GLOUCESTERSHIRE NOTES AND QUERIES. 1515.-SMITH'S "DESCRIPTION OF ENGLAND:" GLOUCESTERSHIRE, A.D. 1588.-A 4to volume by William Smith, Rouge Dragon, entitled The Particular Description of England, 1588, with views of some of the chief towns and armorial bearings of nobles and bishops, and edited, from the original MS. in the British Museum, with an introduction, by Henry B. Wheatley, F.S.A., and Edmund W. Ashbee, F.S.A., has been "printed for subscribers only" (London, 1879), the impression consisting of not more than 250 copies. As stated in the introduction, "the book which is here reproduced appears to have been almost entirely overlooked, in spite of its unique interest. The early history of the MS. is not known, but we learn from a note on the fly-leaf at the beginning of the book that it was given to Sir Hans Sloane by Sir Paul Methuen. It came into the possession of the nation when the British Museum was founded by the purchase of Sloane's Collections It may seem strange to some that a work containing carefully drawn views of London, Cambridge, Bristol, Bath, &c., made in Elizabeth's reign, should not have attracted notice, but nothing will surprise those who know what treasures lie hidden in the MS. collections of our country. Permission to print the MS. and facsimile the plates was obtained from the trustees of the British Museum, through the kindness of Mr. Bond, then keeper of the manuscripts, now principal librarian. The outlines of the views and arms are in exact facsimile, but it was not thought desirable to follow the rough colouring closely. The written portion has been printed exactly as it appears in the MS., contractions only being filled out in italic. These italics must not be confused with the names of places, which are also printed in italic for the purpose of distinction. It appears to have been Smith's intention to give views of the chief cities (as his title implies), but he was forced to leave many spaces vacant for plans which he never obtained. Bristol is dated 1568, and Salisbury and Canterbury, 1588. Bristol, as he tells us, was planned by himself. This town has always been one of great importance, and has found several delineators. One of the earliest views of the place was taken about the year 1479 [see Ricart's Kalendar, Camden Society, 1872], and Ames [History of Printing, p. 538] mentions a map by Geo. Hoefnagel, dated 1575." The description of Gloucestershire as it appeared three centuries ago, taken from pp. 34, 35, of the abovenamed volume, is here appended. GLOUCESTRENSIS. VOL. IV. A GLOCESTERSHYRE. Glocestershire taketh name of the cittie of Glocester, and contayneth in length, from Bristow [Bristol] in the south end till it come within a myle of Stretford vppon Auon, in Warwikshire, which is about 46 myles; and the breadth, from Lechlade in the est to Monmouth in Wales, is about 34 myles. It hath Warwikshire on the north end, Oxfordshyre & a litle peece of Barkshire on the est, Wiltshire on the southest, Monmouthshyre & Hereford shire on the west, & Worcestershire on the northwest. In which countrey (besydes the two citties of Bristow & Glocester) there is 21 market townes, & 314 parish churches, of which nomber 3 market townes & 48 parish churches do stand on the west syde of the river of Seuern. Glocester is a famous cittie, standing vppon the said river of Seuerne, called in Brittish Caerglow, and was founded by Claudius the Emprour, as some wryte, who named it Claudia Cestria. Bristow is one of the greatest & famoust citties in England, and standeth vppon the river of Auon, which 4 myles thence falleth into the Severn; over which river there is a fayre bridge of stone, with houses on ech syde lyke London Bridge, & almost halff so long, although it have but 4 arches; so that one quarter of the cittie standeth in Somersetshire; but the Bristollians will be a shyre of them selves, & not accompted in any other shyre. In the est end of the cittie is the castell, which they confess to stand in Glocestershyre. There is no dunghill in all the cittie, nor any sinck that cometh from any howse, but all convaid vnder the ground; neither vse they any cartes in their streetes, but all sleades. There is in the cittie 20 ffayre churches, whereof 18 are parish churches. Chiltenham standeth by Glocester Marsh, 6 myles northest from Glocester. Tewksbury is a proper towne standing 7 myles north from Glocester, where the river of Auon (which cometh from Warwik) falleth into the Seuern, hard vppon Worcestershyre, and was founded by Robert Fitzhamon, Erle of Glocester, who is there buried, & dyvers other noblemen & princes, as Henry, Duke of Warwik, an. 1446; Edward, Prince of Wales, ano. 1471, sonne to K. H. 6; George, Duke of Clarence; Edward, L. Spencer; John, L. Wenlock, & others. Winchcomb is 6 myles est from Tewksbury, & 4 northest from Chiltenham, and a myle thence is a great park wherein Sudeley Castell standeth. Campden is 6 myles northest from Winchcomb, & 5 southest from Euesholme in Worcestershire. Stow on the Would standeth on the est syde of Glocestershire, within 2 myles of Oxfordshire, 7 myles from Campden, & as many from Winchcomb. Lech (comonly called North Lech) standeth on the head of a small river named Lech, which falleth into the Thamise at Lechdale, and is 6 myles south from Stow on the Wold, & as many west from Burford in Oxfordshire. Lechlade standeth vppon the Thamise, which there parteth Glocestershire from a corner of Barkshire, within halff a myle of Oxfordshire, & within a myle of Wiltshire, 8 myles southest from Northlech. Cirencester (comonly called Ciciter) standeth vppon the river of Churn, which is the principallest head that the Thamise hath, & springeth in Coteswold, out of Cobberley Poole, 6 myles est from Glocester. It is 8 myles directly west from Lechlade, & was in tymes past a goodly cittie, beffore Glocester was builded. Stroud standeth on the south syde of Coteswold Playn, vppon the river of Stroud, which springeth in the said playne, & falleth into the Seuern 5 myles beneath Glocester, distant 8 myles west from Ciciter, & 7 southest from Glocester. Minchin Hampton is 2 myles southest from Stroud. Tetbury is 4 myles southest from Minchin Hampton, hard by Wiltshire. Dursley is 6 myles west from Tetbury, and standeth on a small brook named Cam, which 4 myles thence falleth into the Seuern. Wotton vnder Hedge is 3 litle myles [the word litle is spelt "lilitle," and the word myles is repeated in the MS.] directly south from Dursley. Wekewar is 3 myles south southest from Wotton. Betwene this towne & Wotton, lyeth a whole parish of Wiltshire called Kingswood. Chipping-Sodbury is 3 myles southest from Wekewar. Marsfeld standeth within a myle of Wiltshire, within 2 myles of Somersetshire, 10 myles from Bristow, in the way to London, & 5 southest from Chipping-Sodbury. Thornbury is 9 myles northwards from Bristow, & within 2 myles of the Seuerne, where there is a ffayre howse belonging to the L. Barkley. Barkley is a proper litle towne & castell, which geveth name to the L. Barkley, and standeth 5 myles north from Thornbury, vppon a small river, within a myle of the Seuern. Now I have named all the market townes in Glocestershire which ly on this syde the Seuern, I will pass over to those 3 which lye beyond the said river. Newnham standeth vppon the Seuern, 6 myles beneath Glocester, on the south syde of Deane Forrest. Deane (comonly called Great Deane, for diffrence of Litle Deane, 2 myles thence), standeth on the other syde of the Forrest of Deane, whereof it taketh name, & is 4 myles northwest from Newnham, within a myle of Herefordshyre. Newent is 4 myles north from Dean, within a myle of Herefordshire, & within 2 myles of Worcestershire. Forrests in Glocestershire. The Forrest of Dean reacheth from Chepstow till it come within 3 myles of Tewkesbury, which is 20 myles. Kingswood Forrest is hard by Bristow. Glocestershire hath 2 parishes lying in Warwikshyre, & two in Oxfordshyre. And for the same it hath lying within it 4 peces of Worcestershyre, 2 of Wiltshyre, & one of Barkshyre. In the list of "Names of Counties, Citties, Boroughs, and Ports, sending Knights, Citezens, Burgeses, & Barons, to the Parliament of England," these occur (p. 63):— In a list of "the Principall Fayres" throughout England, with the month, day, and place for holding each one, the following are given (pp. 65-68):— Jan. 25, Bristow; "Ashwensday," Ciceter; Feb. 24, Tewksbury; May 1, Stow on the Wold; June 24, "Midsomer Day," Glocester; July 17, Winchcomb; July 22, "Mary Magdalens Day," Tetbury; July 25, "St. James Day," Bristow; Aug. 24, Tewkesbury; Sept. 14, Wotton vnder Hedge; Oct. 11, Marchfeld; and Oct. 21, Ciceter. 1516.-ALMONDSBURY CHURCH: MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS, ETC. In the parish church of St. Mary, Almondsbury, the following twenty-seven inscriptions may be found, accurate copies of them having been taken for insertion in these pages, in September, 1887: 1. (Beside east window in chancel.) To the glory of God. In memory of Robert Gray, D.D., | Lord Bishop of Bristol, who was consecrated March 25th, 1827, and died Sep 28th, 1834, aged 73, | and of | Elizabeth, his wife, who died May 25th, 1841, this window | was dedicated by the relatives of the deceased, | A.D. 1849.* 2. (Under south side window in chancel.) To the glory of God+In memory of Henry Gray, Clerk, who served the whole of his ministry | in this Parish. Born April 19, 1808, ordained Sunday, June 5, 1831, and died Sunday, June 5, 1864. † 3. (Under tower, north side.) Here right against this pillar lyeth the body of | Hvgh Ivy, son of Thomas | Ivy, late of West king | ton, in the Covntie of | Wiltis, Esqvier, who mar | ried Ann, davghter of Michael Qvintine, * In Bristol Cathedral there is a marble monument by Edward H. Baily, R.A., a distinguished native of Bristol, inscribed to the memory of Bishop Gray, with a good medallion likeness of the prelate. He was buried in the adjoining churchyard. + See infra, p. 11. late of Bvp ton, in the said Covntie of Wiltes, Esqver, who departed this life the 6 day of December, An° Dmi 1630. | His age was aynchant, neere seaventy nyne. | Death hee hath paid, and thov mvst pay thine. 4. To the memory of Thomas Chester, Esq', and in record of his ancestry. Arthur Chester, Gent. was buried June 17, 1603. ... William Chester, Esqr Nov. 24, 1653. Oct. 6, 1675. Sept. 22, 1685. Feb. 26, 1703. The succession of this lineage was clos'd in ye death of Thomas Chester, Esq, late of Knole, son of the last recorded of his name. He was by y unanimous suffrage of his county call'd up to be Knight of the Shire in five successive parliaments; and on his own part did the honour that became him to their choice, by ye most inflexible attachment to what he thought the true interests of his country. From these he cou'd never be prevail'd on to swerve, nor during so long a service by one vote, or conniving absence, to desert or disappoint the expectations of his constituents. His country must long also lament in him yo loss of a most upright & useful magistrate. Justice was his constant object, temper'd only with compassion, as occasions call'd it forth; which his benevolent heart wou'd never suffer him to estrange himself from; but never was he to be biass'd by any sinister view or | private interest from the exertions of his proper duty. | Nor was he less amiable in his private character than respectable in his publick; under every connection in which he stood, answering with his best powers to its respective duties, & sustaining in character, as in the different scenes of life they arose upon him, the Neighbour, the Friend, the Brother, and the Husband, with no less esteem, honour, & virtue, than the Magistrate & Senator; a truth which cannot be better evinc'd than by the great & heart-impress'd grief that not only attended his loss, but has faithfully adher'd to his memory; & which, as long as any traces of it shall remain with those who had the happiness to know him, will more than answer this or any other record that can be given of him. His first wife was the Right Honble Sarah Henrietta, the only daughter of Henry, Earl of Suffolk & Bindon, by Penelope, daughter of the Earl of Thomond, who was buried April 6, 1722. In 1735 he married Mary, the widow of George Gwinnet, Esq', of Shurdington, in this County, and daughter and heiress of Jeremy |