ever she took effectual method that I should be entertained in as decent a manner as if she had been present herself.

Mr. Richard Rawlinson, of St. John's College, in Oxford, happened to be at Whaddon at the same time I took my journey. He went over the Monday before, and went away upon Saturday morning, the day after I came. He went on purpose to visit Mr. Willis, and to extract some things out of Mr. Willis's Collections, in order to improve a design about the History of Eton College. He found several things to his purpose.

The next day, being Saturday, after I came to Whaddon I walk'd over to Blechley, two miles from Whaddon, which is a rectory of about 300lbs. per annum, and is in the presentation of Mr. Willis. He hath built a large fine house here of brick, which cost him several thousand pounds. The Church is very neat and handsome, and hath a ring of eight very good bells. These bells were founded at Mr. Willis's own charge, who likewise laid much out in adorning and repairing the Church, in all, to the value of about twelve hundred pounds. Mr. Willis ordered the bells to be rung at my coming to Blechley, They rung two good peals. He told them it was

* Hearne had originally written about three thousand pounds," which he afterwards altered to several.

because the Oxford Antiquary was come. Such is his affection to me.

Whaddon, as well as Blechley, is within Whaddon Chace, which is reckoned to be about 10 miles in circuit. There are some other villages within it. About two furlongs on the east side of Mr. Willis's house at Whaddon, are the Ruins of the Priory of Snelshall, which was a very small thing, being valued for no more, according to Dugdale, (at the Dissolution) than 181. 18. 11d. per an. but according to Speed at

241.

The

The said Priory was of Black Monks, and was founded in the 12th year of K. Hen. d. as I gather from Mr. Willis's Collections. founder was Ralph Martell, and it was dedicated to St. Leonard. The Surrender at the Dissolution was signed only by 3 Monks. The last Prior was Nich. Maltby.

It had a church, whereof none of the Ruins now remain. For the four* Arches in the south wall of the farm house (which three Arches are the only remains of the Priory) do not seem to have been part of the Chapell, but either of some Cloysters, or at least of the Buttery or Kitchen. But conjectures are very uncertain.

Mr. Willis's MS. Collections are very consi

* Hearne had originally written three, and probably forgot to correct the number in the next line.

derable, and much surpass my expectation. He hath been at a great charge on that account. I am of opinion, that he hath rather too much than too little for the Antiquities of Bucks, which is an undertaking he hath been engaged in several years, though diverted from so vigorous a prosecution as I could wish by other affairs.

Among other pictures, I saw at his house these following, which I took particular notice of, viz. (1) Archbp. Dolben, by Sir P. Lilly, a most excellent piece. (2) An old Picture done upon wood, found at Snelshall Priory, above mentioned. This picture, which is a very great curiosity, represents our Saviour, St. John, and St. Peter. (3) A large Draught of Ipswich, by Ogilby, which I do not remember to have seen before. (4) A large Draught of the South Prospect of York Cathedral, done with a Pen. (5) A Picture of Bp. Fell. (6) Mr. Willis's own Picture, done excellently well by Daul, and by it is his Lady's also, done some years since, I do not know by what hand; but it is a good picture.

As I cursorily run over Mr. Willis's Collections I found a note in one of them, that not one of the Monks of Snelshall was found incontinent at ye Dissolution, and that there were at that time 8 servants there, besides the Prior's Father and Mother, who brought all their goods to the said Priory, in hopes of having their living there. At

the same time I also met with another note, signifying, that it does not appear at the Dissolution that (so far as we have surveys) there were any of the Religious found incontinent, in the County of Bucks, excepting one Nun at Ankerwike; which is a very considerable argument to me of the virtues of the Religious.

I saw only two old MSS. at Mr. Willis's. The first of which is a Folio Bible in Vellum of the vulgar Latin Translation, towards the beginning of which is this Note: Hunc librum dedit magister Johannes Rudyng, archidiaconus Lincoln. cathenand. in principali disco infra cancellum ecclesiæ suæ præbendal de Buckyngham ad usum Capellanorum & aliorum ibidem in eodem studere volencium quam diu duraverit. Just by is another Note in Capitals, viz. FVNDATOR CANCELLORUM, signifying that he was founder of the Chancell where the Library was built, which consisted of several Stalls or Desks of Books, the word discus being the same in signification in this place with pluteus. There is also another Note written likewise in a later hand, which shews yt the said Rudyng was y founder of ye said Chancell, & withall it points out to us the time in wch he lived. It is this: Johannes Rudyng collatus fuit ad Archi-diaconatum Lincoln & Præbendam de Sutton cum Buckingham Aug. 6, 1471. Moriebatur 1481. In another

Leaf of the Book are the sd Rudyng's Arms.*

And 'tis remarkable, that there are Escallops and a Crescent to be seen at this time in the Windows of the Church, and they are also carved in Stone on the outside of the wall.

[As Hearne has left nearly ten pages blank in his MS. volume, it is probable that he intended to continue this account of his Whaddon Journey.]

* Hearne has drawn the Arms with a pen, in a very rough manner. They consist of six escalops and a crescent, with the Motto-" May God All Amend."