20 MORFE FOEEST. 



there his collegiate church, the stones of which 

 remain to attest its erection by a Norman founder. 

 The legend relating to the erection of the church 

 seems so well to bear out the supposition that Morfe 

 was the favourite hunting ground of the earl that, 

 although frequently quoted, it may not be out of 

 place to give it. In substance it is this : — 



In 1082, Sir Hoger married for his second wife a 

 daughter of Sir Ebrard de Pusey, one of the chief 

 nobles of France. On coming over to England to 

 join her husband a storm arose which threatened 

 the destruction of the vessel when, wearied with 

 much watching, a priest who accompanied her fell 

 asleep and had a vision, in which it was said : — 

 '^ If thy lady would wish to save herself and her at- 

 tendants from the present danger of the sea, let her 

 make a vow to Grod and faithfully promise to build a 

 church in honour of the blessed Mary Magdalene, on 

 the spot where she may first happen to meet her hus- 

 band in England, especiallj^ where groweth a hollow 

 oak, and where the wild swine have shelter." The 

 legend adds that upon awaking the priest informed 

 his lady, who took the prescribed vow ; that the 

 storm ceased, that the ship arrived safely in port, 

 that the lady met the earl hunting the boar where 



