Nor must we omit to notice, from the observations of Mr. Barret, that the western declivity of the hill, partly in each county, contains a bed of limestone, which is the course of a vein that commences near Pensax, in the region of the Abberley hills, and ́terminates at Ledbury. This produces excellent lime, in the vicinity of Malvern at least, where considerable quantities are annually made in Mathon parish, and in its Herefordshire neighbour, Colwall. This stone, which is of a bluish cast, is interspersed with veins of a whitish colour, which, together, take an excellent polish. It is sometimes used for chimney-pieces; and, when properly finished, appears very little inferior to the Derbyshire marble. This bed of limestone, too, may afford much amusement to those who chuse to collect specimens in natural history, a study now become so fashionable; for it contains an almost infinite variety of marine productions, particularly the remains of shell-fish; such as cockles and muscles of various sizes; some of them partly, and others of them wholly, petrified, or filled with a perfect limestone. Mr. Barret asserts also that he has seen fragments of different kinds of fish in a state of petrifaction, but retaining their natural figure: but this, though true, is not quite correct; as it is now well ascertained that the substances are not petrified, but either encrusted with the stony concretion, or that concretion deposited in the cavities which they had occupied. Many zoophytes of the screwstone kind are also found here, and Mr. B. even found the fragment of an horn, evidently belonging to a marine animal. These, together with corals, cornua Ammionis, spunges, vertebræ of large fish, &c. leave no room to doubt that part, at least, of these hills was once under water; but whether left bare according to the Neptunian, or protruded above the surface, according to the Vulcanian theory, it is not for us to determine. The more elevated parts of the Malvern hills, which are not enclosed nor cultivated, chiefly belong to proprietors of land in the adjoining parishes. The surface, in some places, is productive of gorse and fern; in others it is a sweet turf, affording an excellent 8 excellent sheep-pasture: large numbers feed hereon, and the mut ton, which is small, is much esteemed for its nice flavour.* We shall reserve some further observations on this range, for an excursion from the Holy Well along their summits, and now return to the village, where, in front of the Crown hotel, we have the whimsical Gothicized parsonage, a rural, comfortable, building, with a well shaded court before it, and its gardens joining the verdant church yard. From this point of view the CHURCH is seen to great advantage, with its lofty square tower peeping over the interjacent houses; and nothing can be more delightful than, in a fine moon-light evening, to listen to its melancholy chimes, or to hear its solemn toll, swept by the sullen breeze along the distant hills, or adown the shadowy vale. The outside of this building is very rich in ornament, yet light withal in its architecture, and in form and size almost a cathedral, being 171 feet long, and 63 broad, whilst the embattled tower that springs from its centre is 124 feet in height. The open work too of these battlements gives it an air of lightness, but still not unbecoming of a Christian temple. In this tower are six bells, and the set of chimes. Sir Reginald Bray,† who was a favourite of Henry VII. and a connoisseur Barret's description of Malvern, p. 21. + Sir Reginald Bray was born here about the beginning of the reign of King Henry VI. to which monarch his father, Sir Richard Bray, of Eaton Bray in Bedfordshire, was a privy counsellor. Sir Reginald became a statesman in very early life; and having been some time retained in the service of Margaret, Countess of Richmond, when Henry, Duke of Buckingham, and Morton, Bishop of Ely, had projected the elevation of her son, Henry VII. to the throne, and the union of the two houses of York and Lancaster, by his marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of Edward IV. he was chosen as the agent of this profound piece of policy. He was thought, indeed, the fittest person to be entrusted with the future conduct of it, as " a man who was so ber, secret, and well witted; and whose prudent policy was known to have compassed things of great importance," as the bishop spoke of him in a letter written on that subject. When this was determined on, the bishop invited Connoisseur in architecture, after shewing his skill in the superintendance of the chapel at Westminster Abbey, and St. George's at Windsor, built also this church, nearly in its present form and state. In the windows, which then were richly adorned with painted glass, he placed the portraits of Henry VII. of his queen, Prince Arthur, and himself, all in surcoats of Armorial blazon; VOL. XV. U but, him out of Lancashire, where he then was with the countess, at the mansion of Sir Thomas Stanley, her third husband, and arriving at Brecknock castle, in Wales, where Morton was confined in the custody of the duke, the plan was submitted to him, and he was directed to return to Lancashire to impart the important secret to the countess. From this period he was extremely active in his endeavours to strengthen the Lady Margaret's interest at home, and it is said that it was entirely owing to his influence that Sir Giles D'Aubeny, Sir John Cheny, and several others of the most activé partisans, were induced to take a part in the business. It is unnecessary to recapitulate the events connected with Bosworth field, so fatal to the ambition and life of the usurping Richard; but it must not be ornitted that the activity and address of Reginald were munificently rewarded by Henry himself. The honour of knighthood was conferred on him soon after Henry's accession, and he was summoned to the first privy council which sat upon that occasion. He was also appointed constable of Okeham castle, in Rutlandshire, and joint chief justice, along with Lord Fitzwalter, of the forests south of Trent. To these grants were added several manors; and an idea of his wealth and consequence may be formed from the fact, that in 1492, he was retained to serve in parts beyond the sea, with twelve men at arms, (including himself, having his custrel and page) twenty-four half lances, seventy-seven archers on horseback, and two hundred and thirty-one archers, and twenty-four bill-men on foot. After this, in 1494, he was elected High Steward of Oxford; and it is curious that an office now so much sought after, was then pressed upon the acceptor; for there are, a letter under the common seal notifying the election, and earnestly praying him to accept the office, with one to Dr. Mayow, intreating him to use his interest with Sir Reginald to accept it, copied into the register book of Letters in the Schools at Ox ford, and also a letter of thanks for his accepting the office, and for a dona tion of forty marks towards building St. Mary's church. The University seem to have placed great dependence upon Sir Reginald's Integrity and attention to their interests, as there is a letter extant to him, ez pressing |