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Dedication

TO THE HON. MRS. JOHN BRYAN STAPLETON, WITH SINCERE REGARDS.


Preface

About three years ago, after reading some Papers in the Bicester Herald, by the late Mr. WING, it struck the Compilers that no one had attempted any detailed description of the Parish in which they are particularly interested, and, in order to supply this omission, they resolved to collect all the information within their reach upon the subject.

It is scarcely necessary to observe that there is no attempt whatever at originality in these imperfect notes.

The Authorities principally consulted are Skelton's Oxfordshire, White Kennett's Antiquities, Beesley's History of Banbury, Napier's History of Swincombe and Ewelme, the Oxfordshire Directory (1851), Wing's various Pamphlets, Brewer's Oxfordshire, Sir Henry Dryden's Pamphlet on Antiquities discovered at Souldern, Nicholl's Curiosities of Literature of the 18th Century, Waterlow's History of Cornhill, Stow's Survey, Hume and Rapin's Histories of England, Turner's Annals of Oxford, Davenport's Oxfordshire Annals, and the Reports of the Charity Commissioners.

They are under the greatest obligations to the following gentlemen, to whom they tender their most sincere thanks:—

To F. Madan, Esq., sub-librarian of the Bodleian, and the Rev. Dymock Fletcher, for Notes on the early History of the Church and Manor; also to Mr. Madan, for many valuable suggestions, as well as for the list of the clergy up to nearly the last appointment prior to the reign of James I.

To the Rev. J. W. Pieters, sometime Bursar of St. John's College, Cambridge, for a continuation of that list up to the present time. To the Rev. Dr. Rotton, for much information and assistance

To George Dolman, Esq., and Col. Cox, for the papers on Souldern House, the Roman Catholic Chapel, and Pedigree.

To Mr. Tingey, schoolmaster, for details respecting the school and the benefit society. And to many others for sundry particulars.

Various petitions to the High Court of Chancery, papers relating thereto, the Parish Register, and some private documents, have also been consulted. That this little work contains many errors and shortcomings the compilers are fully aware. They can only offer it to their friends and neighbours with the advice given by the great Mr. Jorrocks to Miserrimus Doleful respecting the old horse—

“Be to its virtues ever kind,
He to its faults a little blind.”