their father became a matter of curiosity and suspicion, and his chief minister and counsellor informed the monarch of his sons' dereliction from Paganism. In the maddening frenzy of misplaced zeal, he hurried to the cell of the venerable Saint, and sacrificed his children at the moment of their devotion. The melancholy event of their death was followed with almost an universal establishment of the Christian religion in the kingdom of Mercia. The anguish of King Walfore's mind, and the conciliating advice of Queen Erminilda, soon urged him to declare his repentance at the feet of St. Ceadda. He became a convert to Christianity, abolished idolatry in his dominions, and founded many places of religious worship. The church, dedicated to St. Chad, is usually called Stowe-church. By some authentic papers, preserved in the archives of the vicars'-choral of the cathedral, mention is made of an altar dedicated to St. Catherine, as appears by the following transcript: Roger, bishop of Coventrie and Lichfield, did ordain a chantrie at Stowe, and built. an house, and gave lands and yearly revenues to a priest (who should be one of the vicars), to say mass there daylye, 66 which priest should have all such allowances as the vicars had. But this mass being neglected, and the house decayed, John, dean of Lichfield, and the chapter, did enter upon the chantery, and made one King priest there, and restored the house, lands, and revenues, to the chantery againe, that the Bishop gave; whereupon the subchanter and his fellowe-vicars went into the Chapter-house, and promised that some one of the fellowe priests and vicars should say dayeley the mass there, and that they would repaire the house thereto belonginge, and that was ordered in the Chapter-house then, that the subchanter and company of vicars should present a fit man to them, within fifteen dayes when the place was voy'd, and then to allowe...... Dated 1311." In dean Curle's time, (1620) and since, the prebends of Weeford, Gaia Major, Handsacre, Curborough, Statfold, Freeford, Pipa Minor, Gaia Minor, Pipa Parva, Itchington, Longdon, Oloughton, Bishophull, and the farmer of the dean's tithes of Curborough and Elmhurst, were assessed to the repairing of the chancel of Stowechurch. R The The interior part of this fabric has lately been repaired and beautified. In the chancel and ailes, there are several neat monuments. The minister is the rev. Edward Simeon Remington. Adjacent is Stowe-house, once the residence of the celebrated Mr. Day, author of Sandford and Merton, &c. The house is pleasantly situated, having (Stowe-pool) a fine sheet of water facing it, well stored with fish, belonging to the corporation of Lichfield. Passing by the side of this pool, into Stowe and Lombard-streets, we enter Tamworth-street; which leads to Green-hill, a part of the town remarkable for a COURT held there annually, on WHIT-MONDAY, in a temporary stand of wood, erected for the occasion, amidst a small grove of trees; surrounded with booths, shows, &c. as usual at fairs. Early in the morning of that day, the highconstables of the city attended by armed men, morrice-dancers, &c. with swords and staves, escort the sheriff, town-clerk, and bailiffs, to the bower, where the stile and title of the court is proclaimed by the common cryer; the the names of the inhabitants of this city, according as they are enrolled, are called over; and all persons owing suit and service to this court, anciently called, "The COURT of ARRAY, or View of Men and Arms," of the manor and lordship of Lichfield, are required to appear, under pain of fine and amerciament. The dozeners, or petty constables, of the 21 decennaries or wards in the city, attend, with emblems of their respective trades, or other devices; and deliver rolls containing the names of all men residing within the several districts. Strangers and inhabitants of the town are entertained by the corporation with a cold collation. During the course of the day, the High-constables, &c. perambulate the city, the armed men fire a volley over each house; and the evening concludes with a procession*, through the principal streets, to the market-place, in the following order: * This was, most probably, originally a military division, and afterwards a civil one; as Blackstone observes, the inhabitants so classed were headed by a dozener. Music, Music, Morrice-Dancers, Armed Men, Dozeners; with their Emblems, HIGH CONSTABLES, Goaler, SHERIFF S. Serjeants at Mace, and Cryer, BAILIFFS, AND TOWN CLERK, Upon their arrival in the market-place, the town clerk, in the name of the bailiffs and citizens, delivers an oration, or charge, to the high-constables, &c.; the substance of which usually is, to thank them for their attendance, and inform them, that in consequence of the firm allegiance, and faithful service, of their predecessors to their Sovereigns, in time of rebellion, divers charters and immunities were granted to this city; which, it is hoped, will stimulate them in the execution of their office, and ever remind them of the duty they owe to the best of kings, and their fellow citizens : and that the people will retire in peace to their respective homes, and pursue the paths of |