arried a
lady of the same name, Elizabeth, daughter of Nicholas Goldsmith, of
Bosworth, in the county of Leicester. The fact is worth noticing, though no
very accurate estimate can be formed of the precise degree of relationship
to be inferred from the title of "cousin" a couple of centuries ago. My
authority is the Cheshire visitation of 1663-4. Several other MS. pedigrees
are in existence; in some of which the lady's name is stated as Ellen,
instead of Elizabeth, and her father's as Richard instead of Nicholas.
Thomas Minshull of Manchester, the uncle of Milton's widow, deserves
perhaps a passing word of notice, as having embalmed the mortal remains of
Humphrey Chetham.

J. F. M.

Warrington.

Our elegant poet Fenton, having written a _Life of Milton_, and no doubt
often visited his place of nativity (Shelton, in the Staffordshire
Potteries), he surely must have known _something_ respecting _Milton's_
third wife's family, who lived only a few miles from thence; and if the
Fenton papers have, as is probable, been preserved by his family, some of
whom I am informed still live in the neighbourhood of Shelton, it is not
unlikely they will throw some light on the family of the poet's widow.

NEWINGTON.

* * * * *

BOOKS CHAINED TO DESKS IN CHURCHES--OLD PAROCHIAL LIBRARIES.

(Vol. viii., p. 93.)

On a recent visit to Aberystwith, I walked to the mother church of
Llanbadarn, a fine old building, which I was glad to find, since a former
visit, was undergoing important repairs in its exterior. While inspecting
the interior, I requested the clerk to show me into the vestry, and upon
inquiring if the church possessed any black-letter Bible, Foxe's _Martyrs_,
or any of those volumes which at the Reformation were chained to the desks
or pews, he opened a case in the vestry, in which I was sorry to observe
many volumes, not of that early date, but about a century and a half old,
yet valuable in their day as well as at present, in a sad dilapidated
state, arising from the dampness of the room, which is without a
fire-place. Many of the volumes were the gift of a Doctor Fowle, with his
autograph, stating that they were given as a lending library to the
parishioners.

The present incumbent is the Rev. ---- Hughes, a very excellent and zealous
pastor, with the modern church in Aberystwith annexed, who should this
narrative meet his eye, or be communicated to him, might be induced to make
inqu