II 



churchyard crosses of this county, but it does not possess even 

 a single member in common with them to indicate that it ever 

 was intended as such, or was erected for the purpose to which 

 churchyard crosses were dedicated. There is a tradition amongst 

 the common people, who have nick-named it the "bone-house," 

 that it leads by a subterranean passage to the interior of the 

 church. Tlu; existence of some sort of chamber, communicating 

 with the interior of the building, has been partially confirmed 

 by the assurance of an old man whom I met there, that some 

 years ago he " went down," and at the bottom found a large 

 number of bones, and an excavation like a tomb " which ran some 

 distance under ground." Should this prove to be the case, it 

 would illustrate in some degree the ground plan of this mysterious 

 building, and would dispose of the idea that the structure was 

 ever intended for a cross. Where the excavation led to, and 

 what was its purport, are questions for future explorers to decide. 

 Mr. Ball says that a tradition exists that a person was drowned 

 in a well in the churchyard, that the well was ordered to be 

 closed, that persons were forbidden to be buried in the church- 

 yard, and that this erection was built over the spot. 



Friar Bacon. 



As an appendage to this note, but unconnected with the sub- 

 ject, I beg leave to lay before the meeting a copy of a letter I 

 have received from Mrs. Clutterbuck, of St. Mary's Mill, Chalford, 

 in reply to my enquiries respecting the tradition, that her house 

 was formerly tenanted by no less a personage than the famous 

 Friar Bacon. 



The statement is to be found in Sir Eobert Atkins's History of 

 Gloucestershire, wherein it is related that " Friar Bacon was born 

 at Todgmore Bottom, about a mile from Bisley, and that he was 

 educated at St. Mary's Chapel, now St. Bury Mill, on Stroud 

 river ; where a room at this day is called Friar Bacon's study." 

 The historian then goes on to state that " he was a very learned 

 person, and wrote eighty books, and for his skill in mathematics 

 was reputed a conjuror in those ignorant times," &c. "He died 

 A.D. 1284." 



Now all authentic English historians agree that Friar Bacon 

 was born at Ilchester, in Somersetshire, about A.D. 1214, and that 

 he was educated at Oxford, where he took the vows of a Francis- 

 can in a convent possessed by that order at Oxford, and that he 

 was buried in the church of the Franciscans about A.D. 1292. 

 Nevertheless it is remarkable, that the traditional evidence which 

 Mrs. Clutterbuck has obligingly furnished me with, corresponds 

 with the statement of Sir Eobert Atkins, and therefore will be 

 read with interest. 



