INTKODUCTION 



siders it to have been Blanche Haworth 

 herself, though I cannot see why it should 

 then be called Blanche Parry. I think it is 

 of her sister's mother-in-law, who was Blanche 

 Parry both as maid and wife, though I own 

 I cannot account for its presence at the White 

 House, unless Jane and Stephen did not 

 care to move it with them to Arkeston. 



Herefordshire is singularly unlucky in its 

 county history. Duncombe, who was writing 

 one to order, was not public-spirited enough 

 to continue his work on the death of his 

 patron; and though other hands have con- 

 tinued his work with the help of his notes, 

 the Hundred of Webtree is altogether omit- 

 ted, while the Hundred of Ewyas is very 

 sketchily done, and contains no mention of 

 Eowland or his works. That they were the 

 sight and talk of the neighbourhood, is 

 evident from the fact that open table was kept 

 for visitors to the commonwealth, whose 

 coming was notified by a watchman by beat 

 of drum or blair of trumpet, according to 

 the condition of the approaching guest, 

 " whether he be horseman or footman." 



In 1 80 1 Mrs. Burton, the wife of the then 

 vicar of Atcham, in Shropshire, and herself 

 xxix 



