Brown's advice that the long and ancient avenues of trees were removed.

ROTHERFIELD PEPPARD, a parish on the south-west of Henley, was styled simply Rotherfield till the thirteenth century, when it acquired its additional appellation from William Pipard, or Pypard, who held this manor of the honour of Wallingford, as a part of six knight's fees granted to him, upon homage, by Henry III. in the year 1225.-Ralph Pipard was created a baron by writ of summons to Parliament, in the twenty-fifth of Edward I. From the Pipards the manor and advowson passed by marriage to the Botelers, in the time of Edward II. The Botelers sold to the Draytons, and of Richard Drayton the property was acquired by the family of Stonor. Thomas Stonor, Esq. was lord and patron in the year 1502. Sir Leoline Jenkins afterwards procured the advowson, and bestowed it on Jesus College, Oxford.

Under a pond near Blount's Court, in this parish, were found, in the year 1675, several oak trees, the discovery of which was attended with some interesting circumstances. According to a copious statement in Plot's Natural History it appears that the labourers, on cleansing the pond for the benefit of the soil, came to the top branches of a large tree. Mr. Stonor, of Watlington Park, to whom the pond belonged, then caused a pit to be dug, about twenty yards over, and fifty or sixty feet deep. By thus penetrating the soil the workmen extricated many whole oaks," whereof one stood upright, perpendicular to the horizon; the others lay obliquely; only one was inverted, the forked end downward. Beside the trees, all along as the labourers dug, they met with plenty of hazel nuts, from within a yard of the surface to the bottom of the pit, which Time's iron teeth had not yet cracked. The oaks had noue of them any roots, but were plainly cut off at the Kerf, as is used in felling timber; and, near the bottom of the pit, were found a large stag's head, with the brow-antlers as sound as the beam itself, and two Roman urns, both of which were broken by the incurious workmen."

Dr. Plot observes, that it is very unlikely these oaks should

be

be buried, as was probably the case with those on Binfield Heath, merely for the disencumbering of the soil; and he ventures to suppose that there is a mine beneath the spot on which they were found. This mine he conjectures to be of silver,

rather than of any other metal, on account of an alabastrine, or spar-like, substance, which was mixed with the mould." He endeavours to strengthen his opinion, by observing that a considerable degree of heat prevailed at the bottom of the pit, as is usual near a mine-chamber. Some of the nuts and trees were, likewise, covered with "a bluish substance, which he believed to be Cœruleum nativum." Having thus argued himself into the belief of a mine existing, he proceeds to observe, that it was probably worked by the Romans, and was closed by them on quitting this country," first by throwing in trees, which, not lying close enough immediately to support the earth, were after covered with hazels, when the nuts were fully ripe, on which they heaped earth, which, after some time, sinking below the surface of the other ground, might occasion this pond."

ROTHERFIELD GRAY, or Grey, adjoins the preceding parish, and acquires the distinctive part of its appellation from John de Grey, created Baron Grey in the 25th of Edward I. This John was of a younger branch of the family of Walter Grey, Archbishop of York, from whom they gained the property of Rotherfield. From the Greys the estate passed to the Lovels; and then, by attainder, reverting to the Crown, was bestowed on the family of Knollys. Of that family it was purchased by the Stapletons, with whom it still remains.

In this parish the noble family of Grey built an extensive and castellated mansion, some part of which yet remains, and is attached to the present edifice, termed Greys-Court, the residence of Lady Stapleton, mother of Lord Le Despencer. The ancient Baronial-house appears to have consisted of two quadrangles; and a great part of the site may still be traced, chiefly in front of the present building, by the parched state of the grass after a long continuance of dry weather.

The Church is a neat and rather spacious structure, with a wooden turret. The walls are whitened on the outer side; and gain much pictorial effect from a partial but umbrageous screen of ivy.

In the chancel is a stone, with brasses, commemorative of Sir Robert de Grey, who died in 1387. A part of the brass represents the deceased in armour, in a canopied stall, with a lion at his feet.

In a spacious recess, on the north of the chancel, erected in 1605, is the burial-place of the Banbury family. Over the vault is a monument of exuberant workmanship, raised by William Lord Knollys, Viscount Wallingford, and Earl of Banbury. The monument is divided into two stories. In the lower range is the effigy, in stone, of Sir Francis Knellys, knight of the garter, and treasurer of the household to Queen Elizabeth, with that of his lady by his side. These were the parents of the Earl; and the whole of their children who attained maturity, seven sons and six daughters, together with the Countess of Banbury, their daughter-in-law, are represented kneeling around. From the variety of feature, it is evident that each of these figures was intended for a likeness. On the right hand of Lady Knollys is the effigy of a fourteenth child, which died an infant.

In the upper story are statues of the Earl of Banbury and his Lady, in their robes, kneeling before a desk and open book. There is not any inscription whatever on this monument.

In the same recess is a mural tablet, with an urn at top, and the family arms beneath, to the memory of Sir Thomas Stapleton. The font of this church is Saxon; and the basin supported by pillars with diversified capitals.

The rectory of Grays is extremely valuable, and belongs to Trinity College, Oxford.

BADGMOOR, rather less than a mile on the north-west of Henley, is the residence of Joseph Grote, Esq. The house was originally

Grey,

Said by Gough, in his additious to Camden, to be Robert the last Lerd