we Ane ie eda as THE WILTSHIRE Archeological amd Batra Wistory MAGAZINE, Publishes under the Wirection of the Society FORMED IN THAT COUNTY A.D. 1853. VOL. XII. DEVIZES: H. F. & E. Bort, 4, Sarnt Joun StReer. LONDON : Bett & Datpy, 186, Firet Street; J. R. Surry, 36, Sono Square. 1870. DEVIZES: PRINTED BY H. F. & E, BULL, ST. JOHN STREET. CONTENTS OF VOL. XII. No. XXXIV. The Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire, 1316: By the Rey. W. H. Jonzs, PDO HE Mets reo Stas ty aceuiaanisiact cic csasva'eaiga'sdaniee-eo.nes The Ornithology of Wiltshire (No. XIV.): By the Rey. A. C. SurTH, BEN cs ae no tat ae kates sotmmeretewe Carls Sears ard sacs sas N The Flora of Ay aig: (No. XII.): By T. B. Frowsr, Esq., M.R.C.S., PPR 0., EO. vara ctg ce cries wie + slaie = Welaieiaistans cine eels nis ae History of the par of Stockton: By the late Rev. T. Mixzs, M.A. On an Ancient Vase found at Coughton: By the Rey. Canon IneRaM, MOEN carn eehield AB alalsfe elec ue ¢ Pwa’waa lenis desis Cee We daalaieeeemals The Roman Embankment at Cricklade: By the Rey. W. Arta, M.A. Note on the Cucking Stool at Wootton Bassett: By Mr. W. F. Parsons Stonehenge Notes ..... 2.2... eeeececececeee BoC cbO Ore Sfaanorer Donations to the Museum and Library ......... ‘pack euonmocecede No. XXXY. Report of Annual Meeting at Cisppenken Races ois Genel avvlncwcie esas President’s Address .......5...0ceceecse soe cecces sccccccs cece Ornithology of Wilts (No. XV.): By the Rey. A. C. Surry, M.A.... On Terraces or Lynchets: By G. Pounerr Scropz, Esq., F.R.S.. History of Parish of Stockton: By Rev. T. Mizzs (concluded)...... On an Anglo-Saxon Charter of Stockton ; By the Rev. W. H. Jonzs, ive LISS, aeeac bole E Glen ainkc Gq GgngoDds ICBOMTCUC MD OOECOdE Cer On the Existing Structure of Lacock Abbey. By C. H. Tatzor, Esq. On Monumental Brasses near Chippenham: By Rey. E. C. AwWDRY.. Abury and Stonehenge—A Reviewer Reviewed...........-+--+ 2000 Note on an Article in the Atheneum .......... cece cece re seen cee On a Crapaudine Locket found at Devizes: By Mr. CunNINGTON .... Instructions for Forming a Wiltshire Herbarium: By T. Bruczs Frowek, Esq., M.R.C.8., F.L.S., &e., Ge... cece errenccces cece Inquisition on Ruth Pierce ...... atelatelelwinler terete’ ate etelelerate) sce! sve! s 6" = Donations to Museum and Library .......sccoecccs cerersevevcres PAGE 133 135 152 185 192 216 221 233 242 248 249 252 256 258 iv CONTENTS OF VOL. XII. No. XXXVI. Chippenham, Notes of its History: By the Rey. Canon J, E. Jackson, BY BAe cco.0d ack cyte c dike feie ie wis cites ~lae'eith wine Wels tele, b cre lis\eaiets Chippenham and the Neighbourhood during the Great Rebellion: By the Rey. Jonny J. DANIEL, Vicar of Langley HIGZUUSO so eel On Hedges and Hedge Rows: By JouHn SpENcER, EsQ...........++ The Flora of Wiltshire, (No. XIII): By T. B. FLower, Esq., MR 2 CLS eRe 8:5 00.5 0.” Epes et ele eieelelen io oisae teciinem = . a t . . eae. 2 a 5 7 ay ee ae 2 Per ILA he WILTSHIRE MAGAZINE. ‘¢ MULTORUM MANIBUS GRANDE LEVATUR ONUS,”—Ovid. Che Aomina Gillaram for Wiltshire. 9th Edward IT. (1316). By the Rey. W. H. Jonzs, M.A., F.S.A. Vicar of Bradford on Avon. (4=GHE document termed ‘Nomina Vitiarum,” consists of A < returns made to writs, tested at Clipston, 5th March, 1316, (9 Kdward II.,) addressed to all the Sheriffs throughout England, stating that the King wished to be certified how many, and what Hundreds and Wapentakes there were in the Sheriff’s bailiwick ; how many and what cities, boroughs, and townships there were in each Hundred or Wapentake, and who were the Lords thereof. The Sheriff was required, at a set time fixed for the purpose, to furnish the information demanded, to the Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer. The returns were needed for the military levies granted to the King in the Parliament held at Lincoln, 9 Edward II, when it was directed that one man should be raised from every Township to supply soldiers for the wars in Scotland.! To assist the Sheriff in his work of providing from each county the proper number of men, there were appointed two or three trusty assistants. Those named to this office in Wiltshire were Walter Gocelyn, John Randolph, and Andrew de Grymstede. The writs required the Sheriff to attend in person, unless special license were given him to be absent, to give the required informa- tion to the Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer. It seems pro- bable enough therefore that when they attended for this purpose the 1Stowe, in his Annals, under the year 1316, says,—‘‘ The same yeere the King tooke of everie towne in England a man to serve in his wars of Scotland, and foure markes of money towardes his charges, having no respect to the greatnesse or littlenesse of any towne, which seemed to be undiscreetly done,” VOL. XII.—NO, XXXIV. B 2 The Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. returns were drawn up from the materials which they had obtained. Being of considerable length they assumed the shape of rolls, and the originals, still extant, are in this form,—they consist of the returns for the counties of Devon, Middlesex, Shropshire, Stafford, and Hants, and are preserved among the records usually designated as on ‘‘the side of the Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer.” In the first year of the reign of Henry VII., the original returns having become so frayed and illegible, in consequence of the fre- quent searches made upon them, that they conld scarcely be accurately interpreted, by which it was apprehended that detriment might ensue to the Crown, it was ordered by the Barons, after due inspection, that the same should be transcribed in quires and made up and engrossed in a book, to remain for ever in the Ex- chequer. For this purpose a writer, by name John Snede, was appointed, and admitted by the Barons of the Exchequer.! The work was duly completed, and the volume deposited with the Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer. Long since, however, the book dis- appeared, and at the present time no trace of it can be found.? The loss is in a slight measure supplied by copies existing in differ- ent repositories from which the quotations of the Nomina Villarum by topographical writers have been extracted. As regards Wilts . there are no originals known to be in existence. The materials 1 All the documents relating to this proceeding, are printed in Parliamentary Writs ii., part 3, p.5. John Snede was to receive three shillings and fourpence per quire for his labour. When completed the book contained twenty quires and an half, for which he was paid at the before mentioned rate. The binding, covering, and other matters needed for completing the volume, cost eight shillings and ten pence, which sum was paid to one John Burell, the stationer, all which particulars appear from the discharge of the Remembraneer, enrolled Hilary Term, 1 Hen. VII., prmted as above by Sir F. Palgrave. ? Cooper, in the Public Records (ii.,, 432), says:—‘‘ At the time when Powell published a work under the title of ‘ Directions for search of Records’ (1631), this Record was in existence, as we find there mention made of ‘ The Booke which is commonly called Nomina Villarum, made about the ninth of Edward II., &c.’ Moreover in June, 1800, this Book was still supposed to be kept in the Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer’s office in the Exchequer, although there was some reason to apprehend that it might have been destroyed by fire. But the confusion of the Records in the office rendered it impossible to ascertain the fact.” Reports from select Committee on Public Records, p. 505. By the Rev. W. H. Jones. 3 from which we derive the text given below, are contained in two manuscripts, referred to in the following paper respectively as A and B, included among the Harleian collection in the British Museum, of which the following accounts are given. A.~ Hari. WS. 6281. This manuscript is described in the catalogue, as—‘ A folio, containing the Cities, Boroughs, Villages and Hundreds, their Names, and who were the Lords of every Manor throughout all the Counties of England in the year of our Lord 1816, entitled ‘A transcript of the Book called Nomina Villarum, kept in the office of the Treasurer’s Remembrancer in the Exchequer.’” » Judging from the hand-writing, this transcript appears to have been made in the early part of the reign of Elizabeth. The Ex- chequer Book is copied on the left hand of the page, and at the foot of each page, or in the margin, or on the opposite page, are added many notes of possessors of the manors in times subsequent to the date when the record was first compiled, or of other manors held by such persons, extracted from commissions, escheats, subsidy- rolls, and other documents of various classes. The hand-writing of this manuscript is singularly perplexing, and in some places almost illegible. Without local knowledge it would be impossible to decipher it with any accuracy, especially as regards the additions, which are written in a more than usually abbreviated form and with great indistinctness. B. Hari. WS., 2195. This Manuscript contains the original heading of the Exchequer volume, omitted in the MS. A., and the returns for several counties, and amongst them, for Wilts. This transcript, from the hand- -writing, appears to have been made in the 17th century. Itisin every respect a more legible manuscript than the former, and the two are useful in helping to interpret each other. Sir Francis Palgrave observed that there were suf- ficient variations between them to show that the latter was made from the original record, and not from the former transcript. It is certain however that in both are the same omissions as regards Wilts, and that an undoubted error in one case (see below, under § 23), is found in both manuscripts. B2 4 The Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. The “Nomina Villarum” for Wilts bas already appeared in print in the Parliamentary Writs, (Vol. ii., div. iii., p. 846) under the editorial care of Sir Francis Palgrave, but that work is incon- veniently cumbrous in its bulk, and is certainly not generally accessible. The document was also printed in a volume issued by Sir R. C. Hoare, entitled “Repertorium Wiltunense.” Only a limited number of copies were printed, and it is known but to few. There is no copy of the work in the British Museum. This is the first time therefore that the document will be made generally known. Every care has been taken to secure a correct text; and it is hoped that the illustrative notes, which are now added, may be of use to students of Wiltshire topography. The chief value of the Nomina Villarum consists in this, that we find in it direct evidence of the persons who held the smaller subdivisions of the great tenancies at a particular time. For the long period of a hundred years after the Conquest there is a blank in our national records. We have, after that time, the Inqui- sitiones post Mortem, but as in these documents the proper scope was the investigation of tenures in capite, the information they afford concerning persons holding by mesne tenure was not a neces- sary part of the enquiry made by the escheator, and conse- quently the Nomina Villarum disclose the names of many land- holders of whom no other record remains. As Mr. Hunter well remarks, “When no evidence is to be gathered from the Testa de Nevil, or the Hundred Rolls, this information is not only diffi- cult to be arrived at, but can only be attained at all in an indirect manuer. One fixed period of this kind is of great importance, inasmuch as a single name is an indication of the line in which the lordship is passing, and may often be the means of guiding an enquirer to a series of lords both before and after the date of the record itself: and the determining in whom the possession lay, is one of the chief points in the history of the rural parishes of England.” ! Incidentally this document throws light both on the meaning of the names of many of the places in Wilts, and also, when com- * Quoted in Parliamentary Writs, Vol. ii., part 3, p. 4. By the Rev. W. H. Jones. 5 pared with the Exon Domesday, on the gradual changes introduced as regards the Hundreds, The notes appended to the record will explain the former: those who are curious in such matters, may, by comparing the list of Hundreds in Domesday, first of all with those given for the reigns of Henry III. and Edward I. in the Hundred Rolls, and then with those furnished for the reign of Edward II. in the Nomina Villarum,—see the changes that had taken place. One point they will not fail to observe,—the way in which the Ecclesiastical Lords of manors had formed for them- selves distinct Hundreds, at the court of which they required the tenants of their manors, scattered though they might be in various parts of the country, to do suit and service. The Bishop of Win- chester, for instance, has a separate Hundred called that of Knowel Episcopi (§ 6) ;—the Abbot of Glastonbury in like manner holds that of Damerham (§ 10),—and the Prior of St. Swithin that of Elstub (§ 11),—under each of which were included manors situated in various parts of the country. To make the document more generally useful to students of Wiltshire topography, there has been added an “Index Locorum,” containing also the Domesday names, and the modern names of all the Wiltshire vills mentioned in the text. The Nomina Villaram contains a tolerably complete list of all such manors, a few omissions only,—such as Whaddon, (near Melksham, Norton, (near Malmes- bury,) Langford Parva, Baverstock, Fisherton Anger,—having been observed. It is a testimony, moreover, to the completeness of the Domesday for Wiltshire, to observe how we are able almost in- variably to identify the names with entries in that Record; inso- much that when, as in a rare instance, we may be in a little doubt, we may fairly conclude that it arises, not necessarily from its being omitted, but from our not being able to recognise the precise form in which the entry we seek is made. W. H. Jones. Bradford on Avon, January, 1869, 6 The Aomina Cillarnm for Wiltshire, Com1TaT: WILTEs. } Crviras, Burat, et VitL, eorumq: Domini. §1. HUNDREDUM pz WONDERDYCHE.....Episcopus Sarum. Civitas Nova Sarvum’...... Episcopus Sarum. Burgus Vereris Sarum... Dominus Rex. W ILLESFORDE ............102 Theobaldus de Verdoun. TAA ee Set neers ORL Elias Cotel [de Cotell. B.] Woperorp Maewna......... Woperorp Parva......... {pscopm POSE PEORDE ©. 5 cicaige cap senses STRATFORDE ® ...........04 . Decan. et Capit. ecclesiee beatee Maric [sc. Sarum]. * Civitas Novee Sarum, et est Dominus ejusdem episcopus Sarum, et non est infra aliq. Hundred. B. §2. HUNDREDUM vz AUMBRESBURY....Comes Lancastr’. AUMBRESBURY®* ........0065 Comes Lancastr’. et Priorissa de Aum- bresbury. BOLTHORTAS . oo). cVec see Priorissa de Aumbresbury WGHYNSON 38S. Johan. de Neyville canonicus ecclesiz Sarum, et est prebendarius. »49 Edw. III., Wills de Cantilupe ten. M. de Aumbresbury de Com. Sarum, per. servic. mil. »9 Edw. III., Gilbert. de Neville ten. M. de Durynton de Rege per servic. mil. 1This name, now modernised into UnpER-Ditcu, but usually spelt in old documents Wonpr=-Dic, and, in the Exon Domesday, W1nDRE-D10, is derived from one of those ancient ‘‘ dykes,” of which there are several near the southern borders of the county. ; *MILLFORD, a district of some 1100 acres due east of the present city of Salisbury. °>STRATFORD Sus Castro, situated by the site of Old Sarum. * Now Buiirorp ;—in Domesday it is called BoLTINTONE. The Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. 7 aero Ms yiNise. 3.800, .. Robertus de Raydon (Reydon B.) F'YGHELDEN.......00eceeeee Margareta Husee, Joh. de Tourny (Thorney B.), et Isabella uxor ejus. BRIGHTMERSHTON’? ...... Mauricius de Berkelee. PEGE WORTH ¥ .... scaceccvers Henricus Husee. CHALDRYNTON.........:06005 Henricus le Spicer. PIYWENTON °* .,. La yecouiis. Comitissa Warr’. AEDYNTON (.....00..00 0). ches Petrus de Eton, et Johan. de Boklonde. WYNTERSLEWE ............ Nicholaus de Preshute. WELEWE 4.............00008 Johannes de Pageham. DEENEFORD. .... 6.) 2.06. 6003 Henricus de Prayers (Preyers?), et Johannes Bisshop. SHUPRUGGE ®............06. Comes Lancastr’. PEENTON ccc niidsriehor. ties Johannes Giffard. *6 Edw. III., Edwardus, Comes Arundel, ten. M. de Mersheton _ Meisy. >] Edw. III., Henric. Husee ten. M. de Standen et medietatem M. de Tudeworth per servic. mil.—385 Edw. III., Ricard. de Husee ten. M. de Tudeworth in capite. ©] Kdw. III., Wills La Zouche de mortuo mari ten. M. de Neuton Mortimer per servic. mil. § 3. HUNDREDUM pz ALWARDEBURY....Comes Lancastr’. WYNTERBOURNE ComiTIs.© .......eeseeee eee Comes Lancastr’. Be eI) eB ises i Os ah Mae) sito Se eee 1 Anron, a portion of the present parish of FicHELDEAN ; in Domesday it is called ELTONE. 2In Domesday it is called BrismaR-Tonz, a name derived from Brismar, its owner in Anglo-Saxon times; in modern times it has been corrupted into BRIG-MILSTON. ’Newton Tony, deriving its distinctive name from the family of Alice de “Tony, Countess of Warwick, mentioned above. 4Wettow West, by Bramshaw, an outlying part of the Hundred, not situated within its local limits, °SuHEEP-RIDGE, and Hry7on, are small portions of Wilts locally situated in Berks. : 6 WINTERBOUEN Eazts, deriving its distinctive name from its Lords, the Earis of Lancaster. 8 The Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. Wyntersourne Gonnor! Prior Sci Martini de Bristollia WrynTersourne Dauntesey’Ricardus de. Dauntesey, et Prior de Avebury. PouURTON 52). 3. .olaweatk. Ricardus de Camera, et Jordanus Daunger. . TDEMISTONE 622555 oss. ¥en Abbas Glastoniz. WINTERSLEWE* ............ Johannes de Cromwell. PREG iy1 tilt. cet aces oot ds Decan. et Cap. beate Marie Sarum, et Thomas Cosyn. . Dune GrymsTEDE?......... Laurent. de Sco Martino, et Oliver. de Ingham. Wuappon Grymstepe”!... Andr. et Joh. de Grymsted, et Alanus Plukenet. LAVERSTOKE. ......0...d9506 Margareta de Wodefolde. ADWARDEBURY ............ Decan. et Cap. beatze Marie Sarum, et Prior Monasterii Ederosi. *85 Edw. III., Gilbert de Berewike ten. M. de Wintresleu per servic. magne serjiantie faciend. Reg. adventu Regis apud Claryndon per summonicionem vinum vocatum Claretum sumptibus Regis, et ad serviend. Reg. dedicto vino inadventu suo. (Cf. Testa de Nev. 149a) See Hoare’s Alderb. Hund., 47. >21 Edw. III., Stephanus Tumby ten. med. M. de Est Grym- stede et Waddene per servic. mil. 1This estate formed part at one time of the posessions of GunNora de la Mare, (Ing. p. m. 33. Henry III.,) whence the name WINTERBOURN GUNNER, It was also termed Winterbourn Cherbourgh, from its Lords of the 13th century. Test. de Ney., 140, 144. 2 WINTERBOURN Dantsey still, in its appellation, preserves the memory of its Lord of the Manor in 1316. 3The MS. reads as above, but most probably éwo manors are intended Tee (=East Dean) and Grymstepe, (—East GrimsteaD), both of which were at Domesday held by Waleran, the ancestor of the families of Sr. Martin and IneHam. Jones’ Domesday for Wilts, 213, 218. 4This entry would seem in like manner to comprise WEst GRYMSTEDE and Waanppon, an immediately adjoining estate, now portion of the parish of Alderbury. Ee ‘The Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. 9 §4. HUNDREDUM vz FERSTESFELD....Dominus Rex. MOOLESFELD"?..........00044 Henr’. Sturmy, Ricard. de Testewode, et Stephanus Louveraz: BANEFORD? 1.2.06. .8 00.2. Wills Lye. - So ho CO ee Ee Johannes Le Englishe. Axspopeston ALDRESTON.. Johannes de Gremestede, Thomas Je Eyr, et Ingelram Berenger. -35 Edw. III., Egidius Normannus ten. M. de Coulesfeld in capite per servic. custodiendi 2 canes pro lupis;.ac M. de Camele in capite pro 4" parte unius feod. mil., et. M. de Meorle de Abb. de Malmesb. per servic. mil. Cf. Ing. p. m. i1., 252. §5. HUNDREDUM vz DOUNTON....Episcopus Wynton. Dounton (Burgus. B.)... Go, ByYSHOPPESTON ........++4+ Dounton (Villa B.)...... Episcopus Wynton. § 6. HUNDREDUM pz Knows Episcor1.‘...Episcopus Wynton. MONOWELL”? .av.. 262200 5..93 Fonte. ® : Episcopus Wy nton. a Se See Eee ee 1 There are still two manors called respectively COWESFIELD (or COWLESFIELD) Esturmy, and Cowesfield Loveraz. This is the CovLEstonse of Domesday, which was then held by Richard Sturmid. 2 LANDFORD ;—the descent of the estate from William Lye, its Lord in 1316, to the present time, is given in Hoare’s Wilts. Frustf. Hund., p. 84. 3 WuHELPLEY, ABBOTSTON, and ALDERSTONE, are all now portions of what is called Wu1te-Parisx (Album Monasterium). 4This remained as a distinct Hundred but for a short time. The two manors contained within it were afterwards included in the Hundred of Downton, the lordship of which was vested in the Bishop of Winchester. 5 Kast Kwoyxe, originally called KnoyLe Reers, and in the Hundred of Mcre. When purchased (c. 1180) by Richard Tocliffe, Bishop of Winchester, and by him given to the Church at Winton, it was called KNoyLe Episcopr, or Bisnor’s Knoyte. It is now in the Hundred of Downton. ; 6 FonTHILL Episcorr was originally in Dunworth Hundred. (Jones’ Domes- day, p. 182). Subsequently to the date of the Nomina Villarum it was trans- ferred to that of Downton. 10 The Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. §7. HUNDREDUM pz CAUDON....Dominus Rex. NU RGHEBURY fs: iy:ncdaeords Abbas Radynge. ODDESTIORE .: cy saceginck os Robertus Gerberd. FIOMYNTON 555,03 ewewdeeeees Prior de Bradely, et Custos domus Sancti Edmundi Nov. Sar. BrurrorD BrempiesHaweE! Thomas de Omero [St. Omero B.] GRE WE cy digits sgigeire ie Hugo de Plessetis, et Johan. Bysset ; ambo infra etatem et in custodia Regis. PORATHORD®. Mi. in5.¢.5h5 sib Alicia de Tony, Comitiss. Warr’. West HarneuHaAmo ......... L Alanus Pluknet. ANGEFORD. +... 2...800% bh *32 Edw. I., Phillippus Paynel ten. med. M. de Combe Keynes in Comitat. Dorset et alias terras in Purton, Chelleworth, et Brokenebergh in Wilt. de Rob. Keynes pro. 1 feod. mil. § 8. HUNDREDUM pt CADEWORTH....Dominus Rex. Burgus de WILTON ...... Dominus Rex. [ (Egy ?) UL RES elipatth e yt Hugo le Despenser, et Johannes Eyre TOWMBN LE. sirseauecehte «so enes BRUDECOMBE ...........0005 {avout de Wilton. NORTHAMPTON ° ...........+ Hepp noorTr et... ess Bartholom. de Badlesmere. 1 There was a portion of BramsHaw locally situated in the south of Alder- bury Hundred, which from an early period seems to have been connected with the Manor of Britford. See Jones’ Domesday, p. 200, under ‘‘ BRaMEssaGE.” 2ComBE Bisset, still preserving, in its distinctive name, the memory of one of its owners, in 1316. 3 STRATFORD Tony, so called still from the family of Alice de Tony, Countess of Warwick. ; *Surron MANDEVILLE, so called from Galfidus de Mandeville, who held it ce. 1270 of the Earl of Clare, the lineal descendant of its Domesday owner, Richard Fitz Gilbert. Hugo le Despenser, named above, married Eleanor, daughter of Gilbert de Clare. See Jones’ Domesday, pp. 108, 234. 5It is so spelt in the MS., but is evidently intended for what is now called NETHERHAMPTON, ® HurpcortE (or Hurcor) ; the Lord of the Manor named above was descended, through the Dunstanyilles, from its Domesday owner Humfrey de Lisle. Wilts Mag. ii., 272. Tne Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. 11 BEREFORD .ocsieceseeseesnes Baldwin. de Stowe, et Thomas Cheyn- duyt. §9. HUNDREDUM pz CHALKE....(Abbatissa de Wilton.) ME EPATICH “cise cs sasaeck parece nt BURCHALKE® .........00060 niet do Wilton. BERBWYCK? iiici ee iceeess POMMELEGH. ....cccceccesetees OUR ieee ae Theobald. de Verdoun. Kynsrrton ‘ (Kynferton?) Laurenc. de Sancto Martino. TAI cece ccnctnvccracss . Rogerus de Bavent. EBLESBURNE © ............... Ingelram Berenger, et Will. de Wy- gelewe (Wygbere B. ?) [ham. ALVEDESTON” ......066.00005 Ingelram Berenger, et Johan. de Per- TonnarD® ..... CHbcceronrees Rob. de Lucy, et Johan. Gonys. 1The Domesday name for this Hundred was StanrorD. The name Srow- FORD, originally Stdn-ford, i.e. the “paved” or Stone-ford over the river Ebele, is still given to a little place close by Fifield Bavent. 2 BowrEr-Cuatk and Berwick Sr. Jonn. See Jones’ Domesday, under CHELCHE, p. 204. 8 Originally Sroxr VERDOUN, (corrupted gradually to Vardon and Farthing) and so called from the Lords of the Manor in 1316; a district of some 650 acres in the parish of Broad Chalk. 4Intended I believe, for what is now called Knienron, which was held in the time of Edw. I. by Joane Nevil, who afterwards married one of the St. Martin family, the ancestor of the Lord of the Manor mentioned above. See Hoare’s Wilts, Chalke Hund. p. 143. 5FirteLD BAyeEnt, still having the name of the Lord of the Manor in 1316. 6 EpBEsBOURN Wake, granted (6 John) to Galfrid. de Wake, and held by several in succession of that name. Test. de Nev., 142. Hund. R. II., 248. 7The name of the tenant in the time of Edward the Confessor, viz. Atleva, seems here preserved :—Alvedes-tun—the town, (or village) of Aileva. Jones’ Domesd., p. 204. 8This estate was at one time held by Earl, (afterwards King,) John, in right of his wife Isabella, daughter of William, Earl of Gloucester, and hence called TortaRD RoyAt. 12 The Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. § 10. HUNDREDUM pz DOMERHAM...(Abbas. Glaston’.) MIOMERHAM ....05..c0 2c eenee > PTAPLEHAM | 555 Sccesee sven | ROWE TON ccc thers. site p Abbas Glastoniz. DrverEL Lancepricce? | MONKTON 2.20 A, | Compron CHAMBERLEYN* Robert. le Chamberleyn. *9 Edw. III., Joh. Avenel ten. med. M. de Compton Chamber- leyn in capite. § 11. HUNDREDUM vz ELLESTUBBE....Prior Sci Swithini, Wynton. VERE Fa. aihisha fat cnet Comes Lancastr’. NORD} 2hccin: dew ols es stn ) STORTON, .<. spsnesstiditess => QUIN aca, (HOY 68 Beith, Wynton PVGRSTON AD. feet nsatd. ve APNETON | ..6.0s AR J CHYSYNGBURY............... Abbas de Becco Herlewyn. PPDELTON'. ... ceaehosssveied Ricardus de Combe. infra cetatem et in custodia magri Ricardi Dobyngdon. (Babynton. B.) 286 Edw. III., Robertus de Rammesbury ten. 3 partes M. de Fytelton in feod. firm. per redd. xx". per ann. 1 Now STaPLE-TON, a hamlet to the west of Damerham, and in that parish. 2Usually spelt at the present time Martin, but originally mer-tén (the modern form of which would be Marton, or Merton,) signifying the boundary- town, a village on the borders of the county. 3The last three manors LoneBripGe DEvEREL, Monxron D&vEREL, and Compton CHAMBERLAIN, are all outlying portions of the Hundred of Damerham. The last estate was held in the time of Rich. I., by the Sergeantcy of being one of the King’s Chamberlains. Hund. R. II., 283. 4This is most probably a portion of what is now called Wrovcuton. It is the Ellendune of the Anglo-Saxon charters, and is sometimes called ELINGDON- WeroveHton. Hund, R. Il., 244. —_—-- —~ . The Nomina Villarum for Wiitshire. 13 NETHERAVENE" ............ Johan. fil Johan. de Ferrers, infra eetatem et in custodia Dni. Regis. .32 Edw. I., Henr. Peverel ten. terras in Northavene (sic) et Newetone in co. Wilts et [terr. in] Suthampt. per redd. iv". per ann. ad castr. Wigorn.—Cf. Inq. p. m. ii., 354. § 12. HUNDREDUM ve BRENCHESBOROWE—.Dominus Rex. SHARENTON.............00055 Johannes Giffard, de Bremmesfelde. Berne F014 98.. Wisuerorp Parva! ...... avout de Wilton. NEWETON ..............0. STaPEL-LANGEFORD‘(Step- > Oliv. de Ingham, et Laurene. de Sto. pullangeford B.) ...... Martino. STAPELFORD ............... Johes Giffard de Bremmesfeld, et Margareta Sturmy. WisHEFORD Macna? ...... Adam Atteford, et Johes. de Bonham. BUGMERTON ..... 00.0.0 .0..000 Andreas de Grymstede, et Andreas de Comener (07 Comermere). BRUDECOMBE? ............ Johes Pycot, et Thomas de Tarente. — *21 Edw. III., Johes. de Steeres ten. med. de Staple Langford per servic. mil.—9 Rich. II., Laur. de Sco. Martino chevr ten. med. M. de Westdoune, Est Grymstede, et Stepul Langford. >13 Edw. III., Willus Quyntyn ten. 2 partes M. et terr. et ten. in Wycheford et Stoford. g§ 18. HUNDREDUM ps DOLESFELD....Dominus Rex. BR a St Johes de Combe, et Abbatissa de Cadamo. 1Lirrtze WIsHFoRD is a tithing in the parish of Sourm Newron. 2NortH Burcoms; the southern portion is accounted for under Cadeworth Hundred. See § 8. 14 The Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire, ORCHESTON?..........00.00005 Willus de Rolveston et Johes Bluet. Etsron (Eliston)?......... Johes Giffard. SHERUETON ? ihe es Comes Lancastr’. Mapymrow (52 EIR! Johanna la Moygne, (et) Priorissa de Ambresbury. ABBODESTON .......:hc10045 Abbas de Hyda, et Alexander de Frevylle. WYnTERBOURN STOKE”... Johanna Wake. Renew O's}. Fe ee Henric. de Lancastr’. «21 Edw. III., Hugo de Audele, nuper Comes Glouc. ten. M. de Wexcombe et Bedewind de Rege ad feod. firm. secundum exitus ; et M. de Orcheston, Knoukes, et Bourbatch de R. per servic. mil. »6 Edw. III., Hugo Wake ten. M. de Winterborn Stoke pro 3 part. 1 feod. mil. § 14. HUNDREDUM ve KYNEWARDSTON....Matilda Comitiss’. Gloucestr’. Burgus de Bepewynp ... Dis Rex per mortem Com. Gloucestr’. VN HRCOMEE i502 dense cas Matilda Comitiss. de Gloucestr’. PE WUUMSUNE So wae v voxss kage uxt Abbas de Hyda. MMEADINEON © os .yssecrs ease Willus de insula bona. RV OITONS * 42. ov qsmen eres Johes fil. et her. Johan. de Ripariis, infra etatem et in custodia Regis. 1This manor would seem to have been held in the time of Edw. I. by Elias Giffard, and from him probably comes the name Ziis-ton, contracted into Eils-ton. 2 This manor corresponds with the WINTERBOURNE (pp. 66, 67,) of Domesday, and is called WINTERBOURN ScREVETON in the Hund. R. II., 254. See also Test. de Nev., 135. The distinctive portion of the name would seem to be derived from Scir-gerefa, i.e. Shire-reeve,(—Sheriff,) and so to be a memorial of the office held by its Domesday owner. 8’ Berwick Sr. JAMES ;—see under WINTERBOURNE, in Domesday, p. 241. 4Called from the name of the Lord of the Manor, Mitton Lizzory, origin-~ ally, de L’isle bonne, (a translation of which is given above in “de insula bona,”’) and spelt Lilbonne. 5This place still bears the name of one of its Lords, Johan. de Ripariis, and is called Woorron Rivers. The Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. 15 BoREBACH .........0.0cs eee Henricus Sturmy. CHUSSEBERY ....:.......... Henricus de Cobeham. SraunpEN CuawortH"!... Henricus de Lancastr’. BARRIOS FP? . wi clsci Secpcoenes Henricus le Tyers [Tyeis B]. EMER Slsa3 0k spicraae okies Prior Sci Swithini Wynton. Est BepEwyYND ............ Theobald. fil. et her. Willi Russell infra etatem et in custodia Regis. EY OBOOMBD .... 01d a) 0.0 Prior de Modeffonte, et Juliana de Kyngeston. 6 ee Willus Brayboef, et Ricardus de Pol- hampton BEHABTON © ooo. .ccccsceceer es Johanna de Haveringe, et Prior Scx ; Margarete extra Marleburg. CoLyNGEBURNE"® ......... Almaric. [Adomar. B.] de Valence, et Abbas de Hyda. 236 Edw. III., Ricus de Pembrigg ten. M. de Chilton de Ed- wardo Powell ut de hon. de Wallingford per servic. mil. >] Edw. III., Henr. Husee ten. M. de Staunden cum med. de Tudeworth per servic. de Com. Lancastr’. ut de honore Leicest’: et, 35 Edw. III., Ricardus de Husee ten. M. de Tudeworth. ¢6 Edw. II., Willus Barman ten. terras in Grafton per servicium inveniendi unum equum ad cariandum vinum? Regis cum Rex venat. ferat in forestis de Savernac et de Chute. 446 Edw. III., Edw. de Carmaille, chevr. ten. M. de Colingburn Valence in cap. per servic. mil.—Cf. Inq. p. m. ii., 354. § 15 HUNDREDUM pe SWANEBERGH....Dominus Rex. UPHAVENE .............00005 Lo ee } Hugo le Despencer. 1§o called from Patrick de Chaworth, who held the Manor 3 Edw. I. Hund. R. II., 160. 2Cni~ton Fotrat; so called from Sampson Foliat, who held the Manor towards the end of the thirteenth century. Test. de. Nev. 145. 8This entry includes both CortineBourn Ducis, at one time called Colling- bourn Valence; and Cottinepourn Kinesron, formerly called Collingbourn Abbas, from the estate being part of the possessions of the Abbey of Hyde. 16 The Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. HUSTESHALLE ©... <0 5cthum Robertus de Hungerford et Gena uxor ejus. CHERLETON.......)5/i.0ee% Walterus de Paveley. WYVELSFORD ............... Manynecrorp Boun!...... } Comes Heretord. Suite hs i. gen ote. Abbatissa de Shaston. STADNTON:| Distaiici cobs us DREYCOTE ORE®............ { avbaton de Wilton. Newenton Hutcote’...... AUvULTON BERNER............ WOODBERGE ....../40..4.5 , i Comes Lancastr’. Wiitieore't ib. wieheenal! Mannincrorp Apsatis > Abbas de Hyda. MannincrorD BrewosE® Maria de Brewose. 246 Edw. III., Hunfridus de Bohun, Comes Hereford, ten. M. de Uphaven in capite per servic. mil. ac M. de Wyvelsford, Wokesey, Manyngford, Stratton, et Seend in capite. » 85 Edw. III., Thomas de Aldon. chevr ten. M. de Manyngford Bohun, et 46 Edw. III.—Cf. Ing. p. m., ii., 228. § 16. HUNDREDUM pe STODFOLDE.®...Dominus Rex. CHURINGTON ............. Comes Hereford. Contck (ConexeE. B.)...... Abbas de Grasteyn. IRCHESFONTE ............... Abbatissa beatee Marize de Wynton. 5 ET ey peer Bartholomeus de Badlesmere. ETHELHAMPTON ”............ Johannes Malewyn. (Malewayne B.) 180 called from the Bohuns, Earls of Hereford; it is still regarded asa tithing of Wyvelsford, (now Wilsford,) which belonged to the same family. 2 This Manor is known better as BEECHINGSTOKE. 3Draycore is the name of a farm close by Hewish; OARE would seem to include Raryscoms, an outlying part of the parish of North Newnton. 4Huxcote, (or Hr1icore,) is a tithing of the parish of NontH NEwnrton. 5These two Manors still bear in their names, MANNINGFORD ABBAS and Mayninerorp Bruce, the memory of their owners.in the 14th century. 6The name of this Hundred is from the Anglo-Saxon stéd-fald, i.e. the fold or place for horses. It is now included in the Hundred of Swanborough. 7The direct descent of these two Manors, now annexed to the parish of All The Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. 17 ALYNGETONE" ............ Johannes la Warre. URECANYNGES ............:.. Abbatissa beatee Marie de Wynton. «21 Edw. III., Johannes de la Warre ten. 2 partes M. de Alyngton. §17. HUNDREDUM pz RUBERGH [REGIS]!...Dominus Rex. CuyvereL Maen? ...... Edmundus Gascelyn, et Matilda Burnell. CHYVEREL Parva ......... Johannes de Sco. Laudo. ERTELTON 207.0000). c Wills Paynell. STUPEL-LAVINGTON ® ...... Petrus de la Mare, Willus Forstal, [Forescal?] Ricardus de Ryvers, et Thomas Schokthrop. ? Se oe ee Johannes le Rous. 243 Edw. III., Galfridus filius Edwardi Gascelyn ten. M. de Magna Cheverel et Budeston de Nicholao Burnel milite per servic. mil. ; §18. HUNDREDUM ve RUBERGH [EPISCOPI]...Episcopus Sarum. Burcus pE Devyszs...... } Maitardta Repina: Angi. ES eae eee POTEGKE ......4.552105./.. BGMEEON...... 20.0) awtigeste | spscopn Sarum. LAvINGTON® ..............; Cannings, from their owners mentioned above, to their present Lords, may be seen in the Wilts Mag. 1This and the next-named Hundred were at the time of Domesday one Hundred. The name Ruee-BERG means the “ rough” or hoar ‘ barrow.” These two Hundreds are now divided between those of Potterne and Cannings, and Swanborough. 2 Still called Lirrneron Paynett, from the name of its Lord of the Manor. $’LavineTon Forum, or Marxet LavINGToN. 4 Tere, or ImBER as it is now called, is also partly included in the Hundred of Hecurresury, (Heytesbury). See below §36. The name originally seems to have been gemer, i.e. boundary, and as formerly, so to the present time, it is parcelled out between two Hundreds. 5Lavineton Episcopi, or BrsHor’s LAVINGTON. VOL. XII.—NO. XXXIV. Cc 18 The Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. Fyssuipe! (TyssHIDEP).. ......... Bogo de Knouille. § 19. HUNDREDUM pz CANYNGES [EPISCOPT]...Episcopus Sarum. COANINGE. Acne sees weiss : Episcopus Sarum. PIR WAREWVIEY../c Socio oceas «ines Compe: ais... SELENE Willus de Cotes,et Johannes Mautravers. TUT DMs 0 chris's sani ono doans Willusde Hywey,et Johannes Quyntyn. § 20. HUNDREDUM pe RAMESBURY...Episcopus Sarum. RAMESBURY .......000c000. > ASHRUGGE 0s; 1)..0i0ijlecerdeen ss IBEDON yo.) a5. daeeidte: Episcopus Sarum. ByssHOPESTON ..........0: ( HISPHWGGR - «;\cdicn. sone J §21. HUNDREDUM pz SELKLEE...Margareta Regina Angliz. Bureus pE MariLeserGE Dominus Rex. Bureus pe LurecarsALE Dominus Rex. ATDEBURNG |.) 0.550.0556 Comes Lancastr’. RCUTESCOMBE? .,.i.s) SEVENHAMPTON .... ....... Srratron SUPERIOR ...... >Margareta Regina Anglie. SrraTron INFERIOR ...... | Bruntespon Sci LeonaRD1 J STAUNTON ®..........50600ee Episcopus Cestrensis, et Herbert. fil. Johannis. RoDBOURNE |. .........00000 Rex per mortem Comit. Cornubie. TPSEVERD"® ........0000-00: Ida de Clynton. 91 Edw. IIL., Johan. de Northwode ten. M. de Lydgard in capite per servic. mil. Bee A) SU Ob 1These are now called RrcHaRpson and Rosson,—two farms in the parish of Winterbourne Basset. 2Sranton Firzwaryn; so called from Fulco Fitz-waryn who held lands here, and presented to the living, in 1299. See Test. de Nev., 150. The parish is called also from successive owners, STANTON Frrz-HERBERT, and STANTON Firz-BryNveE. 3 Lyptarp MILLIceNnt ;—deriving its distinctive appellation from the Christian name of a Lady who held the Manor in the time of King John, Aubrey, 153. 20 The Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. Buuntespon Sci AnpREZ Barthol. Badlesmere, et Johannes Mau- travers. HANYNGDON ..........00005 Henr’. de Lancastr’. Erone Meysy? ............ Nicholas de Sco Mauro. Nortu Mersurtow......... Hugo le Despenser. > 35 Edward III., Ricardus Seymour ten. M de Etone, Rode, et Wythenham. Of. Ing. p. m. ii., 241. § 23. HUNDREDUM pe CREKKELADE...Margareta Regina Angliz. Burevus DE CREKKELADE Margareta Regina Anglie. Pouron). %........ aE TRUR Kan@tons. cs doors ti act GRUTELINTONE ............ avo Glastoniz. IUMPENTON i.) 3. svpeste anaes: WJASUBBURK ov. ccuesess 9s Reginaldus Crok. COKELBERGH ...........0.0: Henricus de Cobeham. West Kynton .........:.. Petrus fil. Reginaldi, et Cecilia de Bello Campo. LitrLeton Drew’......... Walter. Drew, et Johannes Pludel. DANGELE® oo... ..eessees la ohannes de la Mare, de Langeley. AGRE Oa keen one SURYNDENE ......0seseeee Willus de Middelhope. LOKYNTONE ..... Baer Comes Lancastr’, et Thomas de Anerle, (Querle ?) WOMETON Nett hex catan Comes Arundel, et Henric. de Lancastr’. PUEPNTON es cit sereccs ccs } Prior de Farley. SLAGHTERFORD ...........: GRE cach. eertes cote eeee Henricus de Boxe. Diao Slee ee Abbatissa de Lacock, et Johannes Bluet. Sua wines, i.e... eer Abbas de Stanley. Same dees Abbas de Malmesbury. TuDERYNTONE® ............ Willus Percehay, Johes Turpyn, Walt. Skydemore, Johes Kaleway. 1CQastLE ComBe; so called from being the head of the Barony of the Dunstanvilles, the ancestors of the Badlesmeres, who held it in 1316. 2LittLeTon Drew, still preserves the memorial in its name of this Lord of the Manor. 3 LANGLEY BurREL; the tenant at the time of Domesday was BorEt, and the family of Burel continued to hold the Manor till the 14th century. Aubrey, 95. 4[Leric¢H DELAMERE; the name of the Lord of the Manor, mentioned above, is still preserved. 5Yarron Krynet; in the time of Henry III. one Knight’s fee was held by Henry Kaynel, at Yatton; hence the distinctive name. Test. de Nev., 142. 6In the name TirHeRTON Ketways is still preserved the memorial of one of the owners mentioned above. The Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. 23 WPRoxmaLe: wiih. Johannes de Wroxhale. PETIAM 25.0.0... 008 Tve Johes de Hertham, Ricus de Comerwell, et Bartholom. Peche ? Hstons Gray! ............ Johannes Grey. SHERSTON PaRVA ......... Johannes Giffard. HARDENYSSH ..........00005 Johannes de Sco Lando. BPGDRYNTON ...5 0000 e000 Johannes de Hertham, Hugo de Da- vereswell (Cavereswell?), Robert. de Harlegh. § 28. HUNDREDUM pz STAPLE...Hugo le Despencer. SHELEWORTH:..::.....-.:.- Hugo le Despenser. MBVIONE .. 0. cade ce seese es Abbas de Malmesbury, § 29. HUNDREDUM pve STERKELEE?®... Abbas de Malmesbury. Burcus DE eget ‘Mubaa'de! Malmesbury: BRiNKEWORTH ............ : Cristr-Matierorp ...... Abbas Glastonie. MRAGINTHSHY © oo. cece ees bes Walterus de Paveley. SommrrorD®*............... Johes Mauduyt et, Johes Mautravers. TE yee gintem cast is Prior de Bradenstock et Johes de Segre. le re Johes de Cerne. « 86 Edw. III., Theobaldus Mounteney miles ten. M. de Somerford Keynes ;—11 Rich. II., Hugo Segwarre chvr. ten. M. de Somerford Keynes. >] Edw. III., Johes de Berm... ten. M. de Draycote per servic. mil. 1Tke parish is still called Easton Grey, a name it acquired from the owner here mentioned ? This Hundred is now included in that of Malmesbury. The name STERKLEY, (or SrarKLEy,) is still preserved in a hamlet belonging to the parish of Broad Somerford. 8SomerForD Mavpvuir; Gunfrid [Mauduit], an ancestor of John Manduyt, named above, would seem to have held the estate under the Abbot of Malmes- bury, at the time of Domesday. See Domesd., 35, 235. 4Draycor CERNE; so called from the name of its Lords in the fourteenth century. 24 The Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. STANTON !*.......ccsecceeces Herbert. de Sco Quintino. HUNDLAVYNGTON ......... Abbas Sci Victoris. *25 Edw. III., Robertus Husee ten. M. de Stanton Sei Quintin:— 9 Rich. II., Edmund. de Sco Johanne, chevr. ten. M de Stanton in capite per servic. mil. §30. HUNDREDUM pr CHEGGELEWE?.. Abbasde Malmesbury. PNSRTONE © cas case. bees soo > IGDBUBNE os. cccc.csdesa ass BROKENBOROW ............ NEWENTONE ...........000 » Abbas de Malmesbury. CRERLTONG iis bgecectasen | CRUDEWELE | ....0.0ccss000s ES Cae ae J Boxssry * (WoxkzsEyY?).. Comes Hereford. POEM ssa cae toe ee tt oe Robertus fil. Pagani. § 381. HUNDREDUM pz CALNE... Willus la Zouch. Bure. DE CaLne ......... Decan. et Capit. Sarum, et Willus la Zouche. PAEREW WIC. 5; sasancienenieg Hugo le Despenser. A AUMEBUBY * hi iisesctenentne Henr. de Wyleton, Radulf. le Botiller, Dec. et Capit. Sarum. Cee Ts 355 tu8's + psap00p 9 Matilda de Tony, Comitissa Warr’. *49 Edw III.. Baldewinus Frevill, miles, ten. terras in Yates- bury de Gilberto de per servic. mil. 1Called still, from the family who held it in 1316, Stanton Sr. QUINTIN. 2 This Hundred is called in Domesday ClCEMETHORN, or CICEMERTONE. (pp. 6, 158.) ‘The name CHEDGELOW is still that of a small hamlet in Crudwell. It is now, with the ancient Hundred of Sterkely, merged in the Hundred of Malmes- bury. 3 Sutton BENnGER, which though not situated within the proper limits of the Hundred of Cheggelewe, is reckoned as belonging to it, as parcel of the large grant included under ‘‘ Brokenberge,”’ made to the Abbey of Malmesbury in 956, by King Edwy. Cod. Dip., 460. 4This name is so written in the MS. It is intended, for what in Domesday, (p. 131) is called Wocuzstz, and at the present time OAKsEY. . ee a ee eee ee ee By the Rev. W. H. Jones. 25 CALESTONE* ..ssscscssccsee Willus la Zouche, Johannes de Wyleton, Johannes de Comerwell. Compton !......... .eeeee Hugo le Despenser, et Johannes de Comerwell. Herpyneron? ,....... Robertus de Cantilupe. SropELY.............. Abbas de Stanley. BLAKELONDE ,......... Abbas de Malmesbury, et Ricardus de, eeseeee BrversBrook ........ Johes Mauduit, et Alexander le Blount. BROMHAM .........5.0.0000¢ Abbas de Bello. 32 Edw. I., Willus la Zouch (et de Haryngeworth 28 Edw. III.) filius et heres Millicent de Monte-Alto ten, M. de Calston per servic. dimid. feod:—11 Rich. II., Johes de Wilington chevr ten. M. de Calyston. § 82. HUNDREDUM pz BRADEFORD, . Abbatissa Shaston. PGS DEFORD) vein vd Ovid c's ) DU SNESLOY, ve veincwaes "| WROXHALE .......... )»..Abbatissa Shaston. MOET 6 Gi abi a Wewe " ATTEWORTH ....00000. Farry Monacnorum .. Prior de Farley. Brocutonn®,......... Margareta Giffard. Westwopr‘ .......... Prior Sci Swithini Wynton. WYNEFELD.........2-+ Abbas de Keynesham.. CHADEFELDE ......+.+. Rogerus de Percy. Wrrtumnuam® ,....... Nicholaus de Sco Mauro, (Seymour). ComERWELL ........-. Johes de Comerwell. 1Compron Basset; this manor was held in 1233 by Gilbert Basset. Aubrey, 41, 2Tt is so spelt in both MSS ;—-intended for HepDINGTON. 3’ BroucHTon GIFFORD ;—an account of the descent of the manor to the present day will be found in the Wilts Mag., v., 265. 4 This manor was afterwards placed in the Hundred of Exsrus. 5 This was the name of a parish which was afterwards merged in that of Far- _~ leigh Hungerford, forming the Wiltshire portion of it, the greater part being in Somersetshire. See Wilts. Mag., v., 20. VOL. XII.—NO. XXXIV. D 26 The Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. § 83. HUNDREDUM pz WHEREWELLESDOWNE.. Abbatissa de Romeseye. Coutzston CHAUMBERLAYN Abbatissa de Romeseye, (et Simon le Chamberlayne.) TENHYDE J, ..,10¢bbesnases EDYNGDOWN ..¢....5.s000.¥056 AGHETON -f:..0.ike ured \ Abbatissa de Shaston.! [Romeseye?] SRADMEMY 00:5: 000hes neers Pion! 22.6a020l Ade} j Pry Ri is oss as rece Comes Arundel. §34. HUNDREDUM vz WESTBERIE...Walterus de Paveley. WESTBERIE ........0.00000 Walterus de Paveley, Thomas Mauduyt, et Prior de Syninton. [Styvington.B. | DEANTOR 05 Siitinrsevenves Willus de Maundeville, et Ricardus Darcy. Dit, Eas oles Thomas Mauduyt, Johannes le Rous, et Prior de Farley. §35. HUNDREDUM pr MEYRE...Margareta Regina Anglie. 1) 81) en A Margareta Regina Angliz. PRADRTMY ° oo 0scastvemorya Prior de Bradeley. SPUORION .n%.3 o.kvaveends atts Robertus le Fitzpayn. SSRIS cc censtenyos ses acters Philippus de Aylesbury, et Johannes de Seles. KAOWEL® 40+ cehioaeeans Abbatissa Wiltun. §36. HUNDREDUM vz HEGHTREBURY...Bartholomeus de Badlesmere. HEGHTREBURY ,.......... Bartholomzeus de Badlesmere. 1It is so written in both manuscripts: without doubt, however, the Abbess of Romsey held these manors, 2A hospital for ‘“ leprous maidens’ was founded here by Manasser Bisset c. 1154; hence the name Maipren Braptry. Test. de Ney., 156. 3 West KnoyLe or KnoyLe ODIERNE; a person called ‘‘ Hodierna nutrix” (t.e. Hodierne, the nurse), was pensioned with lands in the parish. Wilts. Mag. IIL, 30. By the Rev. W. H. Jones. 27 BAVILESCLYVE on... see . Prior de Bradeley. HOoRNYNGESHAM.........5. . Ricardus de Vernon. BryYGHTESTON! ...¢........ Abb. de Becco Herlewin. Re Se, oe Johes Mautravers, Elias Deverell, et Robert le Bor. BME oon ccivy vk vn go Matt. Owayn, et Walterus de Paveley, (et 21 Edw. III., Hugo de Audele, Comes Gloucestr’). MIROHESTON, 0.0.0. sisiarcerse Dominus Rex, per mortem Com. MO Gas vs ey sid San a ok Gloucestr’. CHUTERNES. ......0...coceeee Abbissa.de Lacock, Johannes Syfrewast, (Cifrewast B.) Prior de Bradenstoke, et Alicia Picheford. TON ocean sou sn dee cgs Laurencius de Sco Martino. Ee nh fea gbat enn Prior de Farley, et Johannes Drueys. BRSETON 8 evar ecen va ce Johannes Giffard. BGEKORD ©? ice reac sats Johannes Giffard, et Oliverus de Ingham. MU ION, dew vcgadevesess Margar. Giffard BPPPERORD 2... ceeceecee seca Radulfus Cheynduyt. BAKHAMPTON .....0..s.c00s Matilda de Wyly. et Margar. de Wode- ford. «85 Edw. III. Johes le Strange de Whitchurch ten. M. de Asheton in capite. >21 Edw. III. Johes ...... bertt ten. 2 partes M. de Codeford. 1This is the ‘Deverel’ that in Domesday belonged to Brictric. Hence the name Brixton DEVEREL, originally Brictrices-tun, (in Test. de Nev., 154, spelt Brichtriches-ton,) that is, ‘‘ the town, or village of Brictric.” 2On this manor see the remarks under the Hundred of Rusere § 17. ’This entry represents what are really from distant manors, each with a _ separate owner. See them distinguished in Domesday, 205. 4 AsHTon GIFFARD; now a tithing in the parish of Codford St. Peter. 5 This entry represents both Coprorp Sr. Mary, and Coprorp Sr. PETER, the one belonging at Domesday to Waleran, the ancestor of Oliver de Ingham; and the other to Osbern Giffard, whose name is still preserved, as just mentioned, in the tithing of Ashton Giffard. 28 The Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. §387. HUNDREDUM ps DONEWORTHBH......... Dominus Rex. WIGUMHEAD....,dencngv carers: : TYSSERURY ..0cncacensatees oa } Abbatissa Shaston. Fountitt GirrorD! ...... Johannes Mauduyt. Ci VIMBEK ce ee Gee sunee Abbatissa Wiltun. Swatectyve Ansteven... Prior Hosp.Sci Johis Jerusal. in Anglia, et Johannes de la Mare. HAccHE ....... Peatemerate see Stephus de Segrave, Margar. de Hacche, Johannes de Brudesyerde, Roger. de Bavent, Walter de Stanlegh. HI GKEAND cusses enesngense Robertus Lof (Los?), Elias Cotes, Johannes Strug, Junior. NTS, | ere ee ee Alianora Husey, Joceus de Hoghton. Verpure* (Werdure. B.) Laurencius de Sco Martino. STON” scresveupandaeernes Isabella de Hasledene. *1. Hen. VI. Johannes Lovell chevr, filius Johis Lovell chevr, filii J. Lovell chevr, et Matilda uxoris sux, ten. castra et M. de Verdure, ac M. de Briddeford et Erdescote. §38 HUNDREDUM pve WEREMINSTER...Thomas Mauduyt. WEREMINSTER .........005 Thomas Mauduyt. PUEUG soak seevecavevee Walterus Skydemore. Norturyece THoineston® Walterus Gastelyn. OGRSELHGH ....c..,0cecses Priorissa de Stodlegh. BYSSHPESTROWE........0008 Abbatissa de Lacock. DONOR On yea chee see dee Johannes (Rogerus. B.) Bavent. 1FonTEL belonged at Domesday to Berenger Giffard, and still preserves the memory of its ancient owner in the name FonTHILL GIFFARD. 2Trrront Eyzas; like other estates belonging at Domesday to Alured of Marlborough, this was held as of the Barony of Hwyas, and hence its distinct- iye name. Hund. R. II., 269, 377. 3 Eston is generally spoken of in the records in connection with Haseldean, (now Haseldon) the name of a farm in the parish of Tisbury. Hoare’s Wiltshire, Dunworth Hundred, 225. 4Still called, after the name of its owner, Upton ScuDAMORE. 5 NogEiver, and THouLsToN, are two places close by Upron ScUDAMORE. ° Still called, from its owner in 1316, Norton BAveEnt. ——e By the Rev. W. H. Jones. 29 Surron Maenal............ Henricus de Lortehay, Willus de Wanton, Johannes de Kyngeston. Donyneton Terront? .... Abbatissa Shaston, Fisnerton Brasynton? Jacobus de Norton, Willus de Read, (Babington B.) Antonius Bydyk. §39. HUNDREDUM pe MELKESHAM...Priorissa de Aum- bresbury. MELKESHAM ......cessceses Priorissa de Aumbresbury. TROWBRIGGE®........0.0008 . Comes Lancastr’. HIULPRYNTONE .........005 Walterus de Pavely. Fes nainane't i pldpee Hugo le Despenser. Buxxineton (Bulkington B.) Comes Arundel. PIAEBATORE "(550 .c00s-ce.ee Radulfus de Mont. Hermery. PAULESHOLT ........0.000 . Nicholaus Bourdon (Bordoun B), et Johannes de Paulesholte. *36 Edw. III. Johes de Warren nuper Comes Sarum ten. M. de -Trowbrigge, Winterbourn, Amesbury, Aldebourn in capite per servic mil. *46 Edw. III. Humfridus de Bohun nuper Comes Hereford ten. inter alia M. de Sende. °14 Edw. III. Thomas de Mont. Hermery ten. M. de Erlestoke de Rege per servic. mil. 1Surron Maewa is the same as Sutton FENNyY, now commonly written VENEY. 2These are Dinton, and Terront Maena, the latter being a chapelry - belonging to the first-named parish. 3 The second of these names would seem fo be intended for Bapton, an estate within Fisoerton DrLameRe: the Delamere family of Nunny owned Fisherton ¢. 1390, Hoare’s Wiltshire, Heytesb. Hund,, 252, 30 INDEX. The figures in the first column refer to the sections in the preceding paper ; those in the second column to the pages in the Rev. W. H. Jones’ Domesday for Wilts. Nomina VILLARUM. Abbodeston, 4. Abbodeston, 13. Alcanynges, 16. Aldburne, 21. Aldreston, 4. Aldrynton, 27. Aldynton, 2. Aleton, 2. Alta Swyndon, 26. Alvedeston, 9. Alwardebury, (Hun- dred) 3. Alwardebury, 3 Alyngetone, 16. Alynton, 27. Ansteygh, 37. Ashrugge, 20. Asheton, 33, DomeEspay Boor. Under Ferstesfeld, 135, 216. Under Wintreburne, 66, 67. Caninge, 52. Aldeborne, 11. Under Ferstesfeld, 216. Aldritone, 111. Aldrintone, 119. Alentone, Allentone, 54, 62. Eltone, 147. Svindune, 25, 235. Under Chelche, 47. Alwareberie, 189. Alwarberie, 56, 107, 149, Adelingtone, 79. Under Chipeham, 205. Anestige, 105, 136. Under Ramesberie, 229. Aistone, 195. Mopern Name, Abbotston. Rolleston ? All-Cannings. Aldbourn. Alderston. Alderton. Allington, near Amesbury. Alton, in the parish of Figheldean. Higk Swindon. Alvediston. Alderbury. Alderbury. Allington, near All Cannings. Allington, in the parish of Chippen- ham. Anstey. - P Axford. Steeple Ashton. “Index to the Nomina Villarum Sor Wiltshire. ol Nomina VILLARUM. Domespay Boox. Moprrn Name. Asheton, 36. Under Coteford,117, | Ashton Giffard,in the 210. parish of Codford Ashton, 23. Atteworth, 32. Aulton, 11. ‘Aulton Berner, 15. Aumbresbury, (Hun- dred) 2. Aumbresbury, 2. Avebury, 21. Bakhampton, 21. Bakhampton, 36. Bayllesclyve, 36. Pedon, 20. Benknolle, 26. Bedewynd, 14. Bedewynd, Est—. 14. Bereford, 8. Berewyck, 9. Berewyk, 18. Berewyk, 31. Beversbrook, 31. Bisshopeston, 5. Bisshopeston, 20. Bysshopeston, 24. Essitone, 214. Under Bradeford, 200. Awltone, 18. Aultone, 65. Ambresberie, 185. Ambresberie, 8, 68. Avreberie, 16. Bachentune, 95. Under Wili, 241. Ballochelie, 70. Under Ramesberic, 229. Bechenhalle, 94. Bedvinde, 7. Under Bedvinde, 7. 198. Bereford, 198. Under Chelche, 204. Under Wintreburne, 241. Under Cauna, 203. Beversbroc, 201. Under Duntone, 218. Under Ramesberie, 229. Under Clive, 19,207. St. Peter. Ashton Keynes. Atworth, by Bradford on Avon. Alton Priors. Alton Berners, (or Barnes). Amesbury. Amesbury. Avebury (or Abury). Beckhampton, in the parish of Avebury. Bathampton, on Wy- ly, in the parish of Steeple Langford. Baycliffe,in the parish of Hill Deverel. Baydon. Binknoll,in theparish of Broad Hinton. Great Bedwyn. Little Bedwyn. Barford St. Martin. Berwick St. John. Berwick St. James. Berwick Basset. Beversbrook, by Calne. Bishopston, alias Eb- besbourn Episcopi. Bishopston,by Rams- bury. Bushton,in the parish of Cliff Pypard. 32 Nomina VILLARUM. Blakingrove( Hundred) 26. Blakelond, 31. Bluntesdon Sci. Leon- ardi, 22. Bluntesdon Sci. An- drece, 22. Bokesey, 30. Boltford, 2. Borebach, 14. Boxe, 27. Boyton, 36. Brabynton, 38. Bradeford (Hundred,) 32 Bradeford, 32. Bradeley, 33. Bradeley, 35. Bratton, 34. Brembleshawe, 7. Bremele, 27. Brenchesborow (Hun- dred,) 12. Brinkeworth, 29. Brutford, 7. Brokenborow, 30. Broghtone, 382. Brudecombe, 8. Brudecombe, 12. Bryghteston, 36. Brightmershton, 2, Budestone, 27. Bukkington, 39, Domespay Boox. Blachegrave, 166. Under Calestone, 122. Bluntesdone, 69,144. Blontesdone, 87. Wochesie, 131. Boltintone; 53. Buberge, Burbete, 202. Under Haseberie, 219 Boientone, 69. Under Fisertone,114, 216. Bradeford, 170. Bradeford, 43. Under Edendone, 214. Bradelie, 98. Under Westberie, 239. Bramessage, 200. Breme, 200. Brencesberge, 184. Brecheorde, 35. Brenchewrde, 92. Bretford, 201. Brocheneberge, 35. Broctone, 85. Bredecumbe, 49. Bredecumbe, 60. * Devrel, 55. Brismartone, 112. Bedestone, 89. Under Chivele, 206. Index to the Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. MopErn Name, Blagrove: now mer- ged in the Hundred of Kingsbridge. Blackland, by Calne. Broad Blunsdon. BlunsdonSt. Andrew. Oaksey. Bullford. Burbage. Box. Boyton. Bapton, in the parish of Fisherton Dela- mere. Bradford. Bradford on Avon. North Bradley. Maiden Bradley. Bratton. Bramshaw. Bremhill. Branch. Brinkworth. Britford. Brokenborough. Broughton Gifford. South Burcomb. North Burcomb. Brixton Deverel. Brigmerston (or Brig- milston.) Biddeston. Bulkington. Index to the Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. 33 NomInA VILLARUM. Bumerton, 12. Burton Regis, 21. Burchalke, 9. Bysshopestrowe, 38. 8 Cadeworth (Hundred), -Calestone, 31. Calne Hundred, 31. Calne, 31. Canynges Episcopi, (Hundred,) 19. ‘Canynge, 19. Caudon (Hundred), 7. Cernecote, 23. Chyverel Magna, 17. Chyverel Parva, 17. Chalke Hundred, 9. _ Chalke, 9. Chaldrynton, 2. Cheleworth, 28. Cheggelewe (Hun- dred), 30. Cherleton, 5. Cherleton, 15. Cherltone, 30. Chadefelde, 32. _ Chickland, 37. Chilton, 14. Chippenham (Hun- dred), 27. Chippenham, 27. Churington, 16. Chussebury, 14. _ Chuseldene, 25. _ Chuterne, 36. Chylmerk, 37. - Chyriel, 31. _ Chysyngbury, 11. DomeEspAy Boor. Bimertone, Bermen- ton, 135, 123. Under Chelche, 204. Biscopestreu, 70. Cadeworde, 187. Calestone, 203. Calna, 171. Cauna, 7. Canenge, 173. Cainingham, 22. Caudune, 186. Schernecote, 121. Chevrel, 74. Chevrel, 74. Stanford,see note § 9. Chelche, 47. Celdrintone, 203. Celewrde, 149. Cicemethorn, 158. Under Duntone, 17, 2138. Under 230. Cerletone, 37. Caldefelle, 75, 76. Chigelie, 137. Cilletone, 91. Cepeham, 161. Rusteselve, Chepeham, 9. Ceritone, 96. Cheseberie, 94. Chiseldene, 41. Chetre, Cheltre, 205. Chilmere, 46. Under Cauna, 7, 203. Chesigeberie, 123. Mopern Name, Bemerton. Burton Regis, Bower Chalk. Bishopstrow. Cadworth. Calston. Calne. Calne. Cannings Episcopi. Bishop’s Cannings. Cawdon. Sharncote. Cheverel Magna. Cheverel Parva. Chalk, Chalk. Cholderton. Chelworth. See note § 30. Charlton, by Down- ton. Charlton, by Rushall. Charlton, by Malmes- ury. Chaldfield. Chicklade. Chilton Foliot Chippenham. Chippenham, Chirton. Chisbury. Chiselden. Chitterne. Chilmark. Cherhill. Chisenbury delaFolye 34 Nomina VILLARUM. Clatford, 21. Clyve Wauncy, 24. Cnowell _Episcopi (Hundred), 6. Cnowell, 6. Cokelbergh, 27. Colerne, 27. Comerwell, 32. Corton, 36. Colyngeburne, 14. Combe, 7. Combe, 27. Compton, 31. Compton Chamber- leyn, 10. Conick, 16. Cosham, 27. Corsley, 38. Cotes, 19. Coteford, 36. Coulston Chaumber- layn, 33. Coulesfield, 4. Crekkelade(Hundred), 23 Crekkelade, 23. Crofton, 14. Crudewelle, 30. Criste-Malleford, 29. Dauntesey, 29. Depeford, 36. Derneford, 2. Devyses, 18. [10. Deverel Langebrigge, Dolesfeld (Hundred), 13. 10. Domerham(Hundred), DomerspDAyY Boox, Clatford, 110. Clive, 83. Chenuel, 15. Under Chepeham, 9. Colerne, 88, 209. Under Bradeford, 48. Cortitone, 120. Coleburne, 40, Col- ingeburne, 14. Cumbe, 12. Come, 89. Contone, 85, 139. Contone, 10. Cowie, 57. Cosseham, 11. Corselie, 135. Under Cainingham, 202. Coteford, 100, 104. Covelestone, 131. Colesfelde, 132. Crechelade, 162. Crichelade, 39. Under Bedvinde, 7. Credvelle, 37. Cristemeleforde, 30. Dantesie, 34. Depeford, 72. Diarneford, 98, 46. Devrel, 30. Dolesfeld, 183. Domerham, 188. Index to the Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. MopErn Name. Clatford. Clevancy. See note § 6. Bishop’s Knoyle, or East Knoyle. Cockelborough, by Chippenham. Colerne. [ Bradford. Cumberwell, near Corton, by Boyton. Collingbourn. Combe Bisset. Castle Combe. Compton Basset. Compton Chamber- lain. Conock. Corsham. Corsley. Coate, in Bishop’s Cannings. Codford. Coulston. Cowlesfield. Cricklade. Cricklade. Crofton. Crudwell. Christian Malford. Dauntsey. Deptford. Durnford. Devizes. Longbridge Deverel. Dole. Damerham. Index to the Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. Nomina VILLARUM. Domerham, 10. Doneworth(Hundred), 37 Dounhead, 37. Dounton(Hundred),5. Dounton, 5. Donyngton, 38. Dreycote, 15. Draycot, 29. Dune, 3. Durynton, 2. Eblesburne, 9. Edyngdon, 33. Elecombe, 24. Ellestubbe (Hundred), 11 Elston, 13. Elynton, 24. Erlestoke, 39. Enford, 11. Eston, 37. Estone Grey, 27. Erchesfonte, 16. Estrygge, 20. Ethelhampton, 16. Etone Meysy, 22. Everlee, 11. Farley Monachorum, 82. [4. Ferstesfeld(Hundred), Fifhide, 9. Fisherton, 38. Fontell, 6. Fountill Giffard, 37. DomeEspay Boor. Dobreham, 28. Doneworda, worth, 182. Duneheve, 43. Duntone, 190. Duntone, 17. Domnitone, 44. Draicote, 26. Draicote, 147. Duene, 107. Derintone, 61. Don- Eblesborne, 1138. Edendone, 52, 144. Elecome, 63. Ailestebba, Alestabe, 179. Under Orchestone, 117 Elendune, 19. Under 224. Enedforde, 20. Under Tisseberie, 42. Estone, 115. = Jerchesfonte, 51. Under Ramesberie, 229. Ecesatingetone, 75, » 187. Melchesam, Ettone, 59. ? Under Colingeburne, 14. (See Domesday, p- 179.) Farlege, 181. Ferstesfeld, 189. Fifhide, 82, 84. Fisertone, 114. Fontel, 17. Fontel, 115. 30 Moprrn Name. Damerham. Dunworth. Donhead. Downton. Downton. Dinton. Draycot, near Wilcot. Draycot Cerne. West Dean. Durrington. Ebbesbourn Wake. Edingdon. Elcomb. Elstub. Elston, by Orcheston St. George. Elingdon, in the par- ish of Wroughton. Erlestoke. Enford. Eston, by Tisbury. Easton Grey. Erchfont. Eastridge. Etchilhampton. — Eaton Meysy. Everley. Monkton Farley. Frustfield. Fifield Bavent. Fisherton Delamere. Fonthill Episcopi. Fonthill Giffard. 36 Index to the Nomina Villarum for Wiitshire. Nomina VILLARUM. Fovente, 8. Fydelton, 11. Fyghelden, 2. Fysshide, see Tysshide. Gore, 13. Grafton, 14. Grutelintone, 27. Grymstede, 3. Grymstede, 3. Hanyngdon, 22. Harneham, West, 7. Hacche, 37. Hamme, 14. Hardenyssh, 27. Haslebury, 27. Heghtrebury, (Hun- dred), 36. Heghtredbury, 36. Herdecote, 8. Henton, 21. Henton, 33. Henton, 2, Hertham, 27. Herdyngton, 31. - Heyworth, 22. Holte, 32. Hornyngesham, 36. Homynton, 7. Hulcote, 15. Hulle, 36. Hulpryntone, 39. Hundlavynton, 29, Hyneton, 11, 25, DomEspAy Boor, Febefonte, 50. Viteletone, 113. Fisgledene, 189. Gare, 126. Grastone, Graftone, 100, 145. Gretelintone, 32. Gremestede, 106. Gramestede, 136,138 Hanindone, 29. Under Cumbe, 12. Under Tisseberie, 23. Hame, 18. Hardenehus, 78. Haseberie, 219. Hestredeberie, Ex- tredeberie, 177. Hestrebe, 16. Hardicote, 90. Hantone, Hentone, 89, 95. Under Aistone, 53, 195. Hertham, Heortham, 220 Edintone, 65. Wurde, 15. Under Bradeford, 43. Horningesham, Hor- ningsham, 57, 84. Humitone, 125. Under Newetone, 45. Deverel, 212. Helprintone, Helper- intone, 219. Hunlavintone, 109, Hantone, 113. Moprrn Name. Fovant. Fittleton. Figheldean. Gore, by Market Lavington. Grafton, by Bedwin. Grittleton. East Grimstead. West Grimstead. Hannington. West Harnham. Hatch, by Tisbury. Ham. Hardenhuish. Haselbury. Heytesbury. Heytesbury. Hurcot. Broad Hinton. Hinton, by Steeple Ashton. See note to § 2. Hartham. Heddington. Highworth. Holt. Horningsham. Homington. Hilcot. Hill Deverel. Hilperton. Hullavington. Little Hinton. Index to the Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. Nomina VILLARUM. Hywey, 19. Idemistone, 3. Immere, 17, 36. Kemele, 30. Kenete, 21. Kington, 27. Kynton, West, 27. Knouk, 36 _ Knowel Episcopi(Hun- dred), 6. Knowel, 35. Kyngbridge(Hundred) 24 Kynewardston(Hund- red), 14. Kynserton, 9. Kyvele, 33. Lacock, 27. Lake, 1. Langeford, 7. Langeford,Stapel—,12 Laneford, 4. Langele, 27. Lattone, 23. Laverstoke, 3. Lavington, 18. Lavingtone,Stupel_17 Leigh, 27. Littlecote, 24. _ Littleton Drew, 27. Lytelton, 17. DomespDAY Boor, Hiwei, 34, 110, Eunestetone, Wenis- tetone, 33, 139. Imemerie, 110. Chemele, 36. Chenete, 205. Under Langhelie, 221. Chintone, 110. Cunuche, 133, 142. See note, § 6. Chenuel, 47. Chingbrigge, 165. Chenewarestan, 180. Under Chelche, 47. Chivele, 74. Lacoe, Lacoch, 71,83. ? Under Wiflesforde, 240. Langeford, 141. Langeford, 105. Langeford, 143. Langhelie, 32. Latone, 56. Lavertestoche, 143. Laventone, 126. Lavyentone, 126. 50, Under Sevamentone, 231. Littlecote, 92. Littletone, 27. Liteltone, 99. 37 Moprern Name. Highway. Idmeston. Imber, see note, §17. Kemble. Kennet. Kington Langley. West Kington. Knook, near Hey- tesbury. West Knoyle. Kingsbridge. Kinwardston. Knighton. Keevil. Lacock. Lake, near Salisbury. Longford. Steeple Langford. Landford. Kington Langley. Latton. Laverstock. Bishop’s Lavington. Market, or Steeple, Lavington. Leigh Delamere. Littlecote, near Hil- marton, Littleton Drew. Littleton Paynell. 38 Nomina VILLARUM. Lokyntone, 27. Lokerugge, 21. Lutegarsale, 21. Lydeyerd, 22. Lydeyard, 26. Lydington, 25. Lye, 34. Lyneham, 24. Madynton, 13. Manyngford Boun, 15. Manyngford Abbatis, 15. Ser heey Brewose, 15. Marleberge, 21. Malmesbury, 29. Melkesham(Hundred,) 9 39. Melkesham, 39. Mershton, North, 22. Mereden, 15. Merton, 10. Meyre (Hundred,) 35. Meyre, 85. Middleton, 14. Mildenhale, 21, Monkton, 10. Muleford, 1. Netelton, 27. Neweton, 12. Newentone, 30. Nywenton, 2. Newenton, 15. Northampton, 8. DomeEspDAay Boor. Lochintone, 97, 111. Locherige, 97. Litlegarselle, 67. Lidiarde, 15. Lediar, 81. Ledentone, 44. Under Westberie, 239. Under Stoche, 238, or, 200. Wintreburne, 55. Maniford, 129. Maneforde, 39. Maniford, 136. Merleberge, 16. Malmesberie, 3, 6, 26, 136. Melchesam, 170. Melchesam, 12. (F), Under Ettone, 59, 215. Meresdene, 121. Under Dobreham, 212. Mere, 181. Mere, 224. Under Otone, 228. Mildenhalle, 31. Devrel, 34. Meleford, 90, 141. Niteletone, 31. Newentone, 48. Newentone, 36. Newentone, 80. Newetone, 45. Bradenestoch, Index. to the Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. Mopern Name. Luckington. Lockeridge. Ludgershall. Lydiard Millicent. Lydiard Tregoz. Liddington. Leigh, near West- bury. Lineham. Maddington. Manningford Bohun. Manningford Abbas. Manningford Bruce, Marlborough. Malmesbury. Melksham. Melksham. Marston Maisey. Marden. Martin. Mere. Mere. Milton Lilborn. Mildenhall. Monkton Deverel. Millford. Nettleton. South Newton. Long Newnton. Newton Tony. North Newnton. ? Under Waisel, 49, | Netherhampton. 239. Index to the Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. Nomina VILLARUM. Netheravene, 11. Norton, 88. Northrygge, 38. Ore, 15. Orcheston, 13. Orcheston, 36. Oddestoke, 7. Okeburne Magna, 21. Okeburne Parva, 21. Okeburne Meysy, 21. Overton, 11. _ Overton Abbissx, 21. Overton Fifhide, 21. Overwerston,. 25. Paulesholt, 39. Peueseye, 14. Pole, 30. Polton, 21. Polton, 23. Pourton, 3. Poterne, 18. Purytone, 28. Putton, 3. Ramesbury (Hundred) 20 Ramesbury, 20. Rodbourne, 22. Rodburne, 30. Roucle, 21. Roudes, 18. Rubbedeston, 21. Rubergh _Episcopi (Hundred,) 18. _ Rubergh Regis (Hun- dred,) 17. Rusteshalle, 15. _ Ryndewey, 19. Domzspay Boor. Nigravre, 226. Nortone, 82. Under Opetone, 227. ? Under Wilcote, 65. Orcestone, 67. Orcestone, 116. Odestoche, 182. Ocheborne, 15. Ocheborne, 93. Ocheburne, 139, 142. Ovretone, 20. Ovretone, 47. Fifhide, 18. Wertune, 86. ? Under Melchesham, 142, Peuesie, 75. Pole, 70. Poltone, 89. Poltone, 59. Poertone, 73. Poterne, 21. Piritone, 39. Portone, 140. Ramesberie, 169. Ramesberie, 23. Redborne, 92, Under — Brochene- berge, 201. Rochelie, 82. Rode, 80. Under Wintreburne, 54, 242. Rugeberg, 173. Rusteselve, 10. 39 Moprern Name. Netheravon. Norton Bavent. Norridge. Oare. Orcheston St. Mary. OrchestonSt. George. Odstock. Ogbourn St. George. Ogbourn St. Andrew. Ogbourn Meysy. East Overton. West Overton. Fifield. Over-Wroughton. Poulshot. Pewsey. Poole Keynes. Polton,in Mildenhall. Poulton. Porton. Pottern. Purton, Pitton. Ramsbury. Ramsbury. Rodbourn Cheyney. Rodbourn, near Mal- mesbury. Rockley. Rowde. Robson, see note § 21, See note § 17. Rushall. Under Cainingham,| Roundway. 22 ¢ 40 Nomina VILLARUM. Rycardeston, 21. Sarum,—Civitas Nove, ai: Sarum,—Burgus Ve- teris, 1 Scutescombe, 21. Segre, 29. Selkelee(Hundred),21. Seles, 35. Semelegh, 9. Sende, 39. Sevenhampton, 22. Sharenton, 12. Shawe, 21. Sherston, 27. Sherston Parva, 27. Sherueton, 13. Sheeprugge, 2. Slaghterford, 27. Somerford, 23. Somerford, 29. Soppeworth, 27. Sottone, 30. Stanley, 27. Staple (Hundred), 28. Stapleford, 12. Stapelham, 10. Stapel-Langeford, 12. Stupel-Lavington, 17. StaundenChaworth, 14 Stanton, 29. Staunton, 15. DomespDAay Boor, Under Wintreburne, 89, 242. Sarisberie, 23. Stotecome, 137. Segrie, Segrete, 97, 119. Selchelai, 168. Sela, Sele, 128, 135. Under Chelche, 204. Under Melchesam, 224, ? Under Hanindone, 29. Scarentone, 118. Essage, 102. Sorstain, 16. Sorestone, 90. Wintreburne, 242. UnderChepeham, 205 Sumreford, 28. Sumreford, 235. Sopeworde, 101. Under — Brochene- berge, 201. Stanlege, 105. Stapla, 164. Stapleford, 148. Under Dobreham, 212 Langeford, 105. Laventone, 126, Standone, 75. Stantone, 116. Stantone, 45. Index to the Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. Moprrn Name, Richardson, see note New Sarum, or Salis- bury. Old Sarum. Stichecomb, by Mil- denhall. Seagry. Selkley. Seals, or Zeals. Semley. Seend. Sevenhampton. Sherrington. Shaw, by Alton Ber- ners. Sherston Magna. Sherston Parva. Shrewton. See note, § 2. Slaughterford. Somerford Keynes. Somerford Magna. Sopworth. Sutton Benger. Stanley. Staple. Stapleford. Stapelton. Steeple Langford. Steeple, or Market, Lavington. Standon Chaworth. Stanton St. Quintin. Stanton Berners, [or Bernard J. Index to the Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. Nomina VILLARUM, Staunton, 22. Sterkelee Hundred, 29. Sterte, 16. Stokton, 11. Stodely, 31. Stodfolde Hundred,16. Stoke, 9. Stoke, 15. Stratforde, 1. Stratford, 7. Stratton Superior, 22. Stratton Inferior, 22. Sturton, 35. - Sutton Magna, 38. Sutton, 8. Suryndene, 27. Swaleclyve, 37. Swanebergh Hundred, 15 Swyndon, Alta— 26. Teffont, 37. Teffont, 38. Tenhyde, 33. Thornhull Hundred, 25 Thornhulle, 24. Tholneston, 38. Tokkenham, 24. Tollard, 9. Tudeworth, 2. Tuderyntone, 27. _ Tydecombe, 14. VOL. XII.—NO. XXXIV. DomeEspAyY Boox. Stantone, 137. Sterchelie, 159. Sterte, 85. Stottune, 21. ? Under Cauna, 203. Stodfald, 174. Under Chelche, 204. Bichenestoch, 42. Onder Sarisberie, 230. Stradford, 63. Stratone, 123. Stortone, 104. Sudtone, Sutone, 107, Sudiene, 108. Sirendone, 110. Svaloclive, 234. Swaneberg, 175. Svindune, Svindone, 25, 81, 235. | Tefonte, 80. Under 212. Under Edendone, 214 Thornehelle, Torn- hylle, 167. ? Under Clive, 19. Under Opetone, 227. Domnitone, Tocheham, 237, 238. Tollard, 73, 102,128. Todeworde, 237. Terintone, 118. Titicome, 141. 41 Moprern Name. Stanton Fitz Waryn. Sterkley, or Starkley. See note, § 29. Stert. Stockton. Studley, near Calne. See note § 16. Stoke Verdoun, [or Farthing ]. Beechingstoke. Stratford sub Castro. Stratford Tony. Stratton St. Margaret (Upper). Stratton, (Lower). Stourton. Sutton Veney. Sutton Mandeville. Surrenden, or Sur- rendell. Swalloweliff. Swanborough. High Swindon. Teffont Evias. Teffont Magna. Tinhead. Thornhill, Thornhill. Thoulston, by Upton Scudamore. Tockenham. Tollard Royal. ‘North Tidworth. Titherington, Chippenham. Tidcomb. E near 42 Index to the Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. Nomina VILLARUM. Tyssebury, 37. Tysshide, 18. Trowbrigge, 39. Ubeton, 36. Upton, 38. Uphavene, 15. Verdure; See, Werdure Wamberg, 25. Welewe, 2. Welpeley, 4. Werdure, 37. Wereminster dred, 38. Wereminster, 38. Westberie Hundred, 34. Westberie, 34. Werston, 11. Westwode, 32. Wexcomb, 14. Whaddon, 3. Hun- W herewellesdowne Hundred, 33. Willesforde, 1. Wilton, Burgus de, 8. Wishford Magna, 12. Wisheforde Parva, 12. Wokesey, 30. Wodeford Magna, 1. Wodeford Parva, 1. Wonderdyche Hun- dred, 1. Woodberge, 15. Worth Hundred, 22. DomeEspAy Boox. Tisseberie, 42. Theodulveside, Ti- dulfhide, 10, 236. Straburg, 131. Uptone, 55. Opetone, 78, 102. Oppavrene, 16, 227. Wemberge, 239. See note § 2. Under Fistesferie, 90, 216. Werdore, 46. Warminstre, 176. Guerminster, 8. Westberie, 176. Westberie, 13. Wertune, Wervetone 86, 136. Westwode, 19. ? Under Bedvinde, 7. Watedene, 106, 107. Wervesdone, 172. Wiflesford, 60, 112, Wiltune, 6. Wicheford, 149. Wicheford, 48. Wochesie, 131. Under Sarisberie,230 Under Sarisberie, 230. Windredic, 188. ? Under Wilcote,240. Worde, 164. Moprrn Name, Tisbury. Tilshead. Trowbridge. Upton Lovell. Upton Scudamore. Upavon. Wanborough. West Wellow, Bramshaw. Whelpley. by Wardour. Warminster. Warminster. Westbury, Westbury. Wroughton. Westwood. Wexcombe. Whaddon, near Al- derbury. Wherwellsdown. Wilsford. Wilton. Great Wishford. Little Wishford. Oaksey. Great Woodford. Little Woodford. Underditch. Woodborough. Highworth. ee Vs Index to the Nomina Villarum for Wiltshire. 43 Nomina VILLARUM. Worton, 18. Wotton, 14. Wotton Basset, 24. Wroxhale, 27. Wroxhale, 32. Wychebury, 7. Wydecombe, 24. Wylcote, 15. Wyly, 12. Wynefeld, 32. Wynterbourne Gon- nor, 93. Wynterbourne Comi- tis, 3. W ynterbourne Daun- tesey, 3. Wynaterbourn Stoke, 13. Wynterbourne Mona- chorum, 21. Wynterbourne Basset, 21. Wynterslewe, 2. Wyntreslewe, 3. Wynesley, 32. Wythenham, 82. Wyvelsford, 15. Yatesbury, 31. Yatton, 27. Domerspay Boor. Under Poterne, 21. Otone, 13. Wodetone, 91. Werocheshalle, 72. Under Bradeford,43. Witeberge, 111. Widecome, 76. Wilcote, 65. Wilgi, Wili, 48, 88. Winefel, 26. Wintreburne, 242. Wintreburne, 73. 128, Wintreburne, 27. Wintreburne- Stoch, 241. Wintreburne,31, 242. Wintreborne,89, 242. Wintreslie, 62, 243. Wintresleu, 58, 243. Under Bradeford, 43. Withenham, 26, 243. Wivelesford, 133. Etesberie, 122, 215. Etone, 79, Getone, 101. Mopern Name. Worton. Wootton Rivers. Wootton Basset. North Wraxall. South Wraxall. Wychbury. Widcomb. Wilcot. Wyly. Winfield. Winterbourn Gunner Winterbourn Earls. Winterbourn Daun- tesey. Winterbourn Stoke. Winterbourn Monk- ton. Winterbourn Basset. East Winterslow. West Winterslow. Winsley, a tithing of Bradford on Avon. Withenham. Wilsford, near Pew- sey. Yatesbury.: Yatton Keynel. . E2 44 On the Ornithology of Wilts. No. 14.—GRALLATORES (Waders). ai might be supposed at first sight, that in a county so fourth great Order of birds comprising the Waders, would be but scantily represented. When, however, it is considered that a large deficient in large sheets of water as ours confessedly is, the proportion of this numerous class is apt at certain periods of the year, not only to retire inland, but to frequent large open plains, however distant from lakes and rivers; as well as secluded valleys, watered by diminutive streams: it is evident that our wide- spreading downs, and the rich valleys which intersect and border them, offer attractions sufficiently tempting to many of this Order: and the consequence is, that the list of Wiltshire Waders is by no means a scanty or a meagre one. This class of birds may be said to occupy a middle space between the Ground birds last described which are truly terrestrial; and the next Order which contains the Swimmers or true Water-fowl. The Waders known in the British isles are comprized within six families, the Plovers, the Cranes, the Herons, the Snipes, the Rails, and the little family of Lobe-footed birds: and in this list we shall again remark the gradual advancement towards the true water- birds: those which stand at the head of the list being in many respects nearly related to the Game-birds which they succeed, while those at the farther end approach both in conformation and in habits very closely to the great Order of Swimmers which followsthem. The general name assigned to them of “ Grallatores,” signifies ‘‘ walkers on stilts,” and describes at once the characteristic for which they are conspicuous; the great length of leg which enables them to wade in the shallows and marshes, whether on the sea-coast or on the banks of fresh-water lakes and rivers. ee a he, By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 45 Combined with this peculiar length of leg, we shall see a propor- tionate length of neck or beak or both together, by means of which they can secure the food which they find in the shallow water or mud banks in which they delight: and in the more typical members of the Order, we shall find the toes of great length and partially connected with a membrane, by which they are the better enabled to traverse the soft oozy ground where their prey is most abundant, and to seek their food on the slimy mud into which their bodies would otherwise sink. They are generally provided with powerful wings, and their flight is rapid as well as strong. Their food consists almost, if not quite entirely of animal substances, of which the lower classes of reptiles, fishes, molluscs, worms, and other invertebrate creatures form the principal portion. They are generally of shy and timid nature, ever on the alert for danger, and avoid the too near approach of man. CHARADRIADZS (The Plovers). Closely allied to the Bustards, last described, and with the same peculiar formation of foot, from which the hind toe is absent, the large family of Plovers stands at the head of the Waders: their legs are of moderate length, and their beaks of comparative short- ness, aS become those which connect the Land and Water birds ; thus too they can on the one hand run with considerable swiftness, and on the other hand they can fly with great rapidity, and prolong their flight almost indefinitely. Being generally late, if not nocturnal feeders, they are furnished with large full eyes, which, with a corresponding expansion of socket, give the head a bulky appearance, which is quite characteristic of the family. When in repose, (and I have often seen them standing asleep) the neck is shortened, and the head drawn down between the shoulders, re- minding one of a hunchback. The large majority of them lay four eggs on the ground; and when an intruder appears in the neighbourhood, the male whirls about, and feigns lameness, and practises sundry manceuvres to draw away attention, until the female has stolen away from the nest unperceived. They compose a very large family, and some of the species may be found in every 46 On the Ornithology of Wilts [ Charadriade]. part of the world. During the greater portion of the year they congregate in large flocks; and most of them migrate, or partially migrate, retiring to the sea-coast when frost sets in; as is the case with many other birds. “‘Pratincole.” (Glareola torquata.) It is highly satisfactory to me that I am able to head my list of Wiltshire Waders with this extremely rare visitor to Great Britain, and that satisfaction is much enhanced by the circumstance that the individual in question has found its way into my collection through the kindness of the gentleman who killed it. As the bird is so very little known in this country, it may be of interest if I extract from the pages of the Zoologist the whole story of its capture, as I recorded it in that publication at the time.! “In the middle of November, 1852, when Mr. Hussey, of Tilshead, was walking over his land, the day being very rough and cold, the wind blowing from the east, he saw a strange bird descend near him with the velocity of lightning, and settle inside a sheep-fold among the sheep. As Mr. Hussey chanced very fortunately to be an observer of birds, he immediately remarked that this was one he had never seen before, and pointed it out to his shepherd who was with him, desiring him to watch the bird well while he returned to his home, at the distance of a mile, for his gun. Before he went, however, he saw the bird suddenly rise from the ground, and after a short flight of the most marvellous velocity, return again to the fold, where it seemed to enjoy the shelter from the bleak east wind, and to care nothing for the presence of the sheep, the men and, the dogs. This short excursionary flight was renewed severa] times, which made Mr, Hussey hesitate whether he should take the trouble to return home on so remote a chance of still finding on his return so singularly restless and swift a bird; however, as the bird always came back to the same spot after each successive excursion, Mr. Hussey hesi- tated no longer, but hurried home for his gun, giving strict charge to the shepherd to keep quiet, and on no account to lose sight of the bird. Now the shepherds of Salisbury Plain (in the midst of the bleakest part of which the parish of Tilshead lies), are not 1 Zoologist for 1852, p. 3843, et seq. er =. By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 47 remarkable for their sharpness: indeed, I fear we must own them to be the perfection of all that is dull, heavy, and ignorant; no wonder then that a bird so very rapid in its movements as the collared pratincole should soon elude the slow gaze of the heavy- eyed Argus, and that on Mr. Hussey’s return, in answer to his enquiries as to the whereabouts of the strange bird, he should be met with the provoking reply—‘ Doant knaw, zur, he flee’d away so terrible sudden that I could’n zee ’en nowhere, I could ’n: I never zee sech a bird to flee.” Upon this, it may be supposed that Mr. Hussey walked on somewhat disappointed, when, in a moment, at the distance of about thirty yards, up sprang the bird, and was darting off at a prodigious rate, but a well-aimed shot laid it dead on the ground. On picking it up, the long wings and forked tail caused Mr. Hussey and others to suppose it to belong to the Swallow tribe; and the dull-eyed shepherd, seeing no bril- liant hues in the dead bird, as if to excuse his slowness, exclaimed with a sneer of contempt, ‘‘ Well, zur, ’taint much of a bird, arter all, I’m zure.” In addition to the above narrative, Mr. Hussey tells me that ‘‘ the land on which I found the bird, was a stiff clay soil. I shot it close to the sheep-fold, where there were sheep feeding off turnips; the bird appeared to be rather tame, but whether from exhaustion or nature, I cannot tell.”’ The home of the Pratincole seems to be the steppes of Tartary and the central parts of Asia; but when we look at its marvellous length of wing and deeply-forked tail, we are prepared to find that it is of frequent occurrence in southern Europe, as well as northern Africa, vast distances being soon traversed by a bird of such enor- mous powers of flight. It can also run rapidly on the ground, and it catches its insect prey on foot as well as on the wing. Its prevailing colour is dove-brown above, and buff and white below; and its distinguishing mark whence it derives its specific name, is a collar or crescent of black, which in a narrow line encircles its throat to the eyes. “ Cream-coloured Courser.” (Cursorius isabellinus.) It is some- _ what strange that the second species of this family should also haye occurred in Wiltshire, inasmuch as it is one of the very rarest 48 On the Ornithology of Wilts | Charadriade]. of the accidental visitors to this country, the straggler whose appearance I will now relate being only the fifth individual whose occurrence in Great Britain has been recorded. It was met with by Mr. Walter Langton of Wandsworth, Surrey, when out shooting on the estate of Mr. Stephen Mills, at Elston, near Tilshead, on Salisbury Plain, on Oct. 2nd, 1855 (very near the same spot where the Pratincole, last described, was found). It was first seen on an open piece of down land called Eastdown, which was particularly bare of vegetation, as is generally the case at that season of the year with all down lands. The day was somewhat stormy, the wind south-west, and Mr. Langton and his companion were following a wild covey with a brace of young pointers, when one of them stood on the open down, and suddenly a Cream-coloured Courser took wing, almost immediately under the dog’s nose, and apparently flew at the dog’s face, who indeed snapped at the bird. Indeed in a second letter with which Mr. Langton most obligingly favoured me at the time, he calls particular attention to this strange fear- lessness on the part of the bird; which however is quite in accord- ance with its general character. It then flew with a lazy kind of flight about two hundred yards, and again settled on the open down, and began to run at a moderate pace, reminding Mr. Langton of the gait of the Landrail. That gentleman immediately followed it, and when within forty yards, shot it as it ran upon the ground. It was not heard to utter any cry, and the keepers who were present conjectured it to have been wounded: but as they seem to have arrived at that conclusion solely from the unwillingness of the bird to take flight, and its apparent disregard of danger, for which its natural disposition fully accounts, no regard need be paid to that surmise. When first found by the dog, it was lying so close, that until it rose, though from the bare down, nothing was seen of it. It was sent to Mr. Gardner, the well known taxidermist in Oxford Street, who stuffed it, and who kindly communicated with me on the subject. The Cream-coloured Courser, Swift-foot, or Plover, is a native of the sandy deserts of Africa, to which its pale buff plumage closely assimilates in colour, but though I kept a constant look out By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 49 for it when in its native land, and though it was occasionally seen by some of my companions, I was never so fortunate as to fall in with it. It is described as of surprising fleetness of foot, as its name would lead us to infer ; and of strange confidence, or rather carelessness of man, so unusual in other members of the family, to which I have already called attention. “Great Plover.’’ (Qidicnemus crepitans). This is the largest bird of the family with which we are acquainted in this country : and is elsewhere known as the Thick-kneed Bustard, the Stone Curlew, and the Norfolk Plover. Not long since it was frequently to be seen on our open downs during the summer months, for it leaves this country for warmer latitudes in the autumn, and I have met with it within the tropics in Nubia in winter. Colonel Montagu imagined that it never penetrated to the western parts of England, but was confined to the eastern counties, where undoubtedly it is most abundant: but I have information from many quarters that it was very generally known in Wiltshire, whose wide-spreading downs indeed offered it the retirement as well as the space in which it delights. The late Mr. Marsh told me that up to 1840 it was still common on the downs. Mr. Benjamin Hayward of Lavington spoke of it as becoming more scarce, but stil] occasionally to be seen on Ellbarrow and the higher hills. The late Mr. Withers, of Devizes, mentioned that it had on several occasions been shot on Roundway down, and brought to him for preservation: and Wadham Locke, Hsq., of the Cleeve House, Seend, (to whose intimate acquaintance with birds I owe many a lesson,) writes me word that he has seen a very large flock of these birds in the air, migrating from north to south at the fall of the year, when they made a most melodious whistling noise. In addition to this satisfactory evidence, I will now add that for several years past I have seen these birds on the downs of North Wiltshire in a particular locality, which for obvious reasons I do not desire to specify more minutely, and that during the summer I can generally find them in or near their favourite haunts. Still more interesting is the fact of their rearing their young in our county, as I am informed by the Rey. Alexander Grant, Rector of 50 On the Ornithology of Wilts [ Charadriade}. Manningford, from whose letter, dated Sep. 2nd, 1864, I quote the following particulars, “I think you will be glad to hear that the Norfolk Plovers I mentioned are alive and doing well: my son picked them up on our downs between Manningford and Everleigh, and as I believe no instance of their breeding in Wilts is yet recorded, it may be worth while to note the particulars. F. O. Morris says that ‘the young when fledged will squat, and allow themselves to be picked up. If disturbed from the nest, the parent runs off very swiftly, with the head stooped.’ This, my son states, is exactly what occurred when he found the birds. About ten days after he had taken them, a person called at my house with another young Norfolk Plover, picked up on the Rushall or Charlton downs: and about the same time I saw at least two pairs flying and hovering about the downs near Sidbury Hill, not far from the old track from Marlborough to Salisbury.” Thus it is clearly established that the Great Plover is no stranger to Wiltshire, albeit of not very frequent occurrence in the present day: and I have entered fully into the evidences of its appearance on our downs, because it has been doubted by some whether the species has not been mistaken. That such, however, is not the case, I am perfectly convinced, and indeed there is no other bird with which it can be readily confused: it is of fine stately form, of considerable size and of erect carriage, and its large prominent yellow eye is the principal feature which attracts attention. Like the Bustards, it lays but two eggs, and in its insect and animal diet as well as general habits, it follows the custom of its congeners. “Golden Plover.” (Charadrius pluvialis.) The Wiltshire sports- man on the downs will not need to be told that here we have a winter migrant which favours our county when frosts and snows drive it from more northern latitudes, but which retires again as spring draws on, to breed in the mountain districts it loves so well. It is a handsome bird even in winter, when the golden hue which overspreads its plumage gives it a bright appearance, but when met with in full breeding dress in summer, as I have seen it in Norway, on the high fjelds of that wild country, it assumes such altered colours that we can scarcely recognize it: for in place of By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 51 the greyish white which prevails on all the under plumage, a glossy black now appears, while bright golden yellow tips the edges of the upper feathers, and the contrast of dark below and light above, is extremely pleasing. Its flesh is very highly esteemed by epicures, and therefore it is diligently sought for by the fowler, but thanks to its innate shyness, it is not very easily approached, except during a fog. I have found the nest of this species in Norway in the very middle of a footpath, in the mountains of that scantily popu- lated country, aud the four eggs which are now in my cabinet were on the point of hatching in that ill-selected spot. Its call-note during the breeding season is the most mournful melancholy sound which I know, and condemned as we were to listen to it during a whole night, while croucking over a smouldering fire of wet wood in a goat-house, when overtaken by a sudden snow storm in the higher mountains of Norway in July, we felt quite provoked at its plaintive monotonous cry, however congenial with the circumstances by which we were surrounded, and in unison with our feelings on that somewhat uncomfortable occasion. “ Dotterell.” (Charadrius morinellus.) This too, is, or perhaps I onght to say was a thoroughly Wiltshire bird, our county being one of the few enumerated by Yarrell as its regular haunts. At the beginning of this century, Colonel Montagu described it as a bird which annually visits us in spring and autumn in its migratory flights to and from its breeding places in northern _ Europe: and he adds, “on the Wiltshire downs it resorts to the new sown corn or fallow ground for the sake of worms, its principal food: in the autumn they fly in families of five or six, which we have observed to be the two old birds and their young: but some- times a dozen or more flock together.” They generally rested but a few days amongst us, but during that period they were often so numerous that sportsmen now alive have killed from forty to fifty. _ Now they are rarely to be met with, and though scarcely a year _ passes without a notice of the capture of one or more on some ‘portion of our downs, it is but an accidental straggler, which has wandered out of its way. Our good friend, Rev. W. C. Lukis, chanced to see such an one, as he was driving with the Rector of 52 On the Ornithology of Wiits [ Charadriade]. Manningford Bruce, between Upavon and Enford, in May, 1857: it was close to the road-side, standing on a clod of earth, all alone in its glory, and did not care to move out of the way. My own specimen now in my collection, was shot on the Lavington downs. The late Mr. Withers had many pass through his hands for preser- vation; and indeed everybody conversant with our Wiltshire birds will know something of its occurrence. Its flesh is considered a great dainty, and in the days of its abundance on our downs, it was eagerly sought for by fowlers. It may be readily known by the dark orange brown of the breast, which deepens into black lower down; and by the streak of black and another of white which cross the breast. It is a smart dapper little species, and its dwindled numbers and rapid extinction from among our down birds it much to be lamented. “Ringed Plover.” (Charadrius Hiaticula.) Common enough on the sea-shore all round our coasts, this species is such a lover of salt water that it very rarely is seen inland: and but for a notice by the late Mr. Marsh, of a specimen which was killed near Malmes- bury, in 1838, and which I have seen in his collection, I should not have been able to include it in our Wiltshire list. It isa prettily marked little bird, light brown above and white below, and is conspicuous for the distinct collar of white and then of black which encircles its neck. It is indigenous in our island, and I have met with it at all seasons on the Norfolk coast in considerable abundance; like other shore-feeding birds it follows the tide, and runs rapidly at the edge of the advancing or retreating waves. “Lapwing.” (Vanellus cristatus.) Here we have the true Plover of the downs of modern days; and what Wiltshireman does not know the peculiar call-note of the Peewit, or the remarkable flight of the Lapwing, (for both names belong to one and the same bird,) as he traverses any portion of the downs. Resplendent with a metallic gloss on its dark green upper plumage, capped with a crest or tuft of long narrow curling feathers; elegant as it runs forward at a rapid pace, and as suddenly stops; and then runs forward again in spasmodic jerks; the Lapwing arrests the attention of the most unobservant. It is indigenous in England, By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 53 and breeds on our downs; but assembling in large flocks as autumn approaches, it retires to the sea-coast in November, and returns again at the end of February or beginning of March: and I have long been accustomed to watch for its arival as the first harbinger of spring in my upland home. Its eggs are very highly esteemed in the London market, and though doubtless the majority of veritable Plover’s eggs, as the dealers declare, are the produce of the Black-headed Gull, the Peewit’s nest is still the object of dili- gent search: fortunately, however, it is so difficult to find in the extensive corn-fields or wide-spreading expanse of turf; and the parent birds are so cunning in their artifices to entice away the intruder, that it is not very often found’ in this county at least, where the search for its eggs has happily not become a regular trade. The bird and its habits are so well known that I need not further describe them. “‘Oyster-catcher.” (Heaematopus ostralegus.) This robust power- ful species is a true salt-water bird, and seems to have no place in our inland county: but an account of its capture at Bradford on Avon in September, 1859, as recorded in a newspaper at the time, permits me to include it in our Wiltshire catalogue: though how it came to follow the river so far from its regular haunts on the sea-shore, and what it found to subsist on during its journey, I am at a loss to conjecture. Its plumage is striking, from the pleasing contrast of black and white which it displays: and its bright orange-red bill, of a peculiar wedge-shaped form, to enable it to _wrench open the shell-fish which constitutes its food, and its _vermilion legs give it a handsome appearance. It is a very com- mon bird in those localities on the coast which abound in the molluscs on which it feeds. GRUIDA (The Cranes). The magnificent birds which comprise this family may be said i to occupy the position among the Waders, which the Bustards _ enjoy among the Ground-birds. Of great size, tall and erect, they ; are a stately race, and stalk among their fellows with elegant and lordly mien: the few species known in Europe are all migratory ; By | ' 54 On the Ornithology of Wilts [Gruide]. and their chief peculiarity consists in the long, flowing, flexible, and arched feathers, (reminding one of the plumes of the Ostrich ;) which, curled at the end, and springing from the wing, overhang the tail, and which the bird can erect or depress at pleasure. “Common Crane.” (Grus cinerea.) Though once known in England as the common Crene, this specific title is a sad misnomer, for this handsome bird is now become exceedingly scarce; indeed an occasional straggler alone visits us at rare intervals. Buta hundred years ago, it formed an important item at all state ban- quets; and was the noble quarry at which falconers were wont to fly their largest hawks. It was pretty generally distributed over all unenclosed districts, whenever uncultivated tracts enabled it to roam undisturbed ; and doubtless our wide-spreading downs afforded it a welcome retreat: but now the ornithologist must go to foreign lands to see this noble bird in a wild state. In Egypt I have watched it for hours on the mud-flats and sand banks of the Nile, as it walked with majestic step a very king amidst the smaller Waders: but the most complete monograph on any bird with which I am acquainted is the story of the Crane in its breeding place in Lapland, as detailed by my lamented friend, the late Mr. John Wolley, in the Ibis,' a most perfect description of this now uncommon bird. When migrating, as all known species of Cranes do, it collects in large flocks, and is said to fly at a great height, and to keep up a perpetual hoarse scream, or trumpet-like shrill ery, which, owing to the very remarkable structure of the wind-pipe, is louder than the note of any other bird, and which may be heard when the birds are far out of sight. Mr. James. Waylen has most obligingly furnished me with the following | interesting anecdote of a Wiltshire Crane: ‘‘In 1783, it was recorded in the Salisbury paper that a gentleman shot a Crane, on whose leg was found a piece of copper which he himself had attached in the year 1767, after having caught the same bird by means of a hawk: tbe copper plate bore his initials, and the date | 1767.” I am afraid that I have no more modern instance of the occurrence of the Crane in Wiltshire. 1 Ibis, vol. i., pp. 191—198. a By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 55 ARDEIDZ (The Herons). Though wholly incapable of swimming, the various species which compose this large family may certainly be ranked as water-birds, so entirely are their haunts and habits aquatic. Conspicuous for the excessive length of their legs, and for their long and sharp- pointed beaks, with which they can transfix their prey, or seize it in shallow water, the various members of this truly elegant family roam wherever marsh, lake, river or brook offer a suitable fishing ground: and there they may be seen standing motionless in shallow water, the very emblems of patience, carefully watching till the prey they seek comes within reach of their powerful beak, which they dart with unerring- precision on the hapless victim. Many of the true Herons are adorned with elongated flowing plumes, which spring from the back of the head, the neck, and the back: the occipital crest is composed of soft loose pendant silky feathers; and the dorsal plumes have long hair-like webs or barbs, all of which give an air of elegance and finish to these gracefully formed birds. Notwithstanding the immense length of their wings their flight is heavy; and as they flap slowly overhead to and from their hunting grounds, their progress seems slow, and the exertion laborious. And yet on occasion, or when prompted by fear, they can show great speed: but the race seems somewhat indolent and disinclined for unnecessary exertion. During their progress on the wing, their neck is bent back, so that the head rests upon the shoulders; and the long legs are extended behind as a counterpoise to preserve the balance of the body: thus the Herons present a peculiar appearance in their flight, and may readily be distinguished at a great distance. There is a popular delusion still prevalent amongst the ignorant (however ridiculous it may seem) that the Herons when sitting on their nests, project _ their legs through holes formed for that purpose at the bottom: now not to mention the very awkward and uncomfortable, not to say impossible position which the poor bird would thus be con- demned to assume, I will merely point out that the thighs of the _ heron being of a length exactly proportioned to that of the legs, the bending of the knee causes the leg to recede sufficiently 56 On the Ornithology of Wilts [ Ardeide]. towards the tail to allow the feet to come to the centre of the body; (as has been most ably demonstrated by Mr. Waterton in his Essay on the Heron:) and therefore it is not one whit more irksome to the heron to perform its task of incubation after the accustomed manner of other birds, than it is for the sparrow, the finch, or the domestic fowl. Their habits are generally solitary, except at the period of breeding, when they generally congregate in large companies. “Common Heron.” (Ardea Cinerea.) This is the only species of the whole family which we can really designate an inhabitant of Wiltshire; those others which I have to mention being now mere stragglers of very rare occurrence. But the Common Heron is known to everybody, and we have all seen this majestic bird on the wing to and from its roosting-places, or surprized it standing motionless in shallow water watching for its prey. It bears a bad character with those who preserve fish, but Mr. Waterton has pointed out that this is wholly undeserved, as the benefit it confers by destroying rats, reptiles, and insects, more than compensate for the few fish which it will devour when it can find them in the shallows. At one time it was in high favour, and indeed protected by law as the most noble game at which hawks could be flown. Its flesh was also greatly esteemed as a most dainty morsel: but those palmy days when it stood high in the estimation of English gentlemen are gone by, and it is despised alike by the epicure and the sportsman, and persecuted by the gamekeeper and the fisherman. The bird is so well known that I need not say more of its appear- ance or its habits: but for those who value an interesting scene, and are not well acquainted with the peculiar aspect of this graceful bird, I would advise a visit in early spring to the heronry at Bowood, where on an island in a retired part of the lake, and yet within view of the mansion, the herons, protected from molestation by their noble owner, annually breed, and may be seen on the wing and in repose, and their barking note or croak listened to with delight. “Squacco Heron.” (Ardea Comata.) I have the unexcep- tionable authority of Yarrell for the fact that this beautiful species By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 57 has been taken in Wiltshire, but no particulars of the capture, the locality, or the date, are recorded by him: I presume however that he derived his information from Colonel Montagu, who relates that a bird of this species was shot at Boyton, in Wiltshire, by Mr. Lambert, in 1775, and that mention is made in the Minutes of the Linnzan Transactions, vol. iii., that Mr. Lambert presented a drawing of the bird, April 4th, 1797.! It is an Asiatic and African bird: the delicate buff-colour streaked with dark lines of the upper plumage; the pure white of the under parts; the hair- like feathers of the back, whence the specific name comata; and the general shape and bearing of the bird combine to give it an elegance unrivalled even in this graceful family: but it is a very tare bird in the British isles, and its appearance is annually be- coming more and more infrequent. “Little Bittern.’ (Botaurus minutus.) This is a very rare bird in England, though common enough in France and Germany, and I have met with it on the Simplon Pass in Switzerland: it is a diminutive member of the great Heron family, and a very prettily marked species. I have a record of one killed in the neighbour- hood of Bath, but whether in Wilts or Somerset there is no evidence to show: but I have information of two undoubted specimens being taken in this county: one killed about 1850 in the parish of Seend, and in the possession of Mr. Taylor, of Baldham Mill, as I was informed by the late Mr. Withers: the other shot by Mr. Jervoise’s keeper at Britford, near Salisbury, about ten years since in the month of June; for the knowledge of which I am again indebted to my good friend, the Rev. George Powell, Rector of Sutton Veny. The chief characteristic of the Bitterns, wherein they differ from the true Herons, consists in the plumage of the neck, which, in the hinder part is bare, or scantily clothed with down, but the front and side feathers being long and extending backwards completely cover the naked space: these feathers can also be expanded laterally at will, when the bird assumes a strange appearance, reminding one of the voluminous folds of cravat in fashion in the palmy days of Beau Brummel : 1 Montagu’s Supplement to Ornith. Dict. in loco. ; VOL. XII.—NO. XXXIV. F 58 On the Ornithology of Wilts | Ardeide]. the neck is also considerably shorter, and the beak stouter than in the preceding species. The Little Bittern is common in the south- east of Europe, as well as in Asia and North Africa; isa migratory bird; of solitary habits; and its usual position when at rest amidst the reeds or aquatic herbage of a marsh, is that of sitting upon the whole length of the tarsus, with the neck bent, the head thrown back, and the beak pointing almost perpendicularly upwards.! “Bittern.” (Botaurus stellaris.) Fifty years ago this species was not uncommon in this country, wherever marsh or swamp or fen invited its approach: now, however, it is gradually disappearing before the march of agricultural improvements and the reclaiming of waste lands, and bids fair to be very soon exterminated from amongst us. I have notes of its occurrence in many parts of the county, north and south; and the late Rev. John Ward, Rector of Great Bedwyn, informed me that a specimen taken in that parish exceeded in beauty of plumage any he had ever beheld. The last Wiltshire specimen which I myself have seen, was killed at Enford, and was in the hands of Mr. Withers, at Devizes, who was preserv- - ing it for Mr. Stratton. It is a very handsome bird, and the mix- ture of various shades of buff and brown, spotted, speckled and barred in every direction is particularly pleasing. The cry of the Bittern, which is a hoarse booming sound or bellowing, when heard on a dark night in the lonely retreats which that bird loves, had a startling effect on the hearer, and was strangely weird and un- earthly. Like many other members of this family it is a solitary bird, and lies concealed in the rank herbage of a swamp during the day, emerging at*twilight to hunt for food in the marshes. Its flesh was very highly esteemed when the bird was better known than it is now. “White Stork.” (Ciconia alba.) It is very sad that this bird, so ready to be familiar with man, and which may be seen in Holland and Germany building its nest on the roofs of houses, and meeting that encouragement and protection which its confidence deserves, should be scared away from England by the persecution it has met with here. And yet the White Stork is not only eG Smee 2 ey. Ae By the Rev. A. CO. Smith. 59 harmless, but. positively useful, and acts the scavenger to perfection. In Scandinavia, we are informed by Mr. Lloyd,! that it is looked upon with a kind of veneration similar to that entertained towards the Swallow and Turtle-dove, because (so the legend runs) it flew over the Redeemer at the Crucifixion, crying in a sympathising tone “ Styrk, Styrk, Styrk Honom,” “strengthen, strengthen, strengthen Him.” Hence it derived the name of Stork, and it was in remem- brance of the affectionate solicitude it. evinced on this occasion, that the gift was bestowed upon it of bringing peace and happiness to the roof where it was allowed undisturbed to rear its young. This attribute is also equally assigned to it by the inhabitants of Germany, but whether resulting from a similar legend to that accepted in Sweden, or from some other conceit I am unable to determine. It is so frequently seen on the continent by every tourist, and its fearlessness permits such close observation, that it will be needless to describe its appearance. It is migratory, arriv- ing in Europe in the spring, and retiring to Africa where I have met with it in large flocks in winter, fishing on the shallows and sand-banks of the Nile. When at rest, it stands upon one leg, with the neck bent backwards, the head resting on the back, and the beak resting on the breast: and when alarmed, it is apt to snap the mandibles of its beak together with a loud clattering noise. I have the authority of Yarrell for stating that an individual of this species has been killed near Salisbury. “Glossy Ibis.’ (Ibis faleinelius). The long arched beak of this bird with a blunt rounded tip, at once commands recognition, and its dark brown plumage glossed with a metallic lustre of green and purple reflections equally arrests attention. Moreover the portion of the head from the beak to the eyes is quite bare of feathers, and _ the naked skin is of a green colour. It is the only species really known in Europe, for though the celebrated Sacred Ibis, (J. revigiosa) has obtained a place in Mr. Bree’s excellent work,” yet the author candidly owns that its right to figure therein is extremely doubt- ful: moreover it is so rare even in Egypt, that only an occasional 1 Scandinavian Adventures, vol. ii., p. 390. ~ ?“The birds of Europe not observed in the British Isles ;” vol. iv., p. 45. F 2 60 On the Ornithology of Wilts [Scolopacide]. straggler, at long intervals, appears in that classic land: and the black and white Ibis, (‘the Father of the Bills,” as the Arabs expressively term it,) must be sought for in Abyssinia, or still nearer the equator. The Glossy Ibis, though certainly an uncommon bird, is not amongst our rarest visitors, as scarcely a year passes without the notice of the occurrence of one or more in different parts of England, the fenny districts of Cambridgeshire, Lincoln and Norfolk, being generally favoured: and I have the authority of the late Rev. George Marsh for stating that a specimen was killed at Whetham near Calne, the residence of the then Rector of Yatesbury, Rev. W. Money, in the year 1825. The hook-shaped beak, which is so striking a feature, and whence it has derived the title of ‘Sickle-bill,”’ enables this bird which is a true Wader, the better to probe and search in the soft mud where it seeks its prey. It was venerated in Egypt no less than its more distinguished relative, and I brought home the embalmed bodies of these birds both from Memphis and Thebes. SCOLOPACIDA (The Snipes). Many of the species which compose this large family are well known to the sportsman as well as to the epicure. The most observable characteristic of the race is the long and slender round- tipped beak, with which they are enabled to probe the soft earth or mud and extract their prey, which consists of worms and various insects and grubs; for the Snipe family does not live on air, or on nourishment derived by suction from muddy water, as is very often popularly supposed. And yet these birds are in one sense truly designated “birds of suction,” for their beaks are marvellously formed for the purpose required, by means of an unusual develop- ment of highly sensitive nerves to the extreme tip, thus endowing them with an exquisite sense of feeling: while at the same time that member is further provided with a peculiar muscle, which, by the closing or contracting of the upper part of the mandibles operates so as to expand them at the point, and enables the bird, with the beak still buried in the ground, to seize its prey the moment it is aware of being in contact with it. Thus the delicate By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 61 sense of touch down to the very point of the beak, and its capa- bility of seizing as in a forceps the worm which it cannot see, renders that admirable organ complete for its purposes, and enables it to serve the place of eyes, nose, tongue, and hand. Birds of the Snipe family have also for the most part long and slender legs, large and prominent eyes, and well developed wings. They are all migrants, and also move from one chosen locality to another, as the frost compels them: for soft damp ground in which they can bore with their sensitive beaks without difficulty, is absolutely essential to them. “Curlew.” (Numenius arquata). This was a common bird on the downs, within the memory of many living sportsmen. Mr. Butler of Kennett, (from whom I derive much practical inform- ation on the Ornithology of Wilts) tells me that he can recollect the time when they were frequently killed here: and others assure me they used to breed regularly in certain districts on the downs. I have now many records before me of the occurrence of single birds in various parts of the county; but they are only stragglers and by no means regular visitors now. Everybody knows the wild mournful whistling cry of the Curlew, as it rises from the marsh or mud-bank on the sea-shore; and equally well known is the peculiar long curved beak with which it is provided. It is of a shy timid nature, and avoids the proximity of man, and is so wary, vigilant, and withal so quick-sighted as to be the first to discover and give notice of the presence of an intruder, as every shore- shooter knows to his vexation and cost. And as it seeks out for its retreat the most retired and lonely spots, I conclude that the breaking up and cultivation of our wild downs has been the cause of banishing it from amongst _us. “Whimbrel.” (Nuwmenius pheopus.) Doubtless this bird is often confounded with the preceding, to which it bears a very close resemblance in all points, and from which it differs in little else than in size. It is about one third less than its congener, and hence has derived the names of Half-Curlew, and Jack-Curlew. I have but one undoubted instance of its occurrence in Wilts, the specimen in my lamented friend the Rev. George Marsh’s collection 62 On the Ornithology of Wilts { Scolopacide]. having been obtained in his own parish in 1838, killed in Sutton Mead, where it had been observed alone for some time. ‘Green Sandpiper.” (Totanus ochropus.) This and the follow- ing species seem interlopers in the midst of the Snipe family, and scarcely deserve to be classed with them, for their beaks are neither so long nor so sensitive, and they seek their food on the surface as much as below the mud. In other respects they are closely allied to the other members of the family. The Green Sandpiper is by no means a common bird in England, but it has been shot by the late Mr. Marsh in the water-meadows at Salisbury in 1833. It does not remain on the sea-coast, when it reaches our island in its migrations, but proceeds at once to the rivers and streams of the interior. I have met with it in great abundance in Egypt in winter, and I have seen it in summer in its breeding haunts in Norway. “Common Sandpiper.” (Zotanus hypoleucos.) This is a far more common species than the last, as its trivial name implies, and may be frequently met with in summer on the banks of our streams, and even occasionally on our downs. I am told that it is especially abundant in the neighbourhood of Salisbury. It is an elegant little bird, and all its movements are graceful and pleasing; whether on the wing, as it skims over the surface of the water with ashrill piping whistle; or on foot, as perched on a stone, it continually moves its tail up and down, or runs with great rapidity by the margin of the stream. I found this species also both in Egypt and in Norway. It is known to many under the name of «Summer Snipe.” “Greenshank.” (Tofanus glottis.) It is again through the kindness of my good friend, the Rev. George Powell of Sutton Veny, that I am enabled to include this rare species in my list of Wiltshire birds. The specimen in question was procured in his immediate neighbourhood, having been observed on the 27th of August, 1868, by Mr. William Swayne in the Knook meadows in the parish of Heytesbury ; and, after flushing it several times, that gentleman contrived to get a shot at it as it rose from some rushes, and killed it. It appeared to have been wearied by previous long flight ; and my informant, who examined the bird carefully, and is By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 63 a good ornithologist, believes it to have been a young bird and a hen. The Greenshank, though a scarce bird in England, does make its appearance almost every year as a straggler, and is generally observed during the spring or autumn migrations, either on its way to or its return from its breeding places in the far north. Hence our Wiltshire specimen was undoubtedly on its journey southwards, when it halted to rest in the parish of Heytesbury. It is almost always found in England as a single bird, and very rarely in company with others. “ Ruff.’ (Machetes pugnax). This is truly a fen bird, and belongs of right to the eastern counties, from which however the draining of the fens, and the rage for reclaiming waste land, have nearly succeeded in banishing it. But I am glad to hail it asa straggler to our county, for it is extremely handsome, and withal a very interesting species. Two instances have come to my know- ledge of its occurrence in Wiltshire; one killed by a farmer in the neighbourhood of Wootton Bassett, about 1850; the other taken in the immediate neighbourhood of Salisbury in 1828. The striking feature of the bird is the strange frill or ruff of feathers which together with conspicuous auricular plumes, surrounds the neck of the male bird in his breeding plumage, and which when raised form a shield round the head, reminding one of the costume of the worthies, with whose portraits we are familiar, of the time of Elizabeth. These birds are polygamous, unlike all the rest of the Snipe family: they are exceedingly pugnacious, hence both their generic and specific names: and so much do they vary in colour of plumage, that it is scarcely possible to find two alike; the ruffs which these birds assume being of all shades; from white, yellow, chesnut, brown, or a mixture of any or all of these colours to pure black. At all other seasons of the year, they are of comparatively sober hue, and more nearly resemble the females, which are called Reeves. * Woodcock.” (Scolopax rusticola). I need scarcely assert that this is a winter migrant to our county, though I fear it is becoming less abundant every year. A few pairs undoubtedly remain in England to breed in summer, and a nest was found at Winterslow, in 64 On the Ornithology of Wiits [ Scolopacide]. 1830, but the larger part retire to more northern and more secluded localities. It loves open glades, and moist ground in woods, and is not therefore often seen in the down districts. Occasion- ally, as I learn from Mr. Stratton, of Gore Cross, who is a keen observer of birds, as well as from my friend Mr. William Tanner, of Rockley, it is to be met with in our more exposed covers on the hills. But the moister climate of Ireland seems to have attractions for the Woodcocks which this country does not hold out, for we learn from Mr. Knox’s admirable book that “forty couple is frequently the result of one days sport in the Emerald Isle.”! And yet this is as nothing compared to the immense quantities which are obtained in the evergreen woods and swamps of the Greek coast and Ionian Islands, as we may gather from Lord Lilford’s graphic account in the Ibis.?, The Woodcock is a nocturnal feeder, as might be inferred from its immense, full, dark, bright, and very prominent eyes, which are also placed very far back in the head, and give the bird a singular staring appearance. Unlike its congeners it seeks the retirement of woods during the day, only emerging at twilight or dusk to its feeding places in swampy ground. Its flight is perfectly noiseless, and very rapid, and it is marvellous how quickly and accurately it will thread its way through the thick branches of the trees, and very soon it will close its wings, and suddenly drop into any tempting cover, and then run to shelter into any rank grass, or thick underwood it can find. It is a solitary bird, and seldom associates with its fellows. Its plumage is peculiarly rich, of a deep brown colour, barred and spotted, and crossed with black or very dark brown. “Great Snipe.” (Scolopax major). I have little doubt that this species is often confused with its commoner relative, and mistaken for a large specimen of S. gallinago; while fine individuals of that bird have undoubtedly in their turn equally been hailed as S. major. Since however the attention of naturalists has been directed to the points in which these species differ, the Great Snipe is found to be sparingly scattered over the country every autumn ; 1Game Birds and Wild Fowl, p. 50. * This for 1860, vol. ii., pp. 340—842, See also Thompson’s Natural History of Ireland, vol. ii., p. 242. By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 65 and Wiltshire is one of the counties named by Montagu in which it had then been observed. The late Mr. Marsh reported that one was killed in Winterslow Wood, in 1831, and he had himself seen a specimen in Christian Malford, though he was not able to obtain it: and the Rev. George Powell tells me of one killed in South Wilts, in 1854; and quite lately of another killed by his brother, at Hurdcott, on the 25th September, 1868: when from some unexplained cause these birds were extraordinarily numerous in many parts of England: and I have notices of another killed on Salisbury Plain, another at Milton, near Pewsey, and of several others on the borders of the county. It is often called the “Solitary” Snipe, as it was supposed, though it seems erroneously, to shun the society of its fellows. It is also called the “Double’’ Snipe, from its size: the “Silent’’ Snipe, from its uttering no cry as it rises on the wing ; and the “‘ Meadow” Snipe, from its habit of frequent- ing fields of long coarse grass, whence it is also designated by the Germans “‘ Wiesen Schnepfe.” It is rarely seen in England but in the autumn: in summer I have met with it in Norway, where it retires to breed on the vast wild fjelds of that thinly populated country. The principal points wherein it differs from the Common Snipe, are its greater size and heavier form; its smaller and shorter beak; its stouter and shorter legs; and the under plumage invariably barred with brown and white, which in the commoner species is pure white. It also flies more like a Woodcock than a Snipe, and when on the wing, spreads its tail like a fan. “Common Snipe.” (Scolopar gailinago.} It is unquestionable that these birds once so numerous here in winter, are gradually becoming perceptibly scarcer every year. This may be attributed to the general increase of draining, and the reclaiming of fens and marshes; so that, like the Red Indian in America, the Snipe will soon be improved off the face of this country by the rapid advance of high farming. In Wiltshire and the more southern parts of England, it is a true migrant, arriving in the autumn and depart- ing in the spring; but in more northern counties many pairs remain annually to breed in the moors or fens. The shrill alarm ery of this bird, and its peculiar zigzag flight are too well known 66 On the Ornithology of Wilts [ Scolopacide]. to require comment. I may mention, however, that in addition to the sharp scream with which we are all familiar in the winter, it makes a drumming or bleating noise in the breeding season, and hence is called by the French “chévre volant,” and in several other languages words equivalent to the “air-goat,” or the “kid of the air.” To distinguish it from the succeeding species it is sometimes called the “‘ Whole” Snipe. “Jack Snipe.” (Scolopax gallinula.) This diminutive species might, with much more reason, be denominated “Solitary ” than its largest relative, inasmuch as it is almost always found alone. It utters no cry when it rises from the ground, nor does it fly with such twists as does the preceding; and it invariably departs to northern countries for breeding purposes. In general habits, feeding and nesting, the Snipes are all alike. It is often called the “Half” Snipe in allusion to its size; and is said to have derived the name of Jack Suipe from an old erroneous supposition thet it was the male of the “Common” Snipe. The provincial names of these three species accurately describe their relative size ; the Jack or Ha/f Snipe weighing about two ounces; the Common, Whole, or Full Snipe four ounces; and the Great or Double Snipe eight ounces. “Knot.” (Zringa Canuta.) This is in my judgment one of the most excellent birds for the table: nor am I singular in that opinion; for however little known to modern epicures, it derives its name, Latin as well as English, from the famous Danish King Knut or Canute, who had an especial liking for the flesh of this, the most delicate perhaps of all the well-flavoured family to which it belongs. It is a winter migrant, and the mud-flats and sand- banks of the eastern coast literally swarm with the vast flocks of this species: at one moment they will rise simultaneously in a compact body, and after a short flight, settle again in close array on the shore: then they will run at the extreme edge of the re- ceding tide, and seek their food in the ooze laid bare by the retreat- ing waves. The numbers which compose these great flocks must be immense, and cannot contain less than many thousands, so wide- spread and at the same time so dense is the cloud, which, with one By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 67 impulse takes wing, wheels about with simultaneous movement, and as rapidly settles again at the edge of the waves. This general account of their immense numbers may in some degree prepare the way for a marvellous shot, which I am about to relate; and which will doubtless seem incredible to those whose experience is confined to inland shooting only, and who are unaccustomed to see the vast flights of birds which occasionally collect on our coasts ; but of the truth of which I have satisfied myself, and therefore do not hesitate to publish the story. It is the custom of the wild- fowl shooters or “ gunners,” as they are called on the Norfolk coast, to paddle noiselessly down the creeks of the Wash in a low narrow gun-boat or canoe, with a large duck gun moving on a swivel lashed like a cannon’in the bow; and a single lucky shot into a flock of geese, or ducks, or knots, or other birds, frequently produces a great harvest of spoil. With one of these gunners I am very well acquainted, and have been accustomed to overhaul the produce of his day’s or rather night’s excursion in search of rare specimens: and from him I have gathered a great deal of information on the shore-feeding birds of the eastern coast. He has often astonished me by the quantities of ducks of various species with which his boat was loaded on his return, and I have seen half a sackful of Knots, amounting to above two hundred in number, turned out on the floor of his cottage as the result of one fortunate shot with the long gun: but when he assured me that on one occasion he had picked up and brought home after a single dis- charge no less than thirty-six dozen and eleven Knots, or four hundred and forty-three birds, I acknowledge that I was incre- dulous, till conversation with sportsmen of the neighbourhood convinced me that the story was true; and then I felt ashamed _ that ignorance of shore-shooting in the fens led me to doubt the word of an honest man. Since then I have often watched the Knots by the hour together on the Norfolk coast, on the shores of the Wash; and with a double field-glass (the ornithologists best companion) have followed the every movement of these busy birds: and seeing the dense array of the countless hosts which compose a flock, I can well understand the havoc which a well-aimed 68 On. the Ornithology of Wilts [ Rallide]. discharge of the big gun must cause.’ I have but one instance of the occurrence of this bird in Wiltshire, when a male was killed at the side of the railway cutting at Langley, in 1850, by Mr. Bethell of Kellaways Mill, and is, I believe, still in his possession. Considering the high favour in which all birds of the Snipe family are deservedly held for the table, and the method of dressing these birds, as practised in England, though repudiated abroad ; considering also the positive assertion which I have made that they do not live by suction, but devour worms and various grubs and insects; it is but fair that I should add that the digestion of all these birds is extraordinarily rapid. RALLID.AS (The Rails). We are now approaching the more essentially aquatic birds, and there are several characteristics in the family of Rails which lead on to the true water-fowl. Thus their bodies are more compressed and boat-shape, and most of them can swim with ease; their legs are shorter and their feet larger, and with the hind toe more developed than in the preceding family. Their beaks, too, are much harder and stronger, and some of them are furnished with a narrow membrane on the sides of the toes, which is the first approach towards a web-foot. They are for the most part a shy race, and as they generally prefer inland ponds and lakes to the sea-coast, they secrete themselves in the flags and reeds and rushes which border their haunts, and are often found in wet ditches. They creep through the thick cover with amazing quickness, wind- ing their way amidst the dense grass, and are very unwilling to rise on the wing, but when compelled to do so, their flight is heavy and awkward, as might be expected from the shortness of their wings. “Land-Rail.” (Crex pratensis.) This species known also as the Corn-Crake, is familiar to the partridge shooter, and well known 1Mr. Thompson, who has more practical knowledge of shore-shooting with the swivel gun than any other author of birds with whose work I am acquainted, will be found in great measure to corroborate this assertion. See his Natural History of Ireland, vol. ii., p. 292, under the head of ‘‘ Dunlin,” and p. 309 under the head of ‘‘ Knot.” By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 69 also to him is its disinclination to rise, and the rapidity with which it skulks with depressed head through the stubble; and if forced to take wing where it can drop into cover again, it will fly with legs hanging down and prepared to run the instant it alights. It is common enough in our corn-fields in summer, and yet it is a genuine Rail, and resorts to damp meadows and marshy soil to seek its food. It is a true migrant and never winters with us; but in May its harsh croaking cry of crek, crek, may be frequently heard; and the bird which produces it has the remarkable power of the ventriloquist in causing the note to sound now on this side now on tbat, now under your feet, now at the farther end of the field; and many a hopeless chase, and many a bewildered and baffled pursuer has been the result of this peculiarity. Gilbert White speaks of it as having been abundant in the low wet bean- fields of Christian Malford in North Wilts. “Spotted Crake.” (Crex porzana.) Though not in reality un- common, this sombre-clad little species is so retiring and timid in its nature, and seeks such little-frequented quiet ponds for its haunts, that it escapes observation, and is supposed by many to be a rarer bird than it really is. I have heard of several in Wiltshire, and the late Mr. Marsh killed one in some marshy ground at Christian Malford in October, 1849. It is, like its congener, a migrant, but unlike that species it is one of the earliest to arrive, and one of the latest to depart. Its general plumage is dark green and brown, speckled with white. “ Water-Rail.” (Rallus aquaticus.) This is a very common bird in wet and marshy districts; and I am told is especially common in the low lands near Salisbury. I have shot it in the water meadows at Old Park, near Devizes, and I have instances of its occurrence in all parts of the county. Like all other members of the family it seeks safety in running amidst coarse herbage, and in hiding itself in the thickest cover it can find; and I have seen it when driven by a dog from its place of refuge, fly up and settle in the branches of a thick bush, in preference to seeking safety by flight. It will on occasion run on the water, making use of the flags and floating water plants as stepping stones in its course, and 70 On the Ornithology of Wilts [ Lobipedide}. it can both swim and dive with great ease. It remains with us throughout the year. “ Moorhen.” (Gallinula Chioropus.) This is the most common species of the whole family, for it may be seen on almost every retired pond or lake, either swimming amidst the rushes with its peculiar jerking motion, or alarmed at the presence of an intruder, seeking the shelter of the most distant bank and the thickest sedge : or as evening draws on, wandering over the newly-mown grass of a hay-field, searching diligently for food. Though a shy bird, it is more familiar and shows more confidence in man than the preceding species, and has been known when undisturbed to become quite tame. In the classic grounds at Walton Hall, the seat of the late well-known naturalist, Mr. Waterton, where all birds were en- couraged and protected, I have seen the Moorhens feeding just beneath the drawing room windows, and not caring to move nearer the water, even when a stranger approached. At Bowood, they show great boldness, and at Draycot pond, where they are not molested, they evince none of that timidity for which the race of Rails is renowned. Where however they are not so protected, and are surprized in an open space, they will skim along the surface of the water, partly flying, partly running, legs as well as wings being actively employed, till they have hurried into thick cover. They are conspicuous for the bright scarlet frontal plate or horny shield which extends above the beak, and as they swim over the pond, with a nodding motion of the head, examining every weed on either side; or as they hurry through the meadows, in both cases perpetually jerking up their tails, they always seem ina bustle, and as if they had no time to waste. LOBIPEDIDA (Lobe-feet). There is no more perfect example of the gradual transition from one class of birds to another than is to be seen in the little family of Lobefeet. Occupying a position as they do at the end of the Order of Waders, and immediately before that of the Swimmers, we find them partaking of the anatomical structure as well as the habits of both. They have neither the stilted legs and lengthened By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 71 beaks of the one, nor have they the webbed feet of the other; but yet they approach both these characteristics. With slender naked legs of moderate length they possess feet of a very remarkable structure, inasmuch as these are furnished with a lateral develop- ment of membrane, which, though it does not connect them as in the true Swimmers, projects in rounded lobes on either side of the toes. With these they can swim and dive with perfect ease; indeed they pass the greater portion of their lives in the water, though frequently seen on land too. There are but three species of this family known in England, and I have instances of the occurrence of all of them in Wiltshire. “ “Common Coot.” (Fulica atra.) This is a common bird, gener- ally to be found in the haunts of the Moorhen, and like that species, has a horny frontal plate which runs from the base of the beak to the forehead; and which being of a pure white colour, is very conspicuous on the nearly black plumage of the bird: hence it is often called the “ Bald Coot.” It is the only species of the family which frequents inland lakes; and in its general habits, innate shyness, retirement amongst sedge and reeds on the least alarm, and method, when flushed, of scuttling over the surface of the pond, striking the water with its feet to aid its progress, it bears a very close resemblance to the Mocrhen last described. “Grey Phalarope.” (Phalaropus lobatus.) This pretty little bird belongs rather to the ocean than the land; and its home is in ‘Northern Asia, Siberia, and Northern America, so that when it visits us in Wiltshire, it is as an accidental straggler indeed: and yet I have many records of its occurrence here. The specimen from which Colonel Montagu took his description and which was in his own museum, was taken at a pond at Alderton.! Yarrell reports that “ Mr. Lambert presented to the Zoological Society a beautifully marked adult bird, which was killed in Wiltshire in the month of August, and retained at that time a great portion of the true red colours of the breeding season or summer plumage.” ? The late Mr. Marsh recorded that one was brought to him which was killed by some boys with a stone on Dunspool pond, on the 1 Ornithological Dictionary in loco, * British Birds, vol. iii., p. 132. 72 On the Ornithology of Wilts | Lobipedide]. downs at Winterslow. Another was shot at Dauntsey by the Rev. A. Biedermann; and another at Kellaways Mill, by the Rev. R. Ashe. Lord Nelson showed me a fine specimen in his possession which was taken on the borders of the county on the Hampshire side. The late Rev. John Ward announced the capture of another at Great Bedwyn: and Mr. Elgar Sloper, of Devizes, speaks of several as having been killed in that neighbourhood; one which came into his collection having been taken on the banks of the Kennet and Avon Canal,in November, 1840. If we exchange the scene from the retired inland pond to the open ocean, we shall find the habits of the Phalarope very like those of the more familiar Coot: they are, however, perhaps still more aquatic, and they differ in having great power and swiftness of wing. In summer their plumage is of a reddish chestnut, or rich brown hue, but in winter of a light grey colour; which great variation has given rise to much confusion in identifying these birds as belonging to but one species only. “Red-necked Phalarope.” (Phalaropus hyperboreus). This elegant but diminutive species is far more rare in England than its larger congener. The specific name hyperboreus fully declares its habitat, for it ranges over all the Arctic regions of the Old and New Worlds, and descends as low as the Orkneys, and the northern coast of Scotland, where it is not uncommon. The plumage may be generally described as lead coloured above; chest and neck reddish bay, otherwise white below. I have a notice from Mr. Elgar Sloper that a male bird in the breeding plumage was shot by him in the brickfield at Old Park, in May, 1841, and that as the pinion of one wing was the only part injured, it lived for several weeks, feeding in the water on animal food, with which Mr. Sloper supplied it, and swimming with great facility. We have now reached the end of the fourth great oe of Birds, viz., the Waders, and but one more order remains to be considered, the true Water-fowl, or Swimmers. ALFRED CHARLES SMITH. Yatesbury Rectory, Calne, £ February, 1869. 73 The Flora of Wiltshire, COMPRISING THE Flowering Plants and Ferns indigenous to the County. By Tuomas BrueEs Frower, M.R.C.S., F.LS., &e., &e. No. XII. ORDER. OROBANCHACEZ. (VENT.) OroBANCHE, (LiINN.) BRooM-RAPE. Linn. Cl. xiv. Ord. ii. Named from orobos, (Gr.) a leguminose or pea-like plant ; and anchein, to strangle; owing to its supposed power of destroying the plant on which it grows. 1. O. Rapum, (Thuill.) greater Broom-rape. 0. major, (L.) Sm., Engl. Bot. t. 421. Reich. Icones, t. 900 and 923. Locality. Parasitical on the roots of furze, and broom, and other shrubby Leguminifere. P. Fl. May, July. Area, 1. 2.3. 4. 5. South Division. 1. South-east District, ‘‘ Dry banks by the sides of the road from Amesbury to Stonehenge,” Dr. Maton. Nat. Hist. Wilis. “ On the roots of farze on Amesbury Down,” Major Smith. “Amesbury,” Dr. Southby. 2. South Middle District, On furze at Nine Hills Drew’s Pond, Devizes, and near Seend. “On broom and furze at Heytesbury,” Miss Selwyn. 3. South-west District, Longleat Park. ‘ Corsley,” Miss Griffith. Warminster,” Mr. Wheeler. | North Division. 4, North-west District, On the roots of Sarothamnus scoparius at Bowden Hill, and Spye Park. ‘“ Winsley,” Flor. Bath. “ Kington St. Michael,” Rev. E. Rowlandson. “ Chippenham,” Dr. Prior. 5. North-east District, “Martin,” Miss M. A. Seif. “Great Bedwyn,” Mr. William Bartlett. A local plant in the county, andthe largest of our Wiltshire VOL. XIl.—NO. XXXIy. G 3 74 The Flora of Wiltshire. species. When first developed it is of a pale yellow, but very soon assuming in every part,a dingy purplish brown colour. One to one foot and a half high, leafless. Flowers in a long spike. Stigma of two distant yellow lobes. -Anthers white when dry. 2. O. minor, (Sutt.) lesser Broom-rape. Engl. Bot. t. 422. Locality. Parasitical chiefly on Trifolium pratense, the crops of which it often completely over-runs. A. Fl. June, July. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In all the Districts, and not uncommon throughout Wilts. A very variable plant in size and colour, often not more than 4 or 5 inches, at other times more than a foot and a half in height; usually of a dingy purplish brown or bluish colour. Corolla tinged with violet in its upper part, downy, with several strong purple ribs. Stamens more or less hairy in their lower part. Anthers yellow when dry. Stigma bilobed, lobes purple. It varies according to station and the plant it affects. I have seen some of the clover-fields in the county completely infested with this species. 3. O. Hed’ere, (Duby) Ivy Broom-rape. 0. barbata Engl. Bot. Suppl. t. 2859, not Poir. Locality. Parasitical upon Ivy, in moist shady woods, and on walls and banks. P. Fl. June, July. Area, * * 3. * * South Division. 3. South-west District, On Ivy in the Rectory garden at Bishops- trowe. ‘Cop-heap,” Ur. R. C. Griffith. The only localities at present recorded in the county for this species, which may possibly be only a variety of the last (O. minor). Stems purplish, about one foot high. This is best distinguished from the last by its yellow stigma, cleft only two thirds down instead of to the base. Anthers fuscous, rather paler when dry. O. elatior, (Sutt.) Engl. Bot. t. 568. O. major (L.) Fries. has been reported to have been found in the county. I have not as yet seen specimens, and should be obliged to any botanist for Wiltshire examples of this species, with O. Hed’ere. O. elatior should be looked for upon Oentaurea Scabiosa, chiefly on balks in open chalky fields. By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 75 Latrurma, (Linn.) ToorHwort. Linn. Cl. xiv., Ord. ii. Name. From (lathraios), concealed; in allusion to the plant growing in much concealed places. Toothwort, from the scales of the root much resembling teeth in form and colour. 1. L. squamaria, (Linn.) scaly-rooted Toothwort. Squamaria is a Latin substantive formed from squama, signifying a scale, and is applied to this plant in reference to its roots, which are covered with scales. G. EB. Smith, S. Kent. t. 3. Locality. Parasitical on the roots of trees especially hazel, in damp shady places. Besides the hazel it grows on the oak, ash, beech, and elm. P. Fi. April, May. Area, 1. * 3. 4. 5. South Division. 1. South-east District, “Plantations near Trafalgar Park,” Dr. Maton and Major Smith. “ Brickworth Park,” Rev. E. Simms. *¢ Woods at Clarendon,” Bot. Guide. 3. South-west District, “ Woods at Ashcombe,” Mr. James Hussey. North Division. 4. North-west District, Rudlow and Box. “Collet’s Bottom, near Corsham,” Dr. R. C. Prior. 5. North-east District, ‘‘Granham copses, and copses on White Horse Down;” ‘Pewsey and Tottenham,” Flor. Marlb. “ Great Bedwyn,” Mr. William Bartlett. A singular parasitic plant closely allied to the Broom-rapes, but the flowers more regular. Whole plant succulent, with many fleshy tooth-like scales. FVowers in a long unilateral spike, flesh-coloured or bluish. Bractea’s broadly ovate. This plant like Melampyrum turns quite black in drying, or on exposure to the air soon after being gathered. See a valuable paper on the structure and growth of this plant by J. E. Bowman Esq., in Linn. Trans. o. XVi., p. 2, accompanied by a beautiful plate. ORDER. SCROPHULARIACE. Versascum, (Linn.) MuLien. Linn. Cl. v. Ord. i. The name appears to be a corruption of the word Barbascum, on G2 76 The Flora of Wiltshire. account of the bearded or shaggy and downy surface of the leaves in most of the species. 1. V. Thapsus, (Linn.) Great Mullein, High-taper. The specific name of Thapsus has been derived from Thapsus in Africa, near which place it is said to have formerly abounded. ngl. Bot. t. 549. V. Schraderi Koch. Locality. Roadsides, hedge-banks, waste places, in calcareous sandy and gravelly soils; also in newly cut copses. B. Fl. July, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Recorded in all the Districts. Stem 4 to 5 feet high, angular, winged. Leaves thick, excessively woolly, ovate or oblong. lowers handsome, golden yellow; three of the stamens hairy; the two longer ones glabrous. The tomentum or down on all the species will, on examination under a microscope, be found to be composed of innumerable stellate hairs. 2. V. nigrum, (Linn.) Dark Mullein. ng/. Bot. t. 59. Locality. Waste ground and banks, on dry gravel or i ace P. Fl. July, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4.5. South Division. 1. South-east District, ‘‘ Roadsides between Salisbury and Mil- ford,” Dr. Maton. Nat. Hist. Wilts. ‘‘Landford,” fev. E. Simms. 2. South Middle District, Sparingly on Salisbury Plain. 3. South-west District, “Lanes about Odstock and Nunton ;” ‘Between Charlton and Downton, also Berwick St. John,” Major Smith. North Division. 4. North-west District, ‘‘ Corn-fields on the road to Colerne,” Flor. Bath. “Ford,” Mr. C. E. Broome. “North Wraxhall by the roadside going from Chippenham to Marshfield, and in the village abundant,” Dr. Prior. Wats. Bot. Guide. 5. North-east District, ““ West Woods,” Flor. Marib. In all the Districts but local. Leaves nearly glabrous, dark green. Flowers in clusters, on the almost-simple long spike. Corod/a rather large yellow. Stamens with bright purple hairs. V. Blattaria, (Linn.) Engl. Bot. t. 393, is stated to have been By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 77 found in lanes between Downton and Charlton, (South-west District) by Dr. Maton, Nat. Hist. Wilts. It would be desirable to have this station again verified, as it at present rests on old authority. I have never seen this species in a locality which could be considered truly wild. Dierratis, (Linn.) FoxGLove. Linn. Cl. xiv. Ord. ii. Name. From digitus, a finger; its flowers resembling the finger of a glove, (and hence sometimes called finger-flower) ; so named by Fuchsius, after its German designation. 1. D. purpurea, (Linn.) purple Foxglove. Engl. Bot. ¢. 1297. Locality. Hedge-banks, woods, and sides of hills, on a gravelly or sandy soil. B. Fl. June August. Area 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. South Division. 1. South-east District, ‘In birch woods near Winterslow, and by the side of the hill, leading from Downton to Redlynch,” Dr. Maton, Nat. Hist. Wilts. ‘ Plentifully at Langford on the chalk formation,” Rev. EL. Simms. 2. South Middle District, Woods round Drew’s Pond, Devizes, The white variety occurs here. 3. South-west District, In woods at Longleat and Stourton. North Division. 4, North-west District, Woods at Spye Park and Bowood. “Bow- den Hill,” Flor. Bath. 5. North-east District “In the neighbourhood of Great Bedwyn,” Mr. William Bartlett. A local plant in Wilts, and occurring but sparingly in those Districts recorded for it. Stem solitary, 3 or 4 feet high, downy, terminating in a raceme of large pendulous flowers. Leaves downy, rugged, and deeply veined. Corolla campanulate, the tube an inch and a half long, of a rich purplish crimson, elegantly speckled, . and hairy within; rarely white. The most stately and beautiful of our herbaceous plants; and one that has obtained great repu- tation as a medicine. 78 The Flora of Wiltshire. ANTIRRHINUM, (Linn,) SNAPDRAGON. Linn. Cl. xiv. Ord. ii. Name. Antirrhinon or Anarrhinon is a word used by Pliny; de- rived probably from (anti), resembling, and (rhin), a nose, in allusion to the form of the flowers. 1. A. majus, (Linn.) great Snapdragon. Engl. Bot. t. 129. Locality. Naturalized on walls and old buildings; frequently the out-cast of neighbouring gardens, not very common. P. 7. July, September. Area 1. 2. 3. 4, 5. In all the Districts. Flowers large, on short pedicles, imbricated in dense terminal racemes. Corolla various shades of purple red, rose-colour, or white; in all cases with a bright yellow downy palate: when pressed laterally between the thumb and finger it gapes, closing again when the pressure is removed; hence the vulgar name, which is, however, equally applicable to the genus Linaria. 2. A. Orontium, (Linn.) lesser Snap-dragon; (orontion) is an old Greek name. The ripe capsule, viewed in front, bears a strong resemblance to the face of an animal. Engl. Bot. t. 1155. Locality. In cultivated fields amongst corn, and dry waste places, on sandy, gravelly, or chalky soils. 4. FV. July, August. Area, 1. * 3. 4. * South Division. 1. South-east District, “‘ Corn-fields in chalky soils about Down- ton,” Dr. Maton. Nat. Hist. Wilts. ‘“ Amesbury,” Dr. Southby. 3. South-west District, ‘‘ Corn-fields between Downton and Charl- ton,” Major Smith. “ Warminster,” Ur, Wheeler. North Division. 4. North-west District, Corn-fields at Spye Park, Bromham, and Sandridge. ‘Corn-fields near the George Inn, Sandy Lane,” Flor. Bath. Not frequent in Wilts, and as yet unrecorded in Districts 2 and 5. An erect, annual, seldom above a foot high, much more slender than A. majus, with narrower leaves. //owers rose-colour, with yellow palate ; remarkable for the great proportional length of the calyx, whose linear segments equalling the corolla when first expanded soon extend far beyond it. By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 79 Linarra, (Mrtt.) Toap-Friax. Linn. Ol. xiv. Ord. ii. Name. From Linum, (Uat.) flax, which some of the species resemble in foliage. This genus only differs from Antirrhinum in the tube of the corolla, which is projected at the base into a conical or cylindrical spur. 1. L. Cymbalaria, (Mill.) Ivy-leaved Toad-flax. The name cymbalaria is from cymbe, a boat, in reference to the shape of the leaves. Engl. Bot. t. 502. St. 70,10. Antirrhinum Sm. Locality. Naturalized on old walls and stony places, the outcast from gardens. P. Fl. May, November. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Recorded in all the Districts throughout Wilts. Stem very long filiform. Leaves petioled, often purple beneath. Vowers small, pale blue or purplish. The long festoons, which are formed by the many branched slender stems of this pretty graceful plant, are highly ornamental to the walls, rocks and ruins, upon which it fixes itself, and seems to revel in the conquest which time has gained over the proudest monuments of man’s construction. 2. L. Elatine, (Mill.) elantine or halbert-leaved Toad-flax. Antirrhinum Sm. Engl. Bot. t. 692, St. 70,11. Locality. In corn-fields after harvest, on a gravelly or chalky soil. A. Fl. July, September. Area 1. 2.8. 4. 5. ~ South Division. l. South-east District, ‘Corn-fields near the gate at Pitton abundant; also between Downton and Redlynch,” Dr. Maton. Nat. Hist. Wilts. ‘Corn-fields in the neighbourhood of Salis- bury,” Mr. James Hussey. 2. South Middle District, Corn-fields on Salisbury Plain. 8. South-west District, “Arable fields about Warminster,” Mr. Wheeler. North Division. 4. North-west District, Corn-fields between Kingsdown and South Wraxhall, ConkwelJ, Monkton Farley Avenue, Box, Rudlow, Slaughterford and Spye Park. 5. North-east District, Marden, Purton, Swindon and Lydiard. “Near Burbage,” Mr. William Bartlett. 80 The Flora of Wittshire. More or less distributed throughout all the Districts. A prostrate annual, with the stem and leaves hairy, but less so than in the next species, which thisplant resembles in most respects. ower solitary, axillary’ upon long slender stalks, small, yellow, with the upper lip purple. 3. L. spuria, (Mill,) spurious Toad- flax or round-leaved Fluellin. Antiyrhinum (Sm.) Engi. Bot. t. 691. St. 70, 12. Locality. Fields, especially on clay over chalk, and seldom straying beyond the limits of cultivation. 4. 7. July, September. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Recorded in similar situations with the preceding, but of rather less frequent occurrence in general. Flowers small, yellowish; upper /ip purple. Calyx large, segments ovato-lanceolate, the outer ones, sometimes all, cordate at the base. In this species some of the flowers are often regular with 5 spurs, or partially so with 2, 3, or 4. 4. Li. minor, (Desf.) lesser Toad-flax. Engl. Bot. t. 2014. Sé. 70, 15. Locality. In dry gravelly and sandy fields, also on clay re chalk. 4. FV. June, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Not uncommon in the County. Stem erect, much branched. Leaves although linear, yet broader and more obtuse than in any of the preceding species, and narrowed at the base. /owers very small, the corolla scarcely exceeding the calyx, of a pale purple or violet colour with a short blunt spur. 5. L. eulgaris, (Mill.) common yellow Toad-flax. Antirrhinum Linaria, Sm. Engi. Bot. t. 685, St. 18 18. Locality. Borders of corn-fields, and in hedges, on a gravelly soil. P. FV. June, August. Area 1.2. 3. 4. 5. In all the Districts frequent. Plant very smooth, and generally with a glaucous hue. Stems 1 to 2 feet high, little branched, mostly simple. Leaves linear inclining to lanceolate. /owers large bright yellow with an orange palate. A singular deformity called Peloria occurs,sometimes, in which the corollas are regular with 5 spurs. Varieties are also occasionally found with smaller flowers. By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 81 Scropuutaria, (Linn.) Ficworr. Linn. Cl. xiv. Ord. ii. Name. From serofu/u, (Latin) the plant having been used as a remedy for the disease so called. The English name Figwort refers to its use as a remedy for the disease called ficus ; thus also, ficaria. I. S. nodosa, (Linn.) knotty-rooted Figwort. Engl. Bot. t. 1544, St. 23, 14. Locality. Moist woods, and shady places. P. Fl. June, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Frequently distributed in the county. Root tuberous, thick, knotty. Stem 2 or 2 feet high, sharply 4-angled, smooth and glossy, often of a reddish brown colour, the angles sometimes edged with a membranous line, but not winged. F/owers small, a little drooping. Corolla greenish purple lurid, sometimes milk-white. Staminode transversely oblong, slightly emarginate. 2. S. aquatica, (Linn.) water figwort, water-betony. Engl. Bot. t. 1544. 8. Balbisii Koch. Locality. Banks of the Avon, Canal, along ditches, and sides of streams. P. Fl. July, August. Area 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Not unfrequent in Wilts. Very variable in size, but it is gener- ally taller and rather less branched than the S. nodosa, which it much resembles in habit and in flowers. The angles of the stem project into narrow wings, and the leaves are not so broad, and more obtuse. Panic/e long and narrow. Fowers of a dark purple. Staminode roundish, uniform, entire. Metampyrum, (Linn.) Cow-wHeat. Linn. Cl. xiv. Ord. ii. Name. From the Greek (me/ampuron) compounded of (me/as), black, and (pyros) wheat. Its seeds resemble wheat, and they are said, when mixed with flour, to make the bread black. _ 1. M. pratense, (Linn.) meadow or common yellow Cow-wheat. _ Pratensis, meadow, seems to be an ill-chosen name for this species, _ which more commonly inhabits woods and thickets, rarely meadows. Engi. Bot. ¢. 113. VoL. XI.—NO. XXXIy. H 82 The Flora of Wiltshire. Locality. In woods and thickets especially on a clay or loamy soil dA. FV. June, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In all the Districts but sparingly in District 2. Stem one foot or more high, slender, with straggling branches. Coro/la pale yellow, sometimes tinged with purple towards the base; lips orange or deep yellow. Whole plant turns black in drying. Pepicutaris, (Linn.) Lovusewort. Linn, Cl. xiv. Ord. ii: Name—derived from its supposed property of producing the lousy disease in sheep that feed upon it; a malady which rather arises from the wet pastures where such plants grow. 1. P. palustris, (Linn.) marsh Lousewort, Red Rattle. Engi. Bot. t. 399. Locality. Marshy and boggy places. A. Fl. May, July. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. South Division. 1. South-east District, “Near Salisbury,” Mr. James Hussey. “ Amesbury,” Dr. Southby. 2. South Middle District, “Stratford Marsh,” Dr. Maton. Nat. Hist. Wilts. 3. South-west District, “ Marshy ground about West Harnham,” Major Smith. “ Warminster,” Mr. Wheeler. North Division. 4. North-west District, In a bog between Wraxhall and the Horse and Jockey, Kingsdown. ‘Pond on Bowden Hill and Spye Park,” Dr. R. C. Prior. Flor. Bath. 5. North-east District, “Great Bedwyn,” Mr. William Bartlett. Not so common in the County as the following species Stem 1 foot high, branched throughout. Calyx slightly hairy on the out- side, nearly glabrous within, not inflated, spotted. Flowers large, crimson, almost sessile in the axils of the upper leaves. 2. P. sylvatica, (Linn.) Pasture Lousewort. Engl. Bot. t. 400. Sé. 13, 14. Locality. Moist pastures and heaths. A. Fl. May, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. a By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 83 South Division. 1. South-east District, “ Alderbury Common,” Major Smith. “Salisbury,” Mr. James Hussey. 2. South Middle District, “ Westbury,” Mrs. Overbury. 8. South-west District, ‘Near Corsley,” Miss Griffith. North Division. _ 4. North-west District, Meadows at South Wraxhall. “On Whitley Common near Melksham,” Dr. R. C. Prior. Flor. Bath. “ Marshy fields at Bromham,” Miss Meredith. ‘‘ Heath, Kington St. Michael,” Rev. EF. Rowlandson. 5. North-east District, Copse on the north side of Martinsell Hill. Savernake Forest. ‘Great Bedwyn and Marlborough Common,” Flor. Marlb. Not a rare plant in Wilts. Stems 3 to 5 inches long. Calya quite glabrous on the outside, woolly within, at the mouth inflated, reticulated with green veins. owers large, rose-colour, sometimes white. Rurnantuvs, (Linn.) Ratrye. Linn. Cl. xiv. Ord. ii. Name. From rhin, a nose, and anthos, a flower; in allusion to the beaked upper lip of the corolla, which is very remarkable in the &. Elephas. The English name Rattle refers to the rattling of the seeds in the capsule when ripe. 1. R. Crista-galli, (Linn.) Cockscomb or common yellow Rattle. The name cockscomb is derived from the appearance of the upper leaves or bracteas which accompany the flowers, Engi. Bot. ¢. 657. R. minor, (Ehrh.) Reich. Icones, 731. Locality. In meadows and damp pastures. A. Fl. June. Area, me. 2.4. 5. Generally distributed more or less throughout all the Districts. Flowers on very short peduncles, axillary in the bracteas, each pair crossing the next, and altogether forming a kind of loose inter- rupted spike. Caly« large, bladdery, strongly ribbed, smooth, of a pale yellowish green colour. Coro//a yellow; the segments of its upper lip short, bluish. The rattling of the seeds in the capsules indicates to the Swedish peasantry the season for gathering in H2 84 The Flora of Wiltshire. their hay. In England we have better indications, such as the flowering-heads of wild red clover beginning to fade, and the pre- dominant grasses of the crop opening their glumes, and displaying their anthers. Kurnrasia, (Linn.) Eyesricur. Linn. Cl. xiv., Ord. ii. Named from ecuphraino to delight; in allusion to the gaiety of its flowers. Eyebright, from the old notion of its being useful in disorders of the eyes. 1. E. officinalis, (Linn.) officinal or common Eyebright. Engl. Bot. t. 1416. Locality. WHeathy and chalky pastures, also on the downs. A. Fil. July, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Distributed generally throughout the County. An elegant little plant, varying in height from 1 inch to 4 or 5, with a square, downy, leafy stem, either simple or branched. Vowers axillary, solitary, very abundant, inodorous, but remarkable for their bril- liant variegated aspect. The coro//a varies much in size as well as colour, being commonly white with dark purple streaks, and a yellowish palate; the anthers violet. The plant is still much used in rustic practice as a remedy for diseases of the eye. Milton represents the Archangel Michael as employing it to remove the film from the eyes of our first parent, occasioned by eating the forbidden fruit :— ‘But to nobler sights Michael from Adam’s eyes the film removed, Which that false fruit that promised clearer sight Had bred ; then purged with Euphrasy and rue The visual nerve, for he had much to see.” 2. E. Odontites, (Linn.) red Eyebright. Odontites is a word used by Pliny for some herb. Bartsia Sm. Engl. Bot. t. 1415. Locality. In cultivated ground, corn-fields and waste places, especially on a cold and wet clay soil. A. Fl. June, July. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Recorded in all the Districts. About a foot high, more or less; copiously branched, each branch terminating in a leafy unilateral By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 85 cluster or rather spike, of numerous rose-coloured scentless flowers, - whose calyz is tinged with a dull violet hue. Every part even the calyx and corolla is finely downy; the stem rough with deflexed hairs. Root parasitic according to Decaisne. Veronica, (Linn.) SPEEDWELL. Linn. Cl. ii. Ord. i. Named after Veronica, a Roman female saint; in which case the English name Speedwell may refer to its connection with that saintly personage. 1. V. scute//ata, (Linn.) narrow-leaved, raarsh Speedwell. Scu- tel/atus (Lat.) means dished, from scute//a, a dim. of scutum, a shield, and alludes to the capsule, which is of two flattish orbicular Jobes, and becomes conspicuous when ripe. Engl. Bot. t. 782. St. 58, 3. Locality. Wet places and sides of ditches, also in spongy bogs. P. Fl. June, August. Area, 1. * * 4. * South Division. 1. South-east District, “Bogs on Alderbury Common,” Dr. Maton. Nat. Hist. Wilts. “Boggy ground in a meadow at West Dean,” Major Smith. ‘Above ‘No Man’s Land’ on the borders of the New Forest, within the county,” Mr. James Hussey. North Division. 4. North-west District, “In a bog between the old Horse and Jockey and South Wraxhall,” Flor. Bath. ‘Monkton Farley,” Mr. C. E. Broome. A local and scarce plant in Wilts. Stems slender, ascending or _ spreading, generally smooth, but like V. serpy/lifolia becoming hairy and even hoary in dry or barren ground. FVowers few, in very slender racemes, proceeding alternately from one axil only, of each pair of leaves. Corol/a rather small, of a pale pinkish blue or white. Capsule very flat, broad, and rather deeply notched. 2. V. Anagallis, (Linn.) pimpernel-like or Water Speedwell. Engl. Bot. t. 781. Locality. Banks of the Avon, Canal, ditches and slow streams. P. Hi. July, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 86 The Flora of Wiltshire. South Division. 1. South-east District, “ Ditches near Milford,” Dr. Maton. Nat Hist. Wilts. “Marshy ground about Downton,” Major Smith. “Neighbourhood of Salisbury,” Mr. James Hussey. ‘ Amesbury and Bulford,” Dr. Southby. 2. South Middle District, Banks of the Kennet and Avon Canal. “Near Westbury,” Mrs. Overbury. 3. South-west District, Neighbourhood of Warminster,” Mr. Wheeler. Ne orth Division. 4. North-west District, Banks of the Avon at Bradford, Melksham, and Chippenham. 5. North-east District, Banks of the Canal between Swindon and Purton. Water meadows about Cricklade and Marston Meysey. “Not uncommon in the vicinity of Marlborough,” Flor. Marlb. Intermediate in appearance between V. seute//ata, and the next species V. Beccabunga, yet abundantly distinct from both. Stems succulent, a foot or more high. Leaves varying somewhat in width. Racemes long, many flowered. F/owers bluish, or inclining to purple. Plant somewhat succulent, turning blackish in drying. 3. V. Beccabunga, (Linn.) Brooklime. The name Beccabunga comes from the German Bachpungen; bach meaning a rivulet; in Yorkshire and Norfolk, a beck. Brooklime from its growing in the dime or mud of brooks. Engl. Bot. t. 655. Locality. On the margins of brooks, ditches, and ponds. P. Fl. May, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Generally distributed throughout the Districts. Most commonly the companion of Water Cresses. Whole plant glabrous and very succulent. Leaves shortly stalked, ovate or oblong. Flowers small, blue, or rarely pink when it is V. Jimosa (Lejean.) Capsule shorter than the calyx, broad and rather thick, and notched at the top. 4. V. Chamedrys, (Linn.) Germander-like Speedwell. Chamedrys is a word taken from the Greek (chamai), on the ground, and (drys), an oak. Engl. Bot. t. 628. St. 58, 6, By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 87 Locality. Woods, pastures, and hedge-banks. P. Fl. May, June. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Common throughout Wilts. Stems procumbent, often above a foot long, and remarkable by the hairs collected into two opposite lines down the stem from between each pair of leaves to the leaf next below, whilst the rest of the stem is glabrous or nearly so. Leaves wrinkled, sometimes deeply cut. Flowers large, numerous, very bright blue, greeting us at an early season of the year and rendering the plant a general favourite; supposed by some to be the true Forget-me-not. 5. V. montana, (Linn.) mountain Speedwell, though by no means confined to high ground. Engl. Bot. t. 766. St. 58, 5. Locality. . In woods and moist shady hedge-banks. P. F/. May, June. Area, * 2. 3. 4. * In ali the Districts except 1 and 5, but not so frequent as the last species. V. montana bears a considerable resemblance to the much more common V. Chamedrys, but the narrower segments of the corolla, the general hairiness of the stem, the stalked leaves which are thinner and more shining; and lastly the capsule, thrice as large and formed as it were of two orbicular portions joined to- gether, distinguish this from the last. 6. V. officinalis, (Linn.) common Speedwell. Engi. Bot. t. 765. St. 58. 4. Locality. Dry banks, woods, and heaths. P. FV. June, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. _ Recorded in all the Districts. A very variable plant, especially in size. Whole plant more or less rough, with spreading, short, pointed hairs. Leaves obovate or oblong, toothed, and hairy. Flowers nearly sessile, rather small, pale blue, or rarely flesh- coloured. Capsule obovate or obcordate, broader than it is long. 7. V. serpyllifolia, (Linn.) Abyme-leayed Speedwell. Engi. Bot. #1075. S¢é. 58. 1. Locality. Roadsides and damp places, both in cultivated and pasture land. P. Fl. May, July. Area 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. _ Frequent in ali the Districts. Stems more or less procumbent, very much branched, forming a small, flat, dense, leafy tuft. 88 The Flora of Wiltshire. Leaves nearly sessile, ovate, usually glabrous as well as the rest of the plant. /owers very small, of a pale blue or white, with dark blue streaks; sometimes flesh-coloured. Cupsu/e broad, and often rather deeply notched. 8. V. arvensis, (Linn.) corn-field or wall Speedwell. Engi. Bot. t. 734. St. 58. 11. Locality. Wall-tops, dry gravelly banks and fields. A. F7. April, July. Area 1. 2.3. 4, 5. Common in all the Districts. Stems upright, slender, rough, pale green, about 6 inches high; usually branched at the base. /owers small jiight blue; white in the centre. Capsu/e smooth, broad, much flattened, with rounded lobes, which are longer than the style. 9. V. agrestis, (Linn.) field, or green procumbent Speedwell. Engl. Bot. Suppl. t. 2603. St. 58.14. Reich. Icones. f. 440. Locality. In cultivated ground, hedge-banks, and waste places. A. El. April, September. Area 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In all the Districts common. Stems procumbent, from 3 to 8 or 10 inches long. Leaves shortly stalked, ovate and toothed. Sepals ovate or oblong, usually larger than the corolla. Capsu/e composed of 2 turgid keeled lobes, seeds about 6 in acell. Lower part of the corolla white. Closely allied to the next species V. polita, but is almost always a larger plant, and of a yellower green. 10. V. polita, (Fries.) polished or yrey procumbent Speedwell. Engl. Bot. t. 783. St. 58.16. Reich. Icones. f. 404. 405. Locality. In cultivated ground, hedge-banks and waste places, especially where the soil is somewhat sandy. 4. FV. April, Septem- ber. Area, 1. 2. 8. 4. 5. In all the Districts but not common. Very closely allied to the pre- ceding species, from which it is readily known at a distance by its © bright blue flowers and grayish herbage; and on a nearer exam- ination by the more deeply cut or serrated leaves; the broadly ovate and pointed sepals, and in the very turgid subglobose lobes of the capsule. 11. V. Buxbaumii, (Ten.) Buxbaum’s Speedwell; called after a botanist of that name. gl. Bot. Suppl. t. 2769. St. 56, 5. Reich. Icones, 430, 481. By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 89 Locality. In cultivated fields, gardens, and waste ground, cer- tainly introduced. A. Fl. April, September. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Distributed throughout ali the Districts, probably by the sowing of clover seeds, or by other means, but not frequent. This species, which is of Asiatic and South-eastern European origin, is easily recognized by its pale green leaves, by the long, slender, and nearly straight pedicles, the ovate-lanceolate sepals, the divaricate lobes of the capsule, which are compressed upwards, and sharply carinate, and the large blue corolla, rivalling in size and beauty that of V. chamedrys. 12. V. hederifolia, (Linn.) Ivy-leaved Speedwell. Hngl. Bot. t. 784. Locality. Waste and cultivated ground. 4. Fl. April, June. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Recorded im all the Districts, Stems much branched from the very base. eaves numerous, pale dull green; but the chief dis- tinction is in the calyx, the divisions of which are broadly heart- shaped, ot narrowed at the base. Corolla and capsule nearly those of the V. agrestis. This is quite a spring plant and seldom to be found after the month of June. Our tillage-lands are often covered with the Ivy-leayed Speedwell in the spring and earlier summer months. ORDER. LABIATA. (JUSS.) So named from Labiwm, (Lat.) a lip; in allusion to the two- lipped corolla. This is one of the most natural and distinctly marked of all the orders. It comprises the Didyna’mia Gymnospermia of Linneus, as the order Scrophulariacee does the Didynamia Angiospermia. The opposite leaves, monopetalous corolla, 2 or 4 stamens, and the free 4-lobed ovariwm, are characters so easily observed, and so constantly accompanying the general habit of the whole series, that from the time of Linneus to the present day, but two or three genera have been improperly associated with _ or separated from it. VOL. XIl.—NO. XXXIV. I 90 The Flora of Wiltshire. Mentua, (Linn) Mint.! Linn. Cl. xiv. Ord. i. Name. Mintha or Minthe, an ancient Greek term for these plants. 1. M. rotundifolia, (Linn.) round leaved mint. Sole Menth t. 3. Engl. Bot. t. 446. Locality. Moist places in waste ground. P. J. August, September. Area * * * 4, 5. North Division. 4, North-west District, “‘ Between Slaughterford and Biddestone,” Dr, Alexander Prior. Wats. Bot. Guide. 5. North-east District, Road by Brick-kilns near Pewsey Road,” Flor. Marth. - A local plant in Wilts, and occurring but sparingly in the above localities. Similar to the next species, (M. sy/vestris) but coarser, greener, and more hairy. Leaves broadly ovate or orbicular, much wrinkled, green above, and whitish underneath. Spikes of flowers terminal and slender, 1 to 2 inches in length. /owers small, pale pink, or sometimes white. Scent acrid. 2. M. sylvestris, (Linn.) wood or Horse-mint. Lgl. Bot. t. 686. Sole Menth. 1. & 2. Locality. In wet pastures, and waste places along ditches. P. Fl. August, September. Areal. * 3, ** South Division. 1. South-east District, ‘Moist places in the neighbourhood of Salisbury,” Major Smith. 3. South-west District, ‘‘ Moist hedge-rows in the parish of Wick, near Downton,” Dr. Maton. Nat. Hist. Wilts. _ These are the only stations recorded in the county at present, for this species. ‘Sfems 1 to 2 feet high, erect, slightly branched, and as well as the whole plant, more or less hoary with a short close down. Leaves closely sessile, broadly lanceolate, or oblong. 1To those who may feel desirous of studying this difficult genus, I would particularly refer them to Mr. Baker’s valuable paper on British Mints in Dr. Seeman’s Journal of Botany for 1865. Zhe Herbarium Mentharum of Dr. Wirtgen of Coblentz, and Sole’s Menthe Britannica. By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 91 Flowers small and numerous in dense cylindrical spikes, usually several together, forming an oblong terminal panicle. Scent sweet. 3. M. viridis, (Linn.) green or Spear Mint. Lngl. Bot. t. 2424. Sole Menth. 5. Locality. In marshy places. P. 7. August. Area, 1.2.* 4,.* South Division. 1. South-east District, “Stratford Marsh,’ Dr. Maton. Nat. Hist. Wilts. ‘ Ditch in a meadow at Stratford,” Major Smith. South Middle District, “In a pond by the roadside near Chittern turnpike-gate,” Mr. Sole, WS. North Division. 4. North-west District, By the side of the river Avon between Dundas-aqueduct and Stoke-bridge. Rare in the County and probably not truly wild. Stems 2 or 8 feet high, branched, smooth, often purplish. Leaves sessile, lanceolate, glandular beneath. Whorls of the spike rather distant. Corolla glabrous. The whole plant is gratefully aromatic. The perfectly smooth and naked flower-stalks are essentially characteristic of this species. 4. M. piperita, (Sm.) Pepper Mint. Zng/. Bot. t. 687. Sole 15, ¢. 7. Locality. In watery places. P. Fl. July, August. Area, #2 #*# South Division. 2. -South Middle District, ‘‘ Ditch-bank at Bemerton,” Major _ Smith. “In Chittern bottom,” Mr. Sole. Engl. Flor. . Rare in Wilts and perhaps not wild, often an escape from gardens. Stem 1 to 8 feet high, a little hairy, often purplish. Leaves all.on foot-stalks, dark green and smooth above, more or less hairy beneath. Spikes bluntish, interrupted below. Cu/yz slender, furrowed, covered with pelucid dots. Cvrolda purplish. This species is much cultivated for the sake of its essential oil which resides in minute glands conspicuous on the leaves, and especially on the calyx. . 5. M. aquatica, (Linn.) Water capitate Mint. M. Airsuta, Sm. _ Engl. Bot. t. 447. Sole Menth. t. 10, 11. : 1« At Mintie is an abundance of wild. mint, from whence the village is 12 92 The Flora of Wiltshire. Locality. Banks of the Avon, wet ditches, and on the edges of streams. P. Fl. July, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Distributed throughout all the Districts. Stems from 1 to 8 feet high, much branched, and almost always softly hairy, although some varieties become nearly glabrous. Leaves stalked, ovate or slightly heart-shaped. Flowers in dense, terminal, globular or oblong heads, of more than half an inch in diameter. Ca/y« tubular, furrowed, often purplish, with fine pointed teeth, and glandular. This is a very variable species, the flowers are sometimes capitate, sometimes whorled, and occasionally the whorls are placed so close on the extremity of the branches as to form a spike. 6. M. gracilis, (Sm.) slender or narrow-leaved Mint. Sole, Menth. 37, ¢. 13. Locality. Tn watery places, or moist meadows. P. Fl. August, September. Area, * * * 4, * } North Division. 4. North-west District, “By the side of a brook near Bradford,” Mr. Sole. This appears to have been found in the above locality only by Sole in 1772; and there is a specimen in the set of Sole’s mints in the possession of Mr. John Hardy of Hulme, Manchester. It is a slender plant with few and distant branches, growing to the height of 2 feetor more. Stems rather wiry and flexuous. This mint should be again carefully sought for in the neighbourhood of Bradford. 7. M. arvensis, (Linn.) Corn Mint. Hngl. Bot. t. 2119. Sole, Menth. t. 12. Locality. Cornfields, especially on a sandy or gravelly soil. P. Fl. July, September. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In all the Districts. The short, open, campanulate calyx, covered all over with horizontaliy spreading hairs, distinguishes this from all the other British Menthe. Flowers reddish purple. It varies much in stature, in hairiness, and in the size of the leaves. The whole plant has a strong disagreeable scent, compared to that of decayed cheese. denominated.”—Aubrey’s Nat. Hist. Wilts, p. 49, M. aquatica, (Linn.) is still plentiful at Minety.—T. B. F. By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 93 8. M. Pulegium, (Linn.) flea Mint, or Penny-royal. Pulegium, or pulecium is a word used by Pliny, derived from pu/ev-icis, a flea. Engl. Bot. t. 1026, Sole Menth. t. 23. Locality. On wet commons and marshy places. P. FU. July, August. Area, 1* * 4, * South Division. 1. South-east District, “ Landford Common,” Mr. James Hussey. North Division. 4. North-west District, ‘Broughton Common near Melksham,” Mr. Sole, MS. ‘By the brook at Ford,” Dr. Alexander Prior. A rare and local plant in Wilts. This species is the smallest we have of its genus, and is readily known by its prostrate stems, small, downy, recurved leaves, and numerous dense whorls of pur- ple flowers. The smell is peculiarly pungent and unlike that of any other native mint. Lycorus, (Linn.) Water HoreHounp. Linn. Cl. ii. Ord. i. Name. From (lukos) a wolf, and (pous) a foot; in allusion, probably, to the form of the leaves. 1. L. ewropeus, (Linn.) common Water Horehound, or Gipsy- wort. Hngl. Bot. t. 1105. Locality. Banks of the Avon, canal, streams lia ditches. P. Fl. July, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Recorded in all the Districts. Leaves opposite, nearly sessile, almost pinnatifid. lowers small, in dense whorls at the base of the superior leaves, whitish, with purple dots. The plant affords @ permanent black dye, and is said to be employed by gipsies to stain their skin. Satvia, (Linn.) Sage or Crary. Linn. Cl. ii. Ord. i. Named from salvo, to save or heal; in allusion to its balmy or healing qualities. 1. S. Verbenaca, (Linn.) Vervain-like Sage or wild English Clary. The English name of this plant Clary, originates in sc/area, a word formed from clarus, clear. Engl. Bot. t. 154. 94 The Flora of Wiltshire. Locality. Dry pastures and banks,.especially in a chalky or gravelly soil. P. Fl. May, June. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In all the Districts. Stems 1 to 2 feet high. Lower /eaves petio- late, ovate, upper ones sessile and acute, all wrinkled with veins. Corolla purple, small in proportion to the calyx ; upper lip concave, compressed. Tuymus, (Linn.) THyMe. Linn. Cl. xiv. Ord. i. Name. (Thymos) is a word used by old Greek authors, probably from (thyo) to perfume, because it was used for incense in temples. 1. T. Serpyl’lum, (Linn.) common or garden Thyme. Serpyllum is a word used by Virgil to signify a kind of wild Thyme; from serpo, to creep, in allusion to its habit. Lng/. Bot. t. 1514. Locality. On heathy and chalky banks and pastures. P. /7. June, August. Area, 1. 2.3.4. 5. Frequently distributed throughout the County. Stems filiform, decumbent and rooting. eaves elliptical-ovate, sprinkled with resinous dots. Heads of Flowers terminal. Seeds seldom perfected. Exceedingly variable in size, scent, and in the hairiness of the foliage in different soils and situations; but it is very doubtful whether any of the cultivated Thymes derive their origin from this as commonly supposed. The variety T. citrina occurs in some plenty on Monkton Far- leigh down. (North-west District.) Cottony galls are sometimes observable on the wild Thyme; these are supposed to be the nidus of a species Zephritis. T. Chamedrys, (Fries.) stated in the “ Flora of Marlborough” to have been found at Pewsey by Mr. C. Stedman, must be referred to T. serpyl’lum, (L.) as I am informed by the Rev. T. F. Ravenshaw. It is not unlikely this plant will ultimately be detected in Wilts. Oricanum, (Linn.) Margoram. Linn. Cl. xiv. Ord. i. Name. From (oros) a hill, and (ganos) joy; from the dry hilly places of which the species are the ornament. Marjoram is a translation of Marjorana. : By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 95 1. O. vulgare, (Linn.) common wild Marjoram. Engl. Bot. t. 1143. St. 13, 3. Locality. On banks by roadsides, also dry hilly and bushy places, especially where the substratum is chalk or limestone. JP. Fl. August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Recorded in all the Districts. Stems about 1 foot high, hairy, of a reddish or purple hue. Leaves often slightly toothed, very con- spicuously dotted with glands. F/owers rose-colour, rarely white. Whole plant powerfully fragrant and aromatic. ‘The Thyme strong-scented neath one’s feet, And Marjoram so doubly sweet.” CatamiInTHA, (MoENcH.) CALAMINT. Linn. Cl. xiv. Ord. i. Name. From (kalos) sweet, and (mentha) mint. 1. ©. officinalis, (Moench. ?) Common Calamint. Thymus Calas mintha, Sm. Engl. Bot. t. 1676. C. menthefolia Host. Locality. Tedge-banks and borders of fields, particularly in chalky and gravelly soils. P. 7. July, September. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In all the Districts but sparingly distributed. Leaves stalked, ovate and toothed. Flowers very variable in size, usually turned to one side in loose cymes. Calyx tubular, ribbed, the teeth finely pointed, those of the lower lip finer and longer than the upper ones. lowers purplish. Larger in all its parts than the next species.- 2. OC. Nepeta, (Clairv.) Lesser Calamint. Engl. Bot. t. 1414. St. 70,8. Thymus Sm. Locality. On dry banks and by waysides on a chalky soil. P. Fl. July, August. Area, * * * 4.* North Division. 4. North-west District, “By the roadside near Lacock Abbey,” Dr. Alexander Prior. This is the only locality recorded at present for C. Nepeta in Wilts. Other plants so named by several correspondents are merely small-leaved examples of C. officinalis, growing in dry and 96 The Flora of Wiltshire. sterile places. This species is smaller in all its parts than the last, especially the leaves which are strongly serrate. Odour strong, resembling Mentha Pulegium. 3. ©. Acinos, (Clairv.) common Basil Thyme. Acinos is the Greek name of a balsamic plant now unknown. yng/. Bot. t. 411. St. 70,5. Thymus Sm. Locality. Dry gravelly, or chalky fields. A. Ml. July, August. Ayea, 1, 2. 3. 4. 5. General in all the Districts. Flowers pale, purple, in axillary whorls, on short erect pedicels. Calyx strongly ribbed; the teeth short and fine, all converging in fruit. Coro//a little longer than the calyx although occasionally near twice as long. A white variety on the top of Oar Hill, between Pewsey and Marlborough, Dr. Alexander Prior. Wats. Bot. Guide. 4. C. Clinopodium, (Benth.) common Wild Basil. ng. Bot. Z.1401. Clinopodium vulgare, Linn. . Locality. Dry hilly and bushy places. P. FV. July, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Common in all the Districts. Flowers purple, in dense cymes, forming compact whorls or heads in the axils of the upper leaves, or at the ends of the branches. Tube of the corolla rather longer than the calyx-teeth. The smell of the plant is somewhat aromatic and not unpleasant. Scuretiaria, (Linn.) Sxurw-car. Linn. Cl. xiv. Ord. i. Name. From scutel/a, (Lat.) a small dish; in allusion to the form of the calyx. 1. S. galericulata, (Linn.) common Skull-cap. Ga/ericulum (Lat. dimin. of ga/ea) means a little cap or hat. The peculiarity of the calyx, so well expressed by the English name Skull-cap, is the distinguishing feature of the genus. Hng/. Bot. t. 523. Locality. Banks of the Avon, canal, brooks, and wet shady places. P. Fl. July, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In ali the Districts but not frequent. Leaves nearly sessile, ovate- lanceolate, slightly toothed. Flowers nearly sessile, opposite in By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 97 axillary pairs along the greater part of the stem, and all turned to one side. Corod/a large, blue, usually downy. 2. S. minor, (Linn.) lesser Skull-cap. Hngl. Bot. t. 524. Locality. Moist heaths and boggy places. P. I’. July, Sep- tember. Area, 1.* * 4 * South Division. 1. South-east District, “Moist ground on Alderbury Common,” Dr. Maton. Nat. Hist. Wilts “Near Salisbury,” Mr. James Hussey. North Division. 4. North-west District, “Swampy ground near the mill in Spye Park,” Dr. Alexander Prior. A rare plant in Wilts, and the above localities are the only ones at present recorded for it. More branched than the preceding and scarcely one third its size. Leaves of the same shape but nearly entire. Flowers not half so large as in 8. galericulata; of a delicate pink colour, rarely inclining to blue; the lower lip white, dotted with red. ; Prune, (Lrnn.) SELF-HEAL. . Linn. Cl. xiv. Ord. i. Name. Said to be derived from the German word Braune, the quinsy, which the plant is reputed to cure; whence Brunella of Ray altered into Prunella. The plant was formerly much used as a vulnerary; whence the English name Self-heal, which is a cor- ruption of Slough-heal its old appellation. 1. P. vulgaris, (Linn.) common Self-heal. Hng/. Bot. t. 961. Locality. Meadows and pastures, especially in rather damp situations. P. Fl. July, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Recorded in all the Districts. Leaves stalked, ovate, and nearly entire. Corolla usually of a violet purple, rarely white, but varying much in size and depth of colour. Flowers very densely whorled so as to form an imbricated oblong spike. Napeta, (Linn.) Cat-M1nt. Linn. Cl. xiv. Ord. i. Name. From xepa, a scorpion; it being reputed efficacious against the bite of that reptile. 98 The Flora of Wiltshire. 1. N. Cataria, (Linn.) Cat Mint. Zngl. Bot. t. 187. Locality. Dry banks by roadsides and waste places, especially in a chalky or gravelly soil. P. 2. July, August. Area, 1, SSE.6: South Division. 1. South-east District, “In a lane leading from St. Martin’s churchyard, Salisbury, into the turnpike-road,” Dr. Maton. Nat. Hist. Wilts. “ Amesbury,” Dr. Southby. 3. South-west District, “ Harnham,”’ Mr. James Hussey. ** Neighbourhood of Warminster,” Mr. Wheeler. North Division. 4. North-west District, About Rudlow Box, Slaughterford, and Gastard. ‘Chippenbam,” Dr. Alexander Prior. 5. North-east District, Purton. ‘Great Bedwyn,” Mr. William Bartlett. — Not a common plant in Wilts. Stems 2 or 3 feet high. Whole plant invested with a soft, short, velvet-like down. Corol/a whitish, tinged with rose-colour and sprinkled with deeper dots. Every part of the plant exhales, when bruised,a pungent aromatic odour, somewhat resembling that of Mentha Pulegium. Cats delight as much in this scent as in that of Valerian, hence the English name. 2. N. Glechoma, (Benth.) Ground Ivy. ngl. Bot. t¢, 853. Glechoma hederacea, Linn. ' Locality. Hedge-banks and waste places frequent. P. F/. April, June. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Recorded in all the Districts. Stems extensively creeping. Leaves stalked, downy; floral ones similar to the others. Flowers large, blue, very rarely pure white; the tube of the corolla at least twice as long as the calyx. [Melit’tis Melissophyllum, (Linn.) Bastard Balm, Hugi. Bot. t. 577 and 636, M. grandiflora, Sm. has been observed by the Rev. E. Simms at Batt’s Croft, Whiteparish (South-east District); not having visited the locality, am unable to state whether this most beautiful plant is truly wild in the above station. | By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 99 Lamium, (Linn.) Drap-Nerrre. Linn. Cl. xiv. Ord. i. Name. From (laimos), the throat; so called from the ringent flowers. The name Dead Nettle refers to the leaf, which resembles that of the nettle, but is without the sting. . 1. L. amplexicaule, (Linn.) stem-clasping, Hen-bit Dead Nettle. The leaves embrace the stem (Lat.) caus. Engl. Bot. t. 770. Reich. Icones, f. 378. Locality. In cultivated land and waste places, especially on chalk and gravel. A. FV. May, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In all the Districts. Lower leaves small, orbicular, on long stalks; the floral ones closely sessile, broadly orbicular, and deeply erenate or cut. Corol/a pale rose-colour; the lower lip spotted with crimson, the upper deep red and hairy on the outside; ‘ube very long and slender. 2. L. purpureum, (Linn.) red Dead Nettle. Zngl. Bot. 769. Locality. Wedge-banks, waste and cultivated ground. ae oh Aer aa 5 Loot sa lea . he > pho: lt i ied ; BSE ho shiv ip HevdincdtT Re a oleae Pe: & las > chelated Bitar? ita iy by mt Gash on ip mak we fo gut yt ot i Bvt we fit errs Wwe rien ne abot of nad ’ 2) 4% ir niese* Ph hoe mg Bp At Nae. she fr 7, ae ¥ jad.) See ’ ue s * é na f Bes 4b. ‘SLIIM ‘ASNOH NOLMNOOLS he Bad a - PN tothe THE WILTSHIRE Arcbeologial ant Hatural Wrstory MAGAZINE. ee No. XXXYV. MARCH, 1870. Vou. XII. Contents, PAGE Report or ANNUAL MEETING AT CHIPPENHAM..... iaetsdiel si a/aielsisiste 133 PRMSEDENT'S ADDRESS 0.6005. oct c eee ces ccu cece tescecseeecens 135 ORNITHOLOGY oF WILTSs, (No. XV.): By the Rey. A. C. Smith, M.A. 152 On Terraces on Lyncuets: By G. Poulett Scrope, Esq., F.R.S.. 185 History oF Parish or Srocxton: By Rev. T. Miles, (concluded).. 192 On an Aneto-Saxon Cuarrer oF Stockton: By Rey. W. H. Jones, OT og Sc So vain me ondinwd ows. asi¥ees we 216 On THE Existine Structure oF Lacock Asser: By C. H. Talbot, Esq. 221 On Monumentat Brasses NEAR CHIPPENHAM: By Rey, E. C, Awdry 233 ABURY AND STONEHENGE—A REVIEWER REVIEWED........+.+++ 24:2 Nore on AN ARTICLE IN THE ATHENEUM .......cceceeecectcees 248 On a Crapaupine Locket Founp at Devizes: By Mr. Cunnington 249 Instructions For Formine A WILTSHIRE HERBARIUM: By T. Bruges Flower, Esq., M.R.C.S., F.L.S., &e., Ee. 1. ceeees cece ee eee eee 252 Inquisition oN RutH PIERCE ....... ...... ‘ocemeneon onc veces 256 Donations To MusEuM AND LIBRARY ..... ...... whaiaciteyncienine ar 258 ILLUSTRATIONS. Photograph of Stockton House, (frontispiece ) Ancient Map of Stockton ..........222 ceeeeeeoes 220 Woodcuts of Terraces ........ccccceee cc ccccer veces 189-190 Woodeuts of Locket and of teeth of Spherodus ...... 250-251 Map of Botanical Districts of Wilts .......... *°°°" 255 DEVIZES: H. F. & E. Butt, 4, Sarnt Joun SrReEzEr. LONDON: Bett & Datpy, 186, Fuexr Street; J. R, Smiru, 36, Sono Squarz. a ’ a a bs ia nore alas! Hit . if, 2 Wi : ' = Rost - scieenihetiedibys Samba Th aortnade est - j «fens avert pabeer ahs rem ‘ee Fetser ieee ue’ at: Sab. AM arti OY. A ved rd bi VAR, beste oh, OL fyi ‘f :.pert eoror, telnet aw vit “‘tweaie raf tar eae eae. . (bo bulsqoo) poll ak at Svovarh vo wasn ' be eae ut ow valk ¥ j i WyF A My Pet | RAVAN ) noe aia > ate eG Seika ere a) avg Pet nee ere Five of t phys oT BED 32! A Teay/ r At ent cose IR oan pihwA.t Ok va fi HARK yet!) x Gale San a oR. Tee rere y Paty. ep paket Hi rere tar are «oc Ba albw ous kG ote pal are ane aT cot hi eRe itodgeitermently , sik oth 2 aarp ta ment qua Map ae mary) enum tT ait: aS be os iow 4 jones WS gps eee) Vaal a 8S toe Pe Fi atm tonal 3 ‘e ogpene * i eee Mio eae fe ote ie Y et ae . : aig ie a — Fi \ Garena vansrvad a 1a rn enol rave (b 2008 A x . > % SMOKES ee aa once és Ut pont ae jkaaas: sarc “ ~~ < > y ae : : . ese or ars a ee ¥ : . a” eo ‘ Pe) §e — ) oe A Be iy fiche = i Py % cn WILTSHIRE MAGAZINE, ‘¢ MULTORUM MANIBUS GRANDE LEVATUR oNUS,”—Ovid. THE SIXTEENTH GENERAL MEETING OF THE Wiltshire Archeological and Natural Wistory Society, HELD AT CHIPPENHAM, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 1th, 8th, and 9th September, 1869. PRESIDENT OF THE MEETING, Sir Joun Wiruer Awnpry. @ HE proceedings of the Sixteenth Anniversary Meeting of the cry Society, opened at the New Hall, Chippenham, on Tuesday, Pe ptember 7th, at 1.380 p.m., by the President of the Society, Sir John Awdry, taking the chair, and calling upon the Rev. A. C. Smith (one of the General Secretaries,) to read THE REPORT. “The Committee of the Wiltshire Archeological and Natural History Society has once more the satisfaction of reporting on this the seventeenth anniversary of its formation, the continued pros- perity of the Society. The number of names on the books now amounts to 317, being slightly above the average at which we usually stand, and almost exactly the same as last year, when the number was recorded as 3813. “Your Committee has at the same time to lament the loss of several influential members, who by the interest they evinced at our annual meetings, or by their contributions to the pages of our Magazine, deserve special mention in this report. Amongst these we beg to specify the Rev. Canon Prower, of Purton; Mr. Bendry Brooke, of Malmesbury; and, above all, the late Bishop of Salisbury, VOL XII.—NO,. XXXV. M 134 The Sixteenth General Meeting. whose warm sympathy and cordial co-operation with the work of the Society, and whose generous hospitality on the occasion of the annual gathering at Salisbury in 1865, will be fresh in the recollection of all the members of the Society. “With regard to finance, it will be enough to say that our funds have increased to £270 from about £250, which was the sum announced in last year’s report as then in hand; and this, not- withstanding that the Society has engaged in an extra work of publication beyond the ordinary Magazine. For in addition to two numbers of the Magazine which have been issued this year (reaching to the thirty-fourth number, and beginning the twelfth volume of that publication), your Committee desires to call your particular attention to the first part of the volume on the Black- more Museum, which we have printed during this year, and which has been gratuitously circulated amongst the members of the Society, a publication containing papers of extraordinary archzxo- logical interest, as well as recording a brief history of the Museum and its inauguration in the autumn of 1867, when its munificent founder, Mr. William Blackmore, entrusted its care to his native city of Salisbury. “The Museum and Library of our Society at Devizes have been enriched by sundry benefactions, which have been acknowledged in the Magazine; one of the last and not the least interesting of which is the gift, by Major Perry Keene, of the original inquisition on the body of Ruth Pierce of Devizes Market-cross celebrity. “Your Committee at the same time desires again to remind you that the want of a suitable building as a Museum has again necessitated the rejection of many offered gifts; and we have within the last few days been compelled, for lack of available space, to decline the generous proposal of contributing to our archzeo- logical and natural history collections objects which were too bulky for us in our present straightened space to stow away. “Your Committee, in concluding this report, desires again to commend to your active and continued co-operation the work of the Society; assuring you that neither the natural history nor the archeology of the county is by any means exhausted, and remind- The President’s Address. 135 ing you of the very appropriate motto adopted from the first by our Society, ‘Multorum manibus grande levatur onus.’ ” The Report having been adopted and ordered to be printed, the officers of the Society were re-elected, with the following additions. Mr. E. C. Lowndes of Castle Combe, to be added to the Vice- Presidents; the Rev. E. Barnwell, as a member of the Council; and as additional Local Secretaries, the Rev. T. A. Preston, for Marl- borough; Mr. Brine, for Shaftesbury, or rather the portion of Wilts bordering on that town; Mr. Kinneir, for Swindon; Mr. George Noyes, for Chippenham, and Mr. Forrester, for Malmesbury. These appointments having been confirmed by the meeting, and the formal business of the Society disposed of, the President’s address followed :— Sir Joun Awpry said a request had been put in print that he would deliver an address upon this occasion. He had however addressed the Society at considerable length at a former meeting ; and as to their general objects, and the local matters of general interest within the county, he had said then more fully than he was disposed to repeat what were his views upon the subject. The general idea of the Society was this—to follow up the history, natural and human, of the county, and of the subjects connected with it. He used the words natural and human advisedly, because they were an Archeological and Natural History Society, and secondly, because the two branches of the Society connected them- selves in this way :—Inorganic nature was first created, afterwards organic, and every intelligent reader of the first chapter of Genesis, be he a Darwinian or not, must see, that the creation as there des- cribed, was a progressive one, of which Scripture and geology both tell us that man was its final work, Therefore from the history of material creation we come down to that of the existence and condition of man upon this earth. We heard a great deal about pre-historic monuments and records; the word pre-historic is inaccurate, for as far as they lead to any sound inference as to the former condition and progress of man they are strictly historical. They are not indeed anaals or chronicles, that is narratives of past events. These M 2 136 The Sixteenth General Meeting. (we agree with Sir G. C. Lewis) are nothing unless they can be traced to contemporary authority. For instance, the pyramids of Egypt—whatever was found in the rubbish heaps upon the Danish coasts—whatever implements were found in the gravel-pits, or the barrows of this country or of France and which are attracting daily increasing attention as records of the early condition of mankind —these were historic monuments if they were anything; or to take a more popular instance, if we regard as fabulous the story of Romulus and Remus, of the wolf and the vultures, of Numa and Egeria, of Servius Tullius and the Tarquins; yet there is material evidence of insular eminences rising out of the swamps on thesouth side of the Tiber, fit to be the fastnesses of outlaws. Then in the dyke defending the promontories cut off from the nearest table-land, we have evidence of a larger and more settled population, probably of Latin and Sabine origin. In the Cloaca Maxima, the great drain, and in the religious system, prevailing through the period of the subsequent republic, we have proof of an interval of Etruscan dynasty, and Etruscan civilization. All these things are as truly historical, though not annalistic, as the Annual Register or the Times. Coming to our own county, Sir John reminded the meeting that they were about to have a paper read upon the pit dwellings near Salisbury, and that there were in the Blackmore Museum many interesting monuments of ancient times, some of which had lately been found in the gravel or clay existing near Salisbury. Then they had Avebury—a vast but rude work; Stonehenge, a large, and more accurately executed work, but entirely without mouldings —all of which things were material with regard to the works of man in bygone ages. There seem to be four grades of historical criticism, or want of criticism. Ist. Blind and indiscriminating acceptance. 2ndly. Equally crude and unenquiring incredulity. 8rdly. The simple omission of what is thought incredible, and retension of the rest, with a colouring of 18th century ideas, without enquiring how far the incredible facts were essential to the story or to the credit of the narrator as to the rest. Of the last grade, that of really critical en- ‘> i The President’s Address. 137 quiry I may give an instance (without having myself verified it), in Mr. Jackson’s curious paper, in which he connects the stones of Carnack with the legend of St. Ursula and the 11,000 British virgins. The story of their being shipwrecked at Cologne is of course ridiculously false. But he says that a competitor for power during the Roman empire (many centuries before the date of the fable), actually raised an army in Britain and conveyed it to Gaul. That the men settled in Armorica, now Brittany, and sent for some of their countrywomen as wives. That they embarked but met with calamity on the Coast of Armorica. And that the rows of stones there set are about eleven, and were set up as monuments to them. After dwelling upon this part of the subject at some length, in the course of which Sir John observed that every man in his own particular neighbourhood might contribute a considerable amount of information by the careful observation of details—trivial perhaps in many cases, but in some most valuable,—he alluded to the theory laid down by Mr. Fergusson that all British monuments were subsequent to the Romans, and which, however unsound, derived some countenance from the above story of St. Ursula. Sir John said that since their last meeting at Hungerford investigations had taken place at Silbury Hill, at which Mr. Fergusson was present, when the idea that the hill was built upon the Roman road was entirely disproved, the true line of road having been thoroughly ascertained to the south of it. _ With regard to the particular locality of Chippenham Sir John said it was situated between the slope of the oolite, the Cotswold district, on the one side, and of the escarpments of the chalk and green sand beds on the other. All this part of the country appeared in ages gone by, to have been one great lake from Cricklade on the one side, to the neighbourhood of Trowbridge on the other, and in later times when the water had partly escaped through the Bradford chasm, there had been several lakes in the neighbourhood; the whole country from Tytherton to Dauntsey is an evident lake bot- tom of loam with gravel under. This must have at one time been dammed by the ridge of Oxford clay running along the London 138 The Sixteenth General Meeting. road from Chippenham. Again, in Lackham woods he had himself met with the remains of a pebble beach, Standing, as Chippenham did, on a ridge, in the middle of the district, with a comparatively steep back to the river which ran on three sides of it, it must in Saxon times have been a very defensible place. He was not going to open Mr. Poulett Scrope’s controversy ; but if any of them in going from Corsham to Castle Combe to- morrow, were sufficiently well mounted to gc round by Slaughterford, they would see one of the most beautiful bits of country in the neighbourhood, and in the village of Slaughterford they would find the dwarf-elder which was said to have sprung from the blood of the Danes. Alluding to the architecture of the country, Sir John said that although there were parts of England where real Roman buildings existed, he did not know of any such in this county. But there was one remarkable building at Bradford-on-Avon—small and not very striking, to which no date could be assigned later than the Saxon period. Of this building which was situated close to the parish church, and was now used for the purposes of a free school, Mr. Jones had given an admirable description in a paper published in a former number of the Wiltshire Archeological Magazine; ?! and if anything practical could be done to secure so perfectly unique a monument from destruction, it would be a great point not only in our local history, but in the history of the building art in England through the middle ages. In regard to the architecture of their own immediate neighbourhood, he need not say much. The parish church of Chippenham had some Norman points in it, but not to a great extent: it had an Early English spire, which was stated to have been once considerably higher than it now was. This was obviously impossible unless the whole was taken down and replaced. But the tower had certainly been altered at a very late period of Gothic art. The mouldings of the Spire were certainly original except where recently restored, and it would be a curious fact if it were proved that those who could not imitate them had yet taken them down and faithfully replaced them. As to the rest of 1Vol. y., p. 247. The President’s Address. 139 the church, it presented no feature of interest, unless as proving the increase of population, as exhibited in the reconstruction of the nave, which did not belong to the ancient period when the church was originally built. There were however two most interesting remains of antiquity in that neighbourhood—viz., the Priory of Bradenstoke and the Abbey of Lacock, the latter built in the 18th, the former early in the 14th century, and both of which they would have an opportunity of visiting. Then again there were several smaller Churches which would well repay inspection; Langley Burrell, for instance, which they would pass in the course of their excursion, with very good early English and Decorated features, and Draycot Cerne, which is curious as having the chancel on a lower level than the nave, and contains in its chancel a fine brass of a knight of the Cerne family. Sutton Benger, where there was a good Decor- ated south aisle; and Christian Malford, in which, if they were able to reach it, some points of interesting construction would be found. From thence they would go up to Clack, where a new Church had been built by Mr. Goldney, close to which lay the interesting remains of Bradenstoke Priory, which Mr. Goldney proposed to shew them. The next day they proposed to go to Lacock Abbey, and at the same time visit Lacock Church—originally a Decorated church of the time of Edward III., as proved by its north transept and tower, but to which had since been added (in the 15th century) in consequence of the increase of population, a clerestory and two aisles. The chancel and south transept had been rebuilt in the course of the last century, the former a very good piece of masonry, but constructed in entire ignorance of Gothic execution. From thence they would go to Corsham, where they would see a church which when he wasa boy had a high spire ; and then on by the Biddestones, where there were formerly two churches, one of which remained, and which by an addition to the end of its chancel, was now made to accommodate the population of both parishes. Attached to this church was a somewhat curious bell tower, standing upon its gable, much ruder than that at Leigh-de-la-mere, which had been repaired with considerable splendour, but with little regard to its original. At Castle Combe Church, which they also proposed to visit, there 140 The Sixteenth General Meeting. were some curious appendages at the east end, and on an eminence they would be shewn the site of the Castle from that which Combe took its name, and which, as they were aware,belonged for many cen- turies to the Scrope family, whose recent loss from that neighbour- hood they had much cause to deplore. Passing from thence they would reach Grittleton, and in the halls of this splendid mansion, Sir John left them, having he feared already tried their patience to a considerable extent. At the conclusion of the President’s address, the Mayor rose, and on behalf of the corporation expressed the pleasure which it gave them to welcome the Society to Chippenham, and cordially tendered every assistance in their power to further the objects, and promote the comfort of their visitors. Srr Joun Awnry heartily thanked the Mayor, the Corporation, and the inhabitants generally for the courteous welcome which the Society had received on all hands: and then called upon Canon Jackson for a paper on “A few odds and ends about the Town and neighbourhood of Chippenham ;” read, to the great satisfaction of the meeting, and which will be found in the Society’s Magazine. The Rey. J.J. DanrELL next read a paper on “ Chippenham and its neighbourhood in the Great Rebellion;” which, from its local associations, commanded the lively interest of the Society, but which need not be further alluded to here, as it will appear in the Magazine. The members then proceeded to inspect the museum, and to visit the Church, and other objects of interest in the town. which that gentleman THE DINNER took place in the large room at the Angel Hotel, at five o’clock, the President of the Society in the chair. After the loyal toasts had been disposed of, the Venerable Archdeacon Stanton, when returning thanks for the Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese of Salisbury, went on to say that although he did not wish to take up their time by further remarks, there was one word he desired to add with regard to the object the The Dinner. 141 Society had in view. He had been a member of the Society ever since its formation, and he was also a member of the Archeological Institute of Great Britain, and in the presence of his juniors, he would say, that he knew of nothing which gave greater satisfaction or from which greater benefit was derived than these annual gatherings. He strongly urged them to take up tke work which he and others must soon put down, and carry it on to greater confirmation. They would find in it sources of the greatest pleasure and profit—of pleasure, in the opportunity which it afforded of meeting many old friends, and of profit, in the instruc- tion which they would derive from it, as the key-note to much research; because although the papers which were read on these occasions were very valuable, they desired them to be considered as inducements to further investigation. He thought if the juniors present would take this kind word of advice from him, they would hereafter say it had been well given, and he was sure they would be wise in following it. If these institutions had only been in existence in bygone ages, how much that was now lost in obscurity might have been preserved.—How much about Stonehenge and Avebury, which were now only monuments of mystery, might have been read and known of all men. Canon Jackson in replying for the Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese of Gloucester and Bristol observed that Archdeacon Stanton had given some good advice to those who were to succeed them —hbecause it was clear that they could not go on archexologizing for ever: they had also been recommended, as far as they had opportunities of doing so, to make memoranda in their several parishes of things as they occurred; and he hoped they would follow the Archdeacon’s advice. Years ago he had given the same advice himself, but it had not been taken; although much had been done in the way of obtaining a parochial history of our county. Many years ago the late Bishop Hamilton, of whom he must always speak with the utmost veneration, summoned his brethren of this part of the county to his Palace at Salisbury with the view of stirring up the clergy of the diocese to write a parochial history; and this gentleman (pointing to the Rev. Prebendary 142 The Sixteenth General Meeting. Wilkinson, of Broughton Gifford, who sat next to him) wasa great advocate for the carrying out of the Bishop’s scheme. He (Canon Jackson) remembered saying that he hoped Mr. Wilkinson would be the first to do what had been proposed. Mr. Wilkinson took the hint, and in a short time produced one of the best parochial histories he had ever read. The result of the Bishop’s recommendation was the production of several papers, among which was one by Mr. Francis Goddard, whom he had now in his eye, and who had managed to collect a very good history of the village of Alderton. If all that had occurred during the last hundred years had been jotted down as the events happened, what a precious document they would form; and if we now would take the trouble to put down incidents in our parochial histories, they would be invaluable in after time. The next toast was the Lord Lieutenant and the Magistrates of the County, which was acknowledged by Mr. Merewether in his happiest style. To the toast of the Mayor and Corporation of the Borough of Chippenham, his Worship (Mr. C. J. Dowding) repeated the cordial welcome he had given in the morning to the Society, and eulogized the objects of the Society. In reply to the toast of the Representative of the Borough of Chippenham in Parliament, Mr. Gotpney, M.P., said he was very glad to be able to join them as a member of the Society. > 166 On the Ornithology of Wilts [Colymbide]. considerable portion of their lives, not only on the surface of the water, but beneath it. The form of body is remarkably long and oval, the neck long and tapering, the head small and thebeakstraight, hard, and sharp-pointed: the legs are placed at the extreme end of the body, and the feet are large, thus acting as paddles propelling from the stern. By this arrangement they are enabled to pass rapidly through the water beneath the surface, and can remain a long time submerged: but on land they are awkward and ungainly enough, standing quite upright, and resting upon the whole length of the leg from the foot to the first joint, reminding one of the kangaroo: and when surprised or alarmed they shuffle into the water on their breasts, somewhat after the manner of the seals. But they rarely come on shore, except at the breeding season, and then they place their nests at the water’s edge. Though their wings are short, and their bodies heavy, they can fly with astonishing strength and swiftness, yet the flight is necessarily laboured: but, once in the water, none are more active and rapid, and even graceful in their movements than the Divers. Many of them are quite tail-less, and others have but rudimentary apologies for tails: but perhaps the most admirable provision for their subaqueous habits centres in their plumage, which is not only thick downy and soft, but has a glossy silky lustre, which renders it so completely water- proof that prolonged immersion has no effect in penetrating beneath it. There are but two genera, belonging to this family, the Grebes and the Divers, and we have instances of both as having occurred in this county. “Great Crested Grebe.” (Podiceps cristatus.) This fine species well deserves to take rank at the head of the family, and an adult bird furnished with its ruff or fringe round the neck, and long occipital tufts or horns, presents a dignified appearance. It spends a part of its life amidst inland lakes, and part in the shallow waters of the coast, whence it procures its food. So rapidly does it dive, and such progress can it make by exerting wings and feet beneath the surface, that it requires a well-manned boat and sturdy rowers to keep pace with it. Though necessarily only an occasional strag- gler in Wiltshire, where we have no large lakes suited to its habits, I have several instances of its occurrence. Mr. Elgar Sloper =: By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 167 informs me that a young male in his collection was shot on the Kennet and Avon Canal near Devizes in February, 18389. Mr. Withers had an immature specimen sent to him for preservation which was killed at Enford ; and Mr. Marsh possessed a female shot on the Avon in February, 1838. “Red-necked Grebe.” (Podiceps rubricollis.) This is a smal- ler species than the last, and if not a more rare visitor to our coasts, is more rarely noticed, as it prefers salt water to fresh, and being an inhabitant of more northern latitudes, only comes to us in winter. It is said when diving, “to dart through thick entangled masses of weeds and grass with the easo and rapidity of the fish.” Iam fortunate in having one instance of the occurrence in our county of so rare an inland straggler: and I am again indebted to Mr. Elgar Sloper for the information that one was killed near Devizes in 1840. “‘Hared Grebe.” (Podiceps auritus.) This is the rarest British Grebe, and it is strange that I am able to include it in our Wiltshire list, more especially as I am obliged to omit its far commoner con- gener, the Sclavonian or Horned Grebe (P. cornutus), as though in all probability it does occasionally occur in our county, I have no evidence of its occurrence. The Eared Grebe I unhesitatingly admit on the authority of the late Mr. Marsh, who informed me that a specimen was killed at Christian Malford. “Little Grebe.” (Podiceps minor.) We come now to the com- monest and best known of all the genus, the familiar ‘ Dabchick,”’ which may be generally seen on every retired river or large pond ; a shy retiring species, disappearing beneath the surface at the first alarm, and only re-appearing at a considerable distance ; and then perhaps, after the manner of its congeners, only thrusting its head above water, while the body is still submerged. I would here call attention to the feet of the Grebes, which are very peculiar, and are furnished with a broad membrane down the sides of the toes, not unlike those of the Lobipedide. “Great Northern Diver.” (Colymbus giacialis.) This mag- nificent species is an inhabitant of northern seas, as its name implies, and one of the most glorious sights to me as an Ornithologist when 02 168 On the Ornithology of Wilts [Alcade]. in Norway was the almost daily view of a pair of these fine Divers, or its congeners, the “ Black-throated ” (C. arcticus), or the “ Red- throated” (C. septentrionalis), swimming in the midst of some salt- water fjord or fresh-water inland lake, monarchs ofall they surveyed, for I never recollect meeting with two pairs on the same water. They are all wild shy birds, and extremely difficult to shoot from the facility with which they would dive, the distance they would traverse before they rose again to the surface, and their instantaneous disappearance again beneath the water when alarmed; and I have spent hours in chasing them in a boat before I could secure the specimens I wanted. The Great Northern Diver is the species which most commonly visits our shores, though all three occur sparingly on our coasts: but they are not often found in the in- terior of the country. In Wiltshire however I have no less than five instances of this bird’s occurrence. The late Mr. Marsh had an immature specimen in his collection shot by his brother in the river at Salisbury in 1831; and an adult specimen killed on the borders of the county near Bath in February, 1838. Holliday,.a birdstuffer at Calne informed me that he had preserved one which was shot at Bowood in 1855. A very fine specimen was taken in a brook leading from Spye Park to Chittoe, in November 1853, and is still in the possession of Captain Meredith; the particulars of whose capture I recorded in the Zoologist at that time’; and a fifth was killed on Mr. Heneage’s water at Lyneham, and is now pre- served in the hall at Compton Basset House. ALCADA (The Auks). This family comprizes the Guillemots, the true Auks and the Puffins, and I had very nearly omitted the whole family altogether from my Wiltshire list, as until these pages were in the press I had no instance of the occurrence of any of them, and had no expectation of hearing of any straggler so far from the coast and from so thoroughly maritime a race as all the Aleadw are. Indeed so entirely marine are their habits, that they pass almost all their lives in and on the sea, and accordingly their legs are placed so far 1 Zoologist for 1854, p. 4166, By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 169 behind, that they are wholly incapable of walking on land; while their wings are little more than rudimentary, and are advanced so far forwards that though admirable as oars or fins in propelling them through the water, they are of little service in enabling them to fly through the air. On this account the presence of any member of this family in our inland county is indeed marvellous. “ Razor-bill.” (Alea torda). It is indeed most surprizing how this bird can have penetrated so far inland: and I confess that its reported occurrence near Marlborough so astonished me, that I felt extremely sceptical as to its identity, until the enquiries instituted by my friend the Rev. T. A. Preston, of Marlborough College, and the arrival of the stranger sent me for identification compelled belief. The specimen sent is in immature plumage, and is in fact a bird of the year, having neither arrived at the size nor the distinctive characteristics of the parents: indeed, except for a faint indication of transverse grooves along both mandibles, neither the shape, colour, nor markings of the beak betoken the remarkable formation peculiar to this bird when in adult dress. There were two individuals which made their appearance near Marlborough, “and both of which were seen by Mr. Preston in the flesh. They were not, found together, but one was caught on the banks of the Kennet, on the 25th of October, the other was subsequently picked up dead, and was in so emaciated a condition, as to imply that it had died of starvation. The young bird of the year of A. torda was for a long time considered a distinct species, and honest old Bewick describes it, (though evidently with some hesitation) under the title of the “ Black-billed Auk,” Alca pica; but Colonel Montagu has no such scruples, and boldly contends that Dr. Latham in his ‘Synopsis is mistaken in supposing it to be no other than the _ Razor-bill immatured. More careful observation however has proved that the Doctor was in the right. ' PELICANIDA (The Pelicans). _ We pass on to the Pelicans, which is a high sounding title, but the British members of that aristocratic race are but humble and degenerate offshoots of a noble family, and can only claim to 170 On the Ornithology of Wilts | Pelicanide}). rank as remote relations of a lordly house. For the true Pelicans are magnificent birds: and seen, (as I have many a time watched them within the tropics of Upper Egypt and Nubia,) proudly sailing on the broad Nile; or swimming at their best pace down the stream, while my Arab boatmen gave chace in our small boat ; or rising in the air, and flapping with enormous wing overhead, with the sun shining on their cream coloured plumage tinged with pink, is a sight not readily forgotten. The principal characteristics of this family are to be observed in the feet, which consist of four toes, all directed forwards and all connected with a membrane; in the beak, which is strong large and terminating with a powerful hook ; in the legs, which are re- markably short sturdy and strong; and in the wings which are moderately long and equal to very vigorous flight. There are two genera belonging to this family in the British list, the Cormorants and the Gannets, and I have instances of the appearance of both of them in Wiltshire. “Common Cormorant.” (Phalacrocorax carbo.) In many respects this bird partakes of the general habits of the Divers and Auks: thus on land it sits erect, and is awkward enough, although it can walk with somewhat more ease than the Colymbide or Alcade: it swims with the body deeply immersed ; and it dives with great readiness and celerity : but unlike that family it can perch on trees, and grasp the branches with its toes; while its flight is strong and rapid. It lives on fish, and to enable it to retain the slippery body of its victim, the claw of the middle toe is serrated or indented with comb-like teeth: the quantities of fish it consumes is enormous, and it is not without reason that it has become the type of gluttony. Moreover it is an ill-favoured slouching unclean bird, and seen sitting on the rocks gorged with food, and staring with haggard scowling eyes, and spreading out its wings to dry, coupled with its foul odour, it always reminds me of that most unsavoury bird in my eyes, the Egyptian Neophron, and accordingly is no favourite with me. It kills its prey previous to swallowing it, by squeezing it in its powerful and hooked beak. The colour of its plumage is bluish-black, with metallic green reflections; and it has patches of By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 171 pure white on its thighs, and a white throat The tail is composed of stiff hard feathers, and is frequently used on land as a prop to support the body. It is tamed by the Chinese, and trained to take fish, being cast into the water after its finny quarry, much as a falconer will, in hawking, cast off his bird at a heron, or the courser slip his greyhound after a hare: only in the case of the voracious Cormorant it is found necessary to fasten an iron ring round the bird’s neck, or the prey would be instantly swallowed. This sport, which is still practised in China, was at one time an English practice, and was in great repute in the sixteenth century; and as there are still the high offices attached to the court of ‘“ Master of the Buckhounds,” and “ Hereditary grand Falconer,” so in former days it was no slight honour to be “ Master of the Cormorants” to our Sovereign lord king Charles the First. It isa very common bird on all our rocky coasts; and I have met with colonies of it far up the Nile, at least 450 miles from the sea; so that fresh water must be as palatable to it as salt, provided only the supply of fish is sufficient. In this county I have an instance of one killed on Mr. Heneage’s water at Lyneham, whence the Great Northern Diver was obtained ; and another (as I learned from a paragraph in the newspaper) was killed at Bradford on Avon, in September, 1859. “Gannet.” (Sula alba.) Known also as the Solan, Soland, Solent, or Channel Goose, is common enough on our coasts. In general form and in regard to the peculiar structure of foot, it closely resembles the Cormorant, but in habits it widely differs from that bird: for it never dives, is seldom seen on the water, but is almost continually on the wing; indeed its power of flight seems inexhaustible, and being of a light and buoyant nature, and pro- vided with an internal supply of air cells, it can float on unwearied wing without exertion. It isa large bird with an immense expanse of wing, and the adult is of a yellowish white colour with black tips to the wings; but the immature, known also as the “‘ Spotted Booby,” in France as “ le Fou tacheté,” is of a clove brown, spotted ‘with pure white, as if a snow shower had fallen upon it; and as it takes several years in arriving at maturity, it was for a long time considered a distinct species. In seeking its prey it soars to a great height, and then suddenly darts down upon it with amazing impetus. 172 On the Ornithology of Wilts [Laride]. It has a strong sharp-pointed beak, not hooked as in the Cormorant. Twice within my knowledge has this species occurred in Wiltshire of late years; once (as I learned from Mr. Marsh), on the borders of the county towards Bath, which came into his collection: and for the second instance I ‘am indebted to the daughter of Captain Meredith, who informed me of one killed at Heddington some twelve or fourteen years since. LARIDZ (The Gulls). We have now reached the last Family of birds, and it is a very large one, comprising the great tribe of Terns, the still larger list of Gulls, and the Petrels. They are all long-winged, and enjoy a prodigious power of flight, which is not only extremely rapid, but can be indefinitely prolonged, and apparently without exertion, at all events without causing fatigue. They are all web-footed and seek their food on the surface of the sea or on the shore where it has been washed up by the waves: but though they float with buoyancy on the ocean, they are unable to dive. They are conse- quently rather birds of the air than of the water, and their evolu- tions on the wing are extremely graceful and pleasing; and as the distances they traverse are very great, they are frequently seen far inland, so that we are well acquainted with many of them in this county, to which an excursion from the southern coast is a mere morning’s amusement. “Common Tern.” (Sterna hirundo.) The “Sea-Swallows, as all the species which compose this genus are commonly called, are of light and elegant shape, with small slim bodies, but with wings of — prodigious length and deeply forked tails; and as they shoot over the waves, or skim through the air, and occasionally dip into the water, they bear a close resemblance in general appearance to the real Swallows, whose arrival we hail with such joy every spring. But in reality they have no connection whatever with the Hirun- dinide, for in anatomical structure and habits they are true water birds, and all their food is derived from the sea, or from fresh-water rivers and lakes, from which they are never long absent, and on whose shores they make their nests. Their beaks are long and straight, and sharp-pointed ; and their legs are short and their feet he i By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 173 small. The Common Tern is not so generally distributed on our shores, as its name would seem to imply: it is however abundant in some favoured localities, and I have many notices of its occurrence from time to time both in North and South Wilts. Its general plumage is pearl-grey above and white below, but the velvet-black crown of the head, and the bright-red beak, legs and feet, conduce much to the really handsome appearance of this slender graceful bird. “Arctic Tern.” (Sterna Arctica.) This species is perhaps numerically more abundant than the preceding, to which indeed it bears a very close resemblance, and with which it is doubtless often confounded. It is only to be distinguished from S. hirundo by its shorter and deeper-coloured beak, and by the darker under plum- age which is of a light grey colour. It is doubtless a frequent visitor in Wiltshire, and Yarrell mentions Devizes as one of the places visited by considerable numbers in the strange irruption of these birds in 1842, as recorded by Mr. Strickland in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History for that year: but beyond this notice the only positive evidence I have of its occurrence in our county, is in a note from Mr. Elgar Sloper, who informs me that three were brought to him which had been killed on the Kennet and Avon Canal, near Devizes, after a gale from the west in October, 1844. “Black Tern.” (Séerna fissipes.) The dark sooty colour of its plumage at once distinguishes this species from its congeners. Although in every respect a true Tern, it differs in habits from those previously described, inasmuch as it seeks fresh-water lakes and rivers in the interior, where it lives upon such flies and other insects as suit its palate. Hence it has more frequently been met with in Wiltshire than any other species. Thus I was informed by Mr. Withers that three specimens had been brought to him for preservation in the spring of 1853, one of which was killed at Compton Basset by Mr. Heneage’s keeper: and two at Berwick Basset. Mr. Marsh showed me two in his collection which were killed near Bath in 1845. The Rev. Henry Methuen not only recorded the capture of one at All Cannings on May 2nd, 1849, but generously presented it to our Museum at Devizes (a very 174 On the Ornithology of Wilts [ Laride). considerate and liberal act which I cannot too highly commend to thé imitation of any who may obtain specimens of our rarer birds killed in Wiltshire), and Mr. Elgar Sloper informed me that one was killed near Salisbury in 1840, and added to his note in refer- ence to this species, ‘‘I may here remark that I have scarcely known an April or October without hearing of the occurrence of some of the Sternide.” “Tittle Gall.” (Larus minutus.) The Gulls differ from the Terns in their more sturdy and less elegant shape, in their stronger shorter beak with curved tip, in their longer and stouter legs, and in the partial or total absence of fork in the tail. They seem equally at rest, whether floating buoyantly on the surface of the sea, gently flapping on powerful wing through the air, or standing quietly, often on one leg, on the beach. They may be almost called omnivorous, so welcome to their insatiable appetite is every kind of animal food they can seture. The Little Gull, the smallest of its genus which figures in the British list, is by no means a common bird even on our coasts, but I have two undoubted instances of its appearance in Wiltshire, as Mr. Marsh had a specimen in his collection which was killed on a pond at Rodbourne in 1848, and sent to him by Mrs. Pollen: and my kind friend, the Rev. George Powell, (to whom I have been indebted for so many interesting notices in this and previous papers) informed me that a very good specimen, in winter plumage, was killed in January of the present year at Upton Scudamore, near Warminster. “‘ Black-headed Gull. (Larus ridibundus.) I consider this to be the most common species of Gull on our British Coasts, and the immense numbers which congregate together for breeding purposes at their well-known haunt, Scoulton Mere in Norfolk, must be seen to be understood. This is a true Cosmopolite, and I have met with it both within the Arctic regions and within the tropics. It is often seen on Salisbury Plain, and on the Downs of South Wiltshire, following the ploughman after the manner of Rooks, and greedily devouring the grubs which are thus exposed. “ Kittiwake.” (Larus tridactylus.) This too is a common species on our coasts, though seldom seen in winter : but considering By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 175 its abundance, it is, though occasionally met with on our Downs in summer, by no means a frequent inland visitor: I have, however, one instance recorded by Mr. Elgar Sloper of a Kittiwake having been picked up dead on the snow in the neighbourhood of Devizes, in November, 1847. It seems to be more thoroughly marine in its habits than others of its congeners, and derives almost all its food from the surface of the sea or the sea-shore. “Common Gull.” (Larus canus.) I doubt whether this species, _ numerous though it is, deserves its trivial English name so much as L. ridibundus: but perhaps in Wiltshire it may fairly be entitled our “Common Gull.” In the southern parts of the county it is very frequently met with, and I often see it in North Wilts passing overhead. It is also an indefatigable attendant of the ploughshare, and the late Mr. Marsh used to say that in South Wilts it obtained the soubriquet of ‘barley sower.” The Rev. W. C. Lukis kept one alive for some time that was captured at Great Bedwyn in 1854, and was present when another was secured in the parish of Burbage, in March, 1857, during a snow storm, by which, and the furious gusts of wind which prevailed on that day, it seemed quite overcome and exhausted. Perhaps too the same violent gales had driven it from the coast, and it may have been faint from hunger. “ Lesser Black-backed Gull.” (Zarus fuscus.) Though common enough on the coast and within a few miles of the sea, this species rarely ventures far from salt water: and I have but one instance of its appearance in Wilts. That individual was shot in the middle of Salisbury Plain, near Tilshead, as I am informed by Mr. Elgar Sloper. “Herring Gull.” (Larus argentatus.) I am informed by Mr. Stratton of Gore Cross Farm in the parish of Market Lavington, that he has killed this bird on his own land on the downs; and though this is the only positive evidence I have of its appearance in Wiltshire, 1 have little doubt that a species so common on our southern coasts, and of such powerful wing, must frequently visit us. It is extremely abundant in the Isle of Wight. “Common Skua.” (Lestris cataractes.) The robber Gulls, of 176 On the Ornithology of Wilts {| Laride}. which this is the more common species, may be distinguished from their more honest peaceful brethren described above, by the for- midable hooked beak, and strong hooked talons with which they are armed. In these respects they resemble the raptorial birds which stand at the head of our list. In habits too they are per- secuting and exacting, for no sooner do they behold their quieter congeners returning from their fishing excursions, than they give instant chase, and do not desist from harassing their unoffending fellows till they have compelled them to disgorge the fish they have swallowed, and which they seize before it reaches the water, and carry off in triumph. I have two instances of the occurrence of this bird in Wiltshire, one which I saw in the hands of Mr. Withers, taxidermist at Devizes, in December 1857, and which had just been killed by Mr. Hooper of Lavington, and which Mr. Withers des- cribed to me as the “ Black Gull;” and another of which the Rev. George Powell wrote me an account, shot at Heytesbury in Sep- September 1863 by Mr. O’Brien, son-in-law of Lord Heytesbury, while partridge shooting, and which proved to be a young female. “Manx Shearwater.” (Puffinus anglorum.) The Petrels are at once recognizable by their peculiar beaks, which are very much curved, arched, and hooked towards the point, and also furrowed and indented, and furnished with tubular nostrils, through which they can eject at will a quantity of oil, and for which latter valuable article they are highly prized by the hardy natives of the Western Isles of Scotland. They are true birds of the ocean, and I may say birds of the storm; for during the darkest nights and the most tempestuous weather they may be descried following in the wake of the ship in ease and comfort, skimming along the surface of the water, and even resting in the greatest composure in the most tre- mendous seas. Their principal food is fat or whatever animal substance they can find which is reducible to oil, The Manx Shearwater, though rarely seen on the eastern, is abundant on the western coasts of England; but from its habit of passing the day in the holes or burrows where it breeds, and only sallying forth by night, it is not very generally met with. Iam aware of only one ee See a a Ve oe By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 177 specimen having made its appearance in Wiltshire, and that was taken by a boy at Market Lavington from a hole in a hayfield and carried to Mr. Elgar Sloper at Devizes. “‘Wilson’s Petrel.” (Thalassidroma Witlsoni.) The scientific name “ Zhalassidroma,” sufficiently describes the habit of the spe- cies which compose this genus, of running on the surface of the waves; whence too their English and French name of “ Petrel”’ is derived, in allusion to the incident narrated in the Gospels, of the Apostle St. Peter walking on the water. Wilson’s Petrel is one of our rarest British birds, but three or four specimens alone having been obtained in this country: it is therefore witk especial gratification that I am able to record, on the unimpeachable testi- mony of the late Mr. Marsh, that a fine specimen of this bird was picked up dead from exhaustion in Sutton Benger Mead, in Novem- ber, 1849. There were no remarkable gales blowing at that time, but it was observed that it was just previous to a long continued frost. “Forked tailed Petrel.” (Zhalassidroma Leachii.) Iam again indebted to the pen of Mr. Henry Blackmore for the knowledge of the occurrence of this species in Wiltshire, the account of which I extract from the pages of the Zoologist.! That gentleman has been so fortunate as to obtain two specimens near Salisbury, of this somewhat rare species: one which was picked up on the 27th of October, 1859, by a railway porter on the Great Western Railway, two miles from the city, having apparently met its death by flying against the wires of the electric telegraph: the other supposed to have been killed in the same manner, as it was also found near the railway embankment with its wing broken, on the 25th of November, 1866, at East Grimstead, a village about six miles from Salisbury. All these Petrels very much resemble in appearance as well as habits their more common congener next to be described. - “Storm Petrel.” (Thalassidroma pelagica.) The last bird on the British list is also the smallest of the Order of Swimmers, and this is the common Petrel which is known to all, and which sailors 1 Zoologist—New Series, yol. for 1866, p. 101. 178 On the Ornithology of Wilts {Laride}. have designated as “Mother Carey’s Chicken,” “ Little Witch,” and a variety of other appellations indicative of the superstitious awe they feel towards these innocent little birds, which they con- sider not only the forerunners of stormy weather, but the actual cause and origin of the tempest. It is true that all the Petrels are more often seen during the prevalence of gales than in calms, and this is owing to their crepuscular habits, which lead them to secrete themselves in their holes while the sun shines; and they seem thoroughly to enjoy the most boisterous weather, when they will skim over the crested waves, patting them with their feet as they run over the surface; or fly down into the hollows of the great waves, and then up and over some gigantic billow, in evident delight at the storm of elements raging around. Considering this thorough appreciation of angry weather, it is strange how many specimens are annually picked up either dead or in a dying ex- hausted condition, during stormy weather in inland districts, as if buffeted to death by the violence of the gale. Possibly it may be that driven from their proper element, they are faint from starva- tion, and so unable to contend against the fury of the wind: at all events not an autumn passes without many such casualties to the Storm Petrel occurring in our inland counties. In Wiltshire I have a notice from my friend the Rev. W. C. Lukis of a specimen picked up dead by a labouring man, in the parish of Ludgershall, in November, 1859. The Rev. Townley Dowding, Vicar of Marl- borough, tells me that in April, 1865, he distinctly saw a bird of this species fly to a portion of the Kennet at the foot of his garden, where it remained some five minutes dabbling in the water, then flew off, and alighted again a short distance farther down the stream: and lastly, as a fitting conclusion to this long catalogue of Wiltshire birds, wherin I have derived so much assistance from the records furnished me by my late lamented friend, the Rev. George Marsh, I mention a specimen of which he informed me, which was picked up dead at Somerford Parva in the year 1830, which had evidently died from exhaustion, and which was preserved by Mr. Wightwick of Brinkworth, but subsequently became moth- eaten, and no longer exists. : : : : | fre Wiltshire Birds. ~ 179 In concluding this general account of Wiltshire Ornithology, I beg very heartily to thank the many correspondents who have most kindly given me the information I desired, and to express my earnest hope that they will still continue to send me the particulars of the appearance of any of our rarer birds, with such details of . date, circumstances, and locality as they may be able to collect. I subjoin a list of the birds referred to in my previous papers, which will include every species recognized as having occurred in Wiltshire, and which in conjunction with the table printed in vol. i., p. 114, will give the true position in the scale of Nature of each individual. Wiltshire Birds, FaMILy Genus SPECIES VOL.PAGE 1 Vulturide Vultures, (not represented in Wiltshire) 2 Falconide Faleons . . - ° : . : : . li, 337 1 Halicetusalbicilla . . White-tailed Eagle. » », 340 2 Pandion halizetus . . Osprey . A i + 9, 342 3 Falco gyrfalco . - . Gyr Faleon . : - 9, 343 4 Fulco peregrinus ; . Peregrine Faleon . » 5, 344 5 Falco subbuteo . > - Hobby . - J cere 6 Falco rufipes . Red-footed Falcon . = 99) O40 7 Falco esalon . : . Merlin . : 2 + 5, 348 8 Falco Tinnunculus . . Kestrel . “ . © 9, 349 9 Accipiter nisus . ‘ . Sparrow Hawk . coer aD) 10 Falco milvus . f . Kite é A is LOoL 11 Buteo vulgaris . - . Common Buzzard . « 9), GOn 12 Buteo lagopus . Rough-legged Buzzard . ,, 353 13 Pernis apivorus - - Honey Buzzard . + 9, 3893 14 Circus eruginosus . . Marsh Harrier : + 9) 300 15 Circus cyaneus . . . Hen Harrier . : + 9) 300 16 Circus Mentagui - Montagu’s Harrier . + 9, 306 3 Strigide Owls é “ : . . : . : » Iv. 26 17 Scops Aldrovandi . - Scops Eared Owl . aoe ee 18 Otus vulgaris . ; . Long-eared Owl. err al 19 Otus brachyotos : - Short-eared Owl. Sc ggh gual 20 Strix flammea . s Barn Owl : A Tigao 21 Syrnium stridula . Tawny Owl . : “nyse. 4. 22 Noctua passerina , . LittleOwl . - air geht, OO 180 FAMILY 4 Laniade 23 24 Wiltshire Genus SPECIES Butcher Birds . 5 Lanius Excubitor . Lantus collurto . ° 5 Muscicapide Fly Catchers . : 25 26 Muscicapa grisola Muscicapa atricapilla 6 Merulide Thrushes . . , 7 Silviade 8 Paride 53 54 55 56 57 58 Turdus viscivorus . Turdus pilaris . > Turdus musicus Turdus iliacus . Turdus merula . - Turdus torquatus Oriolus galbula . Warblers > ; Accentor Alpinus ., Accentor modularis . Sylvia rubecula . . Phenicura rubicilla , Sazicola rubicola Saxicola rubetra ‘ Sazicola enanthe , Salicaria locustella . Salicaria phragmitis . Salicarta arundinacea Philomela luseinia . Curruca atricapilia . Curruca hortensis . Curruca cinerea 4 Curruca sylviella . Sylvia sylvicola. . Sylvia trochilus. . Sylvia hippolais : Birds. . Great grey Shrike . . Red-backed Shrike . . Spotted Flycatcher . . Pied Flycatcher . . Missel Thrush : . Fieldfare C ; . Song Thrush . é . Redwing 5 8 Blackbird - “ Ring Ouzel . ‘ Golden Oriole . Alpine Accentor . . Hedge Accentor . . Redbreast t Redstart. ; . . Stonechat F A Whinchat A . Wheatear Z . Grasshopper Warbler . Sedge Warbler . Reed Warbler. ‘ . Nightingale . ( . Blackeap Warbler . Garden Warbler . . Common Whitethroat . Lesser Whitethroat. Wood Warbler A . Willow Warbler . . Chiff Chaff. : Melizcphilus Dart fordiensis Dartford Warbler . Regulus cristatus Titmice . ; 7 Parus major . . Parus ceruleus. é Parus ater 5 Parus palustris : Parus caudatus ° 9 Ampelide Waxwings : : 59 Bombycsilla garrula . . Golden Crested Wren . Great Titmouse . - Blue Titmouse : . Cole Titmouse 2 . Marsh Titmouse . . Long-tailed Titmouse . ° . . . . Bohemian Waxwing VOL, PAGE . ly. 285 287 289 289 290 290 291 291 292 177 Fe 179 179 179 179 Wiltshire FAMILY Genus SPrEcrEs 10 Motacillide Wagtails . : : 60 Motacilla Yarrellit . 61 Motacilla boarula . 62 Motacilla neglecta . 63 Motacilla flava 5 11 Anthide Pipits ; é $ 64 Anthus arboreus , 65 Anthus pratensis . 12 Alaudide Larks ‘ : F 66 Alauda arvensis 67 Alauda arborea Ff 13 Emberizide Buntings . j 68 Electrophanes ps 69 Emberiza miliaria . 70 Emberiza scheniclus . 71 Emberiza citrinella . 72 Emberiza cirlus : 14 Fringillide Finches. . : 73 Fringilla celebs. 74 Fringilla montifringilla 75 Passer domesticus 76 Coccothraustes chloris 77 Coccothraustes vulgaris 78 Carduelis elegans. 79 Carduelis spinus .. 80 Linota cannabina . 81 Linota linaria . . 82 Pyrrhula vulgaris . 83 Lowxia eurvirostra . 15 Sturnide Starlings . : 84 Sturnus vulgaris . 85, Pastor roseus . . 16 Corvide Crows . . : 86 Fregilus graculus . 87 Corvus corax . : 88 Corvus corone . : 89 Corvus cornix . 5 90 Corvus frugilegus . 91 Corvus monedula . 92 Pica caudata . . 93. Garrulus glandarius VOL XII.—NO. XXXY. Birds. . Pied Wagtail . . Grey Wagtail. . Grey-headed Wagtail . Ray’s Wagtail . Tree Pipit - Meadow Pipit. . Sky Lark » Wood Lark . Black-headed Bunting Yellow Bunting . . Snow Bunting Common Bunting . Cirl Bunting . Chaffinch Mountain Finch House Sparrow Greenfinch - Hawfinch Goldfinch . Common Linnet . . Jackdaw Siskin Lesser Redpole Bullfinch Common Crossbill Common Starling . Rose-coloured Pastor Chough . Rayen Carrion Crow. Hooded Crow. » Rook . Magpie . Jay 181 VOL. PAGE . 180 181 182 Wiltshire Birds. Famity Genus SPECIES VOL.PAGE 17 Picide Woodpeckers , : : , 4 : ae 94 Picus viridis . 2 - Green Woodpecker . oy awe 95 Picus major . . . Great spotted Woodpecker ,, 47 96 Picus minor . . . Lesserspotted Woodpecker ,, 47 97 Picus auratus . . Gold-winged Woodpecker ,, 48 98 Yunx tonquilla. . - Wryneck 5 . A ects 18 Certhiade Creepers . : . : - : 5 sep 49 99 Certhia fumiliaris . . Common Creeper . 2p 00 100 TZroglodytes vulgaris . = VVC : : Ate re 101 Upupa Epops . . - Hoopoe . - . RS Ok 102 Sitta Europea . ° . Nuthatch : bs «5, 54 19 Cuculide Cuckoos . - . 5 : - - : 5 a3 De 103 Cuculus canorus ° . Common Cuckoo . hess 30100 20 Meropide Bee-eaters, (not represented in Wiltshire) 21 Halcyonide Kingfishers : . vayye . 104 Alcedo ispida . : . Kingfisher. . : Res) 22 . . . ~ . 22 Hirundinide Swallows . : : : - 5 é oily; 298 105 Hirundo rustica A . Swallow. : : © ey eS: 106 Hirundo urbica ° . Martin . : A * Sp eld 107 Hirundo riparia ° . Sand Martin . : = ys oe 108 Cypselus apus . : . Common Swift : hs 219 23 Caprimulgide Goatsuckers . . a UE Papen gy HJ yy, a 109 Caprimulgus Europeus . Nightjar. ° . ih eee 24 Columbide Doves ‘5 . . . 5 ; . xi. 162 110 Cilannlea g heatibie . - Ring Dove. : 2 5) 268 111 Columba enas . A . Stock Dove . . ‘ %, 164 112 Columba livia . A - Rock Dove . . «app LOS: 113 Columba turtur. ; . Turtle Dove . . + 5, 165 25 Phasianide Pheasants . - : : - Z ; 3 © 45) 166 114 Phasianus Colchicus . . Pheasant 3 « 99 166 26 Tetraonide Grous : A : C : ° . 0 ey 115 Tetrao erevate ° » Capercaillie . ° op 68: 116 Tetraotetrix . “ . Black Grous . : a a5 aLGB 117. Tetrao Scoticus . ‘ » Red Grous . ; « 5) 262 118 Syrrhaptes paradoxus Pallas Sand Grous . + 9, 169 119 Perdix cinerea . - . Partridge : Ae ce AWS 120 Perdiz rubra . 5 . Red-legged Partridge oy) ae 121 Perdiz coturniz : eaQuallars, ~ . Be ay UE FAMILY 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 29 Gruide 131 30 Ardeide 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 140 141 147 32 Rallide Wiltshire Birds. Genus SpPEcIzs 27 Struthionide Bustards . : P Otis tarda 5 - 28 Charadriide Plovers . : Glareola torquata Cursorius isabel linus Gdicnemus crepitans Charadrius pluvialis Cha adrius morinellus Charadrius hiaticula Vanellus cristatus . Hematopus ostralegus Cranes 3 : . Grus cinerea . F Herons . F Ardea cinerea . : Ardea comata . “ Botaurus minutus . Botaurus stellaris . Ciconia alba . ; Ibis faleinellus . . 31 ScolopacideSnipes . : : Numenius arquata . 139 Numenius pheopus . Totanus ochropus . Totanus hypoleucos . 142 Totanus glottis . 143 Machetes pugnax 144 Scolopax rusticola 145 Scolopax major . 146 Scolupax gallinago’ . Scolopax gallinula . 148 Tringa Canuta. . Rails . . ’ ® 149 Crex pratensis . ’ ry 150 Cree porzana . . a 151 Rallus aquaticus 152 Gallinula chloropus . _ 33 Lobipedide Lobe-feet. . . 153. Fulica atra } ; 154 Phalaropus lobatus . 155: Phalaropus hyberboreus Bustard A A Pratincole 183 VOL.PAGE Cream-coloured Courser . Great Plover . F Golden Plover F . Dotterell F Ringed Plover ; . Lapwing - Oyster-catcher Common Crane 3 Common Heron ., Squacco Heron . Little Bittern - Bittern . - ° White Stork . : Glossy Ibis. : Curlew , = . Whimbrel : Green Sandpiper . . Common Sandpiper . Greenshank . . Ruffle’; : 5 Woodcock . . Great Snipe . : Common Snipe - Jack Snipe . : Knot. : . Land Rail . - Spotted Crake : Water Rail . ; Moorhen : C Common Coot. ‘ Grey Phalarope . Red-necked Phalarope . P2 184 FAMILY 84 Anatide 35. Colymbi 86 Alcadce 156 157 158 159 Wiltshire Birds. Genus SPECIES Ducks ° . Anser ferus . Anser segetum . Anser albifrons . Anser torquatus 160 Anser Egyptiacus 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 de 183 184 185 186 187 188 Anser gambensis Anser Canadensis Cygnus musicus Cygnus olor. Tadorna vulpanser Anas clypeata . Anas acuta Anas boschas . Anas querquedula Anas crecca . Anas penelope . Somateria mollissimg Somateria spectabilis. Oidemia nigra Fuligula ferina . Fuligula marila Fuligula cristata Fuligula glacialis Fuligula clangula Mergus albellus Mergus serrator Mergus merganser Divers. . Podiceps cristatus Podiceps rubricollis Podiceps awritus Podiceps minor . Colymbus glacialis Auks + : Alca torda ; 37 Pelicanidcee Pelicans . - Phalacrocorax carbo . 88 Laride 189 190 191 192 193 Sula alba , ’ Gulls - ° Sterna hirundo . Sterna Arctica . Sterna fissipes . . Grey-lag Goose . - Bean Goose . ; . White fronted Goose . Brent Goose . bi Egyptian Goose. Spur- winged Goose . Canada Goose. Hooper . . : . Mute Swan . . Common Sheldrake . Shoveler 7 : . Pinta. ; Wild Duck. . Garganey ‘ - Teal... : . . Wigeon . 5 - Eider Duck . g . King Duck. : Common Scoter Pochard. 4 : Scaup ‘ Tufted Tnsle « : Long-tailed Duck . . Golden Eye . . . . Smew . VoL. PAGE . xii, 153 Red- ieeanted Meienaieat : . Goosander . - Great Crested Grebe Red-necked Grebe . Eared Grebe . - Little Grebe . 7 Great Northern Diver Razor-bill . Common Cormorant Gannet . : . Common Tern 4 Arctic Tern . Q Black Tern , 4 153 154 154 165 167 168 169 169 170 170 171 171 172 172 : On the Origin of the Terraces, §c. 185 5 Famity Genus SprEcreEs VOL.PAGE q 194 Larus minutus . : . Little Gull . . xii. 173 ; 195 Larus ridibundus . . Black-headedGull. . ,, 173 ; 196 Larus tridactylus . .Kittiwake . . .« 4, 174 ; 197 Laruscanus . . . Common Gull. » 174 | 198 Larus fuscus . : . Lesser black- haoked Gull »» 174 199 Larus argentatus . . Herring Gull . A 4: Vp pp ke 190 Lestris cataractes . . Common Skua . hide MeL 201 Puffinus Anglorum . . Manx Shearwater , + ee 202 Thalassidroma Wilsont . Wilson’s Petrel 3 ee 203 Thalassidroma Leachit . Forked tailed Petrel © sg ke 204 Thalassidroma pelagica . Storm Petrel . : Pe Ae gc ( ALFRED CHARLES SMITH. Yatesbury Rectory, Calne, October, 1869. Origin of the Tevvaces, Balks, or Aynchets of the Chalk Dotuns. By G. Pouterr Scropz, F.R.S., F.G.S., &e. SF the natural features of the county of Wilts, none perhaps are so prominent as its chalk downs. And they have con- sequently attracted considerable notice from our local historians and naturalists, from Aubrey down to the latest contributors to this Magazine, in the last number of which alone two articles describe their ancient earthworks and general character. But I have vainly looked in any of these publications for a descriptive # account of what I consider to be some of the most remarkable + features of these chalk hills, viz.; the numerous terraces, locally called balks (banks?) or lynchets (ledges?), which frequently ~. ie toe : score their slopes in more or less horizontal lines. These terraces ___ are perhaps most conspicuous between Mere and Hindon, and near to Warminster and Market Lavington, but are indeed to be met = _ with almost wherever the chalk downs slope into the valleys or low plains. No one travelling along the high roads which run at 186 On the Origin of the Terraces, Balks, or Lynchets the foot of these slopes, can have failed to notice them contouring round the projecting headlands and far up into the intervening combs; and few can have done so without forming some theory as to their origin. I had myself entertained no doubt as to their artificial production, but a few years since I was startled by reading in a scientific Journal an article written by Mr. D. Mackintosh, F.G.8., announcing the opinion that these terraces “thousands in number, are so many raised sea-beaches,” left at the height where they now stand by the waves during the progress of excavation by the sea of the valleys in which they occur. (‘‘ Geological Magazine,” vol. iii., p. 69.) I took the liberty of opposing this view, which I considered perfectly preposterous, in a communication printed in the same Journal (“Geological Magazine,” vol. iii., p. 293); and as the subject will probably possess some interest to Wiltshiremen, the following extracts from that paper may be acceptable to the readers of this Magazine :— ** Any one who lives in a neighbourhood where these banks occur may see them, if not in course of formation from their beginning, yet growing yearly before his eyes wherever the hill-slope above is under arable cultivation. In this case as the course of the plough almost always follows the more or less horizontal tread of the surface (which is also the direction of the banks), the ridge of soil raised by the mould-board of the plough has everywhere a tendency, through the action of gravity upon it, to fall down-hill rather than upwards. This down-hill tendency of the disturbed soil is greatly assisted by the wash of heavy rains upon the loosened materials of the sloping surface; and the result is that year by year the whole surface soil of the slope, when under continuous arable culture, is, slowly indeed but surely, travelling downwards, until it is stopped either by the cessation in that direction of the disturbing action of the plough, or by some hedge, or wall, or bank, which limits this, Hence it is that wherever a hedge or wall forms the lower limit of any arable surface possessing a con- siderable inclination, an accumulation of mould or made-earth will be found on the upper side, often several feet in depth, and forming a bank by that much elevated above the surface of the soil on * TS 2 SSS EN Rg EL EOS iD of the Chalk Downs. 187 the lower side of the fence. In the meantime the upper parts of the slope losing their vegetable mould get poorer and poorer; the plough works nearer the bone (as tbe farmers say) and the soil is then only recruited by contributions drawn from the subsoil or tri- turated rock beneath. The thrifty farmers of Devonshire there- fore often employ their idle hands and teams in winter in digging out the soil which has descended to the bottom of their steep fields, and carting it up to the top again; thus restoring the balance, and maintaining the fertility of the upper portion. But it may be said the ordinary lynchets of the chalk downs have no hedge or wall along their lower boundary which might act as a material obstacle to the descent of the soil before it reaches the very bottom of the comb or vale. True; but it may be said in reply that fences possibly existed there in early times. It is, however, in no degree necessary to suppose this in order to account for the origin of the banks, which in fact where a fence does exist will rarely be found in actual contact with it, but stopping short ; by a yard or two above it, at the point where the action of the plough ceases. We know that in early times the arable lands of the greater part of England were held in severalty by different tenants or owners; and also that on the common field system nothing was more usual than for the same owner or occupier to cultivate several distinct strips or breadths of land separated from each other by the lands of others. Let us assume that a hill side was held in three or four strips of land lying one above the other by distinct occupiers: the strips having, for the sake of convenience in plough- ing, their greatest length in a horizontal or nearly horizontal direction, following the sweep of the hill side, whether curved or straight. The boundary line between two of these neighbouring strips may have been originally only a mathematical one, connecting say, two mere-stones, and yet a bank will soon have been formed along it, for each upper cultivator will naturally take care not to allow the soil of his strip to descend to fertilize that of his neigh- bour below. He would draw the lower limit of his strip by a reversed furrow, throwing the last ridge of soil up hill; thus leaving 188 On the Origin of the Terraces, Balks, or Lynchets a slight trench, sufficient however to stop the silt washed down from above, which consequently would accumulate there in a bed perhaps only an inch or two indepth. But in the next year or next ploughing, the process is repeated; the cultivator again checks the descent of silt by a double boundary furrow, or the same effect is produced by the slight edging of earth or grass which forms the lower limit to the action of the plough. And thus by degrees a slight bank of earth is formed which in the progress of years increases into a “lynchet” or “balk,” i. a steep grass- grown bank, several feet in height, with a somewhat flattened terrace above—separating the parallel strips on a hill-side in the hands of distinct cultivators. Or, indeed, the same result may be purposely produced by the same cultivator, occupying the whole slope, and desirous of stopping the wash of soil down to the bottom of the valley by forming some artificial checks of this kind to it, in the manner of the terraces so laboriously formed by the vine- cultivators of southern Europe. This is not mere theory. I have often watched the growth of such banks, and even witnessed their formation from the beginning. It is noticeable indeed with what rapidity they are produced and increased year by year. For example I have seen one from two to three feet high formed in the course of ten years at the foot of a steep slope first broken up from old pasture at that distance of time. A foot-path runs by the side and below it, but there is no hedge or other material limit to check the wash of the soil down- wards, other than the slight ridge of grass that grows on the out- ward edge of the lowest furrow by the side of the path, which latter remains uncovered and undisturbed. It is evident that the slightest impediment would suffice to check the descent of the silt into the path and cause it to settle above. This I have no hesitation in asserting to be the simple explana- tion of the origin of those “ thousands of raised sea-beaches from a few inches to several feet in height which may be found in Wilt- shire, Dorset, and other counties,” according to Mr. D. Mackintosh. Were they ever sea or indeed river-beaches, they would be found composed of shingle or rolled pebbles. If sea or river-worn cliffs, of the Chaik Downs. 189 they would consist of chalk or other rock in situ. But on the contrary they will be found on investigation, I believe, invariably composed of made earth or soil such as would naturally result from the downward wash of the loose surface-materials of the slopes above, annually broken up by the plough through a series of years, and exposed to the influence of subaérial denudation. It is indeed remarkable that these terraces, which are brought forward by Mr. Mackintosh as “ proofs of the impotence of rain in moulding the earth’s surface,” since under his theory they have remained unaltered from the distant period when the chalk hills lay to their very summits beneath the sea waves, afford, on the contrary, very pregnant and convincing evidence of the power exercised by rain in altering the configuration of our hill slopes within very recent and limited times. G. Pourerr Scrops. Fairlawn, Cobham, Surrey, July 10th, 1869. P.S.—Since this paper was written, a volume has issued from the press, by Mr. D. Mackintosh, “ On the origin of the Scenery of England and Wales,” in which his views as to the formation of these terraces by the erosive power of sea-waves, or marine currents, is repeated, and what he calls my “agricultural theory ” of their origin, alluded to with contempt. In the number of the Geological Magazine for December last, I therefore once more controverted Mr. Mackintosh’s views, and still further explained my own. With the former object I inserted in my paper a few woodcuts, accurately copied from some of the illustrations to Mr. M.’s volume, which are reproduced here as examples of the general character of the terraces in question. No. 1 represents “‘a series of terraces near Stockbridge on a ITT ams bi —————SS ace i, Litera LLLP — xs lll 7 iiddétitnpyy WL ELE ie Hil ULM — i did ee Fig. 1.—Terraces near Stockbridge. 190 On the Origin of the Terraces, Balks, or Lynchets very gentle slope.” They are the class to which I would apply the theory given above, of their probable origin in “strips” or ‘‘lands,” formerly held in severalty by different occupiers. No. 2 represents another class occurring upon very steep slopes, and Fig. 2.—Profile of Terraces on the Side of a Chalk Hill near Twyford. contouring round a promontory of the hill-side. In these cases it is probable that the pick or mattock was employed as well as the plough. The exact resemblance of such terraced slopes to those so generally formed in similar situations by the vine-growers of the continent, with the object of arresting the descent of soil washed down by rain-storms, and also of facilitating the action of the plough, is evident. But Mr. Mackintosh refuses to believe them artificial, and attributes them to “ oceanic currents, at differ- ent levels with or without floating ice.” No. 3 he describes ‘as the finest series of undoubted old Coast-lines or Raised Sea-beaches,” he ever met with. oa Sy SER Ss ~ SSN SS SSn —_ MANY LMM SSS SS —~ gt . SE e——_ ESS LL QAM Fad\\)\\\\\\\\\\\\\ A SNS PMMA WN HMMM IIIT NII WNW =. N SN ESE x FZ) < \: UM = ee hmage +. of the Chalk Downs. 191 I think, however, many of my readers will have seen on the slopes of our chalk or oolitic hills very similar terraces, which they will have no difficulty in referring to the agricultural operations of our forefathers, a view which will relieve us from the necessity of supposing our hills to have been very recently dipped a thousand or fifteen hundred feet below the level of the ocean, and then raised again by a series of steps, in order to account for these insignificant and very artificial-looking banks and terraces. It will be observed in the first and last examples that the banks which support the terraces seem to have been obliterated at intervals, re-appearing again at a little distance. This happens, probably, from the farmer occasionally ploughing or digging down parts of these banks, which being composed, as I believe they are in nearly all cases, of good soil washed from above, would refresh the bare portions of the terrace immediately beneath. Were they on the contrary shingly sea-beaches, such a process would be evidently injurious, not benefi- cial, and would be avoided accordingly. But I have said enough, probably, to explode this “sea-beach” theory. Let those readers of the Wilts Magazine who are acquainted with the numerous examples of terraces, or lynchets, which are to be seen in the neighbourhood of Mere, between Warminster and Salisbury, around Market Lavington, and on many other downsides, (not to travel out of our county) judge the question for themselves. G. Pounerr ScroPe. Note. It may be interesting to know that the late Mr. Cunnington of Heytesbury, who first directed attention to the remains of the villages of the ancient Britons, on the Wiltshire downs, entertained the same opinions as those expressed by Mr. Scrope, as to the origin of the lynchets. Among his MSS., I find the following remarks :—‘“ In support of the opinion that the Britons cultivated the high lands, I have had the testimony of the late Mr. Davis of Longleat, Mr. William Smith, (Dr. William Smith, the geologist) and several intelligent 192 History of the Parish of Stockton, Wilts. farmers. But we want no other evidence than that afforded by the condition of the high chalk land in the present day. We find squares formed by lynchets (called by Mr. Stackhouse terraces) the marks of ancient agriculture, all over the sides of our hills. It is now a common practice to dig in these lynchets for flints ; and when engaged in this work, the labourers have frequently found Roman coins, fibule, pottery, &c. I have many articles of this kind, and I think the evidence is full proof that this ancient agriculture was the work of the Romanized Britons.” It may be well to remark, that there are many terraces on the sides of hills bounding the river courses, which, though resembling lynchets, are in reality the terraces left by the higher level of the rivers in remote ages—in fact, old river banks. Examples may be seen in many parts of the course of the Avon. They also exist at Castle Combe, at a height of about twenty or thirty feet above the present stream. A good example of this kind of terrace, extending for more than a mile, may be seen on the right hand side of the railroad, between Maiden-Newton and Dorchester. Wm. CunNINGTON. History of the Barish of Stockton, Wilts, By the Rey. THomas Mites, M.A. (Continued from page 121.) (Orga HE exterior of the Church presents few interesting features. wa) The north side is particularly plain and void of ornament. The porch, which is on this side, is Early English. The stones used to raise the walls of the porch, are fragments of Early English windows, supposed to have been taken out of the north wall when the recess was made for Mr. Topp’s monument. The tower is of three stages, and has a perpendicular battlement, with gurgoiles at the angles, two of them mutilated. There is a double lancet window in the upper stage of the west side, and a square-headed : By the Rev, Thomas Miles. 193 one on the north side. The lower part of the tower is probably of the same date as the piers and arches in the nave; it is very plain and uninteresting, and is in a bad state of repair. It contains four bells, one of them cracked. Some of the bells were re-cast in _ 1661, and 1684, but one ancient one remains, on which is the following inscription :— ‘yy Ave gratia plen.” The south aisle is plain decorated. The east end of the chancel is a tolerable specimen of Early English, and over the east window are the arms of the Rector, Mr. St. Barbe, who re-built the east end in 1840. Excepting the tower and porch, the exterior of the fabrick has been restored and put into decent repair within a few years. The chancel had been put into perfect repair in 1840. The churchyard contains about half-an-acre of ground, of which a narrow piece next the fence on the north side is said to be uncon- secrated, it having been the road to the old Rectory House, which stood in the garden adjoining the east side of the churchyard. Several skeletons have however been found laid east and west, on the other side of the north fence, so that probably the churchyard has been encroached upon on the north side. The wall which fences it against the road on the west side, was built at the joint expense of the Rector and parishioners in 1781 ; and the agreement as to the repair of this fence, is inscribed in the old churchwarden’s book. There is now only one tree remaining in the churchyard, an ancient yew tree, which was injured, it was supposed by lightning, on the south side several years ago. There were formerly several large elms on the north side, which perhaps once grew in the fence against the road to the Rectory. In 1842 the surface of the Churchyard, which was very uneven, and much above the level of the floor of the church, was lowered considerably, to give it a slope from the church walls. In doing this care was taken not to disturb any of the graves. The effect of this great improvement, besides draining the church, is to raise the apparent height of the building two or three feet at least. There are not many memorials of the dead in Stockton churchyard. The following is an account ¥ 4 { a. ‘ : ' of those remaining in 1845. 194 History of the Parish of Stockton, Wiits. Nort sIDE OF THE CHURCH. There are three altar tombs on this side. The large one at the east end of the north aisle covers the remains of some of the Topp family. The slab has been covered with a long inscription, a few letters of which may be traced when the stone is wet, but not a word is legible. At the head of the stone are the arms of Topp impaling this coat; on a bend cotised 3 fusils. The same arms are on the Communion cup. Near the tomb towards the north, are three vaults without tomb-stones. Westward of these vaults is a large altar tomb to a former tenant of Stockton farm, thus inscribed :— ‘In memory of Mr. James Wise, who died Jan’, 5, 1795, aged 60 years,” Opposite the porch is a low altar tomb, (the inscription nearly effaced) to Harry Fleming, who died 19th January, 1781, aged 19. On the east side of the porch, about four feet from the north wall, is a ridged stone, thus inscribed :— ‘‘Here lyeth the body of Mary Barnes, who died Noy. 22nd, Anno Dom. 1709.” On a long paving stone before the entrance to the porch is inscribed the name of ‘¢Anne Raxworthy, who died June the 22nd, 1829, aged 82. She wasa good christian and a worthy faithful servant to the Biggs family for nearly 50 years.” On a blue head-stone opposite the porch :— ‘* Edmund Tapper died Dee. 18th, 1788, aged 62. Mary his wife died Feb’. 25th, 1786, aged 61.” There are three dilapidated head-stones opposite the chancel door. The one nearest the chancel is to Nicholas Baverstock, who died June 13th, 1740. He was a farmer in the parish. The next stone is broken. The other is to Joan Baverstock, who died June 16th, 1736. At the east end of the chancel, near the wall, are five large ridged stones, and one small one. The first towards the north covers the remains of Mary Anne Pinchard, who died May 18th, 1807, aged 39. The stone next to this has the inscription worn off. The third from the north is thus inscribed :— By the Rev. Thomas Miles. 195 “‘ Decimo Augusti, 1692. Then dyed Jane, daughter of Archdeacon Ryves, the wife of Martin Tanner, first steward of the Almeshouse: and interred near John their son, who departed 17 Junii, 1658. Disce mori.” The above Jane was probably a daughter of John Ryves, L.L.B. Archdeacon of Berks; who was succeeded in 1665 by Peter Mews, afterwards President of St. John’s, Oxford, and Bishop of Bath and Wells, 1672, of Winchester, 1684. A sister of Jane Tanner was married at Stockton, 29th May, 1666, to Edward Elderton of Warminster. Martin Tanner was a farmer at Stockton. The fourth ridged stone from the north, is a small one thus inscribed :— “cc of Martha Lucas, the daughter of Thomas and Jane Lucas, who died the 15th (or 18th) day of April, An. Do. 1668.” This stone was found below the surface when the east end of the chancel was re-built in 1840. It appears from the old church- warden’s book that. Thomas Lucas was churchwarden in 1688, and was tenant of Mr. Topp’s lower farm, supposed to be that, late the property of Mr. Pinchard. Below the gravestones just described, are two very ancient ridged stones, or rather coffin-lids, being in fact the covers of stone coffins, which were examined when the surface of the churchyard was levelled. The place for the head and shoulders was cut out in the solid stone. There are two small head-stones within four feet of the east end of the chancel. One of them is marked, “ Anne Good, ob. 1817. ”’She was mother of the Rev. Henry Good, Rector, who was buried in the same grave, and his name was inscribed on the stone in 1846. His wife Eleanor, is buried on the south side of the above, and a stone was placed at the head of his grave in 1846. Another small head-stone towards the north is inscribed, “‘ William Heley Good, ob. 1804.” He was son of the Rector, and in the same grave lies another _ of his sons, Charles Good, who died in 1824. Below these, a large _ blue head-stone commemorates Jemima, wife of James Wheeler, who died April 13, 1790, aged 71. And - James Wheeler, who died Nov. 10, 1820, aged 91 (or 94).” Near this stone are two sad calamities in the shape of iron tombs 196 History of the Parish of Stockton, Wiits. made of cast iron, a little in the form of ridged gravestones. They are painted stone colour. One of these is placed over the remains of Mrs. Chandler, (who deserved a more churchmanlike memorial, ) and the other over the three children of her son, Mr. Thomas Hicks Chandler. It is to be hoped that these iron memorials will not become fashionable, as nothing can be in worse taste; they have a cheap mean appearance, and have this great disadvantage, that to look decent, they should have a coat of paint twice a year. These tombs were only placed in the churchyard in the spring of this year, 1847, and are already (November) becoming rusty. There are two old rigid stones towards the north-east corner of the churchyard. On one is the name “ George Lukes,” and the date “1663;”’ the remainder of the inscription is illegible. The other stone has no trace of an inscription, but perhaps may cover the remains of Mr. Terry the Rector, who was buried at his own desire “among the poor” in the churchyard, opposite to the old Parsonage. Near the gate of the parsonage garden is a large head-stone to ‘‘ Ann Barker, who died in the service of the Rev. R. F. St. Barbe, 16th Feb., 1833, aged 29.” She was a native of Lincolnshire. SovuTH sIDE OF THE CHURCHYARD. Before the south wall of the church was re-built, there was a large altar-tomb placed against it west of the door, inscribed ‘¢ Joahn Maton, y® wife of Nicholas Maton, deceased (month effaced) 1622” This tomb was too much broken to be restored, but the inscribed stone and a part of the moulding were built up in the wall in 1844. There was another altar-tomb against the south side of the church, east of the door, which could not be re-erected. The in- scribed stones were therefore built up in the new wall, as in the former case. The inscription is, ‘Here lyes Melior Bennett, widdow of Thomas Bennett of Pithouse, Esq., who died Noy. 10th, 1669.” This was at the end of the tomb; in front was the same in Latin, now nearly illegible. By the Rev. Thomas Miles. . 197 Close in front of the tomb last mentioned was another, re-erected a little farther from the church; it is inscribed thus :— Here lies the body of Frances, the relict of Richard Hurman, late of Shaston in the County of Dorsett, Gent: daughter of Thomas Bennett, late of Pit House in this County, Esq., and Melior his wife; who departed this life the 24% Jany., 1710, aged 80 years.” Near the east end of the above, is another altar-tomb, thus inscribed :— “Tn memory of Mrs. Frances Marks, relict of Thos. Chafin Marks Esq., late in the Close of Sarum, who died Dee. y* 27, 1753, aged 80 years.” : Opposite to Mrs. Hurman’s tomb is a ridged gravestone, inscribed as follows :— . “Here lyeth the body of Richard Helme, who departed this life Aug*. y° 6%, 1711.” | Richard Helme was churchwarden in 1665 and in 1682, and appears to have been a farmer. Beyond these towards the east, are three head-stones in a line. The first from the south is inscribed to “John Russell, who died Aug’. 13, 1782, aged 71;” and ‘Thomas Humphries, who died Nov. 25, 1784, aged 74. The centre stone is to ‘‘ Blizabeth, wife of Thomas Humphries, who died Aug. 1*, 1808, aged 47.” The other is inscribed to “Thomas Humphries, who died Sep. 10, 1829, aged 62; and Jane his wife, who died April 21:*, 1827, aged 52.” Beyond these is a small head-stone to “‘Merab, daughter of Thos, and Eliz‘*, Humphries, who died April 10", 1781, aged 18 days.” On a stone near this :— “ Here lieth the body of Mary Slade, who died Sep. 9, 1742, aged 23 years.” At the west end of the cliurchyard are two head-stones. One is inscribed to gg Humphrey Giles, who died 18 Feb. 1829, and Jane his wife, who died ‘ 27% March, 1827” ‘They were many years in the service of Harry Biggs, Esgq., as bailiff, and dairywoman. _ The other stone is to Joseph Hall, also an old servant of Mr. Biggs as groom. He died 27th January, 1832, aged 50. VoL. XII.—NO. XXXV. Q 198 History of the Parish of Stockton, Wilts. Stockton House was erected by John Topp, Esq. It was pro- bably begun in the latter part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and finished in the reign of James I., as the arms of both these sovereigns are on the ceiling of the great bedroom. Sir Richard Hoare shews that the Topps were resident at Stockton before the Reformation, as tenants of the manor under the Monks of St Swithin at Winchester; but it does not appear how they obtained possession of the property. Sir Richard Hoare has fallen into an error with respect to the Porte family as connected with Stockton. The fact is, the Topp who is the subject of the great monument, married a Hooper of Boveridge in Dorsetshire, whose ancestor having married the heiress of the family of Porte, of Poole, in Dorset, the arms of Topp were very properly impaled with those of Hooper and Porte quarterly. I don’t think any of the Porte family ever had anything to do with Stockton. There is a tradition in the parish that the family was raised to wealth and station by success in trade as clothiers; but in the time of Queen Elizabeth, they were evidently people of consideration. Francis Topp, of a junior branch of this family, was created a Baronet in 1668. The first member of the family noticed in the parish register, is the founder of Stockton House, John Topp, Sheriff of Wilts in 1630, and who died in the night of August 81st, 1632, and was buried in the night following. He married Mary, eldest daughter of Edward Hooper of Boveridge, Dorset- shire. Ske died in her 48rd year, at 6a.m., 6th April, 1617, and was buried in the church of Stockton on the 28rd of the same month; being Easter week, a funeral sermon having been previously delivered by Mr. Terry the Rector, and afterwards an ample dis- tribution was made among the poor.” We are indebted for the minute particulars of her funeral to Mr. Crockford, schoolmaster, or curate of the parish, who entered her burial in the register, and describes her as a most excellent person. Her brother James, third son of Edward Hooper of Boveridge, was married at Stockton, September 24th, 1613, to Penelope, sixth daughter of Geoffry Whitaker, late of Tinhead in the parish of Edington, Wilts. John Topp and Mary Hooper By the Rev. Thomas Miles. 199 had issue, three sons and three daughters, viz.: John senior, John junior, and Edward; and Anne, Mary,and Elizabeth. The eldest son John, senior, married Elizabeth, daughter of John Swayne of Gunville, Dorset, by whom he left no surviving issue; and on his decease in 1660, he was succeeded at Stockton by his brother Edward. It does not appear what became of John, junior. John senior presented the 2 silver flagons to the church. Edward Topp died in 1665, and left issue by his wife Frances, 4 children. John his heir, married Catherine, daughter of Sir Edward Berkley, Knight; of Alexander the second son, nothing is known. Elizabeth the eldest daughter, *married Richard Swaine of Gunville, and Eleanor the second daughter, was the wife of Thomas Lambert of Boyton. John Topp and Catherine Berkley (who married secondly Thomas Bennett of Pytt House, and survived him) had issue, four children, of whom John the eldest son and two daughters, died infants. Edward Topp, the second son, inherited Stockton, and married Christiana, daughter and co-heir of George Gray of Nether _ Stowey, Somerset. They had issue, five children, viz.: John | Topp, Barrister-at-law, who died without issue in 1745; Edward, j the second son, died s.p. in 1710; and Alexander, the third son, died also without issue, 1738. The two daughters of John and Christiana Topp thus became co-heirs of Stockton. Susan the eldest, married Robert Everard of Nether Stowey, Somerset. Christiana, the youngest daughter, married Richard Lansdown of Woodborough near Bath, and died without issue. Robert Everard, and Susan Topp had an only child, Susan, who was married to f Robert Everard Balsh of St. Audries in Somersetshire, who sold _ the manor of Stockton to Henry Biggs, Esq. The pedigree of the q Topp family is printed in Sir R. C. Hoare’s “ Heytesbury,” pp. 242. The exact date of Stockton house cannot be ascertained. There was a stone on the premises a few years ago, with this inscription, _ “God save this House, built by John Topp, March ......” Un- fortunately the date is broken off. Sir Richard Hoare mentions a stone in the house on which is a part of the date, “16..” The concluding figures defaced. This refers perhaps to the stone before Q 2 200 History of the Parish of Stockton, Wiits. mentioned, which may have been taken out of the old porch when the drawing-room windows were lowered. The house stands in a small paddock well sheltered by trees, of which some ancient walnut trees and elms are some of the “old hereditary trees” of the Topps. The younger trees and shrubs near the house, were planted by Harry Biggs, Esq. (owner when this paper was written. Ed.) When he succeeded his father in 1800, the house and grounds were much in the same state as they were left by the Topps. The house stood within a walled inclosure. To the west was an entrance then a court; the gateway opposite the porch having handsome stone piers, on each of which was a lion holding a shield, bearing the arms of Topp impaling Gray. A paved walk led from the gate to the porch. To the south was the bowling green, to the east was the garden. Within the wall was a raised terrace, extending along the whole length of the south side of the inclosure, and along the west side from the south wall to the gateway. The ascent to the terrace was by stone steps, and it had a parapet on which were placed busts of the twelve Caesars, and handsome vases. Several of the vases are still preserved, and two of the busts are on a bridge in the garden at Bathampton house, and the remainder are at Pytt house. Under the terrace on the west side, was the cellar, with a handsome entrance at the north end, over which was a figure of Bacchus astride on a cask, with a glass in his hand, and a garland of grapes and leaves on his head. The mutilated trunk of this image, and other remains of the stone work of the terraces were in existence a few years ago. The exact situation of the terraces may be traced on the grass in hot weather, and a group of beeches on a mound marks the south-east corner of the inclosure, which extended westward to a point opposite the gateway of the stable yard. These ornamental appendages to the house were in good condition forty years ago, when they were removed to make room for a carriage approach and other conveniences necessary for comfort in modern times. A part of the materials of the terraces were used, I believe, in building the new stables. It is supposed that the embellishment of the court and terraces, was the work of Edward Topp, who died in 1740, as his arms were By the Rev. Thomas Miles. 201 placed on the piers of the gateway, and the ornaments were of much more recent date than the house. Stockton house is rather a plain specimen of the Elizabethan _ style, the only part ornamented being the entrance porch in the ; y west front. Attached to the north-west angle of the house isa range of buildings, containing some of the servants’ offices. There is a tradition in the village that a part of this wing was at one time used as a Chapel, and this may have been the case during the great Rebellion, when some of the ejected Clergy were sheltered at Stockton by the Topps. The exterior of this venerable mansion has suffered little, either from time or the improver, and, excepting the new porch and entrance on the south side, and the lowering of some of the windows, it remains in its original state. Fortunately also the house required little alteration in the interior, to adapt it to modern habits, and the only rooms modernized, are the hall, dining-room, and study. The dining-room is on the left of the hall, and is a large handsome apartment, though unfortunately fitted up in a modern style. This room was originally the great hall. Above the dining-room, and of the same size, with the first floor of the porch added to it, is the drawing-room in its original state, untouched by the rude hand of the improver. It isa fine specimen of internal decoration in the Elizabethan style, and is in perfect preservation, excepting that the ceiling rather sinks. There is a plate of this beautiful room in Sir Richard Hoare’s “ History _ of Wilts,” and the east side of it is given in Mr. Shaw’s interesting work “Details of Elizabethan Architecture.” Most of the prin- cipal bedrooms retain their old wainscots, chimney-pieces and ceilings; but the wainscots have all been painted. The chimney- piece and ceiling in the bedroom over the study, are particularly handsome. In the panel over the fire-place, is a curious carving of Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego, in the fiery furnace. This room (and the drawing-room) have been engraved in Richardson’s *Tnteriors.” The large bedroom over the kitchen has a curious ceil- ing ornamented with the arms of Queen Elizabeth and James I. ‘There is nothing remarkable in the servants’ offices, but the kitchen is large and retains much of its ancient character. The old furniture 202 History of the Parish of Stockton, Wiits. was in the house when the estate was purchased by Henry Biggs, Esq., who sold it at the request of Major Hartley, (of Bucklebury, Berks) then residing here as tenant. Probably the carved oak chairs, bedsteads, &c., which have been found in some of the cottages in the neighbourhood, once formed part of the furniture of Stockton house. The old kitchen garden behind the house remains, surrounded on two sides by the original wall, but all traces of the ancient pleasure grounds have disappeared, excepting perhaps a very fine old cypress tree, which may have grown within the enclosed parterre. The family of Biggs, or Bygges, appears to have been settled in this neighbourhood before the reign of Edward VI., and to that period the pedigree is traced from authentic evidences. The Biggs’s were seated at Stapleford, where they held lands and the presentation to the vicarage. “Johannes Byggs of Stapleford’’ presented in 1551, in 1554, and in 1671. The Biggs’s were connected by marriage with the Snows of Ber- wick St. James, an old family there, and for many generations Lords of the Manor. The family of Biggs may be traced in this part of the county in the reign of Edw. III. In the None Roll in the Exchequer, made 15th of Edw. III., A.D. 1342, is an application to Bishop Ergham of Sarum, for an augmentation of the Vicarage of Tisbury, when Robert Bigge was one of the principal parishioners who made the application. The Ecclesi- astical Survey, made the 26th of Hen. VIII., names John Biggs as Vicar of Tisbury, presented in 1502. John Biggs was Rector of Tisbury in 1532, when he presented Barker to the vicarage. Another John Byggs was presented to the rectory of Chilmark in 1508, and held it till the year 1544. Edmund Bigges was pre- sented by the King in 1611, to the vicarages of Wilsford and Woodford near Stapleford; and Richard Biggs was Rector of Shrewton in 1663. Stockton farm-house, an interesting old mansion, was built about the same period as Stockton house, by one of the family of the Poticarys, who were rich clothiers, and resided here for two or three generations. (The pedigree of Poticary is printed in Mr. E. Kite’s ‘ Wilts Brasses,” p. 76.) The house of the Poticarys To face page 202. PEDIGREE or BIGGS, or STOCKTON. To face page 202. Thomas Byggs of Stapleford, Wilts,=....., John Byggs= administration granted to his son | John Byggs, 20 May, 1551. j 5th Edw. VI. John Byggs, living 12th Feb., 1584, Jolla Byggs of Stapleford,= presented to the Vicarage in 1551, —54, and—71. Will dated 12 Feb., 1584, 26th Eliz., mentions his cousins, John Meryyn the elder, of Pertwood, and his godson John Byggs. | ane Byggs. Christopher, son= Agnes, mar. Margaret, mar. and heir, 1584, William Hyrlett. — Kingman. Tristram Byggs the elder, of = Lucy, dau. Little Langford adjoining Staple- | of — Beach, ford. Died 1st Sep. 1720, aged 86. buried at Bur. at Stapleford. Will dated| Stapleford, 1716, proved 1721. 1754, 5, If. : ; a an |Res? IGE weee=lristram Biggs of Little=Jane, dau. of _..... . Biggsof = Abigail...... Roger Biggs= Ann ..... Henry Biggs Langford. Bur. there. | Henry Milesof Berwick St. James, living in of Deptford, survived of Deptford. Will dated 1744, proved | Maddington, Bur. at Stapleford 1716. Wilts. Bur. her hus- Bur, at in London, 1760, and co-heir of 1693, at Staple- band. Stapleford 1700. her brother ford 1706, 7. Ann (mar.). Henry, living Lewice. in 1744. Mary. mes bap. at Thomas of Henry Biggs of= Diana, dau. of Katharine mar. Ale mar. at Wyly 1705. Bur. Heytesbury mar, Little Langford | John Davis, of John Swaine of Bemerton, 1744, there 1706. — Axford. Will and Stockton. Bapton, Wilts. Steeple Langford. to John Davis of Hannah. proved 1767, Born 1723. Relict of —— Issue extinct Bapton. Born Mary bap. at Bur. at Stockton | Poticary, mar. at 1835, 1720. _—-Bur. at Wyly 1702. F 1800, Fisherton Dela- Fisherton, 1800. One of these Thomas Morris mere 3June, 1765. Aged 80. aughters mar. Biggs of Little Died 30 June, Henry Hunt of Langford, mar. 1818, Bur. at Littleton; the Betty Adlam, Stockton. other Flower and died s.p.l. Sainsbury, of | i Lavington, Harry Biggs of Stockton, =Margaretta Ann, sole William Bond, M.A.= Jane, only Wilts.) Esq., Deputy Lieut. of | dau. and heiress of of Tyneham, Dorset. | dau. mar. Wilts, and Sheriff of the | Godolphin William Prebendary of Bristol | at Stockton, County in 1811. Mar. at| Burslem, of Alton and Rector ofSteeple-} 28th April, Christchurch, Hants, Grange,co. Leicester, cum Tyneham, 1794. 802. Esq. (1.) Dorset. | | | ! Margaretta, born Henry Godolphin Biggs,= Mary Ann, 2nd Arthur William Biggs, Harry Farr Yeatman,= Emma 11 Oct. 1805. Esq., in the Commission dau. of William Major inthe 7th Hussars. __Esq., eldest sonof Rev. Biggs, Bur. at Stock- of the Peace for Wilts. Wyndham, Esq., Born 9 Aug., 1804. Died Harry Farr Yeatman | mar. at ton 1819, of Dinton. Bur. at Doncaster, and bur. at of Stock House, Dorset. | Stockton, at Stockton, 1838. Stockton, Noy., 1840, Bothin the Commission of the Peace for Dorset and Somerset. j By the Rev. Thomas Miles. 203 ' seems to have been partly built on the site of an older edifice, an interesting portion of which remains. The first of the family of Poticary noticed at Stockton, is Jerome, described in the parish _ register as an eminent clothier, and evidently a person of some importance. The inscription on his monument shews that he was 4 . in an extensive business, part of which was carried on at _ Stockton, then a much more populous place than it is at present. ‘The register shows that many of the inhabitants were at that time weavers. Jerome Poticary was probably the builder of the more _ modern part of the house, as there was a date over the old porch 1587. He was twice married, and had a numerous issue. There seems to have been some awkwardness connected with his second _ marriage which took place within three months after the death of his first wife. The Poticarys were allied by marriage with some _ respectable Wiltshire families, and the following entry in the register of burials at Stockton, shews a connection of some kind _ with the Topps :— - Joanna Poticary, an aged Matron and Widow, of the Topp family, and ‘relict of Elisha Poticary, descended from the Poticarys of Wilton; buried in the Church March 1st, 1603, aged 80 and upwards.” ee There was also a sort of connection with the Topp family through ; the Hoopers of Boveridge. James Hooper, brother of Mrs. Topp, married the sister of Mary, wife of the first Christopher Poticary. The Poticarys of Wylye are probably a branch of this family, as Eleanor, daughter of Jessie Poticary of Wylye, was buried here in 1611, aged 17. The last notice of the family in the parish register is the burial of the elder Christopher Poticary in 1650; he died at Heytesbury. His grandson Christopher, was baptized at Stockton in 1639, and probably the family removed from hence to Heytesbury soon after. There is reason to suppose that the Poticarys of Warminster and those of Hookswood near Farnham, ‘Dorset, descended from the Stockton family. 7 The house in which this family resided at Stockton, remained much in its original state till the year 1832, when it was repaired and the interior re-arranged. The part supposed to have been 204 History of the Parish of Stockton, Wilts. timbered building, the remains of a more ancient dwelling. This is an interesting specimen of a very picturesque style of architecture, of which few good examples remain; and there is a tradition in the parish that it was the original manor house of Stockton. The rectory house, a plain brick building, was erected in the year 1790, by the Rev. Henry Good, then Rector. The old par- sonage which stood in the kitchen garden and had fallen to decay, "was occupied in two tenements by cottagers when Mr. Good took the living. The house has been much improved in the interior by Mr. St. Barbe, when Rector. The house on the south side of the church, and the farm attached to it, called in the old parish book Mr. Topp’s lower farm, was purchased of Mr. Lansdown, who married one of the coheiresses of the Topps, by Mr. John Pinchard, probably about 1754. The cottage on the north side of the churchyard was a small farmhouse, held with a copyhold by Mr. Price the Rector, from whom it went to the Pinchard family, and from them returned to the lord of the manor. On the green before the house, were three ancient lime trees, probably planted by Mr. Price. Two of them were cut down in 1829. The other, which had then become a very large tree, was cut down in Decem- ber, 1842. In the garden was a very large old walnut tree, which was blown down by a gale from the north, April 29th, 1835. The four yew trees on the green before the cottage, were planted by William King, late gardeney at Stockton house, and cannot be much more than fifty years old. The stone in the centre of the trees, is the base of the village cross. The steps on which it stood were removed within memory. The porch in front of the cottage was built in 1846, to preserve the ancient carving placed over the entrance. It is part of a chimney-piece found at Codford farm- house, when a part of it was taken down and re-built. The arms were those of the Hungerford family, who were in no way con- nected with Codford St. Mary; and it is not unlikely that this chimney-piece was removed to Codford, when the old mansion house at Heytesbury was destroyed. I learn from Canon Jackson of Leigh Delamere, that the arms on the carved stone of the porch door at the cottage, are—1. Hungerford, impaling Zouche, By the Rev. Thomas Miles. 205 viz., 10 bezants and a canton ermine. These are the arms of Sir Edward Hungerford of Heytesbury, who married Jane, daughter of Lord Zouche of Harringworth, Northamptonshire. Sir Edward Hungerford died cir. 1521. 2. Hungerford, impaling Sandes, viz., a cross raguly. These are the arms,of Walter Lord Hungerford of Heytesbury, son of Sir Edward above named; created a Baron by Henry VIII., and beheaded in 1540. He was thrice married, and his second wife was Alice, daughter of Lord Sandes of the Vine. On the attainder of Walter Lord Hungerford, Heytesbury finally passed from the family. Stockton almshouse was endowed by John Topp, Esq., the founder of the manor house, who by his will dated 16388, left £1000 in trust for some charitable purpose, to be chosen by his executors. The charity money was not made use of for several years after the death of Mr. Topp; but in 1657, the surviving trustees purchased the farm called “‘Speary Well,” in the parish of Mottisfont, Hants, with which they endowed the almshouse built about this time. In 1658, farmer Pile rented Mottisfont at £50 per annum. In 1670, it was lowered to £40. (From an old paper at Stockton house.) In 1685, the tenant was allowed £3 11s. 6d. for maintaining a soldier one month. John Topp, jun., brother of the founder, gave also by deed an annuity of £4 out of a close at Stockton, called “ Barnes Close,” formerly the land of Christopher Poticary, as the stipend for the steward to collect the rents and manage the affairs of the charity. Martin Tanner was the first person appointed to the office of steward. The original almshouse consisted of the six tenements in the court; and in 1714, the trustees directed that all the stock in hand except £250, should be expended in adding to the building, so that the number of dwellings might be increased to eight. On _ the 2nd of August, 1668, articles and constitutions for the better government of the almsmen and women, and of the lands and revenues of the almshouse, were made and established by John Topp, Esq., of Stockton, son and heir of Edward Topp, Esq., of Stockton, deceased; Thomas Lambert, Esq., of Boyton; Mathew Davis of Shaston, Dorset, Esq.; Henry Whitaker of Motcomb, 206 History of the Parish of Stockton, Wilts. Dorset, Esq.; Edward Hooper of Hurne Court, Hants, Esq. ; James Harris of Sarum, Gent.; and John Murvine of Pitwood, Gent., Governors of the hospital or almshouse of Stockton. The last of these articles speaks of the original governors having ap- pointed a warden to receive the rents and pay the poor; and it orders that office to be discontinued, and its duties to be executed by the steward, for whom a provision of £4 a year had been made by John Topp, Esq., late deceased brother of the founder. Martin Tanner was the first steward of the almshouse. It is stated in an old paper at Stockton house, that in 1711 “the accounts of Martin Tanner, first steward of the almshouse, were finally settled after his death, and after holding that office fifty-three years.” The succession of legal trustees having been lost, Harry Biggs, Esq., as lord of the manor, acted in the capacity of trustee for several years before the visitation of the Charity Commissioners in the year 1833, when a new trust was appointed, and the original articles for the regulation of the almshouse, with a few alterations, were re-established by the trustees. The new trustees were, Harry Biggs, Esq., lord of the manor; Henry Godolphin Biggs, Esq. ; Lord Heytesbury; Aylmer Bourke Lambert, Esq., of Boyton House; William Temple, Esq., of Bishopstrow; and the Rector of Stockton and Codford St. Mary, for the time being. The in- strament of foundation orders that eight poor persons, either men or women, of the parishes of Stockton and Codford St. Mary; single and above the age of 60 years, should be received into the house, and be allowed two shillings a week, and a blue gown or cloak once a year. Kinsmen, or descendants of the founder, were by his will to have the first claim. It appears from an old paper at Stockton house, that in 1685, Luke Allen of Hindon was received into the almshouse for the default of a kinsman or any one in Stockton or Codford St, Mary better qualified. In 1700, William Yates of Chilmark was admitted for want, &c. In 1704, William Chiveral of Hindon, and Mary Aubery of Shrewton, were admitted for want, &c. The remainder of the income arising out of the trust property, to be expended in apprenticing boys belonging to the two parishes. For many years past the inmates of the alms- se — v is 1 salen alias By the Rev. Thomas Miles. 207 house have had an allowance of 4s. 6d. a week, fuel, and a gown or cloak each once a year; to which has been added by the new trust, a hat and two pairs of stockings each for the men, and a beaver bonnet end two pairs of stockings each for the women, to be given once a year. There is no surplus income to expend in apprenticing boys. The almshouse contains eight dwellings of two rooms each; six of the dwellings are built round three sides of the court, which is enclosed on the fourth side by a wall, in the centre of which is the entrance gate. To this the original building, the two dwellings ordered to be erected in 1714, form wings. Behind is a large orchard, of which a portion is attached to each dwelling. An old avenue of elm trees formerly divided the orchard into two parts; the trees were cut down when the buildings were repaired in 1833. The front of the almshouse is a picturesque specimen of the old English style, and presents the gable ends of the two sides of the court united by a coped wall, in the centre of which is an ornamented arched gateway. In the pediment over the arch are the arms of Topp, quartering, semée of fleur de lis, a lion rampant; below the shield is the motto “ Fortior est qui se;” probably the vulgate version of Proverbs, 16, 32. Round the coat of arms in a circle, is this inscription :—“ Dispersit, dedit pauperi- bus; Justicia ejus manet in seculum.—Psalm xii., v. 9.” Over the doorway leading from the court to the orchard, is an ornamented shield of stone, on which are painted the arms of Topp; impaling azure, a chevron between 3 pheons or. These are probably the arms of the person who endowed the steward’s office. In the year 1833, the almshouse was repaired, and suffered some improvements which materially injured the picturesque effect of the building. The comfort of the old people was much increased by these im- provements, and especially by the fire-grates and the allowance of coals instead of faggot-wood, which had hitherto been supplied for fuel. But this change has done away with the wood feast, an ancient festival at the almshouse. Formerly when all the wood was brought home, a day was fixed by the steward for dividing it among the inmates, who on that day kept open house, and enter- tained their friends who came to assist in the division and pile the 208 History of the Parish of Stockton, Wilts. faggots. Since coals have been supplied for fuel, this gala day has been discontinued. The inmates of this almshouse are remarkable for longevity, especially the women, many of whom within the last twenty years have attained to extreme old age. A great majority have been above 80, at the time of their decease. In the year 1846, the following aged persons were in the alms- house :— Sarah Roxby, admitted 1826, aged 91. Elizabeth King, aged 90. John Sparey, aged 86. John House died in 1845, aged 85, having never, to his know- ledge, taken any medicine since he was a boy. Tue Recrors or Stockton. Sir Richard Hoare, in his “ History of Modern Wilts,” gives a list of the Rectors of Stockton from the year 1307, in which he has omitted Mr. Terry, the earliest Incumbent of whom there is any memorial in the parish. The “Wiltshire Institutions,” printed by Sir Thomas Phillips, 1825, mentions, “‘ Jacobus, Dei gratia Akardensis Episcopus, instituted to the Rectory of Stockton in 1447. William Mychell was instituted to the same benefice in 1454.” The following list is supplied by the Parish Registers :— Joun Terry, M.A., Instituted 1590. Buried 1625. CurisToPHER GREEN, D.D., Instituted 1625. Buried at Christchurch, Oxford. (William Creed, D.D., is said to have been Rector of Stockton about 1660. He was buried in the Cathedral at Oxford in 1663.) SamveL Wruicut, B.D., Institution uncertain. Buried July, 1663. Samur. Fy er, M.A., Instituted 1663. Buried 23rd May, 1703. Joun Fyxer, Instituted 1703. Buried 5th January, 1730. Davip Pricer, L.L.B., Instituted 1730. Buried 1771. FromE, ——, was Rector about 3 months. Epwarp Inves, Instituted ————-. Died 1788. Henry Goon, B.A., Instituted 1789. Buried 1824, Roger Frampton St. Barss, M.A., Instituted 1824. —? Of Mr. Terry, the parish register gives the following brief memoir :— “John Terry, Rector of Stockton, was born in the year 1555 ‘Familia eminenter ingenua’ at Sutton, near Odiham in Hampshire. He was the eldest son of his father, and was educated at Winchester, By the Rev. Thomas Miles. 209 and took two degrees in arts at New College, Oxford, where he was a Fellow. He was ordained by John Pearce, Bishop of Sarum, and soon after became domestic chaplain to Thomas Cooper, Bishop of Winchester, who presented him to the Rectory of Stockton. He married Mary White of Stanton St. John near Oxford, by whom he had six sons, who all except the eldest, with his wife survived him. He died of an atrophy the 10th of May, 1625, and was buried by his own desire among the poor, in the churchyard, near to his own house, by Thomas Crockford, Vicar of Fisherton Delamere, after a sermon preached by John Antram, Minister of Langford, die Veneris 13th May, in his 70th year.” Mr. Terry published in 1600, a work with this title, ‘The trial of Truth, containing a plain and short discovery of the chiefest points of the doctrine of the great Anti-Christ, and of his adher- ents the false teachers of these last times.” It is dedicated to “Henry, Lord Bishop of Sarum.” In 1662 he published the second part of “The Trial of Truth,” dedicated to Dr. Reyes, Ot Oa Ne i ee a ee Ae Warden of New College, Oxford. The six sons of Mr. Terry were all baptized at Stockton; the eldest, Stephen, was baptized 20th August, 1592. The baptism of the youngest son is thus entered :— “ Alter Stephanus Terry, born 25th August, baptized 31st August, 1608 ; so named in memory of the former Stephen, a very hopeful studious youth, who died at Oxford this year 1608, on the 28th July, in his 16th year.” In the Commissioners’ report of Charities in Hampshire, it is mentioned that about 1625, John Terry, Clerk, being seized of a yearly rent charge of 4 nobles, arising out of messuages and lands in Alton, Hants, gave it to the poor of Long Sutton, Hants. It is not unlikely that this John Terry was the Rector of Stockton, and that the family of Terry still existing near Odiham, are in some way connected with him. Mr. Terry was the friend and patron of the Rev. Thomas Crockford, who transcribed in Latin the earliest register of this parish, and made the entries for several years in a way that gives to the register, almost the value of a history of the parish at that period. Sir Richard Hoare says it is the most curious register he had met with. Mr. Crockford also 210 History of the Parish of Stockton, Wiits. made the entries in the registers of Wylye and Fisherton for several years. He gives the following account of himself in the register of Fisherton Delamere. Thomas Crockford was born in 1580, the son of Richard Crockford, Yeoman, of Wargrave, Berks. He was of Magdalen College, Oxford, where he was elected Scholar in 1597. He was ordained by Bishop Cotton of Sarum, in 1603, and officiated occasionally in the churches round Stockton. About 1602, he became schoolmaster of Stockton, where he resided fourteen years, six years an inmate with Mr. Terry at the Parsonage. In August, 1612, he married at Stockton, Johanna Alford, daughter of Thomas Alford, of Mere, Clothier; and in 1613, was presented to the Vicarage of Fisherton Delamere, by William, fourth Marquess of Winton, and was inducted by Mr. Terry. He died 25th March, and was buried at Fisherton, 2nd April, 1634. There is a curious monument to two of his children, who died infants, attached to the east end of the chancel at Fisherton. Dr. Green, who succeeded Mr. Terry, was a Predendary of Bristol, and was sequestered by the Parliament during the Great Rebellion. A. Wood says of him, that he was a learned and godly man, and that he died in 1658. The following curious particulars are from the “State Papers’ Collection.” “Grievances of the Wiltshire Clergy in the reign of Charles the First. Grievances threatened and attempted to bee put upon the Clergie of ye Diocese of Sarum, Cou. Wilts. 1.—Dr. Greene’s curate (who yeeldeth to register all passports made for vagrants, and to make them also if hee bee not lett by the proper businesse of his callinge), hath been required to provide a bcoke for that purpose at his own proper charge. 2.—Dr. Greene’s servants have been required in the right of their master, to mende the common high waies, and threatened with great penaltie for not obeyinge. 3.—Dr. Greene hath been required to contribute with the Laytie —_— By the Rev. Thomas Miles. 211 to the common stocke of match and gunpowder for the country. 4.—Attempt hath beene made to cause Dr. Greene to contribute with ye parishioners to the King’s Bench Marshalsie and maimed soldiers whiche thing Mr. John Toppe, high sheriffe, hath effected in one or two other parishes where he hath to doe. 5.—Dr. Greene hath beene required to pay to his Maties pro- Vision. 6.—Dr. Greene’s servant, his right hand for temporall affaires, hath beene threatened upon any presse to bee sent for a soldier, - and it is openly professed that it is as lawfull to presse clergie- mens servants, as lay mens. The encouragement in all these proceedings is both given and taken by a pretended decision of all the judges in the lande under theire handes (upon occasion of some differences betweene the clergie and freeholders of Dyrrham), wherein they say that the glebe of rectories is subject to all manner of payments as far forth as farmers and other possessions of lay men, a copy whereof Mr. John Toppe, Highe Sheriffe of the Co. of Wilts hath gotten and divulged thereby possessinge men that all these vexatious proceedings are according to lawe.” “The Grievances of Dr. Green, Parson of Stockton, in the County of Wilts. 1.—Dr. Green’s curate was foure severall tymes served with common warrants, by the Tithingman, under the justices handes to appear before them for refusing to wryte passportes for vagrantes, ex-officio, and to receyve into Dr. Green’s house (then resident at Bristol,) for an apprentice, a girl of the age of 9 or 10, dissolutely bred, the daughter of a notorious harlott (though Dr. Green pro- ffered money to place her elsewhere with some trade). 2.—One of these common warrants was for Dr. Green himself as well as for his curate, one other for the curate to answere matters of misdemeanour ; whereas he appearing, no other thing could be ob- jected against him, save that he refused to make passportes for, &c. Two of them were disgracefully served on the curate upon Sunday, immediately after evening prayer in the churchyard in the face of the whole parish. 212 History-of the Parish of Stockton, Wiits. 3.—Dr. Green’s servant hath been often required to keep watch and warde at night in the behalfe of his master, or to hire one in his roome. He also was taken from his worke! by a justice his warrant, to appear before him at Salisbury, 10 miles off, there to put in bayle to answer at the next quarter sessions (12 miles off) if he refuse to take into his master’s house the said girl for an ap- prentice, and appearing at the quarter sessions was roughly handled, &c., because he would not yield to receyve the s* apprentice, and at last committed to the common gaol among theives, &c., ad placitum curiz et quousque solvit 12* (these are the wordes of the warrant), to those that did watch for him and his master Mr. Dr. Green, at Stockton, from whence he was not freed, untill after two dayes and two nightes imprisonment. He payed the 12°. 4,—This sessions made an order against Dr. Green unheard, that if he refused the said girle for his apprentice, he should be bound over to the next quarter sessions for a contempt. Dr. Creed was Rector of Stockton for a very short time about 1660. He was a person of eminence, a scholar, an eloquent preacher, and a faithful adherent to the royal cause. He was born at Reading, and was of St. John’s College, Oxford, which society presented him to the Rectory of Codford St. Mary in 1645; and though a Royalist, he held it through the great Rebellion. After the Restoration, he became Regius Professor of Divinity at Ox- ford, Archdeacon of Wilts, Prebendary of Sarum, and Canon of Christchurch, Oxford, where he died, and was buried in the Cathedral. His wife and some of his children are buried in the chancel at Codford St. Mary. Dr. Creed among his numerous preferments, is said to have been Rector of Boyton, for a short time. The Rev. Samuel Fyler was succentor of Salisbury Cathe- dral, and is said to have been a learned man and a strenuous defender of the Catholic Faith, against the Arians and Socinians. He published a sermon, of which a copy is in the University Library at Cambridge, with this title, ‘‘ A sermon preached in the Cathedral Church, at the Visitation of Seth, Lord Bishop of Sarum, Chancellor of the Garter; by Samuel Fyler, A.M., Rector of 1At ye Devizes, Apr. 19, 1631, By the Rev, Thomas Miles. 213 _ Stockton, in the County of Wilts; Sep. 13th, 1680: London, , printed by E. T. & R., for Thomas Flesher, 1682.” Another publication of Samuel Fyler, a copy of which is in the _ British Museum, has this odd title, ‘“‘ Longitudinis invent expli- - eatio non longa,’ or Fixing the volatilized, and taking time on : tiptoe, briefly explained; by which rules are given to find the _ longitude at sea by, as truly and as exactly as the latitude is found i by the star in the tayle of Ursa Minor, called the Pole Star. _ ‘Nauta sciens modo, si vigilans, dominabitur astris;’ by Samuel Fyler, M.A., Rector of Stockton, in the County of Wilts: London, printed for the author, in year 1669.’ Samuel Fyler married Mary, only daughter of Thomas Hyde, D.D., Precentor of Salisbury, who was probably one of the Hydes of Heale, and related to the great Lord Clarendon. Mrs. Fyler died in 1676, having been ‘the mother of eight children, all baptized and regis- tered at Stockton. John, the youngest son, succeeded his father as Rector of Stockton, and Samuel, the eldest son, was presented in 1701 to the Rectory of Orcheston St. George, on the death of Edward Lambert, by Thomas Lambert, Archdeacon of Sarum, Thomas Lambert, Esq., and Mary St. Barbe, widow. He was buried at Orcheston St. George, 26th Nov., 1727. Frances, one of the daughters, born 1668, was married 8th of June, 1697, to Charles Mason, Gentleman, of Gillingham, Dorset. She was buried at Orcheston St. George, 26th July, 1719. Repentance Fyler, the youngest daughter, born 1671, was married at Orcheston St. George, : by licence, 16th February, 17138, to Robert Woryan, Rector of Linkinholt, Hants. Of John Fyler, Rector of Stockton, nothing is ‘ $ known. He was the youngest child of his Father, and was born on Christmas day, 1673, the survivor of twins. He succeeded to the living 1703, and died in January, 1730. By Ann his wife, he had seven children, baptized and registered at Stockton. David Price, L.L.B., of Christchurch Oxford, was 35 years Rector of Stockton. He was previously Rector of Portland, Dorset. He was twice married. By his second wife, Anne, who died 1760, he had two daughters; one of them died single in ; the other married William Wansboro’ Penchard, Gentleman, of Stockton, “ by whom she had a son, John Penchard of Taunton, Solicitor, and ec t VOL. XII.—NO. XXXy. R 214 History of the Parish of Stockton, Wiits. two daughters, who both died single. She died in 1822 aged 88 years. Her son Mr. John Penchard died in 1841, leaving issue. Of Mr. Froome nothing is known. The Rev. Edward Innes was Rector of Devizes, where he resided, and held that living with Stockton. He had a daughter married to the Rev. John Haseland, and a son George Innes, who was Master of the Free School at Warwick, and was presented to the Rectory of Hilperton near Trowbridge, in 1799; besides other children. Mr. Innes allowed the rectory house to go to decay. The Rev. Henry Good, B.A., succeeded Mr. Innes in 1788, and died at Salisbury in 1824. He was the son of Henry Good, D.D., of Wimborne Minster, Dorset, by his wife Anne, who survived him and died at Stockton in 1817, aged 90. Mr. Good married Eleanor, widow of Austin, by whom sne had a daughter, Cooth Anna Austin, the wife of William Whapshare, Vicar of Chittern, Wilts. They both died young, leaving issue four children. Mr. Good had four sons. The eldest, Henry, is one of the Incumbent Ministers of Wimborne Minster, Dorset. He married a daughter of Berkley, of Cotterstock, Co. Northamp- ton, and had issue. The other three sons of Mr. Good died young and s.p. Mrs. Good a very worthy person, died in St. Anne’s Street Salisbury, and was buried at Stockton in 1836. Mr. Good rebuilt the Rectory House in 1790; and during his incumbency, the tythes were commuted for land. The Rev. Roger Frampton St. Barbe, M.A., succeeded Mr. Good in 1824. He was of Catherine Hall Cambridge, B.A. in 1816, M.A. in 1824. He was ordained in 1816 by Dr. Tomline Bishop of Lincoln to the curacy of Little Barford, near St. Neots, Co. of Huntingdon, and was presented by the Bishop to the Rectory of Sudbrooke near Lincoln in 1817. On the translation of Bishop Tomline to the See of Winchester, Mr. St. Barbe became his domestic Chaplain, at Farnham Castle, where he resided till he was presented to the living of Stockton. He mar- ried Harriet, daughter and heir of Thomas Money Esq., of Lincoln. Mr. St. Barbe published in 1819, a Sermon on Superstition, preached in the Cathedral Church Lincoln, at the Visitation of the Archdeacon of Stow, on May 27th 1819, dedicated to the Arch- deacon and clergy and published at their request. There is a | | eT ee Se — = By the Rev. Thomas Miles. 215 memoir of Mr. St. Barbe, in the “Gents. Mag,” Dec. 1854. The Rev. Thomas Miles, M.A. was presented to the living of Stockton, on the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. St. Barbe in 1854, by the Right Rev. Charles Sumner Bishop of Winchester. The Parish Register of Stockton commences in the year 1590, with the entry of the second marriage of Jerome Poticary, with Eleanor Fooks. The early part was transcribed, and the entries made for several years by the Rev. Thomas Crockford, of whom an account is given above. The first register book is very curious and interesting. Among the marriages are the following, con- nected with the Bennetts of Norton :— ©1677. William Bishop of Chilcomb, Dorset, Esq., and Patience Bennett, married Jan’. 7th, 1686. William Bennett of Norton, Esq., and Patience Bishop of Shaston, Dorset, married Oct. 5th. 1661. Thomas, son of Sir Seymour Pile, Bart., and Lady Elizabeth his wife, Baptized Dec. 27th. 1662. Thomas, son of Sir Seymour Pile, Bart., Buried Oct. 4th.” It does not appear how Sir Seymour Pile was connected with Stockton, unless he resided in the Manor House, in the absence of the Topps. Sir Seymour Pile was probably the second son of Sir Francis Pile of Compton Beauchamp, Berks, created a Baronet in 1628. He married a daughter of Sir Francis Popham of Littlecot, Wilts, and died 1635. There is an old book of parish accounts, including those of the churchwardens and overseers, which contains many particulars connected with the history of Stockton, and several curious entries. This book was long in the possession of Mr. Penchard of Taunton, who returned it to the parish in 1835, and it is now in the custody of the Rector. The churchwardens’ accounts commence in the year 1660. Tue Scuoot Hovsz. In the year 1861, the school-room, which had been much wanted in the parish, was made out of some old buildings, consisting of a cottage, shop, &c., that had been held as a copyhold, and occupied for many years by a family named Humphries. This copyhold fell this year to the Lord of the Manor, who allowed the Rector to become yearly tenant of the cottage, garden, and out-offices, in order that they might be converted into a school-house. R2 216 On an Anglo-Saxon Charter relating to the Parish of Stockton, in Gilts, By the Rev. W. H. Jonzs, M.A., F.S.A., Vicar of Bradford on Avon. Magazine,” will, it is hoped, be an acceptable addition to its early annals. It will also have an additional interest from the fact, that it was in great part from information derived from the late much esteemed Rector of Stockton, the Rev. T. Miles, that the compiler of the present paper was indebted for its interpretation. In company with him, but a few months before his decease, the writer drove or walked over a large portion of the boundary-line of the parish, and with his local knowledge and ready help succeeded in identifying many of the places mentioned in the Charter. The Charter is found at fo/. 86 of the Codex Wintoniensis (Add. MS. 15350 in Brit. Mus.), and has been printed by Kemble in the Cod. Dipl. (No. 1078), and by Thorpe, in his Diplomatarium Anglicum (p. 148). The grant, which is itself an ancient one of the date A.D. 901, carries back the history of Stockton to the days of Alfred the Great. In that king’s days it had belonged toa certain noble named Wulfhere, and to his wife, but subsequently for some act of disloyalty or treachery, was forfeited to the Crown.! 1The words of the charter are as follows,—‘‘Ista...tellus primitus fuit praepeditus a quodam duce, nomine Wulfhera, et ejus uxore, quando ille utrumque et suum dominum regem A‘lfredum et patriam ultra jusjurandum quam regi et suis omnibus optimatibus juraverat sine licentia dereliquit: tune etiam, cum omnium judicio sapientium Gewisorum et Mercensium, potestatem et hereditatem dereliquit agrorum: nunc vero in calce hujus syngraphe legenti- bus et audientibus omnibus patet quia omnibus illis antiquis libris, si quis habeat, sit proscriptum, et nil ultra prevaleant in modico vel in magno,” — os “~o% 4% On an Anglo-Saxon Charter 217 By King Edward the Elder, the son of Alfred the Great, the estate was given to one Aithelwulf, and by him granted to Deorswith, probably his wife. with full power to dispose of the same as she might think fit. This appears from the following statement which immediately follows the recital of the boundaries of the estate. Dis gewrit cy’ Dedrmddes foresprece and ASulfes ymb Set land wt Wilig; Set is Set Adulf hit gesealde Dedrswide on 4gene wht td atednne swa hire ledfost weere, egder ge on hire lyfe ge efter hyre lyfe, and 4geaf hire Sa beec Sy ilcan deg Se hi man him geaf, on %issa manna gewitnesse. This writing makes known the agreement of Deormod and ABthulf concerning that land at Wily; that is, that Aithulf gave it to Deorswith as her own possession, to dispose of as to her was most desirable, either during her life or after her life, and gave her the deeds on the same day that they were given to him, in the witness of these men. The names of the witnesses follow, amongst which are Edweard, “the King,’—Aithelweard, the king’s son; Deormod, Ordgar, Ordlaf, and several others, each describing himself as “ Dux ;”— together with a considerable number, each placing the title Minister ” after his name. | It would appear probable that, in the exercise of her right, Deorswith granted this estate to the Monastery of St. Swithin, Winchester. It is accounted for in Domesday Book! as having belonged in the time of Edward the Confessor to that monastery, and is there called Srorruns. It was still assessed at ten hides, just as in the original Charter it is described as “‘ ¢en cassates (=hides) by Wyly.” There is a rubric subjoined to the Charter which seems at yariance with this conjecture. It runs thus, “ Dis is Sera land boe to bi Wilig Se EAdweard cing gebdcade AiSelwulf bisceope on ace yrfe.” [This is the Charter of the land by Wily that King Edward granted to Bishop Aithelwulf as a perpetual 1Jones’ Domesday for Wilts, p. 21. 218 On an Anglo-Saxon Charter inheritance.] But there was certainly no Bishop who held the see of Winchester of that name during the reign of Edward the Elder, and hence the natural inference is, that the person referred to as the grantee was the same as is described in the earlier part of the Charter as Aithelwulf, and afterwards, in the gift to Deorswith, as Asthulf, or Athulf. This variation of spelling is often to be observed in these Charters. The one before us is of course a tran- script, made in the twelfth century, and by a scribe who was probably altogether ignorant of the Anglo-Saxon language. This last fact alone is sufficient to account for the eccentric way in which words are spelt, and for the many corruptions which we find in the documents contained in the old Chartularies. The land-limits of Stockton are thus described in the charter: — /Hrest on Codanford; Sonne andine andlang Wilig on Hyssa pol; det on Sere gebyge; Set be edstan Cynelminghém ofer Sa meede on Hafocwylle; Sonne andlang merfyr on greatan porn; Sonne andlang weges on landscoreblinc;! Sonne andlang scorehlinces on Alercum: Sonne ofer Radine sweoran ofer Na- cum on TrindleA; Sat swa on Wilafes tre6w; Saxt ofer Sone héSfeld on dicgeat ; andlang dic on Wylle-weg; Set andlang Wrylle-weges on Wi- dan-cum ; Sonne andlang weges eft on Odenford; of Odanforda on Codanford. Set west First at Codford; then adown along the Wyly to Hyssa-pool ; then to the bight (=bending) ; then by the east of Kynelming- ham over the mead to Hawk well; then along the mere-furrow to the great thorn; then along the way to the land-share-linch; then along the share-linch to Alercomb; then over the neck of Rawdown over Nacomb to Trindley; then so to Wilaf’s tree; then over the heathfield to the dike-gate; then west along the dyke to the Welsh- way ; then along the Welsh-way to Widcomb; then along the way again to Odford; from Od- ford to Codford. 1 Land-score-hlinc,—that is, I believe, literally, the “‘ dinch” that *‘ divides ” (scéran=to share, or divide) the ‘‘land.” By the term hlinc (=linch) is meant a ridge or rising ground, either natural or artificial, used as a means of marking points of boundary. Junius in his Etymologicon defines it, — agger limitaneus parechias, &c., dividens,” relating to the Parish of Stockton, in Wilts. 219 It is easy to trace to this day the boundary-line indicated by the Charter, and to fix with tolerable certainty several of the points named. It commences from the north-western extremity of the parish where Stockton, Codford St. Mary, and Sherrington meet. From this point (Codanford), we go eastward down “ along the Wyly river” till we come to a place called in the Charter Hyssa-po/, a name now lost, but probably at the bend of the river, near where Stockton house now stands. Then we reach the ge- byge, (the bight, or turning,) which is most likely the north-east point, close by Bapton, whence the boundary ¢urns, and goes in a southern direction. The points named as lying along the eastern boundary of Stock- _ton cannot easily be identified, until we come to what is called in the Charter Nd-cum, and which may possibly be a clerical error for Rd-cim; and so what is now called Ro-chum. The next points Trind-/ea, and Wilafes-treow were probably at or near the point where the boundary-line crosses the old Roman road, which is still clearly to be traced. The former name bears some resemblance to the present Hin/ey, (also spelt Hind-ley) which is exactly in this direction. The déc-geat (or entrance to the dyke) is evidently the south-east extremity of the parish, where it meets the Old Dyke (called in the Charter relating to Sher- rington, the immediately adjoining parish on the west, Grimes- dyke)‘ and which is still to be traced from the Dinton Beeches westward. This “old dyke” is the southern boundary of both Stockton and Sherrington, and is distinctly to be seen. Hard by it is the site of an old British Town, lying to the north of Stockton 7 Wood. Then we come to what, both in the Stockton and Sher- rington Charters, is called Wyile-weg, intended, it is believed, for _ Weala-weg (that is Welsh-way, or British way) a very old road 1The Charter relating to Schearntine (—Sherrington) is in the Wilton Chartulary. A copy of the land-limits is given by Sir R. C. Hoare in his Registrum Wiltunense, p.13. The eastern boundary-line which coincides with the western of Stockton is thus given, ‘‘ rest on Odenford; Son heandun - sweoran buat gg and swa up andlang Wille-weges, Son on Grimesdie, -andlang dic, &c.” [First at Odenford (Codford St. Peter), then eastward on the neck of the high down (or hill), and so up along the Welsh-way (or British _ track-way), then to Grimsdike, along the dyke, ko. ag 220 On an Anglo-Saxon Charter. that is still the boundary for nearly a mile between the two parishes.!. The next point, called Widan-cum (=Widcomb), was probably by the pond at the bend of the road. By Odenford is meant Codford St. Peter, a small portion ® of which parish would seem to have touched Stockton; and by Codan-ford, the point from which we started,—that at which the north-western extremity of Stockton touches Codford St. Mary. 1t is certainly a matter of no little interest to be able thus to interpret a Charter granted well-nigh a thousand years ago, and to be justified in drawing the conclusion, that the boundaries of this estate of “ten hides by Wyly,” known now to us for many centuries by the name of Stockton, are substantially the same as in the days of Alfred the Great. We have no records which throw any light as to the period when the divisions of estates were first settled. Most probably these were arranged from the earliest occupation of the country by our English ancestors, and before they were converted to Christianity. Certain it seems, that the bound- aries, once settled, remained unchanged from generation to gener- ation. The fact isin itself a testimony to the deep respect paid by our forefathers to constituted authority and the rights of property ; and, if our conjecture be true as to the great antiquity of the first settlement of the boundaries of these estates, their remaining the same through so many centuries seems indirectly to shew, how natural as well as revealed law speak the same language,—* Cursed is he that removeth his neighbour’s land-mark.”—W. H. Jones. 1Tn a Charter relating to Alton Priors, contained in the Codex Winton, fol, 73 b., and printed by Kemble in the Codex Diplom., No. 1035, we have the expression Weala-wege. In tracing out the boundaries of that parish with a friend, well acquainted with the locality, we came to a point which tradition marks out as an old British road. The spot is close by what is now tortured into Walker’s Hill, though a shepherd, speaking to us of the same place, called it Wale-way Hill. It was, in truth, the old Welsh-way, the ordinary name for the old British roads. ? Since the above was in type, I have learnt that at this very point there is a small triangular piece of ground, having on one side Stockton, on the two others Codford St. Mary and Sherrington, which is assessed for the poor rate still to Codford St. Peter, though no other part of that parish comes within some 500 yards of it, and the tithe from it is paid to the Rector of Codford Sé. Mary. No account can be given now of this curious anomaly, but it isa singular confirmation of the accuracy of our ancient Charter. i Crild- MEATC. l [Chilmark/ | ~ ré Boundaries of Larishes are marked lis - / q THE NAMES OF PLACES ARE GIVEN IN THEIR OLDEST FORM. | A MAP ILLUSTRATING THE ANCIENT CHARTER RELATING TO STOCKTON, MODERN NAMES ARE ENCLOSED WITHIN BRAGKETS. { VENMAW L700 SHPUM a ig eee 221 On the Existing Strncture of Hacock Abbey. By C. H. Taxzor, Esa. Read before the Society at Chippenham, September, 1869. Abbess, and was buried there. It was surrendered to Henry VIIL., in 1589. It was sold about 1644, to Sir William Sherrington, of a Norfolk family, who converted it into a Manor House. It seems that his estates were forfeited in 1548, and re-purchased in the fourth year of Edward VI. The precise date of his alterations is therefore uncertain. Sir William left no issue, and the Abbey was inherited by his brother Sir Henry, in the hands of whose descendants it has since remained. It was garrisoned, during the civil wars, in the reign of @harles I. Having therefore passed through a certain number of vicissitudes, it is remarkable that it should retain so many of its original features. The buildings of monasteries in the Middle Ages occupy, in general, the same positions relatively to the conventual church, whether they lie to the north or the south of that structure. The existing remains of Lacock Abbey are those of the domestic buildings of the Nunnery, situated to the north of the church. These consist of the following :-— 1. Early English buildings, vaulted with stone, which surround the cloister court on the east, north, and west, and form a substructure to the present house. They were probably erected about the same time, shortly after the foundation. 16 Aubrey & Jackson,” p. 91. 222 On the Existing Structure of Lacock Abbey. 2. The Cloisters, erected during the Perpendicular period, com- prising south, east, and north walks. 3. The Refectory and Dormitory, on the north and east sides of the cloister, of which the roofs are Perpendicular. Both the Refectory and Dormitory have been divided by floors at the springing of the roof, the lower part being converted into chambers on one side only, leaving a passage or gallery on the other. .A gallery, apparently the work of Sir William Sherrington, in the sixteenth century, has been inserted in the roof-space of the Dormitory. That of the Refectory has been partially converted into attics, which may possibly have been done rather later. An octagonal tower at the south-east angle of the house, and two ranges of offices, which form another court to the north, are also Sherrington’s work. These remains, of the sixteenth century, are well worthy of attention. The first-floor buildings, west of the cloister, have been re- modelled in the last century. The gallery over the sonth walk of the cloister, and some other parts of the building, have been altered in the present century. I now proceed to describe these buildings in detail, beginning at the south-east angle with those to the east of the cloisters. The first is the Sacristy, and the second the Chapter House. There is a general similarity of design between these two buildings. Both are of three bays east and west, and two north and south. Both have their western pillars octagonal, and their eastern ones clustered piers with strong arches and responds, which were required to carry the main wall of the Dormitory. All the principal buildings on this side, are now open to the terrace, this alteration having been made apparently in the last century, by removing the windows and cutting away the wall in some cases up to the very wall-rib of the vaulting. The windows were probably lancets; and the Sacristy and Chapter House may have had two in each bay. a By C. H. Talbot, Esq. 223 Tue Sacristy. The vaulting of this room is very plain, the ribs being simply chamfered and not moulded, and the manner in which two of the diagonal ribs spring from the eastern wall is decidedly clumsy. A recent excavation has disclosed the moulded base of the octagonal or western pillar, which had been entirely concealed by rubbish, and has determined the original level of the floor. Amongst the rubbish were found many fragments of paving tiles, and some pieces of Purbeck marble shafts, of small diameter, showing that this material was used in the Abbey. These must have been detached shafts, and may have belonged to the church. The material does not occur in at of the remaining buildings. The clustered pillar has its base at a higher level than the octagonal one, and is supported on a short pier or pedestal of masonry. ‘The responds are similarly treated; but that to the south has its base higher and its shaft shorter than the other. Adjacent to this pillar, a little of the original tile pavement has been found “‘in situ.” It consists of small tiles,apparently alternately black and white or light yellow, set diagonally, and bordered by a band of narrow black tiles. Immediately to the east of this point, the floor must have been at a higher level; and steps probably Jed up to an altar, for the sacristies of abbeys were commonly chapels as well. The piscina for the service of this altar remains; and is of good character, with a “shouldered arch.” The plan of the basin is a trefoil. This piscina forms one composition with a trefoil-headed doorway, that led into the church. There is also a double ambry, of very plain character. The principal doorway, which communicated with the cloister area, is not central. The wall here is very thick, and the arch of the rear-vault, like many other specimens of Early English work in this building, is a single segment of a circle. On the face and soffit of this arch are faint traces of the original painting. The arch of the doorway itself is pointed, but almost a semicircle. -The 224 On the Existing Structure of Lacock Abbey. outer, or principal face, towards the cloister, is now concealed; but as its position coincides with that of one of the vaulting-shafts of the cloister, it is probable that, in common with other Early English entrances, it was altered or destroyed by the Perpendicular builders. There must exist, within the remainder of this west wall of the Sacristy, a vacant space, which communicated by a square-headed doorway with the church. I have conjectured that this may have contained the staircase from the dormitory to the church, which would account for the door of the sacristy not being central. The carved corbels are various in merit. The best are those at the north-west angle, and on the east side. On the north side is an arched recess, an insertion of Perpen- dicular character, and of uncertain use. There is decorative painting on it, in blue and yellow colour, which may be of about the same date. The same painting is seen on an adjacent arch, and on the surface of the vaulting. The buttresses of the sacristy and chapter-house appear to be original, and are very plain. Tuer CuapTrer Howse. The general levels of this room are lower than those of the sacristy. The pillars originally had bases, which have been mutilated and concealed. The character of the vaulting is more advanced in style than that of the sacristy, though there may not be much difference in point of date. All the ribs are moulded, and are the only moulded ribs that occur in the Abbey. The vaulting of the western bay is peculiarly treated. Two ribs spring from the same octagonal pillar, and are carried to two corbels in the western wall, so as to divide what would otherwise form two bays of vaulting into three. This would admit of the typical arrangement of a Chapter House, viz., a large central entrance flanked by two windows. The external arrangement towards the cloister is at present concealed. The usual position for the abbess’s seat would have been opposite ee ee eee errr — By ©. H. Talbot, Esq. 225 the entrance; but, in this instance, the central position of the pillars prevents this arrangement, and it may have been in the centre of the north side, where the wall shows signs of alteration, and where a moulded string-course is omitted, which is continuous on the south side. In this room are preserved two stone coffins, a stone slab with a moulded edge and a peculiar ornament on its sides, which may have formed part of an altar-tomb, and the monumental slab of Ilbertus de Chaz, which was brought from Monkton Farley Priory in the last century. PassAGE FROM THE CLoIsTERS TO THE Hast TERRACE. This passage has a plain barrel vault of pointed section. The entrance from the cloisters is the only Early English door- way of importance that the Perpendicular architects seem to have spared. It has detached shafts, externally, the only examples that remain “in situ.” The capitals have no neck-moulds, and no bases are visible, probably owing to a change in the level of the cloister floor. Tue so-caLteD “ Nun’s Kircuen.” This is a fine room of four bays in length by two in breadth. There are remains of a large hooded fire-place. This may have been shafted. On each side of it were two small stone brackets. It is probably the existence of this fire-place that has caused this room to be considered the abbey kitchen. I should rather suppose it to have been a “‘Common House,” as it seems that such rooms were in use in abbeys, where the inmates might assemble when they had not access to the refectory, and where a fire was main- tained in cold weather.! The windows may have been single lancets. In that on the west side a recessed seat remains, which, till lately, was filled up, a Tinh ©. almost entirely with pieces of encaustic tile. On the east side, part of the rear-vaults and splays of the windows are left. Perpendicular vaulting-shafts have been inserted on this side, and a very heavy flying buttress has been erected externally, 1 Fosbroke, “ British Monachism,” 8rd edition, p. 274. 226 On the Existing Structure of Lacock Abbey. which, from the character of its base-moulding, seems to be Per- pendicular. The reason for these additions is not obvious. In this room is a large trough, cut out of a single stone, which has excited considerable attention. Two Rooms, KNown As “ OLIVER CROMWELL’s STABLEs.” These rooms run east and west, and have a plain barrel vault. The western one communicated with the room last described. The arch of the doorway between the two, is almost semicircular. On the north side of the cloister, beginning at the east end, are the following :— PassAGE FROM CLOISTER TO CouURT-YARD. This room communicated with the so-called “ Nun’s Kitchen,” with the cloister, the cellarage under the refectory, and the present court-yard. It has been used as an ice-house, and is much obstructed internally by a building erected for storing ice. CELLARAGE UNDER THE REFECTORY. This is of four bays in length, on the north side, and two in breadth, one bay being taken off the south-west angle, not improbably to afford room for a staircase from the cloister to the refectory. Tue KitcHen. The present Kitchen, adjoining the Early English buildings on the north and west of the cloister, not improbably occupies the site of the original Abbey Kitchen. My reasons for preferring this site to that of the room which has received the name of “ Nun’s Kitchen,” are these :— 1. This particular position is the usual one for a monastic kitchen, 2. The present kitchen has no other room above it, which is a characteristic of ancient kitchens, while the other is a vaulted room under the dormitory. 3. It is not difficult to imagine how this room may have had a communication with the refectory; whilst the Early English buildings remain very perfect in the neighbourhood of the other, Te eS : By C. H. Talbot, Esq. 227 and there are thcre no signs of any staircase or other communi- cation. The kitchen, at one time, communicated by an oblique passage with the cloister. It retains the large four-centred arch of a fire- place of the 15th or 16th century. WEST SIDE OF THE CLOISTER. The character of the three rooms on this side of the cloister, is very similar. Beginning at the north end. A room of three bays in length and two in breadth, now divided, and used as a servants’ hall and cellar. Its original use is un- certain. It communicates with the cloister. The windows to the cloister area are modern. A passage from the cloister-court, running east and west. This is of two bays, and is now used as a cellar. THe Room Known as ‘*‘Srr WitttAM SHERRINGTON’S.”’ This is nearly square, and vaulted from a single pillar. On the west side are the remains of a hooded fire-place, and a door now walled up, which probably led to other buildings. In the north-west corner is, what appears to be the jamb of an Early English arch, probably shafted. This seems to have been altered for the insertion of a Perpendicular window. There are some other not very intelligible remains which are probably Per- pendicular insertions. On the south side, one of the original windows remains. It is a blunt lancet, now walled up, and is the only one now visible in the abbey. ; In the floor are some tiles, belonging mostly to a pavement of Sir William Sherrington, but disposed in no kind of order. They bear the arms of Sherrington, and Sherrington impaling Farringdon, and the letters W. andG. These stand for William and Grace. Grace Farringdon was his third wife. There is also the crest of Sherrington, with the letters W. S. On the ribs of the vaulting may be traced the Early English 228 On the Existing Structure of Lacock Abbey. ideal joints of red paint. A sketch on the wall, which may repre- sent St. Joseph, appears to be executed in the same colour. I should suppose this room to have formed part of the Abbess’s private lodging. The rooms above-mentioned, with the exception of the kitchen, are all Early English. Toe Assey Cuurcn. Of this building, which was also of the 18th century, the greater part of the north wall remains, forming the south wall of the present house. There are some drawings by Mr. Harrison, an architect employed for the alterations carried out in the present century, which are useful, as showing what then existed, though very inaccurate in the forms of the arches, which are all drawn as four-centred: The church appears to have been a rectangle, without aisles, and vaulted with stone. Internally it must have been about 120 feet long, and more than 30 feet to the crown of the vaulting, of which there were six bays. The wall-rib of the vaulting seems to have been shaved down to the general surface of the wall, and is still very plainly to be traced in the two eastern bays. There were lancet windows on the north side in the four western bays. They reached to the vaulting, but it is uncertain how far they descended. Some of the corbels that carried the wooden roof above the vaulting, remain. In the second bay from the west there was a doorway, which was probably blocked up on the erection of the cloisters. Harrison’s drawing shews another, in the fourth bay, which would agree in position with the east walk of the cloisters, and may have formed the entrance from that side, after their erection. Close to this was the square-headed door, which, as I have suggested, may have communicated with a stair-case to the dormitory. There is a door in the eastern bay, that led from the sacristy. Externally, the lower part of the buttress at the west end seems to be Early English, and the base of an octagonal pinnacle above may possibly be of the same period. In 17382, this pinnacle retained its pyramidal top. er By C. H. Talbot, Esq. 229 EXTERIOR oF THE NortH WALL oF THE CHURCH. On this side there have been several vertical stone pipes, for carrying off the water from the church roof. I believe them to be uncommon. They were very short, and seem intended to con- vey the water to a roof at a lower level. One remains, near Sir W. Sherrington’s tower, and two more are shown as perfect in Harrison’s drawing, but only their upper stones are now left. Under the balustrade, itself a Renaissance addition, is a corbel- table, which may perhaps be Early English. If it be so, then that in the same position on the south side, has been removed from the south wall of the church. THE CLOISTERS. The cloisters form three sides of a square. There are no signs of the fourth side having been erected, though it must have been intended, aud there is some disagreement in the relative positions of the buttresses at the north-west and south-west angles. Beginning at the west end of the south walk, the first two bays are transitional from Decorated to Perpendicular; the arches are two-centred, and the vaulting springs from piers, with four small vaulting-shafts attached. In the angle, a winding stair-case of _ the same date, ascends to the floor above, and probably led to the _ abbess’s private chambers. Under the second bay isa stone slab which once held a Per- ) pendicular brass, to the memory of the foundress Ela Countess of Salisbury. It has been probably removed from its original position in the church. The inscription has been published. The mason’s marks still remain upon many of the arches. The remainder of the cloister is mostly of one character, of rather late Perpendicular. The arches are four-centred, and the groining _ springs from single shafts. The design of the windows is rather poor, but that of the interior is very good. I shall not enter on the devices of the bosses of the roof, which _ have been frequently described. At the north end of the east walk I discovered a Perpendicular doorway, which led to a passage, described above. Close to it is YOL XII,—NO, XXXv. s 230 On the Existing Structure of Lacock Abbey. the jamb of an Early English arch, which was shafted, and was probably the original entrance. On this jamb may be traced the Early English painting of ideal stones and joints. The stones were alternately yellow and grey, and a narrow band of lighter yellow or white, bordered by two black lines, formed the joint, another vertical black line bordering the whole. The vaulting between the second and third bays from the west, in the north walk, springs from a corbel instead of a vaulting- shaft. Supposing that there might be a reason for this, I removed the plaster, and discovered a wide Early English arch. There are no signs of an opening on the other side of the wall, and the jambs do not descend to the ground ; I have therefore conjectured that this was a recessed lavatory, with probably two sub-arches and a central shaft; and that after the erection of the cloister, a projecting lavatory may have replaced it. On the arch are traces of painting similar to those mentioned above. The western bay of this walk is walled off from the rest. Here has been some earlier work, apparently transitional between Decor- ated and Perpendicular. Among the fragments preserved in the cloister, I will only mention two stones, which seem to have formed part of the mon- umental effigy of a nun, with a censing angel; and part of a coffin lid, with three incised crosses of early character, which has been described. Tue ReEFEcToRY. The Refectory occupied the whole north side of the cloister court. Externally, the only remains are those of two rose-windows in the south wall, of different radii. These appear to be Perpen- dicular. The internal dimensions must have been about 79 feet by 26. The open timber roof, of Perpendicular date, remains through- out; but attics have been formed under part of it, and it is not easily inspected. There is a tie beam to every second principal, at about 20 feet distance; the intermediate ones having been terminated on short hammer beams, projecting from the wall. In the gallery below a specimen of these may be seen, carved with ee a ae ee ee LC By C. H. Talbot, Esq. 231 the figure of a man holding a shield. It is uncertain whether the others were similar to this or plain. There is also a stone corbel under the tie-beam, at this end, next the wall. It appears to be Perpendicular; but hardly seems suited to the position of the timbers. There are collar-beams, and braces are framed into the principals and collar-beams in the form of an arch. Between these principals there are secondary rafters, framed into the purlins, All these timbers are moulded, Tue Dormirory. The Dormitory occupied the whole east side of the cloister court, and extended still further to the north. There are the remains of a large pointed window at the north end, probably Perpendicular. Internally the dimensions of the dormitory are about 138 feet by 26, and it also retains its Perpendicular roof. The timbers are very plain, with the exception of certain curved braces, which are usual in such roofs, framed into the principals and purlins, and which help to carry the common rafters. These are foliated on the inner edges of the curve. This roof is more difficult of inspec- tion than that of the refectory, owing to the insertion of a 16th century gallery. REMAINS OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. These are the work of Sir William Sherrington. The tower, of three stories, seems to be entirely erected by him. The base- ment is an octagonal room, vaulted with freestone, with heavy ‘ribs. It had only an external entrance. On the first floor is a record room. This also has a very peculiar stone vaulting with pendants. There is a stone table in the centre, with a marble top, supported by satyrs, and ornamented _ with good carving of fruit. Among the carvings of the table and roof are the crests and cyphers of Sir William Sherrington and his wife Grace. The doors of this room are original, and retain some good iron work. In the upper story is a similar table, a good deal mutilated. It has four figures in niches, of which three represented Bacchus, Ceres, and Apicius, and the fourth is not identified. This room $2 232 On the Existing Structure of Lacock Abbey. communicates, by a turret stair, with the leads above. The best external specimens of Sherrington’s windows, are to be seen from the cloister court, in the south wall of the old refectory. An ornament, which is a feature of classical architecture diminished, is used constantly throughout his work. It is a kind of bracket, called, I believe, technically a truss. This ornament, applied to the sides of the mullions and jambs, immediately under the lintel of the windows, takes the place of cusping. Internally, these windows were generally recessed, of which examples may be seen in the “Stone Gallery,” where the upper part of each window has been altered, but the lower part retains a stone shelf supported by the brackets just described. In this gallery there is a good fire-place, with a pattern incised in the hearth-stone, and filled with lead. This is, I believe, unusual, and has a good effect. The gallery in the dormitory roof, remains with no other alteration than the loss of some of its dormer windows. These were half-timbered. The doors retain some good iron work. Tue Court-YARD. On the north and east sides of the court-yard are offices of the sixteenth century, which remain with hardly any alteration. Four- centred arches of good character, and square-headed doorways with classical details, are used indiscriminately. There are some good plain chimneys in the north wing. The space in the roof is lit by dormer windows of half-timbered work. The building is very substantial, and well finished. The chimneys throughout the house, are mostly of this date. They are of various designs, and some of the spiral ones are very good. Of this period also are the carved animals bearing shields, which serve as finials to most of the gables. Besides these, it may be well to mention the conduit house on Bowden Hill, which is Sir William Sherrington’s work, and bore the arms of Sherrington impaling Farringdon.! This, no doubt, +The arms of Sherrington may still be made out. That the sinister bearing was Farringdon, appears from Dingley’s ‘‘ History from Marble,” lately published by the Camden Society, A Paper on Monumental Brasses 233 ‘replaced an earlier building erected by the nuns, and from thence the water-supply of the Abbey is still conveyed. , EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. Many alterations were made in the last century. It will be sufficient to mention the hall, which was remodelled about 1756. It appears to have succeeded an older one, perhaps a private hall of the abbess. On the alterations of the present century it will not be necessary to enter. Some pieces of painted glass, preserved in the hall and galleries, are worthy of notice; and among the pictures, there are some curious portraits painted on panel. Many of these are not iden- tified. That of Henry VIII. is believed to be by Holbein. The caldron made at Malines in Belgium in 1500, has been often described. Some of the principal stones of the Lacock market-cross are preserved; and as a section and elevation exist, drawn to scale by Carter, it would easily admit of restoration. It was rather a plain cross, and apparently of Perpendicular date. A PAPER ON Monumental Brasses im some of the Churches nent Chippenham. By the Rey. Epwarp C. Awpky, Vicar of Kington St. Michael. Read at the Annual Meeting of the Society, at Chippenham, on Wednesday Evening, Sep. 8th, 1869. The writer is indebted for much information to the ‘* Monumental Brasses of Wiltshire,” by Mr. Edward Kite of Devizes, published in 1860 : also to the volume entitled ‘‘ Monumental Brasses and Slabs,” by the Rev. Charles Boutell, M.A , published 1847. HAVE been requested at this Meeting of the Wilts 3 & Archeological Society, to make a few remarks on a strictly archeological subject, the history of some of the oldest memorials of the departed left in our ecclesiastical buildings, MonumMENTAL 234 A Paper on Monumental Brasses Brasses; which, despite of the spoliation of fanaticism in one age, and of ignorance and we may say dishonesty in another, still abound in many parts of our country. A list of more than 2000 has been published as existing still in England; of which more than sixty are in our own county of Wilts, some in our own imme- diate neighbourhood, viz., Bromham, Draycot, Laycock, Dauntsey, &c. In all ages and countries it was and is the custom to raise memorials of the dead. The pillar over Rachel’s grave set up by Jacob at Bethlehem; the Cromilechs in our own country of the most extreme antiquity; the many Barrows on our downs round about Stonehenge and Avebury (which some suppose were themselves sepulchral monuments), all owed their origin to the desire of the survivors to keep in memory those departed, and to mark the spot where their dust was laid. Afterwards when Christianity had become the religion of our land, the dead were laid in the sacred enclosures round the churches then in the churches themselves, where monuments were placed of various sorts and designs. There was placed the stone coffin which contained the body, and on the /id were carved various devices ; the Christian Symbols, and the Warrior’s Sword, and the Bishop’s Pastoral Staff, and sometimes the figure of the deceased cut in stone, recumbent, as large as life. These monuments we see still in our oldest monastic churches and Cathedrals, and some remains of them even in our village churches, going back to the time of the Saxon Kings and the succeeding Normans. To these succeeded brass memorials, which were found more durable and more con- venient. Figures sculptured in relief on the floors of churckes would often be found in the way as filling up the space which was wanted for living worshippers; and thus we may imagine flat slabs and plates of brass or latten, came to be used. They offered no obstruction in the churches, and being engraved and often painted, would serve to enrich and beautify the buildings in which they were placed. The durability also of brass plates made them more suitable as memorials than sculptured effigies. Thus we still find brasses of the 13th or 14th centuries almost as perfect (except their colouring) as when first laid down; while many stone figures are eS —— hl ee lh ¥ in some of the Churches near Chippenham. 235 almost entirely defaced ; many more utterly broken and destroyed. These simple durable and highly effective memorial brasses are interesting to every lover of antiquity, because they show as in a picture those of bygone ages; the Prince, the Noble, the Lady, the Knight, the Artizan, the Ecclesiastic, the Merchant, the Judge— each in their appropriate costume; the flowing robe ornamented with fur and embroidery; the armour of the soldier with its vary- ing fashion according to the age; and the unchanging vestment of the cleric, &c.; and thus over the very spots where their ashes lie, and have lain for centuries, we have representations not fanciful but, real of those commemorated. Shakespeare has spoken of these Monumental Brasses, and repre- sents the King of Navarre in “ Love’s Labour Lost,” (Act 1. Sc. 1) as saying, “ Let fame that all hunt after in their lives Live register’d upon our ‘ Brazen Tombs,’ And then grace us in the disgrace of death ; When spite of cormorant devouring time The endeavor of this present breath may buy That honour, which shall bate his scythe’s keen edge And make us heirs of all eternity.” Thus the Cormorant Time which has swallowed up so many persons and their works, and his Scythe which has cut down so many mighty ones of the earth, has not been able to swallow up all of these Monumental Brasses, or sweep away the memories of many, whose names yet remain deeply cut on these sepulchral plates. But many useful purposes are served by these Monumental Brasses. To the Genealogist, one who is fond of tracing old families and shewing the descent of living persons from the illustrious or wealthy of olden times, they afford authentic evidence of those long passed away : they tell of the very times in which they lived, and their connection, and property, and descent. To the Herald they furnish examples of the original usage in bearing arms, and give authorities in the appropriation and adjustment of badges and other personal devices. The Architect will see in the beautiful canopies 236 A Paper on Monumental Brasses so often found engraved on these brasses, the details and arrange- ments, and the characteristics of each successive style of his art. The Artist has examples in the earliest of these engravings, of the beauty and excellency of his work; and can trace as they come down nearer to our own times their gradual decay, for so it is that the very oldest are the very best, the very latest, (for they come down as late as the end of the 17th century,) are the most tasteless and barbarous. The Chronologist may be much helped by these monuments, fixing and determining as they often do by dates, the different events of history. The general Antiquary may gain in- formation as to the writing and pointing of the day, as to the formation of Jetters in different ages; their contractions and abbre- viations ; and so be helped in deciphering other ancient engravings, such as seals and medals, the paintings in windows, the illumination of old MSS., &c. Thus we see how these Monumental Brasses are useful as well as interesting. We may learn also a lesson of piety and humility from these me- morials of ancient days. The very attitude of the figure, lying with closed hands as if in prayer, or one hand raised in prayer, the other linked in that of husband or wife (like that of Draycot), or resting on the handle of the sheathed sword, intimating perhaps that the departed gained the victory through the Lorn’s help, and now sleeps in peace, “like a warrior taking his rest, with his mailed coat around him,” suggests religious and humble thoughts: so different from the unbecoming attitude of figures of more recent device, unbecoming in Gop’s house: for we often see modern figures reclining on their elbows as if reposing on a sofa, or sitting in a chair reading or writing a book, or standing in the dress of a soldier, or of a lawyer, or of a senator, as if addressing the senate or the court; utterly unbecoming the sacred building where the monument is placed. No onecan behold the noble Abbey Church at Westminster without being struck by the incongruity of the monuments there; and seeing how many of them disfigure, and we may say, disgrace that splendid building. The piety and religiousness and the humility of many of the inscriptions on these ancient monuments, nobly con- trast with the vanity, and irreverence, and pride, and folly of those EE — ———————————— — - - CU id TES in some of the Churches near Chippenham. 237 of more modern days. The old epitaphs were simply “ Hic jacet weeeees...cujus anime propitietur Deus; Amen—whose soul may God pardon ;” mouth, were the words ‘Domine miserere mei ;” or “ Dne secundum actum meum noli me judicare ;” or “exultabo in Déo, Jesu meo.” In later times they began to speak of the virtues and good deeds of the departed; the prayer of the Publican was changed into the boast of the Pharisee!—till in modern times epitaphs became while on a scroll proceeding from the hands or the > a mixture of absurdity and impiety. Even now our churches and churchyards contain monuments and inscriptions which every one of taste or piety must deplore—and which we hope time’s des- troying hand will at length odditerate. These ancient inscriptions, though tinged perhaps with superstition, are far better than “‘ afflictions sore, long time I bore,” &c.; while a Monumental Brass on the floor, having a figure with hands im prayer, is far more becoming and convenient than a huge ugly monument placed on thé wall, or stopping up a beautiful window, or disfiguring a fine pillar or arch—covered too with doggrel verses all about the virtues of the deceased, and the sorrows of the survivors. Some one speaking of ancient monuments, says, “these must be our admir- ation and ought to be our pattern.” Thus do our ancestors of a truth “being dead, yet speak;” with powerful though silent eloquence. I now say a few words about the brasses in our own neighbour- hood, and firstly of Draycot. Draycor CERNE Brass. This is the figure of Sir Edward Cerne and his wife; he died 1393, she 1419. The family of Cerne were for more than 150 years Lords of Draycot, which is still called from this family Draycot Cerne. He died seized of the manor of Draycot, with the advowson of the church, one messuage and one virgate of land in Langley, and the manor of Avon, which he held in right of his second wife, relict of Sir Walter Paveley. The figure represents 1«And after all upon his Tomb is seen Not what he was, but what he should haye been.” 238 A Paper on Monumental Brasses the armour worn at that period. On the head is the helmet or bascinet, conical in shape; from the rim descends the camail/ or tippet of chain mail, covering the shoulders, and fastened to the helmet by a dace, which is plainly seen. The hauberk or shirt is of ring mail, covered by the jupon or jerkin, escalloped at the lower edge. The arms are encased in plate armour, with joints of mail at the elbows and shoulders. The /egs are encased in plates, with joints of chain at the instep. The feet with pointed sollerets, riveted and jointed. The long straight sword is attached to the belt on the left, while on the right is attached the short sword or miserecorde, or “ dagger of mercy,” which was used to give the Jast stroke, unless the foe cried for mercy. The /eft hand is in a gauntlet uplifted on the breast, while the right hand grasps that of his wife. She is habited as a widow with the wimple and coverchef; a loose robe with tight sleeves fastened by a cord with slide and tassels; her head resting on a cushion with chequered embroidery. The in- scription is in Norman French :—“Monn Sire Edward Cerne chivaler et Elyne sa Femme gist icy: de les queux almes Deux p sa pyte eyt mei: Amen.” The shields of arms which were at each corner of the stone slab have been torn away; as also the crest, which from the shape of the matrix, is supposed to have been a demi-lion rampant, on a helmet. There was another brass near, which Aubrey speaks of, that of Philippa de Cerne, daughter of Sir Edward: which was in the church within the memory of old persons—now wholly lost. Tue Laycock Brass. This brass represents Robert Baynard, his wife, and eighteen children, lying on the floor of the south transept of Laycock Church. This family were for ten generations Lords of the Manor of Lackham, which they obtained about 1349, by marriage with the heiress of Sir John Bluet (whose family was said to be settled there before the foundation of Laycock Abbey). The effigy of Robert Baynard is remarkable for exhibiting the ancient way of wearing arms; literally a coat ofarms. This is called the “Tabard,” embroidered with the arms of Bluet (or, an eagle with two heads a in some of the Churches near Chippenham. 239 displayed, gules) quartering Baynard, (sable, a fess, between 2 chevrons or). Above and beneath the tabard are seen portions of the ring-mailed shirt ; the sword hangs diagonally; no “‘miserere,” or helmet; while the feet, covered with rounded pilates, rest on two dogs. The lady is habited in a mantle, embroidered with the arms of Baynard quartering (not impaling) Ludlow. (She was the daughter of Henry Ludlow of Hill Deverill, Esq.) Zhe inserip- tion is :— ‘Hie jacet Robertus Baynard Arm. vir egregius, et legis peritus, in armis bellicis multum strenuus, dapifer, precipuus inter primos, pacis conservator diligentissimus. uxorem habens Eliz™. devotissimam cum totidem filiis et filiabus subenumeratis: qui obiit 26 Aug. A.D, 1501, quorum animabus pro- picietur Deus. Amen.” Below are the effigies of thirteen sons and five daughters; all the sons are of equal height, except the eldest, who is taller and has a pocket: the second has a plain collar, tonsure and girdle, representing that he belonged to the Priesthood. The four shields bear the arms of Bluet and Baynard, Baynard and Ludlow, as on the tabards. One of the daughters married William Temmes of Rood Ashton, of which family was Johanna, the last Abbess of Laycock. Notwith- standing the multitude of children, in 1635, the estate of Lackham came to an heiress, who, marrying the Honorable James Montagu, son of the Earl of Manchester, conveyed it to that family, to whom it belonged within the memory of many still surviving. Tue Brasses oF DAUNTSEY. These represent Sir John Danvers and Lady, A.D. 1514, The Danvers family came out of Oxfordshire: from this family descended this Sir John Danvers who married the heiress of the Stradlings, and thus became possessed of Dauntsey. The Stradlings came to an end in a very unhappy manner. John Aubrey the antiquary, gives us the history of it:—‘t Here (about 1490—1500) was a robbery committed at the Manor House on the family of the Stradlings. Sir Edward Stradling and all his Servants, except one Ploughboy who hid himself in an Oven, were, murthered; by which means this whole estate came to Anne his Sister; and that heir married afterwards to Sir John Danvers a handsome gentleman, 240 A Paper on Monumental Brasses who clapt up a match with her before she heard the news, he by good fortune lighting upon the messenger first. She lived at that time in Paternoster Rowe in London, and had but an ordinary portion. This robbery was done on a Saturday night; the next day the Neighbours wondered none of the family came to Church ; they went to see what was the matter; and the Parson of the Parish very gravely went along with them, who by the Boy was proved to be one of the company of the Robbers; and was (I think) hanged for his paines.” The village derived its name from the family of Daunitsey, who lived there early in the 15th century. It passed by an heiress to the Stradlings, and from them to the Sir John Danvers on the brass, This brass lies with that of Lady Danvers, on the top of an altar-tomb. The armour is of the same description as that of Baynard, except that he has no tabard; while on the left shoulder rises what is called a pass guard to protect the neck; the round shape of the armour on the feet, shews it to be of the 16th century. The Lady has the usual dress of the time: the head-dress is called the angular or pedimental head-dress, as seen in portraits of that date. It was made of velvet or embroidered cloth, and being pointed over the forehead, descended in /appets upon the shoulders and back: then comes the long robe with tight sleeves ; cuffs of fur or plaited linen, with a girdle hanging down in front from a buckle, embroidered, &c., &c. The inscription is round the margin, in English :— “ Here lyeth buryed Syr John Danvers, Kut., sumtyme Lorde of this Maner and patron of this Church in the ryght of Dame Anne his Wyf: the wh. said Syr John the 4'* day of Jan’. dep*. this lyfe too transitory, the yere of our Lord God 1514.” The arms are, Brancester; Barendes; Stradling; and Dauntesey. The next brass is that of Anne Danvers, the same individual who is engraved with her husband, but here differently described. The figure is engraved on a small tablet of brass, fixed to the south wall of the church under a canopied altar-tomb. Sheis represented ~ kneeling at a desk; on her right hand is a representation of the OS a a in some of the Churches near Chippenham. 241 Holy Trinity; on her left, the arms of the Dauntsey family, of which she was the heiress. Over her head is a label bearing her name, Anne Danvers; while from her uplifted hands issues another label with the words “ Dne miserere mei.” The inscription is :— ‘¢ What vayleth yt Riches or what possession Gyftes of high nature, nobles in gentry Dafteness depuryd * or pregnant pollycy, Sith prowes, sith power have their progression : Ffate it is fatall on selff succession. That world hath no thing that smellith not frealtie Where most assurance, is most unsuertie. Here lieth Dame Anne the lady of Dauntsey To Syr John Danvers spowse in conjunction, To Syr John Dauntsey by lyne discencion Cosyn and Heire; whose herytage highlye Fastely be firmed in Christe his Mancion.” Thus then have I endeavored to bring before you a few partic- ulars relating to these ancient monuments which have come down to us from bygone times: shewing their utility to the Chronologist, the Historian, the Herald, the Artist, and the Architect; while to us Archeologists they are objects of interest, as showing the character and customs and arts and doings and belongings of our remote ancestors, many of them famous in their own times, and who live still in the pages of history, though their bodies are turned to dust. Reminding ai// at the same time of the end of all men here below: “ dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.— ** Memento homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris.” We may listen to the voice of some of these ancient monumental figures who seem to say to us—‘ Siquis eris qui transiris, sta, perlege, plora: sum ceu eris, fueramque quod es: pro me precor, ora.” * Dafieness, seems to mean folly, ignorance. Depuryd, purified; done away, like dross from metal, So “daftness depuryd ”’ would mean * ignorance removed ” (that wisdom might take its place). 242 Abary and Stonehenge. A REVIEWER REVIEWED. N the last October number of the British Quarterly Review, among the articles announced was one under the captivating title of “Prehistoric England,” and great must have been the disappointment of many who hoped to find in it a paper written with the ability and candour of a Sir John Lubbock, or a Mr. Boyd Dawkins. The writer has taken for pegs upon which to hang his article Stukeley’s “ Abury,” and Mr. Lockkart Ross’ “ Druidical Temples at Abury,” and as he makes frequent allusions to Wiltshire antiquities, it will be necessary to take notice of his statements and theories. He is evidently but very imperfectly acquainted with the liter- ature of either Abury or Stonehenge, and he seems also to be but very imperfectly acquainted with the places themselves. We cannot prevent a crazy writer from broaching as grand discoveries any absurdities which his brains may have secreted, but we have a right to expect from all propounders of new theories, that they shall at least have mastered all the data which can be procured either by local examination, or by a study of the works of others. This has not been done by our reviewer; and the consequence is that his article is full of inaccuracies in matters-of-fact, and that it is written in the self-satisfied and pretentious style which is generally to be found in company with ignorance and in-exactness. We proceed to comment on some of his statements and opinions. “Two ancient sites of towns and of fortresses, yet imposing to the eye of even the most careless wayfarer, by the number and the size of the great transported blocks of fine gritstone that strew the ground, have so utterly lost even the echo of their names, as to be known only as the ‘Grey Wethers’ (from the resemblance EE A Review of “ Pre-historie England,” 243 afforded by the stones to a flock of sheep), and the ‘ Devil’s Den.’ It may be that the syllables of some forgotten speech have been, in the latter phrase, translated into an incongruous vernacular,” p. 399. The reader of this sentence, who knows anything about the Wiltshire downs and the antiquities to be found upon them, would naturally suppose when his eyes had reached the words “‘strew the ground,” that the writer of the article was going to speak of Abury and Stonehenge, and to prove that they had been the sites of towns and fortresses ;—but what is his astonishment, when he gets to the end of it, and finds that the towns and fortresses in question were, the one in the valley of stones adjoining the public road, called the Grey Wethers; and the other in Clat- ford bottom, where the cromlech called the ‘“ Devil’s Den” was reared P As the reader proceeds, however, he soon discovers the cause of the especial value and importance which the writer attaches to each of the stones which are to be seen erect or prostrate upon the Marlborough Downs and upon Salisbury Plain. ' They are not, according to him, of local origin. Mr. Lockhart Ross, late Vicar of Abury, who, in his simplicity, had stated in his littie book called “The Druidical Temples at Abury, with some account of Silbury, Wilts,” that ‘the stones which compose the temples at Abury, were evidently brought, like those of Stonehenge, from Marlborough Downs, where they lie on the surface in great numbers, and of all dimensions,”’ meets with severe treatment at the hands of his reviewer. It is fortunate for other benighted individuals, who have ventured to say the same in print, that our writer seems to know nothing at ali about them or their writings. His own view is, that “the large number of blocks which strew the face of the rolling downs that are connected with Salisbury plain” had been wrongly attributed by “earlier enquirers” to a local origin; and that “the fact is unquestionable, that the whole of this large quantity of building material has been transported from some far distant quarry or quarries ;” or, as he says in another place, ‘“‘from a site so distant as to be problematical ;” that it is 244 A Review of “ Pre-historic England.” “geologically impossible that the material should have come from any Wiltshire quarry; that the ‘‘ builders of Avebury were in possession of some secret now lost, as to its source.” If any one could, in sober sadness, believe that every sarsen stone now to be seen in Wiltshire, and every sarsen stone which has been destroyed or covered over in the same district, had been brought thither “from a site so distant as to be problematical,” he might well agree with the writer, that the “works of the early British builders are not merely remarkable but wonderful, not only as efforts of strength, but also as proofs of skill, of forethought, and of extraordinary command of labour.” It is sad to think that archeologists of a past generation, such as Sir Richard Colt Hoare and Mr. Cunnington, should have passed away before they could learn the truth respecting the foreign origin of the sarsen stones with which they were so familiar; and it is also a grievous reproach under which our Bucklands, our Smiths, our Cunningtons, and Prestwiches must lie, that they not only have never discovered the quarries “in a distant site” from whence these stones were brought, but that they have actually been hitherto in ignorance that the stones had been “ transported” to the Downs of Wilts. Our “British Quarterly” reviewer having imported his stones, (would that he could tell us whence!) proceeds to “ work” them. But he should have been content with the unmistakable ‘ masonic character”? of Stonehenge, and not have hazarded such a sentence as the following, “the principal stones at Avebury impress the observer with the idea that they have once been carefully wrought.” He goes on, indeed, to say “It is possible that this idea is erroneous.” If archeology and archeologists are, at some future period, to become objects of ridicule, it will be by the treatment of subjects such as this, in the manner adopted by the writer of ‘ Prehistoric England.” Nothing can be more reckless than such a statement as that he has made respecting the impression to be derived by an observer of the careful working of the stones at Abury. It may be safely asserted that there is not a single stone now visible at Abury which could convey any such impressicn to a person of A Review of “ Pre-historic England.” 245 clear vision and unprejudiced mind. If archeology is to be shifted from a basis of facts into a region of “ideas,’’ it will inevitably come to be lightly regarded; and no paper has appeared of late in any of our periodicals, in which accuracy of statement has been so little esteemed, or wildness of theory so carelessly indulged in, as in that now under our notice. We have been accustomed hitherto to regard Abury and Stone- henge as open-air structures, devoted primarily to religious purposes, and possibly, in the second place, to assemblies for political or . judicial proceedings. Our reviewer now informs us that we have been entirely in error; that these stone circles were not hypethral, but that they were covered with roofs, and that those roofs were conical! But this is not all, “ At Stonehenge, at Avebury, and in the ruins of circular structures in general, we have traced indications of the mason and of the joiner.” ‘Nor is it reasonable to doubt that the apertures between the stones were closed (at Stonehenge) by timber, and that the more perishable portions of these costly structures were completed with a care and skill appropriate to the perfection of the masonry.” And why was Stonehenge to be roofed in, and boarded up at the sides between the upright stones? Because “no public solemnity could have been held in any unroofed building in northern climates, without the risk of ill-omened interruption ! ” The variations experienced, year by year, in the climatic condition of almost every part of Europe, should have prevented our reviewer from propounding such an unqualified statement as this. He has however his architectural reasons; “The minute and accurate care of which the results are yet visible in the relics of Stonehenge, denotes, that we are in presence of a structural edifice, properly so called, and the opinion that it was protected by a roof, and that a conical roof, is a consequence of this view.” But what does the writer mean by the “minute and accurate care of which the results are yet visible in the relics of Stonehenge?” Any one who propounds such a theory as he has put forth is bound to be explicit, and to show, in detail, the grounds upon which he has constructed it. Such vague and unmeaning words are very uncomplimentary to the intellects of his readers. VOL. XII.—NO. XXXY. T 246 A Review of “ Pre-historic England.” The descriptions of the round churches in England, of the chapter houses of Cathedrals, and the Abyssinian Churches are quite beside the mark; while the combination of wood and stone exhibited in the British dwellings represented on the Antonine column at Rome, and in the “ picturesque old houses that are yet to be found in Gloucestershire and other English counties,” cannot possibly be cited as authorities for a similar combination of these materials in the “structure of the circular pre-historic temples.” The following specimens of our writer’s dogmatic assertions will tend to show the extent of his qualifications for the task which he imposed upon himself of enlightening the world respecting Abury and Stonehenge. Page 400. “Two Geological formations have been laid under contribution for the outer and the inner circle of Stonehenge ; and the material of one of these groups is taken from a bed which is the geological equivalent of the London clay.” Mr. Cunnington or Mr. Prestwich would inform the reviewer that the stones composing the outer circle at Stonehenge belong to a series of beds beneath the London clay, called the “ Woolwich and Reading beds.” Page 402. ‘ Quarrymen, transporters and masons—such were the builders of our forgotten capitals. They differ from their Egyptian brethren in the circumstance that their labours do not appear to have been directed by men of astronomical knowledge. There is no such (astronomical) mark on our Wiltshire temples.” Dr. Thurnam could have told him that “at a distance of about 200 feet from the outer circle (at Stonehenge), in the avenue leading to the entrance to the temple, is an isolated unhewn stone, apparently intended to direct the observation, at the summer solstice, to the point of the rising of the sun. He (Dr. T.) had himself tested this, and at Midsummer, 1858, had watched the rising of the sun from the “altar stone,” when it was seen to rise precisely over the top of this stone. From this circumstance he inferred that this temple was connected with a solar worship, which was one of the chief characteristics of many ancient systems A Review of “ Pre-historic England.” 247 of heathenism.”—Report of Lecture at Stonehenge, Aug. 7th, 1860, p. 9. Page 409. “In the outer circle of Stonehenge, five large stones are found within the inner ditch......... The only conclusion feasible as to their office is, that they formed solid points of support to a wooden palisade which enclosed the exterior court of the temple.” ‘ Two stones are to be seen within the vallum and adjoining it ; and there is a large recumbent stone just inside the avenue entrance to the vallum—but where are the other two? Page 409. ‘The Hackpen on Overton Hill consisted of 40 stones.” What does the writer mean by “the Hackpen?” He does not appear to know that this was the name of the ridge extending from Overton Hill to Barbury Castle. We must suppose that he adopts Stukeley’s absurd interpretation of the word as meaning the “serpents head,” and that by this name he refers to the circles of stones on Overton Hill which were removed in 1724. Page 413. ‘We have the portrait, as it were, of each stone that stood erect at the time of Dr. Stukeley’s survey. We have also indications of the position of the fallen stones, and of the places from which stones had been removed. But we have no means of detecting how the latter points have been determined ; whether by depressions in the ground, testimony of eye-witnesses, or Dr. Stukeley’s ideas of Druidical symmetry.” Had the reviewer kept his eyes open when he was at Abury (and it is hard to believe that he was ever there), he might have seen, in very many places, depressions in the turf which indicate the sites of stones which have been destroyed. Page 414. “But no traces exist of benchings or steps on the bank” (at Abury). It is quite true that there are no traces of steps on the bank, but a flat ledge may be distinctly seen in the south-eastern portion of the vallum. Page 416. Of Silbury Hill we have the following :— “ Allowing for the long influence of natural causes, its original T2 248 Note on an Article in the Atheneum. size must have been from one and a half to twice its present dimensions.” No turf-clad hill or barrow would have been affected to this extent, or anything like this extent, by the “long influence of natural causes.” Page 416. ‘Early in the course of last century this royal tumulus was pierced, and the human bones and bridle-bit found near the surface are held to have been the relics of some ancient over whose body, seated, as when in life, on his horse, this giant mole-hill was piled up.” Stukeley, who is the authority for the bones and the bit, does not say a word about the horse. He merely says “I bought of John Fowler the bridle buried along with the monarch, being only a solid body of rust.” But enough, and to spare, of this. Our reviewer described Mr. Ross’s book by a word generally used to designate refuse material shot from a cart into out-of-the- way places. It would be equally unpolite, but certainly more true, to apply the same word to the article in the British Quarterly Review. king, Alote on an Article in the Athenwnm. Viera contribution to the “ out-of-the-way places” alluded ZA) to in the above article is supplied by a correspondent of the Atheneum, in November last. It does indeed seem surprising after all the investigations at Abury, so accurately made of late years by Hoare, Long, and others, that a writer should venture to publish such statements as the following :— “7 decline to believe in circles and avenues. The whole district teems with these stones. Take an area of four or five miles, and we may count them by thousands. * * * At Clatford we have the Devil’s Den; a cromlech apparently. They have been forced a On a Crapandine Locket 249 along this route by the agency of water or ice, and appear to con- sist of pimary rock, (!) and a soft oolitic (!) sandstone that crumbles into dust. Finding them so freely scattered in the immediate neigh- bourhood, I infer that those found at Avebury have been lodged there as a freak of nature. Accordingly, I look upon Devil’s Dens, serpent avenues, charmed circles, and high altars as just so many myths. That Avebury was entrenched at an early period, and inhabited by primitive Britons, seems very clear. Their rude imaginations may have prompted them to venerate—yea, to worship—these huge fantastic blocks, weather-worn into all sorts of queer shapes, placed there by a power which they could not divine, and thus found in possession of the land before themselves.” [The italics in the above quotation are not the author’s. ] Wiltshiremen generally do not require to be cautioned against such assertions as these, but it is to be regretted that the public should be misled by the statements of a person, who, if he ever visited Abury, must, like the reviewer mentioned above, have done so with his eyes shut. From the date of “ A Fool’s Bolt soon shott at Stonage,” down to the present time, Stonehenge and Abury specially appear to have inspired certain pseudo-antiquaries with an irresistible desire to add to the literary “ kitchen-middens.” On x Crayandine Pocket found in St. John’s Charchpard, Devizes. By Mr. Cunnineton, F.G.S. Al the year 1838, the Rev. E. J. Phipps, then Rector of ‘fls) Devizes, made some improvements in the churchyard. The footpath which before passed in a very irregular and unseemly manner among the graves, was diverted, and carried under the wall eae, to the east. In making these alterations much of the surface was necessarily disturbed, and amongst the earth taken from an old 250 On a Crapaudine Locket "grave was found the small locket, or padlock, which is represented in the woodcut. Crapaudine Locket, actual size. It is formed of two of the round smooth teeth of Spherodus gigas,} (“Crapaudines”) set together in an ornamental band of metal, to which the loop of the lock is attached. The metallic parts have been well gilded, and are in good preservation. The key-hole is cut in the centre of one of the teeth, and some remains of the wards of the lock may still be seen inside. Mr. A. W. Franks of the British Museum, has examined this locket, and judging from the orna- mentation, he thinks that it is not of later date than the sixteenth century. He has never seen a similar object. Spherodus gigas is a fossil fish, first described by Agassis, in 1833, as belonging to the family of Pycnodontes (hump-toothed fishes), which are distinguished by the thick rounded form of their teeth. These teeth were attached to the palate and lower jaw in parallel rows, and formed an apparatus well adapted for crushing the small shell-fish on which Spheerodus lived. The teeth have been found in situ only in the Kimmeridge Clay, for though they occur in the Lower Green Sand at Seend, Wilts, (and in no other locality in the county,) yet in this instance they have evidently been washed out of the Kimmeridge Clay, during the formation of the Lower Green Sand. I have specimens from It may possibly be of S. annularis, as the teeth of that species do not differ much from the other. M. Agassis says, ‘‘ Comme ni le squelette ni les écailles de ce genre sont connu, il est souvent trés difficile de distinguer les espéces.”’ Poissons Fossiles, p. 240. ee Sound in St. John’s Churchyard, Devizes. 251 the same stratum at Faringdon, where they have been deposited under similar circumstances. Coated as they are with a brilliant natural enamel, these teeth are really beautiful objects, and well suited for ornamental purposes. Their form is shown in the woodcut. But besides their natural beauty, a superstitious value was for- merly attached to them: in the dark ages, designing or ignorant persons represented them to be jewels from the head of the toad. For many ages it was popularly Teeth of Spherodus gigas, natural size. believed that this animal was pos- sessed of a jewel which was engendered in its head, and hence arose the name “Crapaudine” or “Toadstone.” It is hardly necessary to say that no such stones ever existed in the toad. There is an allusion to this belief in the following passage from “ As you like it,” ‘¢ Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head :” it is however scarcely probable that Shakespeare was a believer in this superstition. Nichols, in his “Lapidary,” says, “Some say this stone is found in the head of an old toade; others say that the old toade must be laid upon the cloth that is red and it will belch it up, or otherwise not: you may give a like credit to both these reports, for as like truth is to be found in them as may possibly be. Witness Anselmus Boetius in Lib. 2, in the chapter on this stone, who saythe that to try this experiment, in his youth, he took an old toade and laid it upon a red cloth, and watched it a whole night to see it belch up his stone; but after his long and tedious 1 Ces fossiles étaient déja connus des polygraphes anciens, qui les ont décrits sous les noms bizarres de Buffonites, et de Crapaudines, en affirmant que eétaient des yeux de crapauds pétrifiés,” Agassis, Poissons Fossiles ii., pt. 2, p. 240, 252 Instructions for the formation of a Wiltshire Herbarium. watchful expectation, he found the old toade in the same posture to gratify the great pangs of his whole night’s restlesness.” During the middle ages, it was a very general practice to wear in rings certain objects which were supposed to act as charms to preserve the wearer from the “evil eye,” and other malign in- fluences. Some were considered to possess medicinal properties, for example, the hoof of an ass was thought to protect the wearer from epilepsy. In the special exhibition of works of art, at South Kensington, in 1862, a large silver ring having a “toadstone” set in it, was - ? 5D 5D 5D ? contributed by the late Cardinal Wiseman. In the same collection was a ring formed of hoof, surrounded by a thin band of silver having on the bezel a crapaudine mounted in silver. We may fairly conclude that this was a very potent charm, for by the union of two such important substances in one ring, the wearer doubtless felt himself secure from most earthly evils. Whatever may have been the fancied virtues of the “ toadstone,” it is certain that it was much valued, and the superstitions con- nected with it maintained a hold on the popular belief for a much longer period on the continent than in this country. The locket described above was most probably worn not only as an ornament, but as a charm; and as such, being highly valued, was buried with its possessor. INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE Formation of a Ciltshive Berbavium. By Tuomas Bruess Frower, M.R.C.8., F.LS., &e., &e. ZYYEN a previous number of this Magazine (vol. iv., p. 191), it -<§|S) was proposed to commence the formation of a “County Herbarium” for future reference and study; resident botanists were particularly invited to collect and dry for the Society duplicates of such Wiltshire plants as they could conveniently spare, in order that they might be preserved and deposited in the Museum. This —_— # ’ a sit saad By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 2538 Herbarium has now been commenced, and with a view of carrying out the above object, and for the guidance of those botanists who might feel disposed to contribute plants for permanent preservation in the Herbarium of the Society, the following explanatory suggestions, regarding the illustration and labelling of specimens have now been drawn out. The first object with any Herbarium, whether local or general, should be to show the species. A fair typical specimen of each species is the leading idea to be met, and it will very usually be found needful to have more than one single specimen, because the early, the flowering and the fruiting stages frequently differ much, although it may often happen that two of these stages can be got on a single plant at once. The second object should be to show in some measure the range of variation for the species, by adding abnormal forms or varieties to the typical examples. It is too commonly the case that varieties are neglected, instead of being carefully preserved. For instance, one, Fumaria capreolata, might have been kept to show the species; but lo! this species is now divided into numerous snb- species, four of‘ them held to be English; consequently one specimen can show but one of them, while all may be found in the same county. A third object may be that of evidencing the localities for rare species or remarkable varieties,! and especially such as are likely to become extinct in the localities, as for example, Carex tomen- tosa, Carduus tuberosus, C. Woodwardii. Such specimens in course of time become historical facts in our science. Fourthly, the general range of the species in the county may be shown by specimens from different and distant localities, in each of the five comital sections, into which Wiltshire has been divided for the better illustration of its Flora. The mode by which individual members may each and all contribute to this object, is by sending specimens of any Wiltshire plants—rare or common—from different 1Darwin’s remarkable book, the ‘‘ Origin of Species,” will render the preser- yation of local varieties matter of enhanced importance to all classes of naturalists, 254 Instruction for the Formation of a Wiltshire Herbarium. localities, with their habitats carefully recorded on accompanying labels, in order that the Curator may select for permanent preser- vation such of these specimens and labels as shall seem best calcu- lated to show the actual distribution of plants in the county, and to throw light upon the circumstances which operate in determining their distribution. The selection of the specimens will, of course, be chiefly dependent upon the accuracy with which their habitats may be described on the accompanying labels; reference, however, being always made to those already in the Herbarium, so as to prevent the unnecessary accumulation of specimens which can throw no additional light on the subjects, for the elucidation of which they are to be preserved. It would also be desirable to endeavour to make a specimen serve two or more purposes. For instance, say that you require specimens in three stages of growth, it may occasionally be managed to make these three specimens also illus- trate three localities or sections of the county. Fifthly, useful directions for the collecting and drying of plants having been printed in “ Balfour’s Class Book of Botany,” it is only necessary here to refer botanists to that work for ample in- structions on those processes, unless it be added that nothing perhaps conduces so much to the beauty and good preservation of specimens as the employment of an ample stock of paper. The paper used for the process of drying plants should be moderately absorbent, so as to take up the moisture of the plants, and at the same time to dry rapidly after being used. That which is gener- ally employed is Newman’s, and is the best paper now made in England.! The size recommended is sixteen inches long, by ten broad. If the paper be sufficiently porous for rapidly absorbing the moisture of the plants, and sufficient in quantity for preventing the dampness of one layer of them from extending to others, it will commonly be found the best practice not to change the papers until the specimens have become so dry as no longer to require the pressure of weights on the boards. Frequent changing of paper and the application of artificial heat 1Newman’s “ Botanical Drying Paper” can be obtained from Mr. Edward Newman, 9, Devonshire Street, Bishopsgate, London, 4 as ve * r Wor ae ; > F- , ; 4 om S * * ~ . swe - wine . Re, - z 1 < - . \ - - ; | m A ee : ) yA, : = trad pa » fess r A ~ 4 Fy ta . aaniihen wis Gabe hein oe AHdWYOOSD IVIINVLOG Si! 30 NOlivyssnrnti Brus wos ALNIOD FHL 3araio O14 G3SOd0¥d S! 11 HOIHM OLN SLOIYLSIG °** SNOISIAIG FJHL IN/(MOHS doy Nusisvg “NUSLSAA\A “NASLSAAA ‘at00IW “NuUB4isvy HLYON Hixon HL NOG Hinos HLiNOSG By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 255 _ may prove needful in drying very succulent plants, but with plenty of > paper these processes may safely be looked upon as an unnecessary waste of time, and they are often more injurious than beneficial to the specimens themselves. In addition to the dried specimens for _ fastening on paper, contributors are particularly requested to send also small packets of the seeds of local and rare plants, when opportunities occur for obtaining them ; seeds often affording clear characters for the discrimination of genera and species. Lastly. It is trusted that the contributors to the Herbarium will find a recompense for their exertions in the gratification of learning thoroughly the botanical productions of their own neighbourhoods, and in the consciousness that much of the information so acquired _ will become, (through their contribution to the Society,) a _ permanent addition to the general stock of scientific knowledge, to be transmitted to future generations. As the Herbarium has only just been started, it is useless _ specifying what species are required and what are not. At present even the commonest species will be acceptable, and as specimens are _of more importance than names, it is hoped that those who feel ‘inclined to aid in the work, even though they be not botanists, | will not think it useless sending un-named plants, provided the - dates when the specimens were gathered, and the localities where ‘they grew be carefully recorded; the names can easily be added afterwards, and the specimens thus rendered available for the Herbarium. _ As soon as the Herbarium is of sufficient size, it is proposed to every part of Wiltshire has to be represented. The accompanying map will show the five divisions into which the county has been divided, and it is intended to form a complete flora for each. _ Packets of specimens may be sent, carriage paid, to the Rev. T. A. Preston, the Oollege, Marlborough, in whose charge the Herbarium will be for the present, and who will be glad to furnish y information in connection with this object, or to receive names of those who may feel inclined to aid in the work. 256 Anguisition on Auth Bierce. yy AJOR PERRY KEENE has kindly presented to the Society Me the original inquisition on Ruth Pierce. The document is on parchment, sealed and signed by the coroner, and is as follows :— “(@@iiltshtre to Witt.) An Inquisirion Indented taken at the Burrough of Devizes in the County of Wilts aforesaid on The Twenty Sixth day of January in the Twenty Sixth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Brittan France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith Before me John Clare Gent: one of the Coroners of Our Said ord and King for the County aforesaid Upon View oF tHE Bopy of Ruth Peirce late of Pottern in the said County Widdow then and there lying dead and upon the Oath of Richard Anstie Richard Williams William Hillier William Slade John Williams Robert Hayward Gabriel Bartlett Ambrose Portch Joseph Chandler Robert Phipp Joseph Akers William Lewis Good and Lawfull men of the County Aforesaid who being Sworn and Charged to inquire how in What manner when and where the aforesaid Ruth Peirce died and came to her Death upon their Oaths aforesaid do say and present that on the Twenty Fifth day of January in the Twenty Sixth Year aforesaid between the Hours of Ten and Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon of the Said Day a Great Quarrell arose between Four women in the Market Place of the Burrough of Devizes aforesaid whose names was Elizabeth Slade, Sarah Slade, Mary Parker, and the aforesaid Ruth Peirce who joined together and bought one Sack of Wheat of one Farmer Nathaniel Alexander at the Price of Seventeen Shillings which makes Four Shillings and Three Pence each when the Farmer Inquisition on Ruth Pierce. 257 summ’d up the Dividends it wanted Three pence of the price agreed for which by evidence it appeared to be Ruth Peirce’s right to pay. She the said Ruth was accused with it she declared she had paid it and called upon the Almighty for Wittness and wished she might drop down Dead that Minute if she had not paid it the Raish Wish was repeated a second Time and immediately From the Visiration of the Great and ALmicuty Gop was struck Dead upon the Same and as no marks of Violence appeared upon View of her Body the aforesaid Jurors do present that the aforesaid Ruth Peirce died as aforesaid and not otherwise. In Wirness Whereof as well I the aforesaid Coroner as the Jurors aforesaid interchangably set our Hands to this Inquisition the Day Year and Place first above written. Joun CrarE Coroner.” In a sermon preached on the subject, by Dr. H. Stebbing, Arch- deacon of Wilts, and published in 1760, we find a full account of this striking dispensation. ‘A memorial of this extraordinary event,” says he, ‘now (1756) stands written upon a painted board fixed up at the Market Cross, where the thing happened; and I submit it to the common sense of mankind, whether this and such like instances, many of which occur in all history, are not a very strong presumptive evidence from fact, for the truth of a directing Providence.” When the present Market Cross was erected, in 1814, the cir- cumstances as related in the inquisition were engraved on the east side, headed by the following sentence :—‘ The Mayor and Cor- poration of Devizes avail themselves of the stability of this building, to transmit to future times the record of an awful event, which occurred in this Murket-place in the year 1753; hoping that such record may serve as a salutary warning against the danger of impiously invoking Divine vengeance, or of calling on the holy name of God to conceal the devices of falsehood and fraud.” 258 Donations to the Atlugenm and Aibrary, The Council have the pleasure of acknowledging the following Donations to the Library and Museum. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of London, 3 Nos., 8vo. Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, yol. vii., pt. 1; and vol. vili., pt. 1. Revaeis of the Priory of the Isle of May, by Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Proceedings of Kilkenny Archeological Society, vol. vi., No. 57. From Mayor Perry Keene :—Original Inquisition on Ruth Pierce. From Mr. Parsons:—Money weight with figure of St. George, found at Wootton Bassett. From T. B. Frowekr, Esa. :—450 copies of the Map of the Botanical divisions of the county, issued in the present number. From H. N. Gopparp, Esq. :—Roman pottery, &c., found under a large stone at Clyffe manor farm. From Mr. BrapBury :—A rime to the Grand Jury, 1720, by James Mountagu, of Lackham. H. F. & E. BULL, Printers and Publishers, Devizes. pe seer: as 8 “§ _ a aaNet i (teal SN aterval & \ My aut “y a Biey f aa biiys factors eotech toad band ca tnet to taves 7 PEW A boop tint 7-tahaue foo % x 1 Om tad Cabieys Joelonr £0. 00 gods) a a DR. 1868. 1869. Balance Sheet, showing the Receipts and the 1st January 1868, to the 31st December, 1869. Disbursements of the Wiltshire Archwological and Natural History Society, from RECEIPTS. £s. a. To balance brought forward from last account .......- 256 3 8 »» Subscriptions and Entrance Fees of Members...... 16517 6 », Cash received for Sale of Magazines ....++++.++- 3 0 9 », Messrs. Locke & Co, Interest on Deposit ......0. 4 9 8 », Sundry small Receipts ......++seseeeee ceseeeee 114 0 £431 5 2 To balance brought from 1868 account............+. 222 1 8 ,, Subscriptions and Entrance Fees of Members .... 166 19 0 ,, Cash received for Sale of Magazines ..........+5 418 6 »» Ditto Ditto “ Aubrey” Volume ...... 24 10 0 » Messrs. Locke & Co. Interest on Deposit .....++6 719 7 » Net proceeds of Annual Meeting at Chippenham .. 20 1 U £446 9 4 CR. PAYMENTS. £ s. d. 1868. By sundry payments including Stationery, Postages, Carriage, Advertising, &C. ...cseeeeeceeeerereere 18 6 7 ,, Ditto Printing, Engraving, &c., on account of Magazines, Nos, 32 and 33 .......eeceeeeceeeeees 145 11 1 ,, Cash paid for a specimen of the Bustard ....0..++5 15 00 ,» One year’s Rent of Room at Savings Bank,,...... 11 10 0 y) IMSUFATNICE ...... ee cece ee se ceas ceceescecces cece 010 5 » Mr. W. Nott, Financial Assistant Secretary, Salary arid, Commission 35 o20ielo's as 0s coins sve etien congas | Len egne 3 SBAIMNO 5. ow adel” Heauseewueumedhed eyes seer enna £431 5 2 1869. By sundry payments including Postages, Carriage, Adver- », Cash paid for Books..........seeeeeeeeeeeseeuss 810 0 » Ditto Printing, Engraving, &c., on account of No. 34 of the Magazine, and the Ist part of the Blackmore Reporte vests s aaes e Ocean rameters Goins one we 6 11 », the Rey. T. A. Preston, on account of expenses of Wiltshire Herbarium ........ceeececeeee cee eecees 56 0 0 jy MMMBUTANCE cian einitie neeitaieseleie vsie.s wb visee webs 13 4 ,, One year’s Rent of Room at Savings Bank........ ,, Mr. W. Nott, Financial Assistant Secretary, Salary and/Corunilasion. ;. .....0s'aau Seeeais wa Virwe 1O oe »» Balance including £200 on deposit ........ esses 278 10 8 WILLIAM NOTT, Financial Assistant Secretary. eta ag aes ‘ pee ek Ham wea ey geeK? eed . ¥ * ey ee ee a iss. : : S fee ni . a F 4 i % Z > ’ Z Caweee beet ew tree ee tee i. ets , ; ry 4 “ le ee ee ee See oe ee eee 2 ee , vs * prhaet= ef Fit hese THE WILTSHIRE Arehwologieal ant Batwal Bistory MAGAZINE, No. XXXVI. DECEMBER, 1870. Vor. XII. Contents, PAGE CurprrenHam, Norss oF 17s History: By the Rey. Canon J. E. MEaica nae HY RAG eet Navetatetstaysdstcletolginicis\s\cjainicla Pt tuts selaislainisaurs's(e's' ere 259 CHIPPENHAM AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD DURING THE GREAT Resettion: By the Rev. John J. Daniell, Vicar of Langley RAE ZTEES Oliva artersrar vatetys eee reta salah wyakeratey oiis aie akareiw safeyeneta’e: Matele,.s eie'si el erets 292 On Hepezs anD Hence Rows: By John Spencer, Esq. .......... 317 Tue Frora oF Witrsiee, (No. XIIL.): By T. B. Flower, Esq., ND Fare We Say Ele Mass sgh EC ay CLO nN lala i etalals wl clatajelo'e aeicivisle: ‘ ¢ . TE Pat? 2 ° a! ' 4 M s as ’ . ae avn j Pei? ee . an : Sh , ‘ hei *. faa ers | Sege ‘ ee awe ey es ett ew ince ye Sa ar are nn aa : : : r » se eee . . vets Pea S As | . ~ a “ #y s ; 4 ' > «-- = ja — - ; } in P — ‘= _ ms La tees $ Po seeeen te! = i * * Ae My a a ri - ue Te. olds Sind wr ‘oe 3% sad a a p | P + , wae ¢ es At ert i% = i eS ee : 4 . WILTSHIRE MAGAZINE. ‘¢ WULTORUM MANIBUS GRANDE LEVATUR ONUS,”’— Ovid. Chippenham, Aotes of its Mistorp. By the Rev. Canon J, E. Jaoxson, F.S.A. (Read at the General Meeting of the Society there, September 7th, 1869.) 8 yen the Wiltshire Archzological Society met at Chippen- SK) 9 ) ham in September, 1855, I read a Paper on the “ Ancient History of the Town,” which was afterwards printed in the Society’s Magazine, vol. iii, p.19. It contained, in a condensed form, (as the occasion required,) an outline of all the information I had been able to obtain upon the subject. To the material points I have little to add; but a few notices and memoranda of old localities and customs have been since met with from time to time, which may perhaps be interesting, especially to those who are more immediately connected or acquainted with Chippenham. To begin with the building in which we are now assembled, the New Town Hall. This (as is well known here) is modern. It was erected some years ago, at the private expense of the late Joseph Neeld, Esq., of Grittleton, M.P. for this Borough. His coat of arms, carved in stone, was subsequently placed, at the expense of the Corporation of Chippenham, at the top of the front, outside. But inside, over the entrance door of this, the principal room, are two other coats of arms, which are intended to perpetuate the gratitude of Chippenham towards former benefactors long since passed away. The armorial bearings on these two shields, though used con- jointly, for some centuries, as the arms of the Borough of Chip- penham, were originally those of two distinct families. On one VoL. XII.—NO. XXXVI. U 260 Chippenham. Notes of its History. of the documents belonging to the Corporation, dated A.D. 1369, (just 500 years ago) the two coats are used as the Borough seal: but as family arms they are older than that, The shield, on what in heraldry is called the dexter side, (that on the left hand as you look at them) is that of GasceLyne, a family who were Lords of the Manor of Chippenham for about 170 years, ending in A.D. 1424. They lived, I believe, at Sheldon, and one of them, Edmund Gascelyne, obtained from the Crown a favour for the town: viz., that of holding a Fair for three days, on the Vigil, Feast and Morrow of St. John “at the Latin Gate,” as it was called in the calendar, the 5th, 6th, and 7th of May. By the change from old to new Style, that Fair is now held on the 17th of May. Another of the family, Godfrey Gascelyne, obtained the like privilege for a Fair on the Eve, Feast and Morrow of St. Barnabas, 10th, 11th, and 12th of June. This, (owing likewise to the change of style) is now “The Long Fair,” held on the 22nd of June. The other shield on the “ sinister” or left side (though on the right hand as you look at it), is that of the family of Husrx, anciently Lords of the Manor of Rowdon. What they did for the benefit of Chippenham I cannot positively say, but no doubt something of which it feels the benefit, without retaining any vivid recollection of the benefactor. It may perhaps have been a Charter for another Fair. These privileges were, in those days, of great importance to aspiring young towns. Whether now so inestimably precious, or not, is another question. There are, at all events, a great many, both inhabitants and neighbours of this town, who are audacious enough to think, (as one of the latter in his own proper person is, at this moment, to say,) that—one Charter more is very much wanted; which should be for removing the wild bulls, dirty sheep, shouting boys and savage drovers out of the streets and away from the very shop doors, upon these precious Fair days. Any individual, Lord of the Manor or not, who would only obtain that further blessing for Chippenham, would well deserve to have his coat of arms brilliantly emblazoned on the other side of this room, opposite to those of Messrs Gascelyne and Husee. From this New Town Hall our first and natural step is to an By the Rev. Canon J. E. Jackson. 261 ancient building higher up in the street, on the face of which these two family shields, forming the Borough arms, again appear, but on the front, owtside—the Old Town Hall. Where to find it, the inhabitants of Chippenham know very well: but for a stranger or visitor to make the discovery would not be so easy. In his pretty poem “The Deserted Village,” Goldsmith says of the wreck of the Parsonage house, ‘‘ There, where a few torn shrubs the place disclose, The village Preacher’s modest mansion rose.” But far more modest, far more fearful of the public gaze, is the venerable Council Hall of ancient Chippenham! Instead of pro- jecting with saucy challenge to all passers by, it shrinks from the street, and tries to hide its beauty—not exactly among a “few torn shrubs,” but—behind two solemn smoke-begrimed evergreens. Peep carefully between them, and you may espy two small old- fashioned gables, surmounted by a wooden cage, licensed, as it would seem, to carry only three inside passengers, a bell and a pair of pigeons. “Can this” you say, “be the Old Town Hall?” It is so, without any manner of doubt, for there are (as above mentioned) the Borough arms, with the palm tree and the motto “Unity and Loyalty :’’ and above them the initial letters of the probable beautifier of the front, “J. 8., 1776,” signifying possibly John Scott, a leading person, and bailiff (equivalent to the modern Mayor) of the town, about that time. And there it stands, looking now like a little man in a crowd, squeezed up and half smothered by taller and bulkier neighbours. But it was not always so. In days when Chippenham was young and humble, when land was less valuable and the central space was a space indeed, and clear of dwelling-houses, every country fellow that came in, could in a moment see (and no doubt beheld it with veneration), which was the Town Hall. The oldest notice of it that I have met with, happens to be without date of any particular year, but it is certainly later than A.D. 1553 (1 Mary). It occurs in a paper of queries designed to be laid before Counsel, to settle (as it would seem) whether the building belonged solely to the town, or solely to the Lord of the u2 262 Chippenham. Notes of tts History. Hundred, or to both. The Market-place must have looked rather different then from what it does now: for it is thus described. “In the midst of the street of this Town standeth a YELDEHALL or Church House alone by itself from all other houses: which the inhabitants of the same town, time out of mind, have repaired, and therein kept their Church Ales and Plaies, and have had their meetings for making of ordinances for the same Town. And in the same house for the same time, the Lords of the Hundred have kept their Lawdays and Hundred Courts: but by the granting of the Hundred, the grantee never enjoyed the house solely to him- self, but as before. ‘Qu: Whether the grantee or his assigns ought to have the Yelde-Hall solely or no?” The legal reply to this query is not extant: and it is no business of ours now to supply it: but there are, in this old statement, one or two things that we may lay hold of, archeologically. The old building is described as having stood by itse/f. The rest of the area must therefore have been originally clear. From other documents that speak of bits of waste ground adjoining it, being granted out for setting up shops and shambles by the Lord of the Manor, the rights so far seem to have been claimed by him. By degrees the whole space came (as not unfrequently happens) to be called “The Shambles:” for about 1670-1680, many leases were granted of chambers and stalls in the “Shambles or Market-place :” so that by that time it must have been pretty well occupied. ‘‘Scam- ell” is a word in Scotland for a bench. From ‘Scammells,” (wooden tables) the transition, in market-wives’ pronunciation, to “‘Shambles” is simple. Butcher’s meat being the article principally exposed, the word shambles has since grown to be applied to a flesh-market only. It is so used once in the New Testament, *‘ Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:”’ in which passage the Greek word signifies a market-place for fish, flesh, fowl, and all manner of provisions, but particularly a butcher’s row. Somewhere about this spot stood once a Butter-cross. In 1683 there was a lease to one John Steevens, in which it is mentioned. By the Rev. Canon J. E. Jackson, 263 Another point to be observed in the oldest mention of the old Hall, is, that it was used as the Church-House, and was repaired by the inhabitants, who therein kept their “Church Ales and Plays.”’ This requires a little explanation. In many old parish books in this county, mention is made of the Church-House, and I believe that in ancient days there must have been one in every parish. It was a house used by, if not belonging to, the Churchwardens on behalf of the parishioners, where they met on business. Part of that business was, every year about Whitsuntide, to brew a quantity of beer with parish money. There was a Revel; and the profits of the brewing were applied to meet the expenses of the Churchwardens, in new bell- ropes, &c. In the old parish-books belonging to Wimborne Minster in Dorsetshire, are entries for many years of the annual expenses and profits of the “Church Ale,” as it was called. They had two of these meetings, one in Lent, and the other at Whitsun- tide. They sold victuals as well as drink: and kept at the Church- House, hogsheads and butts, wooden dishes, and other furniture for a feast. Young and old came together: and there were games, bowling, shooting at targets, and the like. The “Plays” above spoken of as having been performed in the Old Town-Hall, were, not such as required a Shakespeare for an author or a Garrick for an actor; but of a very primitive character, highly prized several centuries ago, and called “ Miracle Plays” or “ Mysteries.” They simply consisted of scenes from the history of the Bible, especially relating to the birth of our Saviour. They were also taken from other books as the ‘* Lives of Martyrs and Confessors.” They were originally got up by the clergy in Romanist times, with a praiseworthy object of producing on the popular mind of those days (when there were no such things as printed books) a lively impression of events in the Sacred Histories. They were at first exhibited in the parish church itself: and the actors were the ecclesiastics, or their scholars. In some places these miracle plays went on through Lent, being a continued series of Scriptural stories for several days. In the reign of Rich. II. (A.D. 1891) the parish clerks of London put forth a play of this 264 Chippenham. Notes of its History. kind at Skinner’s Wells, near Smithfield, which continued three days: the King, Queen, and many of the nobility being present. In the next reign, Hen. IV. (1409), another play was acted at the same place which lasted eight days. This drama began with the Creation of the World, and contained the greater part of the history of the Old and New Testament! A few specimens of this sort of ancient play are still left: and certainly anything more ridiculous according to our notion, cannot well be imagined—ridiculous as well both in tone and style, as from the confusion and utter misplacing of the times and events of history. What sort of notion for instance, could the common people have had of the order of events, when listening to such a scene and dialogue as this? The play was the play of the Flood: Noah’s wife positively refuses to go into the ark: when the follow- ing edifying conversation takes place. (Modern English is here adopted, many of the original words being quite unintelligible.) ‘‘Noaw. Good wife, doe now as I thee bid. Wire. By Christ, not I, ere I see more need ; Though thou stand all day and stare. Noau. Lord, how crabbed women be! And are not meek, I dare well say, As is well seen by me to day. Good wife, a done with all this babble, And let us not in this place squabble: Or they’ll all say, thou master art! And master by Saint John thou art!” Sir William Dugdale who died in 1686, says he was told by old people that in their younger days they had seen some of these plays: that the yearly crowds of country people to see them was extraordinary great, and yielded no small advantage to the towns. But this sort of performance was generally suppressed at the Reformation: and if they were all in the style of the extract just given, the loss is not much to be regretted. The old building we are speaking of, has also always been the scene of the election of Burgesses to serve in Parliament. The list of Members of Parliament for Chippenham is complete from A.D. 1553, (1 Mary); but a few names of much older date can be collected out of ancient Parliamentary writs. The very oldest I By the Rev. Canon J. E. Jackson. 265 have ever met with was of the year 1295, nearly 600 years ago, when John de Burle and Robert Osgood were returned. In 1307, John Chapman and Giles de Chiverden, (now corrupted to Chiver- lings). It is most likely that the earlier Members for the Borough were actually themselves resident burgesses in the town: because even so late as 1613, John Scott, clothier, and Robert Wiser, haberdasher, were returned. But in early times the M.P.’s did not pay their own expenses. Those expenses, the cost of sending them up, and the cost of keeping them, so much a day, were provided for them by their constituents. In the Charter of Queen Mary to this town by which certain lands were bestowed, the purpose of the the gift is expressly stated to be this:—‘ And moreover we of our free grace considering and meaning that our s*. subjects the inhab- itants and burgesses of the said Borough are grievously burthened, driven, and compelled to bestow great cost, as well in the mainten- ance of Two Burgesses to be present and attendant at Our Parlia- ment, as in the reparation of a certain great Bridge, and of a certain great causeway: we therefore give and grant all that our close called Inlands, &c., &c.” I cannot state exactly what was the amount of daily wages allowed by the Borough of Chippenham for the maintenance of its representatives in the Parliament: but we are informed elsewhere that in the Middle Ages the Knights for Counties received Four Shillings a day, and the Burgesses for Boroughs Two Shillings a day, paid by special warrant under the Crown. Two shillings at that period could not be less than Twenty Shillings a day now. It must be recollected, that in early times, the place where the Parliament met was not fixed as it is now. It followed the King. Sometimes it might be at Reading, or York, or elsewhere: so that attendance upon it was accompanied with much inconvenience. In those days there were neither good roads, nor rapidly moving public carriages: every body travelled on horseback. There was _ no regular post for the conveyance of letters. In London itself, there could have been but few amusements: a Bear garden perhaps, _ or a Tournament now and then, but no Opera, Theatre, or Club: no Royal Academy, or Crystal Palace: no Literary Societies, or 266 Chippenham. Notes of its History. Exhibitions of Arts. Separated by distance and the perils of the journey, each man was, for so much time, banished from his home and family. Working therefore under so many discomforts for the good of his country constituents, it was not unreasonable that they should supply their representative with some consolation. But in course of time the sympathy of the constituents cooled, and they began to grumble. The next step was to come to a com- position with the “sitting member.” From two shillings per diem they brought him down to one: and from that sometimes to a payment or rather a “testimonial” in kind; the kind being somewhat shabbily selected among those commodities which they could afford to part with, at the least possible loss to themselves. Of this there is a curious instance in an agreement (on record) between the Electors of Dunwich on the Suffolk coast, and their Representative. Dunwich is famous for its herring fishery: and the bargain to which they screwed him down was this: viz., “That whether the Parliament hold long time or short, or whether it fortune to be prorogued, he will take for his wages, a barrel and a half of herrings, to be delivered by Christmas!” If the walls of this old building could speak, they could probably tell us some odd history about Borough elections in former times. A few little anecdotes about a contest in 1699, have fallen in my way. The candidates we will call Mr. A. and Mr. B. Mr. B. was the winner: his return was petitioned against; and among the many witnesses put forward to prove bribery and corruption, were as follows :— Robert Taylor swore that Mr. B. had given him 1s. and promised him £2 2s. if he would do his best to get his brother William Taylor’s vote. He did his best: and afterwards when he asked Mr. B. for the £2 2s., Mr. B. told him he knew nothing about that matter. William Taylor, the brother, said he had heard about the £2 2s. and had voted for Mr. B. accordingly. That he had} intended; to vote for Mr, A.: but Mr. Scott, one of Mr. B.’s agents had suddenly offered to lend him £50, He didn’t want to borrow the money. So Mr. Scott then promised him twenty bushels of wheat—but he had never received the wheat. William Morley said that he was fond of fishing: and had formerly been bound over in a bond not to fish in Mr. B.’s waters: but all at once, just before the Election, he was told he might go fish there. James Stokes testified that he came to Chippenham in September and asked By the Rev. Canon J. E. Jackson. 267 Thomas Stickle which way he was going in the election. Thomas Stickle told him, that he was going for Mr. A., but that ‘‘ there was £20 in the way.” Robert Taylor said that a relation of the Candidate B had gone to one Goody Seryl’s house: and said to her, he had heard she wanted to sell her house and he would give more for it than any body else. As she did not seem inclined to sell it, Mr. B’s relative called for some ale, and as it wasn’t strong enough, he sent out for some brandy. He put the brandy into the ale and made her drink his good health: and when she had done so once or twice, he snatched the key of her house from her, thrust her out of door, and has kept her out ever since. Another man had a silver Tobacco-box given him, with hopes he might find it of service. Upon another occasion, one Philip Edwards had been heard openly to declare, that he should vote for the man that gave him the best penny. Margaret Burgess said that she got, down in hand, in the first place. a nice dress for herself, and in the next a good waistcoat for her husband. And besides that, if said husband would vote for a certain candidate, there wasa promise of a bushel of wheat, and a pair of new breeches for ‘‘ master.” ‘© Master” being put into the witness box, said, it was all true about the waist- coat. He had’nt seen any thing of the other article of dress: but however, he had been to the Bell Inn the day before the Election and had been told that if he would only vote for the right person, it would be the best day’s work he could do. Another man was a shoemaker. He had been told by the same parties that they wanted a shoemaker very bad on their side, and that the first shoemaker that offered, they would maintain him as long as he lived, without making any more shoes, The Quarter Sessions used formerly to be held in the Old Town Hall; and in 1632 the town paid eightpence for two burthens of herbs and green rushes to strew the floor with. Carpets area luxury of no very great antiquity. Our forefathers, even in their private houses, had no “ Kidderminster,” ‘“ Wilton,” “Turkey,” or “Indian,” to walk upon. It was either the bare floor, or rushes. Besides the green rushes, the Corporation of Chippenham made eztra preparation for the Justices. Having no ornamental furniture of their own, they sent to Allington House for certain curtain stuff, to be hung about that part of the hall which the Justices occupied, and also for a broad white cloth over their heads where they sat. (Allington House was the residence of Sir Gilbert Pryn, whose monument blocks up a fine window in the church. There is a part of the house still left, used as a barn.) The 268 Chippenham. Notes of its History. Corporation borrowed Sir Gilbert’s drapery, and paid Robert Cowles sixpence for carrying it back again when it was done with, and setting it up in its place again. Before the Justices came, the posts of the wall of the Guildhall were painted with black colour which cost two shillings. But whenever Royalty visited Chippenham, as it sometimes did on its way to “The Bath,” it was received in the Old Hall which then underwent a special purification, one item of the expense being as follows :— ‘©1624, Henry Berrye, Bayliffe. Item: For frankincense, pitch and rosen, to perfume the Hall at the time of the King’s Majesty being there, ‘4d. uy We must now take our leave of the Old Town Hall; and per- haps with a little wish, as archeologists, that it were possible to keep it up in some way for public use. Though there may be now no longer occasion for it, in its original dignified character, still it is very often a convenient thing in a town to have a room to spare. It comes in “ handy” [as we say] for many things that you do not always know how to find accommodation for elsewhere. Here is an instance of the kind. In the quiet market-town of Spalding in Lincolnshire, there is an old room, which has been occupied since the days of Queen Anne by a club called “The Spalding Gentlemen’s Society.” It was the first Provincial Club for literary purposes ever formed in England: and there it is still, vigorous in a very green old age. It has its books of record, its ‘‘ Minute Books,” containing memor- anda of doings and proceedings, local notices and changes, all care- fully preserved, during that period of time. It is of humble situation and associations; being approached by astair from a butcher’s shop; (an incongruity which is explained by the circumstance that the Room only belonged to the Society, the House in which it is, to some one else.) They keep there all sorts of old articles, old maps, plans and engravings of the Town and neighbourhood, and a small museum of local antiquities found or given from time to time. The members meet together upon certain evenings, either for conver- sazione, or for hearing some paper, or other communication, that any one may be in the humour to make. How far it might be By the Rev. Canon J. E. Jackson. 269 possible to adopt or maintain any thing of the kind here is another question. Old Bye-laws. A Charter was granted in A.D. 1554 by Queen Mary for the better government of the inhabitants. Under it and in virtue of the powers which it gave them, the Corporation enacted certain bye-laws in some respects strange to modern ears, but no doubt very useful at the time, nor would it be amiss if some of them were even still in force. One law was that “if any person came to settle in the Borough to buy and sell, without conforming himself to the rules and orders of the Borough, or if he used-any sort of defiance or disobedience to the chief magistrate, he was to be forthwith fined 20 shillings for the first offence, imprisoned for the second, and for the third to be (in effect) expelled from the town without any remedy, until he had learned better manners.”’ Nobody was to take inmates in the borough of Chippenham without the bailiff’s leave. There was also a Body of Armed Men, liable to be called upon for the defence of the Queen and country. Their number and the condition of the public armoury are described in a list of 1544 as follows :— “Tmprimis. 9 Head-pieces:” (from which it might be supposed that there ought to have been as many bodies to support them, but it is not certain, for the list proceeds:) ‘7 swords, 5 muskets, 4 pikes, 4 corslets, and 4 gorgets.” The small force must have presented a somewhat irregular appearance. There was also besides these a body of archers, bow-and-arrow-men: and they had their practising ground. For there is an order, “That as often as it was needful to erect or repair the common butts, either in the Ivy or beyond St. Mary Street, the bailiff for the time being shall give notice to every householder to come, or send his deputy to help to erect and repair the same: every one not doing so for one hour after notice, to forfeit and lose fourpence.” The armour belonging to the Borough was hung up against the wall. Fortunately for the safety of the town, the heroes of the 270 Chippenham. Notes of its History. head-pieces and the bow-and-arrow-men were not all it had to depend upon: for by another law “every Burgess was to keep in his house a staff and a club: and every other inhabitant was to keep a club; and they were all to bring their weapons when properly called.”” We have known since the days of Queen Mary occasions in the streets of Chippenham, when a little application of these staves and clubs would have had a wholesome effect. In those earlier days a mischievous fashion prevailed. Every gentleman walked about with a sword by his side: other people wore daggers. It was a part of the dress of the day. It wasa very foolish fashion indeed, yet it lasted a long time in England. It was foolish and dangerous, because upon the least quarrel arising out came the sword or the dagger. There are on record many instances in the society of those times, when gentlemen, followed by a train of servants, in the streets of London, or elsewhere, having any private quarrel among themselves fell out at their encounter, first with words and then with blows, often followed by blood-shed and death. This explains another of the rules, that ‘“ Any person drawing a dagger or other weapon within the borough, to strike a townsman, or to call him any opprobrious name, is to forfeit the weapon and be put in the stocks.” In order to encourage sobriety in this ancient town in Queen Mary’s days, the Bailiff and Corporation also laid down a rule. Nobody could serve the town with beer or ale unless he had been properly appointed; and the price of the article was also fixed for him. There were of course, then as now, various qualities of the said article. ‘The small ale, called Penny ale, was to be sold for a penny the gallon.” The brewers and tiplers were to have their measures examined and sealed with the standard seal. If anything was wrong the brewer forfeited 4d. a gallon, and the tipler 2d. a gallon. A “Tipler” in those days meant a different character from him who earns that title now. A tipler, now a days, means one who is understood to take his refreshments a little more frequently than there is any positive By the Rev. Canon J. E. Jackson. 271 occasion for. He is a free consumer: who bends his elbow too often. But formerly, the tipler was the man who kept the house: so it is that words change their meaning. There was also an officer in the town, to see that the worthy inhabitants were not defrauded in the quality of their drink. This officer was called the “ Ale-taster,” or ‘ Ale-conner.” Now this was an office that must have been beset with much temptation: and it is to be hoped that the good man who discharged it, followed the very wise “caution” painted up in large letters over the wine warehouses in the London Docks :—‘“ TasTE BUT DON’T SWALLOW.” Last of all: in the matter of provision for bodily comfort, it was ordered, that if any butchers, bakers, poulterers, cooks, or the like conspired to sell within this Borough, at any other price than the price fixed, every one convicted of so doing should forfeit £10 to the Queen [if he had so much], or else suffer imprisonment 20 days, having ouly bread and water. There was no ward for casual paupers in those days: but there was a regulation, that every innkeeper, great or small, was to keep one bed always ready, for any person sent by the constables, or for any wayfaring man. And there was an odd regulation for market and fair days. “No hostler of any inn was to warder abroad upon the market day, to ask or crave for any horse to be tied up in any stable for any less price than one penny. No blacksmith was to take in more horses than he could well tie up under his penthouse: any hostler or blacksmith breaking this rule was to forfeit 12d. to the poor man’s box. Neither was any person to allow a tub or pail full of water to stand at his door between the Ist May and the 12th September. The bailiff, when he was admitted into office, after taking the oath of supremacy to the Queen, was further sworn to see that no corrupt victuals were sold to the Queen’s liege subjects: that the chandlers of the town made their candles of sufficient light, and that the butchers bring the hide and tallow with the flesh. Nobody in the whole Borough was to use ill language to the 272 Chippenham. Notes of its History. bailiff (meaning, the head magistrate): and if any body dared to do so, he was shut up in the Guildhall chamber 2 days and 2 nights and was also fined 3s. 4d. to the poor man’s box. Moreover—no burgess was to quarrel with any other burgess, nor to sue him at the law without the bailiff’s leave: but was to be content to be reconciled by the bailiff: and if all duties were reasonably yielded and reconciled, he was no longer to vex or grieve his brother burgess. If he did, he would be fined lds. These, which I have mentioned, are some of the original rules and regulations for the better government of Chippenham in the days of Queen Mary. Lent. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth there were some very curious Acts of Parliament passed, such as would surprize us very much now a days. For instance, in order to encourage the fisheries, and such part of the shipping as was connected with fishery; an act was passed in 1569, commanding every Wednesday throughout the year, and every Saturday, to be kept as Fish-days, when nobody was to eat meat; the penalty for eating meat, instead of fish, on a Wednesday was simply this: £3 for every offence, or 3 months close imprisonment. But if any body was . James Hussey. ‘In a deep cutting going up Black Dog Hill, near Warminster,” Rev. E. Peacock. North Division. 4. North-west District, By the side of the stream near the ‘ Mill,” at Rowdeford, Devizes. ‘‘ Wet woods on Kingsdown, and Monkton Farley Avenue,” Jor. Bath. ‘Meadows near Ford,” Dr. Alexander Prior. ; 5. North-east District, “Between the Forest and Martinsell Hill,” Mr. Reeds. “New Mill,” Flor. Marlb. Rather a local plant, and not frequently distributed in Wilts. Vowers fresh- coloured, on short foot-stalks, with small bracteas at their base. oot large, tortuose very astringent. By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 339 2. P. amphibium, (Linn.) amphibious Persicaria. Eng/. Bot. t. 436. Locality. In the Avon, canal, margins of ponds, ditches, and damp ground, frequent. P. Fl. July, September. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Recorded in all the Districts. Stems various in length, more or less branched. Leaves alternate, bright green. Spikes solitary, raised above the water on peduncles, proceeding from the extremities of the stem and branches. lowers crimson, very elegant. Variable in the form of its leaves according to its habitation. 3. P. Japathifolium, (Linn.) dock-leaved Persicaria. Lapathus isadock. Engl. Bot. t. 1382. Locality. On rubbish, and in damp cultivated ground. A. FV. July, August. Area, 1. 2. 8. 4. 5. Distributed throughout all the Districts. A very variable species. Stem 1 to 2 feet high, sometimes spotted, glandular, or glabrous. Leaves lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, shortly stalked. The flowers are either pale green, almost white, or of a reddish tint. Spikes dense, terminal, and lateral. 4. P. Persicaria, (Linn.) Persicaria, or spotted Polygonum ; so named from Persica, (Lat.) a peach tree, in allusion to the resem- blance which the leaves of this species bear to those of a peach tree. Engl. Bot. t. 756. _ Locality. Moist ground and waste places. A. Fl. June, Sep- tember. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Recorded in all the Districts. Stems erect, branched, 1 to 2 feet high. . Spikes terminal and lateral, dense, greenish, the tips of the flowers rose-coloured. Leaves nearly sessile, usually glabrous, sometimes woolly beneath, when it is P. incanum of authors. It _yaries much in stature and in colour, in the number and density of the spikes, and in the achenes more or less concave or convex on one or both sides. 5. P. Hydropiper, (Linn.) biting Persicaria. Water Pepper, from fAudor water, and peperit, pepper; in reference to its acrid, _ pungent flavour, which is due to an essential oil contained in VOL. XII.—NO. XXXVI. 2B 340 The Flora of Wiltshire. numerous dotted glands scattered over the surface of the whole herb. Engl. Bot. t. 989. Locality. In wet places, particularly by ditches and in hollows filled with water in winter, especially in the shade. A F7. August, September. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Recorded in all the Districts, but scarce in the south middle. Stem 1 to 3 feet high, erect. Remarkable for its slender, long, more or less drooping spikes of distant reddish flowers; they are lateral and terminal, and are sometimes at length evect. Whole plant more or less acrid or biting to the taste. 6. P. aviculare, (Linn.) small birds’ Polygonum, or Knotgrass ; so named from avis, (Lat.) a bird. The seeds of this species supply an abundance of food for small birds. Engl. Bot. ¢. 1252. Locality. In cultivated and waste places. 4. FV. May, September. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Very common in ail the Districts. A much branched wiry annual, prostrate when in the open ground, erect when drawn up amongst corn or grass, often a foot or two long. Leaves narrow-oblong, small, very rarely attaining an inch in length. FYowers small, shortly-stalked, in clusters of 2 to 5 in the axils of most of the leaves. It varies much in its branches, sometimes very long and slender with very few distant leaves, sometimes short and densely matted, with the small leaves much crowded. Some botanists think that it includes several species. 7. P. Convolvulus, (Linn.) climbing Buckwheat, Black Bindweed. Engl. Bot. t. 941. Locality. In cultivated and waste land. A. Fl. July, September. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Distributed throughout all the Districts. A glabrous annual, with the twining stem of a Convolvulus. Leaves stalked, heart-shaped, or broadly saggittate, and pointed. Flowers in little loose clusters, the lower ones axillary, the upper ones forming Joose, irregular, terminal racemes. [P. Fagopyrum, (Sm.) Engl. Bot. t. 1044. Fagopyrum esculentum, (JJoench.) is an Asiatic plant, occasionally observed in many parts of the county, where it has been sown as food for game. ] , : By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 341 ORDER. THYMELACEZ. (JUSS.) Named after Zhymelea, a word used by Pliny for a kind of wild olive. D’arune, (Linn.) DAPHNE. Linn. Cl. viii. Ord. i. Name. After the Nymph Daphne, who, in fabulous history, was changed into a laurel or bay tree; some of the plants of this genus have the habit of laurels. 1. D. Mezereum, (Linn.) Common Mezereon. The name is of Arabic extraction, the plant having long been famous for its me- dicinal qualities, which are intensely acrid. Engl. Bot. t. 1381. Locality. Woods. Shrub, Fl. March. Area, 1, * * 4. 5. South Division. 1. South-east District, ‘Woods about Amesbury,” 7. Sole, MS. North Division. 4, North-west District, Limpley Stoke Woods, sparingly. Woods near the Horse and Jockey, Kingsdown, Bury-ditches near Lucknam Grove. 5. North-east District, “‘In a large wood at Froxfield, con- tiguous to the estate of General Popham at Littlecot,” Ms. Bartlett. Very rare and local in the County and probably introduced by the agency of birds. The well-known Wezereon of our gardens, where its early blossoms and delightful fragrance attract general favour. It forms a bushy s/rud, bearing numerous purple flowers, which appear before the /eaves, and red Jerries nestled among the foliage. Flowers sometimes white. 2. D. Laureola, (Linn.) common Spurge Laurel. Lawreola isa diminutive of Zawrea, a laurel or bay tree. Engl. Bot. t. 119. Locality. Woods and thickets, chiefly on chalk. Shrub, FU. February, April. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. South Division, 1. South-east District, ‘Plantations near Winterslow,”’ Dr. Maton. Nat. Hist. Wilts. 2. South Middle District, “Thickets in the neighbourkood of _ Westbury,” Mrs. Overbury. 2B2 342 The Flora of Wiltshire. 8. South-west District, In thickets at Boyton. ‘ Warminster,” Mr. Wheeler. North Division. 4. North-west District, Limpley Stoke woods, formerly in plenty but now become scarce. In woods at Colerne. 5. North-east District, “‘Copses at the foot of Martinsell Hill,” Flor. Marlb. “Great Bedwyn,” Mr. William Bartlett. Very local and sparingly distributed throughout Wilts. Stem 1 to 8 feet high, or rarely more, rather stout, erect, but little branched, naked below, leafy above, and hence bearing some resemblance to a palm. Vowers drooping, fragrant, yellowish green, funnel- shaped. Berries bluish-black, said to be poisonous to all animals except birds. ORDER. SANTALACEZ. (BR.) Plants resembling their type Santalwm, Sandal-wood, in several important characters. They are chiefly natives ef the Cape, New Holland, and India, a few only being found in Europe. Thesiwm is the only British genus. Tuestum, (Linn.) Bastarp ToapFLax. Linn. Cl. v. Ord. i. Named in honour of Theseus, the mythic Grecian hero. 1. T. humifusum, (D.C.) trailing Bastard Toadflax. Engl. Bot. t. 247. Reich. [cones xi., 542. T. linophyllum, Sm. Locality. Elevated chalky and limestone (oolite) hills. P. Fi. June, July. Parasitical. Area, 1. 2.3. 4. * South Division. 1. South-east District, Plentifully on the chalk downs around Salisbury. ‘Amesbury,’ Dr. Southby. ‘“ Near the barrows Pewsey Downs,” Flor. Marlé. 2. South Middle District, About one mile south of the Druid’s Head, on Salisbury Plain, Westbury Downs, and Downs near Heytesbury. 3. South-west District, Chalk hills in the neighbourhood of War- minster. ‘‘ High chalky grounds above Odstock,”’ Dr. Maton, Nat. Hist. Wiits. | alien ee By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 343 North Division. 4. North-west District, Roundway Downs, near Devizes in plenty. ‘Castle Combe,” Dr. Alexander Prior. Not unfrequent in Wilts. Root parasitic on various plants. Stems very numerous, 6 or 8 inches long. Jeaves narrow-linear, or, when very luxuriant, rather broader, and above an inch long. Flowers small, in a terminal raceme, leafy, and sometimes branching at the base; each flower on a distinct peduncle, with 3 linear bracts close under it. Fruit ovoid. ORDER. ARISTOLOCHIACEZ (JUSS.) Asarum, (Linn.) ASARABACCA. Linn. Cl. xi. Ord. i. Named from a, not; and sairo, to adorn; because the plant was not admitted into the ancient coronal wreaths. 1. A. Europeum, (Linn.) European Asarabacca. Asarabacca is compounded of asaruwm, and baccar (Lat.) a word used by Pliny to signify a sweet herb, yielding spikenard. Engl. Bot. t. 1088. Locality. Shady places. P. Fl. May. Area, 1. * * ** South Division. 1. South-east District, ‘‘ Under the hedge on the right hand side of the road leading from Redlynch towards Standlynch, just beyond the large chalk-pit,”’ where it was first discovered by Mr. Popham in 1880. “In the Duke of Queensberry’s woods near Amesbury,” Mr. Sole, M.S. Truly wild in Wilts, according to the opinion of the late Mr. Borrer who had visited the locality. For this interesting addition to the “ Wiltshire Flora,” botanists are indebted to the late Mr. F. Popham of Bagborough near Taunton, who formerly resided at Clarendon. The soil the Asarum grows in is chalk, where it runs amongst the roots of the bushes of the wild Cornel, the shrub which generally forms our hedges. The Amesbury station has ot been verified of late years; it has been repeatedly searched by the Rev. E. Duke, Mr. James Hussey, and myself. For further remarks on the Wiltshire locality for the Asarum, I would refer to my observations in the “ Phylologist,” vol, iii., p. 868. 344 : The Flora of Wiltshire. ORDER. EUPHORBIACEA. (JUSS.) Evupuorsia, (Linn.) SpurGe. Linn. Cl. xxi. Ord. i.} Named from Huphorbus, physician to Juba, King of Mauritania, who brought the plant into use. Spurge is from pwrgo, (Lat.) to purge, French espurge, the plant being purgative. Spurge isa general name in English for all milky purgative plants. 1. E. Helioscopia, (Linn.) sun-observing Spurge; from Helios the sun, and scopeo, to observe; in allusion to its turning to the sun. It is also called in Wiltshire Wart-wort, from its supposed efficacy in removing warts. Lng. Bot. t. 883. Locality. In waste and cultivated ground. 4. FV. June, Sep- tember. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Common throughout all the Districts. Umbel of five principal branches, bracteas and leaves membranaceous, obovate-cuneate, serrated upwards, capsule glabrous, seeds reticulated and pitted. 2. HE. Platyphylla, (Linn.) broad-leaved warted Spurge. Platy- phylia is from platus, broad, and phullon, a leaf. Engl. Bot. t. 338, (starved specimens). HE. stricta, Sm. (non Linn.). Locality. Cornfields. A. Fl. June, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 6. Observed in all the Districts but sparingly. Umbel of about five principal branches and with frequently scattered peduncles beneath, bracteas cordate, leaves membranaceous, broadly obovate-lanceolate, acute, finely serrulated, hairy beneath, glands of the involucre oval; capsule warted; seeds smooth, shining. 3. E. amygdaloides, (Linn.) Wood Spurge; amygdalos is an almond tree, which the leaves of this species resemble. Engl. Bot. t. 256. E. sylvatica, Linn. Jacq. Locality. Woods and thickets, especially in a clayey soil. P. Fl. March, April. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 1 The structure of the flowers of this genus was completely misunderstood by the early botanists of the Linnean school, in whose arrangement Euphorbia occupied a very different place to that which is allotted it at present, viz., Dodecandria Monogynia. The discovery of its true position is due to the accurate judgment and research of the late Robert Brown. Few genera are so widely distributed; some of the species which probably amount to 400 or more, being found in almost every part of the globe. By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 345 Generaliy distributed throughout Wilts. Umbel of about six principal branches, and several scattered peduncles below; leaves nearly membranaceous, obovate-lanceolate, hairy beneath, attenu- ated at the base, entire; bracteas perfoliated, glands lunate, capsules minutely dotted; seeds smooth. Stems red, almost shrubby. 4. E. Peplus, (Linn.) Petty Spurge. Hngl. Bot. t. 959. Locality. A weed in cultivated fields, waste ground. and gardens. A, Fl. July, August. Area, 1. 2. 8. 4. 5. Generally distributed throughout the County. Umbel of about three principal branches, bracteas ovate, leaves membranaceous, broadly ovate, on short stalks, entire, glabrous, glands of the in- volucre lunate, the horns very long, germen somewhat winged and scabrous, seeds dotted. 5. E. exigua, (Linn.) dwarf Spurge. Zviguus (Lat.) is small or little. Hngl. Bot. t. 1826. Locality. Cornfields, especially on a light soil. 4. Fl. June, August. Area, 1. 2.3. 4. 5. Common in all the Districts. Umbel of generally three principal branches; leaves linear-lanceolate as well as the bracteas; rather rigid, entire, glabrous; often truncate and mucronated; glands of the involucre with two horns; capsules nearly smooth. Seeds small, white. 6. E. Lathyris, (Linn.) Caper Spurge. Lathyris is a word used by Pliny for a kind of spurge. The English name caper, refers to the fruit, which closely resemble that of the caper tree, capparis. Engl. Bot. t. 2255. Locality. Sub-spontaneous in gardens, really wild in dry gravelly copses, where, being biennial, it appears only in the second and the fourth years after they arecut.| B. . June, July. Area, i. ** * * 1 This species presents one of the most marked examples of a tribe of annuals and biennials familiarly known as Copse Plants. Some of these are pretty sure to spring up in great profusion the second or third year after the cutting of copses, upon our dry gravelly soils; but being soon overpowered by the growth of the underwood, they may afterwards be sought for in vain for some years, till the clearing of the copse again lets in the influences of the light and 3846 The Flora of Wiitshire. South Division. 1. South-east District, “Clarendon wood where it was very plentiful in the autumn of 1867,” Mr. H. Reader. (Perhaps only naturalized.) Rare and local in Wilts. Stem 3 feet high, glaucous, purplish red, smooth as is the whole plant. caves dark green, glaucous, pointing four ways; sometimes tinged like the stem with purple. Umbel rarely 2-or-3-stalked. A stately and ornamental plant long cultivated in gardens in many parts of the county. [Buzus sempervirens, common Box, Engl. Bot. t. 13841, has long been planted in shrubberies, and has occasionally become naturalized in hedges, but is nowhere truly wild in Wilts. ]?! Mercuriatis, (Linn.) Mercury. Linn. Cl. xxii. Ord. vii. So named because the god Mercury is said to have discovered the virtues, of what kind soever they may be, of this plant. 1. M. perennis, (Linn.) perennial or Dog’s Mercury. rgi. Bot. t. 1872. Locality. Woods and shady places. P. 2. April, May. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Common in all the Districts. About 1 foot high. Leaves mostly on the upper part of the stem, ovate or lanceolate serrate. Both kinds of flowers are in axillary lax spikes. The plant when drying often becomes of a bluish or blackish green. 2. M. annua, (Linn.) annual Mercury. Engl. Bot. t. 559. St. 29, 16. air upon their dormant seeds. This has before been alluded to, and students will do well to bear it in mind when searching in their recorded stations for any of the following species:—Turritis glabra, Reseda Luteola, Dianthus Armeria, Lychnis diurna, Geranium columbinum, Ervuwm hirsutum and tetra spermum, Contum Maculatum, Arctium majus, Senecio sylvaticus, Erythrea Centaureum, Myosotis arvensis (the wood variety), Verbusam Thapsus, Digitalis purpurea, Melampyrum pratense, Chenopodium polyspermum, and Euphorbia Lathyris. 1« Box, a parish so-called in North Wilts, neer Bathe, in which parish is our famous freestone quarre of Haselbery: in all probability tooke its name from the box trees which grew there naturally, but now worne out.” Aubrey, Nat. Hist. Wilts, p. 55, = ee ———————E——E ee By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 347 Locality. Waste and cultivated land. A. F7. August, September. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Frequently distributed throughout the County. Leaves stalked, ovate or. oblong, rather coarsely toothed, of a thin texture. Male flowers clustered as in the perennial Mercury along slender peduncles, nearly as long as the leaves. Female flowers either sessile or shortly stalked, usually on separate plants. Whole plant bright green. ORDER. CERATOPHYLLACEZ. (GRAY.) CEeRATOPHYLLUM, (Linn.) Hornwort. Linn. Cl. xxi. Ord. vii. Name. From ceras, ceratos, a horn, and phyllon, a leaf; in allusion to the stiff divisions of the leaves and fruit, which latter has two spines near the base, terminated by the curved tubulate style; hence, too, the English name Hornwort. 1. C. demersum, (Linn.) common Hornwort; demersum (Lat. signifies sunken, and is applied in allusion to the stems which are long, slender, and floating under water. Lng/. Bot. t. 947. Locality. In ponds, ditches, and slow streams. P. Fi. July, August. Area, * ** 4. 5. North Division. 4. North-west District, In the Wilts and Berks Canal at Melk- sham, Chippenham, and Wootton Bassett. 9. North-east District, In the canal between Swindon and Cricklade. Stems long, slender, floating under water. Leaves more or less densely whorled, their segments setaceous. FVowers small, sessile, verticillated in the axils of the leaves. wit elliptical. I have no note of the occurrence of this species in the south of the county, where it can scarcely be absent. ORDER. CALLITRICHACEA. (LINDL) CaLuitricHE, (Linn.) Water Srarwort. Linn. Cl. i. Ord. ii. Name. From (callos), beauty, and (¢hrix), hair, in allusion to its very fine leaves. 348 The Flora of Wiltshire. 1. C. verna, (Linn.) vernal Water Starwort. Lgl. Bot. t. 722. Locality. In ponds and slow streams. Holford, R. §., W.P., Weston Birt, Tetbury {mere, Chippenham Jackson, Rey. Canon, Leigh Dela- Lansdowne, The Most Hon, The Marquis of, Bowood, Calne Lowndes, E. C., Castle Combe, Chip- penham Merewether, H. A., Bowden Hill, Chippenham Morrison, George, Hampworth Lodge, Downton Neeld, Sir John, Bart., Grittleton Nisbet, R. P., Southbroom, Devizes Penruddocke, C., Compton Park, Salisbury [Corsham Poynder, T. H. A., Hartham House, Prior, Dr., R. C. A., 48, York Ter- race, Regents Park, London Selfe, H., Marten, Great Bedwyn Scrope, G. Poulett, 25, Park Gate, South, London Wellesley, iady Charles, Conholt Park, Andover [ Gifford Wilkinson, Rey. John, Broughton Annual Subscribers. Adams, Rey. J., Stockcross Parson- age, Newbury Alexander, G., Westrop House, Highworth Anstice, Rey, J. B., The Vicarage, Huagerford Anstie, T. B., Devizes Antrobus, Sir E., Bart., M.P., Ames- bury Astley, H. E., Hungerford Awdry, Rev. E. C., Kington St. Michael, Chippenham Awdry, H. Goddard, Notton, Chip- penham Awdry, Justly W., Melksham Awdry, West, Monkton, Chippenham Bailward, J., Horsington, near Win- canton Baker, T. H., Mere, Bath Barrey, H. G., Devizes Barnwell, Rey. E, C., Melksham Baron, Rey. J., The Rectory, Upton — Scudamore, Warminster Bath, The Most Hon. The Marquis of, Longleat, Warminster Bateson, Sir T., Bart., M.P., 32, Grosvenor Place, London, 8.W. Bathurst, Sir F. H. H., Bart., Clarendon Park, Salisbury Bellers, Capt. R.B., Devizes Bennett, Rev. F., Shrewton Bennett, F. J., M.D., Wilton, Salis- bury Bethell, S., The Green, Calne Bingham, Rev. W. P. 8., Devizes Blackmore, H., Crane Street, Salis- bur Blackmore, Dr. H. P., Salisbury “Blake, F, A., Market Place, Salis- bury Bleeck, C., Warminster Bolam, C. S., Savernake Forest, Marlborough iv Booker, Rey. J. K., Reading Bouverie, The Rt. Hon. E. P,, M.P Market Lavington Brackstone, R. H., Lyncombe Hill, Bath Bradley, Rev. G. G., The Lodge, Marlborough Brewin, R., Cirencester Brine, J. E., Rowlands, Wimborne Britton, Mrs., 1, Gresham Villas, Croydon Grove, West Croydon, Surrey Brown, G., Avebury Brown, H., Blacklands, Calne Brown, J., Carnarvon Cottage, Lon- don Road, Salisbury Brown, Messrs., Salisbury Brown, Mrs., South View, Aldbourne, Hungerford Browne, T. P., Baydon, Hunger- ford Bruges, R. H. L., Seend, Melksham Buckerfield, Rey. F. H., The Rectory, Collingbourne Ducis, Marlborough Buckley, Rey. J,, Sopworth Rectory, Chippenham Buckley, Major General, New Hall, Salisbury Bull, Messrs., Devizes Bythesea, 8. W., The Hill, Freshford, Bath <\f Caillard, C. F. D., Wingfield, Trow- bridge Calley, Major, Burderop, Swindon Carey, Rey. T., Fifield Bavant, Salisbury Cholmeley, Rey. C. Humphrey, Din- ton Rectory, Salisbury Clark, Robert, Springfield House, Devizes Clark, T., Trowbridge Clarkson, R., The Priory, Calne Codrington, Thos., 6, Marlborough Villas, Richmond, Surrey Colborne, Miss, Chippenham Colfox, Thomas, Rax, Bridport, Dorset Colston, Mrs., Roundway Park Colwell, J., Devizes Conolly, C. J. T., Cottles, Melksham Cooper, Herbert, Wootton Basset Cornthwaite, Rey. J., Walthamstow, London, N.E. Cosway, Rey. 8., Chute, Andover Coward, Richard, Roundway, Devizes LIST OF MEMBERS. Cowley, The Rt. Hon. Earl, K.G., - Draycot House, Chippenham Cresswell, W.jH., Pinckney Park, Malmesbury Crook, Rey. H. 8. C., Bath Crowdy, Rey. Anthony, Titsey Rec- tory, Redhill, Surrey Crowdy, W. Morse, Macaulay Buil- dings, Bath _Cunnington, H., Devizes Cunnington, W., Devizes Daniell, Rey. J. J., Langley Fitzurse, Chippenham Daubeny, Rey. John, Theological College, Salisbury De Lisle, Rev. G. W., The College, Marlborough Dixon, S. B., Pewsey ~~ Dodd, Samuel, Hartland Row, Kent- ish Town, London Dowding, Rey. T. W., Marlborough Dowding, Rey. W., Idmiston, Salis- bury Dunean, Rey. J., Vicarage, Calne Dyke, Rev. W., Bagendon Rectory, __ Cirencester . Eddrup, Rev. E. P., Bremhill, Calne Edgell, Rey. E. B., Bromham, Chip- penham Edwards, Job, Amesbury Ellen, John, Devizes _Elwell, Rev. W. E., The Rectory, Dauntsey, Chippenham Estcourt, Rey. W. J. B., Long Newnton, Tetbury Ewart, Rey. W., Bishops Cannings, Devizes Everett, Rey. E., Manningford Ab- botts Eyre, Charles, Welford Park, New- bur Y _Eyre, Rey. D. J., Salisbury Eyre, G. E., The Warrens, Lynd- hurst Eyre, G. E. Briscoe, 59, Lowndes Square, London, 8. W. Faweett, E. J., Ludgershall, Andover Fisher, F. R., Salisbury Flower, T. B., 7, Beaufort Buildings ~ West, Bath Forrester, William, Malmesbury LE LIST OF MEMBERS, Vv Fowle, T. Everett, Chute Lodge, Andover Fowle, Miss, Market Lavington Fuller, J. Bird, Neston Park, Melk- sham Gee, William, Woodside, Freshford ~~ Gibraltar, The Lord Bishop of Goddard, Ambrose L., Swindon Goddard, Rev. F., Hillmarton Goddard, H. Nelson, Clyffe Pypard Manor Godwin, Charles, 13, Norfolk Cres- cent, Bath Goldney, Gabriel, M.P., Chippenham Goldney, T. H., Rowden Hill, Chip- penham Good, Dr., Wilton, Salisbury Gordon, Hon, and Rey. Canon, Salisbury _~Gore, Arthur, Melksham Grant, Rev. A., Manningford Bruce Graves, Robert, Charlton Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Salisbury Griffith, C. Darby, Padworth House, Reading Grindle, Rey. H. A. L., Devizes Grove, Miss Chafyn, Zeals House, ~ Bath Gwatkin, J. Reynolds, Nonsuch House, Bromham, Chippenham Halcomb, John, Chievely, New- bury Hall, Rev. Henry, Semley Rectory, Shaftesbury Hall, Marshall, 3, Cleveland Terr ace, Hyde Park, London Hanbury, Edgar, Eastrop Grange, ~~ Highworth Harris, George, Calne Harris, Rev. H., Winterbourne Bas- sett, Swindon Hartley, Rev. Alfred Octavius, Steeple Ashton, Trowbridge Hayward, W. P., Wedhampton Heathcote, Rey. G., 1, Northfield, ™ _ Ryde, Isle of Wight Henly, R., Calne Heytesbury, The Right Hon. Lord, Heytesbury Highmore, Dr. N. J., Bradford on Avon Hill, Miss, 16, Phillimore Gardens, Kensington, London, W. _ Hill, Jonathin, Devizes Hill, W. Henry, The Green, Devizes Hitchcock, Dr., Fiddington, Market Lavington Hodgson, Rey. J. D., The Vicarage, Great Bedwyn, Hungerford Hony, Ven. Archdeacon, Baverstock, Salisbury _Horsey, Ralph, Corsham Howse, T., 19, St. Pauls Church- yard, London Hughes, Rey. J. H. Hulbert, H. H., Devizes Hulse, Sir Edward, Bart., Breamore, Hants Hussey, James, Salisbury Hutchings, Rey. R, 8., Alderbury, Salisbury Inman, Rey. E., Wilton, Salis- bury Jackson, Joseph, Devizes Jennings, J. 8. C., Malmesbury Jones, Rey. W.H., Bradford on Avon Jones, W. S., Malmesbury Kemble, Rey. C., Bath Kemm, Thomas, Avebury Kemm, W. C., Amesbury Kenrick, G. C., Melksham King, Rey. Bryan, Avebury King, Rev. C., Stratford sub Castle, Salisbury Kingdon, Rev. H. T., 71, Wells Street, Cavendish Square, London Kinneir, H., Redville, Swindon Knight, Rey. J., Heytesbury, Bath Lancaster, Rev. T. B., 11, Princes Buildings, Clifton Law, Rey. R. V., Ckristian Malford, Chippenham Lawrence, W. F., 41, Great Pulteney Street, Bath Leach, R. V., Devizes Castle Littlewood, Rey. 8., Edington, West- bury Locke, F. A. §., Rowdeford, Devizes Locke, John, Chicklade, Hindon Long, Henry J., Lanthorne Hatch, Farnham, Surre Long, R. P., Rood Ashton, Trow- bridge Long, Walter, Preshaw House, Bishops Waltham, Hants vi Long, William, West Hay, Wring- ton, Somerset Luce, Thomas, Malmesbury Ludlow, H. G. G., Heywood House, Westbury Lukis, F. C., Guernsey Lukis, Rev. W. C., Wath Rectory, - Ripon Lyall, J. Blunsden Hall, Blunsden St. Andrew, Swindon Macdonald, W. H., The College, Marlborough Manning, G., Jun., Wedhampton Mansell, W., M.A., Marlborough College Marlborough College Nat. Hist. ~ Society, The President of Martin, C. W., The Hill, Purton Maskeylne,, E. Story, Bassett Down House, Swindon [bury Master, Rev. G.S., West Dean, Salis- Matcham, G., New House, Salisbury __ Matravers, J. H., Melksham Mathews, R.G., Maple Croft, Frank- leigh, Bradford on Avon Mc. Niven, Rev. C., Patney Medlicott, H. E., Potterne Medlicott, Rev. J., Potterne _ Meek, A., Hillworth, Devizes Meeres, Dr. Melksham Meredith, Capt., Rowde Merriman, E. B., Marlborough Merriman, W. C., Marlborough Methuen, Rt. Hon. Lord, Corsham Court Meyrick, Rev. E., Wyndersham House, Amesbury Miles, Col. C. W., Burton Hill, Malmesbury, Miles, E. P., Erlwood, near Bagshot Miles, J., Wexcombe, Burbage, Marlborough Morrice, Rev. W. D., Longbridge Deverell, Warminster Morgan, W. F., Warminster Morris, J. Fitzroy, Salisbury Moulton, S., Kingston House, Brad- ford on Avon Mullings, Richard, Stratton, near Cirencester Nelson, Rt. Hon. Earl, Trafalgar, Salisbury Nelson, Lady, Trafalgar, Salisbury Nicholls, J. G., Parliament Street, Westminster Ape lod LIST OF MEMBERS. Nightingale, J. E., Wilton Nott, William, Devizes _ Noyes, George, Chippenham Noyes, James, Chippenham Noyes, John, Chippenham Noyes, John, 9, Lansdowne Road, N. Kensington Park, London Olivier, Rey. Dacres, Wilton, Salis- bury Parfitt, Rt. Rey. Canon, Cottles, ~ Melksham Parry, J., Jun., Allington Parsons, W.F., Hunt’s Mill, Wootton Bassett Peacock, Rey. E., Road Hill Par- sonage, Bath Peill,Rey.J. N., Newton Tony, Salis- bury Perry Keene, Major, Minety House, - Malmesbury Phillips, Jacob, Chippenham Phipps, Charles Paul, M.P., Chalcot, Westbury Phipps, John L., Leighton House, Westbury Pickwick, Capt. C. H. 8.,Frankleigh, Bradford on Avon Pinckney, G. H., Tawstock Court, ~ Barnstaple Plenderleath, Rey. W. C., Cherhill Rectory, Calne Pooke, Rey. W. H., Keevil Powell, W., M.P., Dauntsey House, Chippenham Pratt, James, Wootton Bassett Preston, Rey. T. A., Marlborough College Price, R. E., Marlborough Proctor, W., Rialto Villa, Redland near Bristol Pyper, Rev. R., Bratton Vicarage, Westbury Randell, J. S., Rudloe Lodge, Cor- sham __Ravenhill,John, Ashton, Heytesbury Ravenhill, W. W., Greenhill, War- minster Ravenshaw, Rey. T. F. T., Pewsey Rawlings, James, Shurnell Leaze House, near Melksham Rich, Rev. J., Chippenham Rigden, R. H., Salisbury “Rogers, Walter Lacy, Rainscombe, Marlborough —_——_” LIST OF MEMBERS. Vii Rolls, John E. W., The Hendre, Monmouth Rutter, J. F., Mere, Bath Sadler, S. C., Purton Court, Swindon Salisbury, The Very Rev. The Dean ~ of, The Close, Salisbury Saunders, T. Bush, Bradford on Avon Seymour, A., M.P., Knoyle House, indon Seymour, H. R., Crowood, Ramsbury Simpson, George, Devizes Skrine, H. D., Warleigh Manor, -— Bradford Sladen, Rey. E. H. M., Alton Barnes Sloper, G. E., Devizes Sloper, S. W., Devizes Smith, Rev. A., Old Park, Devizes Smith, Rev. A. C., Yatesbury ~~Soames, Rev. C., Mildenhall, Marl- borough Southby, Dr. A., Bulford, Amesbury Spencer, J., Bowood Speke, W., Monks Park, Corsham, Chippenham Spicer, Major, Spye Park, Chittoe, ~ Chippenham Stallard, Rev. A. G., Pewsey Stallard, Rev. G., East Grafton Par- sonage, Marlborough Stancomb, J. Perkins, The Prospect, Trowbridge Stanton, Ven: Archdeacon, Bur- bage, Marlborough _ Stevens, E. T., Salisbury Stevens, Joseph, St. Mary Bourne, Andover Stokes, Robert, Salisbury Stone, William, Bradford on Avon Straton, C. R., The Square, Wilton. __ Stratton, Alfred, Rushall Strickland, Rey. E., Brixton Deverell Strong, Rev. A., St. Paul’s Rectory, Chippenham Suffolk, Rt. Hon. The Earl of, Charlton Park, Malmesbury Swann, Capt., Holy Street, Honiton __ Swayne, H. J. F., Wilton, Salisbury Swyer, R. N., Shaftesbury Talbot, C. H., Lacock Abbey, Chip- penham Tanner, W. H., Rockley House, Marlborough Taylor, C., Trowbridge _Taylor, 8. W., Erlestoke Park, Devizes Teale, Rev. W. H., Devizes Thurnam, Dr., County Asylum, Devizes Tugwell, W. E., Devizes Ward, Rey. H., Aldwincle, near Thrapston Ward, Col. M. F., Bannerdown House, Batheaston, Bath Warren, Rey. E. B., Marlborough A R. F., Admiralty, White- a Wayte, Rev. W., Eton, Windsor Weller, Mrs. T., 22, Tamworth Road, Croydon, Surrey Whinfield, Rev. E. T., Woodleigh, ~ Bradford on Avon Whitby, Rev. R. V., The Vicarage, Lechlade White, W. M., Springfield Villa, Bath Wickham, Rev. H. D., The Rectory, Horsington, Wincanton Wilkinson, Rey.Dr., West Lavington Wilmot, F. S., Chippenham ~ "Wilson, J., M.A., Chippenham Wilton, Rev. E., West Lavington Winthrop, Rey. B., Hardenhuish, Chippenham Wittey, S., Devizes Wyatt, T. H., 77, Great Russell St., ~ London, W.C. Wyld, Rev. W. T., Woodborough Wyndham, ©. H., Wans, Chip- penham Yates, S. P., Wilton Yeatman, Rev. H. W., Elm Grove, Salisbury Yockney, A., Pockeridge, Corsham Zillwood, F. W., Salisbury Pa H. F. & E. BULL, Printers and Publishers, Devizes. its a A: 5 Hi oy Pick. te ith ews j> Ak Ee ans age aie me Oe La: 2 ane ene!) deny A Oe ~ F ‘ . ( : - fig J OA POAT . a eat Ls) all bat iy iy me Mhege ih a: a oa oe nese 18 ese le tags acon ere at oy ate as Tig te Tn a ete wees arto ee oe ae Pe gota 1 pees Ceraher PAY, eines ri ane ys Cty fae ops a Panay Ze > Ad morse E f : *; eats en. eee are : Segre ty 2 elle at ns 7 : Neto t tag Tasheet oe skeet