Woollaston, who died seized of lands in Rockhampton 5 Edw. VL, that the family name is Goughe, or Gough, not Goffe, as Sir Robert Atkyns has it, which is pronounced Gove, and signifies a blacksmith in the British language. A gentleman of this family, he adds, being so unfortunate as to have his name written Goffe, agreeable to the English orthography, had a good estate given away from him through the inadvertency of the writer.

ABHBA.

1913.-THE DEATH OF A VETERAN JOURNALIST OF CHELTENHAM.— It would certainly be an omission not to record in these pages the death of Mr. Henry Davies, for almost fifty-seven years the proprietor and editor of the Cheltenham Looker-On, which took place at his residence, Harley Lodge, Cheltenham, on Tuesday, March 4, 1890, in his eighty-seventh year. Mr. Davies had been from his early years connected with local journalism, and was highly and generally respected throughout a very extended career. Sixty years ago he was proprietor of the Cheltenham Chronicle, which had been established in May, 1809, and was the first local newspaper. Relinquishing that undertaking, he became proprietor of the Cheltenham Looker-On, "a notebook of the sayings and doings of social, political, and fashionable life"; and from its establishment in May, 1833, to his recent death the publication was under his immediate control. In politics he was an ardent Tory of the old

school." He was one of the earliest of the commissioners under the Cheltenham Improvement and Health Act of 1852, and was subsequently appointed chairman of that body, which was superseded by the present corporation in 1876. CHELTONIENSIS.

1914. LINES ON THE DEATH OF LUKE SINGLETON, ESQ.— The following lines on the Death of Luke Singleton, Esq., of the City of Gloucester, were written by the Rev. William Rider, and appeared in the Oxford Magazine for November, 1768, with the words "His lachrymis vitam damus et miserescimur ulto" prefixed:Oh! Singleton, of every grace possess'd!

Which could the learn'd, or the virtuous charm;
Prais'd by the good, and by the wise caress'd,
And fam'd for charity for ever warm!

The raging warrior may his laurels boast,
Pointing with rapture to the loaded grave,
And think he merits, who has murder'd most;
Thy power is greater, which was given to save.

*

That edifice, where ev'ry pain is cur'd,

Where death has oft a dire discomfit found,

Where blooming health with med'cine is insur'd,

Speaks thy just praise, and shall thy worth resound.

The Infirmary at Gloucester, which was planned by him, and is inimitable for its neatness and convenience, deserving the character of the poet, Simplex munditiis.

Benson,* whose mitre was by bounty grac'd,
Enjoy'd thy converse, and thy worth admir'd;
Virtues like his can never be effac'd;

Virtues like thine, by Heav'n must be inspir'd.
When want with tortures plough'd the aching breast,
You felt the tortures which your eyes perceiv'd;
For the distressful you was e'er distrest,
And ev'ry pang you pity'd, you reliev'd.
Forgive the bard, who, in untuneful lays,
Attempts to call thy worth to public view;
No other end he knows in honest praise,
But what excites to imitation too.

Oft with thy smile he hath beguil'd the hours,
While social converse charm'd the list'ning ear;
O! let him now bestrew thy grave with flow'rs,
Or pay the tribute of a friendly tear !

Gloucester.

JNO. MILLS. 1915. ABBOT BERKELEY, OF FLAXLEY. (See No. 771.) Mention has been there made of a deed of exchange of livings, in May, 1476, between " -Berkeley, abbas de Flaxley," and Nicholas Rewys, vicar of Westbury. I lately found the corresponding entry in the Bishop of Hereford's registers, where the abbot is styled William Berkeley. Perhaps even this small find may be worth recording.

Westbury Vicarage, Newnham.

LEONARD WILKINSON.

Abbot Berkeley's Christian name does not appear to have been known to Mr. A. W. Crawley-Boevey, Bombay Civil Service, to whom we are indebted for a handsomely printed edition of The Cartulary of Flaxley Abbey, Exeter, 1887.+

EDITOR.

1916.—THE FIRST PROTESTANT FREE LIBRARY IN ENGLAND.— It is stated on so late an authority as that of the writers of the article "Libraries" in the new edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, that Humphrey Chetham's Library, Manchester, established in 1653, may be called "the first free library in England." The following transcript of a document hitherto unpublished will show that, about forty years before the fine old library yet existing in Manchester was founded, a similar institution took its rise in Bristol, at the instance of a large-minded citizen, who jointly with the then archbishop of York may be considered the originator of the earliest Protestant free library :

"Robert Redwood, of Bristol, Gent, by his deed dated March 20th, 1615, in regard to the Reverend Father in God Tobias

The good Bishop of Gloucester, whose virtues still endear him to posterity, and are mentioned with admiration. The above gentleman drew the plan of his monument.

VOL. IV.

+ See "Notices of Recent Publications," No. 11, p. 105.

RR

[Mathew], Archbishop of York, has freely given and sent to Bristol a great number of books as aforesaid, gave and enffeoffed to the mayor and divers other citizens and burgesses of Bristol a tenement, with certain walks and rooms thereunto belonging, adjoyning on the town wall near Avon Marsh in Bristol, to hold to them and their heirs for ever to the only intent and purpose that they and their heirs shall from time to time for ever convert and employ the said house for a library and place for keeping of books for learned, studious, and well-disposed people to use and resort to at all times convenient, and that the said Robert and his heirs may have free way through and into the same, and that when the said ffeoffs should come to the number of 6, 5, or 4, then they to grant it to 24 such others as the mayor and aldermen of Bristol shall think fitt, and if the house be converted to any other use then the grant to be void, and further that the vicar of St. Leonard's for the time being shall have the keeping of the same, if he has secured the degree of a graduate in the university and his religion answerable thereunto."

Though the house here spoken of was library has had continued existence, and in operation of the Act.

Free Public Library, Bristol.

rebuilt in 1740, the 1876 came under the JOHN TAYLOR,

City Librarian.

1917. THE FRY COLLECTION OF BIBLES.-(See No. 1839.) As a fitting sequel to what has appeared upon this subject, the following statement by Dr. Wright, editorial superintendent, is transferred from the Bible Society Reporter, March, 1890, to our pages:

The Fry Library of British Bibles, complete and intact, is now the property of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

When the books were offered it was necessary for some one to assume the responsibility of purchasing or rejecting them. None of the Society's funds could be devoted to that object. It was also a matter of uncertainty whether in the midst of incessant and pressing claims money could be raised for their purchase. It was not without some misgivings, therefore, that I ventured to secure the collection for the Society.

When the finest collection of British Bibles-public or private --in the world came to our door, I felt that I dare not let it depart, probably, to leave our shores for ever. It was an opportunity that could only occur once; but by purchasing the books I should be taking on myself a heavy responsibility. If I let the opportunity slip, I knew I should deserve blame for lack of moral courage. If I embraced the opportunity, I left myself open to the charge of imprudence by entangling myself with a burden which might prove too heavy. A crisis had come and I had to decide. In this dilemma I chose the more difficult path, but I was substained by the strong faith and generous liberality of

those whose names appear on the list of contributors, especially by the committee. One consideration weighed with me heavily against the purchase of the library: the danger of intercepting money which might otherwise be applied to the ordinary work of the Society, or to mission work. I made it clear that I wanted

no money that was intended for the daily bread of the hungering multitudes, and any one who scans our list of subscribers will see that no good cause has suffered by their splendid liberality. Looking back on the whole matter, the result has justified the more courageous course.

The collection, as it now stands on our shelves, is a monument in a double sense. It is the result of the Christian scholarship, the patience, the energy, the self-sacrifice, the heroic devotion to truth, the inexhaustible grace of pity of the wisest and holiest men who have lived in these islands,-the men who had heard God's voice in His Word, and resolved that their fellow-men should hear it too. They saw the danger that beset them, but they were bravely daring, and in the lowly service of translation work for their brethren, with whom all was not well, they became strong, heroic, and holy. This library is an abiding monument to their splendid gifts, their loyalty to God, and their devotion to

men.

It is also a nineteenth century monument to the large-hearted enterprise of their true successors who, in this metallic and deadening age, have given such princely gifts to secure for the Bible Society, and for England, this sacred treasure. To God alone be the glory.-WILLIAM WRIGHT, D.D.

1918. THE JERNINGHAM FAMILY, OF PAINSWICK.-(Reply to No. 1849.) Having read Rudder's note, I watched carefully during the recent restoration of Painswick Church for the memorials of the Jerningham family. A flatstone was uncovered in the chantry chapel bearing the initals "H.J.," but no other inscription was found. The stone has been removed to the tower. The only entries relative to the family with which I met in the parish registers, were as follows:

(1) Marye Jervelyngham, the daughter of Henry Jervelingham, baptized the twelfth daye of November, 1593.

(2) Henrie Jerningham was baptized the 25th July, 1611.

(3) Henrie, the sonne of Henrie Jeruingham, was buried the 9 August [1611]..

Probably the stone mentioned above was placed over this infant's grave.

On examining the churchwardens' accounts I found mention of the following members of the family:-1664, Sir Henry J., Bart. ; 1687-1704, Sir Francis J., Bart.; 1705-29, John J., Esq.; 1730-5, Sir John J., Bart.; 1736-47, Dame Margaret J.; 1748-56, Lady J., (no Christian name given); 1757-72, Sir George J., Bart.;

1773-1803, Sir William J., Bart.; 1804-32, Edward J., Esq. In 1664 Sir Henry J. was assessed at £200. The name is spelt in different

ways.

Whilst out "rubbing brasses" in this county (Surrey), I met with a stone in the church of Great Bookham, on which was the following inscription:

Here lyeth Mary Iernegan, wife of Henry Iernegan, of Cossey, in ye Covnty of Norfolke, Barronett, davgh ❘ of Benedict Hall, of High Meadowe, in the Covnty of Glocester, Esq.; whoe died the 30th of Aprill, Anno | Dni 1653, leaveing him two sonnes and one davghter. | Deus meus et omnia.

The rector very kindly allowed me to make this extract from one of the parish registers :

Mary Jerningham, wife to Sr Henery Jerningham, Knight and Baronet, was buryed the first day of May [1653].

Public Library, Wandsworth, S. W.

CECIL T. DAVIS.

1919. A GLOUCESTERSHIRE SCANDAL IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY.-The following remarkable and shocking episode in the domestic life of a Gloucestershire family of ancient lineage and territorial possessions has hitherto, through the silence of tradition and of the printing-press, escaped the knowledge of the public.

John Smyth, of Nibley, the steward of the hundred of Berkeley, and author of The Lives of the Berkeleys, in the time of King James I., does not appear to have been aware of the circumstance. It happened at the close of the 15th century in the family of the Berkeleys, of Stoke-Gifford, near Bristol.

Sir William Berkeley, K.B., of Stoke-Gifford, fourth in descent from Sir Maurice Berkeley, Knt., of Stoke-Gifford, (who was second son of Maurice, 2nd Baron Berkeley, of Berkeley Castle, in the reign of Edward II.), took to wife, early in the reign of Edward IV., if not before, Anne, daughter of Sir Humphrey Stafford, Knt., of Grafton, commander of the king's forces in the engagement at Sevenoaks with the Kentish rebels in 1450. By her he had two sons and a daughter, viz., John, the eldest, whose issue failed; Richard, his successor, ancestor of three several families of Berkeley, viz., of Stoke-Gifford, Bruton in Somersetshire, and Boy Court, Kent; and Mary, who married Thomas Snagge, of the parish of All Saints', Bristol.

Sir William affianced his son and heir, John, in marriage, at seven years of age, to a young lady of fifteen years, called "Katherine Ferrys" in the proceedings in the consistorial court of the Bishop of Worcester. Smyth, in his Lives of the Berkeleys, describes her as "Katherine, daughter of Sir Richard Deverox, Knt, Lord Ferrers." He was, probably, identical with Sir Richard Devereux, Knt., second son of Sir Walter Devereux, Knt., who was summoned to Parliament in 1461 as Lord Ferrers.