so beautiful a lady could have run me into, thus to intrench so far upon your time; but I flatter myself that you have the same value and respect for this English Venus that I have. In confidence of which favourable sentiments, I subscribe myself,

THE gentleman who took in for me a subscription of the work you are now pub lishing, acquainted me with your desire to know something concerning the quondam Chapel on Caversham Bridge. I can give you but a very imperfect account of it; but such as it is, I wil

He died in 1754, aged 72. Several curious papers, which he communicated to the Antiquarian Society,' are printed in the Archæologia.

lingly submit it to your perusal. The person who can best inform you is Mr. Brigham, of Cannon-End, in this parish, whose ancestors were once in possession of the greatest part of it, and from whose writings we might (as I am very well assured) have a satisfactory account of it. But as long as country 'squires are suspicious of every one, and especially of the curious inquirers, you must not expect any information from that quarter. The father of the present possessor I once asked about it, who told me briefly that it was dedicated to St. Ann, and that from thence the Religious went at certain times to a well now in the hedge between the field called the mount, and the lane called Priest-lane, which is supposed to have its name from their going through it to this well, which was called formerly St. Ann's well. He likewise informed me that there was in

the memory of man a large ancient oak just by this well, which was also had in great veneration. This is the whole of his answer, and the son inheriting his father's suspicious temper as well as his estate, it is in vain to desire a more particular account from him. About twelve years since, an inhabitant of the parish observing what a good foundation there was still remaining of the chapel, built him an house upon it.

As pitiful as this account is, I rely upon your good nature to a young lover of Antiquities, who is far from thinking what he has said will be any

satisfaction to you; but whose only motive to trouble you with this letter was the observance of your commands, though at the same time he was sure to expose himself to be an ignoraut schoolboy.

says, that the

that the presen

Give me leave to add, that Kennett, in his "Parochial Antiquities,' tation to this Chapel was in the year 1258, in the

* "Parochial Antiquities, attempted in the History of Ambrosden, Burchester, and other adjacent parts, in the counties of Oxford and Bucks. By White Kennett, vicar of Ambrosden. Oxford, printed at the Theater, M.DC.XCV." 4to. pp. 703, exclusive of Dedication, Preface, and Index, with a glossary at the end.

As this work is now become very scarce, the following brief account of it may not be uninteresting.

The Author, after having noticed every thing he could find relating to his subject in the British, Danish, and Saxon times, proceeds regularly as an annalist from the year 1066 (1st of William the Conqueror) to the year 1460 (39th of Henry VI.) where he ends, because, as he says in the Preface, he "found the volume growing incapable to hold the remaining matter, unless he had contracted it into a compass too narrow for the projected design."

66

There was one Manuscript communicated to him by his very worthy friend Mr. Blackwell, B.D. which," says be, (tho' of modern age and no great authority) immediately relating to these parts, I thought good, with consent of the owner, to join as an Appendix to this work, under the title of "The History of All-chester, near Bircester, in Oxford shire, &c. wrote in the year 1622,”.....

hands of Margaret, widow of Walter Mareschall, Earl of Pembroke. The same learned gentleman also mentions another Chapel in the same parish, dedicated to our Lady; but of this enough.

If you think, good Sir, that I might find out something more relating to the Chapel from some old persons in the parish, if I knew what questions to ask them; be pleased to send your queries to me at the Rev. Mr. Hiley's, in the Forebury, Reading, and they shall be faithfully executed by, Sir,

Your humble Servt.

Recd. Saturd. April 15, 1727.

T. H.

J. LOVEDAY.*

This volume contains many curious extracts from Charters, and a great number of documents relating to Consecration to Religious Uses, Appropriation of Tithes, Institution of Churches, Dependance of Chapels, Office of Rural Deans, &c. &c. The Glossary is very useful.-It likewise contains the following plates: 1. Miscellaneous Antiquities, p. 23; 2. Church and Parsonage House of Islip, p. 51; 3. House of William Glynne, Esq. at Ambrosden, p. 55; 4. Church of Ambrosden, p. 431; 5. House of Mr. John Coker, at Burcester, p. 509; 6. Church of Burcester, p. 559; 7. House of Sir John Aubrey, at Borstall, p. 679; 8. House of Sir John Walter, at Saresden, front view, p. 682; 9. Do.. prospect of, p. 683.

* John Loveday, Esq. was born in 1711, and educated,

LETTER CXLII.

Mr. DRAKE to Mr. HEARNE

REVEREND SIR,

History of York.

I PRESUME upon no other acquaint ance with you, than the seeing your name pre fixed to many excellent Treatises in History and Antiquity, to beg your advice and assistance in executing a design I have long formed, which is giving the Public the History and Antiquities of the truly Ancient City of York.* The subject is noble and deserves a much abler penman than

as a gentleman-commoner, at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he became M.A. June 12, 1734. In his preface to the "Liber Niger Scaccarii," printed 1728, Hearne mentions him as optima spei juvenis, litterarum et litteratorum amantissimus. Although it does not appear that Mr. Loveday actually published any work of his own, yet his collections and literary knowledge were most freely imparted to all who had occasion for his assistance. He died May 16, 1789, aged 78. For an interesting character of him see the Gentleman's Magazine; Obituary, May, 1789, p. 471.

* His “Eboracum; or the History and Antiquities of the City of York," was published in 1736, in a folio volume of 627 pages, besides the Dedication, Preface, a List of Subscribers, and at the end an Appendix of cx pages, and a copious Index. It is a work of much research, and has many curious plates.