present site, from which no sacrilegious hand will, I trust, ever again remove them.  It is further said, that Webster’s favourite and regular walk, in the latter part of his life, till his infirmities rendered him unable to take exercise of any kind, was to the remains of Whalley Abbey; and that a path along the banks of the stream which glides by those most picturesque and pleasing ruins, was long called “Webster’s Walk.”  If this tradition be founded in fact, and I give it as I received it, John Webster, of Clitheroe, if not identical, as Mr. Collier has contended, with the dramatic poet of that name, must have felt something assimilated in spirit to the fine inspiration of those noble lines of the latter:—­

         “I do love these ancient ruins. 
    We never tread upon them but we set
    Our foot upon some reverend history;
    And, questionless, here in this open court,
    Which now lies naked to the injuries
    Of stormy weather, some men lie interred that
    Lov’d the Church so well and gave so largely to’t,
    They thought it should have canopied their bones
    Till doomsday:  but all things have their end. 
    Churches and cities, which have diseases like to men,
    Must have like death that we have.”]

[Footnote 30:  Webster’s death took place on the 18th June, 1682.  He left an extensive library, composed principally of chemical, hermetical, and philosophical works, of which the MSS. catalogue is now in the possession of my friend, the Rev. T. Corser.  I have two books which appear to have at one time formed part of his collection, from having his favourite signature, Johannes Hyphantes, in his autograph, on the title pages.  Before I conclude with Webster, I ought perhaps to observe, that in the valuable edition of the works of Webster, the dramatic poet, published by the Rev. A. Dyce, that most accurate and judicious editor has proved indisputably, by an elaborate argument, that the John Webster, the writer of the Examen Academiarum, and John Webster, the author of the Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft, were one and the same person, who was not identical with the dramatic writer of the same name.  Mr. Dyce does not, however, appear to have been aware, that the identity of the author of the Examen Academiarum and the writer on witchcraft is distinctly stated by Dr. Henry More, in his Praefatio Generalissima, to the Latin edition of his works, whose testimony being that of a contemporary, who was, like Webster, “a Cambridge scholar,” may perhaps be considered sufficient, without resorting to internal and circumstantial evidence.  The inscription on Webster’s monument in the chapel of St. Mary Magdalen, at Clitheroe, is too characteristic and curious to be omitted.  I give it entire:—­

    “Qui hanc figuram intelligunt
    Me etiam intellexisse, intelligent.

    [Illustration]

Hic jacet ignotus mundo, mersusque tumultu Invidiae, semper mens tamen aequa fuit, Multa tulit veterum ut sciret secreta sophorum Ac tandem vires noverit ignis aquae.

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