daughter of Walter Lord Clifford, was a young lady of exquisite beauty, fine accomplishments, and blessed with a most engaging wit and sweetness of temper. She had been educated, according to the custom of the times, in the nunnery of Godstow; and the popular story of her is as follows: Henry II. saw her, loved her, declared his passion, and triumphed over her honour. To avoid the jealousy of his queen Eleanor, he kept her in a wonderful labyrinth at Woodstock, and by his connection with her had William Longsword earl of Salisbury, and Geoffrey bishop of Lincoln. On Henry's absence in France, however, on account of a rebellion in that country, the queen found means to discover her, and though struck with her beauty, she recalled sufficient resentment to poison her. The queen, it is said, discovered her apartment by a thread of silk; but how she came by it is differently related. This popular story is not however supported by history; several writers mention no more of her, than that the queen so vented her spleen on Rosamond as that the lady lived not long after. Other writers assert that she died a natural death; and the story of her being poisoned is thought to have arisen from the figure of a cup on her tomb. She was buried in the church of Godstow, opposite to the high altar, where her body remained till it was ordered to be removed with every mark of disgrace by Hugh bishop of Lincoln, in 1191. She was, however, by many considered as a saint after her death, as appears from an inscription on a cross which Leland says stood near Godstow:

*Qui mea bac oret, signum salutis adoret, Utque sibi detur veniam.* Rosamunda precetur.

And also by the following story: Rosamond, during her residence at her bower, made several visits to Godstow; where being frequently reproved for the life she led, and threatened with the consequences in a future state, she always answered, that she knew she should be favored; and as a token to them, showed a tree which she said would be turned into a stone when she was with the saints in heaven. Soon after her death this wonderful metamorphosis happened, and the stone was shown to strangers at Godstow till the time of the dissolution.