considers as capable of subduing the loftiest heart, or softening the most obdurate. According to Johnson, however, he might have obtained the object of his affections. Probably he forbore to marry on account of the narrowness of his fortune. When he died he left more than sufficient to pay his debts, and by will appropriated for this purpose his whole estate, which has consequently declined from the state of perfection in which he left it. But there are still vestiges of his taste and genius; and though the place has lost much of its interest since the poet ceased to inhabit it, yet it will always be considered as sacred to his memory.* St. Kenelm's Chapel is in this parish, though part of the yard is said to be in Staffordshire; it is an ancient structure, consisting of a single aisle, and has a very plain interior. The general appearance of the building seems not of higher antiquity than Henry the Third's time; but the south entrance, over which is some ancient sculpture, is undoubtedly part of the old Saxon chapel, which was erected soon after the discovery of King Kenelm's body. The tower is a very elegant specimen of Gothic architecture. On the outside the chapel wall, fronting the south, is carved a rude figure of a child, with two of his fingers lifted up in the ancient form of giving the benediction. Above the head of the figure is a crown, which projects considerably from the wall; no doubt intended to designate St. Kenelm. As this chapel was never privileged with the right of sepulture, no monuments or inscriptions appear; nor are there any arms, &c. in the windows. Divine service is performed in it only once every Sunday. It is a donative of Hagley, the beautiful seat of Lord Lyttleton; and is generally given to the rector of that place, in conjunction with Frankley chapel. The views in this district are *The reader who is desirous of a detailed description of the Leasowes in the time of Shenstone, is referred to Dodsley's edition of his Works, vol. ii. p. 333. See also, “A Companion to the Leasowes, Hagley, Enville," &c. printed at Birmingham, 1789. are uncommonly fine and picturesque. Shenstone thus alludes to it in his twenty-third Elegy: Born near the scene for Kenelm's fate renown'd, Fast by the centre of you various wild, Where spreading oaks embower a Gothic fane, There nature urg'd her tenderest ties in vain. The legend of St. Kenelm, is thus related in the Gentleman's Magazine.* Kenelm was the only son of Kenuif, king of the Mercians, who died 819. Kenelm, then a child of about seven years of age, was murdered by the artifice of his eldest sister Quendrida, assisted by the young king's guardian or tutor, As cobert, who took him into Clent wood, under pretence of hunting, and there cut off his head, and buried him under a thorn tree. The account given of the discovery of this murder, by William of Malmesbury and Matthew of Westminster, is a curious instance of the superstition, of the times :-" After the perpetration of this bloody deed, the inhuman sister soon seized the kingdom, and prohibited all enquiry after her lost brother. But this horrible fact, concealed in England, was made known at Rome by a supernatural revelation; for, on the altar of St. Peter there, a white dove let fall a paper, on which, in golden letters, was inscribed both the death of Kenelm and the place of his burial. In Clent cow-batche, Kenelme, king bearné, lyeth under a thorne, heaved and bereaved.' The Roman priests and monks not understanding this inscription, an Eng lishman, accidentally present, interpreted it. The pope sent over an envoy to the English kings, to inform them concerning the * Vol. LXVII. p. 138. See also Pearson's "Select Views," &c. and Gent. Mag. Vol. LXXII. the murdered Kenelm. The whole being thus miraculously revealed, the body was taken out of the hole where it had been hid, and with great solemnity carried to Winchelcombe, in Gloucestershire, of his father's foundation, and there buried." The chapel is said to stand where the body was found; and the well which gushed out is now dry, and nearly covered with bushes and briers. In this parish was born, November 8, 1627, the learned. Adam Littleton, author of a Latin Dictionary, and various other works.. He was educated under Dr. Busby, of flagellating memory, and from Westminster school was chosen student of· Christ Church, Oxford; but was shortly expelled by the parliament visitors. He nevertheless became usher, and afterwards second master, at Westminster school; and, after the Restoration, he was admitted rector of Chelsea, Middlesex. In the same year, 1674, he was made prebendary of Westminster, and obtained a grant from the king to succeed Dr. Busby, as headmaster. He was also one of his majesty's chaplains, and advanced in his divinity degrees without taking any in arts, which honour and privilege he obtained at the instance of Dr. Henchman, Bishop of London. He was for some time sub-dean of Westminster; and, in 1687, was licenced to the church of St. Botolph, Aldersgate, which living he held upwards of four years, and then resigned it. He died June 30, 1694, in his sixty-seventh year, and was buried in Chelsea church, where there is a handsome monument to his memory. He was a man of great and various erudition, and was well skilled in the oriental languages and in rabbinical learning. His works amount to about twelve in number, consisting of sermons, translations, and a variety of papers on miscellaneous and learned topics.* It would be obviously wrong to close our account of Shropshire, without some notice of two other persons of learning and note, natives of this county: we allude to Mr. Richard Baxter, Gen, Biog. Dict. Vol, IX. |