} Jane Barnes, d. of Rev. John and Elizabeth C 30 Mar., 7841. Gregory .... Paphroditus, s. of James and Ann Vizard C1 Feb., 1789. Tryphena, d. of Richard and Lohurama ...... } c C 2 Mar., 1807. C 14 June, 1807. Henry Morland, † s. of Joseph and Mary The Burials from 1756 begin at the end of the Third Volume. Chained Books. We have here at Westbury-on-Severn a chained copy of Foxe's "Book of Martyrs," which used to be kept in the church, and from which the school children were in the habit of tearing out and carrying away the woodcuts. The heavy binding, enriched with brass bosses, is stamped with the following inscription :-"The Gift of Thomas Man, of London, Stationer, to the Parish Church of Wesbery, Glocestershier." Green, in his "Short History of the English people" (p. 399), states that copies of this book were, by Royal order, set up in churches for public reading. Can any reader give me the date of this order, and say how long it remained in force. Our copy is much mutilated, but I should like to know of what edition it is. It is printed partly in black letter, and partly in the type now in use, and it concludes with the mention of Gunpowder plot (1605), in an addition by one Bulkley addressed to the "Christian Reader." Number of pages is 1952, exclusive of the index. LEONARD WILKINSON. Westbury-on-Severn Vicarage. He seems to have continued curate up to 1812, and afterwards became rector of Lanwarne in Herefordshire. + Father of the eminent engraver, the late Charles H. Jeens. Gloucestershire Seals.-The following list of Gloucestershire Seals is taken from the "Catalogue of Seals in the Department of Manuscripts in the British Museum, vol. i., 1887. ROYAL SEALS "PRO RECOGNITIONE DEBITORUM." EDWARD II. Bristol, 1066, 1067, 1068. Gloucester [A.D. 1590], 1073, 1074. ECCLESIASTICAL-DIOCESE OF GLOUCESTER AND BRISTOL. Bishops. No Seals. Chancellor, 1597 [A.D. 1641], Francis Baker, 1598, ditto. MONASTIC, &c. Bristol, 2718 [13th Cent.], Austin Canons' Priory of St. Augustine, 2719 [14th Cent.], ditto, 2720 [12th Cent.], John Abbat (), of same. 2721. William de Bradeston, A.D. 1234-1242, or William Long, A.D. 1242-1264, Abbat, of same. 2722 [A.D. 1486]. Benedictine Priory of St James, John Aston, Prior. Flexley. (sic.) 3154 [A.D. 1256]. Cistercian Abbey of St Mary. 3155 [late 13th Cent.]. ditto. Gloucester. 3192 [early 12th Cent.]. 3193, ditto. 3194, ditto. 3195 15th Cent.], ditto. 3196, ditto. Benedictine Mitred Abbey of St Peter. 3197 [A.D. 1538], ditto. Perhaps Seal of William Malvern, al. Parker, Abbat. 3198. Thomas Carbonel, Abbat, A.D. 1178-1212. 3199. Adam de Stauntone, Abbat, A.D. 1337-1356. 3200, ditto. 3201 [late 14th Cent.]. Privy Seal of the Abbats. 3202 [15th Cent.], ditto. 3203 [12th Cent.]. Austin Canons' Priory of St. Oswald. 3204, ditto. 3205 [13th Cent.]. Prior's Seal, Hospital or Priory of St Bartholomew, near the West Gate. 3207. House or College of Black, or Preaching Friars, founded A.D. 1239. 3208, ditto. Hayles. 3261 [15th Cent.]. Cistercian Mitred Abbey of St Mary. 3262, ditto. Horsley or Horkesley. 3297 [15th Cent.]. Alien Benedictine Lanthony. 3413 [12th Cent.]. Austin Canons' Abbey or Benedictine Abbey of St Mary. First Seal. 4148, ditto. Westbury. 4297 [15th Cent.], Collegiate Church of St Mary. 4298 [15th Cent.], ditto. Winchelcombe or Winchcombe. 4340 [15th Cent.], Benedictine Abbey of SS. Mary and Kenelm. GUILDS, CHANTRIES, AND FRATERNITIES. Bradstone. Chantry in Winterbourne. 4454 [16th Cent.]. A doubtful Seal. Wandsworth. CECIL T. Davis. UND Stroud Vestry Minute Book. NDER date of 25 October, 1890, Mr. Daniel Hipwell, of 34, Myddleton Square, Clerkenwell, wrote to Mr. Blacker to say that he had become possessed of the original Vestry minute book of Stroud, dating from 12 April, 1762, to 30 October, 1783, but stating that the only obstacle to returning it to its lawful custodians was the re-payment of the sum of money originally given by him for its acquisition. In this connection the question put by QUERIST, No. 1939, Vol. IV. becomes of importance. "Parish registers, when they happen to go astray, cannot legally be withheld from their proper custodians. Does the same law apply to churchwardens' accounts?" Though an actual legal decision has not been obtained, so far as the Editor is aware, there can be no doubt whatever that parish authorities are entitled to the return, without payment, of such of their muniments as have strayed into unlawful custody. Quite recently the churchwardens' accounts of Andover, Hampshire, were advertised for sale by auction by a leading firm of literary auctioneers in London. A formal claim to them, however, was put forward by the vicar and churchwardens of that town, and the auctioneers at once returned the volume without payment. At the same time, it is not unreasonable for a person who has bona fide acquired such a document to ask, as Mr. Hipwell does, the parish authorities to reimburse him the sum of money expended for its purchase. It is to be hoped that means will be found to ensure the return of this record to the Stroud parish chest. Mr. Hipwell sends a transcript of a list of the churchwardens for the years 1756-83, which appears on a fly leaf of the minute book in question, and is printed below. Churchwardens for the sev1 years hereafter mentioned as follows, viz. : Mr Rich Cooke and Mr Sam' Colborne G. Gardner, Esq', and Mr. Fream Arundell J. Cox, Esq', and M' Tho" Griffin H. Wyatt, Esq', and M' Ja' Winchcombe for 1756. 1757. 1758. 1759. J. Stephens, Esq', and Mr. Leversage G. Gardner, Esq', and Mr. Fream Arundell 1760. 1761. T. Gryffin, Gent., and Mr. [Peter] Leversage Do. M' Leversage and Mr Jn° Colborne 1762. 1763. 1764. 1765. do. 1766. 1767. Nonconformity at Cam.-Like many other manufacturing districts, the parish of Cam has long been inclined to dissent; and it still possesses a meeting house, which has probably existed for at least a couple of centuries, thus giving to the nonconformity of Cam, a very respectable antiquity, when we bear in mind that most probably all modern forms of dissent have sprung into existence during the last three hundred years. At one time in the earlier part of this century, it appears in this district to have surpassed the church in public estimation, and if the former has lost much ground in our day, it is due, doubtless, to dissent being no longer needful as a means for protesting against the lack of energy, scanty enthusiasm, and other shortcomings of the church. "Cam's dissenting church" is worthy of the attention of the antiquary for the very interesting registers still in use there, which not only give much information useful to the genealogist, but also throw light on the management of dissenting congregations in the eighteenth century. Unlike other nonconformist registers, these documents have not been removed to Somerset House, but still remain in the custody of the minister. The meeting-house or chapel is but a few yards from the church. It has probably been devoted to its present use for a very long period, but we have no means of ascertaining its exact age, though we can hardly doubt that the building belongs to the seventeenth century. It is built of the ordinary stone of the district, and covered with Tetbury stone tiles. The interior was remodeled some 50 or 60 years since. There are a few mural tablets inside, but all of modern date, for the dissenters of an earlier age always buried at the church, although they were baptised by their own minister. There are several gravestones in front of the chapel, and recently a considerable piece of ground has been added as a grave-yard. The present |