86 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



ground was the Marquis of Anglesea, having on his left the Earl of 

 Uxbridge, Lords Yarmouth and Graves, &c.&c. the whole standing. 

 The Addresses having been read, His Royal Highness was pleased 

 to return most gracious answers, and the Deputations withdrew to 

 partake of an elegant repast prepared by the Marquis. During 

 their stay, the Royal Visitors joined in the sports of the field, or 

 the joys of the banquet, with all the amenity of private life ; and 

 on departing, expressed themselves highly gratified with their re- 

 ception at Beaudesert. Thus terminated a scene of princely hos- 

 pitality, which reflected equal honour upon the Illustrious Guest 

 and the Noble Donor : a Prince who, by his wise councils, had 

 raised himself and his country to the highest pinnacle of earthly 

 glory a Warrior, who had fought and conquered on the deathless 

 plains of Waterloo, and whose gallant services mainly contributed 

 to the success of that ever-memorable struggle for the inde- 

 pendence of nations. 



Chestall, situated to the east of Beaudesert, was formerly the 

 residence of the Rugeleys. At present the only mansion on the spot 

 is a farm-house, which is the property of the Marquis of Anglesea. 



Stonywell is situated about a mile south-east of Longdon Church. 

 This mansion was formerly the residence of an ancient family, one 

 of the descendants of which was memorable for his learning and 

 piety. " John Stanywell or Stonywell/' says Wood, " was born 

 in the parish of Longdon, in Staffordshire, within which parish is a 

 small hamlet, called Stonywell, from a well wherein is at the bottom 

 a large stone, which seems to be no more than a little rock, whence 

 springs the water that supplies that well. This person being much 

 addicted to learning and religion when a youth, was taken into a 

 monastery, and was bred a Benedictine monk. Thence he was sent 

 to Gloucester College, in Oxon, where the monks of Pershore had 

 an apartment for their novices to be trained up in academical learn- 

 ing ; of which college he was, when in his elder years, Prior for a 

 time, and was then noted among those of his profession for his 

 learning and strict course of life. Afterwards, being Doctor of 

 Divinity, he became Lord Abbot of the said Pershore, and at length 

 a Bishop, (suffragan only as it seems), under the title Episcopus 

 poletensis. He paid his last debt to nature, after he had arrived to 

 a great age, in the beginning of 1553, and was buried according to 

 his will, in a new chapel built by him within the parish church of 

 St. James, in Longdon, for the use of which chapel and parish he 

 bequeathed all his books, his two chalices, his crewetts, holy water 



