death, "and boare a sonn at the age of 63," he says Lysons makes some still more remarkable statements. Can any of your correspondents quote them? JAMES STANLY LITTLE. The "stupendous accident" mentioned by your correspondent is told also of others besides the Countess of Henneberg. If I mistake not in Heylin's Cosmographie, the same remarkable circumstance is recorded as happening to the wife of one of the Counts of Altdorf, and ancestor of the Guelphs. I have somewhere read the following explanation of the matter. The "accident" in question-whoever the mother-occurred on a certain 29th December, the number of children being three, which it was jocularly remarked was one for each remaining day in the year. In process of time the traditions of the event became distorted and, as usual, exaggerated. The three remaining days in the year became every day in the year, and consequently the number of the children magnified into 365. W. D. PINK. Zachary Grey, in his edition of Hudibras published at Cambridge in the year 1744, gives, as a note on the following couplet a rather comic allusion to the prolific Countess of Zealand. The note is an extract from "Cleveland's Character of a London Diurnal, published in 1644." “The original sinner of this kind was Dutch, Gallo-belgicus the Protoplast, and the Modern Mercuries, but Hans en Kelders. The Countess of Zealand was brought to bed of an Almanack, as many children as the days of the year; it may be, the Legislative Lady is of that lineage; so she spawns the Diurnals, and they of Westminster take them in adoption by the names of Scotieus, Civieus, and Britannicus." If such were Mr. Cleveland's ideas in 1644, what would they be on the same subject if he were alive now! CROWDERS. Apropos of the instance of fecundity mentioned by Gete, M. de Saint Foix, in his Essais Historiques sur Paris (Vol. i. p. 187, edit. 1759), says― "L'EGLISE DES S.S. INNOCENS.-A l'article du Cimetière de cette Eglise, Corrozet rapporte une Epitaphe qu'on of voyait de son temps et qu'on o'uy voit plus, aparemment parce qu'étant gravée sur une plaque de cuivre, quelque misérable l'à mlevée pour la vendre : "Cy gist Follande Bailly qui trépassa l'an 1514, le 88° an de son age, le 42° de son renvage, laquelle a vu, ou pû voir devant son trépas deux Ont. quatre vingt quinze enfans issus d'elle." W. H. EXECUTION BLOCK IN THE TOWER (Vol. iv. 179).Referring to Mr. Tomb's account of the Tower, I find that he describes the block in Queen Elizabeth's armoury as that on which Lords Balmerino, Kilmarnock, and Lovat were executed on Tower Hill in 1746. It is certain that the two wives of Henry VIII. and Lady Jane Grey were beheaded on the Green by St. Peter's Chapel, but I know of no mention of the block on which they were beheaded; and it would seem that the one in the armoury is not, as the "Beef-eaters " say, the block of these three ladies. Mr. Murray, however, says that the block in Queen Elizabeth's armoury was a new one for the occasion of the execution of Lord Lovat, the last person beheaded in this country. I cannot, therefore, give any more definite answer, but can only refer to the above authorities; and I cannot but think that they are more likely to know the truth than even the "Beef-eaters." JOHN H. HOOPER, coin" which completely perplexed Mr. J. Stanly Little is a ANCIENT COIN (Vol. iv. 191).—I believe the "ancient specimen of the not uncommon type of a schoolmaster on the obverse (not a warrior), with a cap and gown of the period, seated, and on the table in front of him are apparently a hornbook, and some counters. On the reverse is the alphabet in Roman letters, with J U and W wanting. I have referred elsewhere to the absence of the J and U, and, from the fact that there is no W in the French language, it is probable the token was struck in that country. In my collection I have two varieties of the above interesting old token, one with the alphabet in four lines, the other in five lines. In the latter there are two Z's, in the former only one; but the Y preceeds the X, thus Y X Z and in both the D is reversed, thus a. H. S. GILL. Seventeenth Century TRADESMEN'S TOKENS (Vol. iv. 191).-With regard to the place of issue of the seventeenth century token so nicely sketched by Mr. Christie, I can only suggest that the man who made the die, from want of knowing better, erroneously put 'Midles,' instead of Beds. We have abundant proof (see Boyne passim) that those workmen were often very illiterate, and continually making mistakes in orthography, therefore why not in topography? There is but one Potton in England, and that is in the latter is probable the illustrious Sir John Harper, Lord Mayor of county. Moreover, Harper is a Bedfordshire name, and it London in 1561, who so richly endowed Bedford School, may have been an ancestor of the issuer. H. S. GILL. THE IRON CROWN OF ITALY (Vol. iv. 191).—The band of iron in this crown was said to have been given to Constantine by the Empress Helena. Helena is said to have discovered the cross, and to have given the nail to her son as a charm, or preservative in battle. The Lombardic kings used the crown at their coronations, and Napoleon who was crowned with it, or rather crowned himself with it, at Milan, May, 1805, exclaimed "Dieu me l'a donné qure à qui la touche !" LIVERPOOL NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. - The thirteenth meeting (Sess. III) of this Society was held on the 21st ult. The President, Mr. Edward Leighton, occupied the chair. This being a meeting for miscellaneous communication and exhibitions, many rare and interesting coins and medals were shown by individual members. Mr. T. Selke exhibited amongst others, a large silver medal, struck in Germany for the purpose of encouraging Religious Pilgrimages-a silver medal, Ob., a view of Stonyhurst College, Lancashire, and the well known but rare Napoleonic medal, struck in France, on the projected invasion of England-" Exergue, Frappe à Londres." Mr. D. Thom Stewart showed a rare medal of Roscoe, the Liverpool historian and poet. The Hon. Sec. exhibited a number of coins, interesting to the English collector, also a scarce copper check of the city of Hamburg-Ob., a gate of the city, with portcullis up; date, 1698. Rev., an indented number, 48. It appears that the piece was originally used as a free pass from outside the fortification into the city, after the gates were closed. Mr. Notices of Books. Footprints. Poems translated and original. By George Browning, Half Hours in the Green Lanes: A Book for a Country Stroll. By J. E. Taylor, F.L.S., F.G.S., &c., author of "Geological Stories," "Half Hours at the Sea Shore," &c. London: Robert Hardwicke. 1873. A CHARMING little book for both young and old, but specially for the latter. The old will find much that is probably new to them; and to the young a feast of delight in their every-day country walks is spread forth. The fishes, reptiles, birds, butterflies, moths, beetles, snails, wild flowers, grasses, ferns, mosses, fungi and lichens of our green English lanes here come before us as familiar friends or new acquaintances, and their wood-cut representations are excellent. Many of the birds have been evidently drawn with a loving eye and hand; and the sympathetic humour and admirable expression with which various of their faces and attitudes are sketched, will meet with due appreciation. The alert and knowing cuckoo, the delightfully wicked-looking kestrels, the handsome but rakish bearded tit, and the sly, demure field-fare have been specially lucky in their portraits. G. C.-You will find a transcript of the proceedings you enquire about in the Harl. MSS., 1178, fol. 36. E. I. S.-The freedstool, called also "frithstool," or the "seat of peace," was a seat or chair placed near the altar of some churches, and were the last and most sacred refuge for those who claimed the privilege of sanctuary. Examples are to be found in the church at Hexham and in Beverley Minster. K-Refer to Carlisle's "Concise Description of the Endowed Grammar Schools in England and Wales." H. N.-The lines quoted occur in Dyer's poem entitled "Grongar C. W.-You will find an account of the celebrity you allude to in the "Gentleman's Magazine," vols. ii., lviii., and Ixiv. Among the original poems, Nympha" may be particularized as specially attracting attention by its beauty of subject, and by the sym-Hill." pathy and elegance characterizing the poem itself. In "An Elegy," and some other pieces, there is a ring of intellectual energy, as well as evidence of emotional power, which lead us to expect more from the future development of Mr. Browning's poetical gifts. Criss-Cross Journeys. By Walter Thornbury, Author of "Old and New London," &c., &c. In two volumes. London: Hurst and Blackett. 1873. AMERICA, Egypt, and Russia are the three several countries in which Mr. Walter Thornbury has made his Criss-Cross Journeys. To, America, the whole of the first volume and part of the second are devoted. The author tells us in his preface that the greater part of the contents of the book appeared some years ago in "All the Year Round;" also that "the chapters on America describe that country at a most eventful crisis, on the eve of the outbreak of the great civil war that led to the final destruction of slavery in that country, and may prove interesting as sketching a state of society that can never again arise in the New World. The chapters on Russia were also written not very long before the abolition of serfdom, and may therefore claim the same accidental advantage." Mr. Thornbury offers his experiences in the countries mentioned simply as sketches-and considered as such, they are very pleasant and readable. He does not indulge in deep philosophical reflections upon what he sees, but gives the salient features of his subjects with a light and graphic touch. The chapters on American sleeping cars, American snake stories, and American hotels will be found among the most amusing, while affording at the same time a considerable amount of information upon the general aspects of things in the New Country. The descriptions of Charleston City, the Mammoth Cave, and American Cemeteries are very interesting. Perhaps the best part of the Egyptian series is that containing the chapters describing the Tombs of the Kings, and the arrival and departure of the "Homeward Bound and Outward Bound" at Shepherd's Hotel, Cairo. But Mr. Thornbury has decidedly kept the best to the last in his description of certain characteristic phases of life in Russia. This section of the book has the merit of delineating scenes further from the beaten track than those in the part dedicated to America. All the four papers relating to Russian subjects are worth perusal; the one giving an account of Gipsy Singers at Moscow is entertaining and attractive; but the account of a visit to a Russian prison, and the starting of a convoy of Polish exiles and general prisoners for Siberia is deeply interesting. Every Sunday morning, at eight o'clock, this sad procession, in which are certain to be fifty or sixty Poles, leaves Moscow for Siberia. The distance is performed on foot, with the exception of a certain limited portion, and for the women a waggon is provided. The journey takes a year if the poor travellers go from Kiow to Tobolsk, and two years if they go to a far point, like the mines of Nertchinsk or the fortress of Akatouia in the government of Irkoutsk.' Space forbids further quotation, but we feel sure that few of our readers would regret a careful perusal of this pathetic and well-narrated episode of Mr. Thornbury's Criss-Cross Journeys. T. L.-The first regal monument in Westminster Abbey, in point of date, having an effigy on it, is that of the founder of the present edifice, Henry III., who died in 1272. W. R.-Soho-square dates from the time of Charles II., and was called originally Monmouth-square, in honour of the Duke of Monmouth, who lived in the centre house. The name, however, was changed at his death to Soho, the word of the day at the battle of Sedgemore. born at Oakham, in Rutland, in 1619. At the age of seven or eight, A. H. L.-Jeffery Hudson, the dwarf in the court of Charles I., was he was eighteen inches high, and from that age till thirty he is reported never to have grown any taller; but after thirty, he shot up to about three feet nine inches, and there fixed. L. F. J.-The privilege of "franking" letters was claimed by the House of Commons in 1660, upon the legal establishment of the Postoffice, and was abolished on the introduction of the uniform pennypostage on all inland letters in 1840. D. M. S. (Glasgow.)-You will find the oldest written poetry in the Scottish Gaelic in "The Dean of Lismore's Book," in the Advocate's Library at Edinburgh. The book was written between 1511 and 1551 by Sir James Macgregor, Vicar of Fortingall, and Dean of Lismore. Selections from it were published at Edinburgh about ten years ago. X.-Grinling Gibbons, the eminent sculptor and wood-carver, was born in London in 1648, and died in 1721. The carved work in St. Paul's Cathedral was executed by him, and he was largely employed in the mansions of the nobility and gentry. NOTICES. Correspondents who reply to queries would oblige by referring to the volume and page where such queries are to be found. To omit this gives us unnecessary trouble. A few of our correspondents are slow to comprehend that it is desirable to give not only the reference to the query itself, but that such reference should also include all previous replies. Thus a reply given to a query propounded at page 4, Vol. iii., to which a previous reply had been given at page 20, and another at page 32, requires to be set down (Vol. iii. 4, 20, 32). We shall be glad to receive contributions from competent and capable persons accomplished in literature or skilled in archæology, and generally from any intelligent reader who may be in possession of facts, historical or otherwise, likely to be of general interest. Communications for the Editor should be addressed to the Publishing Office, 81A, Fleet Street, London, E.C. LONDON, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1873. CONTENTS.-No. 88. THE SEE AND CATHEDRAL OF HEREFORD.-PART II. 221. WINWICK, 222. See a house in London, together with the advowson of the adjoining church of St. Mary, Monthalt.* This bishop resigned his See in 1239, and became a Franciscan at Oxford, whence he passed to the house of the Franciscans at Gloucester, where he died. Peter de Aquablanca was next bishop, from 1240 to 1261. His tomb remains in the north aisle of the choir, under an THE ISLE OF MAN, 224. arch in the eastern limb of the great transept. He was one QUERIES:-Shakespeare's Portraits, 225-Sir John Falstaff-Lydd, of the intruding "foreigners" who, during the long reign of Kent-Statues-Sir John Trevor. Henry III., by their exactions and tyranny, were among the REPLIES:-Sign of Fair Weather, 227-Pengarswick-The Iron Crown chief causes of the rising of the Barons under Simon de of Italy-Newington Nunnery-The Dragon of Wantley and More Montford. He was a native of Savoy, and obtained the See of More Hall-The Jungfern Kuss-George Wither-Bridal in opposition to a canon of Lichfield—" Vir per omnia comWreaths-The Rose in St. Lawrence Poultney-Admiral BlakeThe Cotswold Games-Chained Books in Churches-Tourna-mendabilis," says Matthew Paris-who had been elected by ments-Aldermen's Chains-Lead-pencils-Cumbergate-Visit- the canons. In 1250 he took the cross, and, under the ing Customs-Bond Street. PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES-Zoological Society of London, 231. NOTICES OF BOOKS, 231. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS, 232. THE SEE AND CATHEDRAL OF HEREFORD. banner of the King of France, went to the Holy Land, and returned in 1258, bringing letters, which were said to have been forged, but which professed to be those of Pope Innocent IV., commanding all religious houses to grant a tenth of their property towards the Crusade. Whilst absent in 1267 he spent large sums, but fruitlessly, to be appointed to the Archbishopric of Bordeaux. He was in 1263 expelled from England with other "foreigners," but returned in the following year, though not to his See, when he was reprimanded by Henry III., by letter, "when the King found in the church of Hereford (at his coming) neither bishop, EMINENT BISHOPS, DEANS, AND OTHER DIGNITARIES OF dean, vicar, or other officer to discharge the spiritual func THE CHURCH AND DIOCESE. PART II. Robert de Melun or Maledon, bishop, 1163 — 1167, called by the annalist of St. David's, "Episcopus Anglorum Sapientissimus," was present at the famous scene between King Henry and Becket at Northampton, when he attempted with his predecessor, Foliot, to take the cross from the hands of the Archbishop, to whose side he seems to have adhered. About this time Roger of Hereford, an ancestor of Richard Hereford, Esq., of Sufton Court, flourished as an astronomer, astrologer, alchemist, and mathematician, anticipating the career of Roger Bacon by nearly a century. He was probably educated at Cambridge, as his works were long preserved in the library of that University. The most noted are "A Treatise on Judicial Astrology" and a "Book of Worked Metals." Robert Foliot, bishop, 1174-1186, a friend and fellow student of Becket, and probably related to Gilbert, Bishop of London. He was one of the four English prelates who, in 1179, attended the Lateran Council convened by Alexander III., in which the Albenses and Waldenses were excommunicated. William de Vere, bishop, 1186-1199, son of Alberic, third Earl of Oxford, is stated by Godwin to have built much (multa dicitur construxisse), but no part of the existing cathedral can be assigned to him. Giles de Braose, bishop, 1200-1215, son of William, Lord Brecknock, sided with the Barons against King John, and was compelled to leave his see, the temporalities being seized by the Crown. He subsequently was allowed to return, but died at Gloucester in 1215. He was wrongly supposed to have built the central tower of the cathedral. The west front, which, however, fell in 1788, was erected by this Bishop. Hugh de Mapenor was dean 1207 to 1215, and succeeded as bishop 1216. He died in 1219. Hugh Foliot, bishop, 1219-1234, who had been Archdeacon of Salop, founded and endowed the Hospital of St. Catherine at Ledbury, the mastership of which was held by the Rev. William Peete Musgrave, Canon Residentiary and Præbendarius Episcopi in the cathedral church.* Ralph de Maidstone, bishop, 1234-1239, “vir magna literatura et in theologia nominatissimus," purchased for the * Arc hdeacon Waring is now the Master of the Hospital. tions, and that the church and ecclesiastical establishment were in a state of ruin and decay." The bishop soon returned to Hereford, where he was taken by Simon de Montford, who seized all his wealth and imprisoned him in leaving no good reputation, although he had bought the Ordalay" (Urdley or Eardisley) Castle. He died in 1268, manor of Holme Lacy for the Cathedral, and left money for annual distribution in wheat corn to the clergy of his church and to the poor. He founded a monastery at his birthplace, Aquabella, or Aquablanca, in Savoy, where his heart was conveyed for entombment, and where a monument with an inscription still remains. His body was interred in his own cathedral under the canopied tomb already referred to. treatise," De Juribus Anglicanis," is described by Sir John Breton, bishop, 1269-1275, said to be the author of a Edward Coke as "a man of great and profound judgment in common laws, an excellent ornament to his profession, and a satisfaction and a solace to himself." But Selden proved that the treatise contains references to statutes passed long after this prelate's death. Bishop Nicholson suggests that the true writer of the abstract was a John Breton, one of the king's justices, together with Ralph and Roger de Hengham, anno primo Edward II. Anselm was dean from 1237 to 1271. He might have been a descendant of the famous Anselm of Canterbury, who died in 1109, having succeeded Lanfranc as Archbishop. Thomas de Cantilupe, bishop, 1275-1283, was the last Englishman canonised before the Reformation. A son of William Lord Cantilupe, and his wife, Millicent, Countess of Evreux, he was educated at Oxford and Paris, and, after being made Chancellor of the former University, became Chancellor of England under Henry III. in 1265. He was indeed a pluralist, being at once canon and chanter of York, archdeacon and canon of Lichfield and Coventry, canon of London and Hereford, and archdeacon of Stafford. His episcopate was a stormy one, and he vigorously_maintained the rights of his See against Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, and John Peckham, Archbishop of Canterbury, the latter insisting on the visitation of Cantilupe's diocese, as his metropolitan-a claim which the archbishops were then persistently prosecuting. After a long dispute, Cantihe went to Rome to lay his case before Pope Martin IV. lupe was solemnly excommunicated by the Archbishop, and This church formerly stood near the Bank of England, and was taken down about twenty years since. 66 (To be continued.) WINWICK. EX-CATHEDRî. ON the death of Edwin, King of Northumbria, Oswald, who had some time previously been banished from his kingdom, returned to again enjoy his own; but not without the opposition of Cadwallon, and of Penda the barbarous King of the Mercians. There is reason to believe, however, that as an excommuni- his famous letter to the keepers of Edward II., at Berkeley cated person he could obtain from the Pope nothing more Castle, "Edwardum Regem occidere nolite timere bonum than the promise of quick despatch and removal of delays," est." From Worcester, where he had been translated by and merely received absolution in the hour of his death, the influence of the Queen in 1327, he was removed to the which occurred near Orvieto on August 23rd, 1282. Richard See of Winchester, where he died in 1345. Swinfield, his successor in the See, accompanied the prelate to Italy. His flesh was interred in the church of Sante Severo, near Orvieto; the heart was conveyed to the monastic church of Ashbridge, in Buckinghamshire, founded by Edward, Earl of Cornwall; and his bones were brought to his own cathedral at Hereford, where they now lie under a shrine, or canopied tomb, in the eastern portion of the north transept, which was built to receive them. As the remains of the bishop were being conveyed into the church, Gilbert, Earl of Gloucester, approached and touched the casket which contained them, whereupon, it is alleged, they bled afresh." The Earl was struck with compunction, and made full retribution to the church of all the lands which Bishop Cantilupe had rightly claimed from him. In May, 1320, after many difficulties, and through the interposition of King Edward I., and his son Edward II., he was canonised by Pope John XXII. This bishop was Provisional Grand Master of the Templars in England, which order was dissolved in 1312, at the Council of Vienna. No fewer than 425 miracles were said to be wrought at his tomb. It is said, also, that by his prayers threescore persons were raised from the dead, 21 lepers healed, and 23 blind and dumb men received their sight and speech. Bishop Cantilupe had a palace at Cantelow (now Kentish Town), within the parish of St. Pancras, Middlesex, from which, doubtless, the locality was named. The Life and Jests of Saint Thomas Cantilupe" (the bishop) were compiled from evidences at Rome, collected before his canonization, and were published at Ghent in 1674. The arms of CantilupeGules, three leopards' heads inverted, jessant, with a fleur-delis issuing from the mouth, or,-have since his canonization been adopted as the arms of the See of Hereford. John de Aquablanca, dean of the cathedral, son of Bishop Peter de Aquablanca, was contemporary with Bishop Cantilupe, and held that dignity from 1278 to 1325. During his incumbency the rebuilding of the north transept, with the additions of the aisle and shrine, and possibly the central tower, as now existing, or the commencement of it, were effected. A dwarf effigy, now removed, in the floor of the north aisle of the choir, opposite to the canopied tomb of Bishop Aquablanca, represented the dean. Richard Swinfield, bishop, 1283-1317, the friend of Cantilupe, translated his remains to the new transept in 1287, and doubtless procured his canonization, for which he sedulously laboured. A curious Roll of the expenses of Bishop Swinfield's household, for the years 1289-90, has been edited for the Camden Society by the late Rev. John Webb, F.S.A., Vicar of Tretire, Hereford. Winwick, a small hamlet in the Hundred of West Derby. is celebrated as being connected with the life and death of the sainted King Oswald. Camden, in his Britannia,* thus describes it :-" Henceward (from Warrington), at no great distance stands Winwic, supposed by some to be the city of Cair Guintin, amongst the Britains, which is called by Nennius, Cair Guintguic, and which is famous for being one of the best benefices in England. Here, in the uppermost part of the church,+ are verses in an old barbarous character concerning King Oswald." "Hic locus OSWALDE quodam placent tibi valde, "This happy place did holy OSWALD love, Who once NORTHUMBRIA ruled, now reigns above, "Anno milleno quingentenog tricens At the Conquest, Winwick held one caracute of land, Winwick is supposed to derive its name from the fact of its having been the residence of one of the twelve Saxon chiefs, who took up their abode in South Lancashire before the institution of parishes. Some antiquaries, however, favour the derivation as from " Winn," struggle, and " Wic," a dwelling. The following tradition is current, as referring to the church : The founder having chosen a site for the building, the Adam de Orleton, bishop, 1317-1327, when he was workmen set about their task of erecting the church, and at translated to Worcester, joined the Barons, under the Earl the end of the day the progress of the work shewed they of Lancaster, against Edward II. and the Spencers; and in had not been idle. The inhabitants, however, were not a 1313, two years after the defeat of the Barons at Borough- little put out of the way, when night had fallen, to see a bridge, was impeached in Parliament as having given hog busily engaged in overthrowing the half-erected walls, countenance and assistance to the rebellion," whence he was and conveying the stones, one by one, in its mouth to a site afterwards brought before the bar of the Court of King's which is supposed to be the place where Oswald was overBench. These proceedings gave umbrage to the Arch-whelmed by the united forces of the Mercians, Welsh, and bishops of Canterbury, York, and Dublin, who came imme Angles, and on which site the present edifice stands; the diately into court, with their crosses erected, and carried beast, at the same time uttered a piercing cry of Wee-eeoff the bishop, without giving him time to answer the indict- wic, Wee-ee-wic, Wee-ee-wic, thus not only choosing a site ment. He was, however, tried in his absence (the first for the church, but also giving a name to the parish. We English bishop brought to trial in an English temporal find the head of this legendary beast set out as an ornament court), and found guilty, and his temporalities were confiscated. But these were restored before 1326, when Bishop Orleton joined the party of Queen Isabella, before whom he preached at Oxford, on the text, "doles caput" (2 Kings iv. 19), inferring that the distempered head should be removed; the Queen proceeded with him to Hereford, where the young Spencer was hanged. Thence, the bishop wrote over the western entrance. church at Kirby Lonsdale owes the beauty of its site to Indeed, there are many traditions of the like nature. The the fact that the cord of the apron, in which the demon †The steeple. • Gibson's edition. § Ibid was carrying the stones, gave way, and deposited them where the church now stands. At different places he has appeared in various shapes, sometimes assuming the form of a hog, at others that of a cat, fish, &c. being the death-place of Oswald than Oswester, and this is in a high degree borne out by the inscription over the entrance of the church. Furthermore, it would not be likely that Oswald, engaged as he was in repelling an enemy harasThere is, near the northern side of the church, a well sing him on the borders of his territory, would march into called St. Oswald's Well, which is said to mark the spot the very centre of his oppressor's kingdom for the purwhere the saint fell. To this well pilgrims have come from pose of giving him battle. Winwick was the scene of many great distances, and miracles, even as in Buda's time, are conflicts during the civil war, which raged so fiercely in and said to have been wrought. The well-water was believed about the neighbourhood of Warrington. On the 17th and to possess healing qualities, and was greatly used as an 18th August, 1684, skirmishing took place between the eye-wash. One devout female votary was discovered bath- forces of Cromwell and those of the Duke of Hamilton, and ing in the water at midnight. The soil round about was on the 19th of the same month both armies came to an encarried away in large quantities by devout pilgrims, as gagement at Red Bank, a pass on the Wigan and Goldborne possessing the healing qualities of the water. An old road, when the Duke was defeated, and his followers forced man named Roughley, long since dead, who dwelt nigh to to lay down their arms to the Protector. The scene of this the well, related that his father was accustomed to receive laying down arms was probably at Winwick, when the a small gratuity from a Catholic family in the neighbour-prisoners were marched through the church for the purpose. hood for keeping the well clear of weeds, so that its water, Having taking possession of Winwick, Warrington lay next which supplied the Roman Catholic chapels near, might not in their line of march, and, under the circumstances, promised to be an easy prize. be contaminated.* Penda having found the body of Oswald amongst the slain, cut off the head, right arm, and the hands. Carrying them away, he affixed them as trophies of his victory to a tree at a place now called Oswester, in Shropshire. This tree is called "Oswald's Tree," and is named by the Welsh "Croes Oswalt," i.e., in Latin, Crux Oswaldi. On the 20th May, 1643,* some say the 23rd, a detachment of Parliamentarians from Manchester, under the command of Colonel Assheton, took possession of St. Oswald's Church. The Royalists, seeing the superior numbers of the enemy, betook themselves to "sanctuary." A parley as to capitulation took place from the steeple, when one so parleying was Twelve months after the occurrence of this event, Oswy, shot by the enemy. Whilst digging a grave in the year brother of Oswald, indignant at the many and grievous in- 1854 near the base of the steeple, a skeleton, with a bullet sults offered to the remains of the late king by Penda, col-resting in the thigh bone, was found, and was believed to be that of the soldier killed during the parley. lected his horsemen, and riding through the very centre of Penda's territory, brought back the remains of his brother. Oswald's body was deposited at Bardney, A.D. 910, but afterwards it was conveyed to St. Oswald's, at Gloucester. One of the chroniclers informs us of this in the following words: King Ethelrede of Mers and Queen ostride, Sir Edmund Stanley occasionally made Winwick his place of residence. In 1695, one Thomas Brotherton living at Hey, was member of Parliament for Newton. He was quently spoke in his behalf in the House. He was buried firmly attached to the cause of James II., and not unfreat Winwick, and the following inscription marks his restingplace:- -"Here lieth the body of Thomas Brotherton, Esq., who departed this life January 11th, 1701, in the 45th year of his age. He married Margaret, eldest daughter of one of the co-heirs of Thomas Gunter, of the County of Berks, Esquire, by whom he had issue three sons, Gunter, Thomas, and William, and three daughters, Mary, Margaret, and Gunter. He died very much lamented, having served his country with great fidelity in three successive parliaments, in the reign of King William III." To Gloucester Abbey, to his estate."t The head was cased in a silver urn, and sent to Lindisfarne in the north; while the arms found an honoured resting-place in St. Peter's Church, Bamborough. The hands and arms were afterwards placed with St. Cuthbert's body at Durham. There is history which agrees with this. "After he (Oswald) had reigned the space of eight years, worthy of a longer life, he fell by the same fate and the same hands as Edwin, his uncle and predecessor; for Penda, King of Mercia, envying the greatness of his estate, made war upon him at a place called Maserfeld, now Oswester, in Here lieth Peers Gerard esquver son and heyre of Sir Shropshire, cut him to pieces, with a great part of his army, Thomas Gerard Knyght of the Brone whiche married Maron the 5th August, A.D. 642. His body was buried at Bard-garet daughter to Sir Willm Starley of Haton Enught and ney, in Lincolnshire." This Maserfeld is evidently the same as the Mercalde or Makerfield mentioned in the barbarous lines on the church, and signifying battle-field. The discrepancy in the two is easily seen from the fact that the respective historians each make claim to the spot, and a modern writer says, "Curious enough in the history of Penda, amongst the kings of Mercia, there is the same statement as the one given of Oswald amongst the Northumbrian kings, both in respect of the date and place, that Penda fought and slew Oswald," which clearly vindicates the foregoing. In spite, however, of the many and various statements which are usually cast around local histories, it is almost universally acknowledged that Winwick has more claim as and over the entrance of the chapel is a droll sculpturing of oone of the heyres of Sir John Bromley knyght whiche died the rir day of June the pere of oure lord tcccclxxxxij on whose sowle God have mercy. Amen. At the outbreak of the Reformation, when most of the monasteries and convents were suppressed, and that hitherto fore used in the service of God became secularised, Winwick Church, which had up to this time belonged to the Catholics, was made confiscate, and became the property of the Reformists. William Bulloyne appears to be the first rector appointed to the living of Winwick after the Reformation. Thomas Stanley was presented to the living April 10, 1552. Christopher Thompson was installed rector March 19, 1569, and was succeeded by John Codwell, January 7, 1575. In the year 1599 Thomas Ashull enjoyed the living, and John Andrews, his successor, was transferred to Winwick, The civil war broke out some years before this. |