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erected by, and appropriated to the use of, that family, before the parochial church had any existence. It is rather singular, that the Tower should be placed on one side of the church, instead of the West end or centre of the edifice, as is usual. In proceeding down the Wye, or from any of the neighbouring heights, the light shingly Spire of this church has a very pleasing and tasteful appearance.

Some flat stones record the memories of the Kyrle family, but there are not any ancient monuments to claim the stranger's attention.

The Living of Walford, a Vicarage, is said to be worth about eighty pounds per annum. The present incumbent is the Rev. Beetson, who resides in a

neat parsonage house a few hundred yards from the church. He also holds the Vicarage of Hope Mansel, a small adjoining parish.

The foot, or near, road, as it is called, from Ross to Goodrich, is carried along a ridge of high ground, runing parallel with the river Wye, through part of the parish of Walford; and combines such rich and varied scenery in the distance of three miles, as to render it a walk of unspeakable pleasure. Penyard, Goodrich castle, the country west of Ross, unite, with the most luxuriant fields of corn and pasture, to charm the eye, from one extremity of the path to the other. The kingdom does not possess a more fertile district in such a space of country..

WILTON.

WILTON.

WILTON is a small Hamlet, in the parish of

BRIDESTOW, about half a mile to the westward of Ross, from which it is separated by the river Wye,-and through it runs the turnpike road leading to Hereford and Monmouth, at the extremity of which it divides at different angles for those places, It might properly be called the QUAY or WHARF to Ross, by furnishing a convenient accommodation for the shipping and landing of goods sent up and down the river. The remains of the Castle are converted into a dwelling house.

THE CASTLE.

WILTON CASTLE was the chief seat of the Barony of the GREYS of this place, by the marriage of Reginald Grey, Justice of Chester, with Maud, the heiress of Henry de Longchamp, Baron of Wilton, in the reign of Edward I. From hente a long train of valorous peers successively enjoyed this place, down to William Lord Grey of Wilton. Tho' earlier than this they much frequented their seats at BLECHLEY and WHADDON HALL, in BUCKS; and in the time of this William, the Castle of Wilton was much fallen to decay. This brave Nobleman, in the reign of Queen Mary, defended Calais against the French with wonderful valour, till at length his soldiers mutinying in despair, he was obliged,

to

to yield it up, and became himself a prisoner, in which state he continued, till he redeemed himself for 24,000 crowns; a sum which almost ruined his estate. He was

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afterwards General of the forces sent into Scotland. Having lived to all the great purposes of life, but selfinterest, he died 1562, no less to the public sorrow of England, which he secured, than to the common joy of Scotland, which he awed. His son ARTHUR, LORD GREY, a soldier as famous as his father, endeavoured to advance his lessened estate by his valour, and first was wounded at the siege of Leith, 1560, and afterwards was sent over Lord Deputy of Ireland, finally suppressed the rebellion of Desmond. is another cause, why his memory will live, his feats of arms are forgotten. He was the early patron of SPENSER the Poet, who went over to Ireland with him as his secretary, upon which he had a grant from Queen Elizabeth of 3000 acres of land in the county of Cork. His house was in Kilcolman; and here he finished his Fairy Queen; the river Mulla, which he has more than once introduced in his Poems, ran thro' his grounds. The world can never be grateful enough to the man, under whose patronage, so exquisite à Poem was written.

The gratitude of the Poet will live for ever

"Most noble Lord, the pillar of my life,

"And patron of my Muse's pupillage,

"Thro' whose large bounty poured on me rife,

"In the first season of my feeble age,

"I now do live, bound yours by vassalage."

long after

Sonnet to Lord Grey,-prefixed to the Fairy Queen.

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LORD GREY died 1593. His son WILLIAM, the last Lord, a puritan, but a very hopeful young man, was attainted as an accomplice in Sir Walter Raleigh's supposed plot, and died in prison much pitied. At what time this family parted with Wilton Castle is not exactly known; but 'tis probable it was parted with by Lord William, the grandfather, among the patrimony he was obliged to alienate for raising his ransom; since it belonged to John first Lord Chandos, who married his sister; and from him it became the seat of his second son Charles, who resided here, as well as his posterity, down to James the magnificent Duke, who built Cannons in Middlesex.

The late Duke of Chandos had his residence at Aconbury, four miles south from Hereford. He was an active promoter of every measure, which had for its object the prosperity of the county, or the city of Hereford. His hospitality was liberal and diffusive; and a considerable part of his wealth was expended on the spot which furnished it; but, disappointed in his expectations of support in a political contest, he became disgusted with his situation, and, in consequence of it, disposed of his residence and all his estates in the county, which, at the present day, are said to be worth ten thousand pounds per annum, to the Governors of Guy's Hospital, in London. Thus they remain under the

*The title of Baron de Wilton has lately been revived in the person of Sir Thomas Egerton, Bart. descended from the sister and co-heir of this William; but not intitled to the ancient honour, both because of the attainder, and the abeyance.

+ Weldon's Court of James I. p. 30.

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mortifying change, that the rents are annually remitted to the metropolis; and the mansions destroyed, or converted to purposes far humbler and less generally useful, than those for which they were designed.

Phillips, in his Poem, called CIDER,' makes the following honorable mention of this family, originally natives of the county:

"Where shall we find

"Men more undaunted?* for their country's weal
"More prodigal of life? In ancient days,

"The Roman Legions and great Cesar found
"Our fathers no mean foes; and Cressy's plains,

"And Agincourt, deep-ting'd with blood, confess
"What the SILURES vigour unwithstood
"Could do in rigid fight: and chiefly what
"BRYDGES' wide-wasting hand, first garter'd Knight, †
"Puissant author of great CHANDOS' stem.

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"High CAANDOs, that transmits paternal worth,
"Prudence, and ancient prowress, and renown,
"This noble offspring. O thrice happy Peer!
"That, blest with hoary vigour, view'st thyself
"Fresh blooming in thy generous son! whose lips
Flowing with nervous eloquence exact,
"Charm the wise senate, and attention win
"In deepest councils. ARICONIUM pleas'd,
"Him, as her chosen worthy, first salutes;
"Him, on th' Iberian, on the Gallic shore,
"Him hardy Britons bless; his faithful hand
"Conveys new courage from a-far, nor more
"The general's conduct, than his care, avails."

Than those of Herefordshire.

This is an historical inaccuracy. Sir John Chandos, one of the first Knights of the Garter, was uncle to Alice, the wife of Sir Thomas Brydges, ancestor of the Brydges's.

James Lord Chandos, father of the first Duke.

The

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