MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. ST. GILES'S CHURCH, OXFORD. times to St. Giles*, the patron Saint of The body of this Church is composed of three very handsomely-proportioned ailes, which are each spacious, and well lighted; the centre by a clere story of windows, and the side ailes by lancet windows, which on the South side are single openings, of lofty and narrow proportions, uniformly placed on each side an elegant stone porch, which is the principal, and indeed now the only entrance to the Church. The North aile is lighted by double and triple lancet windows, in five divisions. Four of these divisions are covered with pediments which increase the variety of the * St. Giles was born at Athens in the seventh century. + The beautiful North Transept of Merton College Chapel, which is called the Parish Church of St. John the Baptist, is not included in this number. GENT. MAG. February, 1820, design, and augment the elegance of this side of the Church, now the most concealed from public view. component Church are, a chancel and a South aile, the walls of which are not less ancient than those of the body, having a lancet window on the South side, and another on the North side: all the other windows possess various forms, and are of various dates; and so extensively and injudiciously has the Eastern portion of the Edifice been altered, that internally it appears gloomy and inelegant. Of the associated members which compose this ancient, highly curious, and interesting structure, and of its external appearance, I shall further observe, that the walls are well constructed, and all, excepting that of the South aile, stands unimpaired. The injury sustained by this conspicuous portion of the Church, has been occasioned by the numerous interments which have taken place within and without the building near the foundations, which have been weakened, and have therefore caused the superincumbent wall to appear in an unsafe condition. The Tower is built of small stones and rubble, united by a strong cement, and tied by quoins of the most durable and closely constructed masonry, and having on each side an elegant window, with double openings, and columns with carved capitals. The parapet terminates with battlements, and the Tower, consisting only of one story, is not lofty. Entering the Church by the South porch, we are led to remark the autiquity and the elegant proportions of the external and internal doorways. Both arches are plain, but the capitals are carved with foliage, which is much mutilated, and the columus on which they formerly rested are demolished. The ailes of the body of the Church are separated by four wellproportioned pointed arches, resting on lofty cylindrical columns, with capitals and bases of the same form. The Tower, standing within the body of the Church, has side arches opening to the ailes-these arches correspond, and are low, and quite plain, while the great arch, once exposed to the middle aile, and admitting the light from the West window, is lofty, and rests its its springings on semi-circular columns at the sides, which have capitals carved with remarkably large and bold leaves. Under the windows, towards the East end of the South aile, are two recessed arches and a piscina. Every division of windows in the North aile has an arch extending across from the great columns to the opposite are brackets for their support. One of these arches has been destroyed, and we may conjecture that each division or space of this aile was formerly used as a Chapel; having been separated by wooden screens which are now removed. Whether this conjecture be probable or not, a more reasonable one cannot perhaps be suggested that will lead us to account for the singular variety appearing in all the windows, such as double and triple openings; some with attached, others with insulated columns; several of the arches are plain, and several are carved, with mould. iugs; some of the capitals plain, while others are enriched with exquisitely sculptured foliage. The Font is placed on a sub-base at the West end of this aile. It possesses considerable ele gance in design, with great novelty, and was certainly constructed early in the 13th century. Its general form is a square, the body being composed of broad semi-circular mouldings divided by rows of ornaments, and resting on a column with two slender and detached columns at every angle. A well-proportioned pointed arch opens from the South aile of the body to the aile of the chancel, which is now used as a vestry-room. A more spacious arch divides the body and chancel. A large semi-circular arch opens the chancel to the South aile, which was made a Chapel or Chantry by one of the Fitzwarren's, and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary *. It contains a stone seat for the officiating priest, and a piscina. East window of this aile is peculiarly elegant, while the larger window of the chancel is quite plain. The At the East end of the North aile is a large marble monument, consisting of two arches, supported on columns, and forming canopies to the kneeling figures of a male and female, and three children. A long inscription records the worth of Henry * Value Ed. VI. 3. 11s. 1633. This monument was erected The Tower contains four bells. ACCOUNT of MILTON, CO. OXFORD. THE Church, Mr. Urban, is a hand some stone structure of pointed is dedicated to St. Matthew; on the Among the Monuments in the A blue flag stone, of very hard On the floor entering the chancel "In memory of John Smith, esq. who inscriptions: "John Skynner, esq. the son of Ed- "Eliza "Elizabeth, his wife, the daughter of John Smyth, esq. of this place, and of Elizabeth Gundrey, died March ye 8th, 1769, aged 75." On a small square of marble on the floor: "Charles, the son of John Hawkins, esq. died Jan. 3d, 1692, John Hawkins, esq. was the occupier of the antient residence of the Miltons, and was the father of that eminent Lawyer, Mr. Sergeant Hawkins, the author of the Pleas of the Crown,'" In the corner of the North aile, on a marble compartment, is this epitaph: "H. S. E. "Johannes Smith, filius natu maximus Johannis Smith, de Milton, in agro Oxoniensi generosi: magnæ spei juvenis vixit annos tredecim duosque menses, tantæ vero pietatis, ingenii, eruditionis et modestiæ, quantæ ejus ætatulæ vix quis quam alius, innocentiæ exemplum amabile: obiit 22 die Nov. A. D. 1699. Hoc monamentum filii charissimi et Parentes mæstissimi posuere." In the South aile, on a brass plate, is the following inscription : "In a vault lie the remains of Wm. Skynner, esq. son of John and Elizabeth cæ. "Manet hic sepultum quicquid mortale reliquum est Joanna Meetkerke, Adolphi Meetkerke hujus parochie generosi uxoris, et Thomæ Young ejusdem Parochiæ gen. nuper defuncti, filiæ uniObiit quarto die Martis, anno Doabdormiscit filia unica Joanna Meetkerke, mini 1695, ætatis suæ 22. Ad matris latus quæ nata erat die 26 Nov. 1695, denata die 23 Dec. 1695. In charissimæ uxoris et teneræ filiæ memoriam Adolphus Meetkerke mærens posuit." It is observable that by an error in the date, the mother is here represented to have died eight months previous to the birth of her child. The Skynner; he died the first day of July, family of Meetkerke is descended from 1794. "Also Martha, the faithful and beloved wife of Sir John Skynner, daughter of Edward Burn and Martha Davie; she died the 4th day of Dec. 1797. "Also of Elizabeth Skynner, died the 14th day of Oct. in the year 1802. "Also of Sir John Skynner, son of John and Elizabeth Skynner, one of his Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, and some time Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer, who died the 26th day of Nov. in the year 1805." It may not be here unworthy of remark, as a circumstance remarkably happy, that Chief Baron Skynner, and Mr. Justice Ashhurst, who had passed the early part of their lives together as friends at the bar, and had risen to the summit of their professions, at length sat down upon their family property in contiguous parishes, the one at Waterstock, the other at Milton, to enjoy that dignified ease, to which their high stations and great attainments entitled them. They maintained the friendship begun in early life uninterrupted to the latest period of their existence, and they now lie buried in the Churches of their respective parishes. The house of the late Chief Baron Skynner descended to him from his a race of nobility of the same name, once flourishing at Bruges: as Adolphus Meetkerke, it appears, was deputed by the United Provinces to ne gociate a loan of 200,000l. with Queen Elizabeth. Camd. Eliz. p. 283. terior of the South aile are some In the Eastern extremity of the inbrasses upon the wall belonging to the family of Edgerley, formerly resident here, with the following inscription at the feet of two figures, which form the centre of four coats of arms: "Of your charite pray for the soules of William Edgerley, John Edgerley, William Edgerley, and Elizabeth Edgerley, ye children of Robert Edgerley and Kateryn his wife." The tenor bell is inscribed with the names Christ. Pettie, Simon Neale, Thos. Prince, Sam. Knight, 1684. The family of Pettie had formerly very handsome property in this parish and neighbourhood; upon the last of whom, Christopher Peltie, esq. Dr. Rawlinson makes an ob servation in his notes to this effect; *This is accounted for by the Old Style. The death of the mother occurred in 1695-6. EDIT. that that he was much addicted to bellringing, cudgel-playing, wrestling, and the like; he carried about the country with him a set of silken bellropes, and a party of dissolute companions, by whose assistance he was reduced to poverty, and finally kept an alehouse at Thame. The Living is a Vicarage, in the presentation of a Prebendary of Lincoln, to a stall in which Church the rectorial tithes are annexed, with the exception of a considerable corn-rent payable out of them to the Vicar. The present incumbent is the Rev. Thomas Ellis of Christ Church, Oxford, Mr. Delafield observes, "that the Register of Milton, with the exception of a few literal mistakes, is by far the most perfect he had ever seen." The following is an extract from the beginning of it: "Gr. Milton, Oxon. Register commences 1550. 4 Ed. VI. This booke was new written in yo yeere of our Lord 1604." In the earlier pages are various sums collected by briefs; among others, an entry, by which it appears, that a benefit play was given for a fire in the parish : "Collected for ye fire by ye Royall Theatre, 17. 4s. 4d." In the Church-yard, on the South side of the Tower, are two very antient plain raised altar tombs, defaced by time, but reported by tradition to belong to the ancestors of the Smiths, whose mausion they closely adjoin. The antient residence of the Miltons was for some time the property of the Wilkinsons. Dr. John Wilkinson was President of Magdalen College, and his brother Henry was Principal of Magdalen Hall. The elder brother, Dr. John Wilkinson, tutor to Henry Prince of Wales, eldest son of James I. was Principal of Magdalen Hall till the year 1643, but upon apostatizing to the side of the Parliament, he was ejected. Upon the ultimate prevalence of that party, however, he was restored in 1646, and finally upon the ejection of Dr. Oliver, by the Parliamentary delegates, he was elected President of Magdalen College; he was buried at Milton in 1649. His brother was dispossessed of the Headship of Magdalen Hall in 1662, in consequence of not subscribing to the Act of Uniformity. While this pro perty was in the hands of the Wilkinsons, it was for some time tenanted by, and became a favourite residence of Thurloe, the secretary to Cromwell, and in consequence was often visited by the Usurper himself during the recesses. The village traditions, respecting that personage and his Secretary, are not yet extinct. The arms of the Wilkinsons still remain well emblazoned in the window of the large parlour of this house. This, together with a farm attached to it, now belongs to Mr. Eldridge. Among the families of consequence, formerly resident here, was that of Young; the founder of which was John Young, born in Cheapside, educated at Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, of which he was fellow, and afterwards Master; in 1567, the next year, he was elected Vice-chancellor; in 1572 he was made Prebendary of Westminster, and Bishop of Rochester in 1577. His son and heir was John Young, who was settled, and finally buried in this place; Fuller observes, that this gentleman “interred his father with great pomp and solemnity, tho' on his deathbed he forbade it." His eldest son was Sir John Young, or more commonly known in his own time by the familiar name of Jack Young. It is to this gentleman we are indebted for the quaint epitaph in Westminster Abbey, “O rare Ben Jonson," which marks the spot where that Poet's remains are deposited. The expence of the stone and labour of inscription amounted to eighteenpence-the subject of it fortunately needed no monumental marble. By the census taken in 1811, the population of this parish, including the hamlets, amounted to 1059. By an antient assessment, made between the years 1562 and 1580, it appears that of 24 families nained in it four only now exist, viz. those of Eustace, Ives, Wildgoose, and Wig. gins. The first of these families is an instance of the vanity of the pride of Heraldry. Though regu larly descended from that Eustace, Count of Boulogne, who was, I believe, a cousin of the Norman Conqueror, and attended his person in all his wars, it has now for a gene ration or two mended, and sometimes made, the shoes of the villagers of Great Milton E. E. CAMBRIAY CAMBRIAN ANTIQUITIES. No. II. (Continued from p. 13.) All Saints' Eve. Wales, All Saints' Eve is ushered in with demonstrations of great joy and festivity; bonfires (round which the peasants dance, hand in hand,) are kindled as soon as it becomes dark, and may be seen blazing in every direction. The evening is concluded in a manner similar to Christmas, with a variety of rustic games, abundance of Cwrrw, and other cheer. The origin of this somewhat singular custom is not rightly known; at least, I have not yet succeeded in ascertaining it. Bingley, the only modern Tourist who has paid any minute attention to the manners of the Welsh, supposes that it may have originated with the Druids, and was instituted by them as an offering of thanksgiving for the fruits of the harvest. I should think myself, that either this is the case, or that the Welsh borrowed it from the Greeks or Romans, in the same manner that they did the funereal ceremonies antiently practised by them. It is rather surprising that I can obtain no satisfactory information on the subject from any of the inhabitants of the Principality, some of whom are well versed in its history and antiquities. Perhaps some of your intelligent Cambrian Correspondents can oblige me in this repect. The Bandilli of Mowddwy. Your Correspondent Cambro - Britannicus, in a former number, request ing you to " stir up" another Jedidiah Cleishbotham for the manufacturing of Welsh Tales upon the same plan as the Scottish Tales of my Landlord," observes, that we abound in border tradition, and could accommodate the said Jedidiah with a variety of martial incident. In a subsequent number I pointed out a subject which I thought might afford sufficient matter for one tale of this sort; and, perhaps, the following might serve, in skilful hands, as the ground-work of another. -The neighbourhood of Dinas Mowddwy, in Merionethshire, about the middle of the sixteenth century, was infested with a band of outlaws, who subsisted entirely by plunder and rapine. The gang was chiefly com posed of desperadoes who had been engaged in the wars of York and Lancaster, and, being banished their own country, settled in this place, to the no small peril and annoyance of all travellers. The spot they selected for the scene of their depredations is one of peculiar wildness and beauty; rocks, woods, and mountains, intersected by the river Dovey, constitute the scenery in this part of Merionethshire; a situation well calculated to afford protection and concealment to a numerous and powerful band. Their operations were by no means confined to the robbery of the passing traveller; like the clan of the formidable Fergus Vich Jan Vohr, whole herds of cattle became the objects of their plunder; and so conscious were they of their own strength, that they would drive their prey to the woods at noon-day. So much were they dreaded, that the neighbouring inhabitants fixed scythes (some of which may be seen at this day) in their chimnies to prevent their descent; and the usual road to Shrewsbury was totally deserted. Their villanies at length grew to such a pitch that a commission was granted to Lewis Owen and John Wynne, Esqrs. (the former a Baron of the Exchequer and ViceChamberlain of North Wales, the latter a gentleman of great property in Caernarvonshire,) to extirpate the banditti; they therefore raised a body of men, and, on a Christmas eve, succeeded in taking about eighty of the outlaws, most of whom were hanged on the spot. Among the prisoners were two brothers, who were about to be executed, when their mother stepped forward, and very earnestly implored the Baron to spare her children: he refused; when the old woing him stedfastly in the face, said to man, uncovering her neck, and lookhim, "These breasts have given suck to those who shall yet wash their time afterwards, as he was proceeding hands in your blood!" And a short on his circuit into Montgomeryshire, surviving ruffians, on the very spot,* Baron Owen was murdered by the according to tradition, where their comrades suffered the punishment due This part of the wood is now called Llidiart y Barwn (the Baron's Gate), from a number of trees being placed on the road to impede the Baron's progress. to |