gardens great store of rare shrubs. He turned the eighteenth-century stables, with delightful effect, into a residence suitable for a college of clergy, with his coat of many quarterings over the porch. The war took away the clergy, and the existing shortage of ordinands effectually postpones the day when the house can return to the uses for which he intended it. But it remains a Wren-like delight to the eyes.

He, too, had his project of division. The Warwickshire portion of the diocese by vigorous effort was cut off, centred in Coventry, and sent forward on its new career under his still vigorous auspices. But with this there came a fresh shock for Hartlebury, and a revival of the old discussions. For the revenues of the see of Worcester had suffered a twofold reduction, first in favour of Birmingham, then in favour of Coventry. Bishop Philpott had hesitated to enter the castle with a see stipend of £5000, and income-tax at ninepence in the pound, and super-tax neither born nor thought of. Dr. Yeatman-Biggs's successor would receive at first £3900, with income-tax at six shillings in the pound, with fair hope of seeing that rate a little reduced, but with the grim certainty of super-tax. It was natural, in such circumstances, that the position should be once more faced. This time it was clear that the dean and chapter would not refuse to allow the Ecclesiastical Commissioners' architect to make a complete survey of the deanery. The discussion was complicated by the generous offer of Dr. Yeatman-Biggs to give to the see a house near Worcester, which was his private property.

It is sufficient to say that, in spite of all, the castle remains faithful to the uses of the centuries-more and more beloved by those who live in it, more and more admired (so far as the occupants can judge) by those who visit it. What has been written about it in these pages belongs rather to the chronicles than to the prophetical books, and it is no part of the writer's purpose to predict the continuance of the age-long house as the home of the bishops of Worcester. He has held the fort long enough to find Hartlebury castle scheduled in a parlia

mentary measure" as one of the ancient episcopal residences specially committed, as regards their fabric, to the care and help of the Ecclesiastical Commission. He does not deny that he has had his moments of anxiety. But he firmly holds that such a history must not, and will not, be lightly brought to nought.

APPENDIX

I AM indebted to Mr. Stephen K. Jones, librarian of Dr. Williams' Library in Gordon Square, for rotographs of Baxter's letter of deacon's orders and his licence as "Ludimagister," which read as follows:

Tenore presentium Nos Johannes providentia divina Wigorniensis Episcopus Notum facimus vniuersis Quod die dominico vicesimo tertio (videlicet) die mensis Decembris Anno domini Millesimo sexcentesimo tricesimo octavo in Capella nostra infra Palatium nostrum Wigorn' Nos prefatus Johannes Episcopus antedictus sacros ordines dei omnipotentis presidio celebrantes generales dilectum nobis in Christo Richardum Baxter de vita sua laudabili in morum et virtutum suarum donis nec non in sacrarum litterarum doctrina et erudicione multipliciter commendatum, et per Nos examinatum et approbatum atque in debita iuris forma Juratum Receptaque ab eo subscripcione articulis de Religione requisitis Ad sacrum diaconatus Ordinem iuxta morem et ritum ecclesie Anglicane editos et ordinatos Admisimus et promovimus, Ipsumque Richardum Baxter in diaconum tunc et ibidem rite et legitime ordinavimus. In cuius Rei testimonium Sigillum nostrum Episcopale presentibus apponi fecimus. Dat' Wigorn' die Mensis Annoque domini supradictis. Et nostre translacionis Anno vicesimo secundo.

Jo I

WILLELMUS WARMSTRY, Reg., WIGORN

[Baxter MSS., Treatises, vol. iv, no. 120.]

Jacobus Littleton legum doctor Reverendi in Christo patris et domini Johannis providentia divina Wigorniensis Episcopi vicarius in spiritualibus generalis ac Commissarius officialis principalis legitime Jurisconsultus Dilecto nobis in Christo Richardo Baxter Literato Salutem. Cum nihil magis expediat Reipublicae quam ad scholarium moderationem puerosque literis imbuendos viros exploratae erudicionis ac notae integritatis accedere Tibi quem ad eam rem literis satis instructum ac moribus idoneum comperimus nobis sufficienter commendato ac per nos diligenter examinato Necnon juramento Fidelitatis ac de recognoscendo Regiam Maiestatem supremum esse caput per te prestito Articulisque illis omnibus et singulis de Canone nuper edito ac regia auctoritate confirmato requisitis per te

subscriptis gramaticae precepta sub nomine felicis memoriae Henrici Octaui nuper Regis huius Regni Angliae edita dumtaxat erudiendi linguamque latinam publice docendi iuxta instituta leges et Canones huius Regni Angliae predicti Aliaque que ad Ludimagistri Officium pertinent exercendi quoad id munus sobrie et cum effectu eorum qui tibi tradentur informandi Necnon ad dei gloriam et honorem administrationis infra villam siue Burgum de Dudly in Comitatu et Diocesi Wigorniensibus predictis et non alio loco tenore presentium concedimus potesIn Cuius Rei testimonium sigillum Officii nostri presentibus apponi fecimus. Dat' Wigorn' decimo octauo die mensis Decembris Anno domini 1638.

Endorsed:

WILLIELMUS WARMSTRY Registrarius.

Exhibitum in Visitatione domini Episcopi Wigorn' 7o die Maii Anno domini 1639.

WILLIELMUS WARMSTRY Registrarius.

[Ibid., No. 121.]

NOTE

MR. HAROLD BREAKSPEAR has very kindly allowed me to use his careful ground-plan of the castle.

I have only two doubts about it, and I mention them, saving all reverence for such an authority.

(i) I do not understand how a wardrobe can have been thrown out southwards at right angles to the chapel and chamber, though I am familiar with the signs which have led to the idea.

(ii) I think Mr. Breakspear would probably agree that some elasticity is needed in his " fifteenth century for all the early work. I can find no reason to question that parts of our lower-course masonry (for instance, in the chapel and the bastions) may date from the crenella

tion.