A Man may yet walking on the Bank of Churne evidently perceyve the Cumpace of Fundation of Towers sumtyme standing in the Waul. and nere to the Place wher the right goodly Clothing Mylle was set up a late by the Abbate was broken down the Ruine of an old Tower toward making of the Myle Waulles, in the which Place was fownd a quadrate Stone fawllen down afore, but broken in aliquot frusta, wherin was a Romaine Inscription, of the which one scantly letterd that saw yt told me that he might perceyve Pont. Max.

The Soyle in the Stony Feeldes abowt Cirecestre is more apt for Barle then Whete.

Therabowt as in Coteswold is smawl Plenty of Wood except in few Places kept of necessite.

Among divers numismata fownd frequently there Dioclesian's be most fairest. But I cannot adfirme the Inscription to have bene dedicate onto hym. In the Middes of the old Town in a Medow was found a Flore de testellis versicoloribus, and by the Town nostris temporibus was fownd a broken Shank Bone of a Horse, the Mouth closed with a Pegge, the which taken owt a Shepard founde yt fillid nummis argenteis. In the South Sowth West side of the Waul be lykelyhod hath bene a Castel, or sum other great Building. the Hilles and Diches yet remanyne.

Sum say that it was the Place wher Sege was laide to the Town, and not far thens is a steepe rownd Biry like a Wind Myl Hill ext. muros cawlld Grismundes Tower, for Gusmundes Tower, as theie say.

The Place is now a Waren for Conys, and therin hath be fownd Mennes Bones insolite magnitudinis, also to sepulchres ex secto lapide. In one was a round Vessel of Leade covered, and in it Ashes and Peaces of Bones. More then iii. Partes of the old Town is now goodly Medow Ground. The iiii. Part ys yet wel inhabited, having one Paroche Chirche very richely wrought, and an Abbay of Blak Chanons fundatore Henrico primo.

Ther is also a litle Chapel as an Almose House.

But there afore was a great Chirch of Prebendaries. In the Body of the Chirch in a sepulchre Crosse of White Marble is this [Inscription,] Hie jacet Rembaldus presbyter, quondam hujus ecclesiæ decanus, [& tempore Edwardi regis Angliæ cancellarius.

Cummyng from Glocester to Cirecestre almost yn the Myddle Way betwyxt wher the Wood fayleth and Champayne Countery toward Coteswold appereth, the faire old Way made by the Britons ys very evidently seen, and so goeth as strayt as a Line to Cirecester, and fro thens to Bathe. But sum wold that the Way from Cirecester to Bath should be the very Fosse, and the Way betwyxt Cirecestre toward Glocester to be an other of the iiii. Wayes made by the Britons. The Abbat of Circestre told me that abowt Cirecestre should be crosse meating of al the iiii. Wayes.

1555.-A BRISTOL RUMINATING MAN.-In Jefferson's Entertaining Literary Curiosities (1808) the following appears as a

quotation from Newbery's Wonders:-To ruminate, or chew the cud, is an action thought peculiar to some four-footed animals; but we have a remarkable instance in the Philosophical Transactions, of a ruminating man who lived at Bristol. He would begin to chew his meat over again within a quarter of an hour after his meals, if he drank upon them; if not, it was somewhat later. This chewing after a full meal lasted about an hour and a half; and if he went to bed presently after meals, he could not sleep till the usual time of rumination was over. The victuals upon their return tasted rather pleasanter than at first. Bread, meat, cheese, and drink, returned much of the colour as if they had been mixed together in a mortar. Broth and other spoon meats returned to his mouth all one as dry and solid food. The victuals seemed to him to lie heavy in his throat till they had undergone a second chewing, after which they would pass clean away; and he always observed, that if he ate variety of things, what he swallowed first, came up again first to be chewed. If this faculty intermitted at any time, it portended sickness, and he never was well till it returned. When this account was given by Dr. Slare, the man was twenty years of age, and had been so affected ever since he could remember. His father sometimes ruminated, but nothing near so much as his son. Cardiff. GEORGE H. BRIERLEY.

1556.-STRANGE TREATMENT OF A METHODIST PREACHER.The Annual Register for 1769, p. 108, under the date of June 14th, has this short paragraph in the chronological record of the year:

On Saturday morning, a methodist preacher, who had disturbed the peace of the city of Gloucester with his enthusiastic rant, was flogged through the streets by order of the mayor. J. L.

1557. THE POST OFFICE SIXTY YEARS AGO.- The Bristol Journal of October 21, 1826, has this paragraph:

An invalid at Chepstow, wishing to consult her physician resident at Monmouth, writes to him by the post. The direct distance between Chepstow and Monmouth, by the beautiful new road under Wyndcliff, is 16 miles; but as there is no direct post, the letter is forwarded from Chepstow to Bristol, which is 15 miles, from Bristol to Gloucester 34, and from Gloucester to Monmouth 26, making altogether 75 miles; and after three days the sick lady may receive her prescription by the same circuitous route, completing the journey of 150 miles instead of 32. This could not be worse if the inhabitants of Monmouthshire continued to travel in ditches instead of roads, as they formerly did according to the evidence given in the House of Commons by Valentine Morris, the owner of the celebrated Piercefield estate.

J. L.

1558.-ST. PETER'S CHURCH, CHELTENHAM: MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS.-In 1877, when accurate copies of the following inscriptions* were taken, there were only the three in the church :—

1.

In memory of Miss Jane Cook, who died February 11th, 1851, | aged 75 years. Being anxious to promote the glory of God, she devoted her property to the dissemination of the Holy Scriptures | both at home and abroad, and to the support of missions among the heathen | as well as to the Society for promoting | Christianity amongst the Jews. She contributed largely towards the erection of a church on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, for divine worship according to the | ritual of the United Church of England and Ireland, where salvation through | "Jesus of Nazareth" | might be proclaimed to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel." | She was also a liberal benefactress | to this Church and Parish, | and ever adopted the language of the Psalmist, "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give the praise for thy | loving mercy, and for thy truth's sake."

2.

(Brass.)

gracious child, most assured love of God [Daughter of the Rev.

Frances Sophia Hodgson, an only and tenderly beloved, fell asleep, resting in the her Saviour, January 30, 1858, | ætat. xxiv. Wm. Hodgson, the first Incumbent of St. Peter's.]

3.

(Brass.)

In affectionate remembrance of | Eleanora Jane Hardy, | "a succourer of many." | She died in faith, at Walton | in Gordano, Somersetshire, January 31, 1864, ætat. xxxiii.

In the adjacent churchyard there are, with others, the following:

1.

John MacCammon Trew, D.D., late Archdeacon of the Bahamas. Died 19th Jan, 1869, aged 77. And also Laura, his wife, who departed this life 30th December, 1869, aged 67.

2.

Sacred to the memory of Louisa Frances, third daughter of George Asser White Welch, Esqre, of Arle House [near Cheltenham], and Anne Catherine Gardiner, his wife, who departed this life March the 3rd, 1851, in the 13th year of her age. Also of Maria Elizabeth, fourth daughter of the above, who died at Torquay, 2nd June, 1859, aged 19 years. Also of Agnes Brace, youngest daughter, who died at Bournemouth, Hants, September 9th, 1861, aged 17 years.

• An index to them has been given in vol. i., p. 42.

3.

Sacred to the memory of Harriet, youngest daughter of the late John Gregory Welch, Esquire, & Frances Asser, his wife, late of Arle House, who died 11th of Sep, 1854, aged 31. Also of Walter Welch, son of the above, late of the 20th Regiment, who died on the 5th March, 1863, aged 60. Also of Mary Butt, widow of William Farmer, Esq, late of Swindon, Wilts, sister of John Gregory Welch, Esq', who died Novr 14th, 1874, in her 98th year.

4.

Sacred to the memory of George Asser White Welch, Esquire, of Arle House, who departed this life February 8th, 1874, aged 74

years.

ABHBA.

1559.-MEMORIALS OF THE REV. JOHN BRYANT CLIFFORD, of BRISTOL.-In 1887 two handsome memorials of the late Rev. John B. Clifford were erected. No sooner was the suggestion made known to the public than ample funds were supplied by many who loved and honoured the former vicar of St. Matthew's, Kingsdown. The tombstone in Redland-green churchyard was erected by his children and attached friends, and the brass in St. Matthew's church, by many grateful members of his congregation. The tombstone is a massive Runic cross in fine axed grey Scotch granite, embellished with thoroughly characteristic scroll designs, and mounted on the usual pyramidal base, on which is inscribed :

"Till He come.'

JOHN + BRYANT + CLIFFORD, + M.A.,

Boru May 18th, 1804;

Died May 15th, 1886.

For 42 years Incumbent of St. Matthew's Church,
Kingsdown.

"Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.'

This stone is erected by his children and attached friends." The grave space is also surrounded by a fine axed grey granite curb. The whole work is a most substantial and effective monument in a churchyard already containing numerous handsome memorials, and was executed by Messrs. Edwin G. Browne and Co., of St. Augustine's-parade, Bristol. The mural brass in the chancel of St. Matthew's has in high relief in bronze the emblems of the four evangelists at the four corners, the background of these being in blue enamel, so as to give colour and relief to the surface. The border of the brass is of a rich fifteenth-century design, having in it as part of the ornament, the texts-"Remember them who have spoken unto you the word of God, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." "The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance." The inscription is, "To the glory of

God, and in dear memory of his servant, John Bryant Clifford, M.A. Born May 18, 1804. Died May 15, 1886. For 42 years the faithful Incumbent of this Church. 'I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified." Encircling the inscription is another rich border, having on it "Until the day dawn and the shadows flee away." In the centre is shown a Bible, having on it "Search the Scriptures," and above it a heavenly crown, the whole forming one of the richest brasses lately placed in any church. It was designed and executed by Messrs. John W. Singer and Sons, of Frome and London.

A portrait of Mr. Clifford, engraved by W. Dennis from a painting by G. D. Berry, was "published Jan3, 1847, by D. Vickery, 8, Nelson Street, Bristol." BRISTOLIENSIS.

1560. THE WEIRD OF THE HONOUR OF GLOUCESTER: EARL BRHITRIC AND HIS SUCCESSORS.-There are few stories in real history-none, as I believe, in any sensational novel-so sadly pathetic, so pitifully tragic, as the tale of this young Saxon nobleman, surnamed Snaw, or Snow, from the fairness of his complexion. His misfortunes were owing apparently to no fault of his own, but to his extreme beauty, and to the revengeful hatred of a woman whose love he could not return.

The intercourse between England and the Continent during the middle ages, always much greater than has been generally supposed, must have received a fresh impetus during the reign of the Confessor. He, with his brother Alfred, on the death of his wicked and unhappy father, Ethelréd the Unréd, had been carried into Normandy by their mother, Queen Emma, sister of the reigning duke. There they remained while Emma returned to England, and became wife of Canute. On his death, and the succession of her step-son Harold I., she returned to her native country; but the troubles of that state during the minority of Duke William sent her, with her son Edward, to the court of Flanders.

There was not much love between mother and son. It is perhaps scarcely to be wondered at that Emma of Normandy, twice Queen or Lady of England, clung far more to the memory of her second husband, the wise and valiant Canute, than to that of the feeble and licentious Ethelred; but her contempt for the father was most unjustly reflected on the son, and all her maternal love was given to Hardaknute, her son by her second marriage: nor did the needy circumstances of the royal exiles tend to draw them closer together.

But on Harold's death, and his half-brother Hardaknute's succession to the throne, Edward determined to try his fortune in his native country, undeterred by the cruel fate of his brother Alfred in the last reign. He was welcomed cordially by the king, whose life, however, was cut short by his vices. He died of excessive drinking at Clapa's Home. Edward's weak nature gave way at the

VOL. IV.

E