I believe Sarnesfield was his native place; he died there in 1694, having attained the great age of ninety-seven years.
J. B. WHITBORNE.
Leamington.
In my reply to a Query upon the interesting subject introduced by MR. J. H. PARKER, I felt anxious to direct his attention to other peculiar characters appertaining to the ancient town of Wokingham, besides those marks by which it in some degree approximates to his general description of the English towns in France. In reply to MR. PARKER'S inquiry respecting the mediæval town-halls, and other public halls of that period remaining in England (Vol. v., p. 295.), I have much pleasure in forwarding the following account of the Town-hall of Leicester, which formerly belonged to the Guild of Corpus Christi, in the church of St. Martin. It was built in the reign of Elizabeth, and was first opened by a banquet, given by George Norris, the mayor, to celebrate the victory over the Spanish Armada. This anniversary was continued until within the memory of some of the burgesses now living, and was called the "Venison Feast." The hall is a low-roofed timber building, lighted by plain latticed windows, and was enlarged, by the addition of the Mayor's parlour, in 1636. The great hall, or court, is fitted with appropriate seats of state for the mayor and aldermen, and with galleries for spectators of municipal ceremonies; and its walls were formerly enriched with many valuable paintings. The adjoining parlour is remarkable for the quaint character of its decorations; it is, like the great hall, provided with state seats or benches, and has a long range of low windows, containing stained glass illustrative of religious subjects, and emblems of the seasons. The Town-library is a storied building, containing a large hall, founded by the Corporation in 1632, and possessing at present about 1000 volumes, chiefly of old divinity, together with a few miscellaneous books, and a MS. of the Greek Testament written on vellum and paper, supposed to be of the thirteenth century, and which was given to the library in 1649 by the Rector of Thrussington.
There are hospitals in Leicester of similar style, and two of much earlier periods, 1330 and 1512.
KT.
Leicestershire.
OLD SIR RALPH VERNON.
(Vol. v., p. 389.)
In an old manuscript book now before me, containing a copy of Flower's "Visitation of Cheshire," 1580, together with a very great number of coats of arms, copies of charters, &c., is the curious account of old Sir Raulfe Vernon, which I now send you. I have not at present Ormerod's History Of Cheshire to refer to; but, if I remember right, there is an account of the old knight, and of the great age he is said to have attained, there. The latest date in the book from which this is extracted is 1610; but there is bound with it eleven pages of "Armes of the Gentry of Cheshire, entred in ye Visitation of that County made in Ao 1663 and 1664, by me Wm. Dugdale, Esqr., Norroy King of Armes."
"Coppies of old Pedegrees remayning wth Sr John Savadge, 1583.