befides. Mr. Cole, Rector of Bletchley, Mr. Francis, Minister of Fenny Stratford, and Mr. John Gibberd Curate of Whaddon, attended in a Mourning Coach, and near fixty of his Neighbours and Tenants on Horseback. The Infcription which he left, was the following. Hic fitus eft BROWNE WILLIS, Antiquarius, Cujus Avi clmi: æternæ Memoriæ, O Chrifte, Soter & Judex, * Dr. James Fleetwood Bishop of Worcester wrote his own Epitaph in 1680 and begun it thus, MS. Epitaphium Hoe Vivus, videnfque fcripfi. He had his Monumeut erected in his Life Time in the Church of Ripple Worcestershire, where he was interred. Bishop Barlow of Lincoln in 1691 wrote his own Epitaph. Bishop Hoadley of Winchester wrote his own Epitaph, and as his Biographer informs us, "left his zealous Friends should "erect any Memorial of him inconfiftent with the peculiar Mo"defty of his Life." Mr. Locke wrote his own Epitaph. Dr. Richard Rawlinfon of St. John's College Oxford, (who continued "Wood's Athene Oxoniensis," which was never publifhed) left his own Infcription of his own compofing, which is now upon a Monument in St. Giles's Church in Oxford; but his Heart was depofited, as Mark of his Affection, in the His Character was handfomely reprefented, with a juft Regard to a decent Impartiality, in the Eloge read before the Society of Antiquaries, in these Terms. "As to his Character; this learn"ed. Society, of which he was one of the firft Re"vivers, and one of the molt industrious Members, "can bear me Witnefs, that he was indefatigable "in his Researches: for his Works were of the "most laborious Kind. But what enabled him, be"fides his unwearied Diligence, to bring them to "Perfection, was his being blessed with a most ex"cellent Memory. He had laid so good a Found"ation of Learning, that though he had chiefly "converfed with Records, and other Matters of Antiquity, which are not apt to form a polite "Style; yet he expreffed himself, in all his Compofitions, in an eafy and genteel Manner. He was "indeed, one of the firft who placed our Ecclefiafti"cal History and Antiquities upon a firm Bafis, by grounding them upon Records and Registers: "which in the main are unexceptionable Autho"rities. "During the Courfe of his long Life, he had vi"fited every Cathedral in England and Wales, ex"cept Carlifle: which Journey he used to call his Chapel of St. John's College, Oxford. Dr. George Morley, Bishop of Winchester, in 1684, left his own Epitaph composed by him in the eightieth Year of his Age, which is now in Winchefter Cathedral. [Salmafius when young, ftruck with a moft dangerous Malady, while he was preparing to die, compofed his own Epitaph. in Verfe. Dr. Israeli's Curiosities of Literature, Vol. 2, in 1793.] C 68 Pilgrimage. In his Friendships, none more sincere "and hearty, always communicative, and ever ready to affist every studious and inquifitive Person. "This occafioned an Aquaintance and Connection between him and all his learned Contempo"raries. For his Mother, the University of Oxford, "he always expreffed the most awful Refpect and "the warmest Esteem. "As to his Piety and moral Qualifications; he "was ftrictly religious, without any Mixture of Superstition or Enthusiasm, and quite exemplary in "this Respect. And of this, his many Public "Works in building, repairing, and beautifying of Churches, are fo many ftanding Evidences. He "was charitable to the poor and needy; just and upright towards all Men. With Regard to himself, he was remarkably fober and temperate; "and often faid, that he denied himself many Things that he might employ them better. And "indeed he appeared to have had no greater Value "for Money, that as it furnished him with Oppor"tunities of doing good". tr He was fucceeded in the Family Eftate by his eldest Grandfon, who became his Heir upon the Death of his Son, Thomas Willis, which happened before his own. This Gentleman was born in 1710, married September 3, 1735, Anne Daughter of John Hulme Efq. of the Parish of Eccles in Lancashire, and by her had his eldest Son Thomas, born February 11, 1738, to whom his Grandfather, having appointed him his fole Executor, left all his Pictures and Books, &c.* except "Rymer's Fadera," in feventeen Folio Volumes, which he bequeathed to Trinity College, Oxford, and the Choice of one Book to the Rev. Francis Wife, who, upon the Completion and Establishment of the Radclivian Library, in that noble Seat of Learning, was appointed first Librarian. *This Gentleman is fince dead, and has been fucceeded by his half Brother, John Willis, eldeft Son by a fecond Marriage of his Father, who after the Death of his firft Wife, May, 21, 1739, married Frances eldest Daughter of John Robinson Efq. of Cranfley in Northamptonfhire, and left by her, this Son John, the present Heir of the Family. A DESCRIPTION OF THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. ASAPH, &c. THE Cathedral Church of St. Afaph stands within a large Church Yard, between the Rivers Elwy to the Weft, and Clwyd to the Eaft, in the Vale of Clwyd. It hath its Name from St. Afaph, the fecond Bishop of that Diocefe, Succeffor of Kentigern, who, as he came hither out of Scotland, fo he returned thither again, and became, as Tradition fays, the first Bishop of Glafgow, as he was of this Place. About two Miles below the Church, to the North, ftands Rhyddlan, where are the Ruins of a large Caf tle and of an ancient Town, which is faid to have been formerly of great Extent, before the Princes of N. Wales fubmitted to the Crown of England. Here the famous Statute of Rhyddlan was made in Edward the Firft's Time, which is fill the Rule of Court for the Practice of N. Wales to this Day. The Ruins of that Caftle afford a very agreeable Profpect from feveral Parts of St. Afaph, as doth the Vale of Clwyd towards the South, which being well wooded, as are alfo the Hills on each Side of it, and stored with many beautiful Seats, afford a View, which is not exceeded by many in England, and is certainly equal to any one in Wales. The Town of St. Afaph lies fomething to the North Weft of the Church; it |