place. His afflicted family, in erecting this blet to his memory, forbear to fill it with perfluous praise, or useless lamentation. ay they who knew him best, and loved m most, praise him in their future lives a remembrance of his example and an mitation of his virtues. He died Nov. 27, 806, aged 70 years." Perfectly agreeing with your Correspondent in the beauty of the Epitaph, I trust you will do me the favour to insert the following from a plain tablet in the family seat of the Winmingtons at Stanford Church, Worcestershire. I well recollect that at the time of its erection, it was considered as doing equal justice to the memory of an excellent mother, leaving tween een a cross botoné, Bishop Sutton; and a between six cross crosslets, Beauchamp. This college was begun by Bishop Sutton, whose executors finished the hall, kitchen, and several chambers. The long building below the quadrangle, now divided into stables and hay-lofts, seems to have been built by Bishop Alnwick and John Breton, Prebendary of Sutton cum. Bucks; the Bishops' arms, Argent, a cross moline Sable, and the rebus BRE on a tun, being on the East end. Yours, &c. N.R. S. Mr. URBAN, Oct. 3. E must be indebted to the resi a numerous young family, and to the Wenustlone, for the authenticity sound taste of a most affectionate husband, who was in truth, "a scholar, and a ripe and good one." "Near this spot lie the remains of Anne, dau'r of Thomas Lord Foley, and wife of Sir Edward Winnington, bart. She was born on the 21st August, 1760, was married on the 9th of May, 1776, and died on the 9th of December, 1794, a mother of ten surviving children. He who inscribes this tablet to her memory, forbears to fill it with superfluous praise or useless lamentation. May they who knew her best and loved her most, praise her in their future lives by a remembrance of her instructions and an imitation of her virtues." Your Correspondent Octogenarius" must be struck with the very great similarity of expression in the two Epitaphs; and be disposed in future to consider from priority of time and locality of situation, Mr. T. Thackeray's as only coming in second-best. I Mr. URBAN, SUUM CUIQUE. Oct. 9. N your Magazine for February last, p. 113, you obliged me by inserting a view of the remains of the Bishop's Palace at Lincoln, I now send you a view (see Plate II.) of the Vicar's College in the same antient City. It is situate nearly adjoining to what are called the Grecian Stairs in the Close of Lincoln; and is now commonly known by the name of the Old Vicary, forming a quadrangle, of which there remain only four good houses, which are sufficient for the present Vicars. The gateway is adorned with these coats of arms :-old France and England quarterly, be GENT. MAG. October, 1826, of topographical accounts; the visitor has to contend with many disadvantages, and his information, if original, can seldom be gathered from any other source. Discrimination should be exercised in the selection of informants, and we should guard against sacrificing circumstances of comparative importance to those of minor consideration. Hence the biographer should endeavour to glean his information from several sources, always giving a preference to the old and intelligent resident. The writer feels happy in coinciding with your correspondent A's observations on Padstow, in your Magazine for November 1825, and also in contributing evidence in support of some parts of his dissertation. The incorporation of Padstow has of late years been always doubted, and frequently rejected by the County historians; the following document, however, establishes the fact beyond dispute. The instrument was separated from the deeds of the Prideaux family about the middle of the last century, and is now in the possession of a private gentleman-Mr. Rose of Padstow. It has only just been deciphered, and as the subject is perfectly original, and serves to establish a contested 'point, the writer has transcribed the whole for your Magazine. 66 Counterpart of Lease for 21 years of Waste Ground, &c. in Padstow, from Nicholas Prideaux, Esq, to the Mayor there, in 1590. “This Indenture, made the nynthe daye of Aprill, in the xxxij yeere of the Raigne of our Souvraigne, Ladye Elizabeth, by the grace of God, of England, Fraunce, and Irelande Queene, Defendress of the Faithe, &c. betweene Nicholas Prydeaux of Hollesworthie in the countye of Devon, Esquire, on the one parte, and Richard Lawrence, nowe Mayor of the Towne and Burrowgh of Paddestowe in the countye of Cornwall, and the Burgesses of the same, on the other parte: Witnesseth, that the saide Nicholas Prideaux, for diverse good causses and considerations him movenge, hath geven, graunted, and demyesed, and by these presentes doth geve, graunte, and demyese unto the aforesaide Mayor and Burgesses, and to theire successors (except herein excepted) all that Waste and Waste grownde his whatsoever, sett, lyeinge, and beinge within the libertyes, presinctes, and lymytes of the saide Towne and Borrowgh of Paddestowe, with all anchorage, burglage, and culage, togeather with all such other lawfull profittes, advantages, and commodityes, and emolumentes whatsoever, which by any waye or means shall or maye arisse, come, growe, or happen by reason of any shipp, barque, boate, crayer, or other vessell whatsoever, that shall arryve, anchor, and harboure within the haven, river, and porte of Paddestowe, on the libertye of the saide Nicholas aforesaide (excepte and allwayes excepted, to the saide Nicholas, his heires and assignes, oute of this presente graunte and demysse, one guillet and parcel of lande some tyme used heretofore for a market place for the saide towne, and wherein the pyllerrye nowe or late useth to stande, and also excepte all and singular the free fyshinge and layenge of backynge nettes or other engines for takynge of fyshe in the ryver of Paddestowe aforesaide, belonginge to the saide Nicholas, his heires and assignes, and also excepte wreckes and profittes of the sea hereafter happenynge, by any manner of wayes or meanes to the saide Nicholas, his heires and assignes, whatsoever): To have and to holde the aforesaide premisses, with theire appurtenances, excepte before excepted, unto the aforesaide Mayor and Burgesses, and theire successors, for, dewringe, and contynewinge the full and complete number of One and Twentyè yeares, from the feaste daye of St. Mychaell the Archangell laste paste, before the date hereof, from thenceforthe fullye to be compleated and ended, yeildinge and payenge therefore yeerlye dewringe the terme aforesaide, unto the saide Nicholas, his heires and assignes, the full and whole somme of fortye'shillinges of good and lawfull monye of Englande, yeerlye, at, in, and uppon the feaste daye of St. Michael the Archangell. of "And if it happen the saide yeerelye rente of fortye shillynges to be behinde and unpayde, in parte or in all, by the space twentye dayes next after the feaste aforesaid, in which it owght to be paide, or if the aforesaide Mayor and his successor or successors for the tyme beinge, yeerelye and from yeere to yeere dewringe the aforesaide leasse and demysse, doe not or shall not in his naturall and particular capacitye become obliged and bownden unto the aforesaide Nicholas Prydeaux, his heires and assignes, at a sufficiente and reasonable obligation of fower pounds, upon requeste by the saide Nicholas Prydeaux, his heires and assignes, unto the Mayor theere for the tyme beinge, with condition indorsed for the true paymente of the aforesaide rente of fortye shillinges, expressed unto the saide Nicholas, his heires, and assignes, unto the saide Mayor, his successor, or successors for the tyme beinge, that then and from thenceforthe this presente lease and demysse shall utterlye cease and be voyde and of no effecte, any thinge before mentioned, or herein contaigned to the contrarye notwithstandinge. "In witness whereof to the one parte of this presente Indenture, the saide Nicholas Prydeaux, Esquire, hath putte his hande and seale, geaven the daye and yeere fyrste above written, and to the other parte of this presente the saide Mayor and Burgesses have caussed the common seale of theire Incorporation to be hereunto affixed, and also the saide Mayor hath hereunto subscribed his name. "Signed Richarde R 1 Laurence." The impression of the Corporation seal represents a large ship with an anchor at the bow, and is somewhat. similar to that used by the borough of Truro, of which Lysons has given an engraving. In accounting for the lapse, or rather the desuetude of the Charter (for no record exists of its having been surrendered), it may be proper to refer to the dawning of the Reformation in the time of the 8th Henry. At that period, the town of Padstow being under the patronage of Bodmin Priory*, experienced in common with other places, the exaction and rapacity of the Romish Clergyt. When, how. ever, the property became vested in the Crown, a new impulse was given It appears that the tithe of fish, with the oblations and emoluments of the Chapels of St. Sampson and St. Cadock, were leased, in the year 1537, by the Priory of Bodmin, to H. Prideaux of Thuborough in Devon. First impressions would lead us to conceive that the popular feeling against the monastic orders at the dissolution, is evinced in the remains of some old pews in the Church at Padstow, on which are carved, among other grotesque figures, more than one to the industry of the inhabitants, and we find the fluctuating fortunes of Padstow again assuming a favourable aspect. So great was the progressive improvement a few years after the commencement of Elizabeth's reign, that the inhabitants were enabled to purchase a Charter of Incorporation, which also, as in the case of Marazion, empowered them to return members when they were able to support the charge. To this point of prosperity however, by some fatality, they never arrived. The manor of Padstow pass ed from John Pope, a trustee and favourite of royalty, to Nicholas Prideaux of Soldon, at the latter end of the 16th century, and the immediate connection of the Prideauxes with the town and borough of Padstow, may be dated from this period. The latter gentleman having granted to the Corporation of Padstow the privileges specified in the lease before transcribed, afterwards erected a house near the town, on the site of the ancient monastery, and near the Chapel of St. Sampson. The exercise of the authority of a corporate body in the town of Padstow, was doubtless a subject of uneasiness to the Prideaux family, and there is every reason to surmise that through their influence the Burgesses were induced to relinquish a charter, of which the existence has of late years been disputed. A large house, with a commodious porch and staircase, near the market place, known in the old writings by the name of the Great House, was evidently the town hall; and we must not judge too harshly of the respectability of the Burgesses, from the rough appearance which the initials of the Mayor present in the counterpart. The circumstance forms a striking contrast with the benefits of education now enjoyed by the poorest inhabitant. It is a matter of doubt whether the loss of their charter be an event really to be regretted by the Padstonians. An im We must regret that any inducements should be wanting to retain our country gentlemen some part of the year at their paternal estates; for who will attempt to limit the benefits which may be conferred on the community through the kindly influence of an old and wealthy family? Place, a mansion of which the noble architecture is only surpassed by the beauty of its situation, has long been unoccupied by its owner, although possessing every claim to calm and dignified re tirement. The active magistrate has duties, the conscientious performance of which involves services which are very inadequately estimated. To promote industry as the incentive to virtue, and to stigmatize idleness as the parent of vice; to bear a firm front against depravity, however recommended; to support the dignity of his office unbiassed by the interested chicaneries of the attorney, and unprejudiced by the influence of more elevated characters; and, in the words of Scripture, to act "for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of those who do well;" these are qualifications of which representation of a fox preaching to geese. It appears, however, to be the opinion of some intelligent Antiquaries, supported by the historian Fuller, that all pieces of carved work of this description were the weapons of abuse, wielded by the regular secular and conventual Clergy against the mendicant Friars, in the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries. The superior attainments, unwearied exertions, and papal privileges of the new orders, to whom the respect of the laity was soon transferred, created a " deadly antipathy" (see Fuller) between them and the parish priests, who were for the most part of relaxed morals, and excessively illiterate. The Friars were distinguished into four principal branches, viz. 1. Minors, Franciscans or Grey Friars; 2. Augustines; 3. Dominicans or Black Friars ; 4. Carmelites, or White Friars. How violent must have been the ablutions of that "esprit du Corps" which thus embodied personal hatred with the most sacred associations! we frequently read, but seldom see practically enforced. One indeed survives in the memory of the inhabitants of Padstow, who possessed in an eminent degree all these requisites, but a recurrence to their long and salutary exercise only contributes to the severity of their loss. Having thus disposed of the Charter of Padstow and its history, the writer will enter on some particulars connected with the town, which have hitherto escaped the notice of topographers. The prominent figures which surmount the buttresses on the most ancient part of the parish Church, are involved in considerable obscurity. On the centre buttress stands a figure in flowing robes, supporting a shield parted per pale, 1. Three lions passant. 2. A chevron between three wings displayed. On that to the right a lion couchant, and on that to the left an unicorn gorged with an antique crown with chain affixed thereto : the heads of the two supporters are gone, as well as the lower part of the centre figure, and part of the dexter side of the shield. The hand of time has given to the whole an undoubted impress of high antiquity. Perhaps some of your Correspondents can explain the singularity of impaling the arms of England with those of a private family. The arms of Nanfan of Tregerryn in Padstow, and of Trethewell in St. Evah, were, Sable, a chevron Erm. between 3 wings displayed Arg. Nanfan was also written Nanfon and Nanson: the founder of the family, John Nanfan rose, according to Hals, in the wars of Henry V. from a domestic of one of the Eriseys, to a Captain, in which capacity his successful valour and conduct highly recommended him to the King, who bestowed on him considerable estates in England and France: he purchased the barton of Trethewell in St. Evah, and the manor of Tregerrynt in Padstow, where he seated himself. The property of this family continued to accumulate, and we find serving the office of Sheriff, Joan. Nanfan, in the 7th and 18th of Henry VI.; Joan. Nanfan, probably his son, in the 29th and 35th of the same reign. Ric. Nanfan in the 20th of Edward IV.; and Nich. Nanfan in the 4th of Henry VII. In the last reign the faraily became extinct, the heiress having married Trenowth. four The oldest register of Padstow commences in 1599. The averages for years, from 1613, are, Baptisms 31; Marriages 11; Deaths 17. The following appears to be the succession of Vicars from the 16th century. Thomas Potter, 1599; Ralph Michell,1621; Thomas Bowden, 1670; Bishop, 1681; Charles Guy, 1720; Humphry Thomas Biddulph, 1771; William Rawlings, 1790. In 1640, 210.18s.10d. the amount of donations given to the poor of Padstow, was laid out in the purchase of lands from John Cole, Esq. which were vested by enfeoffment in the following persons:-John Arthur, John Warne, John Peter, Richard Rouncival, Justus Marsh, John Tom, Robert Billing, Pollider Juell, Nicholas Jolly, and Henry Stribley. Although the name of Prideaux was not originally connected with the trust, yet through the influence of that family the management appears to have passed into their hands. In the return made to Parliament in 1786, the then existing vacancies appear to have been supplied; but we find Peter the only name remaining of the original feof * To those connected with the town of Padstow, it is unnecessary to name the individual here referred to. The Committee of one of the eminently charitable institutions of this county justly allude to the same gentleman in their annual report, dated Sept. 1820:"Your Committee may be allowed to add that there seems to be a particular call for increased efforts and prayers towards supplying in some degree a loss which they fear will be felt not merely in his immediate neighbourhood, but throughout the whole county. They allude to the death of Thomas Rawlings, Esq. one of your Vice-presidents. In mentioning his name, they deem it superfluous to enlarge on his steady and cheerful attention to public duties in general, but especially to the concerns of this and similar establishments and they consider themselves hardly justified in bringing into public view that attachment which he showed towards this society or its friends, in the bosom of his family. They will, therefore, content themselves with expressing their hope, that having himself derived comfort from the Holy Volume in the most trying moments, and having in the hour of death fixed his anchor's hope on high,' he has accordingly encouraged those that shall come after him to go and do likewise.' ; Tregerryn was at that time an extensive manor; the estate has passed from the Molesworth to the Rawlings family. |