HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 101 



an account of it in the ' Philosophical Transactions/ that the size 

 might be recorded. When in Lichfield in 1784, he begged to have 

 another copy of the letter, having mislaid the former, and not being 

 able to recover it ; but he was so ill during his stay that it was 

 forgotten."* 



Dimensions of the Lichfield Willow from the admeasurement of 

 Dr. Jones. The trunk rises to the height of twelve feet eight inches 

 and five-tenths, and is then divided into fifteen large ascending 

 branches, which in very numerous and crowded subdivisions, spread 

 at the top in a circular form, not unlike the appearance of a sturdy 

 oak, inclining a little towards the east. The circumference of the 

 trunk at the bottom is fifteen feet nine inches and five-tenths ; in 

 the middle, eleven feet ten inches ; and at the top, immediately be- 

 low the branches, thirteen feet. The entire height of the tree is 

 forty-nine feet ; and the circumference of the branches, at their ex- 

 tremities, upwards of two hundred feet, overshadowing a plain not 

 far. short of four hundred feet. The surface of the trunk is very 

 uneven, and the back is much furrowed. The most moderate 

 computation of its age is near fourscore years ; and some respect- 

 able authorities strongly incline to think a century has passed over 

 its head.f 



MEMORABILIA. In 1301, Henry Champanar, son of Michael de 

 Lichfield, bell-founder, granted for the " use and solace of the fryars 

 minor of Lichfield, his fountains in Frontewell, near Alreshaw." 



Queen Elizabeth visited Lichfield, July 30, 1575, and remained 

 in this city until the 3d of August. 



In 1593, March 21st, the top of St. Michael's steeple, and St. 

 Mary's by the market-place, were blown down by a great tempest, 

 which did the like damage at Stafford. This year, during the sum- 

 mer, there was a great plague in many cities and towns in England. 

 In Lichfield there died upwards of eleven hundred, and the disease 

 had not ceased its ravages on the 28th of November. At least one- 

 half of the population of Lichfield must have been carried off by this 

 memorable visitation ; for it appears that in the taxation of the city 

 during the reign of Henry VIII. the number of householders 

 amounted to four hundred, which, at the rate of five inhabitants 

 to a house, would give a total population of 2000. 



The Alms-house in Bacon-street, was founded in 1504. The 



* Shaw's History and Antiquities of Staffordshire, Vol. I. p. 346. 



t On Monday, August 14, 1815, a violent gust of wind carried away the 

 greater part of this venerable tree. 



