8 RECORDS OF OLD TIMES 



Shakespeare, whilst on his journey from Stratford- 

 on-Avon to London, when passing through Grendon 

 Underwood, a village on the road from Bicester to 

 Aylesbury, drew his picture of boorish life in the 

 ' Midsummer Night's Dream ' of ' Bottom the 

 Weaver ' and his companions from sojourners in 

 a village ale-house. Adjoining this village is 

 Ludgershall, where Wyclifle, one of the earliest 

 champions of the Reformation, was vicar, and near 

 to which is the little town of Brill, where King 

 John had a palace, from whence he could hunt at 

 his Manor of Boarstall and the forest of Berne- 

 wood. Thus it may well be called the historic 

 county of Bucks. 



I have had many opportunities, from a long 

 residence in this county, of searching various records 

 not only typical of the habits and customs of the 

 people of the district, but of others. I think it may 

 interest many people to be reminded of these events 

 and celebrities of a bygone age, and give them some 

 idea of rural life in our dear old country. 



In Green's admirable book on 'The Making of 

 England,' he says, 'It was by Wallingford, or the 

 Ford of the " Whealtas," or Welshmen, as the con- 

 querors called it, that the West Saxons must have 

 passed the Thames in the year 571. Their leader 

 was " Cuthwulf." There was one battle only of 

 which we have record. Cuthbert's raid had carried 

 him from Wallingford to the " Icknield Way," along 

 the western slopes of the Chilterns, as far as 

 Bedford, before the forces of the " Four Towns " 



