It is somewhat strange that no church is dedicated to St. White, who appears to have been a popular saint in the fertile vale, where offerings of big cheeses were made at his shrine. Tyndale refers to this custom, and his biographer-Demaussupplies the following explanatory note:

"Gloucester being an agricultural county, in which the interests of the dairies were supreme, it was deemed necessary to invoke the assistance of a special saint to protect the cream and the cheese against the accidents of the weather and the depredations of the fairies and the Welshmen. The saint selected for this purpose was Saint White, a personage by no means familiar even to persons deeply read in hagiology. Tyndale (Works, Vol. II. p. 126) speaks of the saint as a female, assuming, no doubt, that she was a canonized dairymaid; but more learned doctors affirm that St. White, or St. Witta, was in reality a German bishop of the eighth century, one of the Saxon companions of the famous Winfrid, or Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.'

CONCLUSION.

"Na life-long residence in the county, and in the researches necessary for the compilation of these biographical works, many interesting instances of remarkable ability, thirst after knowledge, love of science, musical talent, skill in art, active benevolence, high religious principle, fortitude in affliction, and perseverance in well-doing, have been found, in addition to those which are placed on record. They have been met with in all ranks. The humbler classes have supplied a fair share. Among our agricultural peasantry, our mill workers, our colliers and miners, as also among our skilled artisans and mechanics, there has been many a man strong of mind and large of heart; many a man noble in aim and useful in life. In the majority of cases keeping the noiseless tenour of their way, they sought no great change in their social position, and were laid to rest in lowly graves. Here and there a gravestone bears the name and tells of the work and worth of one and another who, unknown beyond their own narrow sphere, yet, so well filled that little space, as doubtless to receive at last that highest commendation : "Well done, good and faithful servant."

It would have been pleasant to have extended these Notes so as to have included many of these omitted names; but there are limits to a writer's space and to a reader's patience. Besides, all should not be done by one: room should be left for the operations of others in the same field.

It is more satisfactory to know that the Worthies who have been named are but samples of many others who are unrecorded than to imagine that our list includes all who are worth

chronicling. Still more satisfactory is it to have abundant evidence of numberless instances in which good and noble and useful lives are now being lived by men of our County, the names of some of whom are destined to secure honourable record in the pages of some future writer of " GLOUCESTERSHIRE BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES."