=Here lieth will’m Complyn & Annes his wife yᵉ Whiche will’m decessid yᵉ xxj day of mayj yᵉ yere of oure lord mc.c.c.clxxxxviiii. Also this be ze dedis yᵗ ze said will’m hath down to this Church of Wike yᵗ is to say frest dedycacion of yᵉ Church xlˢ & to make newe bellis to yᵉ sam Church xˡ also gave to yᵉ halloyeng of yᵉ grettest bell vjˢ. viij. d. & for yᵉ testimonyall’ of the dedicacion of yᵉ sam Church vjˢ viii. d. on whos soules ihu have mercy Amen.= I observed that _z_ is here twice put for _y_--and the fact reminded me of the pronunciation of the agricultural people here. As I left the quaint little sanctuary I found an old labouring man standing outside gazing at it wistfully in an attitude of meditation. I was glad to see this. “The poorest,” I thought, “can appreciate the ancient and the beautiful.” But his reflections were more practical. As I passed he gave me a curious look, and said, with a twinkle in his grey eyes-- “Richest living about Winchester, zir.” “Indeed,” I replied. “How much do you make it?” “Eight hundred and fifty, zir.” “The rector would be glad to receive half that,” I returned. Resuming my walk I soon came in sight of a white cylindrical building with a globular top, on the high ground of Harestock. As I saw my agricultural friend trudging after me I stopped to ask him about it. “What is that?” I inquired. “That? Oh that is a place for looking at the stars. It belongs to Captain Knight; he is a great astrologer.” [Sidenote: Littleton.] As I did not want my horoscope cast I passed on, and proceeded along a hilly road between high banks, where grew the blue scabious and long spikes of yellow agrimony and mullein, till in two miles I descended into the village of Littleton. The church has been restored and thus lost much of its interest, but there is here a dark square font of massive stone, by which we think we can see the immediate descendants of the Norman invaders standing to have their children christened. There is also a brass on the floor in front of the chancel dating from 1493. Opening into the churchyard is an old cottage parsonage, in which the clergyman formerly lived when he was-- “Passing rich on forty pounds a year.” On one side was the large, low kitchen with its wide hearth; on the other, the little room which was the parson’s drawing-room, parlour, and study.[31] Two years ago there was a great conflagration opposite this church, a number of cottages were burnt, and some of the villagers had narrow escapes.