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chiefly for argument on a presumed affinity of names. It is justly observed by Gough "that the frequent use of the name of Aldchester, for Roman stations in England, is a full confutation of the notion that this peculiarly belonged to Allectus."

Kennet, with more judgment, supposes Alchester to have been one of the garrisoned places constructed by Plautius, as securities to the newly conquered country, after his early triumphs over the Britons. This station probably acted as the frontier of the Dobuni and Cattieuchlani; and thence the army of Plautius might readily pursue the Britons to Buckingham, or the adjacent banks of the Ouse.

The area has, for many ages, been subject to the inroads of the plough; and numerous coins and curious relics have been found at various times. The author of the manuscript before quoted * notices the following, among other discoveries: "In the year 1616, an earthen pot, full of brass money, bearing the stamp, name, and picture, some of Carausius, some of Allectus, was found under the root of a tree in Steeple Claydon parish, by the great pond there. In the midst of that ploughed field, Al chester, a husbandman, ploughing very deep, lighted on a rough round stone, which was found to be hollow within, and seemed cemented together. On being opened nothing was found but a green glass, some three quarters full of ashes, close stopped up with lead over the mouth." These the author supposes to be "the ashes of Carausius, slain hard by !” This writer creates more interest when he proceeds to observe that "Alchester appears to have been a walled town. In the front was built a sconce, or watch-tower, the ruins whercof still appear (1622). in a plat of meadow, where, in our days, have been dug up much Roman money, brick, and tile; and a pavement of curious wrought

tile."

Many coins, and fragments of building, have been discovered at Alchester, in more recent periods.

Two neighbouring villages maintain a connection in their names

with

This MS. bears the date of 1622.

with the desolated garrison. GREAT CHESTERTON, which lies contiguous to the ancient city, probably sprang from its ruins; and, perhaps, we may safely admit that WENDLEBURY derives its name from the Vandals, who were certainly employed as auxiliaries by the Romans in the decay of the empire, and who might have their station in this place *. The Akeman Street passed Alchester on the north. The church of the present village of Chesterton stands immediately contiguous to its track.

Pursuing the traces of this antient road, we arrive, when five miles distant from Bicester, at KIRKLINGTON, formerly a place of much political consequence, from its situation as a frontier town between the kingdoms of Mercia and the West Saxons. In the year 977 was held a great council, or synod, at which were present King Edward the Martyr, and St. Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury. Some writers place this synod at Kirtling, or, as it is often termed, Catledge, in Cambridgeshire; but others contend that it was held in this village; and they observe, in support of their opinion, that Sideman, bishop of Devonshire, dying at this synod, willed to be buried in his own church at Crediton, but King Edward and Archbishop Dunstan ordered that he should be buried in the church of Abingdon, and he was accordingly laid on the north side, in the porch of St. Paul. It was, likewise, as a mark of kindness, allowed by the council to be lawful for the country people to go in pilgrimage to St. Mary of Abingdon. It is contended that Bishop Sideman was buried at St. Mary's on account of the comparative contiguity of that church; and it is remarked that the people of Cambridgeshire would receive no peculiar favour in being permitted to seek religious benefit from a pilgrimage to so distant a spot.

The manor of Kirklington, according to Plot, was formerly part of the possessions of the Kings of England; from whom it

came

It is remarked by Gough, as a curious circumstance, that there is a Roman station, and a “ Vandlebury," in the neighbourhood of both Universities.

came to Henry, son of Edmund Crouchback, Earl of Lancaster, and father to Henry, the first Duke of Lancaster; by whose daughter Blanch it proceeded to Johu of Gaunt. This intelli geuce Plot professes to derive from an old charter, then in the possession of Sir Thomas Chamberleyne, "Lord of the Town;" but Dugdale, who traces the desceut of the property from John de Humetz, Constable of Normandy in the reign of King John through the line of the Bassets, observes that Thomas of Woodstock, sixth son of Edward III. died possessed of the manor in the 20th of Richard II.

The property is now vested in Sir Henry W. Dashwood, Bart. who has here a fine seat, encompassed by au extensive park. This manor was valued, in the year 1420, at 131. 6s. 8d. and seven Beeves.

In the contiguous parish of BLFTCHINGDON, Richard de Prestcote held one hide of land, by the petty serjeantry of carrying a shield of brawn to the King, as often as he hunted in the forest of Cornbury. The manor was long vested in the family of D'Amorie. The advowson of Bletchingdon church escheated to the crown in the reign of Henry III. by way of forfeiture, incurred by two brothers, Richard and William Gravill; and was given to Queen's College, by Edward III. at the request of the founder. In the year 1665 the shock of an earthquake was felt in this village. Bletchingdon was the birth-place of Dr. Daniel Fairclough, better known by his paternal name of Featly. He was the son of John Featly, Cook of Corpus Christi College, and was a writer of some eminence in opposition to the Roman Catholics. Dr. Fairclough suffered much in the civil contests of the 17th century, and died of a dropsy, supposed to be the consequence of long imprisonment, in 1644. Arthur Annesley, Esq. has a desirable residence on the northern side of the village.

ISLIP, distant five miles from Oxford, claims little consideration from its modern aspect, but is memorable as the place which

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afforded

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