particularly Commentaries on the Maf ter of the Sentences, Sermons to the People, and Difputed Queftions. He died in 1348; and the catalogue of the provincial minifters fays of him, Brother John Went, doctor of Oxford, who wrought miracles in his lifetime, ⚫lies at Hereford.' Baker, in his Chronicle, mentions another John of Kent among the men of learning in the reign of Henry III. "According to others, he was a bard of Owen Glendower, and became domefticated in the family on the defeat of his chieftain, whofe daughter married a Scudamore. "A tradition, however, ftill pres vails, that an old wizard, disguised in a fhepherd's habit, once roamed about in the neighbourhood of Grofmont, frequented Kentchurch Houfe, and was buried privately under the ftone in the churchyard, below the caft window of the chancel, which is called John of Kent's tombstone. A refpectable perfon, long refident in the village of Kentchurch, from whom I derived this information, conjectures that this wizard was Owen Glendower himself, who, when profcribed, wandered about in a fhepherd's habit, and took refuge with one of his daughters. It is like wife remarkable, that the place of Owen Glendower's death, or fepul ture, has never been pofitively afcertained; fome fuppofe, though without fufficient authority, that he was interred at Mornington, in Herefordshire, the feat of one of his fons-in-law; others, with ftill lefs probability, that he was buried in the cathedral of Bangor." P. 336. PIERCEFIELD-ANECDOTES OF VALENTINE MORRIS. "DURING my fucceffive tours, I paid repeated vifits to Piercefield, which, fince the improvements of Va lentine Morris, has become the orna, ment of the county. "Piercefield was long the property of the family of Walters: a curious one chimney-piece, ftill preferved in the fervants' hall, with the date of 1553, is ornamented with a fhield of arms, of which the first quartering, a fquirrel fejant, is the bearing of the family. In 17279 John Walters fold the place to Thomas Rous, Efq. of Wooton Underedge, Glocefterfhire; from whose fon it was purchased, in 1736, by Colonel Valentine Morris, who ferved for fome time in a military line in the island of St. Vincent's. He came to Piercefield in 1739, made additions to the old mansion, which was little better than a farm-house, and refided there till his death. "His fon Valentine Morris was born in 1727, and at an early period inherited confiderable property, principally fituated in the inland of Antigua. About 1752, he efpoufed Mifs Mary Mordaunt, niece of Lord Peterborough, a lady of great beauty and accomplishments, but without fortune, and fixed his refidence at Piercefield. "Before this period Piercefield was unknown and unfrequented; the charms of the fituation were not duly appreciated, and the grounds folely employed for the purposes of agriculture, or covered with inacceffible forefts. Morris was enraptured with the romantic beauties of the scenery, carried walks through the forefts, opened the finest points of view, and with exquifite tafte adapted his improvements to the genius of the place, leaving The negligence of nature, wide and wild? “He lived in a style of princely rather than private magnificence, and treated those whom curiofity drew to the fcenes of Piercefield, with a liberal but oftentatious profufion: fervants out of livery constantly attended without being permitted to receive any gratuity; collations were indifcriminately offered to the numerous vifitors; and even his hot-houfe, cellar, and larder, were open to the innkeeper of Chepftow for the accommodation of tra vellers. "After a refidence of feveral years, his circumstances became involved, and he was compelled to offer Piercefield for fale. This embarrassment is generally imputed to the expenses of a contefted election in 1771, for the county of Monmouth, with John Morgan, Efq. of Tredegar; but the real caufes were derived from a variety of circumfances; an expenfive ftyle of living, numerous benefactions, imprudent ma "Thomfon." nagement nagement of his Weft India eftates, a fucceffion of unfavourable feafons in the island of Antigua, inattention to his accounts, but, above all, an unfortunate propensity to gaming. Be ing difappointed in finding a purchafer for Piercefield, he contracted his expenfes into a narrower fcale; but it was too late, and his embarraffments increafing, he was compelled to retire to his Weft India poffeffions. "Before his final departure from England, he indulged himself with bid ding adieu to Piercefield. In company with a friend, he furveyed his own creation, for the laft time, with apparent compofure and manly refignation. On his return to Chepstow he was surrounded by the poor, who throwing themselves on their knees, thanked him for numerous inftances of his bounty, and implored the bleffing of Heaven on their generous benefactor. Even this affecting fpectacle he bore with filent fortitude, and entered the chaise which conveyed him to London. But he had no fooner reached the Glocefterfhire fide of the bridge, than his car was ftruck with a mournful peal of bells, muffled, as is ufual on the lofs of de parted friends: deeply affected with this mark of esteem and regret, he could no longer control his emotions, and burft into tears. "On his return to the West Indies, he was appointed lieutenant-governor of St. Vincent's, and distinguished him felf with fo much zeal and activity in promoting the cultivation of the island, where he almost raised another Pierce field, that he was foon after nominated governor in chief. In this fituation he confiderably improved his fortune, and bad almoft repaired his loffes, when the island, for the defence of which he advanced confiderable fums, was taken by the French. In vain he applied to government for the payment of his expenfes and arrears; the want of proper vouchers, difagreement with the natives and officers, the blame incurred from a precipitate capitulation, and a variety of other unfortunate events, protracted the difcharge of the debt. "Thus circumstanced, he returned to England for the purpose of feeking redrefs, but with fmall hopes of fuccefs, for he obferved to a friend that he fhould pass the winter in the King's Bench prifon. This prediction was too well fulfilled: he was arrested foon after his arrival, and underwent a confinement of feven years. "During his imprifonment he publifhed a juftification of his administra tion at St. Vincent's, which does him honour as a governor, a soldier, and a patriot; yet, from deaths and frequent change of miniftry, his accounts were never audited or fettled, though his demands were great and juft; for a treasury warrant for 5000l. dated June 28, 1794, was iffued to his reprefentatives as part of the balance... "He was reduced to the greatest diftrefs; his books and all his moveables were expofed to fale; even the gleanings of Mrs. Morris's toilet were fold to purchase bread; and his friend Mr. Thickneffe, who shared his confinement, fhared with him the scanty pittance which he poffeffed to fupply his neceflities. His calamities were aggravated by the fituation of his amiable wife, who funk under this load of distress, and became infane. "At length, in 1786, he obtained his, liberty, and Lord North, compaffonating his diftrefs, expreffed an inclination to redeem the injuftice of former achninistrations, and to liqui date his arrears. But public bufinefs and new delays interpofing, protracted the fettlement of his affairs. In the midft of thefe disappointments, he died at the house of his brother-in-law, Mr. Wilmot, in Bloomsbury Square, on the 26th of Auguft 1789." P. 392 "During his refidence at Piercefield, Valentine Morris diftinguished himself by many acts of public utility, and his name is ftill endeared to the county for promoting the turnpike bill, the fuccefs of which was principally owing to his exertions. "The inhabitants of Chepftow idolize his memory, and relate numerous inftances of his benevolence with a warmth of affection which borders on enthusiasm; among others, one which does honour to his feelings, fhould not be omitted. "Holding one day a conversation with Mr. Knowles, whom he employed in building the alcove, and from whom I received the anecdote, he made inquiries concerning the family of Walters, and asked if any of them were * "For this interesting anecdote I am indebted to Mr. Jennings." "Being fome time afterwards engaged with Knowles in forming an opening in the wood, he faw two men in a boat; Stay here,' he said to Knowles, I will crofs the river in that boat, and examine whether the ob"jects I want to fhow can be feen from hence. Defcending haftily, he hailed the watermen, leaped into the boat, was ferried over, and on his return en tered into converfation with the men, and inquired their names and condi tion. My name, faid one of them, is ** *, I am a native of Chepftow; and that man,' pointing to his companion, is William Walters.'What! Walters of Piercefield? exclaimed Morris. Yes, pleafe your Honour, I am the brother of John who fold the eftate which you now ⚫ enjoy. Morris made no reply; but giving a gratuity to each of the men, leaped on fhore, rapidly afcended the hill, and rejoining Knowles, cried, ‘I have been talking with Walters taking out feveral guineas, he added, Carry thefe to him, and tell him that he fhall never want while it is in my power to affift him.' Knowles fuggefted, that as the man was much addicted to liquor, he would render him more fervice by a weekly allowance. The next market-day, one of Morris's fervants carried to Walters a joint of meat, and a finall fum of money, which were continued weekly until his death. Morris defrayed the expenses of his funeral, and his carriage conveyed the corpse to St. Arvan's, where it was interred in the family vault. "In 1784, Piercefield was bought by George Smith, Efq. of Burnhall, in the county of Durham, and in 1794 by the prefent proprietor Colonel Wood, formerly chief engineer of Bengal, and member of parliament for Newark. Colonel Wood has increased the property by different purchases in the vicinity, particularly part of the peninfula of Lancaut; the whole con fifting of not lefs than three thousand acres, of which a confiderable portion is woodland: the timber alone on the eftate of Piercefield was estimated at 8000l. He has likewife confiderably improved the place, and reftored many of the walks, which were choked with underwood, to their former beauty under Valentine Morris." P. 396: XLVII. The Beauties of Wiltshire, difplayed in ftatistical, historical, and defcriptive Sketches; interfperfed with Anecdotes of the Arts. 2 vols. 8vo. pp. 623. rl. 4s. Large paper 11. 16s. Ver nor and Hood, Wheble' LIST OF PLATES, Engraved by Storer. VOL. I. SALISBURY Cathedral, weft Front. VOL. II. Salisbury Cathedral, South-east. CONTENTS. VOL. I. PREFACE-Introductory Obfer. vations-Old Sarum-Salisbury Ca thedral- -Palace-SalisburyChurches-Colleges-Longford Caf tle-Downton-Clarendon-Bemerton Wilton-Wilton HouseFonthill-Wardour-Wardour Caf tle-G. Huffey-Aficomb-Knoyle Mere, &c. VOL. II. the convulfive rebellion which then broke out; he was ftripped of all his STOURHEAD Longleat-War- property, forced to fly for fafety, forminfter---Agriculture-Salisbury faking his wife and family, and leaving Plain, &c.-Barrows-Stonehenge- his comfortable home as a fearful wan Ambrefbury--Savernake Foreft-Marlborough-Devifes-New Park -Bowood-Calne-Chippenham Corfham-Bradford. EXTRACTS. DOWNTON-ANECDOTES OF DR. RALEIGH. "THIS town, formerly written Dunkton, and Donketon, is fituated in a valley, well watered by the river Avon; this ftream not only fertilizes the meadow-land, but works feveral mills in the town. There is a good church, the tower of which has been raised more than thirty feet at the expenfe of the Earl of Radnor. In the chancel are fome monuments, particularly to the late Lord Feverfham and family. The poor of this town are principally employed in making lace. It enjoys the benefit of a free-school, which was founded by Gyles Eyre, Efq. where twelve boys are inftructed in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Tradition informs us that King John had a caftle in this place, fituated behind the mills, now called Old Court; part of the walls were standing within the memory of fome of the old inhabitants. In the front of the inn called the White Horse, are bufts of this monarch and one of his queens, with the date 1225: oppofite to this houfe is a crofs, where the members are generally chofen." Fol. i. p. 114. "An account of the viciffitudes, fortunes, and misfortunes of public characters, is generally interefting. In this town was born Dr. Raleigh, elder brother to the famous Sir Walter, and fon of Sir Carew Raleigh, a man who experienced a diftreffing transition of fortune: after being well educated, and ferving as a regular commoner in the univerfity of Oxford, he was appointed not only chaplain to Lord Pembroke, but received many other honours and preferments. He became a minor prebendary in the church of Wells, rector of Streat in the fame county, chaplain to Charles I. and at length dean of Wells. From this pinnacle of preferment he was thrown by VOL. V.-No. XLVII. derer. He was taken at Bridgewater in 1645, fent to Banwell as a prifoner, and afterwards given to the cuftody of a cruel fhoemaker, who, upon being refufed the fight of a letter he had written to his wife, ftabbed him in the groin, of which wound he died. His wife and children were deferted, and left deftitute of fubfiftence. His murderer was tried; but fuch was the chicanery and vice of the times, that he was acquitted. May a knowledge of this circumftance operate, in fome degree, as a warning example to living revolutionifts, and deter them from concerting, in word or deed, those horrors which certainly await anarchy and rebellion!" Vol. i. p. 115. WILTON-MONASTERY-CARPET MANUFACTORY. "BEFORE the building of Salifbury, this place was the capital of the county; but after the erection of the new city, the inhabitants of Wilton, with those of Old Sarum, were drawn within the vortex of its attraction. That it was a place of confiderable importance and magnitude, in former days, I have no reafon to doubt; though, with Mr. Gough, I much queftion the fidelity of Leland's defcription, when he says, Wilton, or ‹ Wiltown, had, previous to the re'moval of Sarum, twelve paroch 'churches or more.' If this ever were the cafe, it has fuffered materially in its ecclefiaftical architecture, there being only one parish church remaining. "Thus does the fate of places refemble the fortunes of individuals; the aggrandizement of one, takes from the fair proportion of another. A cafe rather fimilar, though upon a more magnificent scale, is the monftrous enlargement of the metropolis, the overgrown head of the kingdom. "Wilton, like Salisbury, is fituated in a valley upon the conflux of the rivers Nadder and Willey. The latter, as Camden obferves, gives name to the town. It was anciently called Ellandun, as appears from old records, which exprefsly mention, that Weolkftan, M m • Earl • Earl of Ellandun (i. e. Wilton), built ' a little monastery here.' "Of this monaftery we find the following strange ftory, related by Goodwin, in his Lives, of the Bishops: About this time (1290) there was a certain knight, Sir Ofborne Gifford, of Fonthill, who ftele out of the nunnery of Wilton, two fair nuns, and carried them off. This coming to the ears of the Archbishop of Canterbury, John Peckam, he first ex'communicated the faid knight, and 'afterwards abfolved him upon the following conditions: 1ft, That he 'fhould never afterwards fet his foot in any nunnery, or be in company 'with any nun. 2dly, That he fhould be publicly whipped, three Sundays following, in the parish church of 'Wilton, and fo likewife in the market and church of Sarifbury three other days. 3dly, That he fhould faft a certain number of months. 4thly, That he should not wear a shirt for 'three years. And, laftly, That he 'fhould not take on him the habit and title of a knight, but wear apparel of · a ruffet colour, until he had spent three years in the Holy Land.' All thefe fevere penances he made him fwear to perform, before he would grant him abfolution. If fome of 6 our gentlemen (continues the Bishop) 'were occafionally thus ferved, they would not be fo wanton as they are.' "This Weolkftan, or Wulftan, was called the famous Earl or Duke of Wiltshire. In the year 773, he repaired an old church, then called St. Mary's, and converted it into a college or chantry of fecular priefts. This was afterwards, A. D. 8co, changed into a nunnery by Elburga, fifter to King Egbert; though Camden exprefsly fays, King Edgar, according to the chronicles, embellifhed it with a nunnery, over which he appointed his daughter Edith, abbefs.' But it appears to have been of older date, by the ancient charter of Edgar, A. D. 974, in which we find this paflage: The houfe founded by my great grandfather King Edward, is a famous 'place, well known among the inhabitants by the name of Wiltun.' And, in the life of Edward the Confeffor, we have thefe words: While St. Edward was building the abbey of St. Peter, at Weftminster, Editha, his wife, be6 gan at Wilton, where fhe had been 'educated, a monaftery of stone in a 'royal ftyle, inftead of the wooden 'church; her holy zeal keeping pace with the King's.' Mr. Aubrey, in his MSS. has furnished me with the following anecdote of this female: Editha, natural daughter of King Edgar, by the Lady Walfhill, was 'Abbefs of Wilton, wherein the de'meaned herself with fuch devotion, ' that her memory obtained the repu'tation of faintfhip. And yet an au'thor tells us, that being more curious in her attire than befeemed her profeffion, Bishop Ethelwold fharply reprimanded her, who answered him roundly," that God regarded the heart more than the garment; and that fins might be covered as well under rags as robes". 6 "Wilton was anciently one of the regia villa, or royal burghs of the Saxon princes. At this place,' fays Camden, Egbert, King of the Weft Saxons, fought a fuccessful battle, A. D. 821, againft Beorwulf, the Mercian; but with fo much flaughter on both fides, that the river ran with the blood of the neighbouring peo ple. Here likewife, in 872, Alfred fought the Danes, and was at firft victorious, but foon after, by the uncertain fortune of war, worsted, and obliged to retreat; but the Danes, ' having loft great numbers in this bat'tle, and fearing the King would con fiderably recruit his army, petitioned 'for a truce, which Alfred readily 'granted, upon condition that they would depart the kingdom.' Thus, though unfuccefsful in battle, did this wife monarch prove victorious in politics; and, freed from his enemies, he commenced the building of a new nunnery on the fite of the old palace, to which he removed the nuns, and doubled their number. King Edward the Elder was fo large a benefactor, that fome have confidered him as the founder. "This nunnery was of the Benedicite order, and valued, at the diffolution, at above 6col. per annum. Here was alfo a houfe of Black Friars." Vol. i. p. 131. "This town is particularly cele brated for its carpet manufactories. To inveftigate the caufe of this cele brity; to trace the hiftory of the art fince its firft eftablishment in England; to inquire into, and explain the various proceties |