Brydges, Bp. of Oxford, 1618; and its rector Dr. Phanuel Bacon, punster and poet, author of "The Snipe," 1783. BANBURY was noted for the number of its Puritan inhabitants. In Ben Jonson's "Bartholomew Fair," Zeal-of-the-hand Busy is a Banbury man.— Drunken Barnaby says, "Veni Banbury, O profanum! Felim facientem furem Quod Sabbato stravit murem." "Come to Banbury, O profane one! Hanging of his cat on Monday, It was the vicarage of the non-conformist Samuel Wells. At BESSELSLEIGH died John Berkenhout, physician, naturalist and biographer, 1791. In BLACK BOURTON Church is the monument of the Hon. Sir Arthur Hopton, Charles I. Ambassador to Spain, 1649. In an adjoining chapel are several monuments of the Hungerfords. At BLANDFORD PARK, then called Cornbury, died Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, favourite of Elizabeth, 1588. It was the seat of the excellent Lord Chancellor Clarendon. BLENHEIM, a magnificent memorial of the Nation's gratitude, was founded in 1705, in pursuance of an Act of Parliament, granting 500,000l. for its erection. Architect, Sir John Vanburgh. Principal front, 348 feet long. The Hall, supported by pillars, is 67 feet high; the Library, 183 feet long. In the Chapel is the monument, by Rysbrach, of JOHN CHURCHILL, the great Duke of Marlborough, 1722. In the house is an observatory; a theatre; a superb collection of paintings, particularly by Rubens and Titian; and some fine tapestry, representing the principal battles of the Duke. In the Park, which, including the gardens, contains 2700 acres, and is more than 12 miles in circumference, is a fine expanse of water, of which " Capability" Brown, its designer, said, "The Thames will never forgive me for what I have done at Blenheim!" Bridge of three arches, central arch 101 feet span; Temple of Diana, architect Sir William Chambers; Column, 130 feet. high, with a colossal statue of the great Duke on the top, and an inscription of his principal achievements on the pedestal; Triumphal Arch; Aviary; China Gallery, containing some most antient and curious specimeus; Fountain, with statues of the Nile, Danube, Plata, and Ganges, the last work of Bernini, celebrated by Prior; the High Lodge, in which died remarkably penitent, John Wilmot, the witty and profligate Earl of Rochester, 1680. This noble demesne is held by presenting at Windsor Castle, on Aug. 2, the anniversary of the Battle of Blenheim, a standard with 3 fleurs de lis painted thereon, "as an acquittance for all manner of rents, suits, and services; due to the Crown." BRIGHTWELL BRIGHTWELL was the rectory of William Paul, Bp. of Oxford. In BURFORD Church is a finely-carved monument of Sir Lawrence Tanfield, Lord Chief Baron, who resided at the Priory, and died in 1625. It is believed to be the last instance of the representation of an emaciated figure, not uncommon on antient monuments. The Priory was also the seat of the Speaker Lenthal. CHALGROVE Church Steeple was blown down by a tempest, and the five bells therein broken, Jan. 5, 1727. CLANFIELD was the vicarage of John Collinson, historian of Somerset. In CUDDESDON Church were buried John Bancroft, Bp. of Oxford, founder of its palace, 1640; and Mary, daughter of Bp. Lowth (exquisitely beautiful epitaph by her father), 1768. CULHAM was the vicarage of Dr. Benjamin Kennicott, Hebrician, who died at Oxford, 1783. In DITCHLEY HOUSE (architect, Gibbs) is a fine collection of paintings. 1767. In ENSHAM Church is the monument of its native Dr. John Rogers, divine, author, on the Visible and Invisible Church, 1720. EWELM was the rectory of John Prideaux, afterwards Bp. of Worcester. At FOREST HILL Milton married his first wife, Mary, daughter of Richard Powell. In GLYMPTON Church is the monument of its native Thomas Tesdale, founder of Pembroke College, Oxford, 1610. GREAT MILTON was the residence of JOHN THURLOW, Secretary to Cromwell. At GREAT TEw resided the amiable LucIUS CARY, Viscount Falkland. At HANBOROUGH was buried its Rector John Holyman, Bp. of Bristol, writer against Luther, 1558. Here HASELY was the rectory of JOHN LELAND, first and last Antiquary Royal. HENLEY-UPON-THAMES was the rectory of Henry Aldrich, Dean of Christ Church, elegant Scholar, who bequeathed his library to this town. were buried, Elizabeth, relict of Sir William Periam, Lord Chief Baron, sister of the great Lord Chancellor Bacon, and a principal benefactress to Baliol College; Richard Jennings, master builder of St. Paul's Cathedral, who resided at Badgmoor, near this town; and William Hayward, architect of the bridge here, died 1782. At the Red Lion Shenstone wrote his little poem on an Iun. HEYTHORP HOUSE, architect Archer; Conservatory, 248 feet long. In IFLEY CHURCH is the monument of Edward Thwaites, Saxonist, 1711. At ISLIP was buried its Rector John Aglionby, biblical translator, 1710. KIDDINGTON has had its History excellently written by its amiable and learned Rector, Thomas Warton, Poet Laureat. MAPLEDURHAM was the vicarage of Dr. John Burton, author of "Opuscula Miscellanea." MINSTER LOVEL was the seat of Thomas Viscount Lovell, Lord Chamberlain to Richard III. NETTLEBED is pleasantly noticed by the German traveller Moritz. In NUNEHAM COURTENAY House is a good collection of paintings and many valuable portraits, among which is one of Vandermyn the painter, the face executed by Aune, Princess of Orange. In the tapestry room are three large maps of the counties of Oxford, Warwick, and Worcester, the earliest specimens of tapestry-weaving in England, which was introduced by William Sheldon in the reign of Henry VIII. In the house are busts of the English Poets. The garden was formed by Mason the Poet, author of " The English Garden." The Park, containing nearly 1200 acres, is ornamented by temples, &c. and has been celebrated by Mason, Jerningham, William Whitehead, and Horace Walpole. At OXFORD, in St. Aldate's Church, was buried Dr. John Budden, biographer of Bp. Waynfleet, 1620; in St. Giles's Church, Dr. Richard Rawlinson, Antiquary, 1755; in Holywell Chapel, Samuel Clarke, orientalist, the first GENT. MAG. Suppl. XC. PART II, archetypographer, B archetypographer, 1669; in St. Mary's Church, John Wallis, decypherer and geometrician, 1703; in St. Peter's churchyard, THOMAS HEARNE, Antiquary, 1735. The High Street is said to be the finest street in Europe. The Mayor and Burgesses assist the Lord Mayor of London as Butlers at the Coronation of the King. At PYRTON was married John Hampden, the patriot, to Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. Edward Symeon, June 24, 1619. At ROAD ENSTONE are some curious water-works, which were visited by Charles I. and his Queen in 1636. In ROTHERFIELD GRAYS Church is an elaborate monument for its native and resident (at Grey's Court) Sir Francis Knollys, K. G. treasurer of the household to Elizabeth, 1596. In ROLLWRIGHT Church was buried Sir Fleetwood Shepheard, friend of Prior, 1698. In SHERBORNE CASTLE is a portrait of Queen Katharine Parr, and in its frame is a piece of her hair, cut off when her coffin was opened at Sudeley Castle, Gloucestershire, in 1799. In the church was buried Thomas Parker, first Earl of Macclesfield, Lord Chancellor, 1732. In SHIPLAKE Church is a mural tablet for its amiable Vicar James Granger, author of "The Biographical History of England," which he wrote at his vicarage house here, and died of apoplexy, whilst administering the Sacrament, April 15, 1776. At SHOTOVER resided William Julius Mickle, translator of Camoen's "Lusiad." SOMERTON was the rectory of WILLIAM JUXON, afterwards Abp. of Canterbury, who attended Charles I. on the scaffold. At STANTON HARCOURT, in 1718, Pope wrote the fifth volume of his Homer. In the church, among many monuments of the Harcourts, are those of Sir Robert Harcourt, standard bearer to the Earl of Richmond at the battle of Bosworth Field; aud of Simon, only son of the first Viscount Harcourt, with an epitaph in Latin by Dr. Freind, and in English verse by Pope. Here is also a mural monument for Robert Huntingdon and his son, with a poetical epitaph by Congreve; and on the outside wall a tablet to the memory of John Hewit and Sarah Drew, killed by lightning, July 1718, with an epitaph by Pope. The event is pathetically described in a letter by Gay. In STEEPLE ASHTON Church was buried Dr. Samuel Radcliffe, Principal of Brazenose College, and founder of the School and Alms-houses in this place, died in 1648. In STOKEN CHURCH is a mural monument for Bartholomew Tipping, founder of the Free-school bere, died in 1680. At SWINBROOK, Hugh Curwen, who exchanged the Archbishoprick of Dublin for the Bishoprick of Oxford, died in 1568. In TACKLEY Church is a monument, by Bacon, of the Hon. John Morton, Chief Justice of Chester, 1780. At THAME JOHN HAMPDEN died of his wound received at Chalgrove Field, 1643. In Thame Park Chapel is a monument, by Westmacott, of the last Viscount Wenman, 1800. At WATLINGTON, in 1675, Eleanor, wife of Henry Devon, produced four children at a birth. At WHEATLEY died and was buried William Julius Mickle, poet, translator of Camoens' "Lusiad," 1788. WHITCHURCH was the residence of Dr. John Wallis, mathematician and grammarian. In WITNEY, Feb. 3, 1652, five persons were killed by the falling-in of the floor of the White Hart Inn, during the performance of a comedy; this event is commemorated in a puritanical Pamphlet by John Rowe. In 1730, 30 houses burnt down. The church is the burial-place of the Freind family, of whom Dr. Robert Freind and his son William, Dean of Canterbury, were Rectors here; as was also the poet Richard Duke. Here are monuments for Sir Francis Wenman, friend of the amiable Lord Falkland, 1640; and Henry Box, who founded the Free-school in this town. At |