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392 Mining temp. Henry VIII.-Parliamentary Surveys. [May,

a debt upon the Hospital,) was expended on repairs.

The two other papers are of less interest; the first being an acknowledgment from the ten Beadswomen of the receipt of their quarter salary, dated 26 Dec. 1699, signed with their names, and the other a petition of the upper overseers and ancient inhabitants of the Hospital and precinct thereof, to the Earl of Feversham, Master, desiring him to cause the fees of burial in the church, choir, or church-yard, to be made out and affixed in some convenient place, so that for the future no one might be "vexatiously burdned." K.N.

Mr. URBAN,

May 10.

IN the "Privy Purse Expenses of Henry the Eighth," p. 69, is an entry of money, paid towards the working of a mine belonging to the King at Lantrissen, in Glamorganshire. In the notes it is presumed by the Editor to be a new fact, in Henry's character, that he should have interested himself in mining. This is very true, possibly, so far as our historians are concerned in their view of the King's reign and pursuits, but it is incorrect, if supposed to rest on the sole authority of the above passage. That Henry speculated also in the same way in Suffolk (and probably elsewhere), but the following extracts will prove his plans, like the El Dorado of adventurers of a subsequent reign, seem to have ended in disappointment:

"July, ao xxx [1538.] Item, payde to Richard Candishe by the Kinges commaundement, certefyed by my Lord Privy Sealis l're, and other the Kingis Commissioners joyned wt him, to have the ouersight of the Kingis myndes of golde in Suffolke, and to convey certeyne fyners and other artificers there, for the tryall of the vre there, the somme of xx li.

"Item, paide to Will'm Wade, seruaunte to S Piers Edgecombe, Knight, Ixs. for his costes and expences brynginge vp' hether from Cornewalle, at his owne charge, Manuel George and Will'm Wynget, myners, to be sent at this tyme into Suff', to trye and werke at the newe myne, to the saide George Manuel and Will'm for yir charges, goynge downe to Suff', vpon a reconnynge of their wagis, by the Kingis commaundement, certefyed, &c. vili.

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of the Kinges mynde in Suff" by the Kinges commaundement certefyed, &c. for their costes and charges, and also for their wagis, werkinge, and laboringe there in the sayde mynde or myndes, for their finall dispatch hether, vjli. xiijs. iiijd.

The above excerpts are made from a Household Book of Henry in the library of the Royal Society, MS. Norf. 97, ff. 38, b. 39, b. and 35, and they serve to illustrate a passage in a letter from the Bishop of Bayonne, the French Embassador then resident in England, to M. de Montmorency, dated London, 25 Jan. 1529, in which Je ne veulx, Monsieur, he writes: “ oublier à vous dire que l'Ambassadeur de Hongrye a persuadé ung Ossestre, qui estoit icy pour les Mines chercher, de s'en retourner en Alled'or que le Roy d'Angleterre faisoit maigne," &c. See Le Grand's Hist. du Divorce de Henry VIII. tom. iii. p. 285.

But the source whence the greatest light might be thrown on the subject of mining in this and preceding reigns, is the Chapter House, where, according to the Report_published by the Commissioners of Records in 1800,

p. 41, are preserved Leases of Mines of gold and silver in Gloucestershire and Somersetshire, from the time of Richard the Second, and several Bundles of Letters relative to the same, with Instructions and Contracts, temp. Henry VIII.

Yours, &c.

Ω.

In reply to the inquiry of ANTIQUARIUS, respecting a copy of the Parliamentary Survey in 1650, besides the one at Lambeth, it may be assumed, from the present defective state of our knowledge as to what really exists in Record Offices, that there is no other complete copy in being. In the Official Return from the Land Revenue Office, is mentioned" Parliamentary Surveys," temp. Cromwell, in 14 vols. but these would appear not to be the Ecclesiastical Survey. Transcripts or duplicates of the possessions of the several Cathedrals of Bristol, Chichester, Ely, Lichfield, St. Paul's, Salisbury, Wells, Winchester, and Worcester, are also preserved in the respective libraries of the Deans and Chapters, and probably more, not specified in the slovenly Reports sent in to the Commissioners of Records. To these may be added that a complete and accurate transcript of that part of Oliver's Survey, relating to Dorsetshire, has lately been purchased by the Trustees of the British Museum, for the use of the public.

YHAHELL GROTWAT

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LONGNOR CHAPEL, Shropshire.

To the C'enerable. Archdeacon Corbett of Longnor Hall, com Salop these l'ieurs are respectfully inscribed by D. Parkes

1831.]

Leebotwood Church, Shropshire.

Mr. URBAN, Shrewsbury, May 10. AS a further illustration of Shrop. shire Topography, you will receive inclosed a view and description of the Church of Leebotwood; and of the neighbouring Chapel of Longnor, which makes a pleasing feature in Longnor park, the residence of the Ven. Archdeacon Corbett.

Leebotwood is a parish in the Hundred of Condover, the diocese of Lichfield and Coventry, and deanry and archdeaconry of Salop. The Church, dedicated to St. Mary, is an unadorned structure of considerable antiquity, It is of one pace; the ceiling is coved; there is a gallery at the west end; the chancel rises one step from the body of the Church. The tower contains three bells. The whole length of the Church is 595 feet, the breadth 21 feet. From the Church-yard is a beautiful and extensive view, including the celebrated Caer Caradoc hill. As this Church may be considered the mausoleum, or at least the burying place of the Corbetts of Longnor, I have subjoined the several inscriptions belonging thereto.

On a brass plate in the floor, within the communion-rails :

"Here lyeth the body of THOMAS CORBETT, of Longnor, Esq. who took to wife Jane, one of the daughters and co-heirs of Robert Morton of Haughton, in ye county of Salop, Esq. and had issue by her 7 sonnes, and 3 daughters, and departed this life the 23d of December, Ano D'ni 1645, ætatis suæ 83."

On plain stones, in the chancel floor: "Here lyeth the body of GEORGE CORBETT, fifth son of Thomas Corbett, of Longnor, who was buried ye 18th of July, Anno

D'ni 1665."

"Here lyeth ye body of HUMPHREY the seventh son of Thomas Corbett, of Longnor, Esq. who was buried the 19th day of September, Anno Dom. 1663."

Here lyeth the body of ELEANOR CORBETT, of Longnor, who dyed ye 1st of December, 165...

"Here lyes S UVEDALE CORBETT, Bart. Near this place lyes also the remains of EDWARD CORBETT, Esq. second son of the above named Sir Uvedale, who departed this life July ye 13th, 1764, aged 66.".

On a handsome monument against the north wall of the chancel :

"Beneath this marble is deposited what remains of the most worthy and ingenious Sr UVEDALE CORBETT, Bart. who after he GENT. MAG. May, 1831.

393

had seen and known the world, left it Oct. 22, 1701, in the 34th year of his age. He was son and heir to the most excellent Sir Richard Corbett, by the Lady Victoria, his wife, who was daughter and co-heiress to Sir William Uvedale of Wickham, in the county of Southampton. He married the Right Honble the Lady Mildred Cecil,* youngest daughter of the Right Honble James Earl of Salisbury, by whom he had issue four sons, Richard, Edward, Thomas, Francis, and one only daughter Elizabeth.

"Relicta Honorabili revera Dominæ, necnon ramusculis bonæ spei singulis, omnia det Deus, nunquam non prospere. "Stemmate quam celebris fuit ingenioque paterno, Proh dolor! hic pulvis spurcus utrumq. tegit; Quis generis famam, quis ineptis jacet acumen,' Nate Dei, fælix, si sapis ac animæ."

ARMS. Quarterly, 1 and 4, Or; two Ravens in pale, within a bordure Gules, Bezantée, Corbett of Longnor; 2 and 3 Argent, a cross moliné Gules, Uvedale; impaling, Barry of ten, Argent and Azure, six escutcheons Sable, each charged with a lion rampant of the First, Cecil. Crest. A raven Proper, in his break an olive branch Vert, fructed Gules.

On a monument against the east wall of the chancel

"In memory of Sir RICHARD CORBETT, Bart, son of S UVEDALE and Lady MILDRED CORBETT, a friend to the Constitution, to liberty, and toleration. He served his county as a true patriot in many Parliaments; in his retreat as an useful Magistrate, and a zealous patron of all such designs as promised ornament or utility to the public. In his manners he was gentle, kind, and condescending, all who knew him. He died the 25th of engaging the love, as well as the esteem of Sept 1774, in the 79th year of his age, having survived his younger brother Edward ten years, with whom through life he had been most intimately united in all the offices of the most tender and unreserved friend

ship, and with whom he desired to be joined in this last memorial of his fraternal regard and affection.",

bordure Gules, Bezantée, with the badge of ARMS. Or, two Ravens in pale, within Ulster. Crest, as before.

On a monument against the east wall of the chancel:

"In a vault beneath this chancel, are deposited the remains of ANNE, wife of RoBERT CORBETT, Esq. who in testimony of his sincere and affectionate regard to her

Charles Hotham, Bart. Her epitaph, and Her Ladyship was remarried to Sir those of her daughter Elizabeth and of Sir Richard Corbett, from St. Margaret's, Westminster, will be found in Wotton's Barouetage, 1741, vol. ii. p. 821.

394

Leebotwood Church, and Longnor Chapel.

memory, hath erected this monument. She departed this life April 4th, 1791, aged 60 years. She was daughter of Thomas Russell, of Lydley Hayes, in this county, Esq. and her remains, together with this monument, were removed from Longnor Chapel to this chancel, pursuant to the will of the said Robert Corbett, Esq. Oct. 31, 1804, whose body was then here deposited. He was the 3d son of John Flint, by Jane, daughter of Watess Corbett, Esq. and departed this life at Longnor Hall, Oct 25th, 1804, aged 78. He married to his second wife ANNE, daughter of Ambrose Isted, of Ecton, in the county of Northampton, Esq." ARMS. Corbett as before. Impaling, on the dexter side, Argent, on a chevron between three cross-croslets fitchée Sable, an escal

lop shell Argent, Russell; Sinister, Gules, a chevron Vairè, between three talbots' heads erased Or, Isted.

On an ornamented tablet, against the south wall of the chancel :

"Underneath are deposited the remains of JOSEPH PLYMLEY, Esq. He closed a long life of usefulness to others, and of credit to himself, at Longnor in this county, May 29th, 1802, in the 86th year of his age. He married to his first wife, DIANA, daughter of JOHN FLINT, by JANE, daughter of WATIES CORBETT, Esq. This monument records the esteem in which the mo

ther and daughter were holden whilst living, and their sepulture in this chancel.

"DIANA PLYMLEY departed this life Nov. 2, 1779, aged 54.

"Near this spot also was buried, June 30th, 1793, aged 61, HANNAH, the second wife of the said Joseph Plymley, and daughter of Thomas Russell, of Lydley Hayes, in this county, Esq."

On a neat marble tablet, against the north wall of the chancel:

"In the Church-yard near this wall, are deposited the remains of JANE, 2d daughter of JOSEPH CORBETT, of Longnor Hall, Clerk, by his first wife JANE JOSEPHA. Amidst the discouragement of ill-health, her mind had attained uncommon excellence, and when qualified in every thing but bodily strength, for whatsoever is useful or elegant in this life, she was removed to one more suitable to her views and aspirations, March 10th, 1807, aged 19 years.

"Near the same spot are the re nains of MATTY, second wife of the said JOSEPH CORBETT, and third daughter of DANSEY DANSEY, of Brinsop, in the county of Hereford, Esq. Disinterested and unaffected in every situation, she was exemplary as a faithful wife, an affectionate mother, and a liberal

benefactor to the poor. She had passed through many years of bodily pain, which as it did not diminish the patience of her mind, so neither had it injured the beauty

[May,

of her person, when by a short illness she was lost to this world January the 5th, 1812, aged 40 years."

LONGNOR CHAPEL is in the same hundred, deanry, and archdeaconry as Leebotwood, in the parish of Condover, and a chapel thereto, but a parish, and patronage distinct. Parts of the chapel appear of an early period of architecture, particularly the windows of the north and south sides; the east and west windows are of later date. The inside is neat and plain; the altar-piece, representing Peter denying Christ, seems a copy from a fine picture in Longnor Hall, by Gherard Honthurst. The length of the Chapel is 75 feet, the breadth 214 feet.

The Rev. Samuel Lee, M.A. Professor of Arabic in the University of Cambridge, was born in the village of Longnor.

The following are the lines written on a sun-dial, near the tomb of Edward Burton, Esq. (who died of excessive joy at the accession of Queen Elizabeth, 1558) in the grounds of Longnor Hall, Shropshire.

"Well need we a Dial in gardens so sweet, Where Time unperceived passes silent and fleet;

And Death in the veil of the gay rosy hours, Is lost like yon tomb in the shade of the bowers.

art,

Though the lovely in nature, the tasteful in
[the heart;
Conspire to entwine their blest chain round
Yet evening will come o'er the scenes we
admire,

As years bid the buoyance of pleasure retire.
But, oh lovely the sunset that smiles on
[serene,
May the eve of our life be as bright and
And the soul when the dawn of its heaven

this scene,

shall break

To regions as blissful and beautiful wake!
C. A. HULBERT, 1824."
D. PARKES.

Yours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

YOUR pages bear testimony to the value and importance of accurately preserving family pedigrees. I will therefore make no apology for submitting to your readers two very glaring discrepancies in two books of very usual reference amongst genealogists, in hopes that some person possessed of the means of reconciling them, may contribute to remove all doubts respecting the truth of a descent which may be of great value to some future

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