the glass where pieces are missing, but simply proposes to do what is necessary for the perfect preservation of the windows. He estimates the cost at £1,000. Naturally we in Fairford are very proud of our treasure of painted glass; but we think that the possession of it and the duty of preserving it give us a claim upon the public at large. It is felt here that the windows are, in truth, a national monument. From all parts of the world people come to see them, as our visitors' book testifies. And among those who come there must be hundreds who would gladly help us in the costly work of preserving them, if only it were generally known that they are in such a dilapidated condition. For my part, that sentence in Mr. Westlake's report, Much of the glass will be lost,' rings in my ears, and forces me to take the bold step of writing to you. If an account of the present state of these famous windows could only appear in your columns it would reach the eyes of many who would willingly contribute to their preservation. I have no other means of communicating with those who are interested in the windows. In many cases names only, with no addresses, are entered in the visitors' book. I venture, therefore, to send this letter, hoping that you will allow it to appear in your columns, in order that the Fairford windows may be preserved for the admiration and the study of future generations."

The fine old roofs of the church, as some at least of our readers may be aware, are, generally speaking, in a very dilapidated state, and in urgent need of thorough repairs; and for this work, according to Mr. Waller's estimate, £2,000 will be required. But in this article we plead especially for the windows, for the preservation of which £1,000 must be provided. They are (to quote the words of another letter) "in a truly lamentable condition." The old lead is giving way, and the bulging of the windows, and the cracks in the glass, become worse and worse. Fortunately the church is well protected on the south and west by trees and buildings; otherwise some of the windows would in all probability have been blown in long ago. Nothing like "restoration" is contemplated. What is proposed to be done is, to take out the old glass with the greatest care for the preservation of it, and of the lichen growing upon it, and to relead the windows, following the old lines as closely as possible. The glass will not be cleaned or handled in any way more than absolutely necessary. Pieces now inserted upside down, or otherwise out of place, will be put back in their original position. The present order of the Prophets will be changed, and made to correspond with the Apostles on the opposite side of the building; that is to say, the lights will be replaced in their original order. Full particulars of this proper order, and of the changes introduced when (after their removal and burial to save them from iconoclasts) the windows were brought back, are given in Mr. Joyce's splendid monograph, of which mention has been made in the preceding letter.

VOL. IV.

Z

But this important undertaking cannot be successfully carried out without funds (and from the circumstances of the parish these funds must be looked for from the public at large); and we earnestly urge a speedy and liberal response to Mr. Carbonell's appeal. Contributions, large or small, may be sent direct to him (Vicarage, Fairford), or to the Capital and Counties Bank, Cirencester, where an account has been opened to the credit of the Fairford Church Fabric Fund.

EDITOR.

1731.-ROMAN WAY, NEAR CRICKLADE.-In the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries (1865), 2nd series, vol. iii., p. 203, Mr. J. Y. Akerman* calls attention to what he considers a Roman Vicinal Way; and he is surprised at the finding of a "ponderous sarcophagus" at Down Ampney, near Cricklade; but a reference to the map of the locality and the old road he describes would seem to explain the matter.

I am disposed to think that this old road is the Cross Fossway from Gloucester through North Cerney to Wanboro' and Speen; for it would appear that there was a cross road, bearing the name of Fossway, intersecting the main Fossway at Baunton Down Farm, near Cirencester; and perhaps this crossing of the two Fossways is what led to the tradition of the monks of Cirencester that the four great ways of the realm met near their town (Leland, v. 66). What is now a secluded spot would appear to have been a somewhat important place in Roman times, and at any rate something more than a cemetery. The names Ampen-ey and Eis-ey imply that they were once islands in the "continually flooded marshy ground," and the very kind of place which, from the description given, the Celts would choose for their strongholds.

In addition to this it appears that Ampney and Eisey are situate just at the junction of this Cross Fossway with the Portway (as Camden calls it) from Gloucester through Cirencester by Birdlip Hill, and of course onwards to this point and Speen. I should consider that this so-called Vicinal Way did not merge in the Fossway, as suggested, but crossed it at the point I have indicated.

From these considerations it is not at all improbable that there was originally a British trackway to these strongholds in the marshes, and afterwards a road to a Romanized settlement, which had its place of sepulture; and the locality may more than likely repay the trouble of further investigation, and lead to important discoveries; for a ponderous sarcophagus is not likely to have been alone, especially as other remains have been found near at

hand.

If nothing has been done since 1865, the antiquaries of Cirencester and Cricklade ought to be on the alert.

* Mr. Akerman's paper should be read, if possible, in the first instance.

This so-called Vicinal Way tends to confirm my impression that the Iter XIII. of Antoninus was not through Cirencester, but through North Cerney (Cern-ey). The distance of 14 miles from Gloucester agrees better with North Cerney than with Cirencester; and as we have from Ptolemy the name of Corinium for Cirencester, we do not require to appropriate Durocornovium to the same place. Camden says there was Caer Cori (i.e., Corinium) and Caer Ceri (i.e., Durocornovium or Cerney).

There appear to be no less than four Ampneys, a circumstance which would imply that the district must have been of importance at some time. H. F. NAPPER.

Loxwood, Sussex.

1732. A NEWSPAPER JUBILEE. -On Saturday, March 2nd, 1839-just fifty years ago to day and date---the first number of the Bristol Times was published by Joseph Leech. That paper, taken by itself, has therefore to-day attained its jubilee. As the reader has each morning "ocular proof," the Bristol Times has since then united itself with two older local papers; "Felix Farley's Journal (established in 1714) being incorporated with it in April, 1853, and the Bristol Times and Journal with the Bristol Mirror in January, 1865." Fifty years ago there were five newspapers in Bristol, namely, Felix Farley's Journal, the Mirror, and the newly-started Bristol Times, all Conservative, and published on Saturday; and the Bristol Mercury, also published on the same day, which was and is Liberal, like the Gazette, a midweek Whig organ, which has since ceased to be. Not one of those five prints was then half the size of any of the three papers now published each morning in Bristol at a penny each; though the price charged for the former was fivepence a copy stamped, and fourpence unstamped. It must be remembered, however, there was then, besides the paper duty, a penny tax upon each news sheet, and eighteen pence duty on every advertisement, however small, that appeared in their columns. The total weekly circulation of the five old papers half a century since did not much exceed six thousand, whereas now each morning paper largely exceeds that number every day. So that the present reader can see what strides the local press has made in a halfcentury. But as the "taxes on knowledge" have since been removed, and the population of Bristol has nearly quadrupled in the meantime, it is not difficult to understand the great change which has come over the state, size, and spirit of local journalism in the fifty years which have passed since the 2nd of March, 1839.-Bristol Times and Mirror, March 2, 1889.

1733. GLOUCESTERSHIRE WITHOUT ARMORIAL BEARINGS. (Reply to No. 1490.) Gloucestershire is not alone in being without armorial ensigns, as the following fact will shew.

Some years ago a County Hall was built in Devizes, and on the pediment in front was placed a coat of arms, which was supposed to represent the county of Wilts, but was soon discovered, by the jealousy of Salisburians, to be the arms of their city. A record of

the matter runs as follows:

"Ah! well is me, and lack-a-day!

These people of Devizes,

Have stole our city arms away,

And want our Spring Assizes!"

To prevent a similar error, when the County Asylum was being erected in 1850, the late Mr. John Swayne, clerk of the peace, visited the Heralds' College, to obtain correct arms. He was

informed that no county in England had any arms, and was advised to use the ensign of the West Saxons. Accordingly the "Dragon" was sculptured on the shield over the entrance gateway of the Asylum.

Cornwall uses the arms of Condurus, who was Earl of Cornwall (temp. William I.), as county arms: Sa., fifteen vezants, 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. in pale, or.

Among the various arms which the city of Gloucester has borne, are those of the De Clares, Earls of Gloucester: Or, three chevrons, gu.; and they are now borne on the city arms, with the ten torteaux of the see of Worcester (from which this diocese was formed), and standing in this way: Or, three chevrons, gu., between ten torteaux, 3. 3. 3. and 1 of the last.

Gloucester.

G. ARMSTRONG HOWITT.

1734. THE TRIAL AND PUNISHMENT OF KYD Wake, 1796. -The following extract is from the Universal Magazine for May, 1796; and I shall be glad to learn what more is recorded of Kyd Wake, why Gloucester was selected for his place of punishment, and why such a sentence was passed upon him :

Kyd Wake, who was convicted at the sittings after last Hilary term, of having, on the first day of the present sessions of Parliament, iusulted his Majesty in his passage to and from Parliament, by hissing, and using several indecent expressions, such as "No George-No war," &c., was brought up to receive the judgment of the court. The sentence was, that he be imprisoned, and kept to hard labour, in Gloucester Gaol, during the term of five years. That during the first three months of his imprisonment he do stand for one hour, between the hours of eleven and two, in the pillory, in one of the public streets of Gloucester, on a market-day and that, at the expiration of his imprisonment, he do find security for one thousand pounds for his good behaviour for ten years. JOHN MILLS.

Gloucester.

In the Gentleman's Magazine (1796), vol. Ixvi., pt. 1, pp. 163, 433, some particulars of Kyd Wake's trial and punishment are recorded.

He was tried in the Court of King's Bench and found guilty on the 20th of February, 1796, and received sentence there on the 7th of May following. The same particulars may be found, word for word, in the Annual Register for 1796, chron. pp. 6, 17. The removal of prisoners after conviction to gaols elsewhere was by no means uncommon. Henry Hunt, for example, if we remember rightly, was tried in London, and then sent to Dorchester.

EDITOR.

1735.-COLSTON'S ROOM, BRISTOL. Can anyone inform me why the large room at No. 1, Colston's Parade, Redcliffe Hill, Bristol (now the residence of the verger, and parish room of St. Mary Redcliffe), is called Colston's Room? A portrait of Edward Colston hangs on the wall, and his arms are on the ceiling; but I know of only one house in Bristol recognized as his residence, viz., that in Small Street, the remains of which now form part of the Guildhall. J. E. P.

1736. ST. MARY REDCLIFFE CHURCH.-In Notes and Queries, 7th S. vii 146, I have found St. Michael's, Coventry, given as containing more square feet (internal area) than any other parish church in England. Does any reader know what is the exact size of St. Mary Redcliffe Church?

J. E. P.

1737.-SIR JOHN DARCY, KNT., M.P. FOR GLOUCESTERSHIRE, 1584-85.-The returns for Gloucestershire to this parliament are lost. Browne Willis (Notitia Parl.) names as the knights for the shire, "Sir John Darcy, Knight," and "William Bruges, Esq." Inasmuch as the last-named gentleman was elected to the parliament next succeeding in 1586, it is highly probable that he was also returned in 1584. He was afterwards the 4th Baron Chandos. But who was Sir John Darcy? I am unable to trace any knight of this name at the date under notice. Does he appear in any other way to have been connected with GloucesterW. D. PINK.

shire?

Leigh, Lancashire.

Atkyns, Rudder, and Fosbrooke state that the manor of Almondsbury, near Bristol, was conveyed by Miles Partrige, 7 Edw. VI., to Arthur Darcy; that in the first year of Queen Elizabeth Henry Darcy had livery of it; and that he afterwards sold it to Thomas Chester. This may perhaps serve as a clue to trace Sir John Darcy.

EDITOR.

1738.-BRISTOL MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, 1685-87.—These were, Sir Richard Crumpe, a Bristol merchant, and Sir John Churchill, master of the rolls, cousin of the first Duke of Marlborough, and who had been recorder of Bristol since April, 1683.