this city to read the psalter and bible in English." West from the school are the gates leading to a pleasant seat, called the Friary, because formerly the site of a conventual church of monastery belonging to the order of Franciscans, Grey Friars, or Friars Minor. It was founded about the year 1229 by bishop Stavenby, but was all burned to the ground, except the church, in 1291, when a dreadful fire destroyed the greater part of the city. After the dissolution, this church was allowed to remain for some time in a state of desolation. In 1545, however, it was totally demolished, and the present mansion erected, which has since been occupied by several of the most respectable gentlemen in the county, and among the rest by the late William Inge, Esq. whose abilities and integrity as a justice of the peace gained him the applause of lord Mansfield, and the confidence of the people. The duke of Cumberland had his head quarters here, when the king's army was stationed at Lichfield in 1745. On the north side of this building, in a spot supposed to have been the situation of the conventual cemetery, a number of human skeletons were discovered some years ago, and east from it, there still remains a very old mural monument with a cross fleury, surrounded by a curious inscription in ancient characters, of which the following translation appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine:* "Richard the merchant here extended lies, Death, like a step-dame, gladly clos'd his eyes; Bridge-street, or as it is now vulgarly called Bird-street, is the principal one in the city, the road from Chester to London passing through it. Next to this street is Beacon or Bacon street, which was long honoured by the residence of the late learned and ingenious Dr. Darwin. It was nearly burnt to the ground during the civil war, but is again well built and populous. In this street is the George Inn, the landlord of which in 1707 is drawn under the character of Boniface in Farquhar's admired comedy of the Beaux Stratagem. Lady Biddulph, who then occupied the bishop's palace, was supposed to have been personated in the character of Lady Bountiful. Cherry was the daughter of one Harrison, likewise for sometime landlord of the George. In St. John Street, which runs off from the street last mentioned in a southern direction, stands the Free Grammar School, founded by king Edward the sixth. The school room is of large dimensions, and probably coeval with the institution itself. The other parts of the buildings, however, were rebuilt in 1692. At this school some of the greatest men whose names throw a lustre on the literary annals of the last century, received the rudiments of their education. Among the more distinguished of them were Addison, Woolaston, Ashmole, Garrick, and Johnson. Such of them as were natives of the city will be noticed hereafter. Nearly opposite this school is the Hospital of St. John, originally a monastery. The period at which it was first founded is unknown; but it was doubtless prior to the commencement of the 12th century, as we find, that in 1130 Roger de Clinton revised and amended a code of statutes said to have been "anciently" made for the government of its friars. Having been destroyed, probably by order of Henry the sixth, in the nineteenth year of his reign, when he demolished so many religious structures, it was rebuilt by bishop Smith, and by him endowed as an hospital and chapel, dedicated to St. John, for the support of a master and thirteen poor men. This hospital, though deprived of part of its original property, still possesses a handsome estate, and is in every respect in a flourishing condition. As a building it is very remarkable for the number and curious form of the chimnies, which are placed in its front. The chapel is built of stone, and has withstood the ravages of time for several centuries, having been the an cient chapel of the priory before its re-erection by bishop Smith. It is neatly paved, and contains a very handsome monument with this inscription underneath an urn: "Omne Capra movet Urna nomen. The parish of St. Chad, lying on the north-east of Lichfield, occupies a considerable portion of the city and its suburbs. The church is of very ancient erection, being originally founded at a period long prior to the date of the cathedral.* It derived its name from the circumstance of St. Chad having had his cell here before he was appointed to the bishopric as mentioned in an earlier part of this work. The interior of the church is extremely neat, having of late years undergone a thorough repair. In the north aisles is placed a very ancient font. Here also in former times stood the shrine of St. Catharine, whose chantry priest had a stipend from the vicars choral of the cathedral. Some of the monuments display considerable taste in their execution, but are not of sufficient interest to claim particular description. In a small garden, adjoining to the church on the west, is the well, called St. Chad's well, where that saint first held his oratory, and which was anciently frequented by a vast number of pious devotees. Even at this day it is customary for the clergyman, attended by the churchwardens and a great concourse of children, to visit this well on holy Thursday, (Ascension day) when it is adorned with boughs and flowers, and the gospel for the day is read. The water, which is of a milky colour, is supposed to possess considerable medicinal virtues. In a part of Bacon Street, which is situated in this parish, stands an hospital for fifteen poor women, commonly called Dr. Milley's Hospital, because rebuilt and endowed by him in 1504, on Some say it was founded by the Romans towards the end of the second century. on the site of an older original edifice erected by bishop Hey. worth for the same benevolent purpose. Each of the women occupy separate apartments, and receives 1s. 6d. weekly, besides 11. 11s. 6d. every quarter. Christian Field, already so often mentioned, is situated near Stickbrook in this parish, but at a little distance from the city. On the eastern part of the city, and comprehending some part of it within its limits, lies the parish of St. Michael's. The church, which is situated on the mount called Greenhill, is par ticulary remarkable for the extent of its cemetery, which contains no less than seven acres of ground. It is an old fabric with a lofty spire probably erected in the reign of Henry the seventh. Numerous monuments, both ancient and modern, ornamented this edifice; but the limits prescribed to this work will not admit of their being particularly described, seeing they do not possess any peculiar interest. This church has neither tithes nor glebe attached to it. The living is a perpetual curacy in the presentation of the vicar of St. Mary's. Among the many distinguished characters born at Lichfield was ELIAS ASHMOLE, or ASmole, This gentleman's birth took place on the 23d of May 1617. Having shewn a genius for music, his friends had him instructed in it, and admitted as a chorister of the cathedral. While yet very young he removed to London, and became a resident in the family of his maternal uncle James Paget, Esq. puisne baron of the exchequer, to whose friendship he was greatly indebted for his future elevation. In 1638 he became a solicitor in chancery, and some years subsequent, an attorney in the court of Common Pleas ; but soon after, the city of London being in a very disturbed state, he retired to Cheshire. In 1644 he entered himself of Brazen Nose College Oxford, where he prosecuted his philosophical studies with great assiduity and success. On the 9th of May 1645, he was appointed one of the gentlemen of the ordnance in the garrison of that city, from whence he removed to Worcester, where he was commissioner, receiver, and registrar of the excise, 9 excise, as also captain in lord Ashley's regiment, and comptroller of the ordnance. Upon the surrender of Worcester, he withdrew once more to Cheshire; but remained in that county only a few months, and then returned to London. He now hecame acquainted with Sir Jonas Moore, Mr. Lilly, and Mr Booker, at that time regarded as the first astrologers in Europe, who received him into their fraternity, and elected him steward of their annual feast. After two years' residence in the metropolis he retired to the village of Englefield in Berkshire, where he first was introduced to lady Mainwaring, whom he married in November 1649. In consequence of this event he settled in London, and had the felicity of seeing his house frequented by most of the learned and ingenious men of his day. In 1650 he published two treatises relative to the phi losopher's stone, one of which was written by Dr. Arthur Dee, and the other by an unknown author; and two years after, appeared his "Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum," being a collection of such productions of the English chemists as then remained unpublished. This work he intended to have carried on through several volumes; but turning his attention particularly to antiqui, ties and records he dropped this design. Having always shewn himself a zealous loyalist, he was in great favour with Charles the second, to whom he was introduced after the Restoration, and who bestowed on him the office of Windsor-herald, and few days afterwards appointed him to give a description of his medals, which he did greatly to the king's satisfaction. In the year 1661 he was admitted a fellow of the Royal Society, and in February following constituted secretary of Surinam in the West Indies. The university of Oxford created him Doctor of Physic by diploma in July 1669. About this time he visited his native city, and was splendidly entertained by the corpora tion to whom, as well as to the choristers of the cathedral, he had made some valuable presents. In May 1672 his great work on the noble order of the Garter, for which he had been making collections during many years, was presented to his VOL. XIII. Fff Majesty, |