A few years ago Mr. Oman, Fellow of All Souls’, Oxford, made a curious discovery.  Whilst going through some documents that had been for many years in the hands of the last survivor of the ancient corporation, and being one of the few men in England in a position to identify the handwriting, he came across a deed or charter signed by “the great kingmaker” himself; it was in the form of a letter, and had reference to the gift of almshouses he made to Burford in 1457 A.D.  The boldly written “R.I.  Warrewyck” at the end is the only signature of the kingmaker’s known to exist save the one at Belvoir.  In this letter prayers are besought for the founder and the Countess Anne his wife, whilst attached to it is a seal with the arms of Neville, Montacute, Despencer, and Beauchamp.

On the font in the church is a roughly chiselled name: 

     “ANTHONY SEDLEY. 1649.  Prisner.”

Not only prisoners, but even their horses, were shut up in these grand old churches during the Civil Wars.  This Anthony Sedley must have been one of the three hundred and forty Levellers who were imprisoned here in 1649.

The register has the following entry:—­

“1649.  Three soldiers shot to death in Burford Churchyard, buried May 17th.”

Burford was the scene of a good deal of fighting during the Civil Wars.  On January 1st, 1642, in the dead of night, Sir John Byron’s regiment had a sharp encounter with two hundred dragoons of the Parliamentary forces.  A fierce struggle took place round the market cross, during which Sir John Byron was wounded in the face with a poleaxe.  Cromwell’s soldiers, however, were routed and driven out of the town.

In the parish register is the following entry :—­

“1642.  Robert Varney of Stowe, slain in Burford and buried January 1st.

“1642.  Six soldiers slain in Burford, buried 2nd January.

“1642.  William Junks slain with the shot of musket, buried January 10th.

“1642.  A soldier hurt at Cirencester road was buried.”

Many other entries of the same nature are to be seen in the parish register.

The old market cross of Burford has indeed seen some strange things.  Mr. W.J.  Monk, to whose “History of Burford” I am indebted for valuable information, tells us that the penance enjoined on various citizens of Burford for such crimes as buying a Bible in the year 1521 was as follows:—­

“Everyone to go upon a market day thrice about the market of Burford, and then to stand up upon the highest steps of the cross there, a quarter of an hour, with a faggot of wood upon his shoulder.

“Everyone also to beare a faggot of wood before the procession on a certain Sunday at Burford from the Quire doore going out, to the quire doore going in, and once to bear a faggot at the burning of a heretic.

“Also none of them to hide their mark [+] upon their cheek (branded in),” etc., etc.