Welsh Journals

344 BYE-GONES. Dec, lbbl. containing or representing Mr. Henry Richard, M.P., Mr. W. McCullagh Torrens, M.P., Mr. J. H. Puleson, M.P., the Ven. Archdeacon Griffith, Mr. Ellis Jones, Hounslow, Rev. John Evans (W), Captain Verney, Alder¬ man T. J. Williams, Denbigh, Mr. Betjemann, Mr. and Mrs. W. Lewis, Mrs. Dr. Hannay, Mr. and Mrs. Drew, Dr. Glover, Mr. L. H. and Mr. R. Roberts, Canonbury, Major Blnnkley, Dr. Luke, &c, &c. At the entrance to the cemetery the procession was headed by a choir who, led by Mr. W. Davies (Mynorydd), sang to the tune of " Bangor" the old Welsh hymn Mor ddedwydd yw y rhai, twy ffydd Sy'n myn'd o blith y byw. At the grave, portions of the Church of England service for the dead were impressively read alternately in English and Welsh, by the Ven. Archdeacon Griffith of Llandaff, the Rev. John Evans (Eglwysbach), minister of the Welsh Wesleyan Circuit of London, offering up prayer and pro¬ nouncing the benediction. Some more Welsh hymns and the English one commencing There is a land of pare delight Where saints immortal reign, were alse sung. Owing to the inclemency of the weather and the large attendance, it was deemed desirable to adjourn from the cemetery to the Abney Congregational Chapel, opposite the Church-street entrance, for the purpose of delivering the funeral addresses. DECEMBER 7, 1881. NOTES. MONUMENT TO MATTHEW PRYCE, M.P. The handsome 17th century mural monument to the memory of Matthew Pryce, of Park, M.P., is placed against the E. wall of Llanwnog church, on the S. E. side of the communion-table, andconsists of a large marble slab (the inscription upon which is subjoined), surmounted by a pediment above which is placed, supported by two cherubs, an armorial shield bearing, dexter, gules, a lion rampant reguardant, or, and sinister, gules, a fess or, between three boars' heads argent, (the emblazonry of the arm3 sinister both here and below is much faded). The slab is flanked by two pillars having on their respec¬ tive bases shields bearing arms as dexter and sinister above. The lower part of the whole is ornamented with a death's head, etc. The inscription, which is a remarkably good specimen of the ornate and elaborate style of the age, is as follows:— Here lieth interr'd the Body of Mathew Pryce of Park-pen price in the County of Montgomery Esqr who was Eldest Son of John Pryce of Park aforesaid Esqr (by Mary, Daughter of William Read of Castle Bromshill in the County of Gloucester Esqr) who was only Son of Mathew Pryce of Park Esqr (by Catherine Eldest daughter of Lewis Gwynne of Llanidloes Esqr) who was second Son of John Pryce of Newtown Hall in ye County of Montgomery Esqr. As He had the Happiness to be descended from an Antient & Worshipfull Family, so be took Care to improve ye Advantages of his Birth & Fortune, that He might be able to distinguish himself No less by his own personal Worth & Merits than by the Dignity and lustre of his Ancestors. His known Abilities & Integrity recommended him to the Service of his Prince & Country. In several Imployments and Important Trusts At ye Barr an Able & Learned Councellour, on ye Bench an Upright and Vigilant Justice of ye Peace. In ye Militia A Loyal & Active Deputy Livetenant & Captain of ye County Troop. And in Parliament where He had the Honour to serve as Burgess for Montgomery, In ye two last Parliaments of King Charles ye Second's Reign. He shew'd himself a good Patriot & True Lover of his Country In all these Honourable Trusts He acquitted himself with Inviolable Fidelity to his Prince with eminent Care & zeal for ye good and Prosperity of his Country & With Singular Duty and observance to his Mother ye Church of England, of which he always approved himself A True & obedient Son & A zealous and steady Defender of her Rights & Constitution. Nor was He less Exemplary in ye Vertues that adorn a private Life in respect of which He Worthily sustain'd ye Character of A Wise and truly Honest Man & of A Sincere & Hearty Christian. He married Hester Thelwall ye Twelfth Daughter of John Thelwall of Bathavern Park in ye County of Denbigh Esqr, who surviving Him and desireous to transmitt His deserved Character to Posterity at her sole Charge Erected this Monument as well to be A Publick & lasting Mark of that true Love & Affection She had for him when alive, as for ye Respect & Veneration She retains for the memory of her deceas'd Husband. He died ye 23rd of Jan. A.D. 1699. Annoque Mt&t futse 60. C.J.D. OSWESTRY CHURCH NOTES. In the list of Oswestry Vicars given in our local histories the appointment of Mr. Guild is dated 1694: Corporation documents show it should be 1691. Following this we have Mr. Thomas Jones as appointed in 1697. This, too, is an error : a Corporation minute says, that " Thomas Jones, vicar and schoolmaster," was made a burgess "in the time of David Lloyd, Mayor." Mr. Lloyd was Mayor in 1694. So if we put the appointment of Jones back three years it will tally with the other minute referred to which states that Guild was " recommended to the office of vicar " in 1691. Our Vicars seem to have been made burgesses pretty soon after their appointments. Early in 1716 Mr. Parry (who was instituted vicar in 1713-4) was elected a burgess, "gratis," provided he could "have the High Steward's approbation." In connection with the new Church I find that in 1863, Bishop Short supported an application for " Gaily Knight benefaction," £400, towards erection of Trinity Parsonage, and promised £100 himself. Other subscriptions were notified, viz :—the Earl of Powis £200, Mr. T. L. Lou- gueville i£100, Mrs. Lloyd, Aston, £50, Mrs. Ormsby Gore £25, &c. In a paper on Oswestry Ecclesiastical History I pub¬ lished in the third vol. of the Shropshire Archaeological Society's Transactions, I gave an entry from the Oswestry Corporation records showing that lead had been pur¬ chased previous to 1549 from Laugley of Salop for the church and presumed some building work must have been on hand about that time. In connection with this subject I find by the will of Richard Staney, executed in 1542, that " fyve poundes" was left for " reparacon and buylding of the churche" and " fyve poundes" for " buylding of a new scole within the churche yarde." A clause in the will of Robert ap Howell, 1541, is as follows .-—"Item my will is that my executor doe bestowe after my decease a lode of Leade towardes the coveringe ot the Roffe of thalteries of the Roode and saint Katherin within the paryshe Churche of Oswestrie aforesaide and the same to be de- lyveride at the tyme the foresaide Roffe be reddye to receve coveringe." In a paper on Old Chapel history (Vol. 4. Trans. S. AS.) it was stated that "Rowland Nevett of Weston, clerk" was one of the " newly-appointed Burgesses " sworn after the Charter of Charles II was granted. In another Cor¬ poration entry I find ths.t " Rowland Nevett of Weston, gent." was one of the ancient burgesses who made his claim in 1674, and " Richard Edwards, vicar," was another. Mr. Nevett's having been deposed by the Act of Uniformity was the reason of the substitution of "gent." for "clerk" in the entry I suppose, but as he had been legally ordain«d this was not warranted. A.R.