This inscription was in Gothic letters, on a plate of brass in the middle aisle, on the floor near the entrance into the chancel. It contains six lines. The end of each is marked thus ""; and it appears to have been laid down in the lifetime of Robert Midleton, because neither the year, day, nor month are set down, but spaces left for that purpose. I observe that the inhabitants of Islington want to make their church older than I presume it is, and quote this inscription as it is in Strype, 1401, in support of that notion, when it is plain 1500, and is all that this says; and Sir G. Hastings was not created Earl of Huntingdon till December 8, 1529, so that this inscription must be wrote after that time. The oldest date that appears anywhere about the church is at the south-east corner of the steeple, and was not visible till the west gallery was lately pulled down-it is 1483-but as these figures are of a modern shape, it looks as if it was done in the last century. The old way of making these characters was in Arabic, and not as they are now generally made. J. B.

P.S.-By comparing, you may see how carelessly and injudiciously this was taken by Mr. Weever, and worse done by Mr. Strype in 1720, and how errors and mistakes are propagated.

[1791, Part 1., p. 17.]

I send you a drawing of the curious old house at Islington, formerly the residence of Sir Walter Raleigh, which is now, and for many years past has been, known by the name of the Pyed Bull Inn (see Plate II.).

In every part of the house are to be found traces of the magnificence of the once noble mansion, particularly several coats of arms, of which one in the principal room is: Azure, an escutcheon between four mascles or, impaled with argent, within a border azure three lions passant azure, the whole stained beautifully on glass. On the top of the shield is a tobacco-plant between two sea-horses; on each side of the shield are two mermaids; at the bottom are two parrots, one green and the other gray, the whole enclosed within an oval border.

In the kitchen is a coat of arms within a mantle, with the dexter side of the shield plain, and the other as above: Argent, within a border azure three lions passant azure. Crest On a helmet a demi-lion rampant. Several remains of coats of arms and mantles are so defaced as not to be described.

In the principal room till very lately were the arms of Sir Francis Drake, the circumnavigator. The ceiling of the same room is superbly ornamented. There are the five senses represented by figures, with Latin mottoes-viz., in the middle Tactus, on one side Auditus, on others Olfactus, Gustus, and Visus.

P.

[1791, Part I., pp. 216-217.]

Let me recommend "A Walk in and about Islington." Despise it not, because the plodding cit there seeks to inhale a little fresh air, or his holiday prentice and sweetheart regale with tea and hot rolls at White Conduit House. Give me leave to point out to Mr. P——— King John's Court, at the farther end of the Lower Street, now let in tenements to poor people, but which bears evident marks of having been a stately mansion, if not a royal palace. There are several armorial bearings in the apartments on the ground-floor, in particular one: Gules, a chevron or, three escallop shells azure, between three griffin heads, erased of the third, upon a chief azure, a cross crosslet or. What have these arms to do with King John? Yet so runs the tradition.

A house in Cross Street is called Queen Elizabeth's Palace, the front of which has undergone many alterations; but an ancient lodge still exists at the end of the garden towards Canonbury Fields called the porter's lodge, though I have my doubts of this belonging ever to Her Majesty as the other to King John, the arms on the lodge being a chevron three crosses patée, between three herons (I believe) a hand gules.* This certainly denotes only baronetage, nothing royal.

Another house in the Lower Street is denominated Oliver Cromwell's. The priory at Highbury is recorded to have been destroyed by Jack Straw. A public-house there was formerly called Jack Straw's Castle, in commemoration of that rebel, I suppose. Part of old Canonbury House and park wall still remain. A house in the beginning of the town, near the new turnpike, formerly Mrs. Denne's, afterwards Mrs. Charron's boarding-school, is supposed to have been built by some great person.

I should also be glad to know what foundation there is for the traditionary tale of Lady Owen (who endowed the almshouses which bear her name, and lies in the church) rising to her fortune and rank by a random shot from an arrow of Sir Thomas Owen, which she received, not in her heart, but a less noble situation, as she was going milking. This wound Cupid revenged with one of his arrows, that made a still deeper impression on Sir Thomas. I have heard that there were three arrows on the top of the schoolhouse founded by her in remembrance of the event, but they were gone before my time. If Mr. P- or any other of your correspondents can give an answer to these queries, it will gratify the curiosity of (and perhaps entertain) more of your readers than EUSEBIA.

P.S. I have heard that Sir Walter Raleigh's portrait hung up at the Pyed Bull. Whether that is a proof of much weight for ascertaining the house to be his residence, I know not. As parochial *The arms of the Fowlers, Baronets. †These we well remember.

dinners are often held there, to those who find a gratification in smoking, it might heighten the flavour of their tobacco to know they enjoyed their favourite weed in the very house of the first who brought it over to England.

[1791, Part I., p. 401.]

I am surprised that your correspondent Eusebia (p. 217), in writing about the old house in Lower Street, Islington, to which she gives the name of King John's Court (a name common, though I know not why, to almost all the antiquated remains of palaces, abbeys, and nunneries about London), should not have mentioned the name which I have always heard ascribed to that building, though I freely own I have none but legendary and traditional ground for it. I have heard it called Hunsdon House, and supposed to be the property and residence of Henry Carey, first cousin to Queen Elizabeth, and by her created Lord Hunsdon. I remember to have seen over the door a great HD, which for several years has been, and, for aught I know, still may be, covered by a board, whereon is an inscription. The arms of that noble lord were: Argent, on a bend sable three roses of the field. If your correspondent can find that coat in the house, it will do much toward confirming my tradition. What family the arms she has mentioned, of which she has certainly given an imperfect and erroneous account, belong to I know not.

As to Jack Straw's Castle at Highbury, I know nothing of any public-house so denominated; but I remember a certain spot, on which Mr. Dawes afterwards built his house or laid out part of his garden, which had the appearance of being a factitious mount surrounded by a deep trench, and that I always understood to be Jack Straw's Castle.

Several particulars in your correspondent's letter seem plainly to show that she has never seen your intelligent "Printer's History of Canonbury," which is very extraordinary, as she seems so zealous for the honour of Islington. It would indeed have given her no knowledge as to the "situation in which Mrs. Owen received Judge Owen's arrow," which the lady seems very desirous to be informed about; but it would have been of use to correct several little errata in her letter, and to show her the improbability of this history.

[1823, Part II., p. 113.]

E.

I send you a view of some houses in the parish of Islington, near the turnpike (see the frontispiece to our present volume). One of them is curious, as being the representation of the Three Hats public-house, which has been repaired since this view was taken.

In Bickerstaffe's comedy of "The Hypocrite," Mawworm says: ""Till I went after him [Dr. Cantwell] I was little better than the

devil; my conscience was tanned with sin, like a piece of neat's leather, and had no more feeling than the sole of my shoe; always a-roving after fantastical delights: I used to go, every Sunday evening, to the Three Hats at Islington! it's a public-house! mayhap your ladyship may know it: I was a great lover of skittles too, but now I can't bear them."

I believe Mr. Nelson in his "History of Islington" does not mention this house. N. R. S.

[1794, Part I., p. 513.]

I send you (Plate III.) a sketch of a house still remaining in the Lower Street of that village, which carries with it indubitable marks of antiquity. The rude ornaments by the side of it on the plate are from various parts of the building.

[1768, pp. 65-66.]

T. P.

In looking some time ago into the town's chest of Bradfield, in Yorkshire, where the records and other evidences belonging to the town and church are kept, I met with an ancient pleading, form, or wager-at-law, in a dispute betwixt the parishioners of Islington and one William Dickinson, bailiff to the then Earl of Shrewsbury, Gilbert Talbot, written in the hand of the time, without date; but other papers relating thereto fix it in or about the year 1615. As I look upon it to be a curiosity, I here send it you at length, though many of the words are abbreviated in the original :

"At the Court Leet, holden before the Fidlers of Islington upon the feast of Jervas Somersall, Gent., in the Chamber of Armes, and Scutchions, couched under the Signe of the Angel; there it was enacted as followeth, celebrated with Dancing :

"That William Dickenson, in consideration of 4d. paid to him by William Revell, and of respitting his examination in the Chancery this Trinitie tearme, did assume and promisse, in case all matters in question betwixt him and the parishioners of Bradfield were not ended, or accorded in the interim, that he would appeare in Chancery next Michaelmas tearme, within eight days of All Saints, and there heare the judgment of the Doctors of the Court, and be examined accordingly, or in default thereof would forfeit to the said William Revell for the use of the said parishioners xxx lb. (i.e., thirty pounds).

"THOMAS HANSON.
"JERVAS HANSON."*

As Islington is so near London, perhaps some of your learned correspondents in the Metropolis may inform me about this odd kind * Two attorneys, at that time living in the neighbourhood. Both their names are wrote in small court hand.

of court, and who Gervas Somersall was. By inserting it in your useful Miscellany you will much oblige your constant reader,

[1839, Part I., pp. 146-148.]

KENSINGTON.

JOHN WILSON.

Mr. Faulkner, in his "History of Kensington," published in 1820, has described all the monuments and epitaphs which he found in the church. Since the publication of that work, however, many others have been erected, and it may not be useless to garner in your pages an account of such amongst them as appertain to notable individuals, or are likely to excite any degree of general interest.

The most prominent addition is a marble tablet affixed to a pillar on the north side of the east end of the centre aisle (or nave), surmounted by a beautifully-executed bust from the studio of Chantrey. The tablet bears this inscription:

"In memory of Thomas Rennell, B.D., late Vicar of this parish, the respect and affection of the inhabitants of Kensington have erected this bust. The son of Thomas Rennell, D.D., Dean of Winchester, and Sarah, daughter of Sir W. Blackstone, his talents, acquirements, and virtues were not unworthy such progenitors. He was born in 1786, educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge, ordained in 1810, collated to this vicarage in 1816. He deceased June 30th, 1824.'

A subscription having been set on foot amongst the parishioners for the purpose of raising some testimony of respect for Mr. Rennell, Chantrey was applied to for assistance as a personal friend of the Vicar, and he ultimately undertook the task of working a bust, and consented to receive for his labours whatever might happen to be subscribed. The bust, although chiefly from memory, is deemed an excellent likeness.

Against the second pillar from the west, on the south side of the church, is a small plain tablet, inscribed:

"To the memory of James Mill, Esq., author of 'Analysis of the Human Mind,' and other works. 23rd June, 1836, and buried near this place."

'History of British India,' Born 8th April, 1773, died

Mr. Mill resided in a house in Vicarage Row, Kensington, at present occupied by Sir David Wilkie.

Against the west wall, on the same side of the church, there is a tablet to Francis Colman, the inscription on which is recorded by Faulkner. Over this an urn with drapery, and two shields at the foot of it have been added. Upon the urn is the following:

"To the memory of George Colman, son of Francis Colman, patentee of the Royal Theatre, Haymarket, Translator of 'Terence,' Author of the Jealous Wife,' and of various other works of literary eminence. Died 14th of August, 1794, aged 62."

The southernmost shield is thus inscribed:

"To the memory of George Colman the Younger, who succeeded his father as patentee of the Haymarket Theatre. He was pre-eminent as a dramatist, admired as a poet, and beloved as a man. Born October 1st, 1762, died October 26th, 1836." VOL. XXVIII. 15