Mountain. The earth of this spot is likewise considered as sacred and was formerly carried away to cure diseases and to sprinkle the coffins of those who were interred. I ascended to the highest point of the mountain at its north-eastern extremity, where a small circular cavity is formed near the verge of the precipice; it is supposed to be the site of a Roman Catholic Chapel, dedicated to St. Michael, from which the Skyrrid has derived one of its appellations of St. Michael's Mount."

In the notes of a Hereford Visitor, we are reminded that members were asked to search on the summit (1,596 feet) for possible vestiges of the site of St. Michael's, mentioned by the Archdeacon. Here stood (according to evidence before the Anti-Popery Committee in 1678) "a ruinous chapel and a stone with crosses upon it, where Mass was performed and sermons preached. We are led to understand from an account of the families of Bailey, of Bailey Baker, and Baker Gabb, that in March, 1678, a committee of the House of Commons was appointed, of which Sir John Trevor was chairman, to consider "the danger the nation is in by the growth of Popery, and the remedies to prevent the same," with power to send for persons, papers, and records. Amongst others summoned to give evidence was John Arnold, a former owner of Llanvihangel Court.

In his evidence before the committee referred to, Mr. John Arnold said, "that he hath seen a hundred papists meet at the top of a high hill called St. Michael's Mount, where is frequent meetings eight or ten times in the year; as he is informed Mass is said, and sometimes sermons is preached there." John Scudamore before the same committee said " that he saw very great numbers of people at their devotions on the top of an high hill in Monmouthshire called St. Michael's Mount, where there is a ruinous chapel, and a stone with crosses on it, which he took to be an altar, and he hath seen people with beads in their hands kneeling towards the said stone, both within and without the chapel, and he has been informed that Mass is often said there, and some papists have affirmed in his presence that they have heard as good sermons preached there as ever they heard in their lives."

In the notes of the Rev. John Davies, of Pandy, published in the Hereford Times, July 14th, 1877, and referring apparently to the above chapel, it is pointed out that upon the top of the Scyrrid there was a medieval church, of which a few traces remained, at that time. It was dedicated to St. Michael, the patron saint of sailors. All the present remains of the chapel are two stone posts, thought to have formed the entrance. From this spot, writes our Hereford Visitor," one obtains quite a new idea

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of the Black Mountains, and a lovely view of the well-defined Longtown Valley is seen, together with the commencement of the Golden Valley. Immediately below was Llanvihangel Court, and to the left the celebrated slip, towards which the party descended and traversed.

LLANVIHANGEL COURT.

*It seems quite uncertain when the original building known as Llanvihangel Court was erected, but the south-eastern front is known to have been re-built in the year 1559 (a stone half-way up the wall bears the date) by Rhys Morgan, the then proprietor of the estate. Another owner, the Hon. Edward Harley, was auditor of Imprest to Queen Anne, and brother to Robert, first Earl of Oxford and Mortimer, the Lord High Treasurer; while yet another, Mr. Hugh Powell, as a token of gratitude to his patron and friend, the late Hon. Thomas Harley, bequeathed to the grandson of that gentleman, the Hon. W. P. Rodney, the mansion, together with the principal portion of his landed estates. The mansion up to 1802 was usually assigned as the jointure house for the widows of the Earls of Oxford.

Accomplishing the descent the party in due time reached the Court, where Mrs. Attwood-Matthews gave the members a hearty welcome, receiving her guests at the entrance hall door. The luncheon provided was elegant and sumptuous, and welcome and refreshing after the exertions of the morning. The tables were laid in the spacious entrance hall and dining room, and at the close the PRESIDENT said before they left those hospitable walls he was anxious to return thanks for the good things provided. As a rule members of the Woolhope Club went about with a biscuit in one pocket and an apple in another, and were quite content to get a drink in between. It would be the ruin of the club if they were frequently regaled as they had been that day. They all heartily thanked Mrs. Attwood-Mathews for her great kindness and hospitality. Mr. BAMFORD suitably responded on behalf of the hostess.

All present then went over the house and surroundings. Unfortunately, owing to the extensive additions, several of the rooms were in a state of disorder, but those completely furnished occasioned much interest. The house is well built throughout with the stone of the district; the walls are two thick on a substantial plinth, and there are massive stone quoins at the angles. The windows are mullioned of the Tudor period, and in regard to the additions on the north side the Tudor style is being copied. A stone bears the

* White's "Guide to Abergavenny."

following inscription :-" Designed by B. St. John Attwood Mathews, 1903." In the hall was seen, facing the entrance, the large iron back with fleur-de-lys which had been originally put up by the Arnolds. This was found in use as a footbridge in the grounds, and happily restored to its proper position. On the northern side of the hall is a seat, below a raised dais, for the retainers. Unfortunately a cellar has been built over this dais. Close by are two enormous earthenware jars, originally used for oil and wine, and brought over in the ships of the Spanish Armada. There are also a number of valuable ancient weapons and paintings, whilst the furniture is in complete harmony with the hall. The exit from the hall to the staircase is through a gateway erected by a former tenant for the purpose of excluding hounds when admitted to the hall. In the passage at the foot of the staircase hangs an old oil painting representing a view from the grounds in which the fissure in the Great Scyrrid is a prominent feature. The Blorenge and the Sugar Loaf are readily recognised, and a chapel surmounts the Great Scyrrid.

The staircase is very broad and built of massive pilasters and railing of Spanish chestnut. The back-staircase, which for generations was the only staircase, is retained in its original character. Massive beams, principals and joists in the rooms and roof are visible everywhere, and Mrs. Attwood-Mathews is having removed the "daubings" of previous tenants. A wide passage leads to the King's room, a small paneled room which is at present undergoing extension by the addition of a Tudor annex. A large four-posted bedstead is here installed, upon which is inscribed " King Charles I. slept on this bed at Llanvihangel Court, 1645." This carved oak bedstead was purchased by Mrs. Mathews from Mr. Harley, of the Record Office. A coat of arms with "C.R." on it is over the door. On removal of the plaster, the old oak ceiling has been brought to light with massive oak beams. Removal of plaster has also exposed a stone mantelpiece with traces of a chariot and wheels as a sort of fresco in black. The Tudor room, now occupied as the principal bedroom, has napkin paneling. The ceiling of the dressing room

is of dark oak.

The Queen Elizabeth's bedroom has a ceiling of ornamental plaster, all finger work. This was originally a larger room; the same plaster ceiling can be seen extended beyond the present partition into a lobby which opens into a small room, now a dressing room, which is said to have been the chapel. The latter is lighted by a good window, but Mrs. Mathews has opened out a small window on the northern wall. An inspection of the exterior shows that this is not an addition, but a restoration of a built-up original Tudor

light. A similar window was re-opened in the dining room. Included amonget the extensions is an annex of a style unique in our country. The building with a portico is lighted by lights capped with semi-circular arches and a massive circular column. This is the model of an Egyptain Temple, and will contain the costly collection of Egyptian curiosities so valued by the owner. Mrs. Mathews has not discovered any old secret hiding place. Helmets from the field of Omdurman-massive, heavy, with chain armour suspended for protection of face and neck, a marvellous set of Oriental sketches by Mrs. Mathews, which were to be sent for exhibition to Bond-street in July, to say nothing of local views, a rare collection of china, etc., are only a few of the rich adornments of the mansion.

In the "Guide to the Town and Neighbourhood of Abergavenny,” quoted above, we read:

"The mansion is surrounded by groves of venerable oaks and Spanish chestnuts, while the noble avenue of firs (supposed to be the finest in the kingdom) give a weird picturesqueness to the scene that is very striking. The Government, on one occasion, offered Mr. Powell £10,000 for these alone. They are not the common Scotch firs, as some have been led to believe, but of a kind which are very seldom met with. At Llanvihangel they sow themselves, and spring up spontaneously in the woods. The chestnuts appear to be also of great antiquity, but although much pains have been taken to gain information as to the possible date when these avenues were planted, hitherto all researches on the point have proved fruitless."

Our account of the day's proceedings would be incomplete without some reference to former owners of the house in which we were so hospitably entertained. Without going back to a remote antiquity we find, relying upon "Hereford Visitor," that in 1678 Llanvihangel Court was in possession of John Arnold, already referred to, a descendant of Sir Nicholas Arnold, to whom the grant of Llanthony Abbey was made by the Crown. John Arnold was the active opponent of the Roman Catholics, who gave the evidence mentioned above. On account of his hostility, it is said, an attempt to assassinate him was made in London by a man named Giles, a native of Usk. This was in the year 1680, when he was elected Member of Parliament for Monmouth and would be a well-known character both in Wales and London. His son, Nicholas Arnold, sold the Llanvihangel estate to the Harley (Earl of Oxford) family, from whom it was purchased in 1801 by Hugh Powell, of the Bridge, Llanvihangel Crucorney, and he dying unmarried in 1821, devised the estate to the Hon. William Powell Rodney, from whom it

descended to the late owner, Mr. Harley Rodney. The latter in 1903 sold the Mansion House with a large portion of the estate to the late Mr. Benjamin St. John Attwood-Mathews, J.P., D.L., formerly of Pontrilas Court. To his widow the Club was indebted for the present opportunity of seeing the many objects of historical interest belonging to the mansion, and reminiscences of her extensive travels in Egypt and other parts.

LLANVIHANGEL CRUCORNEY CHURCH.

The Rev. A. R. BLUNDELL, for more than 30 years Vicar of the parish, in the course of an interesting paper, produced a map nearly 300 years old. It was dated 1610, and upon it was clearly marked the chapel of St. Michael on the top of the mountain. He said: "The meaning of Crucorney, I am inclined to think, may be found in Brittany. In the commune of Carnac, in the Morbihan, is a small almost disused church, Eglise de St. Michel (Llanvihangel). It dominates a district, being on a Mont St. Michael, and is not a parish church. About three-quarters of a mile from it, and at the foot of the hill, is a parish church, Eglise de St. Cornely, with the Croise de St. Cornely (Crux Cornolü), and not far from it the Fons Cornolii, much visited by pilgrims. Eglise de St. Michael seems to me to bear the same relation to Eglise de St. Cornely that the ancient Church of St. Michael on our Skirrid Hill must have borne to our present parish church. May be this church of St. Michael was in some sense our mother church, but the daily worship of our forefathers was at a Crux Cornelü on the site of our present church, and as the population increased our church was built where it now is, on a spot already consecrated, more accessible and convenient. One can easily imagine how time would soften the abbreviation Cru-Corn to Crucorney. If I am right in my supposition, our real patron is St. Cornelius, though the greater St. Michael hovers over him. There may be some among us who would gladly revive the old cult, and who still dimly honour him, preferring him to St. Michael and his host for St. Cornelius is the guardian of horned cattle. In Carnac miraculous cures of cattle are stated to be still taking place. A sprinkling from his fountain and a walk round his cross and they are good for the dairy or the plough. St Cornelius seems in other ways to have been distinguished, and we may well be proud of him, for I found in his church two windows with the following inscriptions:(1) St. Corneille par sa prière et sa benediction étient un incendie dans la vielle de cornelle." (2) "St. Corneille par sa prière ressucite la fille d'un Senateur Romain.' The following on another window is interesting as a link with Monmouthshire:- St. Cardo débarque pour precher la doctrine du Christe et cruit dêja, voir derriere lui