288 Great Bedwyn. 



beneath the spots where they had lain for so many years, and their 

 coffin plates let into the pavement over them. 



The Registers have been well preserved, and date, Baptisms from 

 1553, Marriages from 1539, and Burials from 1538. 



In the year 1620-21, is the following entry of Doctor Thomas 



Willis. 



"Thomas Wyllis the sonne of Thomas Wyllis and Rachel his Wyft'e was bap- 

 tysed the xiiij day of February anno predicto." 



The next entry was erased in order that his grandson, the cele- 

 brated antiquary, Browne Willis, might insert the following 

 remark, 



"N.B. He was the most Famous Physitian in the World in his tyme & 

 dying Nov. the 11th, 1675, in the 54th year of his age, was buryed in West- 

 minster Abby." 



Dr. Willis was born 27th Jan., 1621, in a house still standing, 

 and bearing evidence of having been much more considerable than 

 it is at present. He was sent to school at Oxford, and at an early 

 age was admitted a battler of Christchurch, where he prosecuted 

 his academical studies with a view to taking Holy Orders. He 

 took the degree of B.A. 19th June, 1639, and of M.A. 18th June, 

 1642; but being diverted from his purpose by the national troubles 

 of that period, he applied himself to the study of physic, and took 

 his Bachelor's degree in that faculty, 8th Dec, 1646. He attached 

 himself to the cause of the King, and bore arms in the garrison of 

 Oxford until its surrender to the Parliament forces. His practice 

 soon became famous at Oxford, both for its skill and success, in the 

 midst of«those distractions which rent the public affairs of this 

 country. He married during this period, Mary, daughter of Dr. 

 Samuel Fell, the ejected Dean of Christchurch, and sister to Dr. 

 John Fell, afterwards Bishop of Oxford. In 1660 he was chosen 

 Sedleian Professor of Natural Philosophy at Oxford, and on the 

 30th of October in the same year took the degree of Doctor in 

 Medicine. In 1666 he removed to London, and took a house in 

 St. Martin's Lane, Westminster, where he soon grew into the 

 most extensive practice, and became one of the first members of 

 the Royal Society, a Fellow of the College of Physicians, and 



