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Co  M.  L 

942.5702 

B2l2b 

1272539 


GENEALOGY  C0LL_ECTl0^4 


ALLEN  COUNTY  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


3  1833  00721  5244 


•iiix  3j.\nd 


THE  ^  /        y 

HISTORY  OF  BANBURY ; 


INCLUDING 


COPIOUS  HISTORICAL  AND  ANTIQUARIAN  NOTICES 
OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

BY   ALFRED   BEESLEY, 

MEMBER    OF    THE     CAMDEN    SOCIETY,    AND    MEMBER    OF    THE     SHAKSPEARE    SOCIETY. 


1 


LONDON 


NICHOLS   AND   SON,   PARLIAMENT    STREET;    PICKERING,   CHANCERY 
LANE  ;  AND  RODD,  NEWPORT  STREET. 


TEINTED    BY   WILLIAM    POTTS,   TAESON  S    STREET,   BANBURV. 


:^  iS72539 


Banbury,  2(ith  December,  1841. 


vXAfter  the  labours  of  many  years  spent  in  the  collection  of 
(materials  for  this  HISTORY  of  my  native  Town,  I  arrive  at 
>^he  only  portion  of  my  Work  the  performance  of  which  op- 
\  presses  me  with  a  painful  feeling,  and  that  owing  to  my  inability 
adequately  to  express  my  acknowledgements  to  those  numer- 
ous antiquarian,  literary,  and  local  Friends,  whose  cheering 
assistance  and  encouragement,  and  kind  approval  of  my  exer- 
tions, have  enabled  me  to  carry  on  the  Publication,  and  at  length 
to  bring  it  to  a  close.  Could  the  task  be  required  of  me  of 
acknowledging  the  services  rendered  by  each  individual,  I  should 
have  a  most  difficult  part  to  perform;  for  the  calendar  of  names 
which  I  should  have  to  record  would  be  nearly  as  long  as  that 
of  my  Subscribers.  From  eminent  Antiquaries  and  Literary  men 
in  almost  all  parts  of  England,  (who,  up  to  the  period  of  the 
announcement  of  this  History,  and  the  publication  of  the  first 
portion  of  it,  were  personally  quite  unknown  to  me,)  I  have 
received  the  most  valued  information  and  assistance.  As  regards 
local  encouragement,  I  have  received  the  aid  of  almost  every 
person  of  every  party ; — not  only  those  to  whom  my  frequent 
and  perhaps  inconvenient  appeals  had  occasion  to  be  made,  but 
numerous  volunteers  who  possessed  information  of  which  I  was 
ignorant  and  therefore  could  not  solicit. 


To  the  Rev.  Dr.  BLISS,  Registrar  of  the  University  of  Ox- 
ford, I  am  indebted  for  an  introduction  to  the  treasures  of  that 
University,  and  for  many  rare  and  interesting  materials  disco- 
vered by  that  gentleman  in  the  course  of  his  studies  in  many 
of  the  first  libraries  of  Britain.  To  Mr.  Cates,  of  the  British 
Museum,  I  have  to  return  thanks  for  much  assistance  during 
my  long  researches  in  that  Establishment.  Mr.  GEORGE  Baker, 
of  Northampton,  wUl,  I  trust,  permit  me  to  say,  that  it  was  in 
a  great  measure  by  the  perusal  of  his  invaluable  History  of 
Northamptonshire  that  I  was  led,  as  an  humble  follower,  and 
at  a  vast  distance,  to  attempt,  in  the  inadequate  manner  I  have 
done,  the  compilation  of  the  History  of  Banbury.  To  Mr.  E. 
Pretty,  also  of  Northampton,  my  acknowledgements  are  due 
for  many  favours ;  particularly  for  much  valuable  mformation 
relating  to  numerous  Camps  and  Specula  in  his  own  neighbour- 
hood and  in  other  places ; — information  which  would  have  af- 
forded me  ample  opportunity  of  giving  a  far  more  extensive  and 
interesting  account  than  I  have  done  of  many  of  those  remains 
of  British  and  Roman  times,  had  I  possessed  it  previously  to  my 
announcement  of  the  publication  of  the  first  portion  of  this  His- 
tory. To  William  Staunton  Esq.,  of  Longbridge  House,  I 
have  to  render  thanks  for  accurate  copies  of  some  most  rare  and 
interesting  Tracts  in  his  collection,  and  for  much  information. 
Mr.  Reader,  the  Historian  of  Coventry,  Mr.  DUNKIN,  the  His- 
torian of  the  BulHngton  and  Ploughley  Hundreds  of  Oxford- 
shire, and  Mr.  Shortt,  the  Author  of  the  Antiquities  of  Ancient 
Exeter,  have  each  afforded  me  much  assistance  and  informa- 
tion. For  the  series  of  Articles  relating  to  the  Churches  &c.  of 
this  Neighbourhood  I  am  beholden  to  Mr.  J.  H.  PARKER,  Se- 
cretary to  the  Oxford  Society  for  Promoting  the  Study  of  Gothic 
Arcliitecture ;  Mr.  Derick,  Architect;  and  the  Rev.  J.  C.  STAF- 
FORD, Vicar  of  Dintou.  From  the  Rev.  W.  H.  CoPE  I  have 
derived  the  far  greater  part  of  the  information  which  is  contained 
in  this   Volume  relating  to  the  Cope  fi^mily,   so  long   connected 


with  Banbury.  From  Mr.  KiRTLAND,  of  the  Ashmolean  Library, 
I  have  experienced  much  kind  assistance.  To  Mr.  THOMAS 
Beesley  I  am  indebted  for  the  Article  relating  to  the  Botany 
and  Geology  of  the  Neighbourhood  of  Banbury.  To  the  Clergy 
of  the  Neighbourhood  generally  I  owe  my  thanks  for  permission 
to  inspect  the  various  Registers,  and  for  extracts  furnished  to  me. 
Numerous  other  helpmates,  both  near  and  at  a  distance,  wUl  find 
their  services  noticed  in  many  pages  of  this  Volume.  And, 
though  here  mentioned  last,  yet  not  thought  of  least,  I  owe  my 
grateful  acknowledgements,  for  unwearied  kindness  and  assistance 
rendered  from  the  commencement  to  the  conclusion  of  this  Work, 

TO    THE 

REV.  J.  R.  RUSHTON,  B.D., 

INCUMBENT  OF  HOOKNORTON,  OXON.: 
TO  WHOM 

THIS  VOLUME 

IS   AFFECTIONATELY    INSCRIBED 
BY 

THE  AUTHOR. 


LIST  OF  SUBSCRIBERS  TO  THE  WORK. 


His  Grace  the  (late)  Duke  of  Marlborough,  two  copies 

The  Most  Honourable  the  Marquis  of  Northampton 

The  Most  Honourable  the  Marquis  of  Bute 

The  Most  Honourable  the  (late)  Marchioness  of  Bute 

The  Right  Honourable  the  Earl  of  Jersey 

The  Right  Honourable  the  Earl  of  Wam-ick 

The  Right  Honoui-able  Earl  Powis 

Tlie  Right  Rev.  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Durham 

The  Right  Rev.  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Lincoln 

The  Right  Rev.  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Ripon 

The  Right  Honourable  I-ady  North 

The  Right  Honourable  Lord  Willoughby  de  Broke 

The  Right  Honourable  Lord  Saye  and  Sele 

The  (late)  Right  Honourable  Lord  Monson 

The  Right  Honourable  Loi-d  Southampton 

The  Right  Honourable  Lord  Berwick 

The  Right  Honourable  Lord  Churchill 

The  Right  Honourable  Lord  Leigh 

Viscount  Maidstone 

Lord  Brooke 

The  Right  Honourable  Thomas  Grenville,  tivo  copies 

The  Honourable  T.  W.  Twistleton  Fiennes,  two  copies 

Lieut.-Col.  J.  Sidney  North 

The  Honourable  W.  H.  J.  North 

Lieut.-Col.  the  Honourable  H.  Hely  Hutchinson 

The  Honourable  Charles  Grantham  Scott 

The  Honourable  Ph.  S.  Pien-epoint 

Sir  John  Cope,  Bart. 

Sir  John  Mordaunt,  Bart.,  M.P. 

Sir  John  Chandos  Reade,  Bart. 

Sir  George  Dashwood,  Bart. 

Sir  Heni-y  Peyton,  Bart. 

Sir  Henry  Edward  Leigh  Drvden,  Bart. 

Sir  Charles  Knightiev,  Bart.,  M.P. 

Sir  Robei-t  Harry  Inglis,  Bart.,  M.P. 

Sir  Thomas  Phillipps,  Bart. 

Sir  John  Easthope,  Bart.,  M.P. 

Sir  Alexander  Croke,  D.C.L. 

Rev.  P.  Wynter,  D.D.,  President  of  St.  John's  College,  Oxford ;  Vice- 

Chancellor  of  the  University 
Rev.  R.  Jenkyns,  D.D.,  Master  of  Balliol  College 
Robert  Marsham  Esq.,  D.C.L.,  Warden  of  Merton  College 
Rev.  J.  Fox,  D.D.,  Provost  of  Queen's  College,  Oxford 
Rev.  M.  J.  Routh,  D.D.,  President  of  Magdalene  College,  Oxford 
Rev.  A.  T.  Gilbert,  D.D.,  Principal  of  Brasenose  College 
Rev.  T.  E.  Bridges,  D.D.,  President  of  Corpus  Christi  College,  Oxford 
Rev.  J.  Ingram,  D.D.,  President  of  Trinity  College,  Oxford 
Rev.  B.  P.  S^-mons,  D.D.,  Warden  of  Wadhara  College 
John  David  Macbride  Esq.,  D.C.L.,  Principal  of  Magdalene  Hall 
Rev.  J.  A.  Cramer,  D.D.,  Principal  of  New-Inn  Hall 
Rev.  E.  Cardwell,  D.D.,  Principal  of  St.  Alban  Hall,  and  Professor  of 

Ancient  History  in  the  University  of  Oxford 


Abbott,  Mr.  T.,  Banbury 

Abel,  Messrs.,  Northampton 

Adkins,  Mr.  J.,  Bodicot 

Albright,  Mr.  A.,  Birmingham 

Alcock,  Rev.  C,  M.A.,  Vicar  of  Adderbury 

Allen,  Mr.,  Banbury 

Anker,  Mr.  W.,  Cropredv 

Annesley,  Rev.  C.  F.,  m:A.,  Eydon  Hall 

Aplin,  B.  Esq.,  Chacombe  Priory 


Aplin,  B.  W.  Esq.,  Banbury 

Aplin,  Mr.  John,  Banbury 

Aris,  John  Esq.,  Oakley  Bank 

Ashhurst,  Rev.  T.  H.,  D.C.L.,  All   Souls' 

College 
Atterbury,  Mr.  R.,  Northampton 
Baker,  George  Esq.,  Northampton 
Ballard,  Rev.  J.,  LL.B.,  Rector  of  Wood- 

eaton,  and  Vicar  of  Cropredy 


LIST  OF  SUBSCRIBERS. 


Ballard,  Rev.  W.  J.,  M.A.,  VVoodealon 
Bandinel,  Rev.  B.,  D.D.,  Librarian  of  the 

Bodleian 
Barber,  John  Esq.,  Adderbury 
Barford,  Miss,  Banbury 
Barrett,  Mr.  W.,  Banbury 
Barter,  Rev.  C,  M.A.,  Rector  of  Sarsdcn 
Bartholmew,  Miss,  Oriel  Place,  Cheltenham 
Batley,  Mrs.,  Blackheath,  two  copies 
Baughen,  Mr.  R.,  Banbury 
Bayley,  Rev.  A.,  M.A.,  Rector  of  Edgcot 
Bazeley,  Mr.  J.,  Banbury 
Beale,  Mr.  James,  Banbury 
Bcane,  Miss,  Tunbridge  Wells 
Beers,  Mr.  G.,  Banbury 
Beesley,  Mr.  H.,  Banbury 
Beesley,  Mrs.  H.,  Banbury 
Beesley,  James  Esq.,  Banbury 
Beesley,  Mrs.  Joseph,  Banbury 
Beesley,  Mr.  S.,  Banbury 
Beesley,  Mrs.  S.,  Banbury 
Belcher,  Mr.  S.,  Campden 
Bell,  Rev.  George,  M.A.,  Vicar  of  Bloxham 
Bellas,  Rev.  S.,   M.A.,  Fellow  of   Queens 

College,   Oxford,    Incumbent    of    Alder- 

maston 
Bellow,  Mr.  John,  Adderbury 
Beltz,  the  late  G.  F.  Esq.,  Lancaster 
Bennett,  Rev.  H.,  M.A.,  Rector  of  Croughton 
Bentley,  Mr.  Samuel,  Hatton  Garden 
Bevan,  T.  P.  Esq.,  London  Hospital 
Bigg,  Mr.  W.,  Banbury 
Bignelljthe  late  Richard  Esq.,  Thame 
Blackwall,  S.  Esq.,  Oxford  Street 
Blackwell,  Mr.  W.  D.,  Banbury 
Blencowe,  Mrs.,  Culworth 
Blencowe,  J.  J.  Esq.,  Marston  St.  Lawrence 
Blencowe,  Rev.  T.,  M.A.,  Banbury 
Bliss,  Rev.  P.,D.C.L.,  F.S.A.,  Registrar  of 

the  University  of  Oxford 
Bloxam,  Matthew  Holbeche  Esq.,  Rugby 
Bloxham,  Mr.  T.,  Banbury 
Bohn,  Mr.  James,  London,  six  copies 
Botfield,  Beriah  Esq.,  M.P.,  Norton  Hall 
Botry,  Miss,  Banbury 
Boulton,  M.  R.  Esq.,  Great  Tew 
Bowley,  Devereux  Esq.,  Chesterton  House, 

Cirencester 
Boyes,  Mr.  W.  E.,  Alkerton 
Bradridge,  Rev.  H.,  M.A.,  Rector  of  Gret- 

worth 
Bradshaw,  Mrs.,  Priors  Marston 
Brain,  Mr.  R.,  London 
Brain,  Mr.  W.,  Banbury 
Brancker,Rev.  T.,  M.A.,  Fellow  of  Wadham 

College,  Pro-Proctor 
Brayne,  H.  R.  Esq.,  Banbury 
Brayne,  Robert  Esq.,  Banbury 
Brayne,  Mrs.  T.,  Banbury 
Brlstowe,  Henry  Esq.,  Hoxton 
Brookes,  Mr.  T.,  Banbury 
Brownsill,  Mr.  John,  Neithorp 
Buckland,  Rev.  W.,  D.D.,  F.R.S.,  Canon  of 

Christ  Church,  Professor  of  Mineralogy 

and  Geology  in  the  University  of  Oxford 
Buddicom,  Rev.  R.  J.,  M.A.,Horley 
Budd,  Mr.  William,  Boddington 
Bull,  Rev.  J.,  D.D.,  Canon  of  Christ  Chiu'ch 
Bumey,  The  Ven.  Archdeacon,  Sible  Hed- 

ingham 


Burrows,   Rev.  J.,  B.D.  Rector  of  Steeple 

Aston 
Busby,  Mr.  Henry,  Banbury 
Busby,  Mr.  William,  Banbury 
Bush,  William  Esq.,  Brill  House 
Callow,  Mr.  T.,  Finsbury 
Carpenter,  ths  late  Mrs.,  Mount  Radford, 

Exeter 
Carter,  Miss,  Upper  Brook  Street,  London 
Carter,  Mr.  W.,  Banbury 
Cartwright,    William    Ralph    Esq.,    M.P., 

Aynho 
Gates,  Mr.,  British  Museum 
Catton,  Rev.  W.,  Middleton  Cheney 
Chambers,  Rev.  J.  P.,  B.D.,  Rector  of  Swer- 

ford 
Chapman,  Mrs.,  Broughton 
Charles,  Thomas  Esq.,  Maidstone 
Cheney,  Mr.  J.  junior,  Banburv 
Cheney,  Mr.  T.  H.,  Banbury 
Chesterman,  S.  Esq.,  Banbury 
Churchill,  Mrs.  E., Tunbridge  Wells 
Churchill,  Mr.  H.,  New  Street,  Deddington 
Churchill,  Rev.  J.,  M.A.,  Fellow  of  Worces- 
ter College 
Churchill,  Mr.  J.  B.,  Cheltenham,  two  copies 
Chiu-chill,  Mr.  W.,  Banbury 
Churton,  Rev.  H.  B.  W.,  M.A.,  Fellow  of 

Brasenose  College 
Churton,  Rev.  T.  T.,  M.A.,  Vice-Principal 

and  Fellow  of  Brasenose  College 
Claridge,  Mr.  R.,  Banbury 
Clarke,  Mr.  C,  Banbury 
Clarke,  Thomas  Esq.,  F.A.S.,  Highgate  Rise 
Gierke,  Rev.  F.,    M.A.,  Rector  of  Eydon, 

Fellow  of  All  Souls'  College 
Cobb,  George  Esq.,  Montagu  Square 
Cobb,  Thos.   Wheatley  Esq.,  Buckingham 

Street,  Strand 
Cobb,  Miss  S.,  Banbury 
Cobb,  Edward  Esq.,  Calthorp  House 
Cobb,  T.  R.  Esq.,  Banbury 
Cockerill,  C.  R.  Esq.,  Hampstead 
Cole,  Mr.  J.,  Banbury 
Coleman,  Mr.  Thomas,  Sulgrave 
Coleman,  Walter  Esq.,  Langley 
Coleman,  Mr.  W.  W.,  Banbury 
Coling,  Mrs.,  Banbury 
Colston,  Rev.  William,  LL.B.   Broughton 

Hall,  Lechlade 
Colville,  F.  L.  Esq.,  B.A.,  Trinity  College, 

Oxford 
Combe,  Mr.  T.,  University  Press,  Oxford 
Conant,    Paynton    Pigott    Stainsby    Esq., 

Archer  Lodge,  Hants 
Cooper,  C.  H.  Esq.,  Coroner  of  Cambridge 
Cope,  Rev.,  W.  H.,  Easton,  Hants 
Corney,  Bolton  Esq.,  Greenwich  Hospital 
Cornock,  Mr.  John,  Bodicot 
Cottam,  Mr.  G.,  Banbury 
Cotton,  Mrs.,  Adderbury 
Cox,  Mr.  Samuel,  Daventry 
Crane,  H.  S.  Esq.,  Stratford,  Essex 
Croome,  T.  Esq.,  Middletou  Cheney 
Currer,  Miss  F.  M.  R. 
Dagley,  Mr.,  Banbury 
Dagley,  Mr.  W.  T.,  King's  Sutton 
Danby,  Mr.  J.,  Banbury 
Dand,    Rev.    T.,    M.A ,    Queen's    College, 

Oxford,  two  copies 


LIST  OF  SUBSCRIBERS. 


Davis,  John  Esq.,  Banbury 

Davis,  Mr.  R.,  Banbury 

Davis,  Samuel  Esq.,  "Swerford    Park,  two 
copies 

Davis,  Thomas  Esq.,  Hanover  Square,  and 
Steeple  Aston 

Dawson,  Eev.  G.,  M.A.,  Fellow  of  Exeter 
College 

Dayman,  Rev.  C,  M.A.,  Vicar  of  Great  Tew 

Dew,  Mr.  James,  Banbury 

Dickason,  Mr.  W.,  Banbury 

Dighton,  Rev.  Edward,  M.A.,  Cranmore 

Dix,  Edward  Esq.,  Brighton 

Dix,  Mr.,  Shutford 

Dow.W.  A.  Esq.,  Inner  Temple 

Doyley,  Christopher  Esq.,  Bodicot 

Draper,  T.  Esq.,  Banburj^ 

Drinkwater,  Mr.  J.,  Banbury 

Drinkwater,  Mr.  George,  Warwick 

Drury,  Mr.  W.,  Leicester 

Dunkin,  John  Esq.,  Dartford 

Durell,  D.  V.  Esq.,  M.A.,  Oxford 

Dyke,  Rev.  H.,  M.A.,  Cottisford 

Edmunds,  Miss,  Banbury 

Edwards,  Mr.  R.  J.,  Banbury 

Elsworth,  Mr.  W.,  Banbury 

Enock,  Mr.  John,  Sibford 

Estcourt,  T.  G.  B.  Esq.,  M.P.,  Estcom-t  Park 

Evors,  Rev.  G.  A.,  M.A.,  Newto\vn  Hall, 

Montgomeryshire 
Fairbrotber,  Mr.  W.,  Banbury 
Faithfull,  Rev.  G.  D.,  B.D.,  Rector  of  Hey- 

ford 
Fardon,  Mr.  Jonathan,  Firs,  near    Broms- 


Fardon,  Mr.  J.  A.,  Tredington 

Faulkner,  Thomas  Esq.,  Chelsea 

Ffytche,  John  Lewis  Esq.,  B.A., Thorpe  Hall, 

Louth 
Field,  Mr.  R.,  Grimsbury 
Fincher,  Mrs.,  Bengworth 
Fisher,  Mr.  John,  Shipston  on  Stour 
Fleet,  Mr.  Thomas,  Banbury 
Flesher,  Gilbert  Esq.,  Towcester 
Floyd,  Mr.  W.,  Banbury 
Fowke,  J.  C.  Esq.,  Elmsthorp,  Leicestershire 
Fowler,  Mr.  C.  W.,  Banbury 
Freeman,  Rev.  J.,  M.A.,  Charwelton 
French,  Mr.  G.,  Banbury 
Fussell,  Rev.  Jacob,  M.A.,  Vicar  of  Doulting 
Galsworthy,  Mr.  W.,  Banbury 
Gardner,  Mr.  B.,, Banbury 
Gardner,  Mr.  James,  Banbury 
Gardner,  Mr.  W.,  Adderbury 
Gate,  W.  Esq.,  Northampton 
Gazey,  Mr.  J.,  Banbury 
Gazey,  Mr.  W.,  Banbury 
Gery,  T.  L.  Esq.,  Daventry 
Gibbins,  Bruerton  Esq.,  Birmingham 
Gillett,  Edward  Esq.,  Banbury 
Gillett,  J.  A.  Esq.,  Banbury,  two  copies 
Gist,  Samuel  Gist  Esq.,  Wonnington  Grange, 

Worcestershire 
Goddard,  Rev.  R.,  M.A.,  Broadstone  Hill 
Godson,  Mr.  J.  W.,  Hookuorton 
Godson,  Mr.  R.,  Fore  Street,  Loudon 
Goffe,  Mr.  R.,  Banbury 
Goffe,  Mr.  T.,  Banbury 
Golby,  James  Wake  Esq.,  Banbury 


Golby,  Mr.  W.,  South  Bar  Street,  Banbury 

Goodwin,  Mr.,  Appletree 

Graves,  Mr.  Joseph,  Banbury 

Green,  Mr.  Thomas,  Bampton 

Gregory,  Mr.  W.,  Astrop 

Gresley,  J.  M.  Esq.,  Exeter  College 

Grimbly,  Mr.  R.,  Banbury 

Gulliver,  George  Esq.,  F.R.S.,  F.Z.S.,  Royal 
Regiment  of  Horse  Guards 

Hadland,  Mr.  W.,  Clattercot 

Hall,  Mr.  J.,  Stretton  Ground,  Westminster 

Hall,  Rev.  S.,  B.D.,  Rector  of  Middletou 

Cheney 
Harcourt,    George    Granville    Esq.,    M.P., 

Nuneham 
Hardwick,  Mr.  P.,  Banbury 
Hare,  W.  Esq.,  Charing  Cross 
Harington,  Rev.  H.  D.,  M.A.,    Vicar    of 

South  Newington 
Harker,    Mrs.,  Wellington    Place,   Bristol, 

three  copies 
Harker,  Miss,  Wellington  Place,  Bristol 
Harman,  Charles  Esq.,  High  Wycombe 
Harris,  Mr.  G.,  Banbury 
Harris,  Mr.,  Deddingtou 
Harrison,  Rev.  W.,  M.A.,  Rector  of  Warm- 

iugton 
HaiTy,  Rev.  N.  M.,  Hackney  Road 
Hartshome,    Rev.    C.    H.,    M.A.,    F.S.A., 

Cogenhoe 
Hawkins,  Mr.  T.  junior,  Brackley 
Haynes,  Mr.  R.  T.,  Banbury 
Hay  ward,  Mr.  C,  Banbury 
Herbert,  Mr.  Charles,  London 
Hereford,  the  Very  Rev.  the  Dean  of 
Heurtley,    Rev.    C.    A.,   B.D.,   Rector    of 

Fenny  Compton 
Hill,  Mr.  James,  Banbury 
Hind,  Miss,  Millend 
Hippisley,    H.    Esq.,    Lambourne    Place, 

Berkshire 
Hiron,  Mr.  J.  S.,  Deddingtou 
Hirons,  Mr.  W.,  Chacombe 
Hitchcock,  J.  Esq.,  Horley 
Hitchcock,  W.  H.  Esq.,  Bodicot 
Holbech,  William  Esq.,  Farnborough 
Holloway  and  Sons,  Bampton 
Holme,  Bryan  Esq.,  Brunswick  Square 
Holmes,  H.  O.  Esq.,  Brasenose  College 
Hopkins,  D.  D.  Esq.,  Davies  Street,  London 
Horseman,  Rev.  J.,  B.D.,  late   Fellow  of 

Corpus  Christi  College,  Oxford 
Horwood,  John  Esq.,  Steane 
Howell,  Mr.  J.,  Banbury 
Howkins,  Mr.  L.,  StatTord 
Hubbard,  Rev.  C.  B.,Banbury 
Hughes,  Rev.  R.  E.,  M.A.,  Rector  of  Sheu- 

ington  and  of  Alkerton 
Hunt,  Mrs.  H.,  Royal  Fort,  Bristol 
Hunt,  Mrs.  J.,  Banbury 
Hunt,  Mr.  W.,  Banbury 
loms,  Mr.  W.,  Bloxham 
Isaac,  Mr.  W.,  Piccadilly 
Jackson,  W.  H.  Esq.,  Smith  Square,  West- 
minster 
Jacobson,  Rev.  W.,  M.A.,  Vice-Principal  of 

Magdalene  Hall 
Jeffs,  Mr.,  Costow 
Jessop,  Mr.  INI,,  Banbury 
Jewitt,  Mr.  O,,  Headington 


LIST  OF  SUBSCRIBERS. 


Jones,  Charles  Esq.,  Black  Hall,  Montgome- 
ryshire 
Judge,   Eev.   L.   E.,    M.A.,   Incumbent  of 

Woolvercot 
Judge,  Mr.  T.,  Banbury 
Kell,  Mr.,  Banbury 
Kerby,  Rev.  C.  L.,  M.A.,  Rector  of  Stoke  Tal- 

mage,  and  Vicar  of  Bampton  first  Portion 
Kerby,  Mr.  George,  London 
King,  John  Esq.,  Buckingham 
Kirby,  Mr.  Joseph,  Banbury 
Kirtland,  Mr.  W.,  Ashmolean  Library 
Knightley,  Rainald  Esq.,  Fawsley 
Knightley,  Rev.  V.,  M.A.,  Rector  of  Char- 

wclton,  and  Vicar  of  Preston  Capes 
Lake,  Mr.   W.,  Uxbridge,  two  copies 
Lamb,  Mr.  Joseph,  Sibford  Gower 
Lamb,  Miss  M.,  Charlbury 
Lamb,  Mr.  William,  Adderbury 
Lamprey,  Mr.  J.  B.,  Banbury 
Lancaster,    Rev.   T.    W.,  M.A.,    Vicar    of 

Banbury 
Langston,  J.  H.  Esq.,  M.P.,  Sarsden 
Layton,  Mr.  P.,  Banbury 
Lee,  the  late  Rev.  L.  C,  M.A.,Wootton 
Leonard,  Rev.  R.  W.,  M.A.,  Vicar  of  King's 

Sutton 
Litchfield,  Rev.  F.,  M.A.,  Rector   of  Far- 

thingho,  and  of  Great  Linford 
Lloyd,  Rev.  W.,  Rector  of  Drayton 
Lockwood,  Rev.  J.    W.,  M.A.,  Rector  of 

Kingham 
Loftus,  Mr.  James,  Temple,  London 
Loftus,  T.  Esq.,  Kentish  Town,  two  copies 
Long,  Mr.  J.  H.,  Brailes 
Loveday,John  Esq.,  Williamscot House,  iit;o 

copies 
Loveday,  Rev.  W.  T.,  M.A.,  Arlescot 
Lovejoy,  Mr.  G.,  Reading 
Lovell,  Mr.  Joseph,  Banbury 
Lovell,Mr.  S.,  King's  Sutton 
Lowndes,  Mrs.,  Oriel  Place,  Cheltenham 
Lukis,  Rev.  W.  C,  Grange  Road,  Guernsey 
Lupton,  H.  Esq.,  Thame 
Maitland,  E.  F.  Esq.,  Park  Place,  Henley 

on  Thames 
Manning,  Frederick  Esq.,Tackley  Park 
Manning,  Mr.  Serjeant,  Recorder  of  Banbury, 

Serjeants'  Inn 
Margetts,  Mr.  W.,  Deddington 
Markland,  James  Heywood    Esq.,  F.S.A., 

Great  Malvern 
Marshall,  Rev.  E.,  M.A.,  Somerton 
Mechanics'  Institution,  Banbury 
Men-y,  Mr.  M.,  Banbury 
Middleton,  Rev.  J.  E.,  M.A.,  Cropredy 
Miller,  Rev.   C,  M.A.,  Vicar  of  Harlow, 

Essex 
Miller,  Lieut.-Colonel  F.  S.,  Radway 
Miller,  Thomas  Esq.,  Bayswater 
Milward,  J.  G.  Esq.,  Banbury,  tivo  copies 
Mihvard,  Miss,  Neilhorp,  three  copies 
Mister,  Mrs.,Tidmington 
Mitchell,  James  H.  Esq.,  Hethe 
Monkhouse,  Mrs.,  Adderbury 
Moore,  Rev.  D.,  B.A.,  Minister  of  Christ's 

Chapel,  St.  John's  Wood,  London 
Moore,  G.  Esq.,  Banbury 
Morgan,  Rev.  J.,  M.A.,  Vicar  of  Burton 

Dasset 


Morice,  John   Esq.,   F.S.A.,  Upper   Gower 

Street 
Morrell,  Frederick  Esq.,  Oxford 
Morris,  E.  Esq.,  Banbury 
Munton,  W.  Esq.,  Banbury 
Nasbey,  Mr.  T.,  Banbury 
Neighbour,    Thomas    Esq.,    King    Street, 

Snowhill 
Nelson,  Rev.  G.  M.,  B.D.,  late  Fellow  of 

Magdalene  College,  Oxford,  two  copies 
Nelson,  Rev.  J.,  M.A.,  late  Fellow  of  Queen's 

College,  Oxford, Prebendary  of  Heytesbury 
Newton,  C.  T.  Esq.,  M.A.,  Student  of  Christ 

Church 
Neyler,  Mrs.,  Cheltenham 
Nicholl,  John  Esq.,  Islington 
Norris,  Henry  Esq.,  Wroxton 
Osborn,  Mr.  G.,  Northampton 
Owen,  Mr.  W.  S.,  Banbury 
Page,  Mr.  Charles,  Banbury 
Page,  Mr.  John,  Banbury 
Page,  Mr.  W.,  Banbury " 
Painter,  Mr.  J.,  Swalcliffe 
Painter,  Mr.  T.,  Tingewick 
Parker,  Joseph  Esq.,  Oxford 
Parker,  Thomas  Lister  Esq. 
Parsons,  John  Esq.,  Oxford 
Paul,  Miss,  Banbury 

Payne,  Rev.  E.,  M.A.,  Vicar  of  Swalcliffe 
Pearse,  T.  Esq.,  B.A.,  Demy  of  Magdalene 


Peers,  Charles  Esq.,  Chislehampton 

Penrose,  Rev.  Thomas,  D.C.L.,  Writtle  Rec- 
tory, Essex 

Penyston,  Miss,  Cornwell,  Oxon 

Perry,  Mr.  T.  junior,  London 

Pett,  Mrs.,  Oxford 

Peyton,  Mrs.,  Edgbaston 

Philpots,  Mr.  E.  S.,  Banbury 

Pigott,  Francis  Esq.,  Heckfield 

Ponton,  Thomas  Esq.,  F.S.A.,  High  Street, 
Berkeley  Square 

Pottinger,  Mr.  Flenry,  Banbury 

Potts,  Mr.  T.,  Daventry 

Potts,  Mr.  W.,  Banbmy,  four  copies 

Pownall,  Henry  Esq.,  Spring  Grove,  Houns- 
low 

Prendergast,  G.  L.  Esq.,  Grafton  Street, 
London 

Pretty,  E.  Esq.,  Northampton 

Pryor,  John  Izard  Esq.,  Clay  Hall,  Hert- 
fordshire 

Railton,  Mr.  E.,  Banhury 

Rawlings,  Rev.  W.,  M.A.,  Vicar  of  Fritwell 

Reader,  William  Esq.,  Maria  Street,  Kings- 
land  Road,  London 

Richardson,  C.  J.  Esq.,  F.S.A. 

Risley,  Rev.  W.  C,  M.A.,  Vicar  of  Dedding- 
ton, two  copies 

Robertson,  A.,  M.D.,  Northampton 

Robinson,  Thomas  Esq.,  Oxford 

Rodd,  Mr.,  Newport  Street,  London 

Rokewode,  J.  G.  Esq.,  F.R.S.,  Director  of 
the  Society  of  Antiquaries,  Lincoln's  Inn 

Rolls,  R.  H.  Esq.,  Banbury 

Rowell,  Mrs.  G.,  Banbury 

Rusher,  Mr.  J.  G.,  Banbury 

Rusher,  William  Esq.,  Oxford 

Rushton,  Rev.  J.  R.,  B.  D.,  Incumbent  of 
Hooknorton 


LIST  OF  SUBSCRIBERS. 


Rushton,  Mark  Esq.,  Appleby 

Rushlon,  Mr.  Mark,  London 

Eye,  A.  B.  Esq.,  Banbury 

Rye,  W.  B.  Esq.,  British  Museum 

Rj'mill,  Mr.,  Banbury 

Sale,  Mr.,  Shipston  on  Stour 

Salmon,  Mr.  John,  Neithorp 

Samwell,  the  late  W.  L.  W.  Esq.,  Upton  Hall 

Sandars,  Rev.  J.,  B.A.,  Curate  and  Lectiu-er 

of  Banbury 
Sanderson,  A.  R.,  M.D.,  Banbury 
Saul,  Mr.  Joseph,  Banbury 
Seveme,  Samuel  Amy  Esq.,  Thenford,  two 

copies 
Sharp,  Mr.  M.  R.,  Oxford 
Shepherd,  Rev.  G.,  D.D.,  Russell  Square 
Shipwav,  Mr.  B.,  Birmingham 
Shirley,"  E.  P.  Esq.,  Eatington  Park 
Short,  Mr.  T.,  Hinckley 
Short,  Rev.  Thomas,  B.D.,  Fellow  of  Trinity 

College,  Oxford 
Shortt,  W.  T.  P.  Esq.,  B.A,  Heavitree 
Simpson,  Alfred  Esq.,  Southwark 
Skegg,  Mr.  Edwardjnnior,  London 
Smith,  Charles    Roach    Esq.,  Numismatic 

Society,  London 
Smith,  Mr.,  Bicester 
Smith,  Rev.  H.  W.,  M.A.,  Brackley 
Smith,  Rev.  Joseph,  B.D.,  Fellow  of  Trinity 

College,  O.Kford 
Smith,  Mr.  J.  R.,  Old  Compton  Street,  Lon 

don 
Solham,  Fred.  Esq.,  Chipping  Norton 
Spence,  Rev.,  J.,  M.A.  Vicar  of  Culworth 
SpuiTett,  Lyne  Esq.,  Banbury 
Stafford,  Rev.  J.  C,  B.D.,  Vicar  of  Dinton, 

late  Fellow  of  Magdalene  College,  Oxford 
Stafford,  R.  A.  Esq.,  Burlington  Street,  Lon- 
don 
Staley,  John  Esq.,  Adderbury 
Staley,  Thomas  Esq.,  Banbury 
Stallworthy,  Mr.,  Buckingham 
Stanbra,  Mr.  J.,  Wigginton 
Stanley,  Mr.  R.,  Banbmy 
Staunton,  William  Esq.,  Longbridgc  House, 

Warwickshire 
Stevens,  Mr.  Edward,  London 
Stevens,  Mr.  J.,  Middleton  Stony 
Stevens,  Mr.  W.,  Banbury 
Stone,  Mr.  Edward,  Bennondsey 
Stone,  Mr.  H.,  Banbury 
Strange,  Mr.  T.,  Baubury 
Stratton,  John  L.  Esq.,  Farthingho  Lodge 
Strong,  Mr.  W.,  Wotton  under  Edge 
Stuart,  Daniel  Esq.,  Wickham  Park,  three 

copies 
Stuchfield,  Mr.  James,  Hanwell 
Stutterd,  Mr.  Jabez,  Banbury 
Symonds,  Rev.  T.,  M.A.,  Vicar  of  Ensham 
Talfourd,  Mr.  Seijeaut,  Serjeants'  Inn 
Tancred,  Henry  William  Esq.,  M.P.,  Pall 

Mall 
Tawney,  Archer  Esq.,  Merton  College 
Tawnev,  Henrv  Esq.,  Banbury,  two  copies 
Tawney,  Rev.  R.,  B.D.,  Vicar  of  Willoughby 
Taylor,  Mr.  F.,  Banbury 


Taylor,  Mr.  T.,  High  Street,  Banbury 

TeiTington,  Rev.  M.,  M.A.,  Rector  of  Over 
Worton 

Thomas,  Rev.  Vaughau,B.D.,  Corpus  Christi 
College,  Oxford 

Thompson,  Guy  Esq.,  Oxford 

Thome,  Mr.  J.  R.,  Nuneaton 

Tilsley,  H.  E.sq.,  Chipping  Norton 

Tims,  T.  Esq.,  Banbury 

Tite,  Mrs.,  Banbury 

Twistleton,  Rev.  Dr.,  Prebendary  of  Here- 
ford 

Twistleton,  Rev.  Frederick,  M.A.,  Rector  of 
Addlestrop 

Twopenv,  W.  Esq.,  Temple,  London 

Tyssen,  J.  R.  D.  Esq.  . 

Walford,  Rev.  E.  G.,  M.A.,  Rector  of  Chip- 
ping Wardon 

Walford,  T.  W.  Esq.,  Uxbridge 

Walford,  W.  Esq.,  Banbury 

Wall,  Mr.  James,  iJanbury 

Walsh,  Percival  junior  Esq.,  Oxford 

Ward,  Mr.  H.,  Banbury 

Warriuer,  G.  Esq  ,  Bloxham  Grove 

Wasey,  Mrs.,  Wardington 

Wasey,  Miss,  Wardington 

Waslibourn,  Mr.  John,  Hertford 

Webb,  Mr.  John,  Daventry 

Webb,  Mr.  Tliomas,  Banbury 

Welch,  Mr.  Jabez,  Banbuiy 

West,  Rev.  C,  M.A.,  Northampton 

West,  Mr.  W.,  Warrington 

Wheeldon,  Mr.  James,  Claydon 

^\^-letton,  Mr.  C,  Banbury 

Whippy,  John  Esq.,  Acton 

White,  Mr.  John,  Warwick 

White,  Rev.  R.  M.,  B.D.,  Fellow  of  Magda- 
lene College,  Oxford 

Wilkins,  J.  N.  Esq.,  Bourton  on  the  Water 

Willes,  William  Esq.,  Astrop 

Willis,  Mr.  G.,  Covent  Gaj-den 

Willitts,  Mr.  T.  S.,  Banbury 

Willson,  E.  J.  Esq.,  Lincoln 

Wilson,  Mrs.  Daniel,  Barusbui-y  Park,  Isling- 
ton 

Wilson,  Mrs.  MyiTy,  Banbuiy 

Wilson,  Rev.  John,  I3.D.,  Fellow  of  Trinity 
College,  Oxford 

Wilson,  Mr.  J.,  Bodicot 

Wilson,  Rev.  W.,  B.D.,  Vicar  of  Waltham- 
stow 

Wing,  Mr.  W.,  Steeple  Aston 

Wingfield,  C.  Esq.,  Oxford 

Winstanlev,  Rev.  C.,  M.A.,  Devonport 

Wintle,  Rev.  T.,  B.D.  Fellow  of  St.  John's 
College,  Oxford 

Wise,  J.  H.  Esq.,  Banbury 

Wood,  Mrs.,  Brackley 

Woolston,  Mrs.,  Adderbury 

Wyatt,  Rev.  C.  F.,  M.A.,  Rector  of  Brough- 
ton 

Wyatt,  Miss,  Baubury 

Wyatt,  Miss  Susan,  Broughton 

Wyatt,  C.  F.  Esq.,  Christ  Church 

Wyatt,  Mr.  Alderman  James,  Oxford 

Wyatt,  Rev.  T.,  M.A.,  Vicar  of  Wroxton 


CONTENTS. 


Introductory: — 

Situation  &c.  of  Banbury    P.  1 

British  and  Roman  Period  : — 

The  Dobuni 4 

Druidical  Remains     4 

British  Camps 8 

Crouch  Hill 9 

Tumuli 14 

Trackways  :  Banbury  Lane,  &c 14,  15 

British  Settlements    17 

Roman  Invasion 20 

Subjection  of  the  Dobuni     21 

Fortified  Line  of  Ostorius    22 

Roman  Remains  at  Banbury  23 

Amphitheatre 25 

The  Portway    25 

Brinavis   26 

Wattlebank   28,  29 

Sites  near  the  Portway 30 

Other  ancient  Remains     , .   39 

Christianity 45 

Saxon  Period  : — 

Battle  of  Beranbyrig  [Banbury]    47 

Mercia  and  Wessex  50 

See  of  Dorchester 51 

St.  Rumbald    51 

Incursions  of  the  Danes  53 

Battle  of  Hooknorton    54 

Period  after  the  Conquest : — 

Norman  Period   59 

See  of  Lincoln    60 

Domesday  Book     60 

Prebend  of  Banbury      62 

Alexander,  Bishop  of  Lincoln    63 

Banbury  Castle  Erected    63 

Norman  Castles 69 

b 


Period  after  the  Conquest: — 

Norman  Period,  continued     P.  70 

Market  and  Fair     70 

Tournament 71 

Robin  Hood  and  the  Tinker  of  Banbury      72 

Hospitals  of  St.  John  and  St.  Leonard  at  Banbury   76 

Wroxton  Priory 79 

Chacombe  Priory 85 

Clattercot  Priory     87 

The  Reigns  of  John,  Henry  III.,  and  Edward  1 87 

Hundreds  of  Banbury  and  Bloxham     94 

St.  Stephen's  Well 97 

Banbury  Bridge      98 

The  Broughton  Family  :  Broughton  Castle    100 

The  Reign  of  Edward  II 103 

Piers  de  Gaveston    103 

Robert  de  Arden 106 

Mansion  at  Wickham 107 

Ecclesiastical  Architecture  : — 

Churches,  Chapels,  and  Crosses  of  the  Neighbourhood 

of  Banbury    108 

The  Old  Church  of  Banbury     148 

Banbury  Cross 1 59 

The   Period  from  Edward  III.  to  Henry  VIII. : — 

Reign  of  Edward  III 162 

Contest  with  the  Pope  respecting  the  Prebend  of 

Banbury 164,  168 

Richard  II.  to  Edward  IV 170 

Chantry  of  St.  Mary   175 

Battle  of  Danesmoor  178 

Edward  IV.  to  Henry  VII 187 

Danvers  of  Calthorp    188 

William  Cope  the  Cofferer      190 

Hardwick :  Hanwell  191 

Banbury  Grammar  School :  John  Stanbridge  and 

Thomas  Stanbridge 194 

The  Reign  of  Henry  VIII 197 

Valor  Ecclesiasticus     197 

Compton  of  Compton  Wynyate    205 

The  Town  of  Banbury  :  the  Gates  or  Bars    205 

Edward  VI,  to  Charles  I.  : — 

Reign  of  Edward  VI 211 

Chantry  of  St.  Mary    211 

Prebend  of  Banbury  Dissolved    216 

Reign  of  Queen  Mary     218 

Northumberland's  Rebellion     218 

Charter  to  Banbury      219 

Reign  of  Elizabeth 230 


Edward  VI.  to  Charles  I. : — 

Fiennes,  Lord  Saye  and  Sele    P.  237 

Sir  Anthony  Cope    238 

The  Puritans  :  Thomas  Brasbridge     241 

Banbury  Cross  Destroyed 245 

Rectory  of  Banbury    246 

Decree  concerning  Chai-ities     248 

Reign  of  James  1 251 

Charter  to  Banbury  by  James  1 254 

Sir  William  Pope,  Earl  of  Downe   262 

Knollys,  Earl  of  Banbury 266 

William  Whateley    267 

The  Town  of  Banbury    273 

The  Great  Fire  in  1628   277 

Reign  of  Charles  I 280 

Puritan  Divines    283 

The  Civil  War  :— 

Banbury      291 

The  Fiennes  Family    291 

Refusal  to  pay  Ship  Money   293 

Spencer,  Earl  of  Northampton     294 

Conferences  at  Broughton  Castle  and  Fawsley 295 

First  Military  Proceedings  at  Banbury 298 

Lord  Saye's  Forces 304 

Progress  of  the  Campaign  of  1642 307 

The  King  comes  before  Banbury 309 

The  Field  of  Edgehill     310 

Beacon  House  311 

Battle  of  Edgehill    312 

The  Royal  Standard  taken,  but  recovered      318 

The  King  takes  Broughton  and  Banbury 326,  327 

Subsequent  Events  in  1642     329 

Effects  of  the  War  333 

The  Plague    334 

Appearances  in  the  Heavens 334 

The  Year  1643  340 

Death  of  Lord  Brook  and  of  the  Earl  of  Northampton  341 

William  Needle  :  Mrs.  Phillips    343 

Banbury  Fired 345 

Battle  of  Middleton  Cheney      345 

The  King  and  Queen  pass  through  Banbury     348 

Chamberlayne  of  Wickham 349 

The  Year  1644   354 

Cromwell  at  Banbury 355 

Compton  Wynyate  taken  by  the  Parliamentarians 356 

The  King  at  Banbury 358 

Skirmish  at  Neithorp  359 

Battle  of  Cropredy  Bridge     360 

b3 


xu 


The  Civil  War  :— 

Banbury  Besieged      P-  366 

Sir  William  Compton  :  Gallant  Defence  of  the  Castle    .  •  370 

Raising  of  the  Siege    381 

Thomas  Lydyat    386 

The  Year  1645  388 

Attack   on    Compton   Wynyate   by  the   Royalists  from 

Banbury      • 390 

Subsequent  Events  in  1645     393 

The  Year  1646 413 

Banbury  again  Besieged    413 

Colonel  Edward  Whalley   413 

Bravery  of  Sir  William  Compton     416 

Articles  for  the  Surrender  of  the  Castle 419 

Desolation  of  the  Town 424 

Sir  William  Compton 426 

Destruction  of  the  Castle  427 

Events  till  the  Murder  of  the  King     432 

Efforts  to  save  the  life  of  the  King 435 

The  Commonwealth  : — 

The  Levellers    438 

Nathaniel  Fiennes    449 

Lord  Saye  and  the  Quakers 451 

Zeal  of  Banbury 454 

Biographical  Notices  relating  to  this  Period     462 

Hanwell  Castle  :    Proceedings  there,  previously  to  the 

Restoration    47 1 

Tradesmen's  Tokens    477 

Period  after  the  Restoration  : — 

Reign  of  Charles  II 480 

Biographical  Notices  485 

Monuments  in  Banbury  Church  and  Church-yard 492 

Astrop  Wells     498 

Reign  of  James  II 500 

The  North  Family  :  the  Lord  Keeper    500 

The  Reign  of  WiUiam  III 504 

Dashwood  of  Wickham 507 

Reign  of  Queen  Anne     509 

Reign  of  George  1 513 

The  Nonjurors 513 

Charter  to  Banbury  by  George  1 516 

Reign  of  George  II 519 

Biographical  Notices   522 

Reign  of  George  III 527 

The  Culworth  Gang     528 

Demolition  of  the  Old  Church 532 

Reign  of  George  IV 544 

Reign  of  William  IV 544 


Period  after  the  Restoration  : — 

The  Reform  Bill      P.  545 

Municipal  Report 54(J 

Reign  of  Victoria     550 

Description  of  the  Town,  &c.  : — 

Banbury 552 

The  New  Church 553 

Dissenters 556 

Public  Institutions   559 

Market,  Fairs,  &c 559,  560 

Population  of  the  Town  and  Neighbourhood    561 

Manufactures    566 

Banbury  Cheese  and  Cakes    568 

Botany  and  Geology  of  the  Neighbourhood 571 

Vertebrate  Animals  of  the  Neighbourhood  600 

Addenda : — 

British  Period   606 

Tumuli    608 

Roman  Period 609 

Religious  Houses 610 

Churches  &c 611 

Miscellaneous    614 

Period  of  the  Civil  War     617 

The  Quakers ;  and  Samuel  Wells,  Vicar  of  Banbury 623 

Miscellaneous    625 

Botany  of  the  Neighbourhood 626 

Index  of  Persons '  629 

Index  of  Places    651 

Index  of  Subjects    658 


LIST  OF  THE  ENGRAVINGS, 

WITH  THE  PAGES  TO  WHICH  THEY  REFER. 


Tail- Pieces.     On  pages  iii,  xiii,  xvi. 

Map  of  Sites  of  British  and  Roman  Remains.     Plate  IV Pp.  4 — 45 

Druid  Circle  at  RoUrich.     Plate  I Pp.  4—7 

Ditto,  From  Camden's  Britannia.     On  page  6. 

Ditto,  Ground  Plan.     0)i  page  5. 
Cromlech  at  Rollrich  :  "  The  Five  Knights."     Plate  I P.  7 

Ditto,  Ground  Plan.     On  page  5. 

Cromlech  at  Enstone,  Ground  Plan.     On  page  8.    Pp.  7,  8 

Crouch  Hill.     Plate  II Pp.  9,  358 

Nadbury  Camp.     Plate  III P.  10 

Madmarston  Camp.     On  page  18 Pp.  10,  11 

Ditto,  Section.     On  page  11. 
Tadmarton  Camp.     Plate  II Pp.  11,  12 

Ditto,  with  Tumuli,  the  Well,  &c.     On  page  56. 

Ilbury  Camp.     Plate  V P.  12 

Gredenton  Camp.     Plate  III P.  13 

British  Site  at  Black  Land,  near  Madmarston  Camp. 

On  page  18 Pp.  17—19 

Roman  Coins  found  at  Banbury,  Chipping  Wardon,  Drayton, 
Hanwell,  Madmarston,  and  Warkworth. 

Plate  VI Pp.  19,  23,  28,44,  45 

Ancient  Bead  found  at  Adderbury.     Plate  VIII Pp.  19,  20 

Roman  Amphitheatre  at  Banbury.     Plate  VII P.  25 

Ditto,  Ground  Plan.     Plate  VII. 
Arbury  Banks :  with  Ancient  Site  at  Black  Grounds  &c.,  Chip- 
ping Wardon,  Ground  Plan.     On  page  27 Pp.  26—30 

Druid's  Bead  found  at  Black  Grounds.     Plate  VIII P.  28 

Roman  Urn  found  at  Black  Grovmds.     Plate  VIII P.  28 

Roman  Urn  found  at  Thenford.     Plate  VIII P.  31 

Roman  Knife-blade  found  at  Thenford.     Plate  VIII P.  31 

Bone  Pin  found  at  Black-Lands-Piece,  King's  Sutton.     Plate  IX.     P.  34 


Celt  of  Serpentine  found  at  Black-Lands-Piece.    Plate  IX P.  Si 

Rainsborough  Camp.     Plate  V Pp.  36,  37 

Celt  found  at  Aynho.     Plate  IX P.  37 

Roman  Pavement  at  Beaconsfield  Farm.     Plate  X Pp.  39 — 41 

Roman  Pavement  at  Great  Tew.     Plate  X P.  41 

Roman  Pavement  at  Wigginton.     Plate  XI P.  42 

Bottle  found  at  Wigginton.     Plate  IX P.  42 

Roman  Remains  at  Wigginton,  Ground  Plan.     On  page  42 Pp.  42,  43 

Hooknorton  Camp.     On  page  56 P.  43 

Plan  illustrating  the  Battle  of  Hooknorton.     On  page  56 Pp.  54,  55 

Plan  of  the  Site  of  Banbury  Castle.     On  page  65.      . .   Pp.  63  &c.,  430  &c. 
Seal  of  the  Hospital  of  St.  John  at  Banbury. 

On  page  610 Pp.  76  &c.,  610 

Crucifix  found  on  the  Site  of  St.  John's  Hospital.     Plate  XII P.  78 

Stoup  found  on  ditto.     Plate  XII P.  78 

Banbury  Bridge  :  Boundary  Post.     On  page  98 Pp.  98,  99 

West  Arches  of  ditto.     Plate  XVIII. 

Broughton  Castle.     Plate  XXIV Pp.  100  &c.,  295 

Weeping  Cross.     Plate  XVIII P.  115 

The  Old  Church  of  Banbury,  S.E.     Plate  XIII.     Frontis- 
piece    Pp.  148 — 158 

Ditto,  W.S.W.     Plate  XIV. 

Ditto,  N.N.W.     Plate  XIV. 

Ditto,  N.E.     On  page  150. 
Various  Remains  of  the  Old  Church.     Plate  XV. 

Ditto.     Plate  XVI. 

Ditto.     Plate  XVII. 

Ditto.     On  page  628. 
Ancient  Doorway  of  the  White  Horse  Inn.     Plate  XIX.      Pp.  158,  159 

The  Field  of  Danesmoor.     On  page  180 Pp.  178—186 

Bolt-head  found  near  Danesmoor.     Plate  XII P.  184 

Hanwell  Castle.     Plate  XX Pp.  191,  471 

John  Stanbridge,  Master  of  the  Hospital  of  St.  John, 

Banbury.     Plate  XXVI P.  195 

St.  John's  Gate.     Plate  XXI P.  207 

Town  Seal  in  1574.     Plate  XXVI P.  233 

Arms  of  the  Corporation.     Plate  XXVI P.  233 

Ditto.     Plate  XXVI P.  233 

Rev.  William  Whateley.     Plate  XXII Pp.  267—272 

Ancient  House  in  the  High  Street.     Plate  XXIII P.  276 

Map  illustrating  the  Period  of  the  Civil  War. 

Plate  XXV Pp.  291—427 


XVI 


The  Beacon-House  at  Burton  Dasset.     Plate  XIX Pp.  311,  323 

The  Vicarage  House.     Plate  XXI P.  433 

Tavern  Token,  Unicorn  Inn.     Plate  XXVI P.  477 

Tavern  Token,  Raindeer  Inn.     Plate  XXVI P.  478 

View  of  Banburj^  N.E.,  in  1730.     On  page  150 P.  519 

Town  Seal  in  1836.     On  page  549 P.  548 

The  Original  Banbury-Cake  Shop.     On  page  569 Pp.  568—570 

Betty  White,  Banbury-Cake  Maker.     On  page  570 P.  569 

Finis.     On  page  667. 


THE  HISTORY  OF  BANBURY, 


INTRODUCTORY. 

Banbury  is  situated  in  the  hundred  of  Banbury,  near  the  northern 
extremity  of  Oxfordshire,  at  a  part  where  the  river  Cherwell  divides 
that  county  from  Northamptonshire.  The  ecclesiastical  boundary  of 
Banbury  includes  the  adjoining  townships  and  hamlets  of  Neithorp, 
Calthorp,  Wickham,  Hardwick,  and  Easiugtou,  all  in  the  same 
hundred  and  county,  and  also  Grimsbury  and  Nethercot,  which  lie 
on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Cherwell  in  the  Sutton  hundred  of  the 
county  of  Northampton. 

Banbury,  in  Saxon  times,  was  called  Bafianbyjiij^  (Baranbyrig) 
or  Banej-byjaig^  (Banesbyrig),  and,  during  the  Norman  period, 
Bannebyri,  or  Bannebury.  In  the  British  language  Ban  signifies 
clamour,  and  it  has  been  constantly  used  in  the  sense  of  procla- 
mation or  public  notice^.  In  the  Saxon,  Bana  signifies  mamlaughtcr, 
and  thence  Bane  has  been  used  for  destruction  or  overthrow.  Assum- 
ing either  derivation,  it  is  probable  the  town  received  its  name 
from  being  the  place  of  a  battle.  The  Saxon  termination  byjiig  sig- 
nifies a  town,  a  place  of  retreat  or  defence.'^ 

(1)  Camden,  edit.  1586.  Bishop  Gibson  however  contends  that  the  name  Bajianbyfii^ 
applies  not  to  Banbury,  but  to  Barbury  castle  in  Wiltshire. 

(2)  Camden,  edits.  1695  and  1722. 

(3)  Bailey  defines  it  "  a  Proclamation  made  at  the  head  of  an  army,  by  sound  of  trumpet 
or  beat  of  drum,  requiring  the  observance  of  martial  discipline  for  declaring  a  new  officer, 
or  for  punishing  a  soldier."  It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  a  large  Stone  (apparently  British) 
which  lies  within  the  line  of  the  Roman  entrenchment  at  Bredon  Hill  in  Worcestershire 
is  called  the  "  Banbury  Stone."  The  name  also  occurs  elsewhere,  as  "  Banbury  Rings,"  an 
Entrenchment. 

(4)  In  Domesday  book  the  name  is  given  Banes6er/e;  but  the  orthography  of  the  names  of 
places  in  that  record  is  not  to  be  depended  on.  Berie,  from  the  Saxon,  implies  a  wide  open  sit- 
uation ;  and  many  such  places  are  still  called  Beries  or  Berifields.  This  description  is  not 
applicable  to  Banbury,  which  lies  in  a  deep  valley.  The  other  Norman  records  suffi- 
ciently shew  that  byfiij  was  the  proper  Saxon  termination  of  the  name  of  Banbury. 


^  OXFORDSHIRE  HAMLETS  OF  BANBURY. 

Neithorp,  the  most  considenible  of  the  townships  comprised  iu 
the  parish  of  Bauburj,  is  mentioned  in  old  deeds  under  its  per- 
fect name  of  Xetherthorp  ;  neo'Seji  (neother)  in  Saxon  signifying 
lower,  and  ^ojip  (thorp)  a  street  or  village. 

Hardwick,  or  HERD^yICK,  is  a  hamlet  lying  on  the  slope  of 
the  steep  hill  which  rises  to  the  north  of  Banbury.  The  last  sylla- 
ble is  a  Saxon  appellative  signifying  a  village  or  dwelling  place :  and 
the  entire  name  ]?eojab-pic  (Heord-wic)  signifies  the  herdsman's  vil- 
lage or  residence.^ 

Easington  (called  Essiugdon  and  Easingdon  in  documents  of 
the  date  of  ]  606)  lies  southward  of  Neithorp  and  Banbury.  One 
mile  and  a  half  further  south,  on  the  London  road,  formerly  stood 
Weeping  Cross,  an  erection  apparently  of  the  fifteenth  century  : 
and  it  has  been  a  popular  opinion  that,  in  olden  time,  persons 
under  censure  of  the  Church  went  thither  from  Banbury  for  pur- 
poses of  penance,  and  that  the  name  of  Easington  was  derived 
from  its  being  on  the  way  homeward  after  their  penance  had  expi- 
red.^ The  concluding  syllable  of  Easington,  derived  from  the  Sax- 
on tun,  unplies  a  hedge  or  wall ;  or,  from  bun,  refers  to  the  hill  on 
which  it  stands  ;  and  the  entire  name  may  perhaps  merely  signify 
the  resting  place. 

WiCKHAM  is  southward  of  Easington.  The  Saxon  pic  (wic) 
implies  a  village  or  dwelling  place;  and  ham  has  a  similar  signi- 
fication, as  a  sheltered  habitation,  a  house,  or  little  town. 

Calthorp  is  situated  to  the  south  of  Banbury  and  the  east  of  Eas- 
ington. The  name  is  written  in  old  records  Colthorp  and  Cothorp. 
The  termination  ^ojip  signifies  street  or  village:  the  first  syllable 
appears  to  be  the  same  as  that  of  Cole-bar-street,  sometimes  written 
Cobar-street  (now  Broad  Street),  through  the  once  existing  bar  or 
gate  of  which,  and  through  Colthorp  hamlet,  the  road  from  the 
gates  of  Banbury  Castle  towards  both  Oxford  and  London  for- 
merly led.  The  English  word  coal  is  derived  from  the  Saxon  col, 
or  from  a  similar  British  word  ;  and  this  possibly  gave  a  name  both 
to  Cole  bar  and  Colthorp.     In  the  "  Orders  and  Paines  establyshed 

(5)  Such  a  name  occurs  iu  ancient  documents — "  Etunum  herdewycham  apud  Hethcotun  in 
Peco,"  &c.;  refen-ing  to  a  grange  or  place  for  cattle  and  husbandry. — Cunninghams  Law 
Diet. 

(6)  The  notion  is  that  they  were  compelled  to  go  to  Weeping  Cross  with  peas  in  their  shoes, 


and  that  they  were  at  liberty  to  remove  these  when  they  got  to  Easington.     There 

iupposing  that  the  name  of  Weeping  Cr 
liaving  been  performed  there.     Bodicot  chapel-yard  was  not  consecrated  till  1754,  before 


reason  however  for  supposing  that  the  name  of  Weeping  Cross  was  given  from  penances 


which  date  the  dead  from  Bodicot  were  carried  to  Adderbury  for  interment.  At  Weeping 
Cross,  directly  in  the  way,  the  bodies  were  often  set  down,  and  hence  the  more  obvious 
origin  of  the  name  of  the  Cross. 


NORTHAMPTONSHIRE  HAMLETS.  3 

made  and  confyrmed  hy  the  (irctt  luqueste  of  &  for  our  Sou'aiie 
lady  tlie  Queue  witliiu  the  Touue  and  Borowe  of  Banbury  "  in  the 
year  1564,  "  yt  ys  agreed  that  no  man  shall  sell  any  chareo//e  a 
boue  iiijd  the  stryke."  In  the  same  "  Orders  "  the  bar  or  gate  of 
Cole  Bar  Street  is  called  "  CoUe  barre,"  and  this  may  have  been  the 
part  of  the  town  where  coal  or  charcoal  was  sold. 

These  constitute  the  Oxfordshire  portion  of  the  parish. 
On  the  other  side  of  the  Cherwell,  in  Northamptonshire,  are 
Grimsbury  and  Nethercot.  GrimsburY  is  called  in  Domesday 
book  Grimberie,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  II.  Grimesbery,  and  fre- 
quently in  the  older  registers  of  the  parish  Grymesberie  or  Grims- 
bery.  The  termination  berie  refers  to  the  flai  and  wide  mead  on 
which  Grimsbury  stands  ;  and  the  first  sjdlable  was  probably 
given  from  the  line  of  Embankment  which  passed  from  Aston-le- 
Walls  (see  pp.  14,  28  ),  by  this  part,  to  Kirtliugtou.^  Nether- 
cot is  on  the  south  of  Grimsbury.  An  adjacent  elevated  member 
of  Warkworth  parish  is  called  Overthorp,  signifying  upper  rillaye  ; 
and  the  name  of  Neo^efrcot  (Neothercot)  implies  the  cotkuje 
heluw. 

(7)  Grimcsdike  is  a  very  common  appellation  given  to  the  ancient  earthen  dikes,  defences, 
(ir  boundaries.  Dr.  Stiikeley  observes — "  I  have  very  ol'teu  I'ound  lliis  name  ajuilied  to  a  road, 
a  wall,  a  tlitch  of  Antiquity  ;  wliich  would  make  "one  fancy  it  is  a  Saxon  word  signifying 
ilic  witches'  work ;  for  the  vulgar  generally  think  these  extraordinary  works  made  l.iy  the 
lielp  of  tlie  Devil." — Itin.  Curios.,  1776,  p.  170. 


A3 


BRITONS.-THE  DOBUNI. 


BRITISH  AND  ROMAN  PERIOD. 


THE  DOBUXI. 

Duriug  the  early  British  period,  before  the  Roman  mvasiou,  the 
northern  parts  of  Oxfordsliire  and  great  part  of  Gloucestershire  were 
peopled  by  the  tribe  whom  Ptolemy  calls  Ao/3ouvot  (Dobuuij,  and 
Dion  Cassius  Bo^owoi  (Boduni).  The  particular  tract  is  described 
by  some  writers  as  probably  extending,  on  the  west,  to  the  hills 
bordering  upon  the  Severn ;  and  on  the  south,  as  far  as  the  hill  of 
Wotton  under  Edge  in  Gloucestershire  and  the  banks  of  the  Isis 
and  Thame  in  Oxfordshire.  The  possessions  of  the  Dobuni  appear 
to  have  been  bounded  northward  by  the  chain  of  hills  extending 
along  the  northern  Hmits  of  Oxfordshire,  and  now  marking  the 
general  boundary  between  the  table  land  of  that  county  and  the  deep 
Vale  of  Warwickshire.  (See  the  Map,  Plate  4.)  On  the  southeast 
the  limit  was  probably  the  natural  barrier  of  hills  on  the  Bucking- 
hamshire side  of  the  Thame.  The  neighbouring  tribes,  on  this 
northeastern  border  of  the  Dobunian  territory,  were  the  Carnabii 
in  Warwickshire  and  the  northwest ;  the  Coritani  in  Northampton- 
shire and  the  northeast ;  and  the  Cassii  or  Cattieuchlani  on  the  east, 
in  Buckinghamshire,  Bedfordshire,  and  Hertfordshire.^ 

Corinium^  (Cirencester)  is  mentioned  as  the  chief  town  or  place  of 
resort  of  the  Dobuni ;  and  Alauna^"  (supposed,"  though  without  any 
grounds  of  evidence  for  the  supposition,  to  have  been  Alchester,  in 
the  parish  of  Wendlebury,  one  mile  and  a  half  S.S.W.  from  Bi- 
cester) was  another  station  within  their  territory.  There  are  traces 
of  several  British  settlements  and  fortifications  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Banbury. 

The  most  interesting  remain  of  this  period  within  the  territory 
of  the  Dobuni,  or  indeed  any  where  in  the  central  part  of  the 
island,  is  the  Druidical  Temple  at  ROLLRICH.  These  stones  are 
eleven  miles  southwest  from  Banbury,  on  the  top  of  the  range  of 

(8)  Camden;    Kennet's  Paroch.  Antiq.;   MS.  Hist.  Alchester,  1622,  piinted  iu  Keniict 
Brewer's  Oxf.  (9)  Ptolemy,  Geog.  lib.  ii.  p.  37. 

(10)  Richard  of  Cirencester,  edit.  1809,  pp.  (35),  46. 

(11)  Stukeley's  Itin.  Curios. ;  Brewer's  Oxf. 


DRUIDICAL  REMAINS.  5 

liills  just  mentioned,  which  murks  the  bomidary  between  the  table 
hmd  of  these  parts  of  Oxfordshire  and  the  great  Vale  of  Warwick- 
shire, and  formed  the  extreme  frontier  of  the  territory  of  the  Dobu- 
ni  towards  that  of  the  Carnabii.  The  principal  stones  form  a  circle, 
the  diameter  of  which  from  north  to  south  is  107  feet,  and  that  from 


000  = 


CHICLE    AT    llOLLRICH. 

Uiouhd  I'lai,. 


^'^ 


^. 


i 


60  80  100 


FIVE  KNIGHTS, 
Ground  Plau. 


east  to  west  104  feet.  The  area  is  now  planted  with 
fir  trees,  which  it  has  been  found  necessary  to  omit 
in  the  sketch  given  in  Plate  1.  The  original  num- 
ber of  stones  in  this  Circle  appears  to  have  been 
about  sixty.  This  very  nearly  corresponds  with 
the  present  number,  but  from  mutilations  and  the 
effects  of  time  many  of  the  stones  are  now  almost  levelled  with  the 
ground. ^^  There  are  at  present  only  twenty-eight  which  rise  more 
than  one  foot  above  the  soil ;  and  of  these  only  ten  exceed  four 
feet  in  height.  The  highest  stone  (which  is  marked  (a)  in  the 
ground    plan  above)    stands    23°    west  of  the    north   point  of  the 

(12)  Dr.  Stukeley  graphically  describes  the  RoUrich  Stones  as  being  "  conoded  like  worni- 
calen  wood,  by  the  harsh  jaws  of  time,  and  that  much  more  than  Stoaehcnge." ^Stukeley's 
Ahury,  V.  2,  p.  10. 


6 


DRUIDICAL  REMAINS. 


area,  and  is  seven  feet  four  inches  in  heiglit  and  three  feet  two 
inches  in  breadth.  The  thickness  of  the  stones  is  generally  not 
more  than  fifteen  inches.  The  best  representation  of  them  in  a 
state  less  imperfect  than  that  in  which  they  now  are,  is  a  print  in  the 
folio  edition  of  Camden  s  Britannia  printed  in   1607,  stated  by  hun 


DRUIDICAL  REMAINS.  7 

to  have  been  done  "  iani  oliiii "  (a  long  time,  or  good  while,  ago). 
Opposite  to  the  highest  stone,  at  the  part  of  the  circle  between  south 
and  southeast,  are  the  remains  of  some  large  stones  which  were 
originally  set  together  in  that  part  just  within  the  circle.  The 
entrance  seems  to  have  been  on  the  northeast,  nearly  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  King's  Stone.  This  stone  is  83  yards  distant  from  the 
outer  edge  of  the  Circle,  in  the  direction  marked  (b — h)  in  the 
ground  plan,  and  is  now  (after  considerable  mutilations)  eight  feet 
six  inches  in  height  and  five  I'eet  three  inches  in  breadth.  Such 
large  stones  placed  singly  in  the  vicinity  of  Druidical  temples  have 
been  by  some  imagined  to  have  served  as  pedestals  for  idols. 
About  390  yards  nearly  due  east  of  the  Circle  (in  the  direction  c — 
c)  are  five  large  stones  called  the  Five  Whispering  Knights,  which 
stand  together,  leaning  towards  each  other,  with  an  opening  from 
the  west.  (See  Plate  I,  and  the  Ground  Plan  at  p.  5.)  The  tallest 
of  these  is  now  ten  feet  ten  inches  in  height.  They  are  most  pro- 
bably the  remains  of  a  Cromlech,  or  altar  for  the  idolatrous  sacri- 
fices ;  but  the  upper  or  table  stone  has  fallen  or  been  removed.'" 
On  the  opposite  side  of  the  Circle  to  that  occupied  by  the  Knights, 
(in  the  direction  d — d,)  a  large  stone  once  stood  on  a  bank  or  hill, 
141  yards  westward  from  the  circle." 

Dr.  Stukeley  derives  the  name  of  RoUrieh  from  Rlioldrwyg,  the 
IFIieel  or  Circle  of  the  Druids  ;  or  from  Roilig,  in  the  old  Irish, 
signifying  the  Church  of  the  Druids}^  In  the  seventeenth  century 
Ralph  Sheldon  Esq.  caused  the  area  of  the  Circle  to  be  dug  up  to 
a  considerable  depth,  but  no  remains  of  any  description  were 
discovered.'®  A  sacrificial  celt"  found  in  the  parish  of  Long 
Compton,  immediately  below  RoUrich,  is  in  the  possession  of  M. 
H.  Bloxam  Esq.  of  Rugby.  It  is  of  white  flint,  perfectly  smooth, 
and  of  an  oval  form,  with  the  sides  flattened. 

At  Enstone,  six  miles  and  a  half  S.E.  from  Rollrich,  is  another 
Druidical  remain,  a  ruined  Cromlech,  popularly  called  the  "  Hoar- 
stone."'^    The  principal  stone  stands  upright,  and  measures  nine 

(13)  The  tradition  of  the  neighbourhood  is  that  a  farmer  once  carried  away  one  of  the  large 
Rolhich  stones  to  make  a  bridge,  but  that  experiencing  remorse  he  brought  it  back  again. 
Dr.  Stukeley  says  of  Rolh-ich,  more  than  a  century  ago,  "  Many  of  the  Stones  have  been 
carried  away  within  memory,  to  make  bridges,  houses,  &c." — Stukeley's  Abunj,  v.  2,  p.  10. 

(14)  See  a  ground  plan  &c.  among  Mr.  Gough's  collections  in  the  Bodleian  Library,  where 
this  stone  is  described  as  having  been  long  thrown  down. 

(1-5)  Abury.  (16)  Gibson's  Camden. 

(17)  Celt.     Sec  note  in  the  section  on  the  Portway. 

(18)  The  name  Hoarstone  implies  a  horckr  or  boundary  stone.  Such  appear  to  have  been 
erected  from  the  earliest  times.  See  Josh.  xv.  6.—"  And  the  border  went  up  to  the  stone 
of  Bohan  the  son  of  Reuben."  A  stone  on  the  borders  of  Warwickshire  having  the  same 
name  of  Horestone  is  mentioned  hereafter. 


8 


DOBUNI  DOFN.— BRITISH  CAMPS. 


feet  five  inches  in  height,  six  feet  seven  inches  in  breadth,  and  three 
feet  five  inches  in  thickness.     Two  stones  of  inferior  height,  on  the 

north  side,  incline  towards  the 
principal  stone,  leaving  an  o- 
pening  of  three  feet  five  inches 
towards  the  east,  in  which  di- 
rection, at  six  feet  distance,  a 
large  stone  lies  imbedded.  On 
the  side  N.E.  from  the  three 
standing  stones,  lies  a  huge 
flat  stone,  measuring  eight  feet 
five  inches  by  eight  feet  one 
inch,  which  was  probably  the 
table  stone  of  the  Cromlech. 
There  is  a  tradition  that  a  city 
once  existed  near  this  spot,  and 
remains  of  wells  ha^s^e  been 
found  in  the  neighbouring 
fields.'^  An  ancient  trackway, 
marked  in  some  old  maps  as 
the  "  London  Road "  (com- 
municating with  the  country 
about  Worcester  and  Hereford),  runs  westward  from  the  Hoar- 
■  stone,  passing  near  several  Tumuli  which  will  be  mentioned  here- 
after. Nearly  a  mile  south  from  this  trackway,  and  two  miles  and 
a  half  westward  from  the  Hoarstone,  is  a  large  single  stone,  seven . 
feet  five  inches  high,  called  the  "  Hawkstone." 

This  northern  part  of  Oxfordshire,  forming  the  northeastern 
portion  of  the  territory  of  the  Dobuni,  was  called  Dobuni  Dofn, 
from  the  fat  and  feriile  soilr'^  It  is  a  district  of  table  land,  elevated 
far  above  the  Carnabian  or  Warwickshire  Vale  ;  but  it  is  intersected 
with  deep  valleys,  in  one  of  which  Banbury  is  placed.  The  forts 
and  settlements  in  this  part,  northward  of  the  fancied  site  of  Alauna, 
are  not  mentioned  in  history  ;  but  many  remains  besides  Rollrich 
and  Enstone  mark  it  as  having  been  a  district  of  importance  during 
the  British  period.  Four  Camps,  at  Nadbury,  Madmarston,  Tad- 
marton,  and  Ilbury,  undoubtedly  of  the  earliest  antiquity-^   among 

(19)  Information  from  the  Rev.  E.  Marshall  of  Enstone. 

(20)  MS.  Hist.  Ak'hester,  1632  ;  Rennet's  Paroch.  Antiq. 

(21)  The  remains  found  at  several  of  the  Camps  would  alone  suffice  (if  other  evidence  were 
wanting)  to  shew  that  they  were  of  earlier  origin  than  the  later  British,  the  Saxon ,  or  the 
Danish  jicriod;  and  Uierc  is  nothing  Roman  in  the  construction  of  any  one  of  them. 


ENSTONE  STONES. 


1.  The  Hoarstone,  9ft.  5in.  high 
i.  Leans  very  much  inward 

3.  A  low  stone  :  leans  inward 

4.  Table  stone,  lying  flat 
.%  Lying  and  imbedilid 
a  b.  Ancient  road. 


SIGNALS.— CROUCH  HILL.  !' 

tlie  earthworks  of  this  island,  are  all  situated  within  the  part  of 
the  Dobiinian  territory  about  Banbury.  Besides  these  there  are 
neighbouring  British  Camps  at  Rauisborough,  Arberry  Hill, 
Gredenton  Hill,  and  the  Castle  Hill  at  Brailes.  The  distance  from 
Nadbury  (which  is  the  most  northerly  of  the  four  first-mentioned 
camps,  or  those  witliin  the  Dobuuiau  territory,  it  being  situated  on 
the  edge  of  the  table  land  overlooking  the  Warwickshire  or  Carna- 
bian  Vale,)  to  Madmarston  is  five  miles  and  a  half;  from  JVIadmars- 
tou  to  Tadmarton  two  miles  ;  and  from  Tadmarton  to  Ilbury  four 
miles  and  a  quarter.  The  whole  distance  from  Nadbury  camp  to 
Ilbury  is  eleven  miles.  (See  the  respective  positions  in  the  Map, 
Plate  4.)  The  face  of  this  whole  tract,  and  of  the  district  to 
the  east  and  west  of  it,  is  peculiarly  adapted  for  communication 
by  signals  from  height  to  height  across  the  intersecting  valhes ; 
and  accordingly  each  camp  is  formed  on  a  lofty  elevation,  from 
wliich  (even  now  that  the  enclosures  have  done  so  much  to 
limit  the  bounds  of  sight)  there  is  a  very  extensive  prospect,  especi- 
ally in  the  direction  of  the  other  camps.  Thus,  from  Nadbury 
camp  the  view  is  open,  southward  and  eastward,  even  as  far  as  to 
the  most  distant  camp  at  Ilbury  and  to  that  at  Rainsborough  in 
Northamptonshire ;  and,  in  the  opposite  directions,  across  the 
Carnabian  Vale.  From  the  Tadmarton  entrenchment,  on  a  clear 
day,  the  eye  reaches  over  the  Tew  hills,  and  beyond  the  intervemng 
valley  of  Oxford  to  some  of  the  Chalk  hills  of  the  Chiltern  range. 
Yet  it  is.  observable,  with  reference  to  the  art  with  which  these  great 
Earthworks  were  formed,  that  few  of  them  occupy  the  most  con- 
spicuous parts  of  hills  ;  those  elevated  spots  ha-\dng  been  generally 
chosen  which  were  less  likely  to  attract  the  notice  of  an  enemy, 
especially  if,  as  seems  the  case,  they  were  usually  surrounded 
with  woods.  The  construction  of  the  British  fortresses  on  a  plan 
so  calculated  to  combine  facility  of  communication  with  security  is 
a  strong  ground,  in  addition  to  many  others,  for  believing  that 
the  ancient  Britons  were  not  such  a  race  of  mere  barbarians  as 
many  writers  have  been  accustomed  to  represent  them. 

It  would  appear  that  still  further  means  were  taken  for  making 
observations,  and  for  the  communication  of  intelligence  by  signals. 
Crouch  Hill,  a  lofty  eminence  one  mile  southwest  from  Banbury 
Church,  the  conical  top  of  which  is  artificial,  has  a  small  circular 
entrenchment,  now  overrun  by  the  plantations,  around  its  summit. 
(Plate  2.)     An  outer  work  of  irregular  form,  very  nearly  coinci- 


10  BRITISH  CAMPS  AT  NADBURY, 

ding  with  the  boiiudarj  of  the  present  plantation,  appears  to  mark 
the  limits  within  which  the  hill  was  artificially  raised  for  the  pur- 
pose of  commnnicating  with  the  different  camps.  Actual  exami- 
nation by  digging,  &c.  has  proved  this  part  to  be  entirely  made 
ground ;"'"  and  for  no  other  purpose  than  that  of  communication 
with  the  hill  fortresses  at  a  distance  can  it  be  conceived  that  a  work 
of  such  immense  labour  was  undertaken.  Crouch  Hill  commands 
the  most  surprising  panoramic  prospect  to  be  obtained  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood, over  those  camps,  and  in  every  other  direction. 

The  traces  of  some  of  the  Camps  are  rapidly  disappearing  under 
the  plough  or  by  means  of  other  agricultural  operations,  and  pone 
of  them  can  be  expected  to  remain  long  in  the  state  in  which  they 
are  at  present.  It  is  therefore  desirable  that  they  should  be  par- 
ticularly described. 

Nadbury  Camp  is  six  miles  and  a  quarter  N.W.  from  Ban- 
bury, in  the  parish  of  Ratley,  and  on  the  top  of  Edgehill.  Its 
shape  resembles  that  of  a  paper-kite,  with  the  tail,  or  point,  to  the 
N.W.  The  area  of  this  camp  within  the  vallum  is  about  eighteen 
acres,  and  its  shorter  diameter  is  269  yards.  (Plate  3.)  The 
camp  at  present  has  the  appearance  on  the  southeast  side  of 
having  had  only  a  single  artificial  vallum,  in  consequence  of  the 
outer  vallum  in  that  part  having  been  entirely  levelled  in  the 
years  1826  and  1827.  On  the  sovithwestern  side  also  the  outer 
vallum  has  been  greatly  reduced.  The  whole  northern  side,  exterior 
to  the  vallum,  is  traversed  by  an  ancient  road,  below  which  the  na- 
tural hill  descends  sheer  into  the  Warwickshire  Vale.  In  removing 
the  outer  embankment  on  the  east  and  southeast,  it  was  found  to 
be  composed  of  earth,  or  stones  irregularly  heaped  together  with  a 
covering  of  earth.  Many  skeletons  were  found.-^  The  entrance  to 
the  camp  was  at  the  northwest,  or  tail  part  of  the  kite,  by  two 
roads,  the  traces  of  which  are  still  visible.  Dugdale  records  that  in 
his  time  a  sword  of  brass  and  a  battle-axe  were  found  at  this  camp.^^ 

Madmarston  Camp  is  in  the  parish  of  Swalcliffe,  at  the 
distance  of  four  miles  and  a  quarter  W.  by  S.  from  Banbury.  The 
hill  on  which  it  is  formed  is  conical  at  the  base,  but  has  a  nearly 
flat  top,  which  corresponds  with  the  dimensions  of  the  camp.     The 

(22)  An  old  tradition  says  that  tlie  three  churches  of  Bloxham,  Adderbury,  and  King's  Sut- 
ton, were  built  by  three  masons  who  were  brothers ;  that  the  Devil  served  them  all  as  a 
labourer  ;  and  that  one  day  he  fell  do\vn  with  a  hod  of  mortar  and  made  Crouch  Hill. 
This  tradition  may  have  originated  from  a  knowledge  that  the  hill  was  artificial. 

(23)  Information  from  Mr.  John  Harbage  of  Fenny  Compton. 
(34)  Dugdale's  Warwicksh. 


MADMARSTON,  AND  TADMARTON.  H 

ground  has  been  for  many  years  under  the  plough,  and  the  earth- 
works are  now  much  less  conspicuous  that  they  were  within  memo- 
ry ;  the  valla  having  been  lowered  several  feet  and  the  depth  of 
the  fosses  proportionably  decreased.  On  the  southwest  side,  how- 
ever, traces  of  a  triple  vallum  are  conspicuous.  The  form  of  the 
camp  is  irregular,  but  approaching  to  pentagonal.  (See  the  Plan 
of  the  camp  and  site  of  remains  found  near  it,  p.  18.)  The  inner 
vallum,  on  the  southern  side,  is  117  yards  in  length;  the  curved 
southwestern  side,  in  which  is  the  principal  entrance,  102  yards  ; 
and  the  western  side  73  yards  ;  at  the  termination  of  which  part 
the  section  is  as  in  the  margin.  The  middle 
vallum  has  here  14  yards  ascent  on  the  slope :  ^'—x 
from  the  top  thereof  to  the  middle  of  the  fosse     |  -~>^ 

which  separates  it  from  the  inner  vallum  is  seven 
yards  :  and  thence  to  the  top  of  the  inner  vallum 
is  16  yards.  Continuing  the  circuit  of  the  camp  from  this  point,  the 
northern  vallum  measures  186  yards  in  length ;  and  the  eastern 
one  110  yards.  The  area  withm  measures  five  acres.  Besides 
the  principal  entrance  on  the  S.W.,  traces  of  other  entrances 
are  visible  on  the  north,  west,  and  south.  The  region  around 
and  beyond  Madmarston  is  so  hilly  as  to  be  almost  mountainous, 
and  some  of  the  liills  appear  to  bear  traces  of  earthworks.  The 
hill  lying  to  the  S.W.,  known  by  the  name  of  Great  Hill  (a  part 
of  which,  shewn  in  the  Plan,  p.  18,  is  called  Money  Acre),  is  one 
of  these.  An  account  of  the  remarkable  and  extensive  remains 
which  have  been  found  around  the  foot  of  Madmarston  hill  will  be 
given  hereafter  (p.  17 — 20). 

TADMARTON  Camp  is  five  miles  S.W.  by  W.  from  Banbury. 
It  is  nearly  circular.  (Plate  2.)  The  inner  vallum  remains  entire, 
still  rising  five  or  six  feet  above  the  level  of  the  interior  of  the  camp, 
although  it  is  formed  on  sandy  soil.  The  circumference,  measured 
along  the  top  of  this  vallum,  is  590  yards ;  the  diameter  of  the  en- 
closed space  190  yards.  The  fosse  also  remains,  being  about  nine 
feet  in  depth  below  the  top  of  the  inner  vallum ;  and  there  are 
traces  of  a  second  vallum  exterior  to  it,  wliich  are  seen  most  dis- 
tinctly towards  the  north.  On  the  east,  northeast,  and  west,  are 
indications  of  a  third  vallum.  The  principal  entrance  was  from 
the  southeast,  which  entrance  is  covered  by  the  outer  vallum.  The 
point  of  approach  thus  formed  between  the  two  valla  is  further  co- 
vered by  a  small  outwork  at  the  distance  of  about  70  yards. 
b3 


12  BRITISH  CAMPS  AT  ILBURY, 

This  outwork  is  a  trapezium,  of  whicli  the  sides  are  60,  50,  42, 
and  51  yards.  There  are  traces  of  other  points  of  entrance 
through  the  Loner  vallum.  Through  the  whole  entrenchment  pas- 
ses an  ancient  trackway,  which  appears  to  have  been  connected, 
through  Banbury,  with  the  Banbury  Lane  leading  to  Northampton 
(see  p.  15,  and  the  Map,  Plate  4).  This  trackway,  westward  from 
Tadmarton,  unites  with  another  which  runs  from  RoUrich  Stones 
and  continues  northward  in  a  direct  line  along  the  top  of  the  range 
of  hills  (Plate  4)  that  separates  the  territories  of  the  Dobuni  and 
the  Carnabii.  Along  these  ancient  trackways  about  Fiollrich  and 
Tadmarton,  and  other  roads  connected  with  them,  drovers  could 
until  lately  travel  more  than  one  hundred  miles  without  passing 
through  a  tollbar. 

To  the  N.W.  of  the  Camp,  at  the  distance  of  about  430  yards 
from  its  centre,  are  two  Tmnuli,  the  base  of  each  of  which  is  about 
twenty  yards  in  diameter.-^  At  the  distance  of  490  yards  eastward 
of  the  centre  of  the  Camp  is  a  copious  and  ever-flowing  spring  of 
pure  water,  called  Holy  Well,  which  rises  from  the  side  of  a  steep 
mount  near  a  lone  farm  house,  and  flows,  in  a  stream  which  would 
be  suificient  to  turn  two  or  tliree  overshot  wheels,  down  a  dell  to 
Lower  Tadmarton  village.  There  existed,  not  many  years  ago,  re- 
mains of  a  paved  way  made  of  broad  flags,  leading  to  this  spring 
from  the  camp  or  the  outwork  near  the  entrance.-"  Brewer  men- 
tions the  discovery  of  many  Roman  coins  at  the  Tadmarton  en- 
trenchment,"^ and  Dr.  Warton,  in  1783,  notices"^  some  which  he  had 
seen,  and  which  had  been  found  not  long  before  witliin  the  Camp. 
On  the  reverse  of  one  of  them  was  "  a  Fortuna,  with  some  sin- 
gularities." These  coins  were  then  in  the  possession  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Harrison,  the  rector  of  Tadmarton  and  Broughton. 

Ilbury  Camp  is  six  miles  S.  by  W.  from  Banbury.  This  too 
is  of  the  earliest  character,  and  tradition  asserts  that  the  bones  of 
ancient  Britons  lie  buried  there."^  Its  area  within  the  vallum  is 
eight  acres.  At  the  W.N.W.  extremity  the  ascent  of  the  vallum 
is  nearly  30  feet,  at  an  angle  of  about  45  degrees.  It  has  only  a 
single  vallum,  but  the  natural  form  of  the  lofty  hill  on  which  tliis  is 

(23)  See  the  small  ground  plan  of  tlie  Tadmarton  and  Hooknorton  Caniiis,  given  under  the 
Saxon  period. 

(26)  Information  from  the  Rev.  Chas.  "WMnstanlej',  formerly  curate  of  Wigginton.  And 
see  the  plan  mentioned  in  the  last  note.  The  small  work  without  the  Camp  at  Tadmar- 
ton desei-ves  examination,  as  being  probably  the  site  of  Roman  remains. 

(27)  Brewer's  Oxf. 

(28)  Warton's  Hist.  Kiddington,  edit.  1783,  p.  ,50. 

(29)  Information  from  the  Rev.  M.  Tcrrington,  rector  of  Over  Worton. 


BRAILES,  AND  GREDENTON.  13 

thrown  up  seems  to  obviate  the  necessity  for  an  outer  embankment. 
The  principal  entrance  is  on  the  west  side.     (Plate  5.) 

Another  earthwork  or  site  considered  to  be  British  oeeiirs  four 
miles  and  a  half  S.S.E.  from  Ilbury,  in  the  parish  of  Steeple  Bar- 
ton;  called  Maiden  Bower,  from  the  Celtic  Maidian,  strong, 
and  burg  or  beorgh,  a  place  or  fortress?^ 

All  the  Camps  above  named  are  within  the  territory  of  the 
Dobuni. 

On  two  lofty  elevations,  each  two  miles  within  the  great  War- 
wicksliire  Vale,  and  possibly  within  the  territory  of  the  Carnabii, 
(see  Plate  4,)  are  two  other  Camps  of  the  British  period.  One 
of  these  is  on  Castle  Hill  in  the  parish  of  Brailes,  N.W.  of 
the  church  of  that  village,  and  nine  miles  west  from  Banbury. 
The  other  is  at  Gredenton  Hill,  seven  miles  and  a  half  N.N. 
W.  from  Banbury.  The  area  of  the  Gredenton  Camp,  which  is 
of  horseshoe  form  and  measures  228  yards  in  length,  occupies  the 
summit  of  a  lofty  hill  commanding  an  extensive  prospect  towards 
the  north  and  northwest  over  the  Warwickshire  Vale.  (Plate  3.) 
The  steep  sides  of  the  hill  bear  conspicuous  traces  of  six  complete 
lines  of  defence,  of  that  kind  of  work  called  linchets  or  steps,  with 
scarcely  any  appearance  of  fosses.  These  occupy  the  whole  cir- 
cuit of  the  hill  except  on  the  southwest,  where  the  hill  is  con- 
nected with,  and  the  Camp  overlooked  from,  the  Dasset  range. 
Near  the  foot  of  an  adjoining  hiU,  contiguous  to  the  same  Dasset 
range,  and  southeastward  from  Gredenton  Hill,  are  two  long  lines 
of  similar  earth  fortifications.^^ 

Looking  from  Crouch  Hill  in  the  direction  between  the  N.E. 
and  S.E.,  the  sites  of  two  other  British  Camps,  lying  in  Northamp- 
tonshire and  probably  within  the  territory  of  the  Coritani  (see  Plate 
4),  are  distinctly  visible.  These  are  at  Arberry  Hill,  north  of 
Thenford  village,  and  at  Rainsborough.  The  former  is  more 
than  three  miles,  and  the  latter  two  miles,  beyond  the  division  of  the 

(.30)  Warton's  Kiddington,  p.  63. 

(31)  Burton  Dasset,  rather  more  than  half  a  mile  west  from  Gredenton  Camp,  is  more  pro- 
perly Burton  Derset ;  presumed  to  have  been  called  Deorset  by  the  Saxons  as  signifying 
a  place  of  resort  for  wild  beasts.  (Dugdale).  Some  of  the  hills  there  are  judged  to  be 
artificial.  The  village  is  situated  on  the  slope  of  the  Dasset  hills,  which  project  northwest- 
ward beyond  the  table  land  of  Oxfordshire  far  into  the  Carnabian  or  Warwickshire  Vale. 
Burton  Derset  was  once  a  considerable  place,  and  was  called  Cheping  Derset,  from  a  mar- 
ket having  been  held  there  on  Fridays  under  a  charter  granted  61st.  Henry  III.  There 
was  also  an  annual  fair  there  which  lasted  three  days.  (Smith's  Warwicksh.)  That  tlie 
place  was  at  some  period  destroyed  by  fire  appears  from  ashes,  charcoal,  and  stones  that 
have  undergone  the  action  of  fire,  which  have  been  found  in  considerable  quantities  around 
the  vicarage.  (Information  from  the  vicar,  the  Rev.  J.  Morgan.)  Whether  this  were  a 
British  Settlement  I  have  not  sufficient  evidence  to  enable  me  to  judge.  The  fine  church 
is  partly  Norman  and  Semi-Norman. 


14  TUMULI  OR  BARROWS:— TRACKWAYS. 

counties  ;  and  botli  lie  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  great  line  of 
vallum  which  appears  to  have  extended  from  Aston-le- Walls  on 
the  north  to  Kirtlington  on  the  south.  Remains  of  this  em- 
bankment, which  seems  to  have  marked  the  boundary  between 
two  tribes  or  kingdoms,  yet  exist  in  many  parts,  and,  with  the  two 
Camps  just  named,  will  be  described  (p.  28,  &c.)  when  we  come 
to  treat  of  the  Portway,  which  ran  near  them. 

In  proceeding  to  notice  the  TUMULI  or  BARROWS  in  the  district 
around  Banbury,  it  may  be  well  to  premise  that  they  are  doubtless 
of  British  character.  It  does  not  appear  (Mr.  M.  H.  Bloxam  ob- 
serves) that  the  Romans  customarily  raised  Barrows  over  their 
dead ;  and  even  those  Tumuli  which  are  found  to  contain  Roman 
urns  and  funeral  relics,  are  considered  to  have  been  constructed 
over  the  remains  of  British  chieftains  engaged  in  the  Roman  ser- 
vice. Those  Tumuli  wliich  occur  on  eminences  along  and  near 
the  ancient  TRACKWAYS  probably  served  as  exploratory  mounts, 
beacons,  or  signal  posts,  for  which  purposes  alone  many  of  them 
seem  to  have  been  thrown  up.^^  The  Tumuli  within  the  district 
of  which  we  are  treating  appear  in  general  to  be  strictly  of  this 
character;  and  hence  it  appears  desirable  to  notice  them  in  con- 
nection with  the  British  Trackways  and  with  the  aid  of  the  map 
(Plate  4). 

Along  the  range  of  hills  which  separated  the  dominions  of  the 
Dobuni  and  the  Carnabii  runs  an  ancient  Trackway,  before  men- 
tioned (p.  12),  wliich  extends  from  Rollrich  as  far  as  to  Nadbury 
Camp.  On  that  part  of  its  course  which  lies  due  west  of  Mad- 
marston  Camp  are  three  Tumuli,  or  rather  a  single  Tumulus  and 
a  Twin-Tumulus,  wliich  were  probably  tlirown  up  for  the  pur- 
poses of  communication  with  other  Tumuh  on  the  same  line, 
or  for  observation  over  the  British  Camp  at  Brailes  and  the  ad- 
jacent country,  or  for  commimication  and  the  interchange  of  sig- 
nals between  that  camp  and  some  of  the  camps  of  the  district 
lying  around  Crouch  Hill.  The  single  Tmnulus  is  on  the  western 
side  of  the  Trackway,  in  a  field  adjoining  the  south  side  of  the 
present  turnpike  road  to  Shipston.  The  base  is  twenty  yards  in 
diameter ;  and,  although  by  the  operation  of  the  plough  the  Tu- 
mulus has  been  brought  nearly  to  the  level  of  the  field  in  which 
it  stands,  it  still  commands  a  view  of  immense  extent  along  the 
southern  half   of    the  horizon.      The   Twin-Tumulus  is  situated 

(32)  Bloxam's  Monumental  Architecture,  p.  2i. 


TRACKWAYS.— BANBURY  LANE.  1.') 

nearly  half  a  mile  to  tlie  N.N.E.  of  this,  on  the  east  of  the  Track- 
way and  on  the  north  of  the  turnpike  road.  This  also  has  been 
nearly  levelled  by  the  plough,  but  it  still  commands  a  view  of  vast 
extent  in  every  direction. 

Another  Twin-Tumulus,  also  commanding  an  extensive  prospect, 
occurs  four  miles  and  a  half  southward  of  these,  near  Berryfields 
farm,  between  Hooknorton  and  the  village  of  Great  Rollwright, 
and  not  far  from  the  same  range  of  hills. 

At  a  like  distance  of  four  miles  and  a  half  still  farther  south- 
ward, are  two  Tumuli,  between  the  Hoarstone  and  the  Hawk- 
stone,  not  far  from  the  ancient  Trackway  winch  passes  near  those 
remains.  Another  Tumulus  occurs  westward  of  these,  near  the 
same  Trackway,  and  one  mile  and  a  quarter  N.W.  from  the  Hawk- 
stone. 

Brandling  off  in  an  E.N.E.  direction  from  the  Trackway  which 
ran  from  Rollrich  along  the  range  of  hills  that  separated  the  Dobu- 
nian  from  the  Carnabian  territory,  is  that  other  Trackway  already 
mentioned  (p.  12),  running  through  the  British  Camp  at  Tad- 
marton.  Near  this  Trackway  are  the  two  Tumuli  already  no- 
ticed (p.  12)  in  connection  with  the  camp.  The  traces  of  this 
ancient  road  are  apparently  lost  in  modern  improvements  from  the 
part  where  it  joins  the  turnpike  road  at  the  brook  at  Lower  Tad- 
marton  village  ;  but  its  direction  points  nearly  in  line  with  the 
present  turnpike  road  (see  Plate  4)  by  the  foot  of  Crouch  Hill 
towards  Banbury,  and  towards  that  ancient  Trackway  beyond  the 
town  which  yet  exists  under  the  name  of  BANBURY  Lane  and 
runs  for  twenty  miles,  in  the  same  E.N.E.  direction,  by  the  British 
Camp  on  Arberry  Hill,  and  the  ancient  village  of  Culworth,  to 
Northampton.  By  the  side  of  this  Trackway,  in  the  parish  of  Sul- 
grave,  and  seven  miles  and  a  half  N.E.  by  E.  from  Banbury,  is  a 
Tumulus  or  Barrow  still  called  Barrow  Hill,  the  use  of  which  as  an 
exploratory  mount  may  be  correctly  conceived  from  Morton's  des- 
cription of  it.  Here,  he  says,  "  no  fewer  than  nine  counties  do  pre- 
sent themselves  to  one  view,  that  is,  the  counties  of  Northampton, 
Warwick,  Worcester,  Oxford,  Gloucester,  Berks,  Bucks,  Bedford, 
and  Hertford  ;  and  'tis  thought  that  a  part  of  Wiltshire  or  Hamp- 
shire is  likewise  to  be  seen  from  thence."  ^^  The  base  of  this 
Tumulus  is  25  yards  by  19,  and  the  summit  12  yards  by  10. 
Upon  it   grows  a  great  Ash  tree,  now  going  to  decay,  wliich  is 

(3.3)  Morton's  Noithamp.,  1712,  p.  22. 


16  ANCIENT  TRACKWAYS.— THE  SALTAVAY. 

considered  to  be  four  centuries  old.^'  The  Banbury  Lane  con- 
tinues its  course,  crossing  the  Watling  Street  at  Forster's  Booth, 
and  passing  by  other  earthworks,  to  the  British  camp  at  Huns- 
borough  Hill  and  to  Northampton. 

Crossing  this  line  which  led  from  Rollrich  through  Tadmarton 
Camp  and  Banbury  to  Northampton  was  the  Saltway,  an  ancient 
road  which  yet  exists  under  that  name  at  Banbury,  running  by 
the  foot  of  Crouch  HUl,  and  leading  towards  the  southeast,  in 
the  direction  of  London.  The  traces  are  lost  near  Bodicot ;  but 
the  further  course  of  this  road  was  traceable  within  memory,  by 
Weeping  Cross,^^  in  the  direction  of  the  Portway  ;  and  tradition 
agrees  with  Ogilby's  Survey  made  in  1674,  that  it  crossed  the 
Cherwell  at  Nell  Bridge  and  communicated  with  London.^" 

On  the  eastern  side  of  Banbury,  and  crossing  the  Banbury  Lane, 
ran  the  PORTWAY  (p.  25),  from  north  to  south,  passing  near  Buston, 
where  are  some  Tumuli.  One  of  these,  situated  on  the  lofty  eleva- 
tion called  Highthorns  HUl,  was  probably  raised  for  the  purpose  of 
communication  along  the  line  of  the  Portway,  or  for  the  exchange 
of  signals  between  Crouch  Hill  and  some  of  the  camps  in  the  re- 
gion of  the  Coritani  :  or,  being  near  the  frontier  line  wliich  separated 
the  Coritani  from  the  Dobuni,  it  may  have  been  thrown  up  by  one 
of  those  tribes  for  making  observations  over  the  adjacent  territory. 

On  a  lofty  eminence  four  miles  and  a  half  S.  by  E.  from  High- 
thorns  Hill,  and  still  on  the  line  of  the  Portway,  was  recently 
another  Tumulus,  called  Ploughley  Hill,  being  near  Souldern, 
but  in  the  parish  of  Fritwell.  It  is  described  by  Dr.  Stukeley 
(writing  in  1712)  as  "a  curious  barrow,  neatly  turned  like  a  bell, 
smaU  and  high."^^ 

(.34)  There  is  a  tradition  respecting  this  mount  and  the  Ash  tree,  that  the  spot  was  the  scene 
of  the  revels  of  witches  ;  and  that  when  the  Suljjrave  people  went  to  cut  tlie  tree  down,  they 
saw  their  village  in  the  vale  beneath  apparently  ^\Tapped  in  flames,  and  therefore  returned 
home.  While  they  were  absent  from  the  tree  on  this  false  alarm,  the  witches  made  good 
the  injury  that  had  been  done  to  the  tree,  and  thus  it  was  preserved. 

(35)  Styled  by  Ogilby,  in  Charles  the  Second's  time,  "  a  noted  place,  where  four  ways  meet." 
By  the  side  of  the  road  running  (northward)  from  Weeping  Cross  to  Banbury,  at  that  part 
near  the  town  where  the  vale  of  Banbury  comes  into  view,  is  an  artificial  eminence  (now 
planted)  called  Windmill  Bank,  on  which  a  windmill  stood  as  early  as  1674.  Before  the 
lime  of  the  enclosures  the  view  from  this  Bank  extended  over  the  camp  at  Ilbury,  which  lies 
five  miles  and  three  quarters  distant  S.  by  W.  The  view  from  it  is  still  open  to"  the  east  and 
north.  Whether  this  Bank  was  an  exploratory  mount  raised  near  an  ancient  Trackway, 
and  afterwards  used,  as  many  TumuU  have  been,  for  a  mill,  or  whether  it  is  a  more  recent 
formation,  I  have  no  evidence  whereby  to  decide.     See  its  position  in  the  Map. 

(36)  Before  the  construction  of  canals  one  of  the  largest  wagoners'  inns  in  the  country  was 
at  North  Newington  ;  and  the  portion  of  ancient  road  running  near  the  camp  called  Castle 
Bank,  and  through  Crouch  Lane  and  the  Saltway,  was  in  constant  use  for  the  heavy  traffic 
between  the  northwest  of  the  kingdom  and  London. 

(37)  Itin.  Curios.,  edit.  1776,  p.  43.  The  name  Ploughley  Hill  is  marked  in  the  wrong  place 
in  the  Ordnance  Map  as  the  site  of  remains,  but  the  real  place  of  this  Tumulus  appears  in 
that  map  just  south  of  the  Souldern  tollgate. 


BRITISH  SITE  NEAR  MADMARSTON.  17 

Other  Trackways  will  come  under  notice  as  we  proceed  to  re- 
cord the  various  sites  of  remains. 

In  a  part  of  the  country  thus  possessing  remains  of  British  Tem- 
ples, Fortifications,  and  Trackways,  it  might  be  expected  that  we 
should  find  traces  of  British  Settlements  also :  and  such  ap- 
pears to  be  the  fact.  In  the  parishes  of  Swalcliffe  and  Tadmarton, 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  south  and  southeast  of  the  British  camp 
at  Madmarston,  and  four  miles  from  Banbury,  extensive  ancient 
remains  have  been  foimd  at  what  is  called  BLACK  Land,  some  of 
wliich  remains  mark  the  spot  as  a  British  site.  Mr.  F.  Wise,  in 
a  MS.  letter  to  Mr.  Gale,  Sept.  13,  1732,  gives  some  information 
concerning  this  site,  the  substance  of  which  information  has  been  re- 
corded by  Gough.  "  In  Swacliff  parish,  but  nearer  Tadmarton,  is  a 
Roman  town,  which  seems  to  have  extended  itself  round  the  foot 
of  a  hill  [Madmarston].  At  the  bottom,  to  the  west,  is  a  field, 
part  of  which  is  called  Money  Acre,  from  a  pot  of  money  found 
there  about  100  years  since,  and  which  by  those  pieces  of  Roman 
pottery  and  the  richness  of  the  soil  was  certainly  part  of  the  old 
town.  This  end  points  to  Swacliffe,  but  the  people  who  live  in 
the  farms  think  it  reached  no  further  than  some  out  closes  of  the 
farm  called  the  [Lower]  Ley,  somewhat  nearer  on  this  side  towards 
Tadmarton,  where  considerable  ruins  are  dug  up  to  mend  the 
highways,  but  no  stone  or  inscription,  nor  could  Mr.  Wise  find 
any  in  the  fences  of  the  closes.  From  this  farm  house  the  town 
seems  to  have  extended  to  another  also  called  the  Ley  [Upper  Ley], 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  off,  on  the  northeast  side  of  the  hill, 
and  between  these  two  a  good  way  east  into  Tadmarton  field,  in 
which  is  a  sign  of  a  Roman  bank,  and  on  the  south  side  beyond 
the  brook  in  Swacliffe  field  is  a  considerable  barrow  called  Row- 
barrow,  which  probably  stood  just  without  the  town.  The  black- 
ness of  the  soil  for  three  feet  deep  shows  that  the  town  was  des- 
troyed by  fire."^^ 

The  parts  pointed  out  by  the  present  owner  ^"  and  the  residents 
in  the  neighbourhood  as  affording  remains  indicative  of  the  exis- 
tence of  an  ancient  town,  are  shewn,  with  the  adjacent  British 
Camp,  in  the  plan  on  the  next  page,  and  are  51  acres  in  extent; 
namely, 

The  Town  Ground 12  acres 

(.W)  Gough's  Camtlen. 

(39)  Mr.  John  Painter,  to  -nhom  I  am  inlebte.l  for  much  information  concerning  tlic  site. 
C 


18 


BRITISH  SITE  AT  BLACK  LAND, 


Lower  Lea  homestead       ....  3  acres 

Blakeland 8  acres 

Part  of  Stanthill 2  acres 

Part  of  Blackland 6  acres 

Cowleasure 11  acres 

Flat        9  acres 


Within  this  space  foundation  walls  have  been  continually  dis- 
covered, and  various  remains,  as  ashes,  bones,  and  Roman  coins 
and  pottery,  have  been  found.  The  field  called  Blakeland  is  es- 
pecially remarkable  for  the  number  of  coins  ploughed  up  in  it. 
In  that  called  Blackland,  which  is  on  the  Tadmarton  side  of  the 
little  brook,  the  ploughshare,  in  the  spring  of  1836,  struck  on  what 
proved  to  be  the  burial  place  of  an  individual,  whose  remains  had 


NEAR  MADMARSTON  CAMP.  VJ 

been  deposited  entire,  and  at  full  length,  in  a  cistvaen,  or  chest, 
(the  rudest  and  most  ancient  description  of  British'"  stone  coffins,) 
formed  of  rough  slab  stones  such  as  are  still  quarried  in  the  pa- 
rish of   Tadmarton.      In  the  spring  of    1840,  the  remains  of  a 
similar  interment  were  disturbed  in  the  same  ground ;   but  in  this 
case  the  cistvaen  in  which  the  bones  had  been  inhumed  was  formed 
of  smooth  white  flag  stones  cut  for  the  purpose,  and  which  might 
have  been  brought  from  a  pit  situated  a  mile  or  two  from  the  spot. 
Among  the  coins  found,  cliiefly  in  Blakeland  and  the  fields  north- 
ward, in  1836  and  subsequently,  and  which  I  have  seen,  were  a 
silver  coin  of  Severus,  one  of  the  middle  brass  of  Maximian,  and 
many  of  the  small  brass  of  Tetricus  pater  and  junior,  Constantine 
the  Great,  Constantine  junior,  Constans  (Plate  6,  fig.  10),  Valenti- 
nian,  and  Valens.     Many  Roman  silver  coins  had  been  previously 
found  there.     The  discoloration  of  the  soil,  which  is  of  a  dark  um- 
ber colour  throughout  the  whole  of  the  site,  and  which  strongly 
contrasts  with  the  appearance  of  the  red  land  about  it,  at  first  sug- 
gests the  probability  that  a  conflagration  occurred  there  during  the 
British  period,  when  the  habitations  and  defences  were  chiefly  con- 
structed of  wood.    The  fact  of  a  conflagration  having  oecru-red  there 
is  otherwise  sufficiently  evidenced  by  the  stones  that  are  turned 
up,  which  are  frequently  found  to  be  burned  quite  red.     But  an 
analysis  of  the  soils  of  tliis  black  land  and  the  adjacent  red  land" 
afibrds  no  evidence  that  fire  was  the  occasion  of  a  change  in  the 
colour  of  the  soil  of  the  ancient  site ;  while  the  presence  of  organic 
matter  in  a  much  greater  quantity  in  the  black  land,  its  depth  of 
several  feet,  and  its  extraordinary  fertility  beyond  that  of  the  land 
around  it,  confirm  the  opinion  wliicli  might  otherwise  arise,  that  the 
vast  quantities  of  forage  and  litter  which  would  be  required  for 
a  cavalry  station,  at  some  period  when  the  adjacent  camp  was  occu- 
pied, may  have  contributed  to  the  peculiar  character  of  the  soil. 
The  Black  Land  extends  for  about  half  a  nule  in  length  from  west 
to  east,  and  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  breadth  from  north  to 
south.      An  old  road  passes  through  the  site,  and,   two  furlongs 
eastward  of   it,  meets   an    ancient    Trackway    still   used   by   the 
Welsh  drovers  as  being  direct  and  without  a  toUbar. 

The  river  which  washes  the  foot  of  the  Town  Ground  and  Blake- 
land flows  on  to  Adderbury,  where,  in  the  bed  of  the  stream,  a 
large  ancient  Bead  of  beautifully  clear  green  glass,  exteriorly  orna- 

(40)  See  Bloxam's  Monumental  Architecture.  (41)  Bv  Mr.  T.  Beeslev. 

c3  ■ 


20  THE  DOBUNI. 

meuted  with  lig-urcs  of  white  enameP-  (Plate  8,  fig  1),  and  weigh- 
ing four  ounces,  was  found  about  the  year  1832.  It  is  probably  a 
Phoenician  bead,  and  might  have  been  supplied  to  the  Britons 
in  the  way  of  barter. 

Other  important  indications  of  British  residence  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Banbury  have  been  discovered  in  several  parts  near 
the  line  of  the  Portway,  namely,  at  Chipping  Wardon  (p.  28),  King's 
Sutton  (p.  34),  and  Aynho  (p.  37).  To  this  ancient  road  and  the  re- 
mains found  near  its  course  a  section  will  be  devoted  (p.  25). 

In  the  parish  of  BraUes,  at  the  top  of  the  northern  brow  of 
the  lofty  Brailes  Hill,  are  traces  of  a  British  settlement  at  Radnall 
Bush.^^ 


THE   DOBUXI:    ROMAX   IXVASIOX. 

Camden  conjectures  the  name  of  the  Dobuui  to  be  derived 
from  Dwfn,  a  British  word  signifying  deep  or  loni,  because  they 
inhabited  chiefly  a  plain,  or  vallies  encompassed  with  liills.  Ken- 
net  derives  the  name  Boduni  from  a  similar  British  word,  Bodu 
or  Bodun,  signifying  deep.  "  The  Dobuni  Dofn,"  he  says,  "  were 
called  Boduni,  Bodunni,  from  the  deep  fat  soil  where  they  inhab- 
ited in  Gloucestershire  and  Oxfordshire.  And  thence  probably 
Bodicote  or  Boducot.""  ^Yllitaker  says  the  Dobuni  "  were  pro- 
perly denominated  Lowlanders  when  they  resided  in  '  the  Bottoms,' 
as  all  the  south  of  Gloucestershire  is  popularly  called  to  the 
present  period  ;  but  afterwards  extended  their  dominions,  and  dif- 
fused their  name,  over  the  liilly  country  to  the  north  and  east  of 
them."'^  Brewer  gives  another  derivation  of  Dobuni,  from  Dob, 
a  stream,  and  en,  often  varied  to  un,  land;  inferring  therefrom 
that  the  term  Dobuni  may  signify  a  race  located  on  the  borders 
of  the  multitudinous  rivers  of  these  parts.  It  is  conjectured  that 
the  Dobuni  were  not  a  powerful  tribe,  since  a  portion  of  them  be- 
came subject  to  the  Cattieuchlani,  or  Cassii,  who  occupied  the  adja- 
cent parts  in  Buckinghamshire,  Bedfordshire,  and  Hertfordshire. 

Referring  to  Caesar's  second  expedition  into  Britain,  B.C.  54, 
Camden  and  Gale  are  of  opinion  that  he  crossed  the  Thames  at 
Coway  Stakes  in  Surrey.     Kenuet  howe\er  tliinks  that  he  advanced 

(42)  Lately  presented  hy  Dr.  Bucldand,  to  whose  Idmlness  I  am  indebted  for  the  loan  of  it, 
to  the  Ashmolean  Museum. 
(4.3)  Information  from  M.  U.  Bloxam  Es.|.  of  Rugbv. 
(11)  Kenuet's  Glossary,  art.  Bodu.  (l-j)  Hist.  ^lanphestcr,  edit.  1775,  vol.  2,  p.  SO. 


ROMAN  INVASION.  21 

as  far  as  Oxfordsliire.  On  the  next  expedition  of  the  Romans 
into  Britain,  undertaken  bj  Aulus  Plantius,  propraetor,  A.  D.  43, 
hy  command  of  Claudius  Caesar,  the  territory  of  the  Dobuni 
came  under  the  sway  and  protection  of  tlxe  Romans.'"^  At  the 
first  alarm  of  invasion,  the  forces  of  the  British  Princes  retired 
to  their  fastnesses  for  concealment  and  defence.  Pursuing  them 
to  their  places  of  retreat,  Plautius  defeated,  first  Cataratacus, 
and  then  Togodumnus,  both  sons  of  the  deceased  chief  Cuno- 
belin,'*'  and  the  latter  (Toy6^ovix.vo^)  supposed  to  have  been  a 
leader  of  the  Dobuni.''^  At  the  time  of  this  invasion  the  por- 
tion of  the  Dobuni  residing  on  the  borders  of  Buckinghamshire 
were  living  in  a  state  of  subjection  to  the  Cattieuchlani :  no 
sooner  therefore  did  the  approach  of  the  Roman  forces  present 
an  opportunity  of  shaking  off  the  yoke,  than  they  threw  them- 
selves into  the  arms  of  the  invaders.  The  Roman  expedition  had 
been  undertaken  at  the  suggestion  of  Bericus  (BEpiJto?),  a  Briton'® 
who  had  been  driven  from  his  country  and  had  fled  to  Rome ; 
and  the  aUianee  which  took  place  between  the  Romans  and  the 
Dobuni  has  given  rise  to  a  conjecture  that  Bericus  was  of  this 
tribe.  Carte  supposes  that  Bericus  was  deprived  of  his  estate 
and  expelled  his  country  by  the  Cattieuchlani  when  they  subdued 
it.^"  Another  conjecture  groimded  upon  the  circumstance  of  this 
alliance  is,  that  the  decisive  battle  in  which  the  Roman  Comman- 
der was  victorious  over  the  sons  of  Cunobelin  was  fought  not 
far  from  these  parts.  Be  these  conjectures  true  or  false,  there 
cannot  be  a  doubt  that  the  Dobuni  at  this  period  made  an  al- 
liance with  the  Romans,  and  received  garrisons  from  them.^' 

To  this  period  probably  may  be  referred  the  occupation  by  the 
Romans  of  some  of  the  hill  fortresses  of  the  Britons  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Banbury ;  their  situation  rendering  them  admirably 
adapted  to  serve  as  frontier  defences  of  the  Dobunian  territory 
against  the  incursions  of  the  Carnabii  and  other  unsubjected  tribes. 

Having  thus  secured  possession  of  the  country  in  his  rear,  Plau- 
tius advanced  beyond  the  territory  of  the  Dobuni  and  carried  his 
•victorious  arms  beyond  the  Severn. 

It  was  doubtless  conducive  to  the  success  of  the  Roman  arms, 
that,  since  the  time  of  Julius  Caesar's  expedition,  many  natives  of 
Britain,  besides  Bericus,  had  visited  Rome  and  thereby  acquired 
a  taste  for  Italian  improvement.  The  spread  of  arts  and  civilisa- 
tion amongst  the  Dobuni,  the  first  allies  of  the  Romans,  must  have 

(46)  Dion  Cassius.  (47)  Ibid.  (48)  Whitaker.  (49)  Dion  Cassias. 

(50)  Carte's  Hist.  Eug.  (51)  Dion  Cassius. 


22  ROMAN  INVASION. 

been  rapid.  But  although  the  southern  parts  of  Britain  were  oc- 
cupied by  the  Romans,  only  a  small  portion  of  the  Island  was  yet 
subjected.  It  appears  that  Plautius  even  found  himself  compelled 
to  withdraw  to  the  south  of  the  Thames,  there  to  await  the  arrival 
of  Claudius  Caesar  with  reinforcements,  before  any  further  successes 
could  be  acliieved  by  the  Roman  arms.^- 

Ostorius  Scapula  succeeded  Aulus  Plautius  as  propraetor  A.  D. 
50,  and  had  still  to  withstand  the  British  assaults ;  whereupon  he 
disarmed  the  suspected,  and  established  forts  or  camps  upon  the 
rivers  Antona  (Nen)  and  Sabrina  (Severn)  to  overawe  the  enemy 
and  repress  their  incursions.^^  The  southeastern  portion  of  the  is- 
land was  thus  secured  by  a  defensive  line  of  forts  extending  between 
the  Wash  and  the  Bristol  Channel.  Such  a  line  of  forts,  partly 
Roman  and  partly  British,  may  be  traced  through  Northampton- 
shire, Oxfordshire,  and  Gloucestershire,  or  along  the  banks  of  the 
Nen  and  thence  to  the  Severn ;  the  middle  of  the  chain  extending 
from  Arberry  Hill  Camp,  or  Arbury  Banks  (p.  30),  by  the  camps 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Banbury  to  the  British  camp  at  Chastleton 
(three  miles  westward  from  RoUrich  Stones),  across  the  table  land 
of  the  Dobunian  territory^^  (see  the  Map,  Plate  4).  These  camps 
must  be  conceived  to  have  been  occupied  at  this  time  by  the  forces 
of  Ostorius ;  and  Arbury  Banks  at  Chipping  VVardon,  and  Castle 
Bank  (see  pp.  43,  44)  between  North  Newington  and  Balscot, 
both  of  which  are  of  Roman  construction,  to  have  been  now  formed 
to  complete  the  line  of  defence  in  these  parts  against  the  native  forces 
which  were  probably  assembled  in  the  Vale  of  Warwickshire  and 
the  adjoining  parts  within  the  immense  forest  of  Arden.  The 
Roman  Camp  at  Chesterton,  on  the  Fosse  Way,  in  Warwickshire, 
was  perhaps  now  formed  as  an  advanced  post  of  Ostorius.  (See 
further  in  the  "  Addenda,"  p.  607,  under  the  head  "  Banbury  Lane." 

Cogidunus,  or  Cogidubnus,  (called  by  Richard  of  Cirencester 
Cogibundus,)  appears  to  have  been  at  this  time  Prince  of  the  Do- 
buni,  or  Boduni,  as  his  name  implies.^^  Tacitus  informs  us  that 
the  government  of  certain  other  cities  or  states  in  addition  to  his 
own  was  bestowed  upon  King  Cogidunus,  and  that  he  continued 
most  faithful  to  the  Romans.^^ 

(52)  Dion  Casgins  ;  Camden,  1722,  p.  Iv.  (53)  Tacitus,  Ann.,  lib.  xii. 

(54)  The  line  eastward  from  Arbury  Banks,  along  the  course  of  the  Nen,  has  been  traced 
by  E.  Pretty  Esq.  to  another  Arbury  Hill  camp  at  Badby,  Borough  Hill  camp  near  Da- 
ventry,  Hunsborough  Hill  camp  near  Northampton,  Clilford's  Hill  (a  speculum),  Irchester 
camp  near  Wellingborough,  &rc.  A  chain  of  ancient  fortresses,  extending  through  the 
southwestern  part  of  Gloucestershire,  has  been  traced  by  John  Lloyd  Baker  Esq. — See  Ar- 
chaologia,  vol.  19,  p.  161. 

(55)  Dr.  Stukeley.  (56)  Tacitus,  Agric. 


ROMAN  REMAINS  AT  BANBURY.  23 

The  powerful  armies  sent  by  Vespasian,  and  the  admirable  con- 
duct of  Agricola,  at  length  completed  the  conquest  of  the  far  greater 
portion  of  the  island. 

Amongst  the  remains  of  this  earliest  part  of  the  Roman  period 
found  in  this  neighbourhood,  we  may  specify  numerous  coins  of 
the  early  Emperors  discovered  at  Warkworth ;  one  of  which,  lately 
found,  was  a  sUver  coin  of  Caius  and  Lucius,  sons  of  Agrippa  ; 
another  was  a  silver  one  of  Nero  (Plate  6,  fig.  1),  coined  only  a 
few  years  after  the  expedition  of  Aulus  Plautius.  A  gold  coin  of 
Vespasian  was  ploughed  up  many  years  ago  near  Rainsborough 
camp.  Of  silver  coins  found  at  Hanwell  a  few  years  ago,  some 
were  of  Nero,  Vespasian,  Titus  (Plate  6,  fig.  2),  Domitian, 
Nerva  (Plate  6,  fig.  3),  Trajan,  and  Hadrian. 

The  abundant,  we  may  almost  say  universal,  diffusion  of  Ro- 
man remains  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Banbury  will  be  the  principal 
subject  of  the  three  following  sections. 


ROMAN  REMAINS  AT  BANBURY. 

Several  evidences  shew  that  Banbury  was  occupied  by  the  Ro- 
mans. Camden  says,  "  Give  me  leave  to  add  one  remark,  that 
the  coins  of  Roman  emperors  found  here  and  in  the  fields  adjoin- 
ing are  a  fair  argument  for  the  antiquity  of  the  place."  In  sub- 
sequent periods  Roman  coins  have  been  frequently  dug  up.  A 
large  brass  coin  of  Antoninus  Pius,  and  another  of  Lucilla,  were 
dvig  up  lately  in  the  town.  A  coin  of  the  middle  brass  of  Dio- 
cletian, in  perfect  preservation  (Plate  6,  fig.  5),  was  found  in  1836, 
several  feet  below  the  surface,  in  digging  the  foundations  of  houses 
in  High  Street.  A  Roman  silver  coin,  one  of  the  small  brass 
of  Liciuius,  and  another  of  Constanthie  the  Great,  were  dug  up 
in  Parson's  Meadow  when  it  was  converted  into  garden  ground. 
A  Roman  coin  of  the  small  brass  of  Tetricus,  and  several  others, 
were  lately  found  in  the  brick-yard  on  the  eastern  side  of  Banbiuy 
bridge.  Another  Roman  coin  was  lately  found  in  making  the  alter- 
ations on  the  site  of  St.  John's  Hospital.  The  coins  of  Carausius, 
and  those  of  the  small  brass  of  the  lower  empire,  are  common. 

Dr.  Stukeley,  writing  in  1712,  mentions  other  antiquities  found 
at  Banbury.  "  Many  Roman  coins  and  antiquities  have  been  found 
here.     There  is  an  inn  called  the  Altarstone  Inn,   from  an  altar 


24  ALTARSTONE  INN  AT  BANBURY. 

wliicli  stood  in  a  niche  under  the  sign,  this  had  a  ram  and  fire  car- 
ved on  it,  as  they  say  :  part  of  the  stone  is  still  left.  I  imagine 
this  was  originally  a  Roman  Altar.  They  tell  us  William  the  Con- 
queror lay  at  this  inn."^  The  Altarstone  Inn  was  on  the  spot  now 
occupied  by  the  stone-fronted  house  in  Bridge  Street  South  facing 
Castle  Street ;  and  the  Roman  Altar  stood  under  an  arch  in  the 
street,  in  front  of  the  inn."  Richard  Corbet,  subsequently  Bishop 
of  Oxford  and  of  Norwich,  wrote  some  verses  respecting  this  hos- 
telry, where  he  took  up  Ms  quarters  previously  to  the  year  1621  : — ■ 

"  In  th'  name  of  God,  Amen  !  First  to  begin, 
The  Altar  was  translated  to  an  Inne  ; 
Wee  lodged  in  a  Chappell  by  the  signe, 
But  in  a  banck'mpt  Taverne  by  the  wine  : 
Besides,  our  horses  usage  makes  us  tbinke 
'Twas  still  a  Church,  for  they  in  Coffins  drinkc ; 
As  if  "twere  congruous  that  the  ancients  lye 
Close  by  those  Altars  in  whose  faith  they  dye." 

To  the  edition  of  Corbet's  Poems  printed  in  1648  a  note  is  ap-  . 
pended,  stating  that  the  coffins  served  "  for  troughs  in  the  backside  " 
of  the  inn.  Whether  these  were  Roman  sarcophagi,  or  remains 
of  a  later  date,  it  is  now  impossible  to  ascertain.  The  acljoining 
house  westward  of  the  Altarstone  Inn,  being  the  corner  house  to- 
wards Broad  Street  (now  the  Old  George  inn),  was  called  the 
George-and- Altarstone  inn  :^  and  INIr.  Brewer  states  that  a  gen- 
tleman whose  father  purchased  tliis  inn  in  1771,  and  who  himself 
resold  it,  well  remembered  the  Altarstone  and  the  erection  in  which 
it  was  placed.  It  was  described  by  him  as  "  a  piece  of  stone-work 
about  eight  feet  long,  with  an  arch  raised  upon  it  about  ten  feet 
high.  In  the  niche  of  the  arch  was  placed  a  stone. "^  The  late 
INIr.  Samuel  Grimbly  of  Banbury  also  remembered  the  erection  as 
carrying  one  end  of  the  beam  which  supported  the  sign  of  the  inn ; 
and  stated  that  in  his  boyhood^  he  had  frequently  climbed  through 
the  arch  where  the  Altarstone  stood.  The  whole  was  taken  down 
about  the  year   1768.     In  Bray's   Tour   (1777)  it  is  said  of  the 

(1)  Itin.  Curios. 

(2)  In  a  book  of  accounts  belonging  to  the  coiporation  there  is  an  entry  of  the  40th  year 
of  Elizabeth,  "  Paied  out  hereof  for  o'r  dynn'  at  the  Alt'  Stone  9s."  Burials  from  the  "  Al- 
tcrston  "  are  recorded  in  the  register  in  1616  and  1707.  By  a  deed  executed  24lh  June  1733, 
Sanderson  Miller,  Elizabeth  Egleston,  and  Mary  Egleston,  conveyed  to  John  Rymill  a 
messuage  then  divided  into  two  tenements,  and  lately  an  inn  called  or  kno\vn  by  the  sign 
of  the  Altar  Stone,  in  a  street  or  place  called  the  Beast  Market.  On  the  5th  April  1785, 
Mary  Rymill,  daughter  of  the  aforesaid  John  Rymill,  conveyed  the  aforesaid  property  to 
Clarke  Jessop ;  and  on  the  2nd  Sept.  1820,  the  children  of  the  said  Clarke  Jessop  conveyed 
the  same  to  James  Stalev  and  Thomas  Tims. 

(S)  Writings  1701  &  1725.  (4)  Brewer's  Oxf.  (5)  He  was  born  in  1759. 


AiMPHITHEATRE  AT  BANBURY.  2.') 

Altarstone  imi — "  some  years  ago  it  was  converted  into  a  private 
house,  and  the  Altar  was  probably  demolished." 

But  the  most  important  remain  of  the  Roman  period  at  Banbury 
is  a  Castrensian  AMPHITHEATRE.  The  Roman  people  were  early 
debased  by  the  gladiatorial  and  other  shows  in  the  Amphitheatres  ; 
and  on  the  site  of  almost  every  Roman  colony  there  are  indications 
of  the  existence  of  such  places,  either  constructed  or  excavated. 
In  many  parts,  the  Roman  garrisons  contented  themselves  with 
Castrensian  or  Camp-like  Amphitheatres  ;  in  the  construction  of 
which  they  usually  chose  natural  vallies  surrounded  with  hills,  in 
the  declivities  of  which  they  cut  benches  or  terraces  from  which  a 
^'iew  was  afforded  over  the  arena.'^  In  this  island  very  few  such 
records  of  the  barbarous  pleasures  of  Roman  antiquity  now  remain. 
The  Amphitheatre  at  Banbury  is  in  a  field  called  Berrymoor,  ad- 
joining the  town,  on  the  right  of  the  turn  to  Bloxham.  It  is  a 
semicircular  work,  open  to  the  north  ;  and  is  cut  in  the  concave  face 
of  a  steep  hill  the  summit  of  which  overlooks  the  town.  (Plate  7.) 
The  Arena  measures  134  feet  in  breadth ;  and  rising  above  it,  on 
the  face  of  the  hill,  are  three  broad  terraces  made  for  the  spectators 
of  the  combats,  which  terraces  are  respectively  25,  39,  and  59  feet 
(measured  on  the  slope)  above  the  iVrena.  These  are  calculated  to 
afford  a  view  of  the  sports  to  more  than  two  thousand  persons.^ 


THE   PORTWAY. 

The  PORTWAY  was  an  ancient  Trackway  wliich  traversed 
Northamptonsliire  and  Oxfordshire.  It  ran  from,  or  crossed,  the 
Watluig  Street  at  a  part  between  Tripontio  (Dove  Bridge  on  the 
borders  of  Leicestershire)  and  Beuaventa,  a  British  site,  or  Isanna- 
varia,  a  Roman  one  (Borough  Hill  near  Daventry  in  Northamp- 
sliire)  :  and,  entering  Oxfordshire  at  Souldern,  it  proceeded  nearly 
southward  by  Kirtlingtou,^  which  latter  place  is  situated  on  the  line 
of  the  Akeman  Street,  four  miles  and  a  half  west  of  the  Roman 
^■Elia  Castra  (Alchester,  in  the  parish  of  Wendlebury  near  Bicester, 

(6)  Tacitus  ;  Brewster's  Cydo. 

(7)  This  eai-thwork  is  now  popularly  called  the  Bear-garden,  probably  from  the  sport  of 
Bear-baiting  having  been  subsequently  used  there.  Thomas  Brasbridge,  who  was  born, 
probably  at  Banbury,  about  the  year  1337,  and  who  certainly  lived  there  in  his  childhood' 
and  became  vicar  of  the  place  in  1581,  alludes  to  tlie  common  sport  of  Bear-baiting  prac- 
tised in  his  times. — Brashridge's  Poore  Mans  lewell. 

(8)  How  much  farther  the  Portsvay  extended  in  either  direction  it  is  not  possible  to  sav 
See  pp.  26,  38.  ■' ' 

D 


26  THE  PORTWAY. 

the  fancied  British  Alauna).  Between  Isannavaria  and  ^lia  Cas- 
tra  there  was  a  station  called  Brinavis,  recorded  in  one  of  the  itin- 
era of  Richard  of  Cirencester.^ 

Morton  says  of  the  Northamptonsliire  portion  of  the  Portway,  in 
1712, — "The  way  is  now  unknown.  Neither  is  it  strange  it 
should  ;  the  stations  it  led  to  being  ruined,  the  road  must  of  course 
be  neglected  and  left  off.  And  in  case  it  was  but  a  Uttle,  or  not  at 
all  raised  in  this  part  of  it,  which  is  not  unlikely,  this  being  on'y  a 
Vicinal  way,  and  the  ground  not  so  moist  or  boggy  as  to  need  it ; 
'tis  still  the  less  strange,  that  the  memory  and  footsteps  of  it  are 
quite  crazed  and  gone."'"  Yet  Morton  liimself,  and  Bridges,  and 
more  recently  Mr.  George  Baker,  have  helped  to  point  out  the 
direction  of  the  Portway  across  Northamptonsliire :  and  a  great 
part  of  its  course  in  Oxfordshire  is  marked  in  Camden's  map, 
and  still  remains  a  direct  and  ancient  Trackway. 

The  first  trace  we  find  of  the  Portway  in  Northamptonshire  is 
in  the  name  of  the  Portlow  hills  at  KUsby,  five  mdes  north  of 
Daventry,  and  near  the  Watling  Street.  From  this  part  the  Port- 
way  ran  southward,  near  Benaventa,  and  in  the  direction  of  Church 
Charwelton  or  Preston  Capes,  between  which  villages  some  ancient 
entrenchments  remain. '^  Bridges  bears  testimony  to  its  having 
here  taken  the  direction  to  Woodford,  by  stating  that  "part  of 
the  highway  leading  from  Woodford  to  Preston  is  called  Port- 
way."''^  Mr.  Baker  adds  that  the  name  Portway  is  still  retained 
in  the  third  field  from  Woodford  on  the  road  to  Preston.  From 
Woodford  (see  the  Map,  Plate  4)  the  course  of  this  trackway  was 
through  the  parish  of  Eydon  ;  as  appears  from  the  grant  of  Wil- 
liam de  St.  Ledger  to  the  Priory  of  Canons  Ashby,  wliich  describes 
one  of  the  half-acres  as  lying  "int'  Stavenhul  sike  et  Portweia"'^ 
(between  Stavenhul  sike,  i.  e.  brook,  and  the  Portway).  Thence 
the  distance  is  nearly  two  miles  to  Black  GROUNDS  at 
Chipping  Wardon,  six  miles  northeast  fi-om  Banbury ;  where, 
from  the  circumstance  of  extensive  remains  being  found,  and  from 
the  correspondence  of  the  distances  given  in  the  eighteenth  iter 
of  Richard  of  Cirencester  with  the  position,  it  has  been  judged 
by  several  Antiquaries  that  Brinavis  should  be  placed." 

(9)  Richard  of  Cirencester,  Iter.  XVIII :— Benonnis  (High  Cross)  to  Tripontio  (Dove 
Bridge)  XI.  M. ;  Tripontio  to  Isannavaria  XII  (X).  M. ;  Isannavaria  to  Brinavis,  XII.  M.; 
Brinavis  to  ^lia  Castra  XVI.  M. ;  ^Elia  Castra  to  Dorocina  (Dorchester)  XV.  M. 

(10)  Morton's  Northamp.,  p.  60A.  (11)  Marked  in  the  Ordnance  Map. 

(12)  Bridges' Hist.  Nortliamp.,  v.  l,p.  130.        (13)  Baker's  Northamp.,  v.  1,  pp.  431,  507. 

(11)  It  is  however  quite  improbable  that  the  Portway  took  the  direction  towards  Black 
Grounds.    The  Roman  and  Britiish  roads  frequently  ran  parallel  or  near  to  each  other ;  and 


BLACK  GROUNDS.— BRINAVIS.  -^ 

I'lie  name  of  Wardon  is  probably  derived  from  pape  (ware),  a 
defence  or  border,  and  bun  (dun),  a  hill,  in  allusion  to  the  line  of 
embankment  wliich  is  mentioned  below  as  passing  by  the  place. 
Chipping  is  from  the  Saxon  cyppan,  signifying  to  buy  or  cheapen, 
and  imports  that  the  place  had  a  market.  Many  Roman  coins 
have  been  found  there,  chiefly,  says  Morton,  "  upon  a  groimd  they 
call  the  Black  Ground,  as  being  of  a  darker  colour  than  other  parts 
of  the  field,  upon  three  f\u-longs,  which  are  thought  to  contain  nigh 
forty  acres.  In  ploughing  upon  and  near  the  same  ground,  they 
have  frequently  met  with  foundation  stones,  and  other  hewn  stones, 
and  amongst  them  many  stones  that  are  red  and  brittle,  appearing 
plainly  to  have  been  scorched  or  burnt.  And  with  these  they 
plough  up  ashes."'^     The  Black  Grounds  are  on  the  northern  side 


of  the  Cherwell,  half  a  mile  eastward  of  the  village.  This  is  the 
supposed  site  of  Brinavis.  The  remains  are  found  over  a  space 
shewn  by  the  figures  in  the  above  plan,  and  measuring  thirty  eight 
acres  and  a  half;  namely, 

(1)  Upper  Black  Ground, 10^  acres 

the  iter  of  Richard  of  Cirencester  seems  to  refer  to  the  vicinal  way  which  existed  from 
Daventry  to  Chipping  Wardon  (as  proved  by  Tumuli  on  its  course),  and  which  probably  pro- 
ceeded on  to  Banbury.  As  regards  the  Portway,  the  direct  course  from  Eydon  to  Aynho, 
where  it  is  again  traceable,  would  be  by  Culworth,  Thorp,  Thenford,  and  Newbottle  Hill 
spinney  This  line  passes  through  a  part  of  the  country  abounding  in  ancient  remains. 
(See  the  Map,  Plate  4,  and  the  account  of  the  sites  in  the  following  pages  to  p.  37.) 
(1.5)  Morton's  Northamp.,  p.  526. 
D   3 


28  BLACK  GROUNDS.— ASTON-LE-WALLS. 

(2)  Little  Black  Ground, 6  acres 

(3)  Part  of  Long  Headland,      ....  3  acres 

(4)  Caudwells, 12  acres 

(5)  Part  of  Ludwell,         7  acres 

Over  these  parts  are  found  numerous  foundation  walls  and 
squared  stones,  and  a  profusion  of  Roman  coins  and  pottery.  Mr. 
Baker  states  that,  a  few  years  before  he  wrote,  some  fovmdations  were 
dug  up  in  the  meadow  north  of  the  Cherwell  immediately  below  the 
Black  Grounds  ;  and,  on  his  examining  the  spot  in  1824,  the  spade 
was  scarcely  ever  put  into  the  ground  without  throwing  up  frag- 
ments of  Roman  urns  and  pottery.''^  A  lead-coloured  urn,  five  inches 
and  a  half  in  height  (Plate  8,  fig.  3),  was  found  in  1825  in  the 
Black  Ground,  above  a  mass  of  human  bones,"  and  sent  to  Mr- 
Baker  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lamb.  In  1838  a  well  was  discovered 
among  the  foimdations  in  the  iipper  Black  Ground  ;  also  an  ancient 
axe-head  ;  and  one  of  the  British  beads,  made  of  vitrified  earth, 
which  are  called  Druid's  beads  (Plate  8,  fig.  2).  This  bead  is  in  my 
own  possession.'^  Amongst  the  numerous  coins  wliich  I  obtained 
from  this  spot  in  1839  were  a  silver  coin  of  Gratian,  one  of  the 
large  brass  of  Antoninus  Pius,  one  of  the  middle  brass  of  Max- 
imian,  and  many  of  the  small  brass  of  Gallienus,  Victorinus, 
Claudius  Gothicus,  Tetricus  Csesar,  Carausius,  Licinius,  Constan- 
tine  the  Great,  Fausta  (Plate  6,  fig.  7),  Crispus  (Plate  6,  fig.  8), 
Constantine  junior,  Constans,  Constantius,  Magnentius,  Valentin- 
ian,  and  Valens.  Mr.  Baker  has  a  skeatta,  or  early  Saxon  penny, 
from  the  same  site.  Several  of  the  coins  found  here,  and  also 
many  of  the  squared  stones,  have  undergone  the  action  of  fire. 
The  soil  of  these  grounds  is  less  black  than  that  of  the  ancient 
site  near  Madmarston,  but  its  colour  is  in  strong  contrast  with 
that  of  the  adjacent  fields.  A  little  to  the  east  of  the  Black 
Grounds  an  ancient  road,  reputed  to  be  a  Roman  way,  runs 
by  the  site,  and  passes  the  Cherwell  at  Traiford  bridge,  close  by 
the  field  of  Danesmoor  (Plate  4). 

The  ancient  site  at  Black  Grounds,  or  the  supposed  Brinavis, 
was  guarded  on  the  western  side  by  the  long  line  of  Vallum  or 
Embankment  (before  alluded  to,  pp.  3,  14)  wliich  extended  at 
least  from  Aston-le-Walls  on  the  north'^  to  Ku'tlington  on  the  south, 

(16)  Baker's  Northamp.  p.  .531.  (17)  MS.  Letter  of  Dr.  Lamb  U)'  G.  Baker  Esq. 

(18)  Presented,  with  many  coins  &c.  from  tlie  same  site,  by  the  Rev.  E.  G.  Walford,  rector. 

(19)  There  are  said  to  lie  some  traces  of  the  Embankment  farther  northward  in  the  par- 
ishes of  Byfield  and  Priors  Marston,  and  which  serve  its  the  boundary  between  the  counties 
of  Northampton  and  Warwick.    (Information  from  E.  Pretty  Esq.  of  Northampton.) 


WALLOW  BANK.— GRIMSBURY.— WATTLEBANK.         2i> 

a  distauce  of  nineteen  miles  direct,  nearly  in  the  line  of  the  Port- 
way.'"  Aston-le-Walls  has  its  name  from  this  vallum  or  em- 
bankment, the  remains  of  which,  although  not  existing  at  present  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  place  (having  been,  Morton  sug- 
gests, levelled  "  to  make  the  ground  of  more  use  in  husbandry"), 
point  du-ectly  upon  it  from  Wallow  Bank  at  Chipping  Wardon 
(where  the  embankment  is  first  traceable),  a  distance  from  Aston- 
le-Walls  of  one  mile.  Wallow  Bank  is  described  in  Morton's 
time  as  having  its  western  side  almost  perpendicularly  steep,  but 
its  eastern  side  gradually  sloping ;  whence  he  forms  the  conjecture 
that  the  hue  of  embankment  was  raised  by  the  Romans  as  a  "  prse- 
tentura"  or  fore-fence  against  a  western  enemy.-'  The  present  form 
of  Wallow  Bank  does  not  however  agree  with  Morton's  statement, 
its  declivity  being  equal  on  both  sides.  The  remains  of  this  em- 
bankment are  in  a  garden  at  the  north  end  of  the  \'illage  of  Chipping 
Wardon,  three-quarters  of  a  mile  northwest  from  Black  Grounds. 
The  name  appears  to  have  been  derived  from  the  Saxon  pall  (wall) 
and  lop  (low,  a  tumulus).  Its  present  length  is  about  twenty  yards, 
its  height  about  five  feet ;  and  its  construction  was  found  by  Mr. 
Baker  in  1824  to  be  a  sunple  rampart  of  earth."" 

The  next  conjectural  trace  of  this  great  line  of  Embankment  is 
found  in  the  name  of  Grimsbwxy  (see  p.  3),  a  Northamptonshire 
hamlet  of  Banbury  bordering  on  the  Cherwell  and  five  miles  S.S.W. 
from  Wallow  Bank.  Five  miles  farther,  or  nine  miles  directly 
south  from  Wallow  Bank,  the  course  of  this  vallum  is  again  trace- 
able in  the  names  of  Walton  Grounds  and  Walton  Chapel,  so  called 
from  pall,  wall,  and  tun,  a  town.  At  the  further  distance  of  three 
miles  and  three  quarters  S.  by  E.  from  Walton,  the  remains  of  a 
line  of  Embankment,  called  Wattlebank,  Ashbank,  and  AvES- 
DITCH,  are  traceable  southward  ;  and  are  yet  visible  for  several 
miles,  although  much  less  distinctly  in  many  parts  than  they  lately 
were.  This  hue,  commencing  at  Fritwell,  extended  along  the  east- 
ern side  of  an  ancient  Trackway  which  runs  on  the  east  of  the 
Portway  until  it  meets  it  on  the  north  of  Kirtlington  ;  at  which 
point  the  Embankment,  still  running  in  a  direct  line,  crosses  the 
Portway  and  continues  nearly  to  the  Cherwell,  at  the  part  where 
that  river  was  crossed  by  the  Akeman  Street."^ 

In  the  vicinity  of  Black  Grounds  at  Chipping  Wardon  there  re- 

(20)  In  noticiiiK  the  traces  of  this  Embankment  see  the  Map  (Plate  4). 

(21)  Morton's  Northamp.,  pp.  523,  526.  (22)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  531. 
(23)  It  is  partly  marked  in  the  Ordnance  Maps.     See  also  Plate  4,  and  pp.  38,  39. 


30  AllBURY  BANKS.— ARBERRY  HILL. 

mains  to  be  noticed  an  extensive  Camp,  mentioned  before  (p.  22)  as 
being  probably  one  of  the  Roman  forts  formed  by  Ostorius,  called 
Arbury  Banks.  This  is  situated  partly  upon,  and  partly  to  the 
north  of,  the  rectory  fann,  or  one  mile  nearly  due  west  from  Black 
Grounds  and  about  half  a  mile  southwestward  from  Wallow  Bank. 
(See  the  Plan,  p.  27.)  Mr.  Baker's  opinion  that  this  was  not  an 
enclosed  entrenchment  appears  to  be  erroneovis  ;  but  it  is  now  diffi- 
cult to  trace  some  parts  of  the  plan,  and  the  operations  of  the 
plough  are  fast  obliterating  a  large  portion  of  the  remains.  The 
principal  vallum  that  now  exists  entire  is  296  yards  in  length, 
running  north  and  south.  Rather  nearer  the  village  is  a  second 
and  higher  embankment,  almost  parallel  to  the  first,  but  of  less 
extent ;  which  appears  to  have  been  connected  with  the  first-named 
vallum  in  the  manner  marked  in  the  plan.  Most  of  the  parts  laid 
down  in  the  plan  as  lying  to  the  east  of  these  are  still  distinctly 
traceable  ;  but  those  parts  which  are  represented  by  single  dotted 
lines  are  given  almost  conjecturally.  The  circular  mount  is  a  part 
of  the  vallum  which  has  been  preserved  in  a  more  perfect  state 
from  the  circumstance  of  a  windmill  having  at  some  period  been 
erected  on  it.  The  encampment  appears  not  to  have  been  British ; 
nor  does  the  site  command  that  extensive  prospect  which  suggests 
an  ob\T.ous  connection  with  other  and  distant  camps,  a  feature  which 
characterizes  all  the  fortresses  in  these  parts  that  are  decidedly 
British. 

At  a  short  distance  south  of  Black  Grounds  is  the  Field  of 
DANfiSMOOR  (see  the  Map,  Plate  4),  near  which  an  "  instrument 
of  brass,  supposed  to  have  been  the  head  of  an  ensign  staff,"  but 
doubtless  a  celt,  is  mentioned  by  Morton  as  having  been  found  in 
a  pond.-^ 

At  CULWORTH,  situated  two  miles  and  a  half  E.S.E.  from  Black 
Grounds  and  on  the  Banbury  Lane  leading  to  Northampton,  was 
lately  found  a  Roman  coin  of  the  small  brass  of  Quintillus.-^ 

In  tracing  the  Portway  from  Eydon  towards  Aynho,  the  direct 
and  most  probable  line  is  by  Culworth,  and  by  the  British  Camp 
on  ARBERRY  HlLL^^  (see  the  Map,  Plate  4).  This  camp  is  situated 
by  the  side  of  the   Banbury   Lane,  somewhat  more  than  a  mile 


(24)  Morton's  Noithamp.,  p.  542.     And  see  the  note  hereafter,  pp.  31,  35. 

(25)  In  the  possession  of  G.  Baker  Esq.  of  Northampton. 

(26)  This  must  not  be  confounded  with  Arbury  Banks  just  mentioned,  nor  with  another 
camp  at  Arbury  Hill  in  the  parish  of  Badby  mentioned  in  the  note  p.  22. 


THENFORD.— STONE  GREEN.  31 

Banbury.  The  site  commands  a  view  as  far  as  Nadbury  camp, 
eight  miles  and  a  half  distant  VV.N.W.  ;  and  along  the  western 
horizon,  beyond  Crouch  Hill,  to  the  equally  distant  camps  at  Mad- 
marston  and  Tadmarton.  On  the  eastern  side  the  prospect  is 
much  more  limited.  The  situation  of  Arberry  Hill  more  than 
three  miles  east  of  the  Cherwell,  renders  it  probable  that  this  Camp 
was  a  fortress  of  the  Coritani  overlooking  the  territory  of  the  Do- 
buni.  The  remaining  earthwork  is  irregular,  but  nearly  the  seg- 
ment of  a  circle,  extending  about  150  yards  along  the  northern 
and  western  edges  of  the  hill.  About  seven  yards  below  is  a  ledge 
or  linchet,  from  which  the  second  declivity  runs  to  the  base  of  the 
hill. 

Southward  of  Arberry  Hill  camp,  and  near,  if  not  actually 
upon,  the  line  of  the  Portway,  is  the  ancient  village  of  THEN- 
FORD.  In  Seabridge  Close,  about  600  yards  northwest  from 
the  church  of  Thenford  and  a  little  west  of  the  old  water 
mill,  (four  miles  E.  by  N.  from  Banbury,)  is  a  large  funeral 
pile  formed  of  earth  and  rubble  stones ;  where  great  quan- 
tities of  human  bones,  and  many  earthern  urns,  or  drinking  cups, 
have  been  found."^  One  of  these  in  the  possession  of  Geo.  Baker 
Esq.  (Plate  8,  fig.  4)  is  of  black  pottery,  and  three  inches  and  a 
quarter  in  height.  Mr.  Baker  mentions  that  some  labourers,  pre- 
viously to  his  visit  to  the  spot,  discovered  two  skeletons  at  the 
lapper  end  of  the  stonepit,  lying  east  and  west,  with  a  small  druiking 
cup  near  them.  On  exploring  some  of  the  adjacent  ground  in  a 
southerly  direction,  Mr.  Baker  found  the  remains  of  five  skeletons 
disposed  in  three  distinct  tiers  ;  one  in  each  of  the  two  first  tiers,  and 
three  about  a  yard  distant  from  each  other  in  the  lower  tier."^  The 
iron  blade  of  a  Roman  knife,  five  inches  in  length  (Plate  8,  fig. 
5),  was  found  by  the  side  of  a  skeleton  exhumed  by  Miss  Baker 
and  Mr.  Severne."^ 

In  digging  a  grave  in  the  church-yard  at  Thenford,  an  urn  was 
found  with  ashes  in  it.^"  Morton  adds — "Such  squares  as  the 
Romans  made  their  chequered  pavements  of  have  been  found  in 
the  field,  and  also  a  medal  of  the  emperor  Constnns."  Mr.  Baker 
says,  "  dispersed  fragments  of  Roman  materials  may  be  traced  in 
the  village  causeway :  and  the  two  fields  called  Stone  Green  and 

(27)  Information  from  S.  A.  Severne,Esq.  (28)  Baker's  Northamp.  p.  717. 

(29)  Information  from  S.  A.  Seveme,  Esq.,  who  presented  to  Mr.  Haker  the  urn  and  knife  : 
these  were  kindly  lent  me  bj'  the  latter  gentleman  to  be  engraved  lor  this  work. 

(30)  Morton's  Northamp.  p.  529. 


32  THE  PORTWAY.— WARKWORTH. 

Flaxlands,  about  half  a  mile  east  of  tlie  village,  abound  in  vestigia 
of  Roman  occupation  over  a  space  of  ground  much  too  extended 
for  a  mere  \alla.  Foundations  of  buildings,  tesserae,  and  coins,  have 
been  frequently  turned  up  hy  the  plough.^'  In  the  field  called 
Stone  Green,  at  the  distance  of  three  furlongs  due  east  from 
the  church,  was  found  a  hjpocaust,^^  some  portions  of  which  have 
been  preserved  by  jVIr.  Severne.  In  the  same  field,  and  in  the  adjacent 
one  eastward  called  Flaxland,  a  great  number  of  Roman  coins  have 
been  fomid,  of  which  a  silver  one  of  Vespasian,  and  copper  coins 
of  Tetricus,  Constautine  the  Great,  Constantine  junior,  and  Constans, 
are  or  were  recently  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Severne.  Mr.  Baker 
states  that  on  his  examination  of  the  spot  he  found  numerous 
fragments  of  Roman  pottery,  tiles,  and  tesserse,  with  foundations 
of  walls  and  portions  of  hypocausts ;  but  the  latter  had  been  so 
much  disturbed  as  to  render  it  impossible  to  trace  the  plan  of  any 
of  the  buildings.  Skeletons  have  been  found  in  Mr.  Severne's 
garden,  on  the  north  side  of  Stone  Green.^^  The  conjecture  that 
the  Portway  passed  in  this  direction  is  supported  by  the  fact 
that,  about  a  mile  S.S.E.  from  Thenford  church,  where  the  brook 
reaches  the  turnpike  road,  (at  a  part  in  the  map  marked  "  Re- 
mains,") there  have  been  found  traces  of  a  road  made  on  piles 
of  wood,^*  which  appeared  by  its  direction  to  have  led  hy  the 
camp  on  Arberry  Hill,  and  by  Stone   Green,  to  this  part. 

At  Gretworth,  one  mile  and  a  half  E.  by  N.  from  Stone 
Green,  m  digging  for  stone,  five  urns  were  found,  in  a  row,  close  to 
each  other ;  in  the  mouth  of  one  of  them  was  a  smaller  urn  in- 
verted.^^ 

On  the  northern  brow  of  Castle  Hill  in  the  parish  of  Cha- 
combe,  three  miles  northeast  from  Banbury,  are  traces  of  earth- 
works. 

Southward  of  Thenford  we  approach  the  part  of  the  Portway 
nearest  to  Banbury.  On  the  west  of  the  luie,  at  Warkworth,  two 
miles  eastward  from  Banbury,  coins  of  the  early  Roman  emperors 
are  before  mentioned  (p.  23)  as  having  been  discovered.  Other 
coins  lately  found  there  were  a  large  brass  one  of  Lucilla,  and 
se\'eral  coins  of  silver  and  large  and  small  braids. 

Further  southward,  near  BUSTON  farm  house,  three  miles  and 
a  half  E.S.E.  from  Banbury,  are  some  Tumuli  (mentioned  p.  16), 

(31)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  717.  (.32)  Information  from  S.  A.  Severne  Esq. 

(33)  Inlormation  from  S.  A.  Se\emc  Esq. ;  and  Baker's  Northamp. 

(3i)  Information  from  S.  A.  Severne  Esq.  (35)  Morton,  p.  530. 


KING'S  SUTTON.— TWYFORD.  33 

namely,  two  called  the  Two  Lows  (lop,)  a  tumulus,  and  a  third  in 
a  very  prominent  situation  on  the  lofty  Highthorns  Hill  above  the 
house. ^^ 

The  Portway  may  be  presmned  to  have  taken  its  course,  near 
the  above  Tumuli,  by  or  to  Black-LANDS-PIECE,  or  Black-land 
Furlong,  now  called  Blackland,  southwest  of  the  above  Tumuli, 
three  quarters  of  a  mile  north  of  the  village  of  King's  Sutton, 
and  three  miles  southeast  from  Banbury.  Morton  mentions  Ro- 
man money  found  in  his  time  at  Black-land  Furlong  in  the  parish 
of  Sutton.^"  It  is  a  piece  of  arable  land,  of  a  very  dark  colour  as 
compared  with  the  red  land  around  it,  and  situated  on  a  high  hill 
commanding  a  \-iew  of  Nadbury  Camp  on  the  Edgehill  range. 
Crouch  Hill,  and  the  Vale  of  the  Cherwell  southward.  The  field 
which  since  the  enclosure  goes  by  the  name  of  Blackland  (the  soil 
of  which  is  partly  dark  and  partly  red)  measures  ten  acres  ;  but 
the  dark  colour  prevails  over  much  of  the  adjoining  land  southward. 
The  entire  site  measm'es  twenty  or  thirty  acres.  An  ancient  road 
which  crosses  the  Cherwell  at  Twj-ford  (Two  fords,  where  there 
are  now  bridges  across  the  double  stream)  and  passes  through  the 
site  on  the  north  of  the  field  called  Blackland,  comiected  the  Port- 
way  with  the  Saltway^**  and  the  other  ancient  roads  west  of  the  Cher- 
well. (See  the  Map,  Plate  4.)  Mr.  Baker  gives  an  account  of  ske- 
letons ha\Tiig  been  found  at  Black-lands-piece  at  various  times,  at 
the  depth  of  two  feet,  lying  with  their  heads  to  the  east,  and  interred 
in  the  British  manner  within  cistvaens  formed  of  the  rough  slab 
stones  of  the  district.  In  1825,  on  the  same  level  was  discovered 
a  cinerary  urn  of  reddish  unbaked  clay,  ten  inches  and  a  quarter 
in  height,  and  varying  in  girth  from  one  foot  two  inches  and  a  half 
to  one  foot  nine  inches  and  a  half.  It  was  filled  with  burned  bones 
and  earth,  and  was  standing  upright  with  a  stone  over  the  mouth. 
Close  to  it  was  a  coin  of  Hadrian,  and  at  a  short  distance  two  of 
the  large  brass  of  Aurelius.  About  two  yards  from  the  urn  were 
found  three   skeletons.^^ 

The  coins  found  on  this  site   some   years  ago,   and  which  are 

(36)  Baker,  p.  70.3.  (37)  Morton,  p.  631. 

(38.  The  Upper  Saltway  was  a  British  trackway  leading  from  the  Salt  mines  at  Droitwich 
(Salinre)  to  the  coast  of  Lincohishire.  The  Lower  Saltway  led  from  the  same  mines  to  the 
southeastern  coast  of  England.  This  latter  way  is  traced  by  the  Rev.  T.  Leman  from  Droit- 
wich, under  the  name  of"  the  Saltway,"  in  the  direction  of  Evesham.  (Hatcher's  Richard  of 
Cirencester,  1809,  pp.  110, 116.)  Probably  there  were  several  roads  under  the  same  name 
leading  from  the  Salt  mines  to  distant  parts  of  the  kingdom.  The  Saltway  which  passes 
Banburv  is  in  the  direction  from  Droitwich  towards  London.     (Sec  page  16.) 

(39)  Baker,  p.  703. 

E 


34  BLACK-LANDS-PIECE.— CELT. 

called  in  the  village  "  Blacklaud  pence,"  are  mentioned  as  being  so 
numerous  as  to  have  been  carried  away  in  buckets.  Of  those 
found  recently  I  have  seen  one  of  the  middle  brass  of  Antoninus 
Pius,  one  of  the  base  coins  of  Postumus,  several  of  the  small  brass 
of  Tetricus,  Carausius,  x\llectus,  Licinius,  Constantine  the  Great, 
Constantine  junior,  Constantius,  Magnentius,  and  Valens  ;  and  a 
vast  number  of  others  of  the  lower  empire,  mostly  too  obliterated 
to  be  deciphered.'"  Mr.  Baker  possesses  coins  of  Marcus  Aurelius  and 
Claudius  Gothicus  obtained  from  the  same  spot.  Large  brass,  and 
silver  coins,  have  been  found ;  also  numerous  foundation  walls  of 
squared  stones,  with  millstones,  and  clinkers  in  such  quantity  as  to 
induce  an  opinion  among  the  people  of  the  neighbourhood  that  there 
were  "  many  forges  there."  Many  of  the  stones  which  are  dug  up  are 
found  to  have  been  burned  red.''^  Skeletons  have  been  also  found  in 
the  red  field  on  the  north  of  the  road  and  northwest  of  Blackland : 
one  of  these  was  within  a  cistvaen,  and  lying  at  full  length.  In  1840 
were  discovered  in  the  same  field  four  skeletons,  with  rough  head 
stones,  the  heads  lying  to  the  west.  These  interments  were  on  the 
rock,  two  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  soil.  Between  the  knees  of 
one  skeleton  were  some  fragments  of  pottery  of  the  rudest  kind.  In 
the  adjoining  field,  west  of  Blackland,  a  skeleton  was  found  some 
time  before  within  a  cistvaen,  wherein  was  also  found  one  of  those 
bone  pins  (Plate  9,  fig.  3)  of  British  character  which  are  supposed 
to  have  been  used  either  for  fastening  the  dress  or  for  markers  at 
some  kind  of  game.  Mr.  George  Baker  of  Northampton  has  in 
his  possession  a  British  celt  of  serpentine  which  was  found  at  tliis 
site,  and  which  he  has  kindly  permitted  to  be  engraved  for  this 
volume  (Plate  9,  fig.  2).  It  is  a  very  beautiful  specimen,  quite 
perfect,  and  measures  four  inches  and  four  tenths  in  length,  and 
weighs  eight  ounces  and  a  half.^^  Mr.  Loggins,  the  proprietor  of 
Blackland,  states  that  there  are  parts  of  the  field  where  corn  does 
not  thrive ;  and  that  this  occurs  particularly  on  a  line  across  the 
site,  giving  the  appearance  of  the  foundation  of  an  ancient  road 

(40)  In  the  possession  of  Mr.  Loggins  and  Mr.  W.  T.  Dagley  of  King's  Sutton. 

(41)  Information  from  Mr.  Loggins  of  King's  Sutton  ;  and  personal  inspection. 

(42)  Many  conjectures  have  been  made  relative  to  the  uses  of  those  ancient  instruments, 
formed  of  metal,  flint,  &c  ,  and  of  various  shapes,  which  indiscriminately  go  by  the  name 
of  celt?.  Domestic,  military,  architectural,  and  rehgious  uses,  have  all  been  assigned. 
Some  of  the  celts  which  are  formed  of  stone  appear  to  have  been  the  heads  of  hammers. 
Others,  which  are  in  shape,  weight,  and  finish,  like  the  above-named  one  of  serpentine 
(Plate  9,  fig.  2),  have  been  with  probability  conjectured  to  have  been  used  for  polishing 
pottery.  Or,  bound  with  reeds  or  thongs  within  the  hole  of  a  shaft,  they  may  have  been 
used  either  as  implements  or  weapons.  Again,  their  form,  weight,  and  polish,  render  them 
admirably  adapted  for  "sling  stones"  (Job,  xli.  28.  I.  Samuel,  xvii.  40),  and  the  labour 
that  would  be  required  for  supplying  such  stones,  either  for  the  use  of  the  chieftains  in  battle 


THE  PORTWAY.— KINGS  SUTTON.  Sf) 

beinar  below.     Urns,  ashes,  and   coins,  have  beep  found  between 
Blackland  and  x\strop.''^  ir^-  i  i<^\JiJ^ 

Three  places  where  black  land  occnrs,  namely,  near  Madmar- 
ston  Camp  (p.  17),  at  Chipping  Wardon  (p.  26),  and  at  King's 
Sutton  (p.  33),  have  now  been  enumerated,  all  being  within  the  red 
land  district  of  the  northern  part  of  Oxfordshire  and  the  con- 
tigtious  parts  of  Northamptonshire  ;  and  all  abounding  in  British  and 
Roman  remains. 

The  Portway  probably  proceeded  from  Blackland,  or  on  the 
eastern  side  of  it  (near  Newbottle  Hill  spinney),  and  passed 
tlu-ough  or  near  King's  Sutton  towards  Walton.  At  Newbottle 
SPINNEY,  which  is  one  mile  and  a  half  southeast  from  Blackland, 
several  skeletons  have  been  found."  King's  Sutton  is  three 
miles  and  three  quarters  southeast  from  Banbiu-y.  On  the  north 
side  of  the  village  are  the  partial  remains  of  an  ancient  douljle 
entrenchment  (perhaps  Norman),  in  a  ground  called  Barton  (com- 
ing up  to  the  lane  which  leads  to  Banbury)  and  in  Lake  meadow. 
At  this  entrenchment  a  skeleton  was  dug  up  at  the  time  of  the  en- 
closure. In  other  parts  of  King's  Sutton  field,  coins  of  Tetrieus, 
Claudius  Gothicus,  and  Constans,  have  been  found.^^ 

From  King's  Sutton  there  appears  to  have  been  an  ancient  way 
going  from,  or  across,  the  Portway,  by  the  present  lane  running  past 
Newbottle  Hill  spinney  towards  Evenley.  At  EvENLEY  are  the 
remains  of  a  castellated  vork,  which  was  probably  Norman.  In 
1826,  during  the  irrigation  of  a  field  called  Addington's  meadow, 
at  the  northern  extremity  of  Evenley  parish,  near  the  river  Ouse, 
were  found  several  hundred  Roman  coins  of  Nero,  Domitian,  Alex- 
ander Severus,  Probus,  Carausius,  Constantine,  and  other  em- 
perors.^*' In  Astwick  field,  south  from  the  same  castellated  work, 
Roman  coins  have  been  found,  one  of  which  was  of  Constantius.''^ 

The  Portway  proceeded  from,  or  on  the  east  of,  King's  Sutton, 

or  for  slaying  the  victims  at  sacrifices,  would  not  enter  into  the  account  of  those  who  had 
little  other  labour  to  perform. 

"  Dreads  he  the  twanging  of  the  ai'cher's  string? 

Or  singing  stones  from  the  Phoenician  sling?" — Sandys. 
The  material  (serpentine)  of  which  this  celt  found  at  King's  Sutton  is  fonned,  must  have  been 
brought  from  a  district  as  far  remote  as  Cornwall,  Wales,  or  Westmorland. 

Sir  S.  R.  Meyriek  calls  the  bronze  celts  battle-axes,  and  he  has  pointed  out  the  mode  in 
which  he  conceives  they  were  fastened  to  a  handle  of  wood.  One  of  this  kind,  found  at 
Aynho,  is  mentioned  in  p.  37,  and  engraved  in  Plate  9,  fig.  1.  I  concur  in  the  opinion 
of  Sir  S.  R.  Meyriek  respecting  this  kind  of  celt.  Other  celts  formed  of  metal  appear  to 
have  been  designed  for  the  tops  of  ensign  staves. 

(43)  Information  from  Mr.  Loggins,  and  others  resident  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  tlie 
place.     Personal  examinations  of  the  site,  and  of  many  of  the  remains. 

(44)  Information  from  labourers  on  the  spot.  (4-5)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  703. 
(46)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  617.                                           (47)  Bridges'  Northamp.,  p.  168. 

E  3 


36  WALTON  GROUNDS.— RAINSBOROUGH  CAMP. 

through  Walton  Grounds,  already  mentioned  (p.  29)  when 
treating  of  ^Yallow  Bank  at  Chipping  ^Yardon.  The  road  here, 
though  ahnost  deserted,  is  evidently  an  ancient  trackway,  and  it  is 
called  Portway  in  many  early  court  rolls  and  evidences,^  and  in 
a  plan  made  before  the  enclosure.'*^ 

From  Walton  farm  house  a  road  goes  off  from  the  Portway, 
eastward,  to  Rainsborough  Camp,  distant  one  mile.  This  very 
perfect  camp  has  been  already  named  (p.  13)  as  one  of  those  un- 
questionably British.  "  In  the  townsliip  of  Charlton,"  says  An- 
thony a  Wood,^"  "  and  in  the  parish  of  Newbottle  in  Northampton- 
shire, there  is  on  the  top  of  a  little  hill  wliich  has  a  prospect  round 
about  it,  a  camp  with  a  double  fortification.  The  ground  upon  it 
which  is  a  barren  soil,  hath  as  it  seems  been  Would  Land  [wood- 
land]. The  inward  fortification  is  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
about ;  the  outward,  half  at  least.  This  camp  and  hill  is  com- 
monly called  Rainsborough  hill.  *  *  *  *  W^ithiu  the  memory 
of  man,  the  land  within  the  inward  fortification,  together  with  the 
inward  fortification  itself,  hath  been  plowed  up  by  several  persons, 
each  having  his  lot  allowed  him.  And  a  certain  person  of  Charl- 
ton, who  had  the  middle  part  allowed  him,  did  not  only  plow  up 
the  middle  part,  but  levelled  the  inward  fortification,  so  far  as  his 
share  went.  In  digging  down  the  said  apartment,  or  allotment, 
there  were  discovered  several  iron  pots,  glasses,  ashes.  And  the 
neighbourhood  say  it  was  an  apothecary's  shop.  Whether  this 
was  a  camp  belonging  to  the  Britains,  who  encamped  themselves 
when  the  Romans  invaded  them  witliin  woods,  or  of  the  Saxons 
or  Danes,  I  cannot  tell  you." 

Rhain,  in  the  British  language,  signifies  a  halbert,  pike,  or  spear  ; 
and  Rain  or  Rinn,  in  the  Irish-British,  is  the  point  of  a  sword  or 
spear ;  as  also  a  hill  in  some  parts  of  Ireland.^^  Beorgh,  altered 
in  this  ease  into  borough,  signifies  a  place  or  fortress.  The  inte- 
rior of  Rainsborough  camp  measures  about  six  acres;  and  the 
whole  circuit,  including  the  fosse,  rather  more  than  eleven.  (Plate 
5.)  The  principal  vallum  rises  about  seven  feet  above  the  level 
of  the  area  enclosed  witliin  it,  and  is  twenty-four  feet  wide  at  the 
base.  The  fosse,  exterior  to  this  vallum,  is  thirteen  feet  deep.  The 
outer  vallimi  is  traceable  tliroughout,  and  in  some  parts  strongly 
marked.  On  the  southwest  side  are  remains  of  a  thu'd  vallum. 
The  principal  entrances  are  on  the  W.S.W.  and  E.N.E.  ;  and  there 

(48)  Bridges,  p.  134.  (49)  Baker,  p.  558. 

(50)  ■Woods  MSS.,  in  A.shmol.  Libr.  (51)  Morton,  p.  541. 


AYNHO.— THE  PORTWAY.— SOULDERN.  3/ 

are  at  present  iudicatious  of  other  entrances  through  the  inner 
A-allum.  Bridges  states  that  a  gold  coin  of  Vespasian  was  ploughed 
up  at  a  little  distance  froni  Raiusborough  hill.  "  It  was  fair  and 
well  preserved,  was  rather  tliicker  than  a  shilling,  and  had  been 
dipt  close  to  the  letters.  It  weighed  one  drachm,  two  scruples,  and 
sixteen  grains  [116  grains].  Round  the  head  was  T.  CAES.  IMP.  ; 
on  the  reverse  a  person  sitting  on  a  Sella  Curulis,  with  an  Hasta  in 
his  right  hand,  and  the  left  hand  stretched  out.  Under  his  feet 
was  a  Scabellum,  and  the  inscription  TRI.  POT.  PONTIF."^  About 
the  year  171)5  a  large  quantity  of  gold  coins  were  found  by  a  la- 
bourer employed  on  the  site  of  the  camp."  Numerous  Roman  coins 
have  been  turned  up  of  late  years,  of  which  some  were  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  late  Henry  Smyth  Esq.  of  Charlton,  and  George  Baker 
Esq.  of  Northampton. 

The  Portway  entered  Aynho  from  Walton  by  the  ancient  track- 
way before  mentioned.  Near  this  spot,  north  of  the  village,  and 
five  miles  and  three  quarters  southeast  from  Banbury,  a  grooved 
metal  celt  was  found  some  years  ago,  with  a  number  of  skeletons 
lying  north  and  south.^  The  celt,  which  is  in  beautiiul  preservation, 
is  made  of  an  alloy  of  copper  and  tin,  weighs  16  ounces,  and  mea- 
sures five  inches  and  eight-tenths  in  length.  (Plate  9,  fig.  I  ;  and  see 
the  note,  pp.  34,  35.)^  Crossing  the  turnpike  road  to  Buckingham, 
the  Portway  reaches  a  part  where  the  way  has  been  partially  levelled, 
and  reduced  to  the  narrow  path  which  intersects  Mr.  Cartwright's 
park.  In  levelling  the  ground  here  the  workmen  disinterred  a 
skeleton,  the  knees  of  which  were  gathered  up  towards  the  breast, 
as  was  frequently  the  case  at  the  most  early  British  times ;  and  it 
was  enclosed  in  a  cistvaen  composed  of  four  stone  slabs  placed  at 
right  angles.^  A  little  further  southward,  another  skeleton,  lying  at 
full  length,  was  discovered  at  the  decUvity  of  the  hill  between 
Aynho  and  Souldem.*^ 

Qiiitting  Aynho  the  Portway  enters  Oxfordshire,  and  Irom  this 
part  its  course  is  traceable  at  the  present  day.  At  SOULDERX, 
seven  miles   S.E.  by  S.   from   Banbury,    it  runs,  from  the   turn- 

(1)  Bridges,  p.  190.  (2)  Information  from  an  inhabitant  of  Charlton. 

(3)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  558. 

(4)  This  celt  is  in  the  possession  of  G.  Baker  Esq.  of  Northampton. 

(5)  Baker,  p.  558. 

(6)  Information  from  the  Rev.  R.  W.  Leonard,  vicar  of  King's  Sutton.  Morton,  writing 
of  this  part  in  1712,  but  commencing  at  the  other  end  of  the  Portway,  says — "  The  above- 
said  way,  though  discontinued  nigh  Souldern,  yet  appears  again,  if  I  mistake  not,  when 
entered  Northamptonshire,  passing  up  a  hill  where  it  was  pitched  with  stones,  to  Aynho 
town-side." — Mortons  Xorlhatnp.,  p.  -502. 


38  CHILGROVE.— WATTLEBANK. 

pike  gate  east  of  the  village,  part  of  the  way  along  the  present  road 
towards  Fritwell.  At  a  distance  less  than  a  furlong  south  of  the 
turnpike  gate,  on  the  eastern  side  of  this  road,  was  an  ancient  bar- 
row or  exploratory  mount  called  Ploughley  Hill  (mentioned  p.  16), 
and  wliich  has  given  name  to  the  hundred  in  which  it  stood.  The 
Portway  then  passes  to  the  westward  of  Fritwell,  and  also  of  CHIL- 
GROVE, which  latter  spot  is  the  site  of  extensive  ancient  remains. 
It  then  runs  in  a  direct  line,  eastward  of  Somerton,  the  Hey  fords,  and 
Xorthbrook,  to  Kirtlington ;  and  through  this  part  of  its  course  of 
more  than  six  miles  from  near  Souldern  to  Kirtlington,  it  has 
always  been  known  as  "  the  Portway,"  and  is  so  marked  in  Cam- 
den's map,  and  has  been  accurately  laid  down  in  the  Ordnance 
Survey.  In  the  wildest  part  of  the  unenclosed  country  north  of 
Heyford,  the  Portway  remains  as  a  raised,  though  almost  an  un- 
frequented way.  At  Kirtlington  the  Portway  crossed  the  Akeman 
Street,  which  passes  eastward  to  Alchester,  distant  four  miles  and 
a  half. 

From  Kirtlington  there  are  traces  of  the  continuance  of  the 
Portway,  southward,  by  the  village  of  Bletchington,  the  church  of 
Hampton  Poyle,  and  the  church  of  Kidlingtou,  to  the  fourth  mile- 
stone from  Oxford  on  the  road  towards  Banbm-y.'  Nearly  a  mile 
farther  southward  are  Stratfield  Farm  aud  Stratfield  Brake,  the  name 
of  which,  from  j^tjia^t:,  a  street  or  ivay,  bespeaks  the  continuance 
of  the  Portway  farther  in  the  same  direction.  From  Stratfield  the 
distance  is  only  two  miles,  in  the  same  line,  to  Port  Meadow  at 
Oxford.^ 

Recommencing  our  track,  at  the  distance  of  half  a  mile  south- 
ward from  Souldern,  an  ancient  way  branches  off  from  the  Portway, 
and  passes,  in  a  southerly  direction,  by  the  eastern  part  of  Fritwell, 
and  Chilgrove.  This  way  is  defended  in  some  parts,  on  the  east 
side,  by  the  earthwork  known  as  Avesditch,  Wattlebank,  and 
Ashbank  (see  p.  29).  The  portions  of  the  vallum  which  re- 
main are  yet,  in  some  parts,  five  feet  high,  and  from  five  to  ten 
yards  m  breadth.  Three  quarters  of  a  mile  eastward  from  Wattle- 
bank  is  Ardley,  where  there  is  an  ancient  earthwork  which  appears 
to  have  been  the  foundation  of  a  castle  in  the  reign  of  Stephen. 
This  second  road,  accompanied  by  its  Bank,  also  runs  towards 
the  Akeman  Street,  falling  into  the  Portway  a  little  northward  of 
Kirtlington.     At  this  junction  the  Bank  crosses  the  Portway,  and 

(7)  See  the  Ordnance  Maji.  (8)  Ibid. 


ROMAN  REMAINS.— BEACONSFIELD  FARM.  39 

continues  in  a  direct  line,  and  about  three  feet  and  a  half  in  height, 
across  the  fields,  three  quarters  of  a  mile  farther,  nearly  to  the 
Cherwell,  the  vale  of  which  Ues  on  the  west." 

Kennet  mentions  another  ancient  road  leading  from  Alchester, 
declining  from  the  Akeman  Street  at  Chesterton,  and  passing 
through  Middleton  Stony,  where  there  is  a  barrow  or  large  hillock 
cast  up  ;  thence  falling  into  Wattlebank  or  Avesditch.  "  It  might 
lead  to  Banbury,  as  is,"  says  Kennet,  "  the  tradition  of  the  inhabi- 
tants near  Alchester."'" 


OTHER  ANCIENT  REMAINS. 

At  DUNSTEW,  seven  miles  and  a  half  south  of  Banbury,  a 
Roman  pavement  is  stated  to  have  been  dxxg  up  about  150  years 
ago." 

At  BEACONSFIELD  FARM,  near  Great  Tew  village,  and  eight 
miles  S.S.VV.  from  Banbury,  some  interesting  Roman  remains  were 
discovered  in  1810,  of  which  the  following  account  was  preserved 
by  the  resident  minister,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Nash.  "On  the  22nd  of 
May,  1810,  as  some  workmen  were  making  a  ditch  for  a  threshing 
machine,  under  the  direction  of  Captain  Stenhouse  Wood,  at  Bea- 
confield  Farm,  in  the  parish  of  Great  Tew,  they  found,  on  ad- 
vancing up  the  hill,  that  the  earth  in  many  parts  had  been  dis- 
turbed ;  and,  occasionally,  they  met  with  bones,  wood  ashes,  and 
black  earths  like  soot.  Sometimes  these  were  at  the  depth  of  three 
or  four  feet  beneath  the  surface ;  and,  in  some  instances,  they  came 
to  them  more  readily.  When  their  work  proceeded  to  the  rick- 
yard,  they  were  stopped  by  a  wall  of  some  strength,  and  an  ante- 
passage,  with  an  entrance  door  walled  up.  When  part  of  it  was 
taken  down,  they  discovered  a  Roman  burial  vault,  nearly  as  per- 
fect as  when  it  was  retained  in  use.  It  measured  where  disturbed 
twenty  feet  in  length,  and  in  width  eighteen  feet ;  the  height  was 
eight  feet  from  the  planking  stones.  It  had  a  half  circle  to  the 
north,  of  rough  stone,  eight  feet  in  diameter,  which  probably  cor- 
responded with  a  window  of  the  temple  that  was  built  over  it.  The 
ball  which  appeared  to  have  finished  the  top  was  lying  among  the 

(9)  See  the  Ordnance  Map.  (10)  Kennel's  Paroch.  Antiq.,  v.  l,p.  24. 

(11)  Warton's  Kiddington,  p.  59.  However  I  strongly  suspect  that  the  Doctor  has  written 
Dunstew  for  Great  Tew,  where  Dr.  Plot  records  a  Roman  pavement  having  been  ploughed 
up  at  the  period  alluded  to. 


40  ROMAN  REMAINS.— BEACONSFIELD  FARM. 

rubbish.  The  human  remains  were  laid  in  partitions  of  a  dis- 
similar width,  which  crossed  the  vault  from  east  to  west,  and  were 
built  with  Roman  red  tiles,  about  eight  inches  and  a  half  square. 
Many  of  the  bones  that  had  been  covered  with  sand  were  very 
perfect ;  and  the  teeth  of  some  of  them  were  sound  in  the  jaws. 
The  partitions  were  two  feet  and  a  half  deep,  and  were  generally 
about  the  width  of  our  graves.  These  sepulchral  receptacles  were 
covered  with  plank  tiles,  which  had  the  same  fresh  appearance  as 
when  first  taken  from  the  kiln.  Juvenal,  in  his  Fifth  Satire,  has 
these  w^ords  :  Exigud  feralis  ccena  patelld.  In  illustration  of  this 
passage  it  is  observed,  that  the  Romans  used  to  place  in  their  se- 
pulchres, to  appease  the  spirits  of  the  deceased,  a  little  milk,  honey, 
water,  and  wine ;  together  with  olives  and  flowers.  We  examined 
the  graves,  or  recesses,  and  found  some  of  the  small  thin  basins 
of  black  Roman  pottery  alluded  to.'"  Sometimes  a  red  Roman  ash 
urn  was  discovered  among  the  rubbish.  The  dimensions  of  the 
red  planking  tiles  were  various.  Some  were  eleven  inches  and  a 
half  square ;  others  were  twenty-three  inches  and  a  half  square ; 
and  some  were  twenty-one  inches  by  eleven  inches.  The  whole 
were  one  inch  and  a  half  thick.  There  were  two  tiers  of  sepul- 
chral recesses  ;  and  above  was  a  spread  of  planking  tiles,  covered 
with  mortar  and  sand,  to  the  thickness  of  about  two  inches,  in 
which  was  set  tessellated  work.  The  squares  were  of  various 
colours ;  white,  dark,  red,  and  blue.  Some  of  them  were  white 
stones,  covered  ;  and  others  were  formed  of  white  or  pottery  clay. 
The  ornaments  were  urns  and  serpentine  lines.  This  appears  to 
have  been  the  temple  floor.  There  were  red  earthen  flues,  about 
one  foot  and  a  half  long,  with  equilateral  triangles,  inverted  like  an 
hourglass,  and  cut  open  for  air-holes  on  the  narrow  sides.  The 
walls  were  all  plastered,  except  the  half  circle  to  the  north.  Some 
of  the  plaster  was  as  white  as  that  made  from  burned  shells.  The 
temple  had  been  covered  in  with  small  flat  stones,  such  as  are 
usually  found  in  sand  beds,  with  peg  holes  on  either  side.  The 
greater  part  of  the  persons  buried  were  minores  igne  rogi}^  The 
Roman  altar,  where  the  sacrifices  were  burned,  stood  in  the  open 
air,  twenty  feet  below  the  temple,  to  the  south,  and  there  were  many 

(12)  Palcr<e.  These  were  open  vessels  approaching  to  the  form  of  cups,  used  by  the  Ro- 
mans in  their  sacrifices,  in  which  they  received  the  blood  of  the  victims,  and  with  which 
they  made  hbations.  Such  as  had  served  for  liliations  of  wine  or  any  other  liquid  at  a 
funeral  were  usually  deposited  with  the  ashes  of  the  deceased. 

(13)  Mr.  Nash  appears  to  have  had  in  view  the  following  passage  from  Juvenal  : — 

"  Terra  clauditur  infans, 
Et  minor  igne  rogi." — Juvenal,  Sat.  XV. 


ROMAN  REMAINS.— GREAT  TEW.  41 

ashes  remaining,  in  much  the  same  state  as  when  originally  left. 
A  Roman  bath  was  afterwards  fomid,  on  the  north  of  the  temple, 
and  was  abruptly  destroyed.  Many  pieces  of  large  red  water-pipe 
shared  the  same  fate.  There  were  also  found  several  large  orna- 
mental red  jars,  and  coins  of  copper  and  brass,  the  copper  much 
defaced,  but  the  brass  in  a  good  state  of  preservation."" 

Unfortimately,  the  almost  total  destru.ction  of  these  interesting 
remains  followed  close  upon  the  discovery  of  them.  A  piece  of 
the  pavement,  however,  about  eighteen  inches  square,  was  saved 
by  G.  F.  Stratton  Esq.,  and  is  now  preserved  by  M.  Bolton  Esq. 
at  his  residence  at  Great  Tew,  The  colours  which  remain  vivid, 
as  shewn  by  the  lines  in  the  engraving  (Plate  10,  fig.  1),  are 
green,  red,  and  wliite  :  the  other  colours,  represented  by  the  pale 
diagonal  lines,  are  now  undistinguishable. 

At  the  distance  of  about  200  yards  from  this  site,  in  forming  a 
road  on  the  northeast  side,  in  1817,  a  pot  of  Roman  coins  was 
discovered.  In  1827  some  more  ground  was  uncovered,  in  the 
presence  of  Mr.  Duncan  ;  and  six  or  seven  feet  below  the  surface 
the  examiners  came  to  a  bath,  near  which  were  a  furnace,  some  lead 
pipes,  and  some  pieces  of  charcoal.  A  court-yard  was  also  traced, 
with  plinths  of  columns  standing  on  a  tessellated  pavement  about 
the  width  of  a  passage.  There  were  fragments  of  broken  pottery 
around.  As  the  direction  of  the  ruins  lay  under  the  barn  and 
homestead,  the  further  examination  of  them  was  prevented.  In  an 
opposite  field  pieces  of  tessellated  pavement  have  been  found."' 

Dr.  Plot  gives  a  figure  (see  Plate  10,  fig.  2)  of  another  Roman 
tessellated  pavement  ploughed  up,  long  ago,  at  or  near  GREAT 
Tew  village.  He  describes  it  as  "  consisting  of  a  matter  much 
softer  than  marble,  cut  into  squares  somewhat  bigger  than  dice,  of 
four  different  colours,  viz.  blue,  white,  yellow,  and  red,  all  polished, 
and  orderly  disposed  into  works."'" 

Between  the  villages  of  Chadlington  and  Sarsden  is  Knollbury 
Camp,  situated  thirteen  miles  and  three  quarters  southwest  from 
Banbury,  and  one  mile  and  a  half  from  the  Hawkstone.  The  val- 
lum is  very  steep,  and  is  composed  of  rubble- stone  cemented,  and 
coated  with  turf.'^ 

At  WlGGlNTON,  which  lies  five  miles  and  three  quarters  south- 

(14)  Account  furnished  by  Mr.  Nash  to  Brewer's  Oxf. 
{15)  Infonnatinn  from  M.  Bolton  Esq.  of  Great  Tew. 

(16)  Plot's  Oxf.,  p.  327,  and  Tab.  xv. 

(17)  Penny  Cycle,  Art.  "  Oxfordshire." 

F 


42  ROMAN  REMAINS.— WIGGINTON. 

west  from  Banburj,  and  has  a  communication  by  a  cross  trackway 
with  the  ancient  road  that  passes  through  Tadmarton  camp,  there 
ha^-e  been  found  extensive  Roman  remains,  situated  at  the  distance 
of  somewhat  less  than  two  furlongs  to  the  east  of  the  church.  In 
1824  the  site  was  partially  uncovered  by  the  Rev.  C.  Winstanley 
and  Mr.  Skelton,  and  a  chamber  of  semi-octagonal  form,  measuring 
20  by  14  feet,  was  discovered,  the  pavement  of  which  (see  Plate  11) 
was  of  small  tesserae  of  four  colours,  white,  yellow,  blue,  and  red. 
The  walls  of  this  chamber  were  remaining  to  the  height  of  about 
two  feet  above  the  pavement,  and  were  one  foot  below  the  surface 
of  the  soil.  On  the  S.S.E.  side  were  the  remains  of  an  inferior 
room,  or  court,  measuring  20  by  17i  feet,  the  pavement  of  which 
was  of  square  tesserse  of  a  coarser  kind.  Beneath  this  pavement 
was  a  small  skeleton  lying  north  and  south.  Below  these  two 
chambers  was  the  h^-pocaust,  the  draughthole  of  which  was  near 
the     southeast    comer 

of  the  foundation,  as  ^^__l^  j^! 

shewn  in  the  annexed  ^'  ^^     ^ 

plan  (A).  The  flues 
ran  beneath  both  the 
chambers,  in  the  man- 
ner marked  iu  the  plan  ; 
and  the  intermediate 
spaces  were  made  up 
with  rubble-stone,  with- 
out cement,  but  so  pla- 
ced as  to  form  piers,  lo  jq  -so  ■^^^. 
on  which   were  placed 

large  rough  slab  stones.  On  these  slab  stones  the  tesserae  were 
imbedded  in  cement.  Some  perfect  pieces  of  pitcoaP^  were  found 
in  the  flues  of  the  hypocaust,  and  apparently  soot  mixed  with 
fine  mould  which  had  filtered  through.  There  were  no  apertures 
for  the  escape  of  the  smoke  from  the  hypocaust.  Among  the  reUcs 
found  were  an  ivory  or  bone  pin  measuring  four  inches  iu  length ; 
a  fragment  of  a  small  bottle  of  blue  glass  (Plate  9,  fig.  4) ;  and 
some  small  copper  coins  of  Victorinus,  Constantine,  Constans, 
Constantius,  Valens,  &c. 

(18)  Proof  that  the  Romans  in  Britain  were  acquainted  with  pilcoal  and  its  uses.  As 
regards  tlie  British  period,  WaUis  mentions  coal  cinders  found  at  the  bottom  of  the  founda- 
tion of  a  city  built  by  the  Romans  in  Northumberland.  (Hist.  Northumberland.)  And  Whit- 
aker  records  coal  remains  in  the  Castle  Field  at  Manchester  and  other  places.  (Hist.  Man- 
chester.) 


n 


HOOKNORTON  CAMP.  -13 

On  the  west  side  of  tlie  hypocaust  there  were  further  traces  of 
foundations,  some  of  which  are  given  in  the  pk\n  on  the  last  page. 
The  part  (B)  was  covered  with  imperfect  pavement.  Many  other 
traces  of  foundations  were  found  on  the  north,  west,  and  sovith  ; 
and  also  ornamented  fragments  of  stucco,  and  pieces  of  coarse 
broken  pottery.  On  the  northeast  side,  at  some  distance,  a  piece 
of  pavement  about  three  yards  square  was  uncovered  a  few  j^ears 
before,  exliibiting  a  corner  piece  of  a  kind  of  bell-flower,  with  a 
chain  border,  wliich  was  evidently  a  part  of  a  more  extensive  de- 
sign. Other  pavement  has  been  turned  up  by  the  plough  at  various 
times." 

At  SWERFORD,  seven  miles  southwest  from  Banbury,  Roman 
remains  are,  on  one  insufficient  authority,  stated  to  have  been  found.-" 
Another  authority  states  that  "  tradition  says  there  was  a  camp 
there.'"-^ 

HoOKNORTON  Camp  is  five  miles  and  a  half  from  Banbury, 
and  half  a  mile  W.  by  S.  from  the  British  camp  at  Tadmarton. 
It  is  in  an  arable  field  at  a  short  distance  from  Hooknorton  Lodge, 
and  north  of  the  ancient  road  wliich  leads  from  Tadmarton  Camp 
towards  RoUrich.  The  plough  has  now  reduced  the  banks  of  the 
Hooknorton  Camp  almost  to  the  level  of  the  soil.  This  camp  is 
an  irregular  pentagon,  the  sides  of  which  measure  as  follows ; — 
west  side  52  yards  ;  south  side  69  yards ;  east  side  38  yards  ; 
northeast  side  39  yards  ;  northwest  side  63  yards : — total  26 1  yards . 
On  every  side  except  the  south  there  are  slight  traces  of  an  outer 
vallum,  at  the  distance  of  11  yards  from  the  inner  one.^^  I  have 
mentioned  this  camp  among  the  earlier  remains :  but  Dr.  Plot 
suggests  that  it  was  formed  by  the  Saxons  at  the  time  of  the  battle 
of  Hooknorton,  about  A.D.  914-^  (see  pp.  54 — 56)  :  and  there  is 
notliing  in  its  character  to  prove  its  being  of  earlier  date. 

At  Bretch,  an  old  pasture  one  mile  and  a  half  west  from  Ban- 
bury, through  which  passes  an  ancient  way  from  Drayton  to  the 
old  road  marked  in  the  map,  a  human  skeleton  was  dug  up  several 
years  ago,  from  the  bank  on  the  south  of  the  footpath  leading  from 
Banbury  to  North  Newington. 

Castle  Bank,  the  camp  before  mentioned  (p.  22)  as  having 

(19)  luforniation,  relics,  and  plans,  furnished  by  the  Rev.  C.  Winstanley. 

(20)  Map  of  Society  for  Dili".  Uscf.  Knowl. 

(21)  Skelton's  Oxf.  Both  accounts  as  regards  Swerford  are  probably  fabulous.  The  stone 
foundations  and  earthworks  of  a  small  castle  still  remain  on  the  north  side  of  the  church- 
yard, but  this  appears  to  have  been  a  Norman  erection. 

(22)  See  plan  under  the  Saxon  period,  p.  -56.  (23)  Plot's  Oxf.,  1677,  p.  331. 

f3 


44  CASTLE  BANK.— DRAYTON.— HANWELL. 

probably  been  fonned  by  Ostorius,  is  three  miles  W.  by  N.  from 
Baubury,  on  the  right  of  the  bridle  way  leading  from  North  New- 
ington  to  Balscot.  The  operations  of  the  plough  have  done  much 
towards  levelling  the  remains.  Tliis  encampment  is  a  trapezium, 
of  which  the  northeastern  side  measures  ]  50  yards  in  length ;  the 
southeastern  side  128  yards  ;  the  southwestern  side  139  yards ; 
and  the  northwestern  side  148  yards.  At  the  western  angle  the 
ascent  of  the  vallum,  on  the  slope,  is  eleven  yards.  On  the  north- 
western side  of  the  camp  there  is  a  deep  and  abrupt  natural  valley. 

At  Drayton,  one  mile  and  a  half  W.N.W.  from  Banbury,  a 
Roman  pavement  of  "  fine  coloured  tiles,"  and  a  bath,  were  dis- 
covered about  the  year  1770,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  ancient  seat  of 
the  Greviles,  which  was  on  the  southeast  side  of  the  church-yard.^* 
A  great  number  of  Roman  coins,  of  the  middle  and  smaller  brass, 
from  the  time  of  Maxiniin  to  that  of  JuHan  (some  of  them  rare), 
were  found,  in  perfect  preservation,  in  the  sandy  soU  at  Drayton 
about  50  years  ago,  and  were  preserved  by  the  late  Mrs.  Metcalfe 
and  the  Rev.  E.  G.  ^yalford.     (Plate  6,  figs.  6,  9.) 

At  Hanwell,  two  miles  and  a  half  northwest  from  Banbury, 
are  very  interesting  (but  hitherto  unnoticed)  remains  of  a  Roman 
site,  extending  over  at  least  ten  acres.  This  site  is  on  the  west  of 
the  turnpike  road,  at  the  part  where  the  lane  turns  off  towards 
Horley,  and  extends  over  a  great  part  of  the  first  fields  north  and 
south  of  the  lane.  Near  the  gate  of  the  southern  field  some  tessel- 
lated pavement  was  discovered  some  years  ago ;  and  in  digging 
for  stone  in  the  parts  adjacent  regular  chambers  were  found,  ap- 
pearing to  have  been  for  the  most  part  formed  in  the  rock,  and 
Ijing  in  ranges  north  and  south ;  communicating  with  each  other 
in  that  direction,  but  each  range  separated  from  the  next  range  in 
the  direction  east  and  west.  There  were  also  stairs  partly  cut  in 
the  rock,  and  flues  in  different  parts.  These  chambers  extended 
as  far  as  the  excavations  were  continued.  The  soil  above  these 
remains  is  entirely  adventitious ;  and  throughout  the  site  there  are 
found  a  profusion  of  biorned  stones,  bones,  and  pieces  of  Roman 
pottery.  In  one  of  the  chambers  witliin  the  rock  was  discovered, 
40  years  ago,  an  oven,  and  within  it  some  dishes,  stated  by  the  la- 
bourers who  found  them  to  have  been  of  pewter.  Other  pewter 
dishes  also,  described  by  the  labourers  as  porringers,  were  found 
beneath  the  soil,  lying  on  the  rock  ;  and  likewise  several  skeletons. 

(24)  Information  from  the  villagers. 


HANWELL.— ROMAN  REMAINS.  45 

In  the  same  field,  a  little  to  tlie  southwest  of  the  site  of  these  cham- 
bers, the  workmen,  in  October  1828,  discovered  an  urn  of  Roman 
pottery,  containuig  seventy  silver  coins  of  early  date,  namely  of 
Nero,  Vespasian,  Titus  (Plate  6,  fig.  2),  Domitian,  Nerva,  (Plate 
6,  fig.  3),  Trajan,  Hadrian,  Antoninus  Pius,  Faustina  senior, 
Aurelius  (Plate  G,  fig.  4),  Faustina  jmiior,  Verus,  and  Lucilla,  all 
in  beautiful  preservation."^  Other  coins  of  copper  have  been  foimd 
in  this  field  and  in  that  which  lies  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  lane. 
In  an  old  terrier  the  part  is  called  the  Town  Ground.-*^  The  pre- 
sent turnpike  road  which  passes  close  on  the  east  of  the  site  of 
these  remains  is  in  direct  connection  with  the  ancient  road  by  Nad- 
bury  Camp,  and  may  be  presumed  to  have  been  itself  an  ancient 
way.  Between  the  site  of  the  Hanwell  remains  and  the  church, 
at  a  part  called  Church  Balk,  are  apparent  traces  of  a  trench  or 
embankment  facing  the  east,  which  traces  were  much  more  con- 
siderable many  years  ago. 

At  Steeple  Aston,  nine  miles  S.  by  E.  from  Banbury,  a 
Roman  pavement  is  recorded  by  Plot  (from  information  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Greenwood)  to  have  been  ploughed  up.  It  consisted  of 
oblong  squares  of  divers  colovirs,  set  perpendicular,  in  "  curious 
figures.""^ 

At  Bloxham  Grove,  two  miles  and  a  quarter  nearly  south 
from  Banbury,  a  large  brass  coin  of  Antoninus  Pius  was  lately 
found. 


CHRISTIANITY. 

Before  the  Romans  retreated  from  these  parts  of  their  empire, 
the  country  of  the  Dobuni  (the  earliest  allies  of  the  Romans  in 
Britain)  had  been  for  nearly  four  centuries  the  seat  of  arts  and 
peace,  of  civilisation  and  luxury.  The  remains  already  recorded 
of  towns,  villas,  baths,  and  temples,  bear  out  the  remark  of 
one  of  our  best  Historians  that  the  people  had  indeed  "  become 
Romans.'"^® 

It  is  probable  that  Christianity  was  introduced  here  at  a  very 

(25)  Some  of  these  are  preserved  at  the  Ashmolean  Museum  :  others  of  them  are  in  the 
possession  of  the  Rev.  W.  Pearse,  the  Rev.  J.  Ballard,  and  the  Rev.  G.  M.  Nelson.  I  am 
indebted  to  the  kindness  of  the  last-named  gentleman  for  those  which  have  been  engraved  for 
this  volimie. 

(26)  Information  from  the  Rev.  W.  Pearse,  Mr.  James  Stuehfield,  and  others. 

(27)  Plot's  Oxf.,  p.  .327.  (28)  Sharon  Turner. 


46  CHRISTIANITY. 

early  period.  We  find  from  Tacitus,  that  Pomponia  Graecina, 
a  British  lady,  the  wife  of  Aulus  Plautius  who  first  led  the  Roman 
armies  hither,  was  accused  of  being  devoted  to  a  strange  and 
gloomy  superstition,  by  which  it  has  been  thought  that  Cliristianity 
was  implied:  and  certainly  some  accounts  appear  to  shew  that 
British  Christianity  dates  as  early  as  the  apostolic  age.  Referring 
to  a  later  period,  just  after  the  departure  of  the  Romans,  one  of 
our  historians,  says  Kennet,-^  "  founds  a  long  story  on  a  Chris- 
tian church  and  patron  of  it  within  the  county  of  Oxford,  above 
one  hundred  and  fifty  years  before  the  coming  of  Austine  the  monk 
[which  was  A.D.  596],  And  by  better  authority^"  we  after  find, 
that  one  of  the  most  fatal  mischiefs  occasioned  by  the  incursion 
of  the  Angles,  was  the  persecution  of  the  British  converts  in  these 
parts.  For  when  the  Angh  took  possession  of  Mercia,  wherever 
they  prevailed,  the  British  Christians  were  mart^-red  or  expelled. 
That  our  religion  flourished  early  in  these  parts  does  appear  from 
the  saints  who  were  here  buried,  and  whose  shrines  did  long 
incite  the  ignorant  and  superstitious :  of  whom  there  was  St.  Bren- 
wold  at  Bampton,  St.  Hycrith  a  virgin  at  Cheselhampton,  and  St. 
Donanverdh  at  Beckley."^^ 

(29)  Refen-ing  to  Brompton  inter  X.  script,  p.  735.     See  p.  50  (note). 

(30)  Hen.  Huntingdon,  Hist.  1.  2. 

(31)  Kennet's  Paroch.  Antiq.,  v.  1,  p.  30. 


SAXON  PERIOD.  47 


SAXON  PERIOD. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  BERANBYRIG  [BANBURY.] 

During  the  divisions  and  civil  wars  of  the  Roman  empire,  tlie 
British  legions  were  at  several  times  called  over  into  Gaul,  and 
with  them  great  numbers  of  the  bravest  of  the  British  youth,  who 
were  thus  sacrificed  on  the  contment  to  the  ambition  of  the 
numerous  competitors  for  supreme  power.  Civilised  Britain  would 
thus  be  greatly  weakened  as  to  her  powers  of  defence  even  before 
the  final  departure  of  the  Romans  :  and  that  event  (which  occur- 
red about  A.D.  420)  left  her  exposed,  a  tempting  prey,  to  the 
fierce  inhabitants  of  the  northern  parts  of  the  island  and  the  neigh- 
bouring shores.  Harassed  and  driven  almost  to  despair  by  the 
continual  incursions  of  these  ferocious  tribes,  a  portion  of  the 
Britons  were  induced  by  Vortigern,  one  of  their  princes,  to  invite 
a  body  of  Saxons  to  their  aid.  These  delivered  them  indeed  from 
the  Picts  and  Scots,  but  very  soon  shewed  that  it  was  their  inten- 
tion to  make  themselves  masters  of  the  island.  Britain  however 
had  still  some  hardy  sons,  whom  Roman  luxury  had  not  ener- 
vated nor  the  Roman  sway  deprived  of  the  love  of  indepen- 
dence. The  best  and  bravest  defender  of  the  liberties  of  the  Bri- 
tons at  this  period  was  Ambrosius  Aurelianus,  whom  Kennet 
imagines  to  have  given  name  to  the  parish  of  Ambrosden,  situated 
near  the  stronghold  of  Alchester.  Long  after  the  firm  establish- 
ment of  the  earliest  Saxon  kingdoms,  those  of  Kent  and  Sussex, 
the  Britons  in  the  midland  and  other  parts  of  the  island  manfully 
resisted  the  invaders:  and  although  other  Saxon  forces,  under 
Cerdic,  who  appears  to  have  been  a  wise  and  valiant  chief,  arrived 
in  the  island  A.D.  495 ;  yet  so  bravely  were  the  midland  and 
southern  parts  defended  by  the  Britons,  led  on  probably  by  Arthur,^- 
that  it  was  not  until  A.D.  519  that  Cerdic  and  his  son  Cynric  es- 
tablished in  the  south  of  the  island  the  kingdom  of  Wej"c-j-ex, 
Wessex,  or  the  West  Saxons.  Subsequently,  Cerdic  and  Cynric 
made  several  attempts  to  enlarge  their  new  kingdom  ;  and  after  the 

(.32)  Turner's  Anglo-Saxons,  v.  1,  p.  270,  &c. 


48 


BATTLE  OF  BERANBYRIG. 


death  of  Cerdic,  which  occurred  A.D.  534,  Cjnrie  made  some 
progress,  and,  m  A.D.  551  and  the  four  following  years,  several 
times  defeated  the  midland  Britons.  The  latter  however  in  556, 
uniting  all  their  strength,  fought  a  great,  and,  it  would  appear,  a 
successful  battle  with  the  Saxons  at  Beranbjrig,  or  Beranburi ;  the 
site  of  which  is  by  nearly  every  historian  placed  at  Banbury.^^ 
The  records  which  exist  of  this  battle  are  the  following  : — 


"An.  DLVI.  Jperi  Cynriic  •] 
Ceaphn  puhron  pi^  Bj\yr-cd.y 
oer  Bepanbyriis." — Chron.  Sax. 
p.  20. 

556  S.D.  "  Kenricus  et  Ceaulinus 
apud  Beranbirig  Britonibus  bellum 
intulerunt,  et  illos  fugaverunt." — 
Flor.  Wigorn.  p.  552. 

"  Kinric  22.  anno  regni  siii  et  Ceau- 
lin  filius  ejus  pugnarunt  iterum 
contra  Britannos.  sic  aviteni  pug- 
natum  est.  Britanni,  quasi  vindi- 
caturi  confusionem  belli,  quam  circa 
quinquennium  pertulerant,  congre- 
gatis  viris  bellicosis  armis  et  nu- 
mero  munitis  acies  ordinaverunt 
apud  Beranburi.  Cumque  statuis- 
sent  novem  acies,  qui  numerus  bello 
est  aptissimus,  tribus  scilicet  in 
fronte   locatis,    et   tribus   in  medio, 


A.D.  55Q.  This  year  Cynric  and 
Ceawlin  fought  with  the  Britons  at 
Beranbyrig. — Saxon  Chronicle,  p. 
20. 


556.  S.D.  Kenric  and  Ceaulin  made 
war  upon  the  Britons  at  Beranbirig, 
and  routed  them. — Florence  of  Wor- 
cester, p.  552. 

In  the  22nd  year  of  Kinric's 
reign,  he  and  bis  son  Ceaulin  had 
another  battle  against  the  Britons  : 
and  the  battle  was  fought  thus.  The 
Britons,  as  though  to  revenge  them- 
selves for  the  trouble  and  confusion 
of  war,  which  they  had  endured  for 
about  five  years,  gathered  together 
their  warriors  strong  in  arms  and 
niunbers,  and  set  their  forces  in 
array  at  Beranburi.  And  when 
tliey    had    formed    nine    battalions 


(33)  Camden's  Brit. ;  Plot's  Oxf. ;  Speed's  Hist.  Brit. ;  Rennet's  Paroch.  Antiq. ;  Knighton; 
Walton's  Spec.  Hist.  Osf;  Ogilby's  Brit.;  Stukeley's  Itin.  Curios.;  Lye's  Sax.  Diet.; 
Bosworth's  Anglo-Sax.  Diet.;  Ingram's  Sax.  Chron.;  Turner's  Anglo-Saxons;  Skelton's 
Antiq.  Oxf. ;  Dunkin's  Bicester  and  Alchester.  But  Gibson,  and,  following  him,  Gough, 
in  their  editions  of  the  Britannia,  have  made  an  objection,  grounded  on  the  text  in  the 
later  editions  of  Camden,  that  in  the  Saxon  times  Banbury  was  called  Banesbyrig.  "  If," 
says  Gibson,  "the  name  of  the  place  be,  as  he  tells  us,  Banepbyjiij,  it  cannot  lay  claim 
to  this  battle,  which  the  Saxon  annals  expressly  say  was  at  Bejianbyrug."  Camden 
however,  in  the  first  Latin  edition  of  his  Britannia,  which  was  printed  in  8vo.  in  1580, 
says  that  Banbury  was  called  Baranbirig,  and  it  is  marked  Beranbyrig  in  the  map  given 
in  the  subsequent  folio  editions.  Moreover  it  would  seem  likely  that,  after  the  establishment 
of  Saxon  kingdoms  in  Kent  and  Sussex,  and  the  secure  foundation  of  Cerdic's  West-Saxon 
kingdom  in  519 ;  and  from  that  date  to  556  (during  which  period  Cerdic  and  Cynric  made 
progress  and  gave  several  defeats  to  the  midland  Britons),  the  hitherto  victorious  arms  of  the 
Saxons  must  have  spread  their  power  farther  noith  than  Wiltshire,  where,  at  Barbury  hill, 
Gibson  is  inclined  to  fix  the  site  of  the  battle.  Indeed,  Camden's  assertion  that  the  battle 
was  fought  at  Banbury,  even  if  unsupported  by  so  many,  or  by  any,  authorities,  would  not 
be  overthrown  by  the  text  of  later  editions,  where  it  is  merely  said  that  in  Saxon  times 
Banbury  was  called  Banesbyrig. 

As  before  stated  (p.  1),  the  name  of  Banbury  is  given  Banesberie  in  Domesday  Book  ; 
but  this  orthography  is  not  to  be  depended  upon.  But  as  regards  the  derivation  of  the 
name,  whether  it  be'from  the  British  Ban  {clamour)  or  the  Saxon  Bana  {manslaughter),  this 
memorable  battle  between  the  Britons  and  Saxons  may  have  been  the  occasion  of  it. 

It  maybe  a.s  well  to  state  here,  that "  Banburn,"  "  Banburg,"  and  some  other  similar  names 
in  old  records  preserved  in  the  Tower  of  London,  do  not  refer  to  Banbury  (although  so 
stated  in  the  indexes),  but  to  Bambrough  Castle  in  Northumberland  or  to  Bamburgh  in 
Lincolnshire. 


BATTLE  OF  BEllANBYRIG. 


4J) 


et  tribus  in  fine,  ducibusque  in  ipsis 
aciebus  convenienter  institutis,  vi- 
I'isqiie  sagittariis  et  telorum  jaciila- 
toribus  equitibusque  jure  Roman- 
orum  dispositis,  Saxones  in  eos 
omnes  in  una  acie  conglomerati 
aiidacissime  irruerunt,  vexillisque 
coUisis  et  dejectis  fractisve  lanceis, 
gladiis  rem  egerunt :  donee  adves- 
perante  die  victoria  in  dubio  re- 
mansit,  nee  boo  mirum  videri  debet, 
cum  illi  maximae  staturge  et  vigoris 
et  audacise  fuerint ;  (juamvis  nostri 
temporis  exercitus  in  ipssa  prima  col- 
lisione  statim  alteruter  in  fugam 
convertatur,  viris  scilicet  modo  par- 
vse  staturse  et  vigoris  et  audacise  ex- 
istentibus," — Hen.  Hunt.  p.  314. 


(which  is  the  best  number  for  war), 
placing  three  in  front,  and  three  in 
the  centre,  and  three  in  the  rear, 
with  commanders  posted  conve- 
niently in  the  same,  and  archers 
and  javelin  men  and  cavalry  dis- 
posed after  the  Roman  fashion,  the 
Saxons,  compacted  together  in  one 
battalion,  rushed  stoutly  upon  them 
all ;  and,  the  standards  being  dashed 
in  pieces  and  the  lances  flung  down 
or  broken,  they  fought  on  with  their 
swords  ;  till,  when  the  day  drew  to- 
wards evening,  the  victory  still  re- 
mained undecided.  Nor  should 
this  be  wondered  at,  considering 
that  these  were  men  of  very  great 
stature  and  strength  and  bravery  ; 
although  in  the  battles  of  our  time 
one  or  the  other  of  the  two  armies 
usually  betakes  itself  to  flight  upon 
the  very  first  collision,  the  men 
being  of  but  small  stature  and 
strength  and  bravery. — Henry  of 
Huntingdon,  p.  314. 


Gibson  justly  observes  that  the  success  of  this  great  battle  does 
not  seem  to  belong  to  the  Saxons.  "  'Tis  true,  before  that,  they 
had  been  too  hard  for  the  Britains  in  several  engagements :  but 
here  all  the  strength  of  this  people  in  the  midland  parts  was  united, 
and  they  were  so  numerous  as  to  divide  their  army  into  nine  bat- 
talions ;  so  that  by  the  assistance  of  their  numbers  and  resolution, 
our  historians  confess  they  bore  up  so  well,  that  when  night  came 
the  battle  was  depending.  And  'tis  more  than  probable,  if  our 
writers  would  but  speak  out,  that  they  had  the  better  of  the  Saxons 
at  this  turn.  *  *  *  What  seems  of  greatest  moment  in  this 
matter,  is  the  manner  by  which  the  Saxon  Chronicle  delivers  this 
engagement.  The  only  objection  perhaps  that  lies  against  the 
authority  of  it,  is  partiality  to  the  Saxons  against  the  poor  Britains 
in  the  course  of  those  wars ;  and  yet  upon  this  occasion  it  is  con- 
tent barely  to  tell  us,  that  '  Cynric  and  Ceawlin  fought  with  the 
Britains  at  Beranbyrig'  :  which  (as  we  may  gather  from  other 
instances)  had  not  likely  been  let  go  without  express  mention  of 
the  victory,  if  it  had  fell  to  the  share  of  the  Saxons."^*  Kennet 
also  observes  that  the  event  seems  to  prove  a  success  to  the 
Britons,  who  kept  their  fortified  places  in  this  county  until  the  year 
571,  or,  as  some  writers  say,  to  580,  when  Ceawlin,  the  third 
king  of  Wessex,  and  Cuthwulph  his  brother,  fought  with  the  Bri- 

(34)  Gibson's  Camden. 


50  WEST-SAXONS.— MERCIANS. 

tons  at  Bedford,  and  took  from  them  their  garrisons  of  Egeles- 
burh,  Eilesberi  (Ajlesburj)  ;  Benmngton,  Benesingtun  (Benson)  ; 
Egonesham,  Henesham  (Ensham,)^^  and  a  fourth  which  is  believed 
to  have  been  Leighton.  From  that  time  most  of  this  county 
was  subject  to  the  West-Saxon  Mngs.^'' 


SAXON  PERIOD  CONTINUED. 

In  614,  Cynegil  king  of  the  West-Saxons  and  his  son  Cwichelm 
defeated  the  Britons  at  Bampton  in  Oxfordsliire.^^  But  the  inland 
Britons  probably  would  not  have  been  subdued  if  the  Angles  had 
not  arrived  in  the  island  to  the  help  of  the  Saxons,  and  formed 
new  kingdoms  in  the  eastern  and  northern  parts  of  Britain.  The 
last  Angle  kingdom  was  added  about  the  year  586,  and  was 
denominated  COyjicna-jiic  (Myrcna-ric),  which  signifies  the  wood- 
land kingdom,  and  ClOearic-lonb  (Mearc-lond)  :  or,  by  the  Latins, 
Mercia.  This  kingdom  in  the  course  of  time  was  extended  over 
the  midland  parts  of  the  island ;  and  it  became  more  powerful  than 
any  of  the  octarchial  kingdoms,  except  that  of  the  West-Saxons, 
upon  which  it  bordered  on  the  south.  Between  these  tw^o  great 
kingdoms  the  northern  part  of  Oxfordshire  became  a  sort  of  de- 
batable land,  which  freqiiently  changed  possessors  until  Mercia 
was  finally  conquered  by  the  West-Saxons  in  827. 

Penda,  sovereign  of  Mercia,  like  the  Britons  before  him,  was  en- 
gaged in  securing  these  parts  from  the  encroachments  of  the  West- 
Saxons.  About  629,  he  fought  with  Cpiegil  and  Cwichelm  at 
Cirencester.  It  has  been  already  mentioned  concerning  early 
Christianity  in  England  (p.  46),  that  when  the  Angles  took  posses- 
sion of  Mercia,  the  British  Chiistians  were  martjTed  or  expelled.^^ 
However,  after  peace  was  made  between  Penda  and  Cynegil,  Biri- 

(35)  Kennefs  Paroch.  Antiq.,  v.  1,  pp.  .33,  34. 

(36)  Kennet  alludes  to  the  probability  that  these  parts  of  Oxfordshire  were  concerned  in 
the  mission  of  Augustine  tlie  Monk.  It  is  said  that  when  the  Saint,  on  his  way  to  the 
place  of  conference  with  the  Britons  in  the  remote  parts  of  Mercia  (about  the  year  697), 
came  into  the  county  of  Oxford,  to  a  village  called  Cumpton  [Long  Compton  in'Warsvick- 
shire  on  the  edge  of  this  county,  and  situated  in  the  Vale  below  Rollrich  Stones],  the  parish 
priest  waited  on  him,  and  complained  of  the  lord  of  the  manor  having  refused  to  pay  his 
tithes  ;  upon  which  the  Monk  reproved  the  defaulter,  and  convinced  him  by  the  miracle  of 
raising  from  the  grave  the  dead  body  of  a  former  patron  of  that  church  (in  the  time  of  the 
Britons),  who  confessed  tliat  he  had  been  excommunicated  for  the  like  default  above  150 
years  before.  (Jo.  Brompton,  p.  136.)  Laying  aside  the  miraculous  part  of  the  tale,  we 
may  believe,  with  Kennet,  that  Augustine  passed  through  these  pai-ts;  and  infer  that  many 
people  received  his  mission. — Kennel's  Paroch.  Antiq., v.  1,  p.  36. 

(37)  See  Kennet,  v.  l,p.  34.  (.38)  Hen.  Hunt.  Hist.,  1.  2. 


BISHOPS  OF  DORCHESTER.— ST.  RUMBALD.  51 

nus,  a  missionary  from  Pope  Honorius,  came  in  tlie  year  634 ; 
and,  he  having  converted  most  of  the  West-Saxons,  and  bap- 
tized king  Cynegil  at  Dorchester  in  Oxfordshire,  that  king  gave 
Dorchester  to  Birinus  for  an  episcopal  see,^^  in  which  he  settled  in 
636.  Probably  it  was  at  this  date  that  Banbury  was  given  to  the 
see  of  Dorchester  f°  but  no  record  thereof  is  preserved,  and  we  do 
not  find  its  possession  by  the  Bishops  of  Dorchester  mentioned 
until  the  tune  of  Bishop  Remigius.  Birinus  extended  his  pas- 
toral care  to  the  Mercians,  amongst  whom  Christianity  soon  made 
progress.  The  population  of  these  parts  must  be  supposed  to  have 
been  from  this  period  mingled  British,  Saxon,  and  Angle.  Cam- 
den asserts  that  a  portion  of  the  Dobuni  remaining  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Severn  retained  the  name  of  Wiccii.^' 

Cenwalch  succeeded  to  the  kingdom  of  the  West-Saxons,  wliich, 
in  645,  was  invaded  by  Penda ;  and,  Cenwalch  being  put  to  flight, 
these  parts  became  subject  to  the  Mercian  kings,  Penda,  and  Wulf- 
here  his  son.  Wulfhere  was  converted  and  baptized  by  Birinus. 
In  648  Cenwalch  was  restored.  Bishop  Birinus  died  in  tliis  year 
or  in  650  :''"  he  was  canonized,  and  Ms  festival  observed  on  the 
third  of  December.  AgUbert  received  the  see  of  Dorchester :  but 
Cenwalch,  in  consequence,  perhaps,  of  experiencing  a  defeat  by 
Wulfhere  king  of  Mercia  at  Potterspury  in  Northamptonshire  in 
661,  instituted  another  see  at  Winchester,  which  he  gave  to  Wine 
(or  Widerin),  a  Saxon.  Agilbert  quitted  Dorchester,  and  died 
bishop  of  Paris. 

There  is  an  ancient  legend  concerning  St.  Rumbald,  or  Rum- 
oalde,  son  of  the  king  of  Northumberland  by  a  daughter  of  Penda, 
that  he  was  born  at  Sutthun  (King's  Sutton  near  Banbury)  in  662, 
was  baptized  there  by  Bishop  Widerinus,  having  Eadwold  the 
priest  for  his  godfather,^^  and  that,  living  only  three  days,  he  died  at 
Sutton  on  the  third  of  November  and  was  buried  there  by  Ead- 
wold. The  infant  had  however,  it  seems,  preached  (!)  at  Braceleam 
(Brackley),  and  thither  his  body  was  translated  in  the  followiiig 
year  by  Widerinus.  The  next  year  his  remains  were  removed  to 
Buccingaham  (Buckuigham),  where  a  shrine  was  erected  in  the 
church,  to  which  great  resort  was  made  by  pilgrims.  Tliis  infant 
saint  gave  name  to  a  Well,  thence  afterwards  considered   Holy, 

(39)  Kennet,  v.  1,  pp.  31,  3.5. 

(40)  The  succession  of  the  Bishops  will  therefore  be  recorded. 

(41)  Camden's  Brit.,  edit.  1722,  v.  1,  p.  267.  (42)  Kennet,  v.  1,  pp.  38,  39. 
(43)  "llumwoldus  ab  Eadwoldo  presbytero  in  baptismate  susceptus."— Z/t7aHd,  v.  3,  fol.  34. 

g3 


52  ASTROP  WELL.— BISHOPS  OF  DORCHESTER. 

iu  the  parisli  of  King's  Sutton  (the  noted  Astrop  Well  of  modern 
date) ;  and  also  to  a  chapel,  standing,  says  Leland,  "  about  a 
mile  from  Sutton  in  the  Medes,  defaced  and  taken  downe."'*^  St. 
Rvimbald's  Chapel  stood  in  what  is  still  called  the  Chapel  Field, 
near  the  principal  farm  house  in  Walton  Grounds  (pp.  29,  36). 
The  site  is  jet  marked  by  traces  of  foundations."^ 

The  see  of  Dorchester  remained  vacant  until  670,  when  Bishop 
Eleutherius  removed  thither  from  Winchester.  Hedda  succeeded  to 
the  see  of  Dorchester  in  676,  but  in  the  next  year  he  caused  the 
second  removal  of  the  bishoprick  to  Winchester,  whither  he  trans- 
lated the  body  of  St.  Birinus.  Hedda  was  himself  subsequently 
canonized,  and  his  festival  observed  on  the  seventh  of  July. 
This  second  removal  of  the  see  was  also  owing  to  the  chances  of 
war:  for  Ethelred  king  of  Mercia,  who  succeeded  his  brother 
Wulfhere,  reduced  this  side  of  the  Thames  into  subjection,  and  this 
county  became  united  to  the  Mercian  kingdom.  In  680  the  hitherto 
sole  bishoprick  of  Mercia,  at  Liclifield,  was  divided  into  five  sees, 
of  which  Dorchester  became  one,  and  Eata  was  ordained  thereto.''® 

Ethelbald,  a  succeeding  king  of  Mercia,  invaded  the  kingdom 
of  the  West-Saxons ;  and  his  ravages  so  provoked  that  people 
that,  under  Cuthred,  they  raised  an  army,  marched  towards  these 
parts  m  752,  and  defeated  Ethelbald  at  Burford ;  by  which  vic- 
tory Cuthred  recovered  most  of  this  county  to  the  West-Saxon 
kingdom.  Ethelbald  was  slain  in  Warwickshire  by  Bernred  a 
usurper. 

In  756,  Bernred  being  expelled  from  Mercia,  the  people  restored 
Offa,  a  young  prince  of  the  royal  family  ;  who,  after  several  suc- 
cessful exploits,  resolved  to  recover  Oxfordshire  and  extend  the 
Mercian  territory  once  again  to  the  limits  of  the  Thames."^  OfFa 
brought  his  army  across  the  frontiers  near  Banbury  ^^  and  con- 
tinued his  march  southward  :  and  C^Tiwulph,  king  of  the  West- 
Saxons,  meeting  him  near  Dorchester,  was  defeated,  and  Offa 
regained  the  whole  of  this  county.  He  resettled  the  see  of  Dor- 
chester, and  had  Berthun  consecrated  to  it :  but  that  prelate  dying  in 

(44)  Leland's  Itin.,  v.  3,  fol. 34 ;  v.  4, pt.  2,  fol.  162 b  ;  and  v.  7,  fol.  12  :  Capgrave's  Legends  ; 
Bridges'  Noithamp.,  v.  1,  p.  180. 

(45)  Baker's  Nurthamp.  p.  708.  (46)  Kennet,  v.  1,  pp.  40,  41. 

(47)  Kennet,  V.  1,  pp.  41— 43. 

(48)  This  event  is  recorded  by  the  Saxon  Chronicle  in  775 ;  by  Florence  of  Worcester, 
and  Higden,  in  778  ;  and  by  Matthew  of  Westminster  in  779. 

The  name  of  Avesditch,  the  line  of  earthwork  before  mentioned  (pp.  29,  38)  as  riin- 
ning  near  and  crossing  the  Port\vay,is  imagined  by  Dr.  Plot  and  others  to  signify  Ofi'a's- 
dilch,  either  from  some  connection  "with  this  entei-prise  of  Otfa,  or  from  its  being  made  a 
boundary  between  the  Mercian  and  West-Saxon  kingdoms.  Nothing  appears  iu  history  to 
confirm  this  conjecture. 


THE  SAXONS  AND  DANES.  53 

785,  Higebright  was  by  Offa  chosen  to  succeed  liiin."*  Oflfa  is  sup- 
posed to  have  kept  his  court  at  Witham  near  Oxford.^"  He  died  in 
794,  and  has  left  a  name  deservedly  illustrious.  In  823  Beornwulph 
king  of  Mercia  was  defeated  by  Egbert,  king  of  the  West-Saxons, 
and  this  county  was  again,  united  to  the  West-Saxon  kingdom. 
In  825  the  Mercians  set  up  Wiglaf,  but  Egbert  defeated  him  in 
827,  and  regained  Mercia. 


THE  SAXONS  AND  DANES. 

The  Saxon  name  of  this  county  was  Oxna-popb-f  cyjie  (Oxna- 
fordscyre)  and  subsequently  Oxen-pojih-j^cyjre  (Oxenfordscyre).^* 

The  Danes  first  advanced  upon  the  county  in  851,  and  de- 
feated Berthwulph,  a  vassal  of  the  West-Saxon  kings  who  ruled 
in  Mercia;  but  on  proceeding  southward  they  experienced  a  re- 
pdse  from  Ethelwulph,  king  of  the  West-Saxons.  In  871  the 
Danes  were  defeated  on  the  borders  of  this  county  by  Ethelred 
king  of  the  West-Saxons  and  his  brother  Alfred.  The  Danes  after- 
wards gained  some  successes  under  Bacseg  and  Halfden,  but  were 
once  more  defeated  by  Ethelred  and  Alfred  at  Easceasdune,  sup- 
posed by  Kennet  to  be  Ashendon  in  the  forest  of  Bernwood.^^ 
Fourteen  days  after,  Ethelred  was  defeated  by  the  Danes,  and 
obliged  to  retreat  on  Meretune,  supposed  to  be  Merton,  near 
Alchester,^^  where  Ethelred  and  Alfred  were  agam  defeated  ;  and, 
in  consequence,  the  Mercian  people  were  compelled  to  pay  tribute 
to  the  Danes.  Alfred  succeeded  Ethelred  in  the  kingdom  of  the 
West-Saxons  in  871,  and  fought  several  battles  with  the  Danes, 
but  was  at  length  obliged  to  hire  them  to  withdraw  from  the  West- 
Saxon  territory.  In  873  Burrhed  raised  an  army  in  Mercia  and 
fought  with  the  Danes,  but  was  utterly  defeated  ;  and  the  Danes 
committed  Mercia  to  Ceolwulph,  a  thane  of  Burrhed,  upon  ex- 
tremely servile  conditions.  In  877,  Ceolwulph,  being  still  in  pos- 
session of  these  southern  parts  of  Mercia,  delivered  up  the  same  to 
king  Alfred,  whereby  tliis  county  was  again  united  to  the  West- 
Saxon  kingdom. 

England  was  now  divided  between  the  West-Saxons  and  the 
Danes.     In  878  the  latter  entered  Wiltshire,  and  Alfred  the  Great 

(40)  Kennet,  v.  1,  pp.  44,  45.  (50)  Warton's  Kiddington,  p.  27. 

(51)  Camden.  (52)  Kennet,  v.  1,  p.  47.  (53)  Kennet,  v.  1,  pp.  48—50. 


54 


SLAUGHTER  AT  HOOKNORTON. 


became  a  fugitive  at  Atlielney :  but  in  tbe  same  year  the  battle  of 
Ethandune  gave  triumph  to  the  Saxons,  and  once  more  a  throne 
to  Alfred.  In  879  the  Danes  removed  from  Wiltshire  to  Ciren- 
cester in  Gloucestershire,  near  the  borders  of  this  countj,  and 
there  kept  station  for  twelve  months,  laying  waste  the  adjacent 
parts  of  Gloucestershire  and  Oxfordshire  with  fire  and  sword. 

In  897,  Ealheard,  bishop  of  Dorchester,  died.  Alfred  the  Great 
died  in  901.  In  his  last  will  he  bequeathed  to  his  kinsman  Osferth 
the  villages  of  Beccaule,  Ritherumfield,  Diccanlingum,  Suttune,  &c  ;^ 
which  appear  to  have  been  Beckley,  Rotherfield,  and  Ducklington, 
in  this  county,  and  Sutton  in  Northamptonshire,  wliich  last  was 
subsequently  called  King's  Sutton  from  being  part  of  the  royal 
demesne. 

Alfred's  son,  Edward  the  Elder,  succeeded  to  his  government 
in  901.  His  cousin  Ethelwold  contested  the  crown,  and  brought 
an  army  into  these  parts,  destroying  all  before  him,  and  frightening 
Oxford  into  a  surrender.  Edward  marched  towards  Oxford,  and 
compelled  Ethelwold  to  retire.  In  905  Cenulf  was  elected  bishop 
of  the  see  of  Dorchester.  In  911  the  Danes  again  approached 
Oxfordshire,  but  w^ere  driven  back  by  an  army  of  Mercians  and 
West-Saxons.^  About  the  year  914,  the  Danes  from  Leicester  and 
Northampton  fell  upon  the  parts  of  the  country  about  Banbury, 
marched  on  with  plunder  and  destruction  to  HoOKNORTON,  and 
made  great  slaughter  in  these  parts.  The  following  are  the  records 
preserved  of  this  ravage  : — 


"An.  DCCCCXVII.  Jpeji  on 
]>yy  gejie  jiab  jre  hejie  ur. 
opeji  Gaj-tjion  op  Jjam-'cune.  ^ 
op  Lyjejia-ceaprjne.  *]  bjnaecon 
jjone  pnyS-  T  j^logon  monige 
men  eez  Jjocnepa-'cune.  •]  Ipseyi 
onburan." — Chroti.  Sax. 

"  A.  D.  914.  Post  Pascha  exercitus 
Paganorvmi  cle  Northamtune  ct  do 
Lcogeceasti-e,  in  Oxenefordcnsi  pro- 
vincia  prajdam  egerunt,  et  in  regia 
villa  Ilokenevtune  et  in  multis  aliis 
villis  quam  plures  occideriuit." — 
Flor.  Wi(jorii. 


A.  D.  917.  This  year  rode  the 
army,  after  Easter,  ont  of  Ham-tune 
[Northampton]  and  Lygera-ceastre 
[Lcicestei-] ;  and  having  broken 
the  truce  they  slew  many  men  at 
Hocnera-tune  [Hooknorton]  and 
thereabout. — Saxoii  Chronicle. 


A.  D.  914.  After  Easter  an  army 
of  tlie  Pagans  from  Northamtune 
and  from  Leogcceastre  plundered  in 
the  county  of  Oxeneford,  and  slew 
a  great  number  of  persons  in  the 
royal  town  of  Hokenertune  and  in 
many  other  towns. — Floretice  of 
Worcester. 


'  An.    Edvardi    decimo.      Sequent!  I  lOtli  Edward    [tue    Elder].      But 
:cro  anno  exiit  Dacorum  [Qu,  Dan-  |  in  the  following  year  the  army  of 


(1)  Kcnnct,  v.  1,  p.  52. 


(2)  Kcnnct,  v.  1,  p.  53. 


SLAUGHTER  AT  HOOKNORTON. 


55 


orum]  exercitiis  ab  Hamtonia  et 
Legecestria,  et  fregerunt  inducias, 
quas  rex  iis  dederat,  et  fecerunt 
caedem  magnam  Aiiglorvim  apiid 
Hocheneretune,  et  ibi  circum  in 
Oxinefordscyre." — Hen.  Hunt.,  lib. 

V. 

"  An.  Edvardi  decimo.  Anno  vero 
sequent!  exercitiis  Dacorum  indu- 
cias ad  tempiis  eis  concessas  fran- 
gentes,  ad  Hamptoniam  et  Leicos- 
triam  exierunt,  csedem  Angloriim 
magnam  apud  Hocliemeretiine  et 
ibi  circum  in  comitatu  Oxonise  faci- 
entes," — Bromton,  Chronicon. 


the  Danes  went  forth  from  Hamton 
and  Legecestre,  and  broke  the  truce 
which  the  king  had  granted  them, 
and  made  a  great  slaughter  of  the 
English  at  Hocheneretune  and 
thereabout  in  Oxinefordscyre. — 
Henry  of  Huntingdon,  book  v. 

10th  Edwakd  [the  Elder].  But  in 
the  year  following  the  army  of  the 
Danes,  bi-eaking  the  temporai-y  truce 
which  had  been  granted  to  them, 
went  forth  to  Hampton  and  Leices- 
ter, and  made  a  great  slaughter  of 
the  English  at  Hochemeretune  and 
thereabout  in  the  county  of  Oxford. 
— Bromptoti's  Chron. 

Robert  of  Gloucester  says  : — 

"  j^e  Deneys  wende  fram  Leycestre  to  NorJ^hamtone 
Toward  Oxenford  faste,  and  at  Hogenorte 
Slowe  muche  folc  y  nou,  and  in  \>e  contreye  aboute. 
Atte  laste  \pe  contreye  folc  com  myd  gret  route. 
And  to  dryue  hem  al  to  no^te,  &  her  proye  hem  bynom."  •'' 

The  meaning  of  which  seems  to  be  that  the  Danes  went  rapidly 
from  Leicester  by  Northampton  towards  Oxfordshire ;  and  at 
Hooknorton  and  the  country  about  slew  very  many  people.  At 
last  the  country  folk  came  in  vast  numbers  and  utterly  routed 
them  and  took  from  them  their  plunder. 

It  appears  that  m  this  foray  the  Danes  passed  from  Northamp- 
ton along  the  ancient  Trackway  already  mentioned  (p.  15)  called 
the  Banbury  Lane,  which  continued  on  through  Banbury  to  the 
camps  of  Tadmarton  and  Hooknorton  (see  the  Map,  Plate  4). 
On  the  first  alarm  of  their  invasion  the  people  of  these  parts 
would  doubtless  retire  to  some  place  of  strength  as  theu'  ren- 
dezvous ;  and  it  was  probably  at  the  camp  of  Hooknorton  (des- 
cribed in  p.  43),  after  they  had  been  beaten  from  Tadmarton, 
that  the  slaughter  of  them  by  the  Danes  took  place.  (See  the 
plan  of  these  camps  on  the  next  page.)  It  has  been  conjectured 
by  Dr.  Plot  that  the  camp  at  Hooknorton  was  raised  on  this 
occasion  by  the  Saxons.^  The  Danes  after  tliis  foray  returned 
to  their  quarters  at  Northampton  and  Leicester.     While  they  quar- 

(3)  Robert  of  Gloucester's  Chronicle,  edit.  1810,  p.  269. 

(4)  Plot's  Oxf.,  p.  334.  No  Roman  remains,  as  far  as  I  can  ascertain,  have  been  found 
at  the  Hooknorton  camp,  and  the  conjecture  of  its  Saxon  origin  is  probable.  It  mil  be  seen 
by  the  above  extracts  that  historians  differ  as  to  the  date  of  the  battle  of  Hooknorton. 
Brompton  and  Heni-y  of  Huntingdon  place  it  in  the  tenth  year  of  Edward  the  Elder,  which, 
reckoned  from  the  death  of  his  competitor  Ethelwold,  would  be  A.  D.  915  or  916.  The 
Saxon  Chronicle  relates  it  in  917,  and  Florence  of  Worcester  in  914. 


56 


FIRST  BATTLE  AT  DANESMOOR. 


THE  CAMPS  OF  TADMAETON  AND  HOOKNOETON.     Ground  Plan. 


tered  at  Northampton,  it  has  been  supposed  that  the  Saxons  used 
the  hne  of  embankment  (described  pp.  28,  29)  called  Wallow  Bank, 
Wattlebank,  and  Avesditch,  to  keep  out  the  enemy .^  Amongst 
the  battles  which  took  place  between  the  Saxons  and  Danes  was 
one  at  Danesmoor  (see  the  Map,  Plate  4),  situated  on  the 
eastern  or  Northampton  side  of  the  above  embankment,  in  com- 
munication with  the  Banburj  Lane,  and  five  miles  and  a  half 
northeast  from  Banburj.  "  That  there  was  a  battel,"  says  Mor- 
ton, "  betwixt  the  Saxons  and  Danes  at  Danesmore,  the  name  of 
the  place,  and  a  constant  tradition  of  the  neighbourhood,  may 
reasonably  incline  us  to  believe.  The  people  there  have  a  notable 
rlnme,  which  they  make  the  Danes  to  say  upon  the  point  of 
battel.     'Tis  this  : — 

"  '  If  we  can  Pad-well  overgoe,  and  Horestone  we  can  see, 
Then  lords  of  England  we  shall  be.' 

"  Pad- well  is  a  noted  flush  spring  in  Edgeote  grounds  ;  Horestone 
a  famous  old  stone  on  the  borders  of  Warwickshii'e  in  Wardlinton 
field."« 

Many  places  in  these  parts  were  totally  destroyed  by  the  Danes ; 

(5)  Keunet,  V.  l.p.  54. 

(6)  Morton's  Noithamp.,  p.  543.     The  spot  was  called  Danesmoor  in  the  reign  of  Edward 
the  Fourth.     It  is  still  called  by  that  name,  or,  more  commonly,  Dimsmoor. 


PLACES  DESTROYED  BY  THE  DANES.  .')7 

iiinong  which  mention  is  made  of  Stean/  six  miles  E.  by  S.  from 
Banbury,  and  King's  Sutton,  three  miles  and  three  quarters  south- 
east. Leland  records  that  Brackley  shared  the  same  fate.^  The 
desolation  was  probably  almost  universal.  Some  of  the  ruined 
towns  before  enumerated  at  or  near  Madmarston,  King's  Sutton, 
Chipping  Wardon,  Stone  Green,  Hanwell,  Burton  Dasset,  and 
Chilgrove,  may  probably  date  their  destruction  from  this  period. 

In  the  year  after  the  desolation  of  Oxfordsliire  by  the  Danes 
king  Edward  raised  an  army,  marched  to  Buckingham,  and  dictated 
to  the  Danish  general  Turketil  and  the  garrison  of  Northampton 
his  own  terms  of  peace.  In  the  following  year  the  Danes  recom- 
menced their  plundering  excursions,  upon  which  Edward  with  a 
new  army  marched  to  Bedford  and  took  it.  After  this  he  built 
Towcester,  on  the  Watling  Street,  as  a  barrier  against  the  farther 
incursions  of  the  Danes.  Towcester  was  besieged  by  a  great  body 
of  Danes  coming  from  Northampton  ;  but  the  garrison,  being  re- 
cruited from  the  country  round,  drove  away  the  enemy.  The 
Danes  were  so  weakened  that  they  gave  allegiance  to  Edward.® 

Bishop  Wulfstan  had  been  translated  from  Dorchester  to  the 
archiepiscopal  see  of  York :  afterwards  proving  false  to  king 
Edred,  he  was  made  prisoner  in  952,  but  soon  after  restored  to  liis 
episcopal  dignity  at  Dorchester.  Osketyl  and  Escwin  were  subse- 
quently bishops  of  Dorchester,  previously  to  the  year  964.  In  991, 
Elfrie  governor  of  Mercia  promoted  a  dishonourable  peace  with, 
and  pension  to,  the  Danes.  In  993  or  995  Escwin  continued 
bishop  of  Dorchester.  In  1002  a  massacre  of  the  Danes  took 
place  on  the  feast  of  St.  Brice,  which  was  effected  with  the  great- 
est violence  in  Oxfordshire.^" 

Alfelm  bishop  of  Dorchester,  the  successor  of  Escwin,  died  in 
1008,  and  Ednoth  was  chosen  to  the  see.  In  1009  the  Danes  inva- 
ded this  county  and  set  fire  to  Oxford.  In  1010  they  again  made 
great  devastations  in  the  northeastern  parts  of  Oxfordshire,  march- 
ing on  to  Buckingham.  In  1011  the  county  is  enumerated  among 
those  paying  constant  tribute  to~  the  Danes.  In  1013  Sweyn  king 
of  Denmark  marched  from  Lincolnshire  into  these  parts  of  Mercia, 
and  on  this  side  of  Watling  Street  gave  liberty  to  his  soldiers  to 
plunder  the  country,  burn  the  villages,  deface  the  churches,  and  ill 
use  and  slay  the  people  ;  in  which  sanguinary  course  he  went  on  to 

(7)  By  Morton  (p.  540)  on  traditionary  evidence.  (8)  Leland's  Itin.,  v.  7,  fol.  10. 

(0)  Kennet,  v.  1,  pp.  66,  57.  (10)  Kennet,  v.  1,  pp.  67—61. 


58  THE  DANES.— BANBURY. 

Oxford,  and  alarmed  that  city  into  a  surrender.  In  1016  Edric 
earl  of  Mercia,  proving  false,  went  over  to  Cnnte  the  son  of  Sweyn, 
and  marched  with  the  Danish  forces,  which  destroyed  many  places 
in  Warwicksliire,  and  passed  tlu-ough  these  parts  into  Buckingham- 
shire committing  great  ravages."  In  the  same  year  King  Ethelred 
died,  having  reigned  tliirty-eight  years,  and  kept  Ms  residence  for 
the  greater  part  of  that  period  in  this  county.  A  very  perfect 
silver  penny  of  Ethelred  was  found  in  Hooknorton  church-yard 
in  182a.'"  He  was  succeeded  by  Edmund  Ironside,  who  pursued 
the  Danes  into  Mercia,  and  thence  into  Essex ;  where,  in  a 
fatal  battle,  Ednoth  bishop  of  Dorchester  was  slain  while  singmg 
mass  on  the  field.     Ethrie  was  chosen  to  the  see. 

Cnute  had  now  possession  of  the  kingdom.  Ethrie  bishop  of 
Dorchester,  who  died  in  1034,  was  often  admitted  to  his  private 
councils.  Ednoth  junior  succeeded  to  the  bishoprick.  In  1041, 
the  Saxon  line  of  kings  was  restored  in  the  person  of  the  sur- 
viving son  of  Ethelred,  Edward,  called  the  Confessor,  who  was 
born  at  Islip.  In  1046  Bishop  Ednoth  died,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Ulf,  or  Wolfin,  by  birth  a  Norman.'^  At  tliis  period  this  county 
and  neighbourhood  are  described  as  being  in  great  part  inhabited 
by  Danes.  Amongst  other  proprietors,  Osmund  the  Dane  held 
the  freehold  of  Trorji"  (Thorp  Mandeville)  before  the  Norman 
conquest. 

The  following  notices  of  Banbury  refer  to  the  reign  of  Edward 
the  Confessor : — 

"  In  King  Edward's  time,  there  were  there  33  ploughs  and  a  half.  *  * 
It  was  worth  35  pounds. 

"  The  land  of  the  manor  of  Banesberie  *  *  *  was  worth  11  pounds 
and  10  shillings. 

■'  Wicha'  [Wickham]     *     *     *     ^as  worth  CO  shillings. 

"  Grimberie  [Grimsbury]     *     *     *     ^as  worth  4  pounds."^'' 

At  this  period,  Bloehesham  (Bloxham)  and  great  part  of  Ed- 
burgberie  (Adderbury)  are  mentioned  as  belonging  to  Edwin  earl 
of  Mercia."'  In  1066  King  Edward  died.  The  next  king,  Harold 
(who  was  brother-in-law  to  this  Edwin  earl  of  Mercia),  being  killed 
in  battle  on  the  Nth  of  October,  the  crown  fell  to  William  the 
Conqueror. 

(11)  Kennet,  v.  1,  pp.  62—6-5. 

(12)  In  the  possession  of  the  late  Mr.  Robert  Atkins  of  Ilooknoiton. 
(1.3)  Kennet,  v.  1,  pp.  6.5—71. 

(14)  Domesthiy  Book.  (15)  Ibid.  (16)  Ibid. 


WILLIAM  THE  CONQUEROR.  r>0 


PERIOD  AFTER  THE  CONQUEST. 


NORMAN  PERIOD. 

Soon  after  tlie  battle  of  Hastings,  William  the  Conqueror  came 
to  Wallingforcl,  which  place  was  delivered  up  to  him  by  Wigod 
the  lord  thereof.  For  this  service,  and  further  to  answer  his  own 
ends,  the  Conqueror  gave  Wigod's  daughter  and  heiress  in  marriage 
to  his  own  follower  Robert  de  Oily,  and  conferred  on  Wigod  the 
honours  of  Hooknorton  and  St.  Walery.  After  his  coronation  the 
conquering  king  stormed  Oxford,  which  had  refused  him  entrance  ; 
and  gave  the  greatest  part  of  it  to  Robert  de  Oily."  Odo,  bishop 
of  Bayeux  and  the  half-brother  of  the  Conqueror,  was  then  or  after- 
wards enriched  with  the  lands  of  Dadintone  (Deddington),  Tewam 
(Tew),  Svmertone  (Somerton),  Fertwelle  (Fritwell),  Niwetone 
(Newington),  Teowe  (Dunstew),  Lvdewelle  (Ledwell),  Hereford 
(Barford),  Alcrintone  (Alkerton),  Hortone  (Hornton),  &c.^^  The 
date  when  the  Conqueror  came  to  Banbury  is  not  stated,  but  an 
ancient  tradition  has  been  preserved  by  Dr.  Stukeley  that  he  slept 
there  at  the  Altarstone  Inn.'^  Up  to  the  time,  however,  when  the 
campaign  of  1068  commenced,  the  Normans  had  only  made  oc- 
casional inroads  into  the  midland  parts  of  the  island,  as  is  proved 
by  the  successive  reduction  afterwards  of  Warwick,  Nottingham, 
Leicester,  and  other  towns  lying  to  the  north  of  Banbury.  In  107], 
the  king,  having  probably  good  reason  to  doubt  the  fidelity  of  the 
people  of  these  parts,  commanded  Robert  de  Oily  to  erect  a 
castle  at  Oxford,  the  first  of  the  numerous  Norman  castles  which 
were  built  in  this  neighbourhood.  (See  p.  69.)  Edwin  earl  of 
Mereia  (the  same  who  held  Adderbury  and  Bloxham)  had  rendered 
important  service  to  the  Conqueror,  and  was  promised  one  of  Ins 
daughters  in  marriage ;  but,  being  afterwards  refused  and  msulted 
by  the  imperious  monarch,  he  retired  to  the  north  of  England  and 
joined  his  countrymen  in  arms  against  the  invader.  His  es- 
tates then  fell  into  the  Conqueror's  hands. 

(17)  Kennet,  v.  1,  p.  77.        (18)  Domesday  Book.        (10)  Itin.  Curios.,  edit.  1776,  p.  IS. 
H  3 


60  DOMESDAY  SURVEY. 

Ulf,  or  \A"olfin,  bishop  of  Dorchester,  died  in  1007.  His  suc- 
cessor was  Remigius  de  Fescamp,  a  Norman,  the  first  bishop 
appointed  in  England  by  WilHam.  At  his  manor  of  Banbury 
he  is  mentioned  to  have  found  the  same  number  of  ploughs  as 
were  there  in  the  reign  of  Edward  the  Confessor.-"  In  1072,  the 
episcopal  see  was  transferred  from  Dorchester  to  Lincoln ;  per- 
haps on  account  of  the  hostihty  of  the  Oxfordsliire  people  to- 
wards their  conquerors. 

In  1082,  the  general  survey  contained  in  Domesday  Book  was 
begun.  The  commissioners  for  these  parts  appear  to  have  been 
Wiilfstan  bishop  of  Worcester,  Remigius  bishop  of  Lincoln,  Walter 
Giffard  earl  of  Buckingham,  &c. ;  and  they  were  probably  engaged 
here  about  the  year  1084.-'  The  following  is  a  translation  of  that 
record  as  far  as  it  relates  to  BANBURY  : — 

OXENEFORDSCIRE. 

Land  of  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln.     In  Dorchecestre  Hundred. 

The  Bishop  himself  holds  Banesberie.  There  are  50  hides'--  there.  Of 
these  the  Bishop  has,  in  the  demesne, ^^  land^*  to  10  ploughs,  and  3  hides 
besides  the  inland.-^  The  homagers^''  of  the  town  have  33  hides  and  a 
half. 

In  King  Edward's  time,  there  were  there  33  ploughs  and  a  half;  and 
Bishop  Remigius  found  the  same  number. 

There  are  now  in  the  demesne  7  plouglis,  and  14  bondmen  :-'  and  7(J 
villans  ^^  with  17  bordars^^  have  33  ploughs.  There  are  3  mills  of  45 
shillings  [annual  value].  The  pasture  is  3  quarentens^"  long  and  2 
quarentens  broad. 

(20)  Domesday  Book.  (21)  Kennet,  p.  87. 

(22)  Hide  of  land.  In  an  old  MS.  it  is  said  to  be  120  acres.  Gervase  of  Tilbury  makes 
it  100  acres.  The  Malmesbury  MS.  computes  it  at  96  acres.  Bede  calls  it  Familia,  and 
says  it  is  as  much  as  will  maintain  a  family.  Crompton  says  a  hide  contains  100  acres,  and 
that  8  hides  make  a  knight's  fee.  Sir  Edward  Coke  holds  that  neither  a  knight's  fee,  a  hide, 
a  ploughland,  nor  a  yard  land,  contains  any  fixed  number  of  acres.  Some  make  24  acres 
in  a  virgate,  4  virgates  in  a  hide,  and  5  hides  in  a  knight's  fee. — Kennet,  Cunningham,  S^c. 

(23)  Demesne.  That  part  of  a  manor  or  estate  which  the  lord  keeps  in  his  own  hands 
or  to  his  own  use. — Kennet. 

(24)  Terra,  that  is,  arable  land,  as  distinct  from  wood,  meadow,  and  common  pasture. — 
Description  of  Public  Records. 

(25)  Inland.  That  inner  land  or  part  of  a  manor  which  lay  next  to  a  lord's  mansion 
house,  or  most  convenient  for  the  maintenance  of  his  family,  &c. — Bailey. 

(26)  Homines,  rendered  homagers.  This  includes  all  sorts  of  feudatory  tenants,  who 
claimed  the  privilege  of  having  their  causes  and  persons  tried  only  in  the  court  of  their 
lord. — Description  of  Public  Records. 

(27)  The  Servi  of  Domesday  Book  (rendered  bondmen)  are  supposed  to  have  been  these 
villans  who  were  subject  to  the  arbitrary  pleasure  of  their  lord,  and  appointed  to  perform 
servile  works. — Description  of  Public  Records. 

(28)  Villanus,  from  villa,  a  country  farm,  where  these  men  of  low  and  servile  condition 
had  some  small  portion  of  cottages  and  lands  allotted  to  them. — Ke?met. 

(29)  Bordarii.  Tenants  who  possessed  bord  lands.  Such  lands  were  those  which  lords 
of  manors  kept  in  their  hands  for  the  maintenance  of  their  boards  or  tables.  Bord  lode 
was  the  quantity  of  food  or  provision  which  was  paid  by  the  bordarii  or  bordmen  for  their 
bord  lands. — Bailey. 

(30)  Quarenlena,  a  quarenten,  a  foity-long,  or  furlong.  A  measure  of  forty  perches. 
The  perch  was  20  feet. — Kennet. 


DOMESDAY  SURVEY.  ()1 

In  King  Edwai'd's  time,  it  was  worth  35  pounds.  When  received  [it 
was  worth]  30  pounds.     It  is  now  worth  the  same. 

******** 

Of  the  land  of  the  manor  of  Banesberie  Robert  holds  of  the  Bishoj) 

4  hides.     Goislen  5  hides.     The  other  Robert  2  hides  and  a  half.     William 

5  hides.  Hunfrid  half  a  hide.  There  is  land  to  12  ploughs  and  a  half. 
There  are  8  ploughs  in  the  demesne  there  :  and  13  villans  with  3  bordars 
and  12  bondmen  have  4  ploughs.  One  of  them,  Robert  the  son  of  Wal- 
chelin,  has  a  mill  there  of  5  shillings  and  4  pence,  and  4  acres  of  meadow. 

In  King  Edward's  time,   the  whole  was  worth  11  pounds  and  10  shil- 
lings.    When  received  9  pounds  and  10  shillings.     Now  14  pounds. 
******** 

Robert  holds  of  the  inland  of  the  Bishop  2  hides  in  Wicha'  [Wickham]. 
There  is  land  to  3  ploughs. 

There  are  now  in  the  demesne  2  ploughs,  and  4  bondmen  :  and  5 
villans  have  1  plough  and  a  half. 

There  is  a  mill  of  30  shillings. 

It  was  Avorth  60  shillings.     Now  100  shillings. 


NORTHANTONSCIRE. 

Land  of  Gvnfrid  de  Cioches.     In  Svtone  Hundred. 

The  same  holds  2  hides  and  the  fifth  part  of  2  hides  in  Grimberie. 

There  is  land  to  6  ploughs.  Two  are  in  the  demesne,  and  4  bondmen  : 
and  15  villans  with  3  bordars  have  4  ploughs.  There  is  a  mill  of  10  shil- 
lings, and  30  acres  of  meadow. 

It  was  worth  4  pounds.  Now  [it  is  worth]  6  pounds.  This  land  is  of 
three  lordships.     Levenot  held  it  with  sac  and  soc.^* 

The  Bishop  of  Lincoln  held  Cropelie  (Cropredy)  and  many 
other  places  in  the  county.  Robert  de  Oily  had  Hochenartoue 
(Hooknorton)  and  27  other  manors  in  Oxfordshire,  with  50  houses 
in  Oxford,  and  many  manors  in  all  the  adjacent  counties.  The 
King  held  Blochesham  (Bloxham)  and  great  part  of  Edburgberie 
(Adderbury),  which  had  belonged  to  Edwin  earl  of  Mercia.  Broh- 
tnne  (Broughton)  was  held  of  the  king  by  Berenger  de  Todeni. 
The  Abbey  of  Abingdon  held  Tadmertime  (Tadmarton).^'"  The 
lands  bestowed  upon  Odo,  bishop  of  Bayeux,  have  been  already 
mentioned.  Amongst  the  very  few  markets  mentioned  in  Domes- 
day Book  is  one  at  Svdtone  (King's  Sutton),  then  in  the  hands 
of  the  King,  and  worth  20s.  yearly. 

Bishop   Remigius,    lord   of   Banbury,    on   the   removal   of  his 

(31)  "  Cum  sac  4"  soc  ."  Saca  was  the  power  and  privilege  of  hearing  and  determining 
causes  and  disputes,  levying  forfeitures  and  fines,  executing  laws,  and  administering  justice 
within  a  certain  precinct.  Soca  was  the  territory  or  precinct  in  which  the  Saca  and  other 
privileges  were  exercised. — Description  of  Puhlic  Records. 

(32)  Robert  de  Oily  died  in  1090  or  1091.  The  monks  of  Abingdon  stated  that  he, 
having  arbitrary  power  hereabouts,  did  injury  to  many  churches ;  and  amongst  other  rob- 
beries took  from  them  a  meadow  at  Oxford  and  converted  it  to  the  use  of  the  castle.  How- 
ever, by  the  prayers  of  the  monks  he  was  cast  into  a  fit  of  sickness,  and  so  frightened  in  a 
dream  that  he  went  to  the  Abbot  of  Abingdon  and  before  the  high  altar  gave  to  them  Tad- 
mertune,  of  ten  pounds  annual  rent.  (Keunet,  pp,  97,  98.)  Robert  de  Oily's  brother  Nigel 
succeeded  to  the  castle  of  Oxford  and  the  honour  of  Hokenorton. 


62  PREBEND  OF  BANBURY. 

see  from  Dorchester  to  Lincoln,  erected  a  cathedral  at  the  latter 
place,  which  was  dedicated  to  the  Virgin  Mary  and  endowed 
with  numerous  prebends.  No  original  records  of  this  early  date, 
relating  to  tliis  cathedral,  have  been  preserved  at  Lincoln  or  else- 
where ;  and  it  is  not  known  at  what  period  the  Prebend  of  Ban- 
bury, which  belonged  to  Lincoln  Cathedral,  had  its  rise :  it  is 
first  mentioned  in  the  reign  of  Henry  the  Tliird.^^  Bishop  Re- 
migius  died  in  1092.  In  1093,  William  Rufus  gave  the  see 
of  Lincoln  to  his  chancellor  Robert  Bloet,  who  increased  the 
number  of  prebends  in  the  cathedral.  There  is  a  record  at  a 
later  period,  referring  to  these  times,  which  states  that  "  Robert 
Bloet,  bishop  of  Lincoln,  had  formerly  given  to  the  abbot  of  Egnes- 
ham  [Ensham]  all  the  greater  and  lesser  tithes  proceeding  from  the 
demesnes  of  the  bishoprick  in  the  parishes  of  Banneburi,  Crop- 
sedy,"  &c.^"'  In  1109,  the  tithe  of  Banneberi  and  of  Cropperi 
with  the  bordars,^^  and  certain  other  tithes,  were  confirmed  to 
the  abbey  of  Egnesham  by  the  charter  of  king  Henry  the  First, 
which  restored  the  decayed  abbey.  Robert,  son  of  Walchelin, 
(who  appears  in  Domesday  Book  as  possessing  property  here,) 
had  likewise  given  to  the  same  church  all  his  tithes  of  Wicheam  ■ 
(Wickham).3« 

Robert  Bloet,  bishop  of  Lincoln  and  lord  of  Banbury,  whilst 
riding  out  with  the  King  at  Woodstock  in  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1123,  fell  from  his  horse,  and  died  on  the  following  day.^^ 
In  this  reign  of  Henry  the  First  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  had  a  char- 
ter of  free  warren  in  his  land  of  Banbury  .^^ 

(33)  See  hereafter.  The  Prebend  of  Banbury  subsequently  appears  to  have  consisted  of 
the  impropriation  of  the  rectory  of  Banbury  and  the  advowson  of  the  vicarage.  (Willis's 
Cathedrals.)-  All  our  parochial  churches  were  at  first  rectories,  possessed  of  the  tithes, 
glebes,  and  odcriugs ;  and  vicarages  had  their  origin  from  appropriation,  or  the  giving  of 
rectories  to  otlier  religious  institutions.  The  vicarage  of  Banbury  may  probably  have  had 
its  origin  cither  at  the  date  of  the  formation  of  the  Prebend,  or  when  Robert  Bloet  gave  the 
tithes  of  Banbury  to  the  monastery  of  Ensham  (see  this  page).  In  1338  there  was  a  dispute 
respecting  the  tithes  of  Banbury  between  the  rector  of  the  church  there  and  the  monks  of 
Ensham. — C'artul.  Egnesham,  fol.  57  ;  Kc/met,  v.  1,  p.  162. 

(34)  "  Rob.  Bloet  episcopus  Line,  olim  dederat  abbati  de  Egnesham  omnes  deoimas 
luajores  et  minores  provenientes  dc  dominicis  episcopatus  in  parochiis  de  Banneburi, 
Cropsedy,  &c. — Carlul.  EtjncsUam,  fol.  76."     Kennet,  v.  1,  p.  163. 

(3-5)  Similiter  decimam  de  Banneberia,  &  de  Cropperia  cum  bordariis." — Carta  Regis  H. 
senloris.     Dugdale's  Munast. 

(36)  Dugdale's  Monast.  (37)  Kennet,  p.  120. 

(38)  As  appears  from  a  document  subsequently  given  in  the  reign  of  Henry  the  Second. 
Free  warren  was  a  liberty  granted  by  the  King  to  the  lord  of  a  manor,  that  within  such 
an  extent  he  should  keep  and  preserve,  and  take  to  his  own  use,  fish,  fowl,  and  other  game, 
which  no  other  person' should  hunt  or  destroy  without  leave  of  the  lord. — Kennet. 


BISHOP  ALEXANDER— BANBURY  CASTLE.  <>•'? 


ALEXANDER,  BISHOP  OF  LINCOLN,  AND  HIS  TIMES : 
BANBURY  CASTLE  ERECTED. 

In  the  Lent  following  the  death  of  Robert  Bloet,  Henry  the 
First  gave  the  bishoprick  of  Lincoln  to  Alexander  de  Blois,  arch- 
deacon of  Salisbury,  who  was  consecrated  at  Canterbury  on  the 
22nd  July  1123.^'  Alexander  was  by  birth  a  Norman,  and  was 
the  nephew  of  the  famous  Roger  bishop  of  Salisbury,  who  edu- 
cated him  and  made  him  his  archdeacon.  It  was  probably  by  his 
uncle's  interest  that  Alexander  was  now  made  bishop  of  Lincoln. 
In  consequence  of  this  appointment  he  became  lord  of  Banbury, 
where  he  erected  a  castle.  He  is  described  as  a  man  of  diminutive 
stature.  William  of  Malmesbury  says  of  him,  that  "  seeing  he 
was  looked  upon  as  a  prodigy  by  reason  of  his  small  body,  his 
mind  strove  to  excel  and  be  the  more  famous  in  the  world." 
In  his  manner  of  livmg  he  exhibited  so  much  splendour  and 
state  that  in  the  court  of  Rome  he  was  styled  "The  Magnificent:" 
nevertheless  he  appears  to  have  been  a  man  of  worth  and  unblem- 
ished honour.  In  the  year  after  his  consecration,  the  Pope, 
Honorius  II,  confirmed  to  him  and  his  successors  their  possessions 
at  Baneberia,  Cropperia,  &c.'''' 

Leland  dates  the  erection  of  the  Castle  at  Banbury  by  Alex- 
ander in  the  reign  of  Henry  the  First.  Dr.  Plot,  in  writing  of 
the  town,  says — "xAbout  the  year  1125  [25th  2Gth  Hen.  I.],  it 
was  strengthened  with  a  castle  by  Alexander  the  then  great  bishop 
of  Lincoln."^^  Dr.  Stukeley  observes — "  Banbury  was  a  Roman 
station  called  Branavis.''-  That  master  builder  the  bishop  of 
Lincoln,  Alexander,  built  the  castle  anno  1125,  I  doubt  not  but 
upon  the  Roman  fortification  :  he  enlarged  it  and  built  it  after 
the  mode  of  those  times,  taking  in  a  huge  space  of  ground  with 
a  wall,  towers,  and  ditch :  within  he  made  another  work  upon 
one  side,  where  were  the  lodgings,  chappel  &c.     A  small  part  of 

(39)  Kennet,  p.  120. 

(40)  "  Bishop  Honorius  servant  of  the  servants  of  the  Lord  to  the  venerable  brother 
Alexander  Bishop  of  Lincoln  and  his  successors  from  time  to  time  for  ever.  We  have 
taken  the  Church  of  Lincoln  under  the  especial  protection  of  the  Apostolical  chair  and  in- 
tend to  protect  it  by  the  power  thereof  from  injury  of  man.  Therefore  all  the  goods  and 
possessions  which  it  now  justly  holds  and  all  it  may  hereafter  acquire  shall  remain  to  you 
and  your  successors.  Wherefore  we  here  mention  them  by  their  proper  names  [amongst 
others  Banbury  and  Cropredy].  And  therefore  let  no  man  whether  clerical  or  layman  dare 
in  any  manner  to  molest  threaten  or  hurt  the  same  in  any  manner  but  let  them  remain  intact 
for  ever— 3.  Feb.  A.  D.  U25."—Cotlon.  Lib.,  Vesp.  E.  xvi,  fol.  19. 

(41)  Plot's  Oxf.,  p.  347.  (42)  An  error.     Sec  before  in  this  vol.,  p.  20. 


64  BANBURY  CASTLE 

the  wall  of  this  is  only  now  left  [1712],  of  good  hewn  stone;  but 
the  ditch  went  along  the  middle  of  the  adjacent  street,  and  houses 
arc  built  by  th.e  side  of  it,  out  of  its  ruins,  as  people  now  alive 
remember.  In  the  civil  wars  it  received  new  additional  works,  for 
there  are  plain  remains  of  four  bastions ;  a  brook  running  without 
them."^^  In  the  reign  of  Henry  the  Eighth  (before  the  more  recent 
works  alluded  to  by  Dr.  Stukeley  were  added)  the  Castle  is  thus 
described  by  Leland :  "  There  is  a  Castle  on  the  north  syde  of 
this  area,  having  2  wardes,  and  each  warde  a  dich.  In  the  utter 
is  a  terrible  prison  for  convict  men.  In  the  north  part  of  the 
inner  ward  is  a  fay  re  peice  of  new  buildinge  of  stone.  I  cannot 
see  or  learne  that  there  was  ever  any  Castle  or  Fortresse  at  Ban- 
bury afore  the  Conquest.  Alexander  Bish.  of  Lincolne  in  H.  I. 
dayes  builded  this  Castle. "■*'  In  the  6th  year  of  Edward  the  Sixth 
(1552),  on  a  survey  made  of  the  castle  and  its  dependencies,  the 
description  given  is—"  the  Castle  of  Banbury  aforesaid,  with  all 
the  houses  needful  to  the  same,  and  the  yards  and  courts  ;  one 
garden  and  one  orchard,  and  one  parcell  of  land  called  the 
Stewe  containing  one  rood  of  land ;  and  a  certain  ditch  without 
the  wall  of  the  said  Castle,  containing  three  acres.  *  *  * 
Two  water  mills  under  one  roof  lying  and  being  near  the  Castle 
aforesaid  within  the  borough  of  Banbury.  And  one  Hame  [or 
'The  Hame '] '^  to  the  same  adjoining  severally  containing  three 
acres.  *  *  *  One  tenement  aud  one  garden  lying  and  being 
within  the  borough  of  Banbury  before  the  Gate  of  the  Castle  of 
Banbury  aforesaid  with  its  appurtenances."'"'  In  the  reign  of  Eliza- 
beth there  is  a  record  (21st  December  1564)  that  "the  Castell  afor- 
said  is  in  greate  deeaye  and  specially  the  owter  Gatehouse  therof 
nere  unto  the  whiche  theire  is  one  Lytle  olde  Rewenus  house  some- 
tyme  A  Pryson  couered  all  ou'  [over]  w*  slate  savinge  one  lytle 
pece  covered  w*  leade  contey'ing  nott  aboue  one  fodder  and  a  half 
whiche  Pryson  house  was  once  appoynted  to  be  imployed  towards 
the  Repay ringe  of  the  said  Gate  house.  And  the  repay ringe  of  the 
said  Castell  will  cost  aboue  fyftie  pound."^''  In  an  inquisition  made 
in  the  4tli  year  of  James  the  First  (1606)  we  find  "a  Mansion 
House  within  the  inner  gates  of  the  same  Castle,  twenty-three 
bays  covered  with  lead  :"  "  the  outermost  gate  six  bays   covered 

(43)  Itin.  Curios.,  p.  48.  _  (44)  Leland's  Itin.,  v.  4,  pt.  2,  fol.  103  b. 

(45)  "  Mill  ham"  is  still  a  common  name  given  to  the  small  meadow  usually  attached  to  a 
mill. 

(46)  Inquisition  6th  Edw.  VI.,  which  will  be  given  hereafter. 

(47)  Memorandum  of  the  above  date  at  the  foot  of  a  Particular  in  the  Augmentation  Office. 


BANBURY  CASTLE. 


65 


with  slate  :"  "  one  close  called  the  Stewe  by  estimation  one  acre  :" 
and  "  one  other  close  of  pasture  called  the  Castle  Orcharde  by 
estimation  three  acres."*  A  plan''''  of  the  site  of  the  Castle,  made 
in  1685  (some  years  after  the  building  was  taken  down),  and  from 
which   the  following   is   reduced,  gives   the  measurement  of  the 


BANBURY  TWONE 


PLAN  OF  THE   SITE  OF  BANBURY  CASTLE,     1685. 

Castle  itself  3  roods  and  3  perches,  and  that  of  the  grounds  and 
outworks  13a.  1r.  14p.,  not  including  the  mills  &c.  The  upper 
part  of  the  plan  is  due  north.     The  Cherwell  flowed  at  a  short 

(48)  Inquisition  4th  Jas.  I.  hereafter. 

(49)  The  property  of  Lord  Saye  and  Sele,  and  now  in  the  possession  of  W.  Walford  Esq. 
The  part  marked  (H)  in  the  above  reduced  plan ,  is  called,  in  the  original,  "  house  and  gardens." 

I 


bb  BANBURY  CHURCH.— BISHOP  ALEXANDER. 

distance  on  the  east,  turning  the  mills  and  receiving  the  waste 
water  from  the  moat.  That  this  Castle,  which  was  the  frequent 
abode  of  the  great  Bishops  of  Lincoln,  was  a  magnificent  work  of 
its  day,  there  can  be  no  question :  that  it  was  a  formidable  place 
of  defence  we  have  the  proofs  arising  from  its  importance  during 
the  Civil  Wars,  and  the  gallant'  stand  which  the  Royalists  made 
there,  in  the  midst  of  a  hostile  coimtry,  from  1642  to  1646.^ 

Alexander  is  said  to  have  also  erected  the  former  Church  at 
Banburj'."  The  authorities  for  this  are  not  ancient ;  but,  judging 
from  the  extent  and  the  pure  Norman  style  of  the  original  parts  of 
the  interior,  which  remained  until  near  the  close  of  the  last  cen- 
tury, the  fact  is  highly  probable.^ 

This  famous  Bishop  also  erected  castles  at  Newark  and  Sleaford  ; 
and,  whether  from  motives  of  piety,  or  the  love  of  splendour,  or  in 
order  to  avoid  the  public  odium  which  he  had  incurred  by  the  ex- 
pensive erection  of  castles,  he  devoted  vast  sums  to  other  religious 
edifices  besides  the  church  of  Banbury.''  The  cathedral  at  Lin- 
coln having  been  greatly  damaged  by  fire,  Alexander  repaired  it, 
it  is  said,  "  with  very  great  perfection  in  point  of  workmanship."^ 
Among  liis  lesser  benefactions  was  one,  on  his  dedication  of  the 
monastery  of  Godestow  near  Oxford  in  December  in  the  fourth 
year  of  Stephen  (1138),  of  one  hundred  shillings  yearly  to  the  said 
monastery  out  of  his  toll  in  Bannebiri." 

On  the  28th  of  April  1139,  there  is  an  instrument  from  Pope  In- 
nocent n.  to  x\lexander  bishop  of  Lincoln,  which  takes  that  Church 
and  its  possessions,  acquired  and  to  be  acquired,  under  the  special 
protection  of  the  Holy  See,  and  mentions  Banbviry  among  those 

(1)  The  site  is  now  called  the  Castle  Gardens,  being  used  as  garden  ground.  The 
meadows  lying  N.  and  N.  by  W.  of  the  part  marked  in  the  plan  on  the  last  page  "The 
Fur  Casill  Orchard,"  are  called  "The  Marches."  The  "  hether  Casill  Orchard  "is  what 
is  now  Mr.  Brickwell's  close,  across  which  the  foot  road  to  Hardwick  fonnerly  led.  The 
western  and  northern  limit  of  "The  Fur  Casill  Orchard"  is  the  Cuttle  Brook,  which  runs 
by  the  present  footpath  to  Hardwick  and  then  crosses  it  to  the  east.  The  cottage  represented 
within  the  part  called  "The  Casill"  is  one  which  was  erected  on,  and  out  of,  the  ruins 
of  the  Castle  after  the  Civil  Wars  (see  hereafter),  and  which  is  still  known  as  the  Castle 
cottage.  The  other  building  is  the  present  warehouse  in  the  Old  Wharf,  which  was  erected 
about  the  same  time.  The  fronts  of  "  the  houses  and  gardens  "  correspond  with  Back  Lane  : 
and  the  road  from  these  to  "The  Casill"  corresponds  with  the  present  road  from  Back 
Lane  to  the  Castle  cottage. 

The  slight  vestiges  of  the  Castle  which  remain  will  be  noticed  hereafter. 

(2)  Bray's  Tour,  1777  ;  Rusher's  Crouch  Hill,  1789  ;  Brewer's  Oxf. ;  Skelton's  Antiq.  Oxf. 

(3)  See  account  of  the  Church  hereafter.  The  unhallowed  work  of  destruction  per- 
petrated in  1790,  has  not  left,  so  far  as  I  know,  any  other  remain  of  the  Norman  part  of  this 
noble  pile  than  the  poor  relic  engraved  in  Plate  15  (fig.  1).     This  is  in  my  own  possession. 

(4)  "  Natheles  yut  after  wardes  he  bytliynkyng,  that  suche  castellwerk  was  nat  semyng 
to  Religion,  in  a  mendement  of  that  trespas,  he  maked  so  many  minstres  of  Religion,  and 
endowed  hem  with  londes  and  rentes."— Bohert  of  Gloucester's  Chronicle,  edit.  1810,  p.  450. 

(5)  Henry  of  Huntingdon. 

(6)  Dugdale's  Monast. — "  Et  ego  Alexander  Lincolniensis  episcopus  dedi  C.  solidos  de 
theloneo  Bannebirine." 


IMPRISONMENT  OF  ALEXANDER.  07 

possessions.'  Alexander's  castles  were  not  however  secure  from  tlie 
attempts  of  King  Stephen,  who  thought  it  necessary  to  possess 
himself  of  the  fortified  places  in  order  to  secure  the  throne  he  had 
usurped.  Holinshed  records  that  the  King  held  all  in  suspicion, 
but  vehemently  suspected  Roger  bishop  of  Salisbury,  and  Alex- 
ander bishop  of  Lincoln,  nephew  to  the  said  bishop  of  Salisbury, 
or,  as  some  thought,  more  near  to  him,  "I  meane  his  sonne."'^ 
Commg  therefore  to  Oxford,  in  the  same  year  1139,  at  Midsum- 
mer, the  King  sent  for  the  bishop  of  Salisbury,  who  had  lately 
fortified  his  castle  of  Devizes.  The  bishop,  fearing  a  design  to 
apprehend  liim,  sent  for  his  two  nephews  Alexander  bishop  of 
Lincoln  and  Nigel  bishop  of  Ely,  and  with  their  retinues  and  his 
own  came  in  mihtary  array  to  Oxford :  "  where  at  his  first 
coming,  liis  servants  going  to  take  them  up  lodgings,  happened 
into  a  quarrel  with  the  servants  of  the  Earl  of  Britain,  and  killed 
one  of  them  in  the  fray,  the  nephew  of  the  earl  being  dangerously 
wounded."^  Upon  the  occurrence  of  tliis  violation  of  order  within 
the  pale  of  the  court,  the  Bishops  of  Salisbury  and  Lincoln  were 
arrested  by  command  of  the  King;  but  the  Bishop  of  Ely  was 
so  fortunate  as  to  make  his  escape.^"  The  castles  of  the  two 
other  Bishops,  Roger  and  Alexander,  were  now  demanded  by  the 
king.     Robert  of  Gloucester  says  : — 

"  Ajen  wende  j^e  kyng  to  Oxenford,  &  fie  byssop  vette 

Alysandre  of  Lyncolne,  j^at  he  in  prison  sette. 

And  latlde  hym  to  \je  neweworc,  to  a  uayr  castel  &  god, 

]pat  )}e  byssope's  was,  &  vp  Trent  stod. 

\>ev  he  suor,  j^at  pe  byssop  ueuere  ete  ne  ssolde, 

Ne  drynke  najjemo,  ar  ]pe  castel  hym  were  ygolde. 

\}e  byssop  was  wo  ynou,  vor  he  wuste  wel,  l^ey  he  woldc 

Selde  hym  vp  \>e  castel,  hys  men  wyfjynne  nolde. 

He  bed  hem,  &  cryde  on  hem,  ac  al  yt  was  vor  nogt. 

So  jsat  j^ys  byssop  was  ne  to  grounde  ybro^t 

Myd  honger,  j^at  men  adde  reuj^e  ]pa.t  hym  knewe. 

He  wep  &  cryde  on  hys  men,  pat  hii  ssolde  on  hym  rewe, 

pat  he  nere  to  del^e  ypyned,  {sat  hii  seye  wel  he  ssolde. 

So  )jat  to  sauy  hys  \ytpe  castel  vp  hii  ^olde. 

l^e  kyng  nom  j^erynne  ^^e  byssope's  tresorye. 

And  in  pya  manei-e  lo  !  bygan  hys  worre  myd  robberye."" 

(7)  Cotton.  Lib.,  Vesp.  E.  xvi.  fol.  20.  (8)  Holinshed's  Chron.  of  Stephen. 

{!»)  Biog.  Brit.  (10)  Biog.  Brit.;  Kennet,  v.  I,  p.  130;  &c. 

(11)  Robert  of  Gloucester,  p.  449.  In  modern  English  the  sense  would  be  as  foUows  : — 
Again  the  King  went  to  Oxford,  and  sent  for  the  bishop  Alexander  of  Lincoln,  whom  he 
made  prisoner,  and  conveyed  to  Newark,  to  a  fair  and  goodly  castle,  which  belonged  to  the 
Bishop  and  stood  on  the  river  Trent.  There  he  swore  that  the  Bishop  should  never  more 
either  eat  or  drink  until  the  castle  were  yielded  to  him  [the  King].  The  Bishop  was  "  wo 
I.  O 


68      SURRENDER  OF  ALEXANDER'S  CASTLES. 

In  a  note,  in  "Prose  more  plennere  [fully]  of  the  same  mater," 
Robert  of  Gloucester  adds — "The  bysshop  Alexaundre  of  Lyn- 
colne  in  the  same  wyse  he  destressed,  that  he  was  fayn  to  yelde 
him  vp.  ii.  noble  castells,  in  whiche  his  tresours  were.  For  he 
was  the  Kynge's  Tresourer.  *  *  These  ii.  bisshoppes  [Roger 
and  Alexander]  to  fore  that  tyme  were  the  most  a  losed  [com- 
mended] bisshoppes,  among  alle  other."  From  other  sources  we 
learn  that  the  King  committed  them  both  to  prison,  using  threats 
in  order  to  compel  them  to  surrender  their  castles  into  his  hands. 
Alexander  is  stated  to  have  endured  liis  imprisonment  and  hard 
fare  for  seven  months.  He  sm^rendered  his  castles,  and  with 
difficulty   obtained   his   liberty.'^ 

The  castles  of  which  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln  was  deprived  as 
above  stated  seem  to  have  been  restored  to  him  not  long  afterwards. 
No  record  of  any  miUtary  movements  in  connection  with  Ban- 
bury Castle  occurs  during  the  troubled  times  which  immediately 
followed  the  imprisonment  of  Alexander.  Those  troubles  (in 
which  these  parts  especially  were  deeply  involved)  arose  from  the 
arrival  of  Maud  the  empress  (daughter  of  Henry  the  First),  who 
in  prosecution  of  her  right  to  the  throne  had  landed  in  1139,  and 
had  gained  the  interest  of  Brien  Fitzcount,  lord  of  Wallingford, 
who  speedily  secured  his  castle  from  the  assaults  of  Stephen. 
In  1141,  the  Robert  de  Oily  of  that  day  (the  relative  of  Brien 
by  marriage)  delivered  up  the  castle  of  Oxford  to  the  empress. 
Gilbert  Basset,  who  held  Bicester  of  Brien  Fitzcount  as  a  feud- 
atory tenant,  adhered  to  the  same  cause.  On  the  other  side, 
Richard  Camvil,  lord  of  the  castle  and  manor  of  Middleton  Stony? 
adhered  throughout  these  long  troubles  to  King  Stephen.^' 

enough,"  for  he  well  knew  that  though  he  himself  would  yield  him  up  the  Castle,  his  men 
within  would  not.  He  commanded  and  entreated  them ;  but  all  to  no  purjiose,  so  that  this 
Bishop  was  nearly  brought  to  his  grave  by  hunger,  to  the  sonow  of  those  who  knew  him. 
He  wept  and  cried  to  his  men  that  they  would  have  pity  on  him ;  that  he  was  nearly 
"  pined"  to  deatJi,  and  they  might  well  see  that  he  was.  So  that,  at  length,  to  save  his  life, 
they  yielded  up  the  castle ;  wherein  the  King  siezed  upon  the  Bishop's  treasure.  And  thus 
began  this  war  vnih  robbery. 

(12)  Biographia  Britannica;  Hist.  Sleaford;  Kennet's  Paroch.  Antiq. ;  &c.  After  his 
liberation  Alexander  applied  himself  to  governing  and  ornamenting  his  church.  In  1142  he 
visited  Rome,  and  returned  in  the  capacity  of  legate  from  Pope  Innocent  II.  He  again  vi- 
sited Rome  in  1144  ;  and  in  1147  a  third  time  paid  a  visit  to  the  Pope,  namely  to  Eugene 
III.,  whom  he  met  in  France.  Falling  sick  there,  he  returned  with  diificulty  to  England, 
and  died  in  1148,  in  the  24th  year  of  his  prelacy.  Henry  of  Huntingdon  dedicated  his  his- 
tory to  Bishop  Alexander.  He  calls  him  Florem  et  cacumen  regni  et  gentis,"  The  Flower 
and  highest  Ornament  of  the  kingdom  and  nation  ;"  and  has  preser^'ed  some  flattering  verses 
respecting  him. 

(13)  Kennet,  pp.  131,  133,  140.  Up  to  1153,  Brien  Fitzcount  held  Wallingford  against 
the  king ;  but  it  was  then  reduced  to  such  extremity  that  Fitzcount  sent  to  Normandy  to 
invite  Prince  Henry,  the  son  of  Maud,  to  come  to  its  relief.  The  Prince  came ;  but  when 
both  armies  were  drawn  out  for  battle  the  Eail  of  Arundel  proposed  a  treaty,  which  the 


NORMAN  CASTLES.  «'J 

A  very  great  number  of  castles  were  erected  during  tliis  reign 
of  Stephen,  wHch  added  greatly  to  the  sufferings  of  the  Saxon 
people  already  groaning  beneath  the  yoke  of  their  Norman  rulers. 
The  Saxon  Chronicler  says, — "  In  this  king's  time,  all  was  dis- 
sension, and  evil,  and  rapine.  Against  him  soon  rose  rich  men. 
They  had  sworn  oaths,  but  no  truth  maintained.  They  were  all 
sworn  and  forgetful  of  their  troth.  They  built  castles  wluch  they 
held  out  against  liim.  They  cruelly  oppressed  the  wretched  men 
of  the  land  with  castle  work.  They  filled  the  castles  with  de^'ils 
and  evil  men."  There  were  many  Norman  castles  in  this  vi- 
cinity, besides  those  already  mentioned  at  King's  Sutton  (p.  35), 
Evenley  (p.  35),  Ardley  (p.  38),  Swerford  (p.  43,  note),"  and 
Middleton  Stony  (p.  68) ;  but  of  the  exact  date  of  their  erection 
nothing  is  known.  The  earthworks  of  such  a  castle  yet  remain 
at  Chipping  Warden,  southeast  of  the  village. ^^  A  small  one  stood 
at  Barford  St.  Michael,  close  to  the  church.'^  There  was  one  at 
Chipping  Norton,  of  which  the  extensive  earthworks  remain  on  the 
north  side  of  the  church-yard.  One  at  Culworth,  where  also  the 
earthworks  remain,  on  the  north  side  of  the  church-yard,  and  are 
called  Berry-close  hill.  These  remains  at  Culworth  measiire  43  by 
36  yards  in  extent,  besides  the  surrounding  ditch  and  a  small 
circular  earthwork  on  the  east  side.  Another  stood  at  Sulgrave, 
where  the  remaining  earthworks,  on  the  west  side  of  the  church- 
yard, measure  38  by  34  yards,  exclusive  of  the  ditch.  One  at 
Mixbury,  on  the  north  side  of  the  church-yard,  the  remains  of 
wliich,  called  Beaumont,  are  very  conspicuous.  One  at  Braekley, 
on  the  southwestern  side  of  the  town,  near  the  rivulet."  One, 
perhaps,  at  Adderbury,  at  the  embankment  called  the  Green. 
One  at  Deddington,  of  wliich  the  extensive  earthworks  remain, 
and  of  the  history  of  which  some  particulars  will  be  recorded 
in  this  volume.  One  at  Grove  Mill,  which  lies  between  Bodicot 
and  Bloxham.  And  a  small  one  at  Somerton,  northwest  of  the 
village. 

barons  on  both  sides  promoted  (as  Henry  of  Huntingdon  observes)  that  the  war  might  be 
prolonged,  and  jealousy  restrain  both  princes,  rather  than  that  either  of  them  should  be- 
come a  more  absolute  governor. — Kennct,  p.  151  ;  Hen.  Hunt.  Hist. 

(14)  The  foundations  of  the  castle  at  Swerford  measure  40  by  30  yards.  The  em- 
bankment on  which  they  stand  is  now  18  feet  in  height. 

(15)  More  than  a  furlong  southward  of  Chipping  Wardon  church  is  the  site  of  an 
ancient  burial  place  (marked  "  Remains "  in  the  plan  on  p.  27),  where  many  bones  arc 
found.  The  Norman  castle  at  Chipping  Wardon  stood  between  this  spot  and  the  Blatk 
Grounds. 

(16)  Skelton's  Antiq.  Oxf.  (17)  Lcland's  Itin.,  v.  7,  pt.  1,  fol.  9. 


70  BANBURY  MARKET  AND  FAIR. 


NORMAN  PERIOD  CONTINUED. 

On  tlie  death  of  bishop  Alexander  in  1148,  Robert  Chesny 
succeeded  to  the  bishoprick  of  Lincoln  and  the  lordship  of  Ban- 
bury. In  1149  (14th  Steph.)  there  is  an  instrument  from  Pope 
Eugene  III.,  addi'essed  to  Robert  bishop  of  Lincoln,  mentioning 
Banbury,  its  Castle,  Market,  Liberties,  and  Appurtenances,  as  form- 
ing part  of  the  possessions  of  the  church  of  Lincoln.^^  Tliis  is  the 
first  mention  of  a  MARKET  at  Banbury  ;  but  it  is  probable  that  the 
grant  of  the  market  was  at  least  coeval  with  the  erection  of  the 
Castle  ;  and  the  tolls  are  alluded  to  in  1138  (see  p.  66),  ten  years 
before  the  death  of  Alexander.  A  charter  of  a  subsequent  date 
(2nd  Ric.  II.)  recites  an  earlier  charter  of  the  reign  of  Henry  the 
Second  (wliich  commenced  in  1154)  for  a  FAIR  at  Bannebiri ;  as 
follows : — 

"  Henry  King  of  England  and  Duke  of  Normandy  and  Aquitaine  and 
Count  of  Anjou  to  his  Justices  Sheriffs  Officers  and  all  his  faithful 
French  and  English  of  all  England  greeting.  Know  ye  that  I  have 
granted  and  confirmed  to  God  and  the  Church  of  St.  Mary  at  Lincoln 
and  to  Robert  Bishop  of  Lincoln  and  his  successors  one  Fair  every  year 
in  his  manor  of  Bannebiri  and  I  grant  that  tlie  fair  aforesaid  shall  con- 
tinue through  the  whole  of  Whitsun  week.  Wherefore  I  will  and  firmly 
command  that  the  Fair  aforesaid  have  all  those  liberties  and  free  customs 
which  other  my  fairs  have  throughout  England.  And  I  prohibit  every 
one  from  disturbing  those  going  to  the  said  Fair  or  retvu-ning  from  the 
Fair  upon  forfeiture  of  ten  pounds.     Witnesses  &c.  at  Rouen."'" 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1160,  Henry  the  Second  granted 
to  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln  a  renewal  of  the  charter  of  free  warren 
in  his  land  of  Bannebury  ;  as  follows  : — - 

"  Henry  King  of  England  Duke  of  Noi'mandy  and  Aquitaine  and 
Count  of  Anjou  to  his  Justices  Sheriffs  and  all  his  Officers  in  Oxenford- 
sire  greeting.  I  grant  that  Robert  Bishop  of  Lincoln  have  warren  in 
his  land  of  Bannebury  as  his  predecessors  had  it  well  and  honourably  in 
the  time  of  King  Henry  my  grandfather.  And  I  forbid  that  any  one 
chase  or  take  a  hare  in  it  witliout  his  licence  upon  ten  pounds  forfeiture. 
Witness  Thomas  [a  Becket]  the  Chancellor  at  Bruhul  [Brill]. "20 

A  renewal  of  the  pri'sdlege  of  holding  a  Market  at  Banneberi 
was  also  granted  by  Henry  the  Second  ;  as  follows : — 

"Henry  King  of  England  Src.  to  his  Justices  &c.  of  Oxenefordscire 
greeting.  Know  ye  that  I  have  given  and  granted  for  the  love  of  God 
and  on  the  petition  of  Robert  Bishop  of  Lincoln  to  the  Church  of  St. 

(18)  Cotton.  Lib.,  Vcsp.  E.  xvi.  fol.  23. 

(19)  Rot.  Chart.  2nd  Ric.  II.,  No.  6,  in  Turr.  Lond. 

(20)  Recited  in  Rot  Chart.  2nd  Ric.  II.,  No.  -5. 


RICHARD  THE  FIRST.— TOURNAMENT.  71 

Mary  at  Lincoln  for  ever  that  he  have  his  Market  in  his  town  of  Banne- 
bcri  every  week  on  Thursday  freely  and  quietly  and  honourably  after 
such  customs  as  other  markets  have  throughout  England.  Witnesses  &c. 
at  Lincoln."^' 

Bishop  Chesny  died  in  1 1 67  ;  when  Jeffery,  the  base  son  of 
Henry  the  Second  by  Rosamond,  (thongh  a  layman)  kept  the  title 
and  temporalities:  but  in  1183  the  see  was  given  to  Walter  de 
Constance.  This  Walter  was  translated  to  an  archbishoprick 
abroad;  and,  at  a  council  convened  in  1186  at  Egnesham  [En- 
sham],  Hugh,  a  native  of  Grenoble,  prior  of  the  Carthusian  order 
in  England,  was  elected  to  the  see-"  and  became  lord  of  Banbury. 

In  the  account  of  the  hides  of  land  of  Northamptonshire  in 
the  reign  of  Henry  the  Second,  Anselm  de  Chokes  answered  for 
two  hides  and  four  small  virgates  or  the  fifth  part  of  two  hides 
in  Grimesbery."^ 

Richard  the  First,  by  charter  in  the  first  year  of  his  reign 
(1189-90),  granted  and  confirmed  to  the  priory  of  Godstow  the 
church  of  Wicumbe  with  its  appurtenances  and  the  church  of  Blox- 
ham  with  its  appurtenances  ;  and  confirmed  the  gift  of  Bishop  Alex- 
ander of  one  hundred  sliilluigs  annually  out  of  his  toll  at  Ban- 
nebiri.^     In  1191,  Bishop  Hugh  visited  this  part  of  his  diocese.-^ 

One  of  the  great  Tournaments  appointed  by  Richard  the  First 
was  held  in  1194  between  Brackley  and  Mixbury,  on  a  plain 
called  Bayard's  Green.^°  These  martial  amusements  served  to 
draw  the  people  nearer  to  their  Norman  rulers ;  but  the  union 
between  the  Saxons  and  the  Normans  was  far  from  being  accom- 
plished. The  sufferings  of  the  Saxon  people  from  the  time  of 
W^Uliam  the  Conqueror  to  that  of  Richard  the  First  are  vividly 
pourtrayed  by  liistorians:  many  of  the  bravest  of  them  banded 
together  in  the  woods  as  outlaws,  and  such  were  regarded 
by  the  bxilk  of  the  people  with  sympathy.  In  the  reigns  of 
Richard  the  First  and  John,  popular  story  tlirows  the  brightest 
colours  on  Robin  Hood.     Among  the  ancient  ballads  relating  to 

(21)  Recited  in  Rot.  Chart.  2nd  Rio.  II.,  No.  5. 

(22)  Kenuet,  pp.  171,  192,  199. 

(23)  Cotton  MSS.,  Vesp.  E.  xxij.  fol.  94  b.  In  1197,  William  de  St.  Mary  Ecclesia 
rendered  an  account  for  half  a  year  of  the  farm  of  Grimsbury,  belonging  to  the  advocate 
of  Betun,  the  heir  of  Chokes,  and  probably  then  in  ward  to  the  King.  —Baker's  Nomiamp. 

(24)  Dugdale. 

(25)  Kennet,  p.  208.  This  was  the  pious  prelate  who  restored  his  caOiedral,  and  is  said 
himself  to  have  carried  stones  and  mortar  for  the  use  of  the  masons. — Mat.  Paris. 

(26)  Synonymous  with  Horses'  Green.  This  is  a  spot  of  table  land  on  the  south  of  the 
river  Ouse,  near  the  mill  in  the  parish  of  Evenley.  An  earl  who  should  tourney  was  to 
pay  to  the  King  twenty  marks;  a  baron  ten  marks;  a  knight  who  had  land  four  marks; 
and  a  knight  who  had  no  land  two  ms.rks.— Kennet,  p.  213 ;  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  573. 


72  ROBIN  HOOD  AND  THE 

this  outlaw  there  is  one  ia  commemoration  of  a  contest  he  had 
with  a  Tinker  of  Banbury.     The  title  of  this  ballad  is — 

"  A  NEW  SONG  TO  DRIVE  AWAY  COLD  WINTER, 
BETWEEN  ROBIN  HOOD  AND  THE  JOVIAL  TINKER; 

How  Robin  by  a  wile 

The  Tinker  he  did  cheat  ; 
But  at  the  length  as  you  shall  hear 
The  Tinker  did  him  beat, 
Whereby  the  same  they  did  then  so  agree 
They  after  lived  in  love  and  unity. 


"  To  the  tvuie  of,  '  In  Summer  Time. 


"  In  summer  time,  when  leaves  grow  green, 

Down,  a  down,  a  down, 
And  birds  sing  on  every  tree. 

Hey  down,  a  down,  a  down, 
Robin  Hood  went  to  Nottingham, 

Down,  a  down,  a  down, 
As  fast  as  hee  could  dree. 

Hey  down,  a  dotun,  a  down. 

"  And  as  hee  came  to  Nottingham, 

A  Tinker  he  did  meet, 
And  seeing  him  a  lusty  blade. 

He  did  him  kindly  greet. 

"  Where  dost  thou  live  ?  qvioth  Robin  Hood, 

I  pray  thee  now  mee  tell : 
Sad  news  I  hear  there  is  abroad, 

I  fear  all  is  not  well. 

"  What  is  that  news?  the  Tinker  said, 

Tell  mee  without  delay  : 
I  am  a  Tinker  by  my  trade, 

And  do  live  at  Banbura. 

"  As  for  the  news,  quoth  Robin  Hood, 

It  is  but  as  I  hear. 
Two  tinkers  were  set  ith'  stocks 

For  drinking  ale  and  beer. 

"  If  that  be  all,  the  Tinker  he  said, 

As  I  may  say  to  you. 
Your  news  is  not  worth  a  ****, 

Since  that  they  all  bee  tnie. 

"  For  drinking  good  ale  and  beer, 
You  will  not  lose  your  part. 


TINKER  OF  BANBURY.  73 

No,  by  my  faith,  quoth  Robin  Hood, 
I  love  it  with  all  my  heart. 

"  What  news  abroad?  quoth  Robin  Hood, 

Tell  me  what  thou  dost  hear  : 
Seeing  thou  goest  from  town  to  town. 

Some  news  thou  need  not  fear. 

"  All  the  news  I  have,  the  Tinker  said, 

I  hear  it  is  for  good. 
It  is  to  seek  a  bold  outlaw. 

Which  they  call  Robin  Hood. 

"  I  have  a  warrand  from  the  King, 

To  take  him  where  I  can  ; 
If  you  can  tell  me  where  bee  is, 

I  will  make  you  a  man. 

"  The  King  would  give  a  hundred  poiuul. 

That  he  could  but  him  see  ; 
And  if  wee  can  but  now  him  get, 

It  will  serve  thee  and  mee. 

"  Let  me  see  that  warrant,  said  Robin  Hood, 

He  see  if  it  bee  right ; 
And  I  will  do  the  best  I  can 

For  to  take  him  this  night. 

"  That  will  I  not,  the  Tinker  said. 

None  with  it  I  will  trust ; 
And  where  hee  is  if  you'll  not  tell, 

Take  him  by  force  I  must. 

"  But  Robin  Hood  perceiving  well 

How  then  the  game  would  go, 
'  If  you  would  go  to  Nottingham, 

We  shall  find  him  I  know.' 

"  The  Tinker  had  a  crab-tree  staff. 

Which  was  both  good  and  strong, 
Robin  hee  had  a  good  strong  blade  ;  "^ 

So  they  went  both  along.  ^ 

"  And  when  they  came  to  Nottingham, 

There  they  both  tooke  their  inn 
And  they  called  for  ale  and  wine, 

To  drink  it  was  no  sin. 

"  But  ale  and  wine  they  drank  so  fast. 

That  the  Tinker  hee  forgot 
What  thing  he  was  about  to  do  ; 

It  fell  so  to  his  lot, 


74  ROBIN  HOOD  AND  THE 

"  That,  while  the  Tinker  fell  asleep, 
Robin  made  then  haste  away, 

And  left  the  Tinker  in  the  lurch, 
For  the  great  shot  to  pay. 

"  But  when  the  Tinker  wakened, 
And  saw  that  he  was  gone, 

He  call'd  then  even  for  his  host, 
And  thus  hee  made  his  moan  : 

"  I  had  a  warrant  from  the  King, 

Which  might  have  done  me  good. 

That  is  to  take  a  bold  outlaw, 
Some  call  him  Robin  Hood  : 

"  But  now  my  warrant  and  mony's  gone, 
Nothing  I  have  to  pay ; 

And  he  that  promis'd  to  be  my  friend, 
He  is  gone  and  fled  away. 

That  friend  you  tell  on,  said  the  host, 
They  call  him  Robin  Hood  ; 
And  when  that  first  hee  met  with  you, 
He  ment  you  little  good. 

"  '  Had  I  but  known  it  had  been  hee. 
When  that  [he]  had  been  here, 

Th'  one  of  us  should  have  tri'd  our  might 
Which  should  have  paid  full  dear. 

"  In  the  mean  time  I  will  away. 
No  longer  here  lie  bide, 

But  I  will  go  and  seek  him  out. 
Whatever  do  me  betide. 

"  But  one  thing  I  would  gladly  know, 
What  here  I  have  to  pay.' 

Ten  shillings  just,  then  said  the  host. 
'  lie  pay  without  delay  ; 

"  Or  elce  take  here  my  working-bag, 
And  my  good  hammer  too  ; 

And  if  that  I  light  but  on  the  knave, 
I  will  then  soon  pay  you.' 

"  The  onely  way,  then  said  the  host, 
And  not  to  stand  in  fear. 

Is  to  seek  him  among  the  parks, 
Killing  of  the  king's  deer. 

"  The  Tinker  hee  then  went  with  speed, 
And  made  then  no  delay, 


TINKER  OF  BANBURY.  75 

Till  he  had  found  bold  Robin  Hood, 
That  they  might  have  a  fray. 

"  At  last  hee  spy'd  him  in  a  park, 

Hunting  then  of  the  deer. 
What  knave  is  that,  quoth  Robin  Hood, 

That  doth  come  mee  so  near  ? 

"  No  knave,  no  knave,  the  Tinker  said, 

And  that  you  soon  shall  know  ; 
Whether  of  us  hath  done  any  wrong, 

My  crab-tree  staff  shall  show. 

"  Then  Robin  drew  his  gallant  blade, 

Made  then  of  trusty  steel : 
But  the  Tinker  he  laid  on  so  fast. 

That  he  made  Robin  reel. 

"  Then  Robins  anger  did  arise. 

He  fought  right  manfully, 
Until  he  had  made  the  Tinker 

Almost  then  fit  to  fly. 

"  With  that  they  had  a  bout  again. 

They  ply'd  their  weapons  fast ; 
The  Tinker  threshed  his  bones  so  sore. 

He  made  him  yeeld  at  last. 

"A  boon,  a  boon,  Robin  hee  cryes. 

If  thou  wilt  grant  it  mee. 
Before  I  do  it,  the  Tinker  said, 

lie  hang  thee  on  this  tree. 

"  But  the  Tinker  looking  him  about, 

Robin  his  horn  did  blow ; 
Then  came  unto  him  Little  John, 

And  William  Scadlock  too. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  quoth  Little  John, 

You  sit  on  th'  highway  side  ? 
'  Here  is  a  Tinker  that  stands  by. 

That  hath  paid  well  my  hide.' 

"  That  Tinker  then,  said  Little  John, 

Fain  that  blade  I  would  see, 
And  I  would  try  what  I  could  do, 

If  hee'l  do  as  much  for  me. 

"  But  Robin  hee  then  wish'd  them  both 

They  should  the  quarrel  cease, 
'  That  henceforth  wee  may  bee  as  one. 

And  ever  live  in  peace. 
k3 


76  HOSPITAL  OF  ST.  JOHN. 

"  And  for  the  jovial  Tinker's  part, 
A  hundred  pounds  He  give 

"  In  th'  year  to  maintain  him  on, 
As  long  as  he  doth  live. 

"  In  manhood  he  is  a  mettled  man, 
And  a  mettle  man  by  trade  ; 

Never  thought  I  that  any  man 

Should  have  made  mee  so  afraid. 

''  And  if  hee  will  bee  one  of  us, 
AVee  will  take  all  one  fare  ; 

And  whatsoever  wee  do  get, 

He  shall  have  his  full  share.' 

"  So  the  Tinker  was  content 
With  them  to  go  along. 

And  with  them  a  part  to  take  : 
And  so  I  end  my  song."^' 


HOSPITALS    OF    ST.    JOHN    THE    BAPTIST    AND    ST. 
LEONARD  AT  BANBURY. 

The  Hospital  at  Banbury  dedicated  to  St.  John  the  Bap- 
tist existed  at  an  early  date,  certainly  as  long  back  as  the  reign 
of  King  John,  A.  D.  1209.-^  By  BoswelP^  its  existence  is  refer- 
red to  at  a  still  earlier  period.  It  consisted  of  a  Prior,  or  Mas- 
ter, and  Brothers.  The  site  is  still  known,  and  a  part  of  the 
ancient  buildings  apparently  remains,  having  been  converted  into 
a  residence  called  St  John's  Priory.  This  is  situated  on  the  east- 
ern side  of  South  Bar  Street,  not  far  from  the  pUlar  which  marks 
the  spot  where  the  ancient  south  bar  or  gate  of  the  town  called 
St.  John's  Bar  stood. 

Several  records  relating  to  the  Hospital  of  St.  John  at  Banbury 
occur  from  the  reign  of  Edward  the  First,  of  which  the  following 
are  translations  : — 

17th  Edw.  I.  (1289).  "  Inquisition  made  by  12  Jurors  of  the  town  of 
Banebir'.  Who  say  upon  their  oath  that  if  William  Coumartin  give 
to  the  Master  and  Brothers  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  of  Banebir'  eight 
marks  of  rent  with  the  appurtenances  in  Banebir'  the  said  donation  is 
not  to  the  prejudice  nor  damage  of  any  other  person.  Item,  as  to 
whose  fee  the  said  rent  is  of,  they  answer  and  say  that  the  said  rent 
issueth  out  of  divers  tenements,  which  tenements  are  holden  of  the  Lord 

(27)  Black  Letter  copy  preserved  in  the  Library  of  Anthony  Wood. 

(28)  Nusmith's  Tanner's  Notit.  Monast.  (20)  Pict.  Antiq. 


HOSPITAL  OF  ST.  JOHN.  77 

Bishop  of  Lincoln  as  in  capite,  and  the  aforesaid  William  hath  nothing 
in  the  aforesaid  tenements  except  the  bare  rent  only,  and  doth  not  claim 
to  have  any  other  right. "^'' 

18th  Edw.  I. — "  In"|  "  The  King  to  all  to  whom  &c.  greeting, 
behalf  of  the  Master  Although  of  the  common  counsel  of  our  realm 
and  Brothers  of  the  we  have  provided  that  it  shall  not  be  lawful 
Hospital  of  St.  John  >-for  religious  men  or  others  to  enter  upon  any 
the  Baptist  at  Bannebir'  one's  fee  so  that  it  come  to  Mortmain  without 
for  licence  to  receive  the  licence  of  us  and  of  the  capital  lord  of 
land,  &c.  J  whom  the  matter  is  immediately  holden,  never- 

theless being  desirovis  of  doing  special  favour 
unto  William  de  Cumb  Martin  of  Cirencester  we  have  given  him  licence 
so  far  as  in  us  lieth  that  he  may  give  and  assign  eight  marks  of  rent 
with  the  appurtenances  in  Bannebir'  unto  our  beloved  in  Christ  the  Mas- 
ter and  Brothers  of  the  Hospital  of  Saint  John  the  Baptist  at  Bannebur' 
to  hold  and  to  have  unto  themselves  and  their  successors  for  ever ;  and 
unto  the  said  Master  and  Brothers  by  the  tenor  of  these  presents  we  in 
like  manner  grant  special  licence  that  they  may  receive  the  said  rent 
from  the  said  William ;  And  we  will  not  that  the  said  William  or  his 
heirs  or  the  aforesaid  Masters  and  Brothers  or  their  successors  be  by 
reason  of  the  statute  aforesaid  subjected  to  any  penalty  or  grieved  there- 
fore by  us  or  our  heirs.  Saving  nevertheless  to  the  capital  lords  of  the  said 
fee  the  services  therefrom  due  and  accustomed. — In  [witness]  whereof 
&c.  Witness  the  King  at  Kingisclipston'  the  30th  day  of  October."^' 

31st  Edw.  I.  (1303).^  "The  King,  &c.  greeting.  Although  &c. 
"  In  behalf  of  the  Mas- I  [as  before]  nevertheless  by  a  fine  which  our 
ter  of  the  Hospital  of  [beloved  in  Christ  the  Master  of  the  Hospital  of 
St.  John  at  Bannebury.  J  St.  John  at  Bannebury  has  made  with  us  in  our 
Chancery  we  have  granted  and  licence  given  for 
us  and  our  heirs  so  far  as  in  us  lieth  unto  Walter  son  of  Henry  Le  Mou- 
ner  chaplain  that  he  may  give  and  assign  one  messuage  one  mill  and  one 
virgate  of  land  with  the  appurtenances  in  Wykham  near  Bannebury 
unto  the  Master  aforesaid  and  Brothers  of  the  said  Hospital  to  have  and 
to  hold  &c.  [as  before].  And  we  will  not  &c.  [as  before].  Saving  [as 
before].  In  [witness]  whereof  &c.  Witness  the  King  at  Aberden  the 
26  th  day  of  August.  "^2 

33rd  Edw.  I.  (1305)."^  "The  King  &c.  greeting.  Although  &c.  [as 
"  In  behalf  of  the  Mas-  1  before]  nevertheless  by  a  fine  which  our  beloved 
ter  of  the  Hospital  of  fin  Christ  the  Master  of  the  Hospital  of  St.  John 
St.  John  at  Bannebury.  j  at  Bannebury  hath  made  with  us  in  our  Chan- 
cery we  have  granted  and  licence  given  for  us 
and  our  heirs  as  far  as  in  us  lieth  vmto  Thomas  de  Aston'  of  Bannebury 
that  he  may  give  and  assign  two  messuages  with  the  appurtenances  in 
Bannebury  to  the  Master  aforesaid  and  Brothers  of  the  said  Hospital  to 
have  and  to  hold  &c.  [as  before].  And  we  will  not,  &c.  [as  before]. 
In  [witness]  whereof  &c.  Witness  the  King  at  Westminster  the  28th 
day  of  October. "^^  [It  is  elsewhere  recorded  that  the  fine  paid  in  this  in- 
stance was  one  mark.^*] 

On  the  2nd  January  1513-14,  William  Smyth,  bishop  of  Lin- 
coln, died ;  having  on  the  26th  of  December  preceding  made  his 
will,  whereby  he  bequeathed  "  to  the  House  or  Hospital  of  St. 

(30)  Inq.  Post.  Mort.  17th  Edw.  I.,  No.  38.  (31)  Rot.  Patent.,  I8th  Edw.  I.,  m.  2. 

(33)  Rot.  Patent.,  31st  Edw.  I.,  m.  la.  (33)  Rot.  Patent.,  33rd  Edw.  I.,  p.  2.  m.  7. 

(34)  Rot.  Orig. 


78  HOSPITAL  OF  ST.  LEONARD. 

John  the  Baptist  at  Banbury  one  hundred  pounds,  for  the  purpose 
of  erecting  buildings  in  the  said  Hospital  and  of  repairing  the 
old  ones  therein,  over  and  above  sixty  pounds  which  I  have  be- 
stowed upon  the  said  Hospital  and  caused  to  be  paid  to  the  Master 
now  therein  being."^^ 

St.  Jolm's  Hospital  gave  name  to  St.  John's  Bar;  and  also  to 
St.  John's  Street,  since  called  Oxford  Bar  Street,  and  of  late 
years  South  Bar  Street.  The  Hospital  stood  without  the  bar,  on 
an  eminence  on  the  eastern  side  of  it.  The  shell  of  the  build- 
ing was  for  a  long  period  used  as  a  barn,  lately  called  St.  John's 
Barn,  and  previously  "  St.  John's  Chapel."^"  The  building  was 
purchased  of  Sir  Henry  Dashwood  by  Thomas  Cobb  Esq.  of 
Calthorp  before  1803,^'  and  was  resold  in  1834 ;  when  a  part  of 
the  eastern  end  was  taken  down,  the  stoppings  of  the  windows 
were  removed,  and  the  building  was  converted  into  a  residence 
now  the  property  of  George  Moore  Esq.^^  During  the  progress 
of  the  recent  alterations,  several  English  corns,  from  the  time  of 
Henry  the  Second  downwards,  were  found  on  the  site ;  also  a 
small  crucifix^^  of  brass,  engraved  in  Plate  12,  lig.  1  ;  and  a  stoup, 
or  stone  vessel  for  containing  holy  water,  measuring  14  inches  in 
width,  engraved  in  Plate  12,  fig.  2.  Other  particulars  relating  to 
this  Hospital  occur  hereafter."* 

The  Hospital  for  Lepers,  dedicated  to  St.  Leonard,  stood 
on  the  eastern  side  of  Banbury  Bridge,  in  the  hamlet  of  Nether- 
cot  or  Grimsbury  and  the  county  of  Northampton.  The  site  is 
still  known  as  "  the  'Spital,"  and  "  the  Spital  Farm ;"  but  no  portion 

(35)  Copy  of  the  original  will  in  Churton's  Founders  of  Braseuose,  p.  518. 

(36)  Churton's  Founders  of  Brasenose,  p.  350.  Ecton  and  the  Liber  Regis  say  that  the 
Mastership  of  the  Hospital  was  in  the  gift  of  the  bishop  of  Lincoln ;  but  Chiu-ton  says  this 
is  a  mistake,  as  it  seems  never  to  have  been  in  the  immediate  patronage  of  the  Bishop. 
It  stands  as  a  benefice  in  charge  at  the  Tenths  and  First  Fruits  Office ;  but  in  consequence 
of  an  Act  of  Edw.  VI.  no  payments  are  demanded  for  this  and  other  hospitals.  It  has 
been  supi)osed,  continues  Churton,  "to  constitute  part  of  the  endowment  of  the  see  of 
Oxford,  but  it  is  not  mentioned  in  any  of  the  patents ;  nor  was  it  part  of  the  Prebend  or 
Rectory  of  Banbury.  Was  it,  at  the  dissolution,  given  by  the  Crown  to  some  individual 
at  present  unknown?" — Supplement  to  the  Lives  of  the  Founders,  p.  8. 

There  has  been  an  opinion  expressed  that  Calthorp  House  formed  part  of  the  Hospital  of 
St.  John.  This  is  in  itself  quite  improbable  ;  and  the  occupation  of  Calthorp  by  the  Bran- 
cestre  and  Danvers  families  is  recorded  (see  hereafter)  from  the  reign  of  Richard  the  Second. 

(37)  Churton's  Supplement  to  the  Lives  of  the  Founders. 

(38)  The  present  walls  of  the  building  (with  the  exception  of  the  eastern  one),  and  also 
the  present  roof,  appear  to  be  ancient,  and  to  have  been  left  nearly  unmolested  from  the 
time  of  the  dissolution. 

(39)  Now  in  the  possession  of  Miss  Milward. 

(40)  There  are  several  antique  carvings  in  stone  preserved  in  the  garden  attached  to  what 
is  now  called  St.  John's  Priory ;  and  which  Dr.  Williams  informs  me  were  found  by  him 
on  the  premises.  These  are  chiefly  of  the  13ih  and  14th  centuries.  It  is  however  very 
probable  that  these  remains  were  brought  from  the  church  of  Banbuiy  when  it  was  pul- 
led down  in  1790  ;  some  parts  of  the  structure  being  known  to  have  been  purchased  by  Mr. 
Cobb. 


WROXTON  PRIORY.  79 

of  the  ancient  building  remains.  Bridges  states  that  this  Hos- 
pital was  probably  in  being  in  the  reign  of  John.'"  In  the  reign 
of  Edward  the  First,  John  Gerard  of  Banbury  gave  lands  unto 
God  and  the  Blessed  Mary,  and  the  Master  and  leperous  Brothers 
of  St.  Leonard  of  Banbury ."^^  In  the  10th  of  Edward  III.  (1336) 
John  Trymenel  and  Sir  John  de  Lyons  had  licence  to  grant  to 
the  Hospital  of  St.  Leonard  for  Lepers  of  Bannebury,  one  mes- 
suage, one  carucate  of  land,  and  sixteen  acres  of  meadow,  in 
Grymesbury.''^  In  the  50th  of  Edward  III.  (1376)  the  same 
Sir  John  de  Lyons,  lord  of  Warkworth,  or  his  son,  granted  to 
Robert,  chaplain  of  the  Hospital  of  St.  Leonard  near  Banbury, 
certain  tenements  in  Banbury  and  Overthorp.""  In  the  22nd  of 
Richard  II.  (1398)  the  King  gave  to  Geoffrey  Stokes,  clerk,  the 
custody  of  the  Hospital  of  St.  Leonard  near  Banbury.''^ 


PRIORY  OF  WROXTON. 

In  the  reign  of  John,"*'  Michael  Relet,  of  a  family  connected 
with  Beletscot  or  Balscot  (a  chapelry  belonging  to  Wroxton), 
founded  at  Wroxton  a  PRIOR Y  of  Canons  Regular  of  St.  Au- 
gustine, in  honour  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary.     Before   the  dis- 

(41)  Bridges'  Northamp.,  v.  1,  p.  220.  Tanner  confounds  this  Hospital  with  that  of  St. 
Joirn  at  Banbury. 

(42)  Chelwode  Evid.    (Baker,  p.  749.)  (43)  Inq.  Post.  Mort. ;  and  Baker,  p.  749. 

(44)  Chetwode  Evid.    (Baker). 

(45)  Pat.  22nd  Ric.  II.,  p.  2 ;  Baker,  p.  749.  Immediately  after  the  dissolution  of  Mon- 
asteries &c.  the  lands  whicli  belonged  to  this  Hospital  appear  to  have  been  held  of  the  manor 
of  Warkworth  by  William  Saunders  Esq.,  who  left  three  daughters  coheiresses,  one  of 
whom  married  to  Stephen  Cope  Esq.  of  Bedhampton  (Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  749).  Ed- 
ward Cope  Esq.  of  Hauwell  and  Grimsbury  (who  had  probably  purchased  of  his  Hampshire 
relative)  died  in  1557,  seised  of  the  third  part  of  one  messuage,  60  acres  of  arable  land, 
40  acres  of  meadow,  and  100  acres  of  pasture  called  the  Spittle,  held  of  George  Calverley 
Esq.  and  Agues  his  wife,  as  of  their  manor  of  Warkworth,  by  fealty  and  the  yearly  pay- 
ment of  four  shillings.  (Bridges'  Northamp.,  p.  220.)  In  1581  two  third-parts  of  a  mes- 
suage called  the  Spittle,  and  of  three  closes  tliereto  belonging,  were  sold  to  Anthony  Clark- 
son  of  Banbury ;  and  he  afterwards  settled  the  same  on  Anthony  Cope,  in  whom  the  otlier 
third  part  of  tiie  property  was  vested  by  descent  from  his  father,  Edward  Cope  Esq.  In 
1608  Sir  Anthony  Cope  conveyed  the  Spittle,  with  the  little  Spittle  close,  to  Thomas  Wheat- 
ley  of  Banbury  ;  and,  in  the  same  year,  the  three  Spittle  closes  to  his  son  Richard  Cope 
Esq.,  of  whom  they  were  soon  after  purchased  by  the  said  WTieatley.  The  latter,  in  1614, 
sold  the  whole  Spittle  estate  to  the  celebrated  Puritan,  Robert  Harris  of  Hanwell; 
whose  son  and  heir,  the  Rev.  Malachi  Harris,  D.  D.,  alienated  it  in  1663  to  Philip  Hol- 
man  Esq.  of  W^arkworth. — Baker's  Northamp.,  Tp.  749. 

The  state  of  the  leperous  institutions  at  and  before  the  dissolution,  the  manners  and 
usages  of  the  brethren,  and  how  far  the  disease  might  have  been  ameliorated  by  such 
institutions,  are  matters  deserving  of  a  close  inquiry. 

(46)  The  date  of  the  foundation  of  Wroxton  Priory  must  have  been  either  1200  or  1209. 
The  Founder's  charter  shews  that  the  period  was  later  than  the  accession  of  John,  A.  D. 
1199  ;  and  it  names  Hugh  as  then  being  Bishop  of  Lincoln.  St.  Hugh,  bishop,  died  in 
1200 ;  but  another  Hugh  (Wells  or  Wallis)  succeeded  to  the  see  in  1209.  At  that  date 
the  Priory  certainly  existed,  as  a  Prior  thereof  is  mentioned  in  that  year. 


80  WROXTON  PRIORY. 

solution   it   contaiued    about   ten    religious.      The    following    is   a 
translation  made  from  the  Foundation  Charter  of  the  Priory  : — 

"  I  master  Michfiel  Belet,  for  the  welfare  of  my  soul  and  for  the  wel- 
fiire  of  the  souls  of  Michael  my  father  and  Emma  my  mother  and  my 
1)rothers  John  Belet,  William,  Bogen,  Robert  and  Adam,  Hervey, 
Eustace,  and  my  sisters  Emma,  Annora,  and  Roysia,  and  others  before 
deceased,  and  of  the  Lady  Sibill  de  Scheyne,  and  all  others  my  prede- 
cessors and  ancestors,  and  for  the  souls  also  of  king  Richard  and  king 
John,  and  for  the  souls  also  of  my  friends  Reginald,  Robert,  William,  An- 
drew, Richard,  Ralph,  John,  Juliana,  and  of  all  others  the  care  of  whom 
temporal  or  spiritual  has  been  committed  to  me  &c., — have  given  and  by 
this  my  charter  have  confii-med  to  God  and  the  Blessed  Mary  and  to  the 
prior  and  canons  regular  serving  God  in  the  church  which  I  with  the 
approbation  and  coniirmation  of  Hugh  Bishop  of  Lincoln  and  the  assent 
of  all  his  chapter  have  founded  in  my  manor  of  Wroxton,  in  free,  pure, 
and  perpetual  alms,  my  manor  of  Wroxton  and  whatsoever  has  been  or 
ought  to  be  mine  therein  and  in  the  village  of  Balscote  with  all  the  ap- 
purtenances, &c. 

"  I  have  given  also  the  whole  manor  of  Thorpe  near  Rowell  in  the 
county  of  Northampton  with  the  capital  court  and  the  plantation  &c. 
To  hold  the  aforesaid  with  the  chiu-ch  of  Wroxton  and  the  chapel  of 
Balescote  and  with  the  advowsons  of  the  churches  of  Sytheston  and  On- 
nesby,  &c."'" 

Richard  is  mentioned  as  being  Prior  of  Wroxton  in  1209.^^  The 
following  occurs  among  the  Memoranda  of  bishop  Hugh  Wells 
in  the  9th  year  of  his  episcopate  (1217-18),  the  beginning  of 
the  reign  of  Henry  the  Third  : — 

"  Know  all  of  you  that  the  place  in  the  village  of  Wrokestan  which  is 
called  the  place  of  St.  Mary  with  the  chapel  in  honour  of  the  Blessed 
Mary  there  founded  and  the  houses  and  all  the  court  with  the  plantations 
and  fish  ponds  and  the  space  which  is  contained  within  the  compass  of  the 
wall  that  is  about  the  vineyard  and  about  the  court  and  all  things  within 
the  said  court  contained  the  advowson  also  of  the  parish  church  of 
Wrokestan  with  its  appurtenances,  all  which  our  beloved  son  in  Christ 
Master  Michael  Belet  the  son  of  Michael  Belet  bestowed  upon  the  canons 
at  Wrokestan  to  serve  the  Lord  for  ever.  We  do  confirm  to  the  said  can- 
ons. Witnesses  Th.  de  Fiskerton,  P.  de  Bath,  master  W.  de  Well,  R.  de 
Bohun,  Stephen  de  Chichester  canon  of  Lincoln,  master  Richard  de  Ting- 
hurst,  and  Oliver  de  Chednet.  Given  by  the  hand  of  W.  de  Torn  arch- 
deacon of  Stow,  5  Id.  Nov.  [9th  November]  in  the  9th  year  of  our  epis- 
copate."^^ 

In  the  following  year  "  The  Lord  Bishop  confirms  to  the  Prior  and 
Convent  of  the  Place  of  St.  Mary  at  Wrokestan  the  parish  church  of 
Wrokestan,  which  is  of  their  advowson,  unto  its  proper  uses,  saving  a 
sufficient  vicarage  in  the  same  to  be  ordered  by  the  Bishop,  and  saving 
to  Michael  Belet  parson  of  the  said  chiu-ch  the  possession  which  he  hath 
in  the  same  so  long  as  he  shall  live.  Witnesses  Roger  the  Dean,  Galfrid 
the  precentor,  in  the  10th  year  of  his  episcopate."'*" 

In  the  23rd  year  of  the  episcopate  of  Hugh  Wells  (1231-2), 
Richard,   formerly    prior  of    St.    James  at    Northampton,   being 

(17)  Communia  de  term.  Hill.  19  Edw.  II.  Rot.  7  in  dorso. — Caky  and  Ellis's  Dugdale. 
(48)  Caley  and  Ellis'.s  Dugdale.         (49)  Mem.  Hugo  Well,  fol.  28 ;  MS.  Harl.  6954,  fol.  87. 
(.50)  Mem.  Hugo  Well,  fol.  .30;  MS.  Harl.  6954,  fol.  90. 


WROXTON  PRIORY.  81 

elected  to  the  priorsliip  of  Wrokstau,  after  inquisition  made  by 
the  archdeacon  of  Oxford  and  J.  de  St.  Giles  canon  of  the  Pre- 
bend of  Bannebir,  was,  with  the  assent  of  Master  Michael  Belet 
patron  of  the  said  Priory,  admitted  thereto.' 

Michael  Belet,  founder  of  the  Priory  of  Wroxton,  was  the  friend 
of  the  great  Grostete  or  Greathead,  bishop  of  Lincoln,  and  is 
mentioned  in  connection  with  him  in  1235  (p.  92,  note  20).  In 
1236,  at  the  marriage  of  Henry  the  Third  with  Eleanor  of 
Provence,  Belet  officiated  as  the  King's  butler.'^  In  the  8th  year 
of  Bishop  Grostete  (1242-3),  Brother  Hugh,  canon  of  Wroxton, 
being  elected  by  licence  from  Master  Michael  Belet  the  patron  of 
the  said  house,  was  admitted  to  the  Priorsliip  of  the  same.^  By 
an  instrument  made  soon  after  this  date,  "  Hugh,  Prior  of  the  place 
of  St.  Mary  of  Wrokestan,  and  all  the  convent  who  there  serve 
God  and  the  Blessed  Mary,"  bind  themselves  and  their  successors 
for  ever  to  pay  to  the  abbess  and  convent  of  Godestow  annually 
40  shillings  of  silver,  namely  20  shillings  at  the  octaves  of  St. 
Martin's  in  winter,  and  20  shillings  at  the  octaves  of  Pentecost; 
which  40  shillings  their  patron  Master  Michael  Belet  had  assigned 
for  them  to  receive  in  his  manor  of  Sichestan.  And  it  was  pro- 
vided that  whosoever  should  thereafter  be  elected  Prior  should 
swear  that  he  would  faithfully  observe  this  obligation.^ 

In  January  1251-2,  a  charter  occurs  of  Henry  the  Third,  of 
wliich  the  following  is  a  translation  : — 

"  Henry  by  the  grace  of  God  king  of  England,  lord  of  Ireland,  duke 
of  Normandy  and  Aqviitaine  and  count  of  Anjoii,  to  the  archbishops 
bishops  &c.  greeting.  We  have  inspected  a  charter  which  the  lord  king 
John  our  father  made  unto  Master  Michael  Belet,  whereby  the  said  king 
granted  and  confirmed  to  the  said  master  Michael  and  his  heirs  all  the 
lands  with  all  their  appurtenances  which  belonged  to  Hervey  Belet  his 
grandfather  of  whosesoever  fee  they  were,  with  sok  and  sak  thol  and  theam 
and  infangenethef'  and  with  all  the  liberties  and  free  customs  and  quit- 
tances which  to  the  said  lands  pertain  and  with  quittance  from  shires 
and  hundreds  wapentakes  pleas  plaints  and  occasions  excepting  mur- 
der and  the  sheriffs  turn  at  Wroxtan.     And  because  we  have  learned 

(1)  Harl.  MS.  69.50,  fol.  75.  (2)  Matt.  Paris.  (.3)  Hail.  MS.  6950,  fol.  128. 

(4)  Warton's  Life  of  Sir  T.  Pope,  p.  369.  The  witnesses  are,  sir  [a  term  not  denoting  a 
knight,  but  then  applied  to  clergymen]  Nicholas  rector  of  the  church  of  Brocktun 
(Broughton),  sir  Bernard  vicar  of  the  church  of  Blokkesham,  James  de  Hawntye  senes- 
chal of  Godestowe,  Peter  le  Butelir  de  Mildecumb  (Milcombe),  Ralph  de  Middletun  (then 
parson  of  Middleton  Cheney  as  appears  by  other  records),  and  several  others.  With  the 
seal  of  the  Monastery ;  reversed  with  St.  Michael  killing  the  dragon,  and  exergue  "  Elee- 
mosina  Michaelis  Belet."    Pp.  369,  370. 

(5)  Infangthefe.  Fang,  in  the  Saxon,  signifies  to  take  or  catch.  The  franchises  of  In- 
fangthefe  and  Outfanglhefe,  to  be  heard  and  determined  \vithin  court  barons,  were  privileges 
granted  to  the  lords  of  certain  manors  to  judge  any  thief  taken  within  their  fee  ;  whether 
one  of  their  own  men  living  in  the  manor,  or  one  living  out  of  the  manor  that  is  taken 
there.    (Wood's  Institutes).    Soc  and  sac.    See  p.  61  of  this  vol.,  note  31. 


82  WROXTON  PRIORY. 

by  an  inquisition  which  we  caused  to  be  made  that  the  prior  and  canons 
of  Wroxton,  whose  house  the  aforesaid  master  Michael  founded  and 
whom  the  said  master  enfeoffed  of  the  aforesaid  lands  and  the  said  lib- 
erties, have  alwaj's  after  the  said  master  freely  used  all  the  customs  lib- 
erties and  quittances  aforesaid,  We  ratifying  and  approving  the  same 
do  for  us  and  our  heirs  grant  and  confirm  to  the  said  prior  and  canons 
all  the  customs  liberties  and  quittances  aforesaid  Avith  all  the  lands 
and  tenements  and  the  advowsons  of  the  chiu'ches  of  Wroxtan  Sythis- 
tan  and  Onnesby  and  other  their  appurtenances  which  the  aforesaid 
Michael  granted  to  them  in  free,  pure,  and  perpetual  alms  as  the  char- 
ters of  the  said  master  Michael  which  they  the  said  prior  and  canons 
hold  to  that  effect  do  reasonably  testify.  These  witnesses,  Ralph  son  of 
Nicholas,  master  William  de  Kilkenny  archdeacon  of  Coventry  &c. 
Given  by  our  hand  at  Wodestok  the  thirtieth  day  of  January,  in  the 
thirty-sixth  year  of  our  reign.  "^ 

Hugh,  Prior  of  Wroxton,  died  before  tlie  year  1263.^  Nicho- 
las de  Cerney  was  elected  Prior,  and  admitted  12th  December 
1272.  On  the  death  of  this  Nicholas,  William  de  Dajlesford  was 
admitted  Prior  in  the  same  year.  Ptichard  de  Dean,  Prior  of 
Wroxton,  died  in  1305 ;  and  Robert  Faningho  was  admitted 
Prior  on  the  7th  April  in  the  same  year.^  In  January  following 
there  occurs  the  following  quit- claim  of  Baldwin  Pigot  to  the 
Prior  and  Canons  of  Wroxton  respecting  the  advowson  of  the 
church  of  Onnesby. 

"Be  it  known  to  all  by  these  presents  that  I  Baldewyn  Pygot  lord  of 
Onnesby  have  granted  released  and  wholly  for  myself  and  my  heirs 
for  ever  quit-claimed  unto  the  prior  and  canons  of  the  place  of  St. 
Mary  of  Wroxton  all  right  and  claim  which  I  have  or  in  any  manner 
may  have  to  the  advowson  of  the  Church  of  Onnesby  So  that  neither 
I  the  aforesaid  Baldewyn  Pigot  nor  my  heirs  nor  any  one  for  us  shall 
be  able  to  demand  or  claim  any  right  or  claim  in  the  aforesaid  ad- 
vowson of  the  Church  of  Onnesby  henceforward  for  ever  In  testimony 
whereof  I  have  to  the  present  writing  placed  my  seal  These  being  wit- 
nesses, sir  John  de  Bracebrygge,  William  son  of  Alan,  sir  Hugh  rector 
of  the  church  of  Dodyngton,  sir  Simon  de  Lunderthorp,  Henry  de  Leke- 
bourn,  Hugh  de  Stowe  of  Limderthoi-p,  Thomas  lord  of  Barkeston, 
John  Pacy  of  the  same  place,  Walter  Est  of  Onnesby,  Thomas  de  Sub- 
ford  [Sibford],  Thomas  de  Schutteford  [Shutford],  John  de  Broughton, 
and  others.  Given  at  Dodyngton  on  the  Lord's  day  next  after  the  feast 
of  St.  Hilary,  in  the  34th  year  of  the  reign  of  king  Edward  the  son  of 
king  Henry. "^ 

William  be  Abberbur  or  Eadbarbury  (Adderbury)  is  mentioned 
as  Prior  of  Wroxton  15th  May  1340.'"  Brother  Thomas  de  la 
Grove  was  elected  Prior  on  the  death  of  William  de  Eadbarbury, 
and  admitted  July  2nd  1349. '^     In  1350  is  the  following: — 

(6)  Cart.  22  Edw.  II.  n.  43.    Vide  Commnnia  de  term.   Hill.  19  Edw.  II.  Rot.  7  in 
dorso. —  Caley  and  Ellis's  Dugdale. 

(7)  Warton's  Life  of  Sir  T.'Pope,  p.  370. 

(8)  Caley  and  Ellis's  Dugdale.     ' 

(9)  From  the  autographs  in  the  Office  of  Arms. — Caleij  and  Ellis's  Dugdale. 

(10)  Caley  and  Ellis's  Dugdale.  (11)  Harl.  MS.  6951,  fol.  24.5. 


WROXTON  PRIORY. 


83 


"Inquisition  made  at  Oxford  the  19th  day  of  July  in  the  24th  year  of 
the  reign  of  King  Edward  the  Third.  The  Jurors  say  that_  it  is  not  to 
the  damage  or  x^rejudice  of  our  Lord  the  King  nor  of  others  if  our  Lord 
the  King  grant  to  William  de  ShareshuU  knight  that  he  one  messuage 
three  cottages  three  virgates  of  land  and  six  acres  of  meadow  with  the 
appurtenances  in  Abberbin-y,  and  also  to  William  Handes  chaplain, 
John  Gerard  parson  of  the  church  of  Shemyngdon  [Shenington],  Nicho- 
las Tubhe  clerk,  and  John  de  Thorp  clerk,  that  they  one  messuage 
two  vii'gates  and  a  half  of  land  and  four  acres  of  meadow  with  the  ap- 
purtenances in  Middelton  [Milton  ?]  near  Bloxham  may  give  and  assign 
unto  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  Wroxton  to  have  and  to  hold  unto  the  said 
Prior  and  Convent  and  their  successors  for  ever  in  part  of  satisfaction 
of  ten  pounds  by  the  year  of  land  and  rent  which  our  Lord  the  King 
lately  by  his  letters  patent  granted  licence  to  the  aforesaid  Prior  and  Con- 
vent to  acquire  as  well  of  their  own  proper  fee  as  of  that  of  others  except- 
ing lands  and  tenements  which  are  held  of  the  L6rd  the  King  in  capite."*^ 

Ricliard  was  Prior  of  Wroxton  in  1410,  as  appears  by  a  charter 
of  Henry  tlie  Fourth  in  that  year,  which  grants  to  Richard  the 
Prior  of  Wroxton  and  his  Convent  free  warren  in  the  manors  of 
Wroxton,  Thorpe  Underwood,  and  Siston  in  Lincolnshire.^^ 
William  Braddenham  occurs  as  Prior  in  1490,  and  another 
Richard  in  1504."  This  last  must  have  been  Richard  Randall, 
who  died  Prior  of  Wroxton  in  1510.^^  Thomas  Smith  was 
elected  Prior  June  1st  1510'^  (2nd  Henry  VIII.),  and  con- 
tinued till  the  dissolution.  On  the  6th  August  1534,  Thomas 
Smith,  Prior  of  Wroxton,  with  John  Banbury  and  eight  other 
religious  of  Wroxton,  subscribed  to  the  king's  supremacy."  In 
the  following  year,  by  an  act  (27th  Henry  VIII.  cap.  28),  all 
monasteries  which  did  not  possess  lands  of  the  value  of  more 
than  two  hundred  pounds  per  annum  were  given  to  the  King. 
In  tliis  number  the  Priory  of  Wroxton  was  included,  the  posses- 
sions then  being  as  follows  : — 

I.    s.    d. 
"  Oxon.        Wroxton Demaynes    10     1     4 

Wroxton     ..     {  ^Z'm^s\  .^'!'\  ^^^.'^'.  .''^\^.''.     ^^  ^^^    0 

Wroxton Chief  rent  from  Studley  Priory       0     2     4 

Wroxton Oblations 0     4    0 

Balnescot    ..    {  "^"^^^  .^!'."'^'\  ."""'"^^  .^^^^^      «  ^^     * 
"Yroxton  anc" 

Balnescot 

mbury  an^ 
Nethoi-p 


Wroxton  and  I    Spiritualities    13  10     0 

Banbury  and   I    Cottages,  rents  and  lands 2     4    4 


(12)  Inquis.  ad  quod  damn.,  21  Edw.  III.,  No.  14.  This  William  de  ShareshuU  was 
justice  of  the  King's  Bench  in  1334,  chief  baron  of  the  Exchequer  in  1344,  and  chief  justice 
of  the  King's  Bench  in  1351. —  Whitworlh's  Nobil. 

(13)  Warton's  Life  of  Sir  T.  Pope,  p.  370.  (14)  Warton's  Life  of  Sir  T.  Tope,  p.  371. 
(15)  Caley  and  Ellis's  Dugdale.  (16)  Calev  and  Ellis's  Dugdale. 
(17)  Willis's  Mitred  Abbies. 

l3 


84  WROXTON  PRIORY. 

/.  s.  d. 

Milton Tenements  and  lands     0  16  0 

Broiighton  . .  .  .  Rents 0  13  4 

Warwick.     Long  Compton  Lands     1     6  8 

Northton.     Thorp  Bellar. .  Manor    20     0  0 

Line.             Siston Lands  &c 15  12  4 

Siston Spiritualities     5     0  0 

Idon     Tenement  and  land.""* 3     6  8 

Ou  the  lOth  August,  29tli  Henry  VIII.  (1537),  certain  build- 
ings and  utensils  belonging  to  "the  late  INIonastery  of  Wroxtone  " 
were  sold  by  William  Raynesford  Esq.  to  Thomas  Pope  Esq., 
the  same  having  been  sold  to  the  said  Raynesford  by  the  king's 
officers  :  that  is  to  say  : — 

"  First,  the  Wall  of  the  Churche  on  the  outside  next  the  cloyster  from 
the  foote  of  the  great  window  downwards. 

"  Item,  The  south  ile  joyning  to  the  dorter  [dormitory],  with  ij  litell 
iles  north  est  from  that  joyning  to  the  same  ile. 

"  Item,  The  dorter,  with  the  rolfe  thereof 

"  Item,  The  ffrater  howse  on  both  sides. 

"  Implements  and  Utensils. 

"  Item,  The  condyte  as  it  is,  with  all  the  Lede  thereto  belonging. 

"  Item,  ij  brasse  Potts  in  the  Kichyn  to  sythe  mete  in. 

"  Item,  In  the  Brewhowse  ij  grete  ledes  ffast  sett  in  a  frame,  ij  small 
ledes  sett  in  curbes.     One  greate  troife  of  lede  sett  in  the  grounde. 

"  All  which  implements  before  rehersed,  I  the  said  ^yilliam  Raynseford 
covenenteth  and  promyseth  by  thes  presents  at  such  time  as  I  shall  leve 
the  fFarme  which  I  nowe  hold  of  the  said  Thomas  Pope  in  Wroxton,  to 
leve  well  and  sufficyently  repayred  and  mainteyned,  and  in  as  good  case 
as  they  be  now  at  the  makyng  of  thes  presents. 

"Tho.  Pope.     W.  Raynesford. 

"  Witnes  at  the  making  thereof  John  Edmondes,  gent.  John  Marshall. 
Richard  Hochynson.     John  Ridley,  and  John  Menefye."^" 

The  ancient  buildings  at  Wroxton  are  said  to  have  been  in 
great  part  destroyed  by  fire.  Sir  William  Pope,  to  whom  the 
property  belonged  in  the  reign  of  James  the  First,  erected  his 
splendid  mansion  at  Wroxton  on  the  remains  of  the  Priory.  This 
mansion  was  completed  in  1618.'-°  The  Lord  Keeper  Guilford 
made  some  additions  in  the  reign  of  Charles  the  Second,  A  part 
of  the  old  chapel  was  preserved,  in  which  is  a  good  early  Deco- 
rated window '^^  of  four  hghts,  with  foliated  circles  in  the  head, 
and  good  muUions :  over  it  on  the  exterior  is  an  ogee  canopy. 
This  end  of  the  chapel  has  a  battlemented  parapet,  with  good 
Decorated  cornice  mouldings.  Tliis  portion  of  the  building  is 
evidently  of  the  early  part  of  the  14th  century.  In  a  passage 
leading  to  the  cellars  of  the  mansion  a  doorway  of  the   original 


(18)  Caley  ami  Ellis's  Diigdale.  (10)  Warton's  Life  of  Sir  T.  Pope,  pp. ! 

(20)  Wartoii's  Life  of  Sir  T.  I'ope,  p.  438. 

(21)  Sir  William  Pope,  in  1623,  caused  this  window  to  be  ornamented  with  stained  glass, 
y  Van  Ling,  with  histories  from  the  New  Testament,  family  arms,  &c. —  Warton,  p.  438. 


CHACOMBE  PRIORY.  «5 

edifice  has  also  been  preserved  :    it  is  of  the  Early   English  style 
wliich  prevailed  during  the  13th  century. 


PRIORY  OF  CHACOMBE. 

Hugh  de  Chaucumbe,  the  founder  of  the  PriORY  of  CHACOMBE 
for  Canons  Regular  of  St.  Augustine,  was  justiciary  of  Normandy 
in  the  2nd  of  John  (1200).  It  appears  to  have  been  after  this 
date  that  he,  for  the  health  of  his  soul,  and  the  souls  of  Amabilia 
his  wife  and  their  heirs,  and  of  Hodierna  his  then  wife,  granted 
in  ptire  alms  to  God  and  the  blessed  Mary  and  the  apostles  St. 
Peter  and  St.  Paul,  and  the  canons  regular  of  Chaucumbe,  for 
building  their  church  and  edifices,  all  the  toft  called  Beveland  in 
the  west  part  vinder  Chaucumbe,  and  the  parish  chiirch  of  Chau- 
cumbe, and  the  mill  under  the  garden  of  Chaucumbe,  and  com- 
mon pasture  with  him  and  his  tenants  of  the  said  vill  for  twenty- 
four  beasts  and  twelve  score  sheep ;  together  with  the  church 
of  Bereford  (Barford  St.  Michael),  and  other  churches,  lands, 
and  pastures  specified.  The  Prior  to  be  elected  by  the  canons 
with  the  assent  of  the  fotinder  and  his  heirs.  The  above  was 
witnessed  by  Walkelin  abbot  of  St.  James's  near  Northampton, 
who  died  in  1205,  and  others.  In  the  llth  of  John  (1209), 
Hugh  de  Chaucumbe  had  entered  the  Priory  as  a  religious." 

In  the  10th  year  of  bishop  Hugh  Wells  (1218-19),  the  Prior 
and  Convent  of  Chaucumb  presented  to  the  church  of  Frelles- 
worth.^^  Three  years  later  the  Lady  Extranea  de  Swaleclive  pre- 
sented to  the  church  of  Swaleclive,  the  Prior  of  Chaucumb 
renouncing  his  right  to  that  church.^**  In  the  6th  year  of  bishop 
Grostete  (1240-41),  William  de  Colingham  was  elected  Prior  of 
Chacumb  by  licence  of  Gilbert  de  Segrave  the  patron."^  Adam 
de  xAppleby  succeeded  in  1279  ;  and  Robert  de  Warden  in  1299. 
x\lexander  de  Kaysthorp  is  mentioned  as  Prior  of  Chaucumbe  in 
the  30th  of  Edward  I.  (1302).-«  On  his  death  in  1326  (19th  Edw. 
II.),  the  canons  ha\'ing  made  an  irregular  election,"'  the  bishop 
of  Lincoln  with  licence  from  the  King  appointed  Roger  de  Silby 
on  the  19th  of  April.     Thomas  de  Saxton  succeeded  on  the  16th 

(22)  Baker's  Northamp.,  pp.  588,  501.  (23)  MS.  Harl.  6950,  fol.  38. 

_  (24)  MS.  Harl.  6950,  fol.  63.  Neither  Frcllcsworth  nor  Swalcliffe  is  nieutioncd  in  thu 
foimdation  charter. 

(25)  MS.  Harl.  6950,  fol.  112.  (26)  Calcy  and  Ellis's  Dugdalc. 

(27)  Bridges'  Norlhamp.,  p.  156. 


86  CHACOMBE  PRIORY. 

March,  7tli  Edward  III.-*  Six  years  after  (1339),  he  resigned 
and  was  succeeded  by  Henry  de  Kegworth.^^  On  St.  Michael's 
day,  20th  Edward  III.  (1346),  the  Prior  and  Convent,  on  account 
of  the  benefits  conferred  upon  them  by  Sir  John  de  Lyons  Knt., 
lord  of  Warkeworth,  granted  for  themselves  and  their  succes- 
sors a  sum  "  to  find  two  secular  priests  who  in  the  chapel  of 
Warcworth  shall  perform  services  for  the  healthful  state  of 
the  said  nobleman  so  long  as  he  lives,  and  for  the  souls  of" 
(fec.^"  On  the  20th  March,  45th  Edward  III.  (1371),  Edmund 
de  Thorp  became  Prior  of  Chaucumbe.  Thomas  Brackele  is 
mentioned  as  Prior  in  1412  ;^^  John  Ferneall  in  1495,  and 
Thomas  Saunders  in  1503.^-  In  the  26th  of  Henry  VIII,  namely 
on  the  1 3th  August  1534,  Thomas  Saunders,  Prior  of  Chau- 
cumbe, together  with  Thomas  Strowe  and  six  canons  of  Chau- 
cumbe, subscribed  to  the  King's  supremacy .^^  In  the  next  year 
the  Priory  was  suppressed  imder  the  operations  of  the  before 
mentioned  act  (27  Henry  VIII.  cap.  28)  ;  the  clear  value  being 
then  £83.  I8s.  did.  per  annum. 

Little  more  than  a  few  fragments  of  the  original  building  of 
Chacombe  Priory  now  remain  :  these  consist  of  a  small  and  plain 
doorway  with  a  pointed  arch,  the  edges  merely  chamfered  off; 
three  plain  buttresses  in  stages ;  and  two  windows,  one  of  which 
deserves  notice  and  is  probably  of  the  13th  century.  It  is  of 
two  lights  with  pointed  trefoil  heads,  di^dded  by  an  octagon  shaft ; 
the  whole  under  a  square  head.  Near  this,  a  little  above  it,  is 
another  window  of  a  different  and  somewhat  later  character ;  this 
appears  to  be  of  the  14th  century.  In  the  time  of  Bridges,  the 
gatehouse  and  lodge  of  the  Priory  are  stated  to  have  been  "not 
long  since  standing,"  near  the  seat  of  the  lord  of  the  manor 
which  was  bvult  out  of  the  ruins  of  the  Priory.^* 

(28)  Caley  and  Ellis's  Dugdale.  (29)  Bridges. 

(30)  MS.  Hai-1.  69.51,  fol.  224.  In  the  3rd  of  Edward  III.,  this  Sir  John  de  Lyons  was 
summoned  by  writ  of  quo  warranto  to  shew  by  what  right  he  claimed  view  of  franlipledge 
and  weyf  in  his  manor  of  Warcworth.  He  pleaded  prescription;  but,  acknowledging  that 
neither  he  nor  his  ancestors  had  a  pillory  for  oifenders  against  the  assize  of  bread,  and  that 
they  punished  offenders  against  the  assize  of  beer  by  amerciament  and  not  by  tumbril  till 
the  third  offence,  the  view  was  taken  into  the  King's  hands,  and  restored  again  for  half 
a  mark. — Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  738. 

(31)  Caley  and  Ellis's  Dugdale.  (32)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  594. 

(33)  Willis's  Mitred  Abbies.  To  this  acknowledgement  was  attached  the  seal  of  the 
Priory,  the  impression  of  which  remained  in  the  Chapter  House,  in  a  very  imperfect  state, 
in  the  time  of  Dugdale.  It  appeared  to  have  represented  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul.  All 
that  remained  of  the  legend  was  "  Sigill  Apostol  .  .  .  ."  This  Prior,  Thomas  Saunders, 
died  soon  after,  and  is  said  to  have  been  succeeded  by  Henry  Anste ;  but  the  office  was 
vacant  at  the  ecclesiastical  survey  in  the  same  year  (26th  Henr.  VIII.),  when  Thomas 
Ston'  appears  as  sub-prior. — Valor  Ecclesiast.;  Baker's  Northamp. 

(34)  Bridges'  Northamp.,  p.  1.53. 


CLATTERCOT  PRIORY.  ^7 


PRIORY  OF  CLATTERCOT. 


At  CLATTERCOT,  near  Clajdon,  and  six  miles  north  from  Ban- 
bury, was  a  Priory  of  canons  of  the  order  of  St.  Gilbert  de  Sem- 
pryngham,  which  was  in  existence  in  the  time  of  King  John, 
1209,^^  and  was  dedicated  to  St.  Leonard.  Thomas  de  Beau- 
champ,  earl  of  Warwick,  in  the  16th  year  of  Edward  the  Third 
gave  to  the  priory  of  Clattercot  the  church  of  Ratley  iii  War- 
wickshire.^® John  CJrene  was  the  last  Prior  of  this  house.^^ 
About  the  time  of  the  dissolution  it  consisted  of  a  prior  and  four 
canons.  The  house  is  stated  to  have  been  at  one  time  a  hospital 
for  leperous  brethren.^^  At  the  dissolution  the  value  was  foiuid 
to  be  £34.  19s.  lie?,  per  annum.'^  From  Buck's  view  of  the 
buildings  at  Clattercot,  engraved  in  17.29,  it  would  appear  that 
some  of  the  windows  of  the  ancient  Priory  were  then  remaining : 
the  style  bespeaks  them  to  have  been  of  the  latter  part  of  the 
13th  century. 


THE  REIGNS  OF  JOHN,  HENRY  THE  THIRD,  AND 
EDWARD  THE  FIRST. 

Hugh  bishop  of  Lincoln,  lord  of  Banbury,  died  in  1200.  He 
v.-as  canonized,  and  his  festival  observed  on  the  15th  of  Novem- 
ber.'" The  next  bishop  was  William  Blesenfis,  or  de  Bio,"  ap- 
pointed in  1203. 

5tli  John,  A.  D.  1203.  "The  King  &rc.  to  G.  son  of  Peter,  &c.  We 
command  you  that  you  cause  our  beloved  W.  Bishop  of  Lincoln  to  have 
the  Castles  of  Neuwerc  and  of  LafFord  [Sleaford]  and  of  Banebir' ;  good 
security  being  taken  of  those  unto  whose  keeping  he  shall  commit 
them  that  they  will  keep  the  same  in  fealty  to  us  and  the  aforesaid 
elect  [Bishop].  Witness  J.  Bishop  of  Norwich  the  6th  day  of  July."" 

The  King,  by  a  charter  the  date  of  which  is  not  recorded,  em- 
powered the  Bishop  to  empark  his  land  at  Crouch  near  Banbury : — 

"  John  by  the  grace  of  God  King  &c.  We  have  granted  that  the  said 
Bishop  or  his  successors  may  enclose  and  empark  if  they  will  or  essart,''^ 
to  such  extent  as,  when,  and  where  they  will,  their  woods  of  Lidinton 
and  Buggeden  and  Spaldewik  and  grove  of  Stowe  and  spinney  of  Cruch 

(.35)  Nasmith's  Tanner's  Notit.  Monast. 

(36)  Magna  Britannia,  v.  5,  p.  774.  (37)  Valor  Ecclesiasticus.  (38)  Skelton's  Oxf. 

(39)  Speed.  (40)  Kennet,  p.  225.  (41)  Whitworth's  Nobility. 

(42)  Rot.  Littci-.  Patentium.  (43)  Essart.     To  clear  the  ground  of  shrubs. — Bailey. 


88  DEDDINGTON.— BANBURY  CASTLE. 

near  Banneberi,  and  with  respect  to  the  said  woods  may  at  their  pleasure 
give  sell  and  take  and  cause  to  be  taken  without  view  and  any  gain- 
saying of  the  foresters  and  regarders  or  any  of  their  ofRcers  &'c. — and 
that  the  said  woods  and  the  clearings  therefrom  made  and  to  be  made 
shall  be  quit  of  the  waste  and  regard  and  view  of  the  foresters  verderers 
and  regarders  Src."*'* 

In  1204  the  king  directed  a  precept  to  the  sheriff  of  Oxford- 
shire, that  without  delay  he  should  give  to  Guy  de  Diva  seisin  of 
aU  Ms  goods  and  chattels  within  his  liberties,  except  the  castle  of 
Dadington  (Deddington)  wliich  the  king  would  keep  in  his 
hands,  and  the  manor  of  Dadington  which  the  king  gave  to 
Thomas  Basset.''^  In  1205  Guy  de  Diva  had  letters  patent  di- 
rected to  Thomas  Basset,  that  the  said  Thomas  should  deliver 
up  to  him  the  castle  of  Dadenton'  and  his  land  of  which  he 
was  disseised/*^  It  appears  that  this  Norman  castle  at  Dedding- 
ton was  demolished  before  the  ,reign  of  Henry  the  Eighth,"*^  and 
most  of  the  foundations  thereof  have  been  dug  up  of  late  years. 
The  earthworks  however  remain  nearly  entire,  extending  over 
about  six  acres. ''^ 

In  1206  the  see  of  Lincoln  became  vacant,  and  continued  so 
for  three  years ;  until,  in  1209,  Hugh  Wells  or  Wallis,  chan- 
cellor, was  elected  bishop,''^  and  became  lord  of  Banbury.  The 
following  documents,  of  this  date,  refer  to  the  Castle  of  Ban- 
bury : — 

8th  John,  A.  D.  1206.  "  The  King  to  the  constable  of  Bannebir'  and 
the  Bailiffs  of  Lord  W._  [William]  late  bishop  of  Lincoln,  &c.  We  com- 
mand you  that  immediately  upon  sight  of  these  letters  you  deliver  up 
to  oiir  clerk,  Robert  de  London,  the  castle  of  Bannebir',  which  we  have 
committed  unto  him  to  keep  so  long  as  it  shall  seem  good  to  us.  And 
in  testimony  hereof  we  have  sent  unto  you  these  our  letters  patent.  AVit- 
ness  G.  son  of  Peter  at  Winchester  the  14th  day  of  May."^" 

8th  John,  A.  D.  1206.  "  The  King  to  all  the  knights  and  free  tenants 
of  the  bishoprick  of  Lincoln  &c.  Know  ye  that  we  have  committed 
imto  our  beloved  and  faithful  W.  de  Cornhull'  the  bishoprick  of  Lincoln 
to  keep  so  long  as  it  shall  seem  good  to  us  with  all  its  appurten- 
ances; saving  unto  Wakelin  the  keeping  of  the  castle  of  Noouw'c 
[Newark]  and  saving  unto  Robert  de  London  the  keeping  of  the  castle  of 
Ban'ebir'  with  the  appurtenances.     And  therefore  we  command  you  to 

(4-1)  Recited  in  Charter  Rolls,  2ncl  Ric.  11.,  No.  .5.  (45)  Kennet,  p.  232. 

(46)  Rot.  Lit.  Patent.  _  (47)  Lelaud,  v.  7,  pt.  1,  fol.  13. 

(48)  In  1215  (16tli  17tli  John),  tlie  King's  conduct  having  roused  the  Barons  to  resis- 
tance, they  assembled  in  Easter  week  at  Stamford,  and  on  the  following  Monday  rendez- 
voused at  Bracldey;  John  being  then  at  Oxford.  John  Fitz-Robert,  lord  of  Clavering, 
was  one  of  the  barons;  and  was  by  the  King  disseised  of  his  lands  and  his  manor  of 
Ainho,  and  himself  committed  by  the  King  into  the  custody  of  Thomas  de  St.  Walery, 
lord  of  Ambrosden,  who  continued  in  the  King's  interest.  William  Malet  baron  of  Curl 
was  disseised  for  the  like  otJence,  and  his  manor  of  Dedinton  was  restored  to  Thomas  Basset 
baron  of  Hedington.  (Kennet,  p.  232.)  In  the  same  year  (1215)  the  King  granted  to 
Robert  Mauduit  and  Alan  de  Boclaund'  the  castle  of  Dadinton  to  keep  during  his  pleasure. 
(Rot.  Lit.  Patent.)    Magna  Charta  was  the  successful  result  of  this  struggle  of  the  Barons. 

(49)  WHiitworth's  Nobil.  (oO)  Rot.  Litter.  Patent. 


BANBURY  CASTLE.  89 

the  end  tliat  ye  be  in  all  things  obedient  unto  him  as  our  Overseer  and 
our  Bailiff.  Witness  myself  &c.  at  Porchester  the  24th  day  of  May  in 
the  8th  year  of  our  reign."" 

9th  John,  A.  D.  1207.  "The  King  to  the  Constable  of  Banneb'  &c. 
Find  for  Master  Nicolas  the  carpenter  and  Ralph  his  fellow,  each  of 
them,  3  pence  per  day  ;  and  cause  each  of  them  to  have  X  shillings 
for  a  robe.  Find  also  for  Hugh  de  Barent'  and  Laurence  and  Thomas 
sons  of  Alured,  each  of  them,  2  pence  per  day.  And  find  for  Osbert 
Petrar'  and  Fulk  de  Bardunvill'  and  William  Barett',  each  of  them,  2 
pence  per  day ;  and  for  Fulk  and  William,  both  of  them,  X  shillings 
for  robes.  Find  for  Gerard  de  V'nun,  Ei-nulf  Binell,  William  Emer', 
William  Garin,'  Peter  de  Caylly,  Robert,  Ralph,  Augustus,  and  Walter 
Cailly,  each  of  them,  3  halfpence  per  day,  until  we  otherwise  command 
you  herein  :  and  it  shall  be  accounted  to  you  at  the  Exchequer.  Witness 
myself  at  Wudest'  [Woodstock]  the  8th  day  of  November. — By  Richard 
de  Marisco,  in  the  9th  year  of  our  reign, "^ 

(1)  Rot.  Litter.  Patent. 

(2)  Rot.  Litter.  Claus. — The  following  fuither  extracts  &c.  are  given  as  elucidating  tlie 
above  precept  to  tlie  Constable  of  Banbury  respecting  Nicolas  the  Carpenter,  &c. 

8th  John  (1207).  It  appears  that  Master  Nicolas  de  Audely,  Master  Ralph  de  Besenton', 
Thomas  son  of  Alur',  Laurence  de  St.  Amano,  and  Hugh  de  Barentin',  were  caipenters  sent 
to  Fifmor'  to  work.    P.  80. 

9th  John  (1207).  "  The  King  to  the  Sheriff  of  Gloucester  &c.  Find  for  Master  Nicolas 
the  carpenter,  &  Ralph  de  Reusenzun,  &  Osb'  Pet^r'  [Osbert  Petrarius],  each  of  them, 
Sd  a  day  ;  &  for  Thomas  de  Rotho'm,  &  Hugh  de  Barentin',  &  Laurence  Hurdator  [query, 
Hurdler — hurdltium  in  the  later  Latin  is  "hurdles,"  or  "mcker  work  with  which  walls 
are  covered"],  &  G.  de  Vernon',  &  Fulk  de  Berdovill',  each  of  them,  2d  per  day,  whom 
we  have  appointed  to  make  our  buildings  at  Gloucester,  until  they  shall  have  begun  to 
work :  And  when  they  shall  have  begun  to  work,  find  for  the  aforesaid  Nicolas  6a!  per 
day,  &  for  Ralph  de  Resenc'  the  same  per  day,  &  for  Osbert  Petrarius  the  same  per  day, 
&  for  the  aforesaid  Thomas  &  Hugh  &  Laurence  &  Girard  &  Fulk,  when  they  shall  have 
begun  to  work,  each  of  them  4il  per  day  .■  and  it  shall  be  accounted  to  you  at  the  Exche- 
quer," &c.  This  precept  is  dated  13  days  later  than  the  one  to  the  Constable  of  Banbury. 
P.  97. 

9th  John  (1208).  Brien  de  L'Isle  is  to  have  allowed  in  his  accounts  what  he  has  paid 
to  several  pereons ;  amongst  others  to  5  "  quarreatores,"  of  whom  Osbert  is  one  and  Fulk 
de  Burdunviir  another.  (P.  107).  In  the  month  following,  Brien  de  L'Isle  is  again  al- 
lowed the  pay  he  has  advanced  to  5  "  quarreatores,"  viz.  Osebert,  Gerard  de  Vernon, 
Fulk  de  Burdunvill,  Peter  Pict',  and  Elie  de  Vernon.  (P.  113.)  In  both  these  places 
they  are  mentioned  along  witl^."balistarii,"  and  men  "serving  with  2  horses  each."  Per- 
haps therefore  they  were  makers  of  the  aiTows  called  "  quarrels." 

1-lth  John  (1212).  Master  Nicholas  &  Master  Ralph,  "our  carpenters,"  are  sent  to 
Philiji  Mark,  who  is  ordered  to  cause  them  to  make  2  Turkish  petraries  ("  petraria "  was 
an  engine  of  war  for  casting  stones) ;  and  he  is  directed  to  furnish  them  and  their  com- 
panions with  all  necessaries.    P.  122. 

I6th  John  (1214).  The  King  to  Brien  de  L'Isle.  Master  Nicholas  de  AudeF,  Hugh 
de  Barentin,  Laurence  de  Sancto  Anguino,  and  Baudewin',  "  our  carpenters,"  are  to  make 
2  good  petraries  and  good  Turkish  mangonells.    P.  178. 

16th  John  (1215).  Gerard  de  Veruun  and  Fulk  de  Bardevill'  are  mentioned  with 
many  others,  as  orn-  "minatores  et  petrai-ii."  And  they  are  to  work  "in  dova  fossati" 
[query  in  delving  the  ditch?]  "at  our  Castle  of  Corf."  (P.  185.)  In  the  same  year 
Master  Ralph  the  carjienter  is  sent  to  Roland  Bluet,  and  is  to  be  supplied  with  materials 
for  making  petraries  and  mangonels.    P.  191. 

— th  John  (12—).  "  The  King  to  the  Bailiffs  of  the  Port  of  Southampton."  They 
are  ordered  to  restore  to  Ralph  the  carpenter  and  two  others  their  "  little  ships  "  (naviculas), 
which  they  had  seized ;  taking  security  of  them  that  no  damage  should  ensue  to  the  King 
or  kingdom,  and  seeing  that  they  took  no  horse  with  them  in  their  vessels.    P.  197. 

17th  John  (1215).  Master  Nicholas  the  carpenter  to  be  put  in  possession  of  the  land 
of  Bodingeton'  which  the  King  has  given  him.    P.  239. 

18th  John  (1216).  Hugh  de  Barintin  (his  carpenter)  to  have  possession  of  the  land 
of  Cotes,  wliich  the  King  has  given  him.     P.    277. 

5th  Henr.  III.  (1221).  Master  Hugh  de  Barentin'  "our  carpenter"  to  have  the  pension 
of  2d  a  day  which  Ralph  de  Chaumbray  had  been  used  to  receive  by  the  gift  of  "  King 
John  our  father."  (P.  446.)  Also  an  order  to  pay  from  the  Treasury  3  marks  each  to 
Master  Nicholas,  carpenter,  and  Master  Thomas,  carpenter,  for  their  expenses.    P.  473. 

8th  Hem-.  III.  (1224).    An  order  to  pay  "our  carpenters,"  Masters  Thomas,  Nicholas, 
Ralph,  &  Robert,  £4,  namely  20s.  each.    P.  .582. 
M 


90  GRIMSBURY. 

Kith  John,  A.  D.  1214.  "The  King  to  his  Barons  of  the  Exchequer 
&c.  Account  to  Brien  de  Insula"  [Brian  de  L'Isle  : — here  follow  several 
sums  which  the  Barons  are  directed  to  allow  in  his  accounts :  among 
them]  "  10  pounds  for  the  keeping  of  the  Castle  of  Bannebir'  *  *  *  * 
Witness  myself  at  Partcnay  the  26th  day  of  May  in  the  16th  year  of  our 
reign.  "^ 

The  Book  of  Memoranda  of  Hugh  Wells,  bishop  of  Lincoln, 
states  that  he,  in  the  6th  year  of  his  episcopate,  having  viewed  the 
chapel  of  Crouleton  (Cronghton),  did,  with  the  assent  of  Guy  de 
la  Haie  the  patron  of  the  same,  grant  and  by  his  episcopal  au- 
thority confirm  the  same  unto  the  Hospital  of  Einho  (Aynho)  to 
have  and  to  hold  for  its  proper  uses,  saving  in  all  things  the  accus- 
tomed episcopal  rights  and  the  dignity  of  the  church  of  Lincoln.' 

William  Atrebati,  advocate  of  Betun  and  lord  of  Germimdie, 
who  lived  in  the  reign  of  John,  by  deed  s.  d.  granted  to  David 
de  Hakelinton  two  virgates  of  land,  with  the  appurtenances,  in 
Grimesbor'  (Grimsbury),  namely,  one  which  Richard  the  miller 
held,  and  one  which  Osbert  held,  with  the  two  crofts  between 
Osbert's  messuage  and  the  river  Cherwell.^  In  the  cartulary  of 
the  priory  of  Canons  Asliby  this  deed  precedes  the  grant  of 
these  two  virgates  to  the  said  priory  by  the  said  David  de 
Hakillinton ;  which  grant  was  confirmed  by  Baldwin  de  Betun, 
and  by  "  Thomas  de  Parco,  dominus  Grimsbirie."^ 

About  the  year  1217,  at  the  beguining  of  Henry  the  Third's 
reign,  Roger  was  chaplain  of  the  Castle  of  Bannebir,  and  was 
instituted  to  a  moiety  of  the  church  of  Bottenden  (Boddington) 
at  the  presentation  of  the  prior  and  canons  of  Chaucumb.'  In 
1218  the  following  occurs  concerning  Adderbury  : — 

(3)  Rot.  Litter.  Glaus. 

_  (4)  This  is  witnessed  by  Roger  the  chaplain  [of  Banbury  Castle]  and  others ;  and 
given  by  the  hand  of  R.  archdeacon  of  Huntingdon  at  Bannebir  on  the  7th  February. 
(Mem.  Hugh  Wells,  fol.  23;  and  Harl.  MS.  6954,  fol.  81.)  The  Hospital  at  Aynho 
here  mentioned  was  founded  as  early  as  the  12th  century,  for  the  relief  of  poor  and  sick 
passengers,  by  Roger  Fitz-Richard,  Adelicia  his  wife,  and  William  their  son.  It  was 
dedicated  to  the  apostles  St.  James  and  St.  John,  and  stood  at  the  western  end  of  the 
village.— Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  557. 

(5)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  748,  749.  To  the  deed  (says  Baker)  is  appended  a  ciicular  scp] 
about  three  inches  in  diametei-,  with  an  armed  knight  on  horseback,  bearing  on  his  shield, 
bendy,  two  bars ;  on  the  reverse  is  a  circular  counterseal  an  inch  and  a  half  in  diameter 
with  a  shield  bearing  the  same  arms,  circumscribed  "  Secretu'  Will.  Advocati." 

(6)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  749.  In  the  8th  of  Henry  III.  (1224)  the  advocate  of  Betun 
was  pardoned  scutage  for  one  fee  in  Grimsbury,  but  it  was  included  in  the  scutages  paid 
by  him  for  the  honour  of  Chokes  in  subsequent  scutages  of  that  reign.  In  the  36th  of 
Henry  III.,  by  the  inquisition  of  the  services  and  castleward  due  from  the  tenants  of 
the  honour  or  fee  of  Chokes,  it  was  found  that  five  shillings  for  sheriff's  aid,  watch  and 
view  of  frankpledge,  and  ten  shillings  for  ward  to  Northampton  castle,  were  rendered  for 
one  fee  in  Grimsbury.— JSa/cer's  Northamp.,  p.  746. 

(7)  9th  year  of  Hugh  Welh.— Harl.  MS.  6950,  fol.  11. 


ADDERBURY,  &c.  5)J 

2nd  Heiir.  III.  A.  D.  "j  "  It  is  commanded  the  SherifF  of  Oxfoi-dshire 
1218.  "Of  the  Market  I  that  he  cause  P.  bishop  of  Winchester  [Peter 
of  Edbm-gebir' "  [Ad- j  Je  Rupibus,  lord  chief  justice]  to  have  a 
derbury].  J  market  every  week  on  Monday  at  his  manor  of 

Edburgebur',  so  that  it  be  not  to  the  injury 
of  the  neighbouring  markets.  Witness  the  Earl  at  Bannebir'  the  25th 
day  of  July."* 

In  1219,  (according  to  Knjgliton)  m  a  council  of  bishops  held 
at  Oxford,  a  blasphemous  impostor  who  had  assumed  the  name 
and  pretended  to  the  wounds  of  Jesus  was  condemned,  and  was 
crucified  at  Abberburj  (Adderbury).®  In  the  4tli  of  Henry  III., 
Wischard  Ledet  owed  to  the  king-  a  palfrey  for  the  grant  of  a 
weekly  market  at  his  manor  of  (Cliipping)  Wardon.^"  Two  j'ears 
later,  the  following  documents  occur  relative  to  Banbury  : — 

(ith  Henr.  III.  A.  D.^  "The  King  to  the  Sheriff  of  Oxfordshire 
1221-2.  "  That  the  greeting.  Know  that  we  have  granted  unto 
Constable  of  Ban'ebur'  ^Simon  de  Cropper'  [Cropredy]  Constable  of 
be  not  put  on  assises  Bannebir'  that  he  be  not  put  on  assises  recog- 
or  juries."  J  nitions  or  juries  so  long  as  he  shall  be  Constable 

of  Ban'ebir'.  And  thei-efore  we  command  you 
that  in  the  mean  while  you  put  not  the  same  on  assises  recognitions  or 
juries.  Witnesses  these  &c.  at  Westminster  the  25th  day  of  January.  By 
the  same  person. — In  like  manner  it  is  written  unto  the  sheriff  of  Nor- 
thamptonshire in  behalf  of  the  same  person. "^^ 

6th  Henr.  III.  A.  D.  1221-2.  "  The  King  to  the  Sheriff  of  Oxford- 
shire greeting.  We  command  you  to  pay  unto  Richard  de  Brademar' 
and  Richard  Pinchun  our  huntsmen  three  marks,  to  wit,  20  shillings  to 
each  of  them,  for  the  maintenance  of  themselves  and  of  our  dogs  staying 
at  Bannebir'  by  our  order  :  and  it  shall  be  accounted  to  you  at  the  Exche- 
quer. Witness  &c.  at  Westminster  the  5th  day  of  Febr.  in  the  6th  year 
of  our  reign.  "'2 

At  this  date  (Hth  Hugh  Wells)  John  de  Bannebir  is  recorded 

as   being  parson   of    the    church   of    Licheberw   or   Liehesbarwe 

(Litchborough,  Northamp.),  on  the  presentation  of  the  abbot  and 

convent  of  St.  James  at  Northampton.'^     Walter  de  Bannebir  is 

also  stated  to  have  resigned  the  church  of  Ennestan  (Enstone).'* 

Two  years  after,  William  de   Bannebir  was  instituted  parson  of 

the  church  of  Little  Karleton.'^ 

(8)  Rot.  Litter.  Claus.  The  ■witness  here  and  elsewhere  at  the  commencemeut  of 
Henry  the  I'nird's  reign  is  the  Protector,  the  earl  of  Pembroke. 

(9)  Keunet.  p.  267. 

(10)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  538.  In  the  11th  of  Henry  III.,  a  mandate  issued  to  the 
sheriti'  to  prohibit  the  market  at  Chipping  Wardou,  on  the  ground  of  its  being  injurious 
to  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln's  market  at  Banbury.  In  the  23ud  year  of  Henry  III.  a 
similar  prohibition  was  issued :  but  before  the  expiration  of  that  year  Gerard  de  Fumival 
obtained  a  regraiit  of  the  market  at  Wardon.  This  was  held  on  Tuesday.  Subsequently, 
Sir  Thomas  Latimer  established  his  right  to  a  weekly  market  at  Chipping  "Wardon  on 
Tuesday,  in  plea  to  a,  quo  warranto  3rd  Edward  III.;  and  at  his  death  the  profit  arising 
from  it  was  returned  at  three  shillings  and  sixpence  yearly. — Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  528. 

(11)  Rot.  Litter.  Claus.  '  (12)  Rot.  Litter.  Claus. 
(13)  Harl.  MS.  6950,  fol.  48,  49.  (14)  Harl.  MS.  6950,  fol.  64. 
(15)  Harl.  MS.  6950,  fol.  105.     It  was  common  for  the  religious  to  assume  a  surname 

M  3 


92  PREBEND  OF  BANBURY. 

The  Prebend  of  Banbury  is  first  mentioned  in  tlie  23rd 
year  of  the  episcopate  of  Hugh  Wells  (16th  Henr.  III.,  1231-2), 
when  J.  [Jolm]  de  St.  Giles  is  recorded  as  canon  of  the  said 
Prebend."^  In  1235-6  the  said  John  de  St.  Giles  is  mentioned  as 
rector  of  the  church  of  Bannebir.^^  The  Prebend,  it  appears, 
consisted  of  the  impropriation  of  the  rectory  and  the  advowson 
of  the  vicarage  of  Banbury.^*  The  tithes  had  however  at  one 
time  been  given  by  Robert  Bloet  bishop  of  Lincoln  to  the  mon- 
astery of  Ensham  (see  p.  62) ;  and  (subsequently  to  the  above 
dates)  it  is  recorded  that  there  was  "  a  dispute  between  Master 
Salo,  canon  of  Lincoln,  rector  of  the  church  of  Bannebiri,  and 
the  monastery  of  Egnesham,  about  the  tithes  in  the  parish  of 
Bannebiri,  in  the  year  1238."^^ 

Hugh  Wells,  bishop  of  Lincoln  and  lord  of  Banbury,  died 
on  the  8th  of  February  1235,  and  was  succeeded  by  Robert  Gros- 
tete,  or  Greathead.-"  The  bishops  of  Lincoln  had  always  been 
accustomed  to  visit  the  religious  houses  in  the  diocese ;  and,  as 
early  in  his  episcopate  as  1236,'Grostete  visited  many  of  them, 
and  deposed  many  abbots  and  priors  for  imfitness,   of  whom  the 

from  the  place  of  tJieir  nativity  or  former  residence.  Jolm  de  Banuebir  was  a  frequent 
witness  to  instruments  relating  to  the  bisboprick  during  the  time  of  Bishop  Grostete. 
He  is  styled  chaplain,  and,  in  the  10th  year  of  Grostete  (1344)  we  find  him  inducted  to 
the  church  of  OlTord,  co.  Huntingdon, "  on  the  collation  of  the  Bishop  with  the  advice  of 
his  general  council."  (Harl.  MS.  6950,  fol.  155.)  Subsequently,  about  1273,  a  John  de 
Bannebir  is  mentioned  as  clerk  of  the  Chapter  of  the  church  of  Lincoln.  (Harl.  MS. 
6954,  fol.  34.)  In  1337  Thomas  de  Bannebiu',  priest,  was  presented  by  the  Prior  and 
Convent  of  Kenilworth  to  the  Church  of  Glympton.  (Hai-1.  MS.  6951,  fol.  196.)  In 
1390,  John  de  Bannebury  was  "  rector  or  portioner  of  a  portion  in  the  church  of  Wodesdon, 
called  atte  Grene."  In  1391,  Master  John  Bannebui-y  is  styled  "learned  in  the  law;" 
and  the  King  gave  in  charge  to  him  and  Sir  Thomas  BoteUer  archdeacon  of  Bedford, 
to  inquire  and  determine  respecting  the  advowson  and  right  of  presentation  in  the  prebendal 
Church  of  Thame.  (Harl.  MS.  6952,  fols.  49,  58.)  Master  John  de  Bannebury  died  in 
1392.  (Harl.  MS.  7048.)  In  1485,  Thomas  Bamiebury  was  elected  twenty-second  Prior 
of  the  Priory  of  St.  Edburg  at  Bicester.  He  resigned  in  1499.  (Leland.  Collectau. ; 
Kennet's  Paroch.  Antiq.)  Brother  Thomas  Banbury  is  elsewhere  mentioned  as  Master 
of  the  Ho.spital  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  at  Banburv,  but  he  died  before  the  22nd  April 
1501.  (Hari.  MS.  6953,  fol.  42.)  In  1534,  John  Baiibury,  a  religious  of  Wroxton  Priory, 
subscribed  to  the  King's  supremacy.     See  p.  S3. 

(16)  Hai-1.  MS.  6950,  fol.  75."  In  the  time  of  Bishop  Wells  a  memorandum  occurs, 
that  "  by  the  ancient  constitution  of  the  Church  of  Lincoln  it  was  held  that  every  day 
there  should  be  said  one  [illegible]  and  one  psalter  for  living  and  deceased  benefactors ; 
and  seeing  that  all  the  canons  are  bound  by  a  corporal  oath  to  keep  the  reasonable  customs 
of  the  said  church,  when  it  had  gone  out  of  all  memory  which  canon  ought  <o  ::.}"  v.'hkh 
psalms,  lest  danger  might  on  this  account  impend  upon  the  canons  it  was  provided  by  E. 
the  Dean  in  conjunction  ^vith  discreet  men  of  the  Chapter  and  ordained  in  Chapter, 
Hugh  bishop  of  Lincoln  being  present  and  confirming  the  same,  that  the  psalms  be  said 
by  the  Bishop  and  Dean  and  Canons  in  the  following  order."  Then  follows  the  list;  and, 
iunougst  others — "  Bannebury.  Exultate  d'no  adjutor'  n'ro.  Dn's  stetit.  Dn's  quis 
similis.  Quam  dilecta."  (Harl.  MS.  6954,  fols.  8,  9.)  These  Latin  titles  point  out  Psalms 
81,  82,  83,  and  84,  as  the  portion  to  be  said  by  the  canon  of  Banbury. 

(17)  Hari.  MS.  6950,  fol.  119.  (18)  Willis's  Cathedrals :  see  p.  62  of  this  vol.  (note  33). 

(19)  Cartul.  Egnesham,  fol.  57  ;  Kennet,  v.  1,  p.  162. 

(20)  Kennet.  This  eminent  prelate  was  born  about  Ore  year  1175,  and  appears  to  have 
been  of  obscure  parentage.  Before  he  was  consecrated,  a  monk  presented  a  deacon  to 
him  for  institution  to  a  large  cure.  The  party  had  not  the  tonsure,  and  contraiy  to  canon 
was  dressed  in  red,  wore  a  ring,  and  in  his  whole  habit  and  can'iage  resembled  a  layman 


GROSTETE  BISHOP  OF  LINCOLN.  {>3 

prior  of  Cold  Norton  (near  Chipping  Norton)  was  one.'-'  Bishop 
Grostete  again  visited  this  archdeaconry  in  1238,  at  which 
time  there  was  a  solemn  dedication  of  churches  in  this  county.-'- 
In  1244   the  Bishop  was   again  engaged  m  this  archdeaconry. 

In  the  33rd  year  of  Henry  III.  (1249),  another  tournament 
was  held  at  Bayard's  Green,  between  Brackley  and  Mixbury.-^ 
In  1252,  Stephen  Longspe'  (brother  to  William  Longspear  the 
renowned  crusader)  had  a  grant  of  a  weekly  market  at  King's 
Sutton  every  Monday,  and  a  fair  annually  on  the  vigil,  day,  and 
morrow  of  St.  James  the  Apostle ;  but  both  privileges  fell 
into  desuetude.'-'  Also  Ela  countess  of  Warwick,  sister  of  Wil- 
liam Longspear,  had  a  charter  from  the  King  of  free  warren  at 
Hognorthon  (Hooknorton).'-^  Bishop  Grostete  died  at  Buckden 
in  1253,'-'^  and  Henry  Lexinton  succeeded  to  the  bishoprick-^  and  to 
the  lordship  of  Banbury.  In  1258  Richard  de  Gravesend,  Pre- 
bendary of  King's  Sutton,-®  was  elected  Bishop.^^  Philip  Basset, 
baron  of  Wycomb,  who  died  in  1271  (56th  Henry  III),  gave  to 
the  Prior  and  Convent  of  St.  Edburg  at  Bicester  lands  he  had 
of  the  gift  of  Roger  de  Stampford  iu  Cliftone',  Heentone,  and 
Dadyngtone,  in  Oxfordshire,  and  lands,  tenements,  and  appur- 
tenances in  Grymesbury  in  the  parish  of  Bannebyri  and  county 
of  Northampton.^" 

or  a  kuight;  to  say  nothing  of  his  deficiency  in  literature.  The  bishop  elect  rejected  him, 
but  was  blamed  by  many  ;  and  Michael  Belet,  the  same  who  founded  Wroxton  Priory, 
wrote  the  bishop  a  reproof  on  the  occasion.  Grostete  took  Belet's  rebuke  in  good  part, 
and  in  his  answer  amply  justified  himself  to  his  friend. — Pcgge's  Life  of  Grosseteste,  p.  37. 

(21)  Pegge's  Life  of  Grosseteste,  p.  48.  In  1250,  Grostete,  attended  by  the  archdeacon 
of  Oxford,  went  to  the  Pope  to  answer  the  appeal  of  the  Knights  Templars  and  other 
religious,  who  would  have  been  exempted  from  his  jurisdiction.  From  the  declaration  he 
made  before  the  Pope  it  appears,  that  upon  Grostele's  first  consecration  he  thought  it 
necessary  (lest  the  blood  of  his  flock  should  in  the  last  judgment  be  required  at  his 
hands)  with  all  diligence,  as  the  scripture  commands,  to  visit  the  sheep  committed  to  him. 
For  wliich  reason  he  began  a  circuit  in  his  diocese,  causing  the  clergy  of  every  rural 
deanery  to  meet,  and  give  notice  to  the  people  to  appear  with  their  children  to  be  con- 
firmed, and  to  hear  the  word  of  God,  and  to  confess.  In  these  assemblies  he  often 
preached  to  the  clergy,  and  a  friar  predicant  or  minor  to  the  laity ;  after  which  the 
friaj's  heard  confessions  and  enjoined  penance  :  and  when  the  children  were  confirmed 
the  Bishop  and  his  clergy  applied  themselves  to  the  refonnation  of  abuses,  &c. — Kennet, 
V.  l,pp.  343,  344. 

(32)  Kennet,v.  l,p.312.         (23)  Kennet,  v.  l,p.213.  (24)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  696. 

[Z^i  Culenvl.  Rot.  Chart.  Ela  countess  of  Warwick  was  found  in  1285  to  hold  the 
manor  of  Hokenorton  of  the  King  in  capite,  upon  the  serjeantry  of  carving  before  the 
King  on  Christmas  day,  and  to  have  the  knife  with  which  she  carved. — Kennet. 

(26)  This  celebrated  prelate  had  studied  at  Oxford  and  Paris,  then  the  most  renowned 
seminaries  in  Europe,  and  became  possessed  of  all  the  knowledge  which  those  days  coidd 
furnish  ;  so  that,  like  Roger  Bacon  who  flourished  later,  he  was  looked  upon  as  a  magician. 
As  he  advanced  in  life,  he  became  so  far  convinced  of  evils  in  the  Romish  system,  that 
he  is  considered  one  of  the  precursors  of  the  Reformation.  Pope  Innocent  heard  of  his 
death,  and  said, — "  I  rejoice,  and  let  every  true  son  of  the  Roman  church  rejoice  with  me, 
that  my  great  enemy  is  xtvaoyed."— Pegge's  Life  of  Grosseteste  ;  Milner's  Church  History. 

(27)  Whitworth.  (28)  Bakers  Northamp.,  p.  697.  (29)  Whitworth. 
(30)  Kennet,  v.  1,  p.  386.     In  1262,  Philip  Basset,  then  Justice  of  England,  witnessed 

at  Bannebir',  on  the  25th  of  August,  a  writ  from  the  King  respecting  making  amends  for 
surprisals  contrary  to  the  truce  with  Lcwelin.— i?(/n(tT's  Fcedera. 


94  HUNDRED  OF  BANBURY. 

The  Hundred  of  Banbury  is  first  mentioned  at  tliis  period. 
The  Book  of  Fees  in  the  court  of  Exchequer,  in  the  time  of 
Henry  the  Third  and  Edward  the  First/^  contains  the  following : — 

"  County  of  Oxon. — Fees  of  the  Bishop  of  Lincohi. 

"  The  said  Bishop  holds  the  hundred  of  Thame  and  the  hundred  of 
Dorkecestr'  and  the  hundred  of  Bannebur'^^  of  the  King  in  capite,  and 
does  not  permit  the  Sheriff  to  enter  for  the  purpose  of  making  inquisition 
of  the  fee. 

"Military  tenants  of  the  Bishoprick  of  Lincoln  which  is  in  the  hand 
of  our  lord  the  King. 

Robert  de  Chaucube  iij  parts  of  j  knight  [knights'  fee]  in  Burton  [Bour- 
ton] 

The  same  the  eighth  part  of  j  knight  in  Wardinton 

Ralph  the  son  of  Robert  j  knight  in  Claendon  [Claydon]  &  Wardinton 

Robert  de  Stokes  iij  knights  in  Wykam  &  in  Sualcclive  [Swalcliffe]  & 
in  Fanflur  &  in  Ep'pewelle 

Matiir  de  Kussere  j  knight  &  a  half  in  Setteford  [Shutford]  &  in  Burton 

Jolm  de  Builli  j  knight  &  a  half  in  Prestecote 

AVilliam  de  Duston  j  knight  in  Walmescote  [Williamscot]  for  ward 

Simon  de  Crop'peri  half  a  knight  in  Crop'peri 

Peter  Talemasche  j  knight  &  a  half  in  Fanflur  &  in  Swaleclive 

The  Town  of  Banneb'r  is  in  the  hand  of  our  lord  the  King  :  two 
knights'  fees  in  Erdington  [?]  are  in  the  hand  of  our  lord  the  King ;  and 
Ralph  Hareng  holds  it  [i.  e.  the  town  of  Banbury]  in  keeping  for  the 
King."»3 

In  the  4th  year  of  Edward  I.   (1276),  an  Inquisition  made  in 

difterent  counties,  and  contained  in  the  Hundred   Rolls,  supplies 

the  following  : — 

"  Hundred  of  Bannebyr'. 

"  The  jurors  of  the  aforesaid  hundred  say  that  the  Hundred  of  Banne- 
bir'  is  in  the  hand  of  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  from  what  time  or  by  what 
warrant  they  know  not.  And  it  is  worth  by  the  year  £i."  [A  marginal 
note  states  "  What  [was]  in  the  Roll  concerning  the  Ofticers  is  now  want- 
ing."] 

"  Item,  Of  those  who  have  liberties,  &c. 

"  They  say  that  the  Bailiffs  of  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  to  wit,  Philip 
de  Burne  and  others,  take  a  certain  portion  of  the  penny  ^*  from  each 
village   of  the   Hundred  of   Bannebir'   at  the  view   of  frankpledge   for 

(31)  Subsequently  made  up,  1st  Edw.  III.,  to  obtain  infonnation  of  the  scutage  to  be 
levied  for  the  amiy  about  to  march  into  Scotland.  AU  tenants  who  held  of  the  King  by 
military  service  were  bound  to  attend  in  all  wars  and  expeditions;  or,  in  default  of  per- 
sonal service,  a  scutage  or  composition  tax  on  every  knights'  fee  was  assessed  for  the  King's 
use. 

(32)  The  Hundred  of  Banbury  now  contains,  in  its  northern  divisioii,  iianbury  ana 
its  Oxfordshire  hamlets;  Cropredy,  \vith  the  chapelries  of  Claydon  and  Mollington,  and 
the  hamlets  of  Great  and  Little  Bourton  and  Prescot ;  Wardington,  also  a  chapelry  to 
Cropredy  and  associated  as  one  benefice  with  Williamscot  chapelry  and  Coton  hamlet; 
and  Clattercot  extraparochial.  Westward  of  these,  and  separated  by  Bloxham  hundred, 
are  Swalcliffe,  with  the  chapelries  of  Epwell  and  East  and  West  Shutford.  Southward, 
and  isolated  from  all  the  above  by  Bloxham  hundred  and  portions  of  Wootton  and  Chad- 
lington  hundreds,  are  the  small  town  and  parish  of  Charlbury,  and  its  hamlets  of  Fawler 
and  Finstock. 

(33)  Testa  de  Nevill  sive  Liber  Feodorum  in  Curia  Scaccarii. 

(34)  Bailey  defines  "Denarius  Tertius  Comitatus"  "a  third  part  of  the  profits  which 
arise  from  country  [county  ?]  courts,  which  were  paid  to  the  carl  of  the  county ;  the  other 
two  parts  being  reserved  for  the  king." 


BLOXHAM  HUNDRED.— BANBURY.  5);> 

fair  pleading  and  nevertheless  amerce  the  villages  aforesaid  at  their 
pleasure.  And  this  they  have  first  done  in  the  time  of  Richard  the 
present  bishop. 

"  Item,  Of  those  who  have  of  late  appropriated  to  themselves  chases, 
&c. 

"They  say  that  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln  hath  ancient  warrens  in  his 
demesnes  at  Bannebyr',  but  they  know  not  by  what  warrant. 

"  Of  those  who  have  had  felons  &c. 

"  They  say  that  one  Thomas  Gubin',  having  been  taken  by  hue  and  cry 
for  sheep  stealing  with  the  stolen  goods  in  his  possession  and  impri- 
soned in  the  Castle  of  Bannebyr',  did  by  the  will  of  Philip  de  Bunie 
bailiff  of  Bannebir'  go  forth  out  of  prison ;  but  whether  he  gave  any  thing 
or  not  they  know  not ;  but  the  said  Philip  retained  goods  of  the  said 
felon  to  the  value  of  27^.  6d. 

"Hundred  of   Blokesham  for  the  King. 
"  Of  purprestures'^  &c. 

"They  say  that  John  de  Bikenton'  bailiff  of  the  Bishop  of  Win- 
chester hath  made  pui-presture  upon  the  King's  highway  in  Bannebyr' 
and  Elbrebyr'  to  the  nuisance  of  the  aforesaid  way. 

*  *  *  »  *  *  * 

"Of   the    Sheriffs'    taking   gifts    that    they    may    consent   to   conceal 

felonies  Szc. 

******* 

"  Item  They  say  that  when  William  Basiatc,  having  been  arrested  for 
robbery  and  imprisoned  in  the  Castle  of  Bannebyr',  had  escaped  from 
the  prison  to  the  Church  and  had  gone  forth  from  the  Church  by  the 
office  of  the  Coroner,^^  there  came  Robert  le  Mimd  and  others  of  tlie 
town  of  Bannebyr'  by  order  of  Philip  de  Burn'  constable  of  Bannebyr', 
and  him  the  said  William  going  toward  the  sea  did  drag  from  off  the 
King's  highway  and  cut  off  his  head. 

"Item  they  say  that  the  said  Philip  de  Biu-n'  took  William  Balle  and 
him  imprisoned  till  he  gave  him  3s.  8d.  to  let  him  go. 

"  Item,  If  any  diu-ing  the  discord  between  the  King  and  the  Countess 
&c. 

"They  say  that  Walter  Wyt  of  Bannebyr'  Gilbert  Laurenc'  and  Roger 
his  brother  Robert  le  Bercher  and  Robert  de  Cestreton'  sold  wool  to 
merchants  beyond  sea  at  the  time  aforesaid  ;  but  they  know  not  how  many 

sacks. 

******* 

"  Borough  of  Bannebyr.' 
"  Also  what  manors  are  wont  to  be  in  the  hands  of  the  Kings  &c. 
"  They  say  that  the  manor  of  Hedington'  [?]  used  to  be  in  the  hands 
of  the  Kings  of  the  aforesaid  kingdom,  and  Hugh  de  Plecet'  holds  the 
manor  aforesaid,  but  at  what  time  it  was  alienated,  how,  or  by  whom, 
they  know  not. 

"Moreover,  Who  have  of  late  appropriated  to  themselves  new  chases 

"They  say  that  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln  hath  warren  at  Bannebyr' 
but  they  know  not  by  what  warrant  nor  from  what  time.  _ 

"  Of  all  purprestures  by  whomsoever  made  upon  the  King  &c. 

(35)  A  Puvpresture  iPourpris,  an  Enclosure]  is  generally  when  any  thing  is  done  to  the 
nuisance  of  the  King's  demesnes,  the  King's  highways,  &c.  by  ^  enclo_siu-e  or  building ; 
endeavouring  to  make  that  private  which  ought  to  be  public. —  Wood's  Institutes. 

(36)  Abjuring  the  realm.  When  any  cue  had  committed  felony,  and  the  offender  for 
safeguard  of  his  life  fled  to  the  sanctuary  of  a  church  or  church-yard,  he  might  there,  be- 
fore the  Coroner  within  forty  days,  confess  the  felony,  and  take  an  oath  for  his  perpetual 
banishment,  going  the  direct  way  to  the  sea. — Cunningham's  Law  Diet. 


0(5  HOLY  WELLS. 

"They  say  that  Richard  de  Wyk'  seneschal  of  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln 
and  John  de  Lie  constable  of  the  Castle  of  Bannebyr'  and  Robert 
Godefrey  have  enclosed  a  certain  King's  highway  in  the  town  of  Bane- 
byr'  which  used  to  be  common  to  all  going  and  returning  towards  the 
monastery,  and  this  purpresture  hath  been  made  within  ten  years  last 
past."^'^ 

Nine  years  later  the  following  records  occur : — 

13th  Edw  L  In  "  Pleas  without  the  Octave  of  the  Purification  of  the 
Blessed  Mary." — "  Oliver  Bishop  of  Lincoln  was  summoned  to  answer 
to  our  lord  the  King  concerning  a  Plea  quo  u'arranto  [by  what  warrant] 
he  holds  the  hundred  of  Banneber'  and  also  quo  warranto  he  holds  the 
Imndred  of  Thame  which  belong  unto  the  Crown  of  our  lord  the  King 
&c.  And  the  Bishop  by  his  attorney  comes  and  says  that  he  and  his 
predecessors  have  held  the  aforesaid  hundreds  from  time  out  of  mind 
without  any  intei-ruption  and  by  that  warrant  he  holds  them.  And 
William  de  Gyseleh^m  who  sues  &c.  says  that  these  hundreds  are  spe- 
cially annexed  unto  the  Crown  of  our  lord  the  King  which  it  is  not 
lawful  for  any  one  to  hold  without  the  special  warrant  of  our  lord  the 
King.  And  he  demands  judgment  on  the  part  of  our  lord  the  King 
whether  since  the  aforesaid  Bishop  has  shown  no  special  warrant  from 
our  lord  the  King  to  hold  the  aforesaid  hundreds  he  can  by  his  own 
mere  answer  retain  the  same  against  the  will  of  our  lord  the  King  &c. 
He  says  moreover  that  our  lord  King  Richard  and  his  ancestors 
were  in  seisin  of  the  aforesaid  hundreds.  And  this  he  is  prepared  to 
verify  on  the  part  of  our  lord  the  King  as  the  court  shall  adjudge  &c. 
Roll.  25.  d."38 

13th  Edw.  L — "The  King  by  a  fine  of  five  marcs  which  the  venerable 
father  O.  Bishop  of  Lincoln  hath  made  with  the  King,  hath  restored  to 
him  his  liberty  of  return  of  the  King's  writs  to  be  had  in  the  hundreds 
of  Bannebury  Thame  &  Dorkecestr'  in  the  county  of  Oxon',  which 
was  taken  into  the  hand  of  the  King  by  reason  that  the  Bailiff  of  the 
aforesaid  Bishop  for  the  hundred  aforesaid  of  Bannebur'  did  not  appre- 
hend a  certain  thief  as  was  commanded  him  &c.  Roll  13."^^ 

In  the  20tli  year  of  Bishop  Gravesend  (1277),  Richard  de 
Midilton,  priest,  was  presented  by  Master  Nicholas  de  Wantham, 
or  Waltham,  prebendary  of  the  parish  church  of  Bannebu-,  to 
the  vicarage  of  the  same,  vacant  by  the  death  of  Roger,  17th 
February.*"  Bishop  Gravesend  was  removed  to  the  see  of  London 
in  1280,  when  Oliver  Sutton  succeeded  to  that  of  Lincoln'''  and 
to  the  lordship  of  Banbury.  This  Bishop,  it  appears,  exerted 
his  authority  against  a  superstitious  practice  which  prevailed  in 
those  times,  of  lame  and  blmd  persons  resorting  to  supposed 
holy  springs  or  wells,  and  making  vows  and  offerings  that  they 
might  obtain  relief  by  the  imagined  sanctity  of  the  waters. 
Dr.  Hammond  quotes  the  injunction  of  Bishop  Sutton  against 
the  practice  in  this  county.''^  Among  the  holy  wells  of  this 
neighbourhood   were   St.   Rumbald's  Well   at   King's  Sutton,   St. 

(37)  Rotul.  Hundred.  (38)  Placita  de  Quo  Warranto. 

(39)  Hot.  Orig.  in  Cur.  Scac.  Abbrev.  (40)  MS.  Harl.  6950,  fol.  223. 

(41)  Whitworth ;  Keiinet.  (42)  Kennet,  v.  1,  p.  191. 


ST.  STEPHEN'S  WELL.— TAXATION  OF  POPE  NICOLAS.  97 

Botolph's  Well  at  Farnborough,  and  St.  Stephen's  Well  at  Ban- 
bury. The  latter  is  a  chalybeate  spring,  well-known  and  still 
often  visited,  situated  on  the  west  side  of  the  town,  a  little  north 
of  the  footway  leading  to  North  Newington."^ 

In  1282,  Richard  de  Mandevill  and  Matilda  Ms  wife  had  a 
grant  for  life  of  a  weekly  market  and  annual  fair  at  Thorp  (Thorp 
Mandeville).     These  privileges  were  never  renewed.'''' 

In  the  16th-17th  Edw.  I.  (1288),  a  new  taxation  of  the  value 
of  churches  was  begun,  in  consequence  of  Pope  Nicolas  the 
Fourth  having  granted  the  tenths  of  all  spiritual  preferments  in 
England  to  King  Edward,  as  an  aid  toward  his  expedition  to  the 
Holy  Land.  The  two  principal  collectors  were  Richard  bishop 
of  Winchester  and  Oliver  bishop  of  Lincoln ;  who  appointed 
Ralph  rector  of  Wotton  and  Richard  rector  of  Gilling  as  taxers 
in  the  archdeaconry  of  Oxford.  The  return,  wliich  was  not  fully 
made  till  the  year  1291,  greatly  exceeded  the  former  computa- 
tions.''^ In  the  diocese  of  Lincoln  and  deanery  of  Dadyngton, 
the  Prebendal  church  at  Bannebur',  deducting  the  portion  (or 
allowance  received  by  the  vicar),  is  put  down  at  £30.  Among 
"  Ecclesiastical  benefices  taxed  at  10  marks  and  under,  the  pos- 
sessors of  which  are  not  beneficed  elsewhere,"  appears  the  Vic- 
arage of  the  Prebendal  Church  of  Bannebur',  £6.  13s.  M.  In 
the  same  deanery  of  Dadingtou,  the  Prior  of  Burncestr'  had 
the  manor  of  Grim'esbur,  in  the  deanery  (?)  of  Bannebur  and 
county  of  Northampton,  valued  at  £6.^" 

At  Easter  in  the  22nd  year  of  Edward  the  First  (1294),  is 
recorded  "An  assise  of  novel  disseisin  taken  at  the  head  of  the 
Bridge  of   Banebir "   in  the  county  of  Northampton."^     This  is, 

(43)  This  is  called  St.  Stephen's  Well  in  a  plan  of  Sir  John  Cope's  property  at  Banbury 
made  in  1764.  It  also  appears  prominently  as  "A  Well "  in  an  unfinished  view  of  Ban- 
bury made  in  1730,  of  which  a  reduced  copy  is  given  in  this  volume. 

The  water  of  this  spring  is  perfectly  clear  and  colourless,  having  a  brisk  and  slightly 
chalybeate  taste.  The  stone  channel  is  coated  with  a  light  red  deposit,  and  a  scum  of  the 
same  colour  appears  on  the  water  in  parts  where  stagnant.  The  spring  discharges  from 
half  a  gallon  to  one  gallon  in  a  minute.    In  32  oz.  of  the  water  at  60°  are 

Carbonic  Acid  gas 5  cubic  inches 

Hydrochlorate  Magnesia 0.21  grains. 

Chloride  Sodium  or  common  Salt  0.54 

Sulphate  Lime 1.5 

Carbonate  Lime     3.8 

Protoxide  Iron  0.024 

Silica a  trace 

Total  weigh!  of  solid  contents    6.074 

The  water  of  St.  Rumbald's  Well  at  Astrop  is  also  slightly  chalybeate. 

(44)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  720.  (45)  Keunet. 
(46)  Tax.  Eccles.  Ang.  &  Wall.  Auct.  P.  Nich.  IV.                                 (47)  Abbrev.  Placit. 

N 


y«  BANBURY  BRIDGE. 

as  far  as  I  can  discover,  the  first  mention  that  is  made  of  BAN- 
BURY Bridge  :  it  refers  to  the  present  fabric,  which  is  a  work  of 
the  13th  century,  and  is  one  of  the  best  specimens  now  remain- 
ing of  the  bridges  of  the  middle  ages.  Originally  it  formed  a  per- 
fectly level  way  across  the  valley  of  the  Cherwell,  and  was  about 
2o8  feet  in  length  exclusive  of  the  approaches.     The  level  has  now 


BANBURY  BRIDGE   IN  1730.     N.E. 
Fac-simile  of  a  Sketch  in  Mr,  Gough's  Collection,  Vol.  21,  in  the  Bodleian  Library. 


been  lost  at  that  end  of  the  Bridge  which  is  nearest  the  town, 
by  the  erection,  towards  the  close  of  the  last  century,  of  a  dis- 
graceful brick  arch,  of  higher  elevation  than  the  ancient  fabric, 
across  the  canal.''^  The  two  ancient  arches  at  that  end  of  the 
Bridge,  as  seen  in  the  above  cut,  span  the  mill  stream ;  they  are 
in  the  pointed  style,  and  are  built  on  parallel  ribs.  (See  Plate 
18.)  These  arches  are  similar  in  design  and  construction  to 
the  land  arches  of  Old  London  Bridge ;  the  ribs  being  turned 
first  at  narrow  intervals  to  enable  the  masons  to  lay  the  long 
stones  from  rib  to  rib,   by  this  means  avoiding   expensive   cen- 

(48)  It  is  surprising  that  the  talented  Brindsly,  who  was  Engineer  to  this  canal,  cnuld 
have  designed  such  frightful  bridges  as  this  canal  only  can  shew. 


BANBURY  BRIDGE. 


99 


teruig  for  the  arches,  and  leaving  the  course  of  the  current  free 
in  a  very  short  time.  There  are  two  smaller  and  generally  dry 
arches  of  similar  construction  eastward  of  these  :  and  further 
eastward  still  are  three  large  arches,  of  the  same  pointed  style, 
and  erected  on  ribs,  which  span  the  principal  stream  of  the 
Cherwell.  The  cutwaters  of  these  last,  on  the  north  side,  rise 
to  a  level  with  the  parapet  in  order  to  form  recesses  on  this  nar- 
row part  of  the  Bridge  for  the  safety  of  foot  passengers.  The 
boundary  post  which  formerly  stood  here  (see  the  cut  on  the 
last  page)  marked  the  commencement  of  Northamptonshire.' 

Sir  Theobald  de  Barro,  kinsman  of  the  lord  count  de  Barro, 
was  collated  to  the  Prebend  of  Bannebir  on  the  1st  November 
1295,  on  the  death  of  Master  Nicholas  de  Waltham.^  Oliver 
Sutton,  bishop  of  Lincoln  and  lord  of  Banbury,  died  in  1300  ; 
and  was  succeeded  by  John  De  Alderby,  Dalderby,  or  Baldreby.^ 
In  the  1st  year  of  the  new  Bishop,  John  de  Kirkeby,  deacon, 
was  presented  by  sir  William  de  Craven,  proctor  of  sir  Theo- 
bald de  Barro  prebendary  of  Bannebiri,  to  the  Vicarage  of  the 
prebendal  church  of  Bannebir,  vacant  by  the  death  of  Richard  de 
Brancestr,  March  29.*  On  the  1st  December  1301,  Bishop  Dal- 
derby was  at  Banbury.*  The  Prebend  of  Baneburi  becoming 
void  by  the  consecration  of  sir  Theobald  de  Barro  to  the  bis- 
hoprick  of  Liege,  the  Bishop  of  Lhicoln  conferred  the  same  in 
1303  tipon  sir  Hugh  de  Normantou,  canon  of  Lincoln.  The 
Bishop  afterward  stayed  his  collation;    and,  on  the  30th  March 

(1)  There  is  property  appropriated  to  the  repair  of  the  Bridge  and  highways,  which  is 
held  by  the  Corporation,  who  appoint  Bridgemasters  to  manage  the  trust.  The  Decree 
of  the  Commissioners  of  Charitable  Uses  made  at  Banbury  in  1603  mentions,  1st  a 
burgage  on  the  south  side  of  Bridge-end  Street  of  the  yearly  rent  of  7s.  6d.  given  to  the 
repair  of  the  Bridge  and  highways ;  2nd  a  burgage  on  the  north  side  of  Sheep  Street  or 
Bolting  Street  of  the  yearly  rent  of  20s.  given  to  the  same  use  ;  3rd  a  burgage  on  the  south 
side  of  High  Street  of  the  yearly  rent  of  6s.  8il.  given  to  the  repair  of  the  highways 
without  Sugarford  Bar ;  4th  a  tenement  on  the  west  side  of  North  Bar  Street  of  the  yearly 
rent  of  2s.  8(1.  given  to  the  repair  of  the  highways  in  North  Bar  Street.  A  "  Note  of  all 
such  Leasses  as  are  nowe  in  esse  of  the  burgages  &  landes  given  to  the  Church  ame'ment 
of  the  Bridge  &  High  waves  &  other  charitable  vses  in  the  sayd  Borough,"  apparently  of 
the  date  of  1616,  and  preserved  among  the  Corporation  records,  enumerates — "  A  peece  or 
plot  of  ground  to  buyld  two  baycs  of  bowsing  vppon  lying  betweene  the  Bridge  Strete 
&  Parsons  meadowe,"  rent  2s.  Gd. ;  "  A  Tenem't  in  Bredcrosse  Streete  or  Bowlting  Streete," 
rent  20s ;  "  A  Tenem't  in  Colebar  Streete  given  by  Mr.  John  Knight  to  the  vse  of  the 
jjoorc,"  rent  26s.  8d;  and  "  A  Tenem't  at  the  west  end  of  P'sons  Lane  on  the  sowth  syde." 
In  the  same  volume  of  Records,  in  the  36th  of  Charles  II.,  mention  is  made  of  the  "Bridge 
house  in  ye  Shambles."  The  Commissioners  on  Charities  in  1824  and  1825  describe  the 
present  property  left  for  the  repair  of  the  Bridge  and  Highways  as  being,  1st  an  acre  and 
a  half  of  land  near  the  Bridge  of  the  annual  value  of  £10;  2nd  a  house  &c.  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Butcher's  Row  [or  Shambles]  let  to  Jabez  Welch  for  J15.  15s.  per  annum  ;  3rd 
a  house  &c.  on  the  south  side  of  High  Street  let  to  Richard  Boswell  at  .£18.  18s.  per 
;,nnum ;  4th  a  house  on  the  west  side  of  North  Bar  Street  let  to  Richard  Austin  for  i;25. 

(2)  Karl.  MS.  6951,  fol.  63.  (3)  Whitworth's  Nobil. ;  Kennet. 
(4)  Harl.  MS.  6951,  fol.  119.  (5)  Harl.  MS.  7048,  fol.  335. 

n3 


100  THE  BROUGHTON  FAMILY  :—BROUGHTON  CASTLE. 

1304,  George  de  Solar  de  Poraya,  by  virtue  of  a  provision  from 
the  Pope,  was  admitted  to  the  same.® 

In  the  30th  of  Edw.  I.  (1302),  Robert  de  Elseffeld  and  Henry 
Durnal  were  returned  burgesses  in  Parliament  for  Dadintone. 
In  the  32nd  Edw.  I.,  John  Tankrevy  and  William  Gyllot  were 
returned  burgesses  in  Parliament  for  DadjTigton.' 

In  or  about  the  year  1305  (33rd-34th  Edw.  I.),  inquisition 
was  made  into  the  rents,  &c.  of  all  manors  and  lands  of  the  bishop 
of  Lincoln ;  the  rents  as  regard  Banbury  were  found  to  be  as  fol- 
lows : — 

"  Sum  of  the  assised  rents  for  the  outward  manor*  of  Banbury  with  the 
outward  mills  j£54.  14s.  3d. — Item,  for  increase  [of  rent]  made  in  the 
said  manor  £3.  I5s.  4:d. — Item,  for  the  mills  in  Banbury  let  to  farm,  £22.— 
Item,  for  the  Burgh  let  to  farm,  £23. — Item,  for  the  Hundred  let  to  farm, 
£9. — Sum  total  of  rents  &e.  £l70.  95.  7d. — Sum  of  the  hens  in  the  said 
manor  for  2  assises  118  hens.^ — Item  for  serjeantry'-'  140  hens  and  one 
thousand  and  300  eggs.''^" 


THE  BROUGHTON  FAMILY. 

In  the  reigns  of  John  and  Henry  the  Third  many  particvdars  ap- 
pear relating  to  the  BROUGHTON  family,  which  show  them  to  have 
been  of  great  rank  and  consequence. '^  In  the  29th  year  of  Ed- 
ward the  First  (1301)  John  de  Broughton  had  a  cliarter  of  free 
warren  on  his  land  at  Broughton.  About  this  period  Broughton 
Castle  appears  to  have  been  erected. 

The  greater  part  of  the  present  mansion  at  Broughton  belongs 
to  what  is  called  the  Elizabethan  era,  but  some  portions  of  an 
earlier  building,  of  the  14th  century,  remain  tolerably  perfect. 
The  Chapel  belongs  to  this  older  part,  and  though  small  and 
plain  is  interesting,  as  very  few  domestic  chapels  of  that  age  have 

(6)  Had.  MS.  6951,  fol.  95.  (7)  Pari.  Writs. 

(8)  Forinsecum  manerium ;  the  manor,  or  that  pai-t  of  it,  which  lies  without  the  bars  or 
town,  and  not  included  within  the  liberties  of  it. — Cunnimjham. 

(9)  Serjantia,  a  serjeantry  or  service  done  for  the  holding  of  lands. — Kcnnet. 

(10)  "  Summa  reddituum  assis.  de  manerio  forinseco  Banbury  cum  molendinis  forinsecis 
LIVZ.  XIVs.  Hit/.  Item  de  incremento  facto  in  dicto  manerio  llll.  XV«.  IVtZ.  Item  de 
molendinis  in  Banbury  affirmat.  XXIK.  Item  de  Burgo  affirm.  XXIIIZ.  Item  de  Hun- 
dredo  affirm.  IXl.  Summa  totalis  reddituum,  &c.  CLXX?.  IXs.  et  Ylld.  Summa  gal- 
linarumin  dicto  manerio  de  II.  assis.  CXVIII.  gallinee.  Item  de  serjantia  CXL.  gallinae, 
et  mille  et  CCC.  ova."  Ex  Rental.  Episc.  Line.  MS.  membran.  penes  D.  D.  T.  Halton, 
archid.  Oxon. — Quoted  from  Kennet. 

(11)  In  1213  (6th  July,  14th  John)  Falkes'  was  apparently  in  command  over  a  district  of 
country,  and  is  directed  to  send  an  account  of  the  number  of  men  he  has  for  the  defence  of 
the  King's  temtory  against  his  enemies  :  and  Falkesius  is  mentioned  as  in  an  office  of  com- 
mand in  several  other  passages.  (Rot.  Litt.  Clans.)  In  1213  (10th  Nov.)  Falkes'  de 
Breaute  [Broughton]  has  seisin  given  him  of  the  manor  of  Cumgresbir',  "  for  the  support 
of  our  castles  in  Wales  which   are  in  his  keeping."    In  1214  there  are  several  entries 


BKOUGHTON  CASTLE.  101 

beeu  preserved.  The  east  wiudow  is  of  the  Decorated  style, 
with  the  Geometrical  tracery  which  was  iu  use  in  the  beginning 
of  the  I4tli  century.  Immediately  under  this  window  is  the  stone 
Altar,  consisting  of  a  slab  supported  on  three  plain  corbels  :    the 

resjiecting  money  paid  through  Falkes'  de  Breaute  to  different  persons.  In  1215  (17th 
Jan.)  he  goes  I'rom  the  King  to  certain  persons,  and  is  to  return  with  them  to  the  king 
at  Winchester,  and  bring  Robert  de  Drous  under  safe  conduct.  In  the  same  year  Fakes' 
de  Breauton'  is  styled  "  our  Seneschal ;"  and  there  is  also  an  order  to  pay  him  ^200. 
On  the  27th  of  April  in  that  year,  the  house  next  to  the  wine  tavern  in  Oxford,  which 
was  the  property  of  Isaac  the  Jew,  is  given  to  Nicholas  de  Breaute,  the  brother  of 
"  our  faithful  Falkes'  de  Breaute."  On  the  6th  of  June  the  King  commands  Falkes'  de 
Breaut'  to  send  our  beloved  brother  W.  earl  of  Salisbury  400  "V^'elsh,  so  that  they  be  at 
Salisbury  on  Whit-Tuesday.  And  he  is  directed  to  send  to  the  King  some  persons  in 
whom  he  can  confide,  to  receive  the  pay  of  tlie  Welshmen  who  remain  with  him.  On 
the  18th  Sept.  there  are  several  orders  to  Falkes'  de  Breaut'  respecting  the  sending  parties 
of  his  men  to  garrison  certain  castles,  and  also  his  receiving  certain  knights  sent  by  the 
King  to  serve  under  him.  On  the  21st  Nov.  is  au  order  to  Falkes'  de  Breaut'  about  the 
soldiers  holding  Bridgenorth.  On  the  following  day  he  is  to  put  Eustace  de  Leon  in  pos- 
session of  Sumerton.  On  the  12th  Dec.  he  is  to  put  the  castle  of  Midelinton  into  the 
possession  of  Engel'  de  Cygoin".  On  the  23rd  Dee.  he  is  to  cause  Thomas  Kerel  to  have 
100  marcataj  of  land  formerly  Robert  Mauduit's.  On  the  25th  he,  with  the  sheriffs  of 
Beds  and  Bucks,  are  to  cause  a  man  to  have  some  land.  (Rot.  Litt.  Glaus.,  various  places.) 
In  Feb.  1216  he  is  called  sheriff  of  Hertfordshire.  On  the  22nd  March  in  that  year, 
the  town  of  Awelton'  (Alton,  Hants.)  is  bestowed  upon  Falk'  de  Breaut'.  On  the  15th 
April,  there  is  an  order  to  him,  the  earl  of  Salisbury,  and  othere,  to  pay  soldiers.  On  the 
5th  June  he  is  to  take  possession  of  Thoren'  Abbey  for  the  King,  the  Abbot  being  dead  ;  and 
give  it  in  charge  to  the  Prior  thereof.  On  the  3rd  Aug.  lands  are  given  him  in  Northamp- 
tonshire, Leicestershire,  and  Gloucestershire.  On  the  15th  Sept.  all  the  lands  which  be- 
longed to  Baldwin  de  I3etun,  earl  of  Albemarle,  in  the  counties  of  Kent,  Bedford,  Berks, 
Norfolk,  Suffolk,  Northampton,  and  Worcester,  are  bestowed  upon  Falkes'  de  Breaut'. 
In  the  1st.  of  Henry  III.  (1217)  it  appears  that  his  wife  was  Margaret,  widow  of  Baldwin 
de  Lisle  son  of  the  earl  de  Lisle,  and  daughter  of  Warin  the  son  of  Gerold.  In  March 
1218,  he  is  one  of  the  witnessses  to  an  agreement  between  the  King  and  Llewellin  Prince 
of  North  Wales ;  and  numerous  entries  shew  that  he  had  authority  in  Northamptonshire, 
Oxfordshire,  and  Gloucestershire.  In  1220  he  is  ordered  to  allow  certain  persons  to  kill 
deer  in  Rockingham  Forest.  Soon  after,  he  is  to  restore  the  bailiwick  of  that  and  other 
forests  to  Hugh  de  Neville.  In  November  following  is  an  order  to  repay  him  money 
expended  in  the  siege  of  Rockingham  castle.  In  April  1224  he  is  commanded  to  restore 
Woodstock  &c. — Rot.  Litt.  Clans. 

In  the  same  year  1224  (8th  Henry  III.)  the  land  of  Newenton,  which  belonged  to  Emma 
de  St.  Paul,  is  given  to  John  de  Breaut'.  (Rot.  Litt.  Glaus.)  On  the  11th  Oct.  in  the 
same  year  the  King  commands  the  Sheriff  of  Oxfordshire,  "  with  respect  to  5  shillings  and 
6  pence  of  rent  with  the  appurtenances  in  Banuebir'  which  John  de  Breaut'  was  to  have 
purchased  of  William  de  Mildecu'be  [Milcomb]  for  5  marks,  and  with  respect  to  43  shil- 
lings from  which  he  was  to  have  acquitted  the  said  William  in  the  Jewry  at  Oxford,  neither 
of  which  he  has  done,  as  is  certified  unto  us  by  an  inquisition  therein  made  by  our  com- 
mand which  you  have  sent  unto  us ;  that  you  cause  the  said  William  to  have  full  seisin 
thereof  without  delay."  In  the  same  month  the  sheriffs  of  Beds  and  Bucks  are  to  put 
Henry  de  GapeUa  in  possession  of  a  manor  which  had  been  held  by  Falkes  de  Breaut'. 
On  the  10th  July  Falkes  de  Breaut'  is  proclaimed  a  rebel  &c.;  and,  subsequently,  his  wife 
is  provided  for. — Rot.  Lilt.  Clans. 

In  the  19th  of  Hugh  Wells,  bishop,  (1228,)  Robert  Mauduit  presented  to  the  church  of 
Broucton  [Broughton].  In  1229,  Nicholas  de  AVrocst'  [Wroxton]  sub-deacon,  was  in- 
stituted to  the  church  of  Brocton  at  the  presentation  of  Master  Michael  Belet,  by  reason 
of  his  guardianship  of  the  lands  and  inheritance  of  Ralph  de  Brocton.  (Harl.  MS.  6950, 
fols.  71,  72.)  Near  or  subsequently  to  the  year  1230,  Sir  John  de  Bruchton  appears  a 
witness  to  a  grant  of  Michael  Belet  of  40s.  yearly  to  be  paid  by  the  Prior  and  Canons  of 
Wrokstan  to  the  Lady  Abbess  of  Godesthough.  (Warton's  Life  of  Sir  T.  Pope.)  In  the 
29th  of  Edw.  I.  (1301)  John  de  Broughton  had  a  charter  of  free  warren  on  his  land  at 
Broughton,  Oxfordshire,  and  at  some  places  in  Wanvickshire.  (Cal.  Rot.  Ghart.)  In 
the  reign  of  Edward  the  Second  (which  commenced  in  1307)  the  manor  of  Broughton 
was  held  of  the  King  in  capite  by  John  Mauduit,  by  the  seijcantry  of  mewing  one  of 
the  King's  goshawks,  or  carrying  that  hawk  to  the  King's  court.  (Kennet's  Paroeh.  Autiq., 
V.  2,  p.  247.)  In  the  same  reign,  the  church  of  Broughton  being  void  by  the  death  of 
Richard  de  Everdon  the  last  rector,  Thomas  Earl  of  Lancaster,  High  Steward  of  England, 
by  reason  of  the  minority  of  John  the  son  and  heir  of  John  de  Broughton,  presented  to 


102  BROUGHTON  CASTLE. 

slab  retains  tlie  small  crosses  wliich  were  marked  on  the  surface 
of  an  altar  at  the  time  of  its  consecration  in  Roman  Catholic 
times.  A  considerable  part  of  the  walls  in  the  north  front '^  and 
east  side,  and  several  rooms  with  their  groined  stone  roofs,  are 
of  the  same  age.  The  whole  of  the  south  front  is  in  the  Eliza- 
bethan style  and  a  good  specimen  of  it.  The  west  side  appears 
to  have  been  rebuilt  at  a  later  period.  There  are  some  good  plain 
chimneys ;  and  a  square  tower  with  battlements,  gurgoyles,  and 
arrowlets,  at  the  southeast  comer ;  these  probably  belong  to  the 
original  building.  Several  of  the  rooms  ha^^e  good  plaster  ceil- 
ings and  chimney-pieces  of  the  time  of  Elizabeth  or  James 
the  First ;  and  there  is  a  singular  sort  of  inner  porch  of  carved 
wood  over  the  door  in  the  drawing  room.^^  The  Castle  is 
moated  and  has  a  stone  bridge  of  two  arches  over  the  moat, 
with  a  Gateway  Tower  and  some  other  out-buildings  (now  used 
as  stables)  which  are  of  the  early  part  of  the  loth  century. 
(Plate  24.)  The  battlemented  wall  connecting  these  with  the 
main  building  is  of  the  14th  century  :  it  has  cruciform  apertures 
or  arrowlets  tlirough  which  the  besieged  could  discharge  theii- 
arrows  with  safety  from  a  continuous  terrace  along  the  inner 
face  of  the  battlements.  The  appearance  of  this  fortified  man- 
sion with  its  moat  and  tower  gateway  is  exceedingly  pictu- 
resque   from    every   point    of    view." 

The  Church  of  Broughton  is  also  of  the  14th  century  (see 
hereafter).  In  the  south  aisle  is  a  fine  monument  of  the  time  of 
Edward  the  Second  with  a  canopy  let  into  the  south  wall:  it  is 
a  very  rich   and  beautiful  specimen  of  Decorated   work,'^  and  is 

the  bishop  Ralph  de  Berford  [Barford]  clerk  to  succeed  to  the  said  church ;  and  Sir  Eobert 
de  Wykhani  knight,  by  reason  of  his  guardianship  of  the  lands  and  inheritance  of  John  de 
Broughton  aforesaid,  presented  Elias  de  Colleshall  clerk;  and  William  Pauues  lord  of 
Narburn  by  reason  of  his  guardianship  of  the  lands  and  inheritance  of  John  de  Broughton 
aforesaid,  also  presented  the  aforesaid  Elias  de  Colleshull  clerk.  The  matter  having  been 
litigated  in  the  King's  court  for  some  time,  at  length  Sir  Robert  de  Wykham  recalled  his 
presentation  for  this  turn,  and  Thomas  earl  of  Lancaster  recovered  his  presentation  against 
William  de  Paunes.  Wherefore  Ralph  de  Berford,  acolyth,  was  admitted  to  the  said 
church  of  Broughton  Nov.  23rd  1317,  with  the  consent  of  the  coadjutor.  (Harl.  MS. 
6951,  fol.  137.)  In  1319,  William  de  Paumes  granted  to  Thomas  earl  of  Lancaster  the 
homage  and  all  the  services  which  John  son  and  heir  of  John  de  Broghton  held  of  him, 
by  reason  of  the  manors  of  Broghton  and  Ncwinton  near  to  Banneburi  &c.  (Kennet, 
v.  1,  p.  543.)  In  1369,  sir  Roger  de  Gledston  of  Newenton,  priest,  was  presented  by 
Thomas  de  Broughton  knight,  to  the  church  of  Broughton,  on  a  vacancy  occasioned  by 
the  death  of  sir  Ralph  de  Barford  24th  April  136d.— Harl.  MS.  6952,  fol.  3. 

(12)  The  less  ancient  part  of  the  north  front  is  stated  to  have  been  erected  by  the  Fiennes 
family  in  UU.—Skcltun^  O.vf. 

(13)  Sec  a  vignette  thereof  in  Skclton's  Oxf.,  where  there  are  also  two  splendid  views  of 
Broughton  Castle. 

(14)  This  account  of  Broughton  Castle  was  chiefly  furnished  by  J.  H.  Parker  Esq., 
Secretary  of  the  Oxford  Society  for  promoting  the  Study  of  Gothic  Architecture. 

(15)  It  is  engraved  in  Skelton's  Oxfordshire. 


PIERS  DE  GAVESTON.  103 

traditionally  stated  to  represent  one  of  the  De  Brougliton  family, 
the  founder  of  the  church  and  castle.  Anthony  a  Wood  records 
a  Latin  inscription  to  the  memory  of  Thomas  de  Broughton, 
which  appears  to  have  been  upon  his  tomb  in  this  church : 
"Thomas  de  Broughton  knight  formerly  lord  of  Brougliton  who 
adorned  this  church  with  various  ornaments :  upon  whose  soul 
may  God  have  mercy.  Amen."^"  Thomas  de  Broughton  was 
living  in  1309  (see  note  11,  p.  102). 


THE  REIGN  OF  EDWARD  THE  SECOND. 
ROBERT  DE  ARDEN  OF  WICKHAM. 

Piers  de  Gaveston,  the  King's  favourite,  having  made  himself 
odious  to  the  English  lords,  the  latter  in  1312  concerted  and  exe- 
cuted a  plan  for  revenge.  They  made  Gaveston  their  prisoner,  and 
committed  him  to  the  custody  of  the  Earl  of  Pembroke,  who  pro- 
posed to  take  him  to  W  allingford  castle ;  but  on  arriving  at  Ded- 
dingtou  the  Earl  committed  Gaveston  to  the  care  of  some  of  his 
guards  while  he  himself  went  to  lodge  at  an  adjacent  village.  It 
seems  that  Guy  de  Beauchamp,  earl  of  Warwick,  who  was  Gave- 
ston's  implacable  enemy,  and  whom  the  courtly  favourite  had  been 
used  to  designate  as  the  "  Black  Dog  of  Arden,"  had  some  intelli- 
gence of  the  place  of  Gaveston's  temporary  imprisonment  and  of 
the  slender  guard  by  which  he  was  surrounded.  Attended  by  a 
large  force  he  came  that  night  to  Deddington.  Gaveston,  in  the 
morning,  was  ordered  to  dress  speedily,  and  on  descending  into 
the  court-yard  found  himself  in  the  presence  of  the  Black  Dog  of 
Arden.  He  was  put  upon  a  mule  and  carried  away  with  shouts 
of  triumph  and  music  to  Warwick  castle.  There  Gaveston  threw 
himself  at  the  feet  of  the  Earl  of  Lancaster,  whom  he  styled 
"  gentle  lord ;"  bu.t  all  his  entreaties  were  vain,  and,  in  the  barba- 
rous and  lawless  spirit  of  the  times,  he  was  hurried  away  to 
Blacklow  hill,  near  Guy's  Cliff,  and  there  beheaded." 

(16)  Wood's  MSS.  in  the  Ashmolean  Library;  Skelton's  Antiq.  Osf. 

In  removing  a  tree  of  large  growth  on  the  Broughton  estate  some  years  ago  an  elegant 
ring  of  pure  gold  was  found,  having  a  device  of  St.  George  and  the  Dragon.  An  inscrip- 
tion in  Norman  French  is  on  the  part  which  encircles  the  finger : — "  Joye  san  ni  fyn" 
(Joy  without  end).    The  seal  is  engraved  in  Skelton's  Oxfordshire. 

(17)  Pict.  Hist.  England,  &c.  The  Castle  at  Deddington  was  no  doubt  the  place  of 
Gaveston's  temporary  confinement,  although  some  have  imagined,  from  some  vague  ground 
of  tradition,  tliat  an  ancient  house  which  fonnerly  stood  a  little  westward  of  the  King's 
Arms  Inn,  near  the  turnpike  road  to  Banbury,  was  tlie  scene  of  this  occurrence.    This 


104  SEGRAVE  OF  CHACOMBE. 

In  1311,  the  assent  of  John  de  Alderby,  bishop  of  Lincoln, 
was  requested  to  a  levy  of  one  foot  soldier  from  each  township 
within  his  lordships.  Five  years  after,  this  Bishop  was  certified 
as  lord  of  certain  townships,  among  which  are  the  hundred  and 
township  of  Banbury,  Neithorp,  Corthorp,  Hardwick,  and  Great 
and  Little  Burton  ;  and  as  joint  lord  of  Wardington,  Cropredy,  and 
Cotes.'^ 

In  1314  was  fought  the  fatal  battle  of  Bannockburn,  at  which 
John  Segrave  of  Segrave  and  of  Chacombe,  and  John  Claver- 
inghani  of  x\ynho  &c.,  were  among  the  prisoners  taken  by  the 
Scots.'^  This  John  de  Segrave,  in  the  28th  of  Edward  I.  (1300), 
had  a  charter  of  free  warren  at  North  Newenton,  Oxon.-"  He 
was  summoned  to  Parliament  from  the  24th  Edward  I.  to  the 
18th  Edward  II.  He  died  19th  Edward  II.  (1325),  seised  (int. 
al.)  of  the  manor  of  Chacombe,  held  of  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln 
by  service  of  half  a  fee,  and  of  being  constable  of  the  bishop's 
castle  of  Bannebiri  during  war  for  forty  days  at  his  own  expense.^' 
John  de  Claveringham,  in  1324,  had  a  grant  of  a  weekly  market 
on  Tuesday  and  a  yearly  fair  at  his  manor  of  Eynho.^" 

In  the  9th  of  Edw.  II.  (1315-16),  the  prior  of  Burcester  was 
certified  to  be  co-lord  of  Grimsbury  ;  as  was  John  le  Boteller, 
in  whom  the  Park  estate  was  vested  partly  by  marriage  with 
Beatrice,  daughter  and  coheiress  of  William  de  Park,  and  partly 
by  agreement  with,  and  release  from  Alicia  de  Park,  and  the 
other  sisters  of  Beatrice,  Alianora  and  Joan."^  In  1320,  Walter 
de    Burcester,    clerk,    gave    unto    the    Priory    of    Burcester    one 

latter  building  is  mentioned  by  Gough  as  "  an  old  inn,  chiefly  of  stone,  for  pilgrims." 
The  Rev.  C.  Winstanley,  who  resided  at  Deddington  in  1S09 — 1812  (before  the  building 
was  taken  down),  has  kindly  furnished  me  with  drawings  of  the  more  ancient  parts,  by 
which  it  appears  that  the  date  of  the  erection  cannot  have  been  earlier  than  the  16th  century. 
(18)  Parliamentary  Writs.  (19)  Stow's  Annales.  (20)  Cal.  Eot.  Chart. 

(21)  Baker's  Northamp.,  pp.588,  589;  Cal.  Inq.  Post.  Mort.  His  gi-andson,  Sir  John 
Segrave,  by  his  will  dated  1352,  directed  his  body  to  be  buried  at  Chacombe,  and  appointed 
Henry  (de  Kegworth),  prior  of  Chacombe,  one  of  his  executors. — Baker,  p.  594. 

(22)  IBakcr's  Northamp.,  p.  550.  John  de  Clavering  and  Hawise  his  wife  were  sum- 
moned in  1329  by  writ  of  quo  ivarranto  to  shew  their  right  to  view  of  frankpledge,  assise 
of  bread  and  beer,  with  tumbril  and  pillory,  infangthefe  and  gallows,  warren,  wayfs  and 
strays,  weekly  market  and  annual  fair,  at  their  manor  of  Aynho.  In  the  following  year, 
1330,  the  crown  confii-med  the  grant  of  the  market  and  fair  to  Ralph  de  Neville,  on  whom 
Clavei'ing  had  settled  the  manor  in  reversion.  In  1623,  Richard  Cartwright  had  a  regrant 
of  the  market  and  fair  at  Aynho,  with  the  addition  of  another  yearly  fair.  The  market 
had  however  been  discontinued  u]iwards  of  sixty  years  when  Bridges  wrote,  and  both  the 
fairs  have  fallen  into  desuetude. —  Baker,  pp.  545,  550. 

(23)  Baker's  Northamp.,  pp.  746,  747.  In  the  19th  Edw.  II.  (1325),  John  le  Botiller  and 
Beatrice  his  wife  claimed  against  the  prior  and  convent  of  Bui-cestre  a  moiety  of  the  manor 
of  Grymesbury,  as  the  right  of  the  said  Beatrice  by  inheritance  from  Thomas  de  Park  ; 
and  in  the  next  reign,  1330  (4th  Edward  III.),  the  prior  and  convent  gave  the  King  a 
mark  for  licence  of  agreement  with  the  claimants,  who  bound  themselves  in  one  hundred 
pounds  to  le\y  a   fine  of  the  said  moiety  to  the  prior  and  convent;  and  in  further 


PREBEND  AND  VICARAGE  OF  BANBURY.  10.") 

messuage,  ten  acres  of  arable  land,  four  acres  of  meadow,  and 
twenty-five  shillings  yearly  rent,  with  other  appurtenances  in 
Grymesbury  and   Werkw^orth."' 

13th  Edw.  II. — "  John  Gunvylc  of  Bannebur,  priest,"  [query, 
John  Gynwel,  afterwards  (in  1347)  bishop  of  Lincoln,]  "  was  pre- 
sented by  the  procurator  of  sir  George  de  Salerio,  prebendary  of 
the  Prebend  of  Banneblr,  to  the  Vicarage  of  the  Prebendal  church 
of  Bannebur  vacant  by  reason  that  Master  John  de  Kirkeby, 
the  last  vicar  of  the  same,  had  accepted  the  custody  of  the  chapel 
of  Kirkeby,"  &c.  Gunvyle  was  admitted  to  the  Vicarage  of 
Bannebur  Dec.  9th,  1319.-'  There  is  a  record  after  the  close 
of  Bishop  D'Alderby's  episcopate,  that  the  king  recovered  the 
presentation  to  the  Prebend  of  Bannebir,  by  reason  of  the  bishop- 
rick  of  Lincoln  bemg  vacant.-'^  In  1320  (13th-14th  Edw.  II), 
Henry  Burgherst,  or  Burwash,  lord  treasurer,  was  consecrated 
to  the  said  bishoprick,"  and  became  lord  of  Banbury. 

Some  measures  taken  by  George  de  Salerio,  Prebendary  of 
Banbury,  became  a  question  of  dispute  between  the  courts  of 
England  and  Rome :  at  the  same  time  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln's 
Castle  of  Banbury  was  given  by  the  King  into  the  keeping  of 
Robert  de  x-Xrden. 

14th  Edw.  II. — "  The  King. — The  Jurors  say  that  George  de  Solario  de 
Iporeya,  prebendary  of  Banbury  in  the  church  of  the  blessed  Mary  of 
Lincohi,  drew  William  de  Bevercote  prebendary  of  the  prebend  of 
Rampton  in  the  church  of  the  blessed  Mary  Suwell  in  plea  in  the  court 
of  Rome  out  of  the  kingdom  concerning  the  advowson  of  the  prebend 
aforesaid  and  concerning  the  carrying  away  of  goods,  the  cognizance 
whereof  pertains  unto  ovu-  lord  the  King  even  as  our  lord  the  King 
lays  it  upon  him.  Wherefore  let  the  said  George  be  taken  &c.  And 
beneath  it  is  thus  written,  The  Jurors  estimate  damages  to  the  King  ij 
thousand  pounds  and  to  the  Clerk  j  thousand  pounds.     Roll  10. "^^ 

15th   Edw.    II.    "Of^      "The   King    to  the    Sheriff   of   Oxfordshire 

taking  and  keeping  the  >-greeting.     For  certain  reasons  we  command  you 

Castle  of  Bannebury.     J  that  without  delay  you  take  into  our  hand  tlie 

body  of  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln's  Castle  of  Ban- 

corroboration  of  their  title,  Alicia  de  Park,  and  Simon  de  Solers  son  of  Alianora  de  Park, 
released  to  the  Prior  and  Convent  all  their  right  and  claim. — Kennel's  Paroch.  Anliq.,  v.  2, 
p.  11 ;  Bakers  Northamp.,  p.  747. 

(24)  Rennet,  v.  1,  p.  547.  The  following  occurs  subsequently.—"  3rd  Edw.  III.  Picas  of 
the  crown  at  Northampton. — The  Jm-ors  say  that  the  prior  of  Burcestre  now  of  late  hath 
gotten  10  acres  of  land,  4  acres  of  meadow,  &  25s.  &  lOrf.  of  rent  with  appurtenances  in 
Warkworth  &  Grymesby  of  Walter  de  Burncestre  clerk  appropriating  the  same  to  himself 
&  his  church  they  know  not  by  what  title.  >  Aftei-wards  cometh  the  prior  &  saith  that  the 
lord  King  Edward  the  father  of  our  lord  the  present  King  granted  to  the  said  prior  & 
convent  of  Burncestre  that  he  might  receive  of  Walter  de  Burcestre  clerk  the  aforesaid  10 
acres  of  land,  4  acres  of  meadow,  &c.  Let  the  prior  go  sine  die."  (Kennet,  v.  2.  p.  11.) 
When  judgment  is  given  for  the  defendant  it  is  said—"  eat  inde  sine  die;"  that  is,  he 
is  dismissed  the  court. — Bailey. 

(25)  Harl.  MS.  6951,  fol.  143.  (26)  Harl.  MS.  6951,  fol.  164. 
(27)  Whitworth's  Nobil.  (28)  Abbrev.  Placit. 


106  ROBERT  DE  ARDEN 

nebury  in  youi-  bailiwick  and  deliver  the  same  unto  our  beloved  and  faith- 
ful Robert  de  Ardern'  to  keep  according  to  the  tenor  of  our  commission 
to  him  for  that  purpose  given.  And  this  by  no  means  fail  to  do.  Wit- 
ness the  King  at  Worcester  the  3rd  day  of  January. — By  the  King 
himself." 

"  The  King  has  committed  unto  Robert  de  Ardern'  the  keeping  of  the 
body  of  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln's  Castle  of  Bannebury  -with  the  appur- 
tenances in  the  county  of  Oxford  which  for  certain  reasons  is  now  in 
the  King's  hand,  to  have  the  same  so  long  as  the  King  shall  please. 
In  [witness]  whei'eof  &c.  Witness  as  above.— By  the  King  himself." 
"  And  it  is  commanded  unto  the  soldiers  [^militibus,  knights,  or  military 
tenants]  and  all  others  of  the  parts  of  Bannebury  that  unto  the  said 
Robert  as  the  keeper  of  the  Castle  aforesaid  they  be,  in  all  things  which 
pertain  to  the  safe  keeping  of  the  same  and  the  preservation  of  the  peace 
of  the  King  therein  and  in  the  neighbouring  parts  and  which  concern 
the  King  and  the  King's  honour,  heedful  advising  and  assisting  as  often 
as  and  whenever  by  the  said  Robert  on  the  part  of  the  King  they  shall 
be  warned  hereof.     Witness  as  above. — By  the  King  himself. "^^ 

Robert.  DE  Arden,  who  is  mentioned  in  the  above  docximents, 
resided  at  Wickham/"  within  the  parish  of  Banbury.  He  had 
been  returned  knight  of  the  shire  for  Oxford  in  1314.^'  Besides 
Wickham,  he  owned  Drajton^^  where  he  had  charter  of  free  war- 
ren in  1317,^^  and  much  other  property  hereabouts.  At  the  date 
when  the  Castle  of  Banbury  was  given  by  the  King  into  his 
keeping  (1322),  Robert  de  Arden  was  appointed  one  of  the  com- 
missioners for  arraying  the  forces  of  Oxon  and  Berks ^'  raised 
against  the  confederated  nobles  who  opposed  the  King  in  the  north 
under  the  Earl  of  Lancaster.  Bishop  Burgherst,  for  certain 
causes,  w^as  not  reqitested  to  raise  men  at  arms.^^ 

In  1323,  Robert  de  Arden  was  directed  to  enforce  the   general 

array  in  the  county.     In  1324  he  was  re-appointed  commissioner 

of  array  for  the  county  with  special  powers  .^^     At  this  date  the 

following  occurs  : — 

17th  Edw.  II.—"  The  King  to  the  Sheriff  of  Oxon'  &c.  greeting. 
Although  George  de  Iporegia  prebendary  of  the  Prebend  of  Bannebury 
in  the  church  of  the  blessed  Mary  at  Lincoln,  for  that  he  in  respect  of 
certain  contempts    to  us  by    him   done    whereof   he   was   convicted  in 

(20)  Rot.  Patent.  16th  Edw.  II.,  p.  1,  m.  4. 

(30)  Wood's  MSS.,  F.  21.  (31)  Pari.  Writs. 

(32)  In  1223,  Sir  Thomas  de  Ardern,  knight,  presented  Roger  de  Ardern  to  the  church 
of  Draiton.  In  1247-8,  the  Lady  Eustathia  de  Arderne  presented  Ralph  de  Arderne  to 
the  said  chmch.—Harl.  3IS.  6950,  fols.  64,  132. 

(33)  Cal.  Rot.  Chart.  (34)  Pari.  Writs.  (35)  Pari.  Writs. 
(36)  Pari.  Writs.     At  this  date  (17th  Edw.  II.)  the  following  occurs.     " — John  de  Clare, 

who  of  the  lands  and  tenements  (to  wit  of  the  manor  of  Bannebury)  of  the  bishoprick 
of  Lincoln  now  being  in  the  hand  of  our  lord  the  King  and  in  the  keeping  of  Robert 
de  Arderne  by  the  said  Lord  the  King's  commission,  held  at  Great  Bourton  one  messuage 
with  a  dove-house  and  garden  &c.  &c., — the  aforesaid  lands  and  tenements  are  held  for 
the  third  part  of  one  knights'  fee  and  suit  of  the  court  of  the  Hundred  of  Banne- 
bury from  three  weeks  to  three  weeks.  John  de  Clare  son  of  the  aforesaid  John  is  his 
next  heir  and  is  of  the  age  of  14  years,  whose  body  remains  in  the  power  of  Robert  dc 
Arderne  keeper  of  the  manor  of  Bannebury." — Inq.  Port.  Mort.,  17th  Edw.  II.  no.  24. 


OF  WICKHAM.  107 

our  court  came  not  to  make  satisfaction  unto  us  in  the  said  court  for  the 
aforesaid  contempts,  was  put  in  the  Exigent  in  order  to  Outlawry  in  the 
aforesaid  county,  and  was  on  that  account  outlawed,  whereupon  you 
took  into  our  hand  the  corn  &c.  of  the  aforesaid  George  found  within 
the  aforesaid  Prebend;  nevertheless  we,  desirous  of  showing  fjivour  to 
Parnolus  de  Monte  Florum  procurator  of  the  Venerable  Father  Lord 
Neapolion  St.  Adrian  cardinal  deacon  our  much  beloved  cousin  on  ac- 
count of  our  regard  for  the  said  cardinal  deacon,  do  command  you  that 
you  commit  the  corn  &c.  to  the  said  Pai-nolus  and  to  some  one  of  our 
faithful  subjects  of  your  Bailiwick  to  be  by  you  chosen  for  this  purpose 
at  a  reasonable  charge  for  the  same  &c.  to  be  kept  for  our  service,  if  it 
ought  to  belong  to  us,  so  long  as  &c. — Roll.  8."^^ 

In  the  1st  Edw.  III.  (1327),  Robert  Ardem'  had  a  charter  of 
free  warren  at  Drayton,  Hanewell,  Hornle  [Horlej],  Horington 
[Hornton],  Dunstuwe,  and  SwalewecUs  [Sw^alclifFe],  all  in  Oxford- 
sliire.^^  In  the  next  year  there  is  similar  record  of  free  warren 
to  Robert  Arderne  at  Drayton,  Hanewell,  Hornle,  Horinton, 
Dunstuwe,  YoHnghbury,  Wikham,  and  Swaleweclyve  in  Oxford- 
shire.^^ In  the  3rd  of  Edw.  III.,  Robert  Arderne  had  a  fair 
at  Drayton,  and  view  of  frankpledge  and  other  liberties  there 
and  at  Hanewell,  Dunstan  [Dunstew],  Yolghbiiry,  and  Hornle 
in  Oxfordshire.^"  In  the  same  year,  pardon  was  granted  to 
Robert  de  xArderne,  knight,  and  to  William  de  Montacute  and 
OUver  de  Ingham,  knights,  for  all  murders,  &c.^^  In  the  4th 
year  of  Edward  the  Third,  Robert  de  Ardem'  had  licence  from 
the  King  to  fortify  his  mansion  at  Wickham  ;  as  follows ; — 

4th  Edw.  III.  "  In^  "The  King  to  all  Bailiffs,  &c.  unto  whom 
behalf  of  Robert  de  >&c.  greeting.  Know  ye  that  of  our  special 
Ardern'  J  favour    we   have  granted   to   ovir    beloved    and 

faithful  Robert  de  Ardern'  that  he  his  mansion 
of  Wykham  in  the  county  of  Oxford  may  with  a  wall  of  stone  and  mor- 
tar fortify  and  kernel,'*^  and  the  said  mansion  so  fortified  and  kernelled 
hold  for  himself  and  his  heirs  for  ever  without  let  or  hindrance  from  us 
or  our  heirs  oiir  justices  shei'iiFs  or  other  our  bailiffs  or  officers  whomso- 
ever.— Whereof  in  &c. — Witness  the  King  at  Wodestok  the  second  day " 
of  May.— By  Writ  of  Privy  Seal."" 

No  part  of  this  ancient  mansion  at  Wickham  remains  ;  but  two 
successive  residences  have  been  since  erected  on  the  site.  Sir 
Robert  de  Arden  died  in  the  year  after  he  was  empowered  to 
fortify  Wickham,  namely  in  1331,  "  seised,"  says  Anthony  a 
Wood,  "  of  a  very  fair  estate."" 

(37)  Rot.  Orig.  in  Cur.  Scac.  Abbrev.  (38)  Cal.  Rot.  Chart. 

(39)  Cal.  Rot.  Chart.  ( tO)  Ibid.  (41)  Cal.  Rot.  Patent. 

(43)  Kernelled  walls  were  walls  built  with  notches  or  ci-annics  for  convenience  of  shooting 
with  bows,  &c. — Bailey. 

(43)  Rot.  Patent.  4th  Edw.  III.  p.  1.  in.  27.  (44)  Wood's  MSS.  F.  21 . 


0  3 


108  CHURCHES  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  ARCHITECTURE. 


CHURCHES  &c.  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

It  has  been  mentioued  (p.  93)  that  on  Bishop  Grostete's  visi- 
tation of  this  part  of  his  diocese  in  1238  (which  occurred  in 
the  month  of  May  22nd  Henry  III.),  there  was  a  solemn  dedi- 
cation of  Churches  in  the  county  of  Oxford.^  Portions  of  many 
Churches  remain  in  this  neighbourhood  w^hich  were  erected  in  the 
century  preceding  this  date  :  yet  by  far  the  greater  number  of 
the  edifices  now  remaining  appear  to  have  been  chiefly  the  work 
of  a  later  period,  namely,  the  1 4th  century  (extending  from 
the  latter  part  of  Edward  the  First's  reign  to  the  beginning  of  that 
of  Henry  the  Fourth),  a  period  durmg  which  the  Decorated  style 
of  Architecture  prevailed.  Mr.  J.  H.  Parker^  observes  of  the 
Banbury  district — "  It  would  be  difficidt  to  find  another  district 
which  presents  so  many  fine  and  interesting  Churches,  abounding 
most  in  those  very  points  which  are  most  rare  elsewhere.  One 
of  the  most  eminent  Antiquaries  in  Europe,  M.  de  Caumont, 
says  in  his  History  of  Gothic  Architecture  that  it  is  difficult  to 
meet  with  an  entire  Chiirch  of  the  14th  century,  or  Decorated 
style — that  this  most  beautiful  style  is  usually  found  only  in 
additions  and  alterations :  yet  almost  all  your  Churches  are  pre- 
cisely of  this  age  and  style."  Again — "  I  do  not  remember  in 
your  neighbourhood  an  instance  of  a  Church  of  the  15th  century, 
wliich  is  smgular,  since  in  many  districts  almost  all  the  Churches 
are  of  that  date,  and  in  most  they  are  very  common."     A  tradition 

(1)  The  dedication  was  by  Robert  Grostetc  bishop  of  Lincoln  and  William  Brewer 
bishop  of  Exeter.  (Kennet,  v.  1,  p.  312.)  There  is  an  epistle  from  Grostete  to  the  arch- 
deacon of  Lincoln,  wherein  he  warns  him  to  give  notice  to  the  rectors  of  all  Churches 
to  provide  for  consecration :  since,  according  to  the  canons  of  a  late  council  held  at  London, 
every  c.hm-ch  unconsecrated  was  to  have  a  solenm  consecration  within  two  years  following. 
The  epistle  is  not  dated,  but  the  subject  of  it  seems  to  fix  it  to  1236. — Ibid. 

(2)  Secretary  of  the  Oxford  Society  for  promoting  the  Study  of  Gothic  Architecture,  and 
compiler  of  the  "  Glossary  of  Architecture."  I  am  deeply  indebted  to  this  gentleman,  who 
himself  paid  a  visit,  in  1839,  to  nearly  all  the  Churches  in  the  vicinity  of  Banbury,  for 
his  valuable  MS.  notes  respecting  them.  The  descriptions  which  follow,  to  which  Mr. 
Parker's  name  is  attached,  are  from  his  pen.  For  the  notices  of  the  Churches  of  this 
neighbourhood  which  were  not  visited  by  Mr.  Parker,  I  am  in  like  manner  indebted  to 
the  Rev.  J.  C.  Stafford  of  Chacombe,  and  to  Mr.  Derick,  architect,  of  Oxford,  both  of 
whom  visited  the  places  described  for  the  express  purpose  of  assisting  this  work. 


ADDERBURY  CHURCH.  109 

prevails  that  the  three  fine  churches  of  Adderbury,  Bloxham, 
aud  King's  Sutton  were  erected  by  three  masous  who  were  bro- 
thers :  ^  and  some  well-known  traditionary  lines  celebrate  these 
three  Churches,  or  rather  their  Spires,  for  their  (supposed)  res- 
pective merits : — 

Bloxham  for  length, 

Adderbury  for  strength, 
And  King's  Sutton  for  beauty. 

"  In  most  instances,"  observes  Mr.  Derick,  "  the  tracery  of  the 
windows,  the  carving-,  and  ornamental  parts  of  the  Churches 
in  this  neighbourhood,  are  of  freestone,  worked  up  with  the  stone 
of  the  neighbourhood ;  the  freestone  appears  to  be  of  a  similar 
kind  to  that  at  Heytln-op.  In  all  the  Churches  which  I  have 
visited  there  are  extensive  remains  of  early  paintings  on  the 
walls  and  arches." 

The  whole  of  the  edifices  described  in  this  section  are  situated 
within  six  miles  of  Banbury. 

Adderbury  Church  (St.  Mary).  The  body  of  this  Church 
with  the  aisles,  and  the  very  beautiful  Spire,  are  in  the  Decorated 
style  prevalent  in  the  middle  of  the  14th  century.  The  Chancel 
is  of  somewhat  later  character,  in  the  Perpendiciilar  style  gene- 
rally used  in  the  15th  century,  but  in  tliis  instance  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  14th,  as  this  chancel  is  known  to  have  been  built 
by  William  of  Wykeham,  whose  bust  and  arms  are  sculptiTred 
on  the  external  wall  over  the  east  window.  It  is  a  fine  specimen 
of  his  peculiar  character  and  does  not  disgrace  liis  well-known 
talents  as  an  arcliitect :  the  whole  effect  is  extremely  rich  and 
magnificent,  and  the  minutest  details  will  bear  and  are  worthy 
of  a  careful  examination.  This  chancel  was  restored  at  the  ex- 
pense of  New  College  in  1834,  under  the  superintendence  of 
Mr.  Buckler  the  well-known  Antiquary.  The  Sedilia  (stone  seats 
for  the  priests)  and  Piscina  (niche  containing  a  small  basin  and 
water  drain)  on  the  south  side  of  the  altar  are  very  rich  and 
beautiful  specimens  restored  in  a  very  perfect  manner.  The  Altar 
itself  is  of  stone,  corresponding  with  the  building  ;  the  altar-screen 
or  Reredos  also  of  stone  and  very  handsome,  but  not  origmal, 
and  the  original  design  not  strictly  followed,  which  is  to  be  re- 
gretted, though  the  general  effect  is  very  good.  In  the  body  of 
the  Church  all  the   windows  have  lost  their  tracery,  which  was 

(3)  Sec  the  rest  of  the  legend,  p.  10  (note  22). 


no  ADDERBURY  AND  BLOXHAM  CHURCHES. 

cut  out  about  the  year  1790  to  save  the  expense  of  repairing 
it,  and  its  place  supplied  by  upright  stone  bars.  These  windows 
will  be  a  disgrace  to  the  parish  so  long  as  they  are  suffered  to 
remain  in  this  mutilated  state.  This  part  of  the  Church  must 
originally  have  been  very  fine.  The  Clerestory  and  roof  remain 
perfect  and  very  good.  Between  each  of  the  Transepts  and  the 
side  aisles  of  the  Nave  are  two  arches  resting  on  clustered  co- 
lumns \\ith  fine  sculptured  capitals  of  the  Decorated  style,  con- 
sisting of  heads  and  figures,  a  fashion  which  is  to  be  found  in 
some  other  churches  of  this  neighbourhood,  as  at  Hanwell,  but 
not  of  common  occurrence.  There  are  stone  Porches  to  the  north 
and  south  doors ;  that  on  the  north  side  a  particularly  good  spe- 
cimen of  the  14th  century,  as  is  the  richly  ornamented  doorway 
under  it.  The  Spii-e  is  of  the  14th  century,  lofty  and  tapering: 
it  springs  from  a  plain  Tower  of  the  13th  century  with  an  open 
parapet  of  trefoils,  under  which  is  a  good  Decorated  cornice. 
On  the  north  side  of  the  Chancel  is  a  Vestry  with  Muniment 
room  over  it,  which  has  an  Oriel  window.' 

The  length  of  Adderbury  church  from  east  to  west  (exclusive 
of  the  tower)  is  118^  feet.  The  chancel  is  20|  feet  wide,  and 
the  width  of  the  nave  with  the  aisles  60  feet.^ 

Bloxham  Church  (St.  Mary).  The  general  appearance  of 
this  Church  is  very  striking,  both  from  its  fine  situation,  and  from 
its  very  beautiful  Spire,  which  is  said  to  be  195  feet  in  height,  and 
is  a  conspicuous  object  for  many  miles  round.  Nor  does  a  more 
minute  examination  disappoint  the  careful  observer  ;  it  possesses 
several  interesting  and  peculiar  features,  and  much  beautiful  work- 
manship. The  Chancel  is  very  remarkable,  probably  unique, 
and  very  puzzling  to  a  no\4ce  in  the  study  of  Gothic  Architec- 
ture :  this  peculiarity  consists  in  the  windows,  which  are  of  the 
form  in  use  in  the  14th  century,  while  the  mouldings  of  their 
arches  have  the  zigzag  and  other  well-known  ornaments  peculiar 
to  the  12th  century.  A  careful  examination  will  however  soon 
satisfy  the  inquirer  that  these  windows  have  been  rebuilt  of  old 
materials,   the  mouldings  &c.   being  worked  up   again  in   a    new 

(4)  Mr.  J.  H.  Parker. 

(5)  Mr.  Skelton,  iu  his  Oxfordshire,  gives  a  fine  engi-aving  of  Adderbui-y  church, 
previously  however  to  the  restoration  of  the  chancel.  The  Glossary  of  Architecture  con- 
tains engravings  of  two  of  the  mouldings  (edit,  1810,  Plate  62).  In  Boswell's  Picturesque 
Mews  of  Antiquities,  and  in  Grose's  Antiquities  of  England  and  Wales,  vol.  1,  are  en- 
graved a  curious  scries  of  grotesque  figures  carved  on  the  outside  of  this  Church,  on 
the  cornice  beneath  the  parapet. 


BLOXHAM  CHURCH.  HI 

form."  The  walls  and  buttresses  of  the  old  building  have  been 
preserved,  with  a  round-headed  doorway.  The  roof  of  the 
chancel  is  modern :  there  are  several  Monumental  Brasses  at- 
tached to  the  walls  of  singularly  late  date,  1750  and  1760,  a 
period  when  that  material  was  rarely  employed  for  such  a  pur- 
pose. The  Nave  has  four  arches  on  each  side  opening  into  very 
wide  aisles :  the  roof  is  plastered  over.  The  Aisles  are  in  the 
Decorated  style  of  the  14th  century,  several  windows  remaining 
of  that  age,  but  others  have  been  renewed  in  the  15th.  The 
fine  open  timber  roofs  of  these  aisles  remain,  supported  on  very 
bold  and  good  corbel  heads.  Across  the  north  aisle  near  the 
east  end  are  two  smaller  arches  forming  a  sort  of  transept ;  these 
arches  rest  on  a  clustered  column  of  the  14th  century,  with  a 
richly  sculptured  capital  consisting  of  heads  and  half  length 
figures.  The  west  window  of  the  south  aisle  and  one  on  the 
south  side  are  worthy  of  notice  as  good  specimens  of  Decorated 
work.  The  lower  part  of  a  fine  Screen  remains  between  the 
Nave  and  Chancel,  but  the  upper  part  and  the  arch  over  it  are 
plastered  up  :  this  plaster  ought  to  be  removed,  and  the  screen 
restored.  The  Church  is  altogether  in  a  sadly  neglected  state, 
and  has  suffered  much  from  plaster  and  whitewash.  The  Font 
is  octagon,  panelled,  each  panel  ornamented  with  a  sculptu.red 
representation  of  a  Decorated  window,  with  ogee  canopies,  but- 
tresses, and  pinnacles.  On  the  exterior,  the  Nave  and  north 
aisle  have  good  parapets  richly  ornamented  with  quatrefoils ; 
under  these  is  a  cornice  filled  with  a  curious  series  of  grotesque 
figures  of  animals  &c.  in  great  variety.  On  the  south  side  of 
the  Church,  projecting  from  the  south  aisle,  is  a  Chapel  of  the 
15  th  century  with  four  large  windows  in  the  Perpendicular 
style,  and  a  good  open  timber  roof.  The  Tower  is  very  fine, 
of  the  14th  century  :  the  western  Doorway  is  a  rich  specimen  of 
the  Decorated  style,  with  curious  sculptures  representing  the  Day 
of  Judgment.  The  Spire  appears  to  be  of  a  later  period  ;  for 
the  tower  was  built  in  a  way  unprepared  for  a  spire,  and  the  up- 
per part  of  the  masonry  of  the  tower  was  taken  down  to  enable 
the  builders  to  unite  the  octagonal  figure  of  the  spire  with  the 
square   figure   of    the    tower.      There  is    a  vague    tradition   that 

(6)  The  earlier  church  of  Bloxham  appears  to  have  been  partly  built  in  the  reign  of 
Stephen,  which  King  is  stated  to  have  erected  a  chantiy  or  chapel  there  and  given  two 
fields  for  a  priest  to  say  masses  for  the  soul  of  his  mother  Adela  daughter  of  William  the 
Conqueror. — SkeUo7is  Antiq.  Oxf. 


]  12  KING'S  SUTTON  CHURCH. 

this  Spire  was   built  by    Cardinal   Wolsey,  but   tliis  rests  on  no 
certain  aiitliority.' 

Bloxliam  Churcli  measures  110  feet  in  length  from  the  entrance 
to  the  east  end  of  the  chancel,  and  70  feet  in  width  including 
the  aisles.  The  dimensions  of  the  interior  of  the  tower  at  its 
base  are  16f  by  14*  feet. 

King's  Sutton  Church  (St.  Peter).  Tliis  fine  Church 
consists  of  a  nave,  aisles,  chancel,  and  a  magnificent  tower  and 
Spire  at  the  western  end  of  the  nave.  The  South  Aisle  is  divided 
from  the  nave  by  a  series  of  tlu-ee  arches  of  the  Transition  Nor- 
man style,  sometimes  called  Semi -Norman,  being  that  style  which 
prevailed  at  the  end  of  the  12th  century  and  the  beginning  of  the . 
13th.  These  arches  spring  from  cylindric  shafts  with  bold 
moulded  bases  and  capitals  of  varied  design.  The  abaci  are 
square :  one  of  the  intermediate  capitals  is  very  singular,  having 
the  ball-flower  beneath  each  angle  of  the  abacus  with  a  single 
square  leaf  ornament  intervening :  the  figure  of  the  shaft  is  con- 
tinued through  the  necking  and  intersects  with  a  large  hollow  mould- 
ing or  cavetto  wliich  forms  the  elementary  moulding  of  the  capital. 
The  other  intermediate  capital  is  of  the  reeded  Norman  charac- 
ter. The  remaining  capitals  on  this  side  are  of  a  more  decided 
Transition  period.  The  arches  are  pointed  but  quite  plain,  without 
sinlring  of  any  kind,  and  having  Norman  labels  :  these  arches 
are  very  similar  to  that  beneath  the  tower  of  St.  Giles's  Church 
Oxford,  wliich  is  undoubtedly  Transition  Norman.  The  South 
Aisle  is  Decorated  work  of  an  early  period :  the  Pisciaa  has  an 
ogee  crocketed  canopy  which  is  flanked  by  btittresses  and  pin- 
nacles ;  the  eyes  of  the  cusps  are  pierced ;  the  tracery  springs 
from  attached  shafts  having  moulded  capitals,  shewing  its  date 
to  have  been  early  in  the  14th  century,  perhaps  the  early  part 
of  Edward  the  Second's  reign.  In  tliis  aisle  was  the  entrance 
to  the  Roodloft  turret ;  this  is  now  walled  up,  but  a  mutilation 
of  the  Roodloft  Screen  still  remains.  The  eastern  end  of  this 
Aisle  or  Chapel  was  partitioned  off  on  the  west  and  north  by 
a   beautiful   wood    Screen    of    very    early    Decorated   work :    the 

(7)  Mr.  J.  H.  Parker;  Mr.  Derick.  Mr.  Skelton  has  given  engravings  of  this  Church 
and  of  tlic  western  doorway :  also  vignettes  of  the  round-headed  or  Norman  doorway  and 
the  ornamented  capital  mentioned  in'the  text.  The  Glossary  of  Architecture  contains  en- 
gravings of  one  of  the  windows  and  one  of  the  mouldings  of  this  Church  (edit.  1810, 
Plates  99  and  60).  Bloxham  Spire  was  damaged  in  the  great  storm  of  1703 :  also  twice 
subsequently  in  or  about  the  years  1773  and  1782.  On  the  moniing  of  the  23rd  December 
1790  the  upper  part  of  the  Spire  was  destroyed  by  lightning:  it"  was  restored  by  Mr. 
Cockerill  in  1792. 


KING'S  SUTTON  CHURCH.  113 

tracery  springs  from  eyliudric  shafts  of  decidedly  Early  English 
character.  This  example,  together  with  that  of  the  roodloft 
screen  at  Stanton  Harcourt  Clnirch  near  Ensham,  wliich  is  mi- 
doubtedly  work  of  the  13th  century,  shews  the  early  use  of  the  tur- 
ner's lathe  for  Architectural  purposes  in  this  country.  The  Font, 
wliich  has  been  sadly  knocked  about,  is  large,  and  had  detached 
buttresses  at  the  angles  of  the  base,  which  is  square ;  these 
were  surmounted  with  pinnacles  having  flying  buttresses,  and  the 
whole  most  likely  was  surmounted  by  a  pierced  canopy  charged 
with  tracery  ;  the  plinth  of  the  buttresses  is  still  entire,  and  shews 
their  situation  and  that  the  style  of  the  font  was  Decorated. 
The  window^s  have  flowing  tracery  of  plain  character.  The 
nave  has  a  Clerestory  of  three-light  windows  of  the  insipid  cha- 
racter of  the  16th  century  ;  the  roof  is  of  this  period  and  leaded. 
The  North  x-Visle  is  somewhat  later  in  the  14th  century  than 
that  on  the  south  ;  it  is  divided  from  the  nave  by  a  series  of 
three  Early  English  arches  having  shafts  composed  of  flat  quad- 
ruple curves,  the  lower  parts  of  these  shafts  have  a  band  of  foliage 
surrounding  them,  the  bases  are  octagonal  with  bold  mouldings. 

The  Chancel  is  of  very  singular  character,  and  probably  was 
the  original  Church:  the  Norman  corbel  table  is  still  perfect 
externally  beneath  the  north  and  south  parapets :  within  the 
chancel,  on  the  north  and  south  sides,  are  stone  seats,  six  on 
each  side,  with  a  screen  of  detached  columns  and  plain  semicir- 
cular arches  restmg  on  them ;  the  arches  and  columns  are  flush 
with  the  superincumbent  masonry,  the  capitals  are  of  plain 
Norman  character  with  square  moulded  abaci.  The  Piscina  is 
quite  plain,  the  head  is  formed  by  two  stones  meeting  at  an 
acute  angle,  the  jamb  has  a  plain  chamfer  on  the  edge :  the 
piscina  contains  a  Credence  shelf  for  the  bread  and  wine  which 
were  to  be  used  at  the  altar. 

The  Tower  is  of  early  Perpendicular  work,  extremely  beau- 
tiful, of  graceful  proportions  and  of  solid  construction;  it  is 
one  of  the  few  towers  which  we  have  that  are  not  fractured  hy 
bell  ringing.  It  is  surmounted  by  an  elegant  and  lofty  Spire, 
having  graceful  pinnacles  and  flying  buttresses  at  the  angles. 
The  principles  of  construction  developed  in  this  Spire  are  worthy 
the  attention  of  every  practical  Artist :  here  there  is  the  maxi- 
mum of  strength  with  the  minimum  of  material :  the  whole 
is  as  sound  as  a  thing  of  yesterday,  yet  its  greatest  thickness 
p 


114  KINGS  SUTTON:— OLD   PULPIT. 

does  not  exceed  nine  inches,  and  it  rises  to  a  height  of  more 
than  60  feet  above  the  prism  which  supports  it.  The  angles  of 
the  Spire  are  emiched  with  bold  crockets  at  wide  intervals ;  the 
crockets  start  from  a  raffle  stem,  which  is  continued  along  the 
angles  of  the  octagon  and  finally  wastes  itself  into  the  finial 
which  crowns  the  whole.  This  mode  of  disposing  the  crockets 
at  wide  intervals  shews  the  attention  paid  to  perspective  by 
the  Architect  of  this  beautiful  Spire,  for  by  this  means  only 
could  he  avoid  the  crowded  and  confused  effect  which  they  would 
otherwise  have  produced  at  near  points  of  view  by  their  bold 
projection,  wMle  it  enabled  him  to  produce  that  sparkling  effect 
of  outline  to  the  Spire  which  he  aimed  at  for  points  of  view 
more  distant :  the  crockets  correspond  in  style  with  those  at  John 
of  Gaunt's  palace  at  Lincoln. 

The  western  entrance,  which  is  through  the  Tower,  has  a  very 
beautifiil  Porch  of  the  15th  century  with  a  groined  ceiling  and 
stone  roof:  the  inner  doorway  of  this  porch  still  retains  a  door 
of  the  14th  century,  originally  an  external  door  ;  the  tracery  can 
be  well  made  out.  There  are  extensive  remains  of  tiles  of  the 
13th  century  in  the  floors  of  this  Church,  but  they  are  much  worn 
and  mutUated.  The  Pulpit  is  very  singular :  it  is  of  oak,  circular 
in  plan  with  mouldings  of  the  12th  century;  it  rests  upon  a 
capital  of  stone  which  is  octagonal ;  the  lower  part  of  the  pul- 
pit is  of  an  ogee  shape.  "  Were  I  the  historian  of  Banbury " 
(continues  the  talented  Architect  to  whom  the  reader  is  indebted 
for  this  description)  "  I  should  pronounce  it  a  Norman  pro- 
duction; the  mouldings  correspond  with  those  of  the  crypt  of 
the  chapel  of  Joseph  of  Arimathea  at  Glastonbury  -which  is 
Norman  work, — but  as  I  am  an  humble  assistant  I  can  only  draw 
attention  to  it ;  if  I  am  right  in  my  conjecture  it  is  the  oldest 
wooden  Pulpit  in  England."  The  north  and  south  aisles  have 
still  the  stone  platforms  on  which  the  Altars  stood.  The  north 
Porch  is  plain  Perpendicular  work ;  it  has  had  a  parapet  of  true 
churchwarden   character  added  in  1832.^ 

BODICOT  Church,  or  rather  Chapel,  (St.  John  the  Baptist,) 
is  a  chapelry  to  Adderbury.  The  ground  plan  of  this  Church 
is   somewhat  unusual ;    it   consists  of  a  nave,  aisles,  and  chancel, 

(8)  Account  furnished  by  Mr.  Derick  for  this  work.  Mr.  J.  H.  Parker  agrees  with  Mr. 
Derick  in  opinion  tliat  the  Pulpit  of  King's  Sutton  church  is  of  the  12th  century  :  it 
will  probably  be  the  cause  of  many  pilgrimages  to  King's  Sutton.  This  Church  has 
been  engraved  in  Baker's  Northamptonshire. 


BODICOT  CHURCH.— WEEPING  CROSS.  H-'^ 

iind  a  tower  placed  on  the  north  aide.  The  Chancel  is  of  the 
Decorated  style,  the  east  wmdow  has  had  the  tracery  cut  out  in 
the  disgraceful  fashion  of  the  mother  parish  of  Adderbury:  over 
this  window  is  a  niche,  in  wliich  an  ingenious  workman  of 
modern  days  has  inserted  a  perfect  Holy  Rood  or  crucifix, 
with  the  figures  of  the  Virgin  Mary  and  St.  John  on  either 
side,  on  a  small  scale,  but  not  badly  executed.  Of  the  side 
windows  of  the  chancel  one  is  pointed,  with  flowing  tracery ; 
four  are  square-headed ;  and  one  is  long  and  narrow,  with  a 
transom,  which  is  not  very  common  in  Church  Architecture 
of  that  period  (the  14th  century).  The  Nave,  Aisles,  and 
Tower,  are  the  work  of  the  15th  century  in  the  style  then 
prevalent  called  Perpendicular,  and  without  any  remarkable  fea- 
tures. The  Roodloft,  or  ancient  gallery  in  which  the  Holy 
Rood  was  placed,  between  the  nave  and  chancel,  remains  per- 
fect, and  should  be  carefully  preserved,  as  such  relics  of  anti- 
quity are  far  from  common :  the  arch  above  is  plastered  up ; 
this  plastering  might  be  removed  with  advantage,  which  would 
sufficiently  throw  open  the  Chancel  without  destroying  the 
Roodloft  as  has  been  too  frequently  done  in  similar  cases." 

Bodicot  Cross  was  standing,  in  the  middle  of  the  village,  until 
the  early  part  of  the  present  century. 

Weeping  Cross  stood  formerly  by  the  way  side  between  Ban- 
bury and  Adderbury,  two  miles  from  Banbury  Church  and  one 
mile  and  a  half  from  that  of  Adderbury  (see  p.  2).  It  was 
perhaps  an  erection  of  the  15th  century.  The  remains  of  this 
Cross  towards  the  close  of  the  last  century  were  an  oblong  base 
with  steps  on  the  north  and  south,  and  a  mutilated  portion  of 
a  round  pedestal  of  freestone  on  which,  at  no  very  remote  date, 
a  dial  had  been  placed.  (Plate  18.)  These  relics  were  removed 
in  1803.^° 

Broughton  Church  (St.  Mary).  This  very  interesting 
structure  affords  a  valuable  specimen  of  the  Decorated  style  of 
the  14th  century:  it  is  less  richly  ornamented  than  some  others, 
but  the  workmanship  is  particularly  good,  and  the  mouldings 
and  ornaments  are  remarkably  clear  and  of  well-defined  charac- 
ter ;  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  a  better  study  in  this  style 
for  a  young  architect.     The  plan  consists  of  a  nave  and  chancel, 

(9)  Mr.  J.  H.  Parker.  (10)  Information  from  Mr.  Joliu  Wilson  of  Bodicot. 

p3 


116  BROUGHTON  CHURCH. 

with  one  aisle  only  on  the  sonth  side  of  the  nave,  and  a  tower 
and  Spire  at  the  west  end.  The  Tower  is  of  good  early  Deco- 
rated work,  with  a  fine  doorway  of  the  same  style  having  the 
ball-flower  ornament  in  good  preservation.  The  Spire  is  of  the 
description  called  in  some  districts  a  Broach,  that  is  to  say,  it 
rises  immediately  from  the  tower,  or  is  placed  upon  it  without 
any  parapet  intervening  to  conceal  the  junction,  and  consequently 
without  pinnacles  at  the  angles  :  in  the  spire  are  some  good  De- 
corated windows.  The  Nave  has,  on  the  north  side,  three  win- 
dows, not  foliated,  but  with  muUions  and  moxildings  of  Deco- 
rated character ;  and  on  the  south  side  four  arches  supported 
on  plain  round  pillars,  which  are  also  good  specimens  of  De- 
corated work  notwithstanding  their  plainness.  The  roof  and 
Clerestory,  which  has  windows  on  the  north  side  only,  are  an 
addition  of  the  1 5th  century.  The  South  i\.isle  has  a  remark- 
ably fine  east  window  of  four  lights  with  Geometrical  tracery  ; 
the  inner  arch  of  this  window  is  richly  ornamented  with  open 
foliation  hanging  from  it,  which  has  a  very  light  and  elegant 
effect :  on  the  south  side  are  two  windows,  one  Decorated, 
the  other  Perpendicular  and  evidently  a  subsequent  insertion  : 
the  doorway  and  Porch  are  good  Decorated.  In  this  aisle  there 
are  some  fine  monuments  :  one  of  the  time  of  Edward  II.  (already 
mentioned  p.  102)  is  a  beautiful  specimen  of  Decorated  work; 
another  is  of  the  time  of  Henry  VIII  ;  there  is  also  a  good 
brass  of  Lady  Philippa  Bishopsden  who  died  in  1414.  The 
Chancel  is  unusually  wide :  it  has,  on  the  north  side,  three  De- 
corated windows  of  two  lights  foliated  with  a  quatrefoil  in  the 
head ;  the  east  window  is  also  Decorated,  but  the  arch  is  un- 
usually low ;  on  the  south  side  is  a  good  square-headed  win- 
dow of  the  14th  century  with  Decorated  tracery.  In  the  chan- 
cel is  a  fine  Perpendicular  monument  to  the  memory  of  a  male 
and  female  of  the  Wykeham  family,  of  the  time  of  Henry  VI, 
but  much  mutilated ;  the  altar-tomb  itself  is  tolerably  perfect, 
also  the  back  of  a  very  rich  canopy,  but  the  front  and  upper 
part  have  been  wantonly  destroyed."  The  Chancel  is  parted  off 
from  the  Nave  by  a  very  fine  stone  Screen  of  Decorated  work. 
Of  the  exterior,  the  tower  and  spire  have  been  already  des- 
cribed,   and   the   windows  mentioned    in  their    places    in  the    in- 

(11)  Tlic  injury  is  said  to  have  been  done  bv  the   fanatics  during  the   Civil  Wars. — 
Brcucrs  O.vf. 


DRAYTON  CHURCH.  117 

lerior.  The  Church  is  Burmovinted  by  a  plain  parapet  and  pin- 
nacles ;  the  east  end  of  the  South  Aisle  is  particularly  good,  having 
niches  and  pinnacles  standing  up  above  the  parapet.  One  pecu- 
liarity of  this  Church  worthy  of  notice  is  the  variety  in  the  forms 
of  the  arches  over  the  doors,  windows,  &c.,  though  they  are  evi- 
dently all  of  the  same  date.^' 

North    Newington   Cross.     The   base   of    this   lately   re- 
mained, in  the  middle  of  the  village. 

Drayton  Church  (St.  Peter)  is  a  small  Church  of  the 
14th  century,  very  plain,  and  of  rude  workmanship.  The  plan 
is  the  usual  one,  nave,  aisles,  and  chancel,  with  tower  at  the 
west  end;  the  tower  is  modern,  and  scarcely  liigher  than  the 
roof  of  the  Church.  The  Chancel  is  in  the  Decorated  style, 
the  east  window  of  three  lights  with  flowing  tracery,  the  side 
windows  square-headed  but  in  the  same  style :  on  the  north  side 
is  a  monument  with  an  alabaster  slab  having  two  figures,  repre- 
senting Ludovick  Grevile  and  his  lady,  engraved  in  outline  upon 
it,  and  the  date  1438  ;  part  of  the  old  painting  remains  on  the 
side  of  it.  The  Nave  has  three  plain  arches  of  the  Decorated 
style  on  each  side,  with  Clerestory  windows  over  them  of  the 
same  age  though  square  in  form.  One  of  the  pillars  has  the 
capital  ornamented  with  figures  sculptured  in  bold  relief,  similar 
to  those  at  Adderbury,  Bloxham,  and  Hanwell,  and  worthy  of 
notice.  The  Aisles  are  in  the  same  style  with  the  rest  of  the 
Church,  none  of  which  appears  to  be  much  earlier  than  1350, 
if  we  except  an  ancient  sepulchral  erection  which  is.  beneath  a 
window  in  the  north  wall ;  this  is  a  pointed  arched  recess,  quite 
plain,  under  which  is  a  flat  coffin  lid  with  carving  on  it  re- 
presenting a  sort  of  trellis  with  leaves  running  up.  Tradi- 
tionally the  coffin  is  said  to  have  contained  the  body  of  the 
founder  of  the  church ;  it  would  appear  to  be  of  the  13th 
century.  In  the  south  aisle  is  another  monument  with  an  ala- 
baster slab  engraved,  to  the  memory  of  William  Grevile,  son 
and  heir  of  Ludovick  Grevile,  and  bearing  the  date  of  1440. 
This  monument  stands   against   and   blocks  up   two^^   Decorated 

(12)  Mr.  J.  H.  Parker.  Mr.  Skelton  has  engraved  the  splendid  monument  of  the  time 
of  Edward  II. ;  also  an  interior  view  of  the  Church,  which  takes  in  the  Wykeham  monu- 
ment, the  Perpendicular  window  in  the  south  aisle,  the  Screen,  &c.  The  Glossary  of 
Architecture  contains  engravings  of  the  cast  window  of  the  south  aisle  (edit.  1840,  Plate 
08)  and  another  window  (page  237). 

(13)  Two  .Sedilia.     See  the  account  of  Wroxton  Church  (p.  123). 


118  HANWELL  CHURCH. 

Sedilia,  by  the  side  of  which  is  a  Piscina  of  the  same  style ; 
and  in  the  east  wall  the  label  over  an  altar  remains:  all  these 
are  of  rude  work  of  the  14th  century,  and  clearly  indicate  the 
position  of  a  Chantry  chapel  at  that  period.  The  Font  is  plain 
round." 

Drayton  Cross  was  partly  standing  twenty-five  years  ago,  in 
the  middle  of  the  village. 

Hanwell  Church  (St.  Peter).  A  fine  Church,  mostly  of 
the  14th  century,  with  some  portions  of  the  13th.  The  plan  is 
oblong  with  aisles,  the  tower  at  the  west  end.  The  Chancel 
is  of  good  Decorated  character ;  the  east  window  is  of  five  lights, 
the  mullions  crossing  in  the  head,  not  foliated,  but  the  heads  of 
the  lights  trefoiled,  the  mullions  are  not  good,  and  were  perhaps 
renewed  in  the  time  of  Charles  II  (?) ;  of  the  side  windows 
three  are  original  Decorated,  one  has  the  mtdlion  and  tracery 
cut  out.  The  Sedilia  and  Piscina  are  good  Decorated  work, 
but  unfortunately  a  vault  has  been  built  in  modem  days  under 
the  eastern  part  of  the  Chancel,  which  has  caused  the  floor  to  be 
raised  so  much  as  greatly  to  injure  the  effect.  There  is  a  fine 
monument  to  Sir  Anthony  Cope  1614.  There  are  marks  of 
openings  under  the  two  western  windows.  The  Nave  has  three 
Decorated  arches  on  each  side  supported  on  clustered  cokimns, 
each  of  the  capitals  of  which  is  ornamented  with,  or  rather  com- 
posed of,  figm'es  sculptured  in  bold  relief,  with  a  Decorated 
abacus ;  those  on  the  north  side  have  a  sort  of  small  battlement 
above  the  abacus  as  an  additional  ornament,  and  the  whole  are 
very  good  rich  work ;  there  are  also  some  finely  carved  corbel 
heads  as  terminations  to  the  labels  over  the  arches.  The  Clerestory 
and  roof  are  an  addition  of  the  15th  century,  but  the  marks  of 
the  old  roof  may  be  seen  on  the  tower.  The  North  Aisle  is  De- 
corated, with  a  good  small  Early  English  door ;  at  the  east  end 
of  this  aisle  are  evident  traces  of  a  Chantry  altar;  the  Rere- 
dos-screen^^  remains  unusually  perfect,  consisting  of  five  small 
rich  Decorated  niches,  with  figures  in  them,  two  of  which  are 
perfect,  the  others  mutilated.  The  South  Aisle  is  of  earlier 
character  than  the  north,  and  may  be  called  Early  English  though 
rather  late   in  that   style  ;    the   east   window  is   of    three   lights 

(14)  Mr.  J.  H.  Parker. 

(15)  This  has  been  very  carefully  cleaned  by  the  Rev.  W.  Pearsc  the  present  rector, 
who  has  evinced  much  taste  in  removing  the  whitewash  with  which  tasteless  Churchwar- 
dens had  covered  the  enrichments  throughout  the  Church. 


CHACOMBE  CHURCH.  119 

with  foliated  circles  in  the  head ;  under  this  window  are  the 
indications  of  another  altar,  a  Decorated  Piscina  and  Credence 
shelf,  a  bracket,  and  one  of  the  corbels  on  which  the  slab  rested. 
In  this  corner  also,  behind  a  large  modern  altar-tomb,  are  two 
stone  coffin  lids,  one  ornamented  with  a  very  rich  cross  fleury, 
the  other  with  a  female  figure  of  the  13th  century.  The  south 
doorway  is  plain  Early  English,  and  the  windows  on  this  side 
are  of  the  same  age  but  have  had  their  muUions  and  tracery 
renewed ;  the  west  window  is  of  three  lights  foliated,  and  of 
Decorated  character  :  in  this  aisle  there  are  some  very  curious 
and  elegantly  carved  little  figures  used  as  terminations  to  the 
labels.  The  Font  is  Norman.  The  Tower  is  of  plain  Deco- 
rated work,  with  very  massive  walls,  the  side  arches  being  eight 
times  recessed,  or  what  Mr.  Willis  calls  arches  "  of  eight  orders." 
There  are  good  ornamented  cornices  to  the  Chancel,  and  two 
opeiT  pinnacles  at  the  west  end  of  the  South  Aisle. ^"^ 

ChacOMBE  Church  (St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul)  is  a  good 
Decorated  Church  of  the  14th  century,  with  a  Tower  in  the 
Perpendicular  style,  either  late  in  the  same  century  or  early 
in  the  following.  The  plan  is  the  usual  one,  nave,  aisles,  and 
chancel,  with  the  tower  at  the  west  end.  The  windows  of  the 
Chancel  are  very  elegant,  having  ogee  arches  with  characteris- 
tic labels  and  muUions.  The  Nave  has  three  arches  on  each 
side,  the  pillars  of  which  are  octagon  while  the  capitals  appear 
to  have  been  made  for  round  clustered  pillars,  so  that  a  part 
hangs  over  on  each  face  of  the  pillar  the  effect  of  which  is  very 
singular ;  these  capitals  are  clearly  of  Decorated  character ; 
there  are  good  labels  over  the  arches,  terminated  b}-  heads. 
The  Clerestory  windows  are  good  examples  of  the  same  style  ; 
those  on  the  north  side  are  small  quatrefoil  openings,  or  rather 
perhaps  foliated  circles ;  those  on  the  south  side  are  square- 
headed.  The  Aisles  are  of  the  same  age  and  style  ;  some  of 
the  windows  are  rather  peculiar,  havmg  flat  segmental  arches 
evidently  original,  with  mouldings  and  mullions  quite  charac- 
teristic of  the  14th  century :  this  is  also  the  case  at  Broughton, 
and  affords  additional  evidence  that  the  form  of  the  arch  was 
at  all  periods  varied  according  to  circumstances,  and  is  never 
a  safe  guide  to  style  or  by  which  to  judge  of  the  age  of  a 
building.     The  Font  is  a  good  specimen  of  the  late  or  Transi- 

(16)  Mr.  J.  H.  Parker.    There  is  a  vignette  of  Hanwell  Church  in  Skelton's  Oxfordshire. 


120  MIDDLETON  CHENEY  CHURCH. 

tiou  Norman,  with  an  arcade  of  intersecting  arches  cut  in  the 
stone  round  it  by  way  of  ornament.  In  the  Chancel  is  a  cm'ious 
small  brass  in  the  form  of  one  of  the  usual  emblems  of  the 
Holy  Truiity,  to  the  memory  and  eNddently  prepared  during 
the   lifetime   of    "  ?>Iyghell   Fox  Cytjzen   &   Groc'   of  London," 

15 (a  blank  being  left  for  the  date,  which  was  never  filled  up). 

The  Porch  is  good  Decorated  work,  with  a  stone  vaulted  roof 
of  the  same  character." 

MiDDLETON  Cheney  Church  (All  Saints)  is  a  fine  large 
Church,  the  body  of  it  of  the  14th  century,  with  a  very  elegant 
tower  and  Spire  of  somewhat  later  style  belonging  either  to 
the  end  of  that  century  or  the  commencement  of  the  succeeding, 
being  in  technical  language  good  early  Perpendicular  work  ;  this 
Spire  is  said  to  be  150  feet  in  height;  the  western  doorway 
is  particularly  fine.  The  plan  of  the  church  is  the  usual  one. 
The  Chancel  is  good  early  Decorated  work  ;  the  east  window  a 
fine  one  of  four  lights  with  Geometiical  tracery ;  the  side  win- 
dows are  plain;  there  is  a  Decorated  Piscina,  and  a  singu- 
lar double  Locker  or  place  for  the  sacred  vessels.  The  Nave 
has  four  fine  arches  on  each  side  with  clustered  pillars  having 
plam  capitals  ;  the  labels  are  good,  resting  on  heads.  The  Porch 
is  a  very  remarkable  one,  being  fine  Decorated  work  of  stone, 
with  a  lofty  roof  also  of  cut  stone,  supported  in  the  interior  by 
an  arch  of  open  stone-work  with  a  sort  of  tracery  over  it  con- 
necting it  with  the  roof  which  it  supports ;  no  description  can 
make  tlais  intelligible  but  it  is  a  curious  and  interesting  specimen.^* 

Warkworth  Church  (St.  Mary).  This  interesting  Church- 
consists  of  a  nave,  chancel,  north  aisle,  a  lady-chapel  on  the 
south,  and  a  small  tower  at  the  western  end  of  the  nave :  the 
upper  part  of  this  tower  has  been  removed,  and  it  is  now  covered 
with  a  slated  pointed  roof  of  the  same  height  as  the  nave,  which 
gives  a  very  bad  effect  to  the  exterior  of  the  Church.  The 
North  Aisle  is  of  the  13th  century,  perhaps  1270  ;  it  has  three 
monumental    recesses    in    the    north    wall    having    low    pointed 

(17)  Mr.  J.  H.  Parker.  There  is  an  engraving  of  the  Font  of  this  Church  in  Baker's 
Northamptonshire.  Mr.  Baker  states  that  Oiere  is,  by  the  side  of  a  door  at  the  east  end 
of  the  north  aisle  of  Chacombe  Church,  an  aperture  communicating  with  the  chancel  for 
auricular  confession.  (P.  596.)  This  is  an  error.  The  aperture  is  similar  to  those  in 
many  other  churches,  and  designed  for  enabling  that  part  of  the  congregation  which 
assembled  in  the  north  aisle  to  witness  the  ele\ation  of  the  host  at  the  high  Altar. 

(18)  Mr.  J.  H.  Parker.  This  Church  is  engraved  in  Baker's  Northamptonshire.  The 
Spire  has  been  three  times  struck  by  lightning,  namely  in  1720, 1794,  and  1797. 


WARKWORTH  CHURCH.  121 

arclies  with  plain  labels  of  Early  English  character ;  one  of 
these  recesses  contains  the  recumbent  figure  of  a  female  with  close 
drapery  and  the  chin  dress  of  the  13th  or  early  part  of  the  14th 
century ;  another  contains  the  figure  of  a  Knight  cross-legged, 
the  feet  resting  against  a  lion  :  these  monuments  appear  to 
be  of  the  ancient  family  of  Lyons.  On  the  south  side  of 
this  aisle  is  a  beautiful  altar-tomb  of  the  early  part  of  the  14th 
century,  not  later  than  1330  ;  the  sides  of  the  tomb  are  exqui- 
sitely wrought  in  compartments  consisting  of  panels  contain- 
ing shields  beautifully  sculptured ;  they  are  suspended  from  the 
triple  oak-leaf  ornament  like  those  of  the  Queen  Eleanor  Crosses 
at  Waltham,  Northampton,  &c ;  the  panels  are  alternate  with 
niches  containing  the  figures  of  knights  and  females ;  on  the 
lid  is  the  recumbent  figure  of  a  Knight  (doubtless  the  Sir  John 
Lyons  of  that  date)  in  the  attitude  of  prayer,  the  feet  resting 
against  a  lion  couchant ;  the  belt,  to  which  are  attached  a  long  and 
a  short  sword,  is  elaborately  sculptured  with  Gothic  ornament ; 
the  shield  which  is  attached  to  the  left  arm  has  a  lion  rampant 
sculptured  upon  it ;  the  end  panel  of  this  tomb  has  the  figure 
of  a  knight  on  his  knees  in  the  attitude  of  prayer  :  the  whole 
of  this  monument  is  of  Caen  stone  and  of  most  exquisite  work- 
manship, the  parts  (which  have  escaped  the  touch  of  those  bar- 
barians of  our  country  who  can  see  only  with  their  fingers 
and  their  knives)  are  as  sharp  as  if  sculptured  in  gold  ;  "  it  is 
one  of  the  most  faultless  pieces  of  workmanship,"  continues  Mr. 
Derick,  "I  ever  beheld."  At  the  end  of  this  monument  is  the 
fragment  of  a  canopied  niche  containing  a  statue  of  the  Virgin 
and  Child  in  a  sitting  posture. 

The  open  wood  sittings  of  this  Church  are  enriched  with 
some  beautiful  carving  of  the  15th  century;  on  the  backs  are 
inscribed  various  passages  in  Latin,  taken  from  the  Psalms,  the 
Creed,  &c.  The  north  aisle  is  divided  from  the  Nave  by  a 
series  of  three  Early  English  or  13th-century  arches,  which 
spring  from  polygonal  shafts  having  bold  moulded  capitals 
with  sculptured  heads  on  the  alternate  sides :  the  nave  was 
newly  roofed  in  the  17th  century.  The  south  Chapel  is  of 
the  Decorated  period,  and  has  a  fine  four-light  window  at  the 
eastern  end  ;  the  side  window  is  of  early  Perpendicular  work, 
it  may  be  said  to  be  of  the  period  of  transition  from  Deco- 
rated to  Perpendiciilar  work,  for  it  retains  some  features  of  a 
Q 


122  OLD  CHAPELS.— WROXTON  CHURCH. 

Decorated  eliaraeter  ;  the  Piscina  in  this  chapel  is  of  Decorated 
work,  the  eanopv  is  of  an  ogee  shape  croeketed  and  the  head 
is  trefoiled,  it  contains  the  Credence  shelf.  The  Chancel  is 
very  plain,  of  Early  English  character ;  its  Piscina  is  of  the 
same  simple  character  as  the  chancel,  the  head  is  lancet  with 
a  plain  chamfer  on  the  edge ;  this  Piscina  was  discovered  very 
recently,  ha\ang  been  walled  up  for  centuries.  A  portion  of 
the  Roodloft-screen  still  remains  in  the  Chancel  arch,  but  it 
is  much  mutilated.  The  Font  is  large  and  of  early  Decorated 
character,  but  very  plain.  Throughout  the  Church  are  exten- 
sive remains  of  Early  English  tiles  of  beautiful  and  varied  design, 
but  in  some  parts  much  worn.^^ 

On  two  large  slabs  in  the  nave  are  brass  effigies  to  the 
memory  of  Sir  John  Chetwode  (mutilated)  and  his  lady,  1412 
and  1430 :  in  the  north  aisle  are  similar  records  to  the  memory 
of  Sir  John  Chetewode  son,  and  Margery  Brovnyng  daughter, 
of  the  above,  both  dated  1420 :  another  brass,  in  the  chancel, 
bears  the  date  of  1454. 

Walton  Chapel  (St.  Rumbald).  Tins  once  stood  in  what 
is  called  the  Chapel  Field,  in  the  parish  of  King's  Sutton,  near 
the  principal  farm-house  in  Walton  Grounds.  Leland  (in  the 
reign  of  Henry  VIII.)  says — "  There  was  a  late  a  Chappell 
dedicated  to  him  [St.  Rumbald]  standing  about  a  mile  from  Sut- 
ton in  the  Medes,  defaced  and  taken  downe."-"  The  site  is  marked 
by  traces  of  old  foundations."^ 

Milton  Chapel  (St.  John)  destroyed.  This  was  a  chapel 
under  Adderbury. 

Wroxton  Church  (All  Saints)  is  a  good  plain  Church 
of  the  1 4th  century,  with  a  tower  at  the  west  end,  of  the  same 
style.  The  plan  is  simple  oblong,  with  aisles  to  the  nave  only. 
The  Tower  has  been  rebuilt,  but  the  original  character  care- 
fully preserved  ;  it  has  pianacles  at  the  angles,  and  a  battlemeuted 
parapet  under  which  is  an  ornamented  cornice  ;  the  west  door 
has  a  square  dripstone  over  it  with  a  hollow  moulding  having 
flowers  at  wide  intervals.  The  windows  of  this  Church  are  of 
that  plain  description  which  is  easily  mistaken  for  the  Church- 

(19)  Mr.  Derick.  It  is  greatly  to  be  hoped  that  the  tiles  as  well  as  the  open  seats  of 
Warkworth  Church  will  be  carefully  preserved  during  the  repairs  and  alterations  which 
are  now  in  contemplation. 

(20)  Leland's  Itin.,  v.  4,  pt.  3,  fol.  162,  b.  (31)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  708. 


WROXTON  AND  BALSCOT  CHURCHES.  123 

warden's  Gothic  of  the  last  century,  the  tracery  consistmg 
merely  of  the  mullions  crossing  in  the  head  and  intersecting, 
but  without  any  cusps  :  the  mullions  themselves  are  of  good 
style  with  a  roimd  moulding  on  the  edge ;  it  is  possible  that  the 
cusps  may  have  been  cut  out,  as  was  frequently  done  to  save 
the  expense  of  repairing  them,  but  there  does  not  seem  suffi- 
cient ground  to  imagine  this  to  have  been  the  case  in  the 
present  instance,  as  the  same  character  is  preserved  throughout 
the  church :  the  east  window  is  of  five  lights,  the  side  win- 
dows all  of  three.  The  south  door  and  Porch  are  good  plain 
specimens  of  the  Decorated  style.  In  the  Chancel  there  are 
two  Sedilia  or  stone  seats  for  the  Priests ;  the  number  is 
unusual,  there  being  generally  three,  for  the  Priest,  Deacon,  and 
Subdeacon,  but  in  some  instances  where  the  endowment  was 
too  small  for  this  establishment  there  were  only  two,  as  in  the 
present  case,  and  sometimes,  though  rarely,  only  one.  The 
Font  of  this  Church  is  a  very  good  piece  of  Decorated  work. 
In  the  chancel  there  is  a  magnificent  alabaster  monument  to 
the  memory  of  Sir  William  Pope,  first  Earl  of  Downe  (who 
died  in  1631)  and  his  lady,  with  their  recumbent  effigies ;  over 
the  effigies  is  a  splendid  canopy  supported  on  pillars  of  black 
marble ;  the  funeral  achievement  remains  perfect,  with  escut- 
cheon and  flags,  and  an  earl's  coronet  painted  and  gilt  in 
good  preservation;  this  monument  was  made  by  Nicholas  Stone. 
There  is  also  an  alabaster  slab  with  the  date  of  1660.  The 
nave  and  aisles  present  nothing  worthy  of  notice ;  they  are  of 
the  Decorated  style  but  plain.-"  The  Lord  Keeper  Guilford, 
who  died  at  Wroxton  in  1685,  lies  biiried  in  this  Church, 
with  no  memorial  but  a  short  inscription  on  the  large  plain 
slab  which  covers  his  remains.  Lord  North  (the  Premier)  and 
several  of  the  Earls  of  Guilford  and  other  members  of  the 
North  family  also  lie  buried  here. 

Balscot  Church,  or  rather  Chapel,  (St.  Mary  Magdalene,) 
is  a  chapel  under  Wroxton.  It  is  a  small  Church  but  quite  a 
gem  of  its  kind,  of  the  Decorated  style,  consisting  of  a  nave, 
chancel,  south  aisle,  and  tower.  The  South  Aisle  is  separated 
from  the  nave  by  a  series  of  four  Decorated  arches,  the  cham- 
fers of  which  die    against  the  octagonal  piers  from  which  they 

(22)  Mr.  J.  H.  Parker. 

q3 


124  CHURCHES  OF  BALSCOT, 

spring,  the  piers  not  being  tangents  to  the  curves ;  there  are 
labels  on  both  faces,  which  terminate  in  two  instances  against 
a  human  head  having  the  chin  dress  of  the  14th  century.  The 
Chancel  has  a  fine  Decorated  east  window  of  three  lights  with 
flowing  tracery,  but  this  is  in  part  hidden  by  a  flat  modern  ceiling 
which  comes  nearly  to  the  springing  of  the  arch ;  on  each  side 
of  the  chancel  is  a  Decorated  window,  the  heads  are  formed  by 
the  flat  segment  of  a  circle,  they  are  varied  in  design  and 
beautifully  executed :  the  Piscina  is  of  good  Decorated  work, 
having  a  trefoiled  head  and  an  ogee  canopy  which  is  twisted  as 
it  ascends  and  is  enriched  with  crockets  and  a  finial ;  it  con- 
tains a  Credence  shelf:  the  Locker  remains.  The  South  Aisle 
has  a  plain  Decorated  Piscina  with  a  trefoiled  and  crocketed 
canopy ;  the  brackets  which  supported  the  Kghts  for  the  Altar 
remain  in  this  aisle.  The  Tower  is  Decorated  work,  of  remark- 
ably graceful  proportions ;  it  springs  from  the  porch  in  a  very 
singular  manner ;  it  is  of  three  stages,  the  upper  is  octagonal 
of  the  15th  century,  the  lower  stage  has  a  small  Decorated 
niche  on  each  face  with  a  projecting  canopy.  The  doorways 
are  simple  Decorated  work,  the  labels  are  quite  plain  and  without 
carvings  at  their  ternunations.  The  Font  is  Norman,  large 
and  plain,  the  vase  part  is  formed  by  the  inverted  frustum  of 
a  cone,  the  base  is  moulded  with  a  torus,  chamfer,  and  fillet. 
The  sancte-bell  turret  remains  at  the  eastern  end  of  the  nave ; 
the  roofs  of  the  nave  and  aisle  are  original,  of  Decorated  work, 
open  timbered  and  leaded ;  that  of  the  chancel  is  hidden  by 
the  ceiling  alluded  to."^ 

HORLEY  Church  (St.  Ethelreda)  is  principally  of  the  14th 
century  ;  it  consists  of  a  nave,  aisles,  and  chancel,  with  a  square 
Tower  of  the  14th  century  starting  up  between  the  chancel  and 
the  nave.  Such  of  the  windows  of  the  Chancel  as  have  es- 
caped the  improvements  of  the  last  century  are  of  good  Deco- 
rated character  and  of  excellent  workmanship,  the  eastern  window 
has  suffered  terribly :  the  Piscina  is  very  beautiful,  of  Early 
English  character,  the  head  is  trefoiled  and  enriched  with  the 
tooth  ornament ;  this  Piscina  has  lately  been  restored  by  the 
Rev.  R.  J.  Buddicom  :  in  the  sill  of  one  of  the  side  windows 
is  the  seat  for  the  priests  instead  of  the  usual  Sedilia.  The 
Tower   rests    on   plain   pointed    arches  of   Decorated    character ; 

(23)  Mr.  Dcrick. 


HORLEY,  AND  HORNTON.  125 

on  the  north  and  south  sides  are  windows  of  the  same  age,  and 
beneath  these  are  two  sepvilchral  recesses  having  phun  Deco- 
rated mouldings.  The  Nave  is  divided  from  the  aisles  by  four 
lofty  arches  on  each  side,  the  pillars  are  alternately  cylindric  and 
octagonal ;  over  these  arches  is  a  Clerestory ;  all  these  are  of 
Hth-century  work.  The  west  window  is  of  the  date  of  Eliza- 
beth or  James  the  J'irst ;  the  north,  south,  and  west  doors  are 
of  Early  English  character  and  very  fine  of  their  class ;  the 
Font  is  Norman,  cylindric  in  form  and  quite  plain.  The  win- 
dows of  the  Aisles  are  principally  Decorated  work,  those  of  later 
character  are  very  early  Perpendicular,  and  all  are  of  good 
design  and  execution.^^ 

HORNTON  Church  (St.  John  the  Baptist)  is  principally  of  the 
13th  century,  but  retains  extensive  remains  of  an  older  buUding 
of  the  beginning  of  the  12th  century.  It  consists  of  a  nave, 
chancel,  and  aisles,  with  a  tower  at  the  west  end  of  the  nave  : 
this  Tower  is  of  tliree  stages,  the  two  lower  are  Early  English, 
the  upper  is  of  Decorated  work,  it  has  a  plain  parapet ;  the 
walls  are  unusually  thick ;  at  the  northwest  angle  is  a  square 
turret  which  gives  a  good  effect  to  this  otherwise  plain  tower. 
The  arches  which  divide  the  Nave  and  North  Aisle  are  Transi- 
tion Norman  work,  they  rest  on  cylindric  shafts  having  reeded 
capitals  with  square  abaci  chamfered  on  their  edges  :  those  next 
to  the  South  Aisle  are  work  of  the  l-lth  century,  they  spring 
from  an  octagonal  shaft  havmg  a  round  moulded  capital :  on 
the  walls  at  the  east  end  of  this  aisle  are  the  remains  of  a 
painting  of  the  14th  century,  the  subject  seems  to  have  been 
the  Virgin  and  Child  with  a  figure  of  what  appears  to  be  a 
Bishop  in  a  kneeling  posture  at  their  feet,  on  the  left  of  Mary 
is  the  figure  of  an  old  man,  most  likely  Joseph ;  the  figures 
are  carefully  drawn,  very  formal,  the  colours  are  brilliant  but 
much  injured  by  whitewash :  this  aisle  contained  a  Chantry 
chapel,  the  wood  Screen  of  which  remains  and  is  a  fine  ex- 
ample of  early  15th-century  carving :  the  whole  of  this  aisle, 
walls,  roof,  and  screen,  was  painted  in  brilliant  party  colours  and 
gilt.  The  Chancel  is  of  the  13th  century  but  retains  some  features 
of  the  12tli,  on  the  north  side  are  the  remains  of  an  Early  En- 
glish arch  which  formerly  opened  into  a  transept  or  Lady- 
Chapel  ;    the  Piscina  is  very  plain,  the  head  is  of  an  ogee  shape 

(24)  Mr.  Dei-ick. 


126  CHURCHES  OF  SHOTSWELL, 

but  without  mouldings ;  the  eastern  window  is  of  the  15th  cen- 
tury and  is  of  four  hghts  ;  the  roof  is  of  the  same  date,  open  tim- 
bered with  spandrel  brackets  which  spring  from  Early  English 
corbels  :  in  the  sill  of  the  east  window  is  a  large  fragment  of 
bold  carving  of  Norman  character,  this,  like  every  other  part  of 
the  Church,  retains  the  remains  of  early  painting  and  gilding  : 
the  Font  is  cylindric,  having  an  arcade  of  mtersecting  arches  in 
slight  rehef  running  round  it,  the  base  mouldiag  is  composed  of 
three  cables  the  strands  of  which  run  in  contrary  directions ; 
this  Font  is  of  Transition  Norman  work,  and  was  painted  in 
party  colours  of  white,  red,  and  green,  in  oil :  the  chancel  has 
an  incliaation  from  the  nave  of  about  three  degrees  towards  the 
north,  as  was  usual  with  our  early  Churches,  the  chancel  being  a 
symbol  of  the  head  of  Christ  after  death,  leaning  on  one  side  : 
the  Porch  is  on  the  south  side  and  is  of  plain  Decorated  work. 
Tills  Church  is  ia  a  very  unsound  and  dangerous  condition, 
the  walls  are  fractured  in  an  alarming  manner  and  are  much 
out  of  the  perpendicular.-^ 

Shotswell  Church  (St.  Lawrence)  is  a  small  Church 
mostly  of  the  13th  century,  with  some  interesting  features.  The 
plan  is  the  usual  one,  with  a  Tower  at  the  west  end  originally 
of  the  13th  century  but  which  has  been  rebuilt  of  the  old 
materials.  The  Chancel  has  windows  of  the  15th  century,  but 
these  are  probably  insertions  in  an  earlier  wall ;  it  presents  no- 
thing particularly  worthy  of  notice.  The  Nave  has  three  arches 
on  each  side ;  those  on  the  north  side  are  in  the  Norman  style 
of  the  12th  century,  those  on  the  south  in  the  Early  English 
of  the  13th.  The  South  Aisle  is  of  the  14th  century,  with  a 
Piscina  and  bracket  at  the  east  end  marldng  the  situation  of  an 
ancient  Altar.  The  North  Aisle  is  also  of  the  14th  century, 
with  square-headed  windows  ;  in  it  is  part  of  an  original  wooden 
Screen  which  appears  to  be  of  the  same  age.  At  the  east  end 
of  this  aisle  is  a  good  Decorated  doorway  with  its  label  or 
canopy,  opening  into  a  small  Chapel  on  the  north  side  of  the 
chancel;  the  doorway  has  lately  been  removed,  its  original  sit- 
uation was  in  the  Chancel  opening  into  the  Chapel  m  that  di- 
rection instead  of  the  present  one  :  the  removal  was  in  bad  taste, 
as  there  is  no  authority  for  a  door  at  the  east  end  of  an  aisle, 
and  it  was  before  in  its  original  and  appropriate  position.     This 

(25)  Mr.  Derick. 


MOLLINGTON,  AND  CROPREDY.  127 

small  chapel  or  vestry  has  an  original  stone  Altar-slab  still 
remaining  supported  on  brackets  under  the  east  window.'^"  The 
good  old  open  seats  in  this  Church  deserve  particular  notice ; 
the  panels  at  the  ends  are  richly  carved  with  flowing  tracery 
in  the  style  of  the  14th  century,  but  this  sort  of  wood- work 
continued  in  use  in  the  15th.  The  Pulpit  is  also  of  old  carved 
oak,  of  about  the  beginning  of  the  15th  century.  The  Font 
is  circular,  Norman,  svipported  on  a  central  pillar  with  slender 
shafts  round  it."^ 

MoLLiNGTON  Church,  or  rather  Chapel,  (x\ll  Saints,)  is  a 
chapel  under  Cropredy.  This  Church  consists  at  the  present  time 
of  a  nave  and  chancel,  the  north  aisle  having  been  taken  down 
in  1786  and  the  space  between  the  pillars  built  up.  The  Nave, 
which  is  of  the  14th  century,  is  entered  by  a  handsome  door- 
way and  Porch  of  the  same  date.  The  Chancel  is  also  of 
the  14th  century.  The  Clerestory  windows  and  the  Tower  are 
of  the  15th  century.  The  Font,  though  injured,  is  handsome; 
the  character  Semi-Norman.-^ 

Cropredy  Church  (St.  Mary)  is  another  fine  Church  of  the 
14th  century,  of  the  usual  plan,  with  a  tower  at  the  west  end. 
The  Tower  is  of  transition  character,  the  lower  part  in  the  De- 
corated and  the  upper  part  in  the  Perpendicular  style ;  it  was 
probably  built  towards  the  end  of  the  14th  century.  The  Nave 
has  four  lofty  arches  on  each  side  with  plain  Decorated  mould- 
ings continuous  to  the  ground,  without  capitals  to  the  pillars,  a 
rather  unusual  feature  in  this  country  though  common  on  the  con- 
tinent:^^ the  arch  at  the  west  end  opening  into  the  tower  is  of 
the  same  character.  The  Clerestory  windows  are  good  square 
Decorated ;  the  roof  is  plain  open  timber  work  of  somewhat 
later  character.  The  South  Aisle  has  five  very  good  Decorated 
windows,  and  on  the  exterior  a  cornice  of  the  same  style, 
with  the  ball-flower  and  heads  alternate ;  there  is  also  a  good 
Decorated  Porch.  The  North  Aisle  is  later,  and  of  the  Perpen- 
dicular style,  but  also  good  of  its  kind.  The  Chancel  is  Deco- 
rated ;  it  has  a  fine  east  window  of  four  lights  with  flowing 
tracery,    and   a    Piscina    of    the    same    style,   double,    each    side 

(26)  The  ancient  stone  altars  were  mostly  destroyed  at  or  subsequently  to  the  Reformation. 
There  is  however  an  ancient  one  remaining  in  the  Chapel  of  Broughton  Castle  (see  p.  101), 
and  one  in  Warmington  Church  (see  hereafter). 

(27)  Mr.  J.  H.  Parker.        (28)  Rev.  J.  C.  Stafford,  Fellow  of  Magdalene  College,  Oxford. 
(29)  It  marks  the  early  part  of  the  reign  of  Edward  II.  in  England. — Mr.  Derick. 


128  GREAT  BOURTON  CHAPEL. 

witli  trefoil  head,  and  shafts.  The  Roodloft  and  Screen  were 
wantonly  destroyed  a  few  years  ago  when  the  Chnrch  was 
pewed  with  "  sleeping-boxes "  according  to  the  taste  of  the  age. 
This  Screen  must  have  been  remarkably  fine,  as  is  shewn  by 
a  portion  which  has  been  preserved  though  cut  down  and  con- 
verted into  a  railing  on  the  side  of  the  Chancel ;  it  is  remark- 
ably good  work  of  the  14th  century,  unusually  bold  and  mas- 
sive, consisting  of  open  flowing  tracery  of  very  elegant  patterns. 
There  is  another  piece  of  good  wooden  screen- work  enclosing 
a  Chantry  chapel  in  the  north  aisle,  but  this  is  of  the  15th 
century.  The  Pulpit  is  octagonal,  formed  of  wooden  carved 
panelling  in  the  Perpendicular  style  but  rather  flat,  with  the 
date  of  1619  upon  it.  The  Communion  table  is  plain  of  the 
same  age  :  there  is  a  brass  Eagle  sadly  mutilated  and  the  feet 
used  as  ornaments  to  a  wooden  desk,  this  is  probably  also  of 
the  same  period.  A  few  years  ago,  before  the  modern  improve- 
ments (?)  were  made,  this  must  have  been  one  of  the  most 
perfect  and  interesting  Churches  in  this  part  of  the  country.^" 

Great  Bourton  Chapel  (St.  Michael).  Great  Bourton 
is  a  hamlet,  and  was  formerly  a  chapelry,  to  Cropredy ;  the 
vestiges  of  the  Chapel  are  now  used  as  a  school-house.  The 
Chancel  is  all  that  remains  of  the  original  Church  in  a  tole- 
rably perfect  state  ;  it  originally  consisted  of  a  nave  and  chancel 
and  a  single  bell-turret  at  the  western  end  of  the  nave ;  the 
turret  is  now  no  more.  The  Chancel,  now  used  as  the  school- 
room, is  of  the  early  part  of  the  14th  century :  it  retains  the 
original  roof,  which  is  acutely  pointed  ;  each  pair  of  rafters  are 
united  by  a  semicircular  rib,  and  all  the  timbers  are  exposed  to 
view:  the  base  of  the  cross  which  surmounted  the  eastern 
gable  yet  remains.  The  eastern  window  is  of  two  lights  with 
beautiful  flowing  tracery,  but  most  of  the  tracery  has  been  re- 
moved, and  the  stone  mullion  has  been  succeeded  by  one  of 
wood.  The  simple  Piscina  and  Locker  remain  in  their  original 
position :  there  is  a  very  beautiful  Decorated  window  in  the 
north  wall,  of  a  single  light.  The  Chancel  arch  is  walled  up, 
and  the  Nave  desecrated  by  being  converted  into  a  dwelling- 
house  for  the  schoolmaster  and  a  part  fitted  up  as  a  grocer's 
shop.  The  angular  buttresses  of  the  Nave  are  uninjured,  but 
the    side   windows    appear   to    have   been   destroyed  in    the    16th 

(30)  Mr.  .T.  II.  Parker. 


CHURCHES  OF  WARDINGTON  AND  EDGCOT, 


129 


century,  and  some  windows  of  that  period  have  been  substituted  ; 
the  western  windows  have  been  walled  up,  but  their  situation 
can  be  well  made  out.  This  Church  is  an  interesting  relic 
of  other  days,  and  one  most  melancholy  to  look  upon.^^ 

Prescot  Chapel.  Walter  Gostelow,  who  was  born  at 
Prescot,  in  the  parish  of  Cropredy,  states  (in  1655)  that  an  altar 
and  Chapel  were  remaining  at  Prescot  during  his  childhood.^- 

\yARDiNGTON  CHURCH,  or  rather  Chapel,  (St.  Mary  Mag- 
dalene,) is  a  chapel  under  Cropredy.  It  is  a  small  Church  of  the 
usual  plan  and  style  of  this  district,  but  very  plain  and  rude 
country  work.  The  Chancel  is  of  the  early  part  of  the  14th 
century,  with  a  good  east  window  of  early  Decorated  cha- 
racter ;  the  windows  on  the  north  side  are  square-headed,  but 
early  Decorated  ;  those  on  the  south  side  have  had  their  mul- 
lions  and  tracery  destroyed.  The  Nave  is  of  the  13th  century, 
having  five  Early  Enghsh  arches  on  each  side ;  these  are  small 
and  low,  quite  plain,  with  simple  round  pillars,  excepting  two 
on  the  south  side  which  are  more  ornamented,  having  clus- 
tered pillars,  and  labels  over  them,  but  which  are  also  Early 
English.  The  Clerestory  and  roof  are  of  the  15th  century. 
The  South  Aisle  is  a  mixture  of  the  styles  of  the  13th  and 
Hth  centuries ;  the  windows  at  the  west  end  are  of  three 
lancet  lights  imited  in  the  interior  under  one  arch ;  those  at 
the  east  end  are  Decorated  with  flowing  tracery ;  the  door  is 
Early  English,  with  a  good  plain  Stoup  very  perfect.  I'he 
North  Aisle  is  of  the  Hth  century,  the  east  window  Decorated 
with  flowing  tracery,  the  side  \Niudows  plain,  of  two  lights. 
The  Tower  is  of  the  early  part  of  the  15th  century,  good  plain 
Perpendicular  work.  The  Font  is  of  the  octagonal  cup  form, 
with  the  date  of  1566.  This  Church,  from  the  plainness  and 
even  rudeness  of  the  work,  is  one  of  a  class  which  it  is  im- 
possible to  reconcile  with  the  favorite  theory  of  Freemasonry : 
it  is  palpably  the  work  of  country  builders  in  imitation  of  some 
neighbouring  Church.^^ 

EdGCOT  Church  (St.  Mary)  is  a  small  Church  of  various 
dates  and  styles,  with  a  tower  at  the  west  end.  The  general 
character   of  the   Tower  is   of  the   15th   century,   but  the  west 

(31)  Mr.  Derick.  (32)  Gostelow's  Charles  Stuart  and  Oliver  Cromwell  Uniteil. 

(33)  Mr.  J.  H.  Parker. 


130        CHURCHES  OF  EDGCOT,  CHIPPING  WARDON, 

door,  which  is  very  good,  appears  somewhat  earlier,  it  has  an 
ogee  head  crocketed,  with  bold  mouldings  of  the  14th  century  ; 
the  window  over  it  has  similar  mouldings,  but  the  tracery  bars 
in  the  head  run  in  vertical  or  perpendicular  lines,  and  it  must 
be  considered  as  transition  work  between  the  Decorated  and 
Perpendicular  styles.  The  Nave  has  three  arches  on  the  south 
side,  of  Transition  Norman  work,  the  pillars  Norman,  the 
arches  more  like  Early  English:  thd  South  Aisle  is  early  De- 
corated, with  a  good  plain  door,  the  windows  are  much  mu- 
tilated :  on  the  north  side  there  are  two  Decorated  windows 
and  a  door.  The  Chancel  is  of  the  15th  century,  with  two 
windows  having  Perpendicular  tracery,  and  a  Piscina  of  the  same 
character :  on  the  north  side  of  the  chancel  is  a  small  build- 
ing of  two  stories,  similar  to  that  hereafter  mentioned  at  War- 
mington ;  the  floor  is  gone  and  the  whole  interior  is  gutted.  In 
the  south  aisle  are  two  fine  large  monuments  of  the  Chauncy 
family,  one  of  the  dates  1571 — 1585;  the  other  1579,  of  a 
knight  and  his  two  ladies,  and  their  children  round  as  weepers, 
some  wrapped  in  swaddling  clothes,  others  in  appropriate  cos- 
tume ;  these  monuments  are  in  ^-ery  fine  preservation,  with  the 
original  painting.^^ 

Chipping  Wardon  Church  (St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul) 
is  a  large  and  fine  Church,  mostly  of  the  14th  century,  and  of 
the  usual  plan,  with  a  Tower  at  the  west  end  which  is  of  some- 
what later  character  and  a  good  specimen  of  early  Perpendicular 
work.  The  Church  is  a  good  deal  choked  up  in  the  inside  with 
brick  walls  and  partitions  which  ought  to  be  removed.  The  Nave 
has  four  fine  lofty  Decorated  arches  on  each  side,  with  clus- 
tered pillars  having  octagon  capitals  and  bases  with  good  mould- 
ings, the  labels  and  the  small  heads  which  terminate  them 
are  also  of  good  Decorated  character  :  the  Clerestory  is  of  the 
1 5th  century,  with  wide  Perpendicular  windows ;  the  roof  is 
of  the  same  age,  plain  open  timber  work.  The  North  Aisle  is 
early  Decorated  work,  the  windows  having  good  Geometrical 
tracery  ;  one  of  the  heads  terminating  a  label  in  tliis  aisle  is 
crowned  and  appears  to  be  intended  for  Edward  the  First.  The 
South  Aisle  is  somewhat  later  than  the  north,  the  windows  having 
flowing  tracery  ;    at  the  east  end  of  the  aisle  are  three  very  fine 

(34)  Mr.  J.  H.  ParVcv. 


AND  THORP  MANDEVILLE.  131 

Early    English  Sedilia    with   the  Piscina,    these    have    the   tooth 
ornament  remarkably  bold  and  prominent;    they    have  evidently 
belonged  to  an  earlier  building    and  the  present   wall  was  built 
over    them,    as   they   interfere    a   little   with  a   window  which   is 
made   to  accommodate   them:    there   is   a   good  Decorated  door 
to  this  aisle.      The  seats  are  all  open,  plain  but  good,   and  ap- 
pear to  be  of  the  early  part  of  the   17th  century.     The  Chancel 
is  Decorated,  but  retains  only  one  window  of  the  original  cha- 
racter ;    the  east  window  is  good,  but  in  the  early  Perpendicular 
style :    there  is  a  small  Decorated  Piscina,  and   a  seat  made  in 
the  sill  of  a  window  near  it :    the   upper   part  of  the    Reredos- 
screen  of   the   Altar  remains,   with   a  sort   of    billet  battlement 
and  hollow  cornice  moulding  with  flowers  at  long  intervals ;    this 
is  Decorated  work.      In   the   north   wall,   but   at   some   distance 
from  the  altar,  is  a  square  opening  (now   plastered  up)   with  a 
similar  cornice   over  it,  and  under  it   a  bracket  consisting  of   a 
king's  head  with  a  long  beard  (probably  Edward  III.)   support- 
ing a  square  shelf.     On  the  north  side  of  the  altar  is  a  Locker, 
with   double   oak    doors,    the   outer    handsomely    panelled,    with 
tliis   inscription   carved  on  it: — "John  Ward  gave   this    1627:" 
immediately  under  this  is  a  semicircular  Credence  table  (or  Pro- 
thesis)    of  similar   work,  and   evidently   of  the   same   date.      In 
the  pavement  is  the  brass  of  a  priest   with  the  date  1468.     On 
the  north  side  of  the  chancel  is  a  small  Chapel  or  vestry  with 
a  Decorated  window  and  Piscina ;  this  is  now  divided  by  a  brick 
wall   probably  to   make   the   vestry   more  "  comfortable."      This 
Church  is   in   many   respects   well   worthy   the   attention   of   an 
Antiquary,  and  much  credit  is  due  to  the  good  taste  which  has 
preserved  the  open  seats  and  other  ancient  furniture.^^ 

The  steps  and  base  of  the  Market  Cross  of  Chipping  Wardon 
remain,  near  the  church-yard  wall. 

Thorp  Mandeville  Church  (St.  John  the  Baptist)  is  a 
neat  httle  Church  consisting  of  a  nave,  a  north  aisle  divided  from 
the  nave  by  two  lofty  pillars,  a  chancel,  and  a  tower  at  the  west 
end.  Excepting  one  lancet  window  in  the  south  wall  of  the 
chancel,  the  whole  Church  is  of  the  14th  century:  the  south 
door  is  surmounted  by  a  handsome  ogee  dripstone  crocketed ; 
over   the  north  door   is  a  square  window  contaming  a  multifoil 

(35)  Mr.  J.  H.  Parker.    This  Church  is  engraved  iu  Baker's  Northamptonshire. 

r3 


132  CHURCHES  OF  MARSTON  (ST.  LAWRENCE), 

circle.  The  Tower  has  a  plain  parapet  and  four  crocketed 
pinnacles,  a  gurgojle  at  each  angle,  and  a  gable  roof  rismg 
from  within  the  parapet.  The  Font  is  octagon,  inelegant,  and 
apparently  of  the  loth  century.  The  ancient  iron  frame  which 
belonged  to  the  pulpit  hourglass  is  yet  preserved.^" 

Marston  Church  (St.  Lawrence)  is  a  fine  Church  of  the 
14th  century,  with  the  usual  ground  plan.  The  Chancel  is 
of  the  latter  part  of  that  century,  and  in  style  approachiug 
nearly  to  that  of  the  15th;  the  east  window  is  of  four  lights 
and  a  good  specimen  of  transition  from  the  Decorated  to  the 
Perpendicular  style ;  the  side  windows  are  of  two  hghts,  long 
and  narrow,  with  transoms,  the  heads  foliated ;  on  the  south  side 
are  very  good  Sedilia  and  a  Piscina  ;  and  on  the  north  side  the 
remaias  of  a  fine  Holy  Sepulchre."  The  Nave  has  on  the  north 
side  foxu"  large  arches  obtusely  pointed,  recessed,  with  the  edges 
chamfered  off,  and  hollow  mouldings  continued  to  the  ground, 
without  any  capitals ;  these  arches  have  Decorated  labels  ter- 
minated by  corbel  heads  :  on  the  south  side  are  also  four  arches 
of  similar  dimensions,  but  these  have  plain  round  pillars  with 
Decorated  capitals :  the  Clerestory  and  roof  (which  latter  is 
open  timber  work,  but  plain  and  bad)  are  of  later  character. 
The  North  Aisle  is  Decorated,  and  has  some  fine  windows  of 
that  style,  particularly  the  west  window ;  at  the  east  end  of 
this  aisle  is  a  Chantry  chapel  separated  by  good  screen-work ; 
the  north  door  is  good  plain  work  of  the  14th  centiu-y.  The 
South  Aisle  is  bad,  with  square  windows.  The  Altar-screen  is 
a  good  specimen  of  the  style  of  James  the  First,  with  the 
date  of  1610  upon  it.  The  Font  is  tall  octagonal  cup-shaped, 
with   panelling   of    about  the   end   of   the    14th   century.       The 

(.36)  Rev  J.  C.  Stafford. 

(37)  "  In  many  Churches  we  find  a  large  flat  arch  in  the  north  wall  of  the  chancel 
near  the  altar,  which  was  called  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  and  was  used  at  Ea-ster  for  the 
performance  of  solemn  rites  commemorative  of  the  Resunection  of  our  Lord :  on  this 
occasion  there  was  usually  a  temporary  wooden  erection  over  the  arch."  (Glossary  of 
Architecture.)    The  custom  exists  in  Italy  to  this  day. 

"  In  Florence  an  image  representing  our  Sa\  iour  lately  taken  down  from  the  Cross 
is  exposed  on  a  platform  erected  for  the  purpose  near  some  principal  altar  of  the  church, 
and  it  is  considered  a  duty  to  \'isit  a  certain  number  of  churches  to  view  the  body.  This 
is  done  by  all  ranks  of  persons,  from  the  grand  duke  to  the  lowest  on  foot ;  the  more  de- 
vout extend  their  visits  to  many  churches.  The  state  of  the  town  during  tliis  time  appears 
most  melancholy,  not  a  bell  rings,  the  military  band  ceases,  the  arms  of  the  soldier  are 
reversed,  and  the  population  are  seen  walking  about  in  mournful  guise  from  church  to 
church.  This  continues  till  twelve  o'clock  at  noon  on  Saturday,  and  then  ceases  that 
there  may  be  time  to  prepare  for  the  joyful  festival  of  the  ResuiTe<:tion.  \Mien  the  Cathe- 
dral clock  strikes  twelve  every  bell  begins  to  ring,  and  there  is  a  sudden  and  most  ex- 
traordinary change  from  deathlike  stillness  to  an  indescribable  confusion  of  sounds,  such  as 
none  can  imagine  but  those  who  witness  ii."— Note  by  the  Rev.  J.  C.  SicifFonl. 


GRETWORTH,  THENFORD,  AND  FARTHINGHO.       133 

Tower  is  of  the  15th  century,  square  in  form  and  tall  in  its 
proportions,  plain  with  a  battlement;  a  fair  specimen  of  the 
usual  character  of  towers  in  this  district.  The  pews  are  modern 
and  bad,  belonging  to  the  order  of  "  sleeping-boxes."  The 
Church-yard  has  only  an  invisible  fence,  so  that  it  appears  to 
form  part  of  the  pleasure  grounds  of  J.  J.  Blencowe  Esq.  ;  m 
it  there  is  a  very  fine  old  yew  tree.^^ 

Gretworth  Church  (St.  Peter)  is  a  small  single  Church 
consisting  of  a  nave  and  chancel,  with  a  tower  at  the  west  end. 
The  nave  is  newly  built;  the  Chancel  is  of  the  13th  century, 
with  an  east  window  of  rude  work  but  in  character  resembling 
that  at  Warmington  in  Northamptonshire,  having  a  roll-moulding 
label :    the  Tower  is  apparently  of  the  14  th  century  .^^ 

Thenford  Church  (St.  Mary)  is  a  small  Church,  mostly  of 
the  14th  century  and  very  good  work,  with  some  portions  of  an 
earlier  date,  and  a  Tower  of  the  15th  century  at  the  west  end. 
The  Nave  has  on  the  north  side  two  plain  obtusely-pointed  arches, 
on  massive  octagon  pillars  with  plain  capitals,  probably  Semi-Nor- 
man ;  on  the  south  side  two  obtusely-pointed  arches,  also  plain, 
with  octagon  pillars  the  capitals  of  which  have  the  Norman  abacus 
and  stiff  leaf  foliage  ;  the  windows  of  the  Clerestory  are  of  the 
14th  and  the  roof  of  the  15th  century.  Both  the  Aisles  are  of 
the  14th,  with  Decorated  windows ;  two  of  these  on  the  north 
side  have  very  good  corbels  to  the  inner  arches  of  the  window, 
with  beautiful  Decorated  foliage.  The  Chancel  is  of  the  early 
part  of  the  14th  century,  with  a  fine  east  window  of  three 
lights  fohated.  The  south  door  is  plaia  late  Norman  work. 
There  is  a  good  Screen  of  open  wood-work,  which  appears  to  be 
mostly  of  the  15th  century,  but  has  an  open  parapet  of  Deco- 
rated flowing  tracery  nailed  on  as  a  moulding  or  string  for  or- 
nament. There  is  some  stained  glass  in  the  windows,  and  a 
good  monument  of  the  time  of  James  the  First.''*' 

PURSTON  Chapel,  destroyed,  was  a  chapel  under  Newbottle. 

Farthingho  Church  (All  Saints)  is  a  small  Church  of  the 
14th  century,  with  a  tower  of  the  15th.      The  plan  is  as  usual, 

(38)  Mr.  J.  H.  Parker.  Mr.  George  Baker  measured  the  yew  tree  and  found  its  gii1h 
to  be  17  ft.  10  in.  at  the  base  and  21  ft.  9  in.  at  six  feet  from  the  ground.  Its  branches 
spread  62  feet  from  north  to  south  and  57  feet  from  east  to  west. 

(39)  Rev.  J.  C.  Stafford.  The  east  window  at  Warmington  here  alluded  to  is  engraved 
in  the  Glossary  of  Architecture,  edit.  1840,  Plate  96. 

(40)  Mr.  J.  H.  Parker. 


131  CHURCHES  OF  NEWBOTTLE,  AYNHO, 

nave,  aisles,  and  chancel,  with  tower  at  the  west  end.  The  Nave 
has  three  Decorated  arches  on  each  side  on  plain  round  pillars 
with  good  Decorated  capitals,  some  plain,  others  ornamented 
with  foliage :  the  windows  of  the  Clerestory  are  also  Decora- 
ted, but  the  roof  is  modern  and  very  bad.  The  Aisles  are  both 
of  the  14th  century,  with  Decorated  windows:  the  Chancel, 
of  the  same  age  and  style,  has  a  good  east  window  with  flowing 
tracery.  The  Porch  is  also  very  good  Decorated  work,  with 
open  stone-work  at  the  sides  now  plastered  up :  the  Tower  is 
in  the  Perpendicular  style.'" 

Steane  Church  (St.  Peter)  has  been  described  as  "a  beau- 
tiful little  structure,  though  a  modern  antique  of  incongruous 
design."'*-  Perhaps  Sir  Thomas  Crewe,  when  he  erected  this 
Church  in  1620,  preserved  a  window  of  the  original  church. 
There  are  several  monuments  of  the  Crewe  family. 

Newbottle  Church  (St.  Mary  Magdalene)  consists  of  a 
nave,  a  north  and  a  south  aisle  divided  from  the  nave  by  three 
octagon  pillars  on  each  side,  a  chancel,  and  a  tower  at  the  west 
end.  The  windows  are  generally  square-headed,  and,  excepting 
one  good  one  of  the  14th  century,  in  the  south  wall,  to  the  east 
of  the  porch,  are  of  an  inferior  character  :  in  the  chancel  is  a  rude 
and  rather  curious  Piscina,  apparently  Semi-Norman.  The 
Tower  is  of  the  15th  century;  the  Screen  curious  and  of  the 
same  date ;  the  Porch  is  apparently  modern.  There  are  two  or 
three  good  monuments.'''^ 

Charlton  Chapel,  destroyed,  was  a  chapel  under  Newbottle. 

x\yNHO  Church  (St.  Michael)  has  a  fine  tower  of  the  I4th 
century ;  the  body  of  the  Church  was  taken  down  in  1 723  and 
rebuilt,  and  is  one  of  the  tasteless  compositions  of  the  period ; 
it  has  been  often  likened  to  a  gentleman's  stables.  The  Tower 
has  a  fine  14th-centnry  doorway  with  a  crocketed  canopy,  the 
jambs  are  moulded  in  a  bold  manner;  over  this  door  is  a  win- 
dow with  flowing  tracery  of  good  workmanship  ;  the  buttresses 
are  placed  angularly  and  are  ornamented  with  niches  ;  this  tower 
must  cause  regret  in  the  mind  of  every  lover  of  art  who  sees  it 
attached  to  the  present  nave.''^ 

Aynho  Cross  was  taken  down  long  before  the  time  of  Bridges. 

(41)  Mr.  J.  H.  Parker.  (42)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  687.  (43)  Rev.  J.  C.  Staflford. 

(44)  Mr.  Derick.    There  is  an  engraving  of  this  Church  in  Baker's  Northamptonshire. 


DEDDINGTON,  AND  GREAT  BARFORD.       13') 

Clifton  Chapel.  Clifton  is  a  hamlet  and  was  formerly  a 
chapelry  to  Deddington ;  the  Chapel  stood  near  the  road  lead- 
ing to  Deddington. 

Deddington  Church  (St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul)  is  a  large 
Church  of  the  usual  plan,  nave,  aisles,  and  chancel,  with  tower 
at  the  west  end ;  it  is  mostly  of  the  14th  century,  but  of  rather 
plain  character,  the  work  being  more  substantial  than  fine.  The 
Chancel  is  rather  earlier  than  the  rest ;  the  east  window  has  three 
lights  with  three  foliated  circles  in  the  head,  approaching  the 
Early  English  style ;  the  side  windows  are  of  two  lights  with 
open  heads,  not  foliated,  a  form  often  imitated  in  later  times, 
and  possibly  these  may  not  be  original,  or  may  be  mutilated, 
l3ut  the  mouldings  appear  good  and  perfect :  the  three  Sedilia 
and  the  Piscina  are  plain  work  of  the  14th  century:  the  roof 
has  lately  been  rebuilt  in  good  taste  and  in  a  creditable  man- 
ner. The  Nave  has  four  plain  pointed  arches  on  each  side,  the 
pillars  some  round  and  some  octagon,  quite  plain,  but  with  cap 
mouldings  of  the  Decorated  style :  the  Clerestory  is  later,  hav- 
ing six  windows  on  each  side,  which,  with  a  good  plain  roof, 
are  of  the  15th  century.  The  Aisles  are  chiefly  of  the  14tli 
century,  with  doorways  and  one  lancet  window  of  the  13th  (the 
latter  now  blocked  up)  ;  the  west  windows  were  originally  Deco- 
rated, but  rebuilt  and  the  dripstones  altered  about  the  time  of 
Charles  the  First.  The  Tower  was  also  rebuilt  soon  after  that 
date,  the  original  one  of  the  14th  century  having  fallen  in 
1634;  but  the  old  materials  were  made  use  of,  and  the  effect 
is  better  than  usual  for  that  period  though  the  proportions  are 
clumsy.  The  Font  is  small  and  plain,  with  panels  of  De- 
corated work,  or  imitation.'^^ 

Great  Barford  Church  (St.  Michael)  is  rather  pecviliar  in 
its  character  and  striking  in  appearance  ;  it  stands  on  a  high 
bank.  The  Nave  is  lofty,  of  the  14th  century,  entered  on  the 
north  side  by  a  lofty  Norman  doorway  with  arch  supported  by 
two  receding  columns  ornamented  with  beak  heads  from  the 
ground  to  the  summit  of  the  arch :  there  is  only  one  Aisle, 
namely,  on  the  south,  separated  from  the  nave  by  two  pil- 
lars,  against   one    of    wliich   the    pulpit   is    placed :    the    Tower 

(15)  Mr.  J.  H.  Taiker.  Tliere  is  a  vignette  of  Deddington  Church  in  Sltelton's  Oxford- 
shire. A  new  organ  has  lately  been  erected  in  this  Church  by  subscription,  chiefly  owing 
to  the  exertions  of  the  Vicar,  the  Rev.  W.  C.  Risley,  to  whom  the  Church  is  also  indebted 
for  the  new  roof  of  the  chancel,  and  other  repairs. 


136  CHURCHES  OF  LITTLE  BARFORD,  SOUTH 

stands  at  the  east  end  of  this  aisle.  The  west  end  of  the  Church 
has  a  verj  singular  appearance,  being  a  large  wall  embracing 
the  nave  and  aisle,  with  one  long  lancet  window  in  it.  The 
Pulpit  is  of  carved  wood  set  on  a  hexagonal  stone  base  mounted 
by  two  stone  steps ;  the  windows  are  of  the  Decorated  style, 
mostly  cinquefoiled ;  the  east  window  has  a  depressed  arch.  The 
Piscina  has  apparently  a  Locker  behind  it ;  the  Porch  appears 
to  be  of  the  15th  century  ;  the  Font  is  large,  round,  and  plain,  and 
probably  early  Norman.'"' 

Little  Barford  Church,  or  rather  Chapel,  (St.  John,)  is 
a  chapel  under  Adderbury.  This  is  a  small  single  Church,  with 
a  tower  witliin  the  square  of  the  nave,  at  the  southwest  cor- 
ner, open  to  the  Church.  The  windows  of  the  nave  are  Deco- 
rated, the  east  window  is  square-headed,  the  west  window  has 
a  debased  arch ;  in  the  south  side  of  the  chancel  there  is  a 
window  presenting  the  appearance  of  a  double  lancet  window, 
labelled,  with  the  partition  wall  taken  out.  The  Church  is  entered 
by  a  plain  Norman  doorway  with  four  rows  of  zigzags.  The 
Font  is  rude  and  large,  and  probably  early  Norman.'*^ 

South  Newington  Church  (St.  Peter)  contains  features 
of  the  Norman,  the  Early  English,  the  Decorated,  and  the  early 
Perpendicular  periods  ;  it  consists  of  a  nave,  chancel,  and  aisles, 
and  a  tower  at  the  western  end  of  the  nave,  terminated  by  a 
good  machicolated  parapet  and  crocketed  pinnacles.  The  Chan- 
cel has  a  Decorated  Piscina  with  an  ogee  crocketed  and  cusped 
canopy  ;  the  side  windows  are  of  two  lights  with  flowing  tracery 
of  the  14th  century ;  the  ceiling  is  modern  and  is  not  a  bad 
specimen  of  carpenters'  Gothic.  The  Nave  has  a  Clerestory  of 
Perpendicular  work,  it  had  formerly  an  open-timbered  roof  of 
the  15tli  century,  the  corbels  of  which  remain ;  the  arch  between 
the  nave  and  chancel  is  plain  Early  English  ;  those  which  se- 
parate the  nave  and  aisles  are  of  Transition  Norman  character, 
with  some  Early  English  work ;  those  which  divide  it  from  the 
north  aisle  are  of  Norman  character  with  plain  square  labels 
terminating  flush  with  the  abaci;  the  capitals  are  alternately 
reeded  and  foHated,  the  shafts  are  cylindric  and  have  bold 
moulded  bases    which    are   nearly   hidden   by    the    modern  floor. 

(46)  Rev.  J.  C.  Stafford.  Foundations  of  massy  walls  have  been  discovered  close  to 
the  Church,  the  remains  of  a  small  Norman  castle  which  stood  there  (see  p.  60).  It  is 
imasincd  that  the  body  of  the  Church  was  attached  to  the  tower  of  the  Castle. 

(47)  Rev.  .T.  C.  Stafford. 


NEWINGTON,  AND  MILCOMBE.  137 

The  Nortli  Aisle  is  of  Decorated  work,  the  windows  have  good 
flowing  tracery.  The  South  Aisle  is  of  earlier  character,  perhaps 
by  thirty  years ;  it  has  two  Early  English  windows,  of  the  later 
period  of  that  style;  two  of  Decorated  work  of  three  lights  each, 
and  one  of  early  Perpendicular  work  :  the  Piscina  here  is  of  the 
Decorated  period,  the  head  is  triangular  and  formerly  contained 
tracery  which  has  been  wantonly  chopped  away :  the  roofs  of  the 
aisles  are  open-timbered  and  of  the  15th  century,  the  spandrel 
brackets  spi'ing  from  corbels  of  an  earlier  date.  The  nave  and 
chancel  lost  their  open- timbered  roofs  in  1825,  and  the  lead  was 
sold  to  purchase  slate.  The  south  aisle  has  a  Porch  of  remarkably 
elegant  proportions  and  design,  it  is  of  the  15th  century :  the  Font 
is  Norman,  cylindric  in  form  and  quite  plain,  having  merely  a 
simple  zigzag  surrounding  its  lip  cut  in  intaglio :  the  south  aisle 
has  a  plain  Early  English  doorway. 

The  Church-yard  had  formerly  a  stone  Cross  of  Early  English 
character,  a  fragment  of  which  only  remains.''^ 

MiLCOMBE  Church,  or  rather  Chapel,  (St.  Lawrence,)  is  a 
chapel  under  Bloxham.  It  is  a  small  Church  mostly  of  the  13th 
century,  and  consists  of  a  chancel,  nave,  and  north  aisle,  with  a 
Tower  at  the  western  end  of  the  nave  ;  this  tower  has  a  plain 
Decorated  doorway.  The  aisle  was  taken  down  and  rebuilt  in 
the  last  century,  in  true  "  churchwarden  "  character ;  the  Chan- 
cel seems  to  have  been  roofed  at  the  same  period  ;  the  Piscina 
is  of  plain  character,  having  merely  a  pointed  head  with  four 
cusps.  The  aisle  is  separated  from  the  Nave  by  an  Early  En- 
glish arcade  of  plain  character,  the  pillars  are  cylindric,  and  have 
plain  moulded  capitals ;  the  lower  portion  of  the  Roodloft-screen 
is  tolerably  perfect,  it  is  an  exquisite  specimen  of  the  design 
and  carving  of  the  15th  century,  and  was  formerly  painted  and 
gilt ;  the  nave  retains  most  of  its  open  sittings,  the  ends  of 
which  are  charged  with  beautiful  tracery  of  varied  design  and 
fine  execution,  they  are  of  the  same  date  as  the  roodloft.  The 
nave  has  a  roof  of  the  15tli  century ;  the  windows  throughout 
the  Church,  with  the  exception  of  those  of  the  aisle,  are  of 
the  13th  and  14th  centuries  ;  the  Font  is  Perpendicular  work.''" 

WlGGlNTON  Church  (St.  Giles)  is  a  small  Church  mostly 
of    the   Early   English   period,    consisting  of   a  nave    and    aisles, 

(IS)  Mr.  Derick.  (10)  Mr.  Derick. 


138  WIGGINTON  CHURCH. 

with  -a  Chancel  of  Decorated  work  the  windows  of  which  are 
of  very  beautiful  design  and  execution :  the  Piscina  is  large  and 
formed  a  part  of  the  design  for  the  SedUia ;  the  latter  have  been 
destroyed,  and  one  of  the  seats  is  fixed  into  the  back  of  the 
chancel  arch ;  the  piscina  and  sedilia  were  united  bj  an  em- 
battled cornice  having  the  ball-flower,  the  whole  of  good  Deco- 
rated work.  There  are  two  sepulchral  recesses  in  the  chancel : 
that  on  the  south  side  has  bold  Decorated  mouldings  and  a  label 
terminated  by  human  heads,  it  contains  a  sarcophagus  having 
the  recumbent  figure-  of  a  knight  cross-legged  upon  its  lid,  but 
it  is  much  mutilated ;  the  figure  appears  to  be  in  the  act  of 
sheatliing  or  drawing  a  short  sword,  the  head  rests  upon  a  cush- 
ion and  shield  of  the  pointed  shape :  the  recess  on  the  north 
side  is  of  plain  character  and  is  not  so  deeply  sunk  in  the  wall 
as  that  just  described,  it  retains  a  stone  sarcophagus  correspond- 
ing in  size  with  a  figure  which  is  built  into  the  exterior  of  the 
South  Aisle ;  the  date  of  this  exterior  figure  is  shewn  by  the 
slab  on  which  it  rests  having  on  one  of  its  edges  the  ball-flower 
ornament  of  the  Decorated  or  14th-century  period ;  and  this 
leads  to  the  belief  that  the  figure  has  been  removed  from  the 
recess  in  the  chancel,  the  ball-flower  being  on  that  edge  of  the 
slab  which  would  be  visible  if  it  were  laid  in  the  situation  re- 
ferred to,  but  omitted  on  the  other  edges  ;  the  head  of  the  figure 
rests  vipon  a  lozenge-shaped  cushion  which  lies  upon  another 
cushion,  the  feet  rest  against  the  figure  of  a  lion ;  on  each  side 
of  this  knight  is  the  figure  of  a  child  in  the  attitude  of  prayer; 
the  large  figure  has  a  short  sword  of  the  Roman  shape,  having 
a  ring  hilt ;  it  is  clothed  in  a  sort  of  surcoat  and  cape,  but 
without  armour  or  headdress.  The  chancel  roof  is  open-tim- 
bered, of  the  1 5th  century ;  the  roofs  of  the  nave  and  aisles  are 
of  the  ]4th,  and  have  spandrel  brackets  resting  on  corbels  of 
the  Norman  or  Transition  Norman  period ;  at  the  intersections 
of  the  principal  timbers  of  the  nave  are  bosses  representing  em- 
blems of  the  Passion,  beautifully  carved ;  the  whole  was  formerly 
painted  and  gilt.  The  side  windows  of  the  Aisles  are  triple  lancet 
of  good  yet  simple  character;  the  w^estern  end  of  each  aisle  has 
a  Decorated  window  of  two  lights,  that  in  the  north  aisle  is  now 
walled  up.  The  Nave  has  a  Clerestory  of  two-light  windows 
of  the  14th  century,  it  rests  on  arches  of  Early  English  charac- 
ter, having  pillars  alternately  round  and  octagonal,  the  bases  and 


TADMARTON  CHURCH.  139 

capitals  are  plain  and  bold.  The  Tower  is  of  the  loth  century, 
it  is  of  three  stages  and  is  terminated  by  an  embattled  parapet : 
the  Porch,  on  the  north,  stands  obliquely  to  the  wall,  but  is 
otherwise  unworthy  of  notice  :  the  Font  is  of  the  true  church- 
warden style,  and  is  painted  to  resemble  a  marble  of  which  this 
globe  affords  no  specimen.^" 

Tadmarton  Church  (St.  Nicolas)  consists  of  a  chancel, 
nave,  north  aisle,  and  a  battlemented  tower  at  the  end  of  the 
nave.  The  Tower  is  of  three  stages;  the  two  lower  stages  are 
of  the  period  of  transition  from  Early  English  to  Decorated, 
the  upper  stage  is  of  the  15th  century.  The  Nave  and  Aisle 
are  separated  by  three  Norman  arches  of  very  simple  character, 
the  capitals  are  reeded,  the  abaci  are  quite  plain,  the  shafts  are 
cyliudric  and  have  bold  moulded  bases ;  these  arches  appear  to 
be  the  remains  of  a  Church  of  the  1 1th  century :  the  nave  was 
rebuilt  in  the  13th  century,  but  the  windows  of  that  period  were 
remo^'ed  in  the  15th  century,  when  Perpendicular  tracery  was 
inserted  in  the  Early  English  openings :  the  Clerestory  is  of 
the  loth  century.  This  Church  contains  some  fine  specimens 
of  wood  carving  of  the  end  of  the  14th  century,  in  the  open 
sittings  of  the  nave.  The  Chancel  is  Early  English,  with  some 
features  of  late  Norman  character ;  the  east  window  is  an  in- 
sertion of  early  Perpendicular  work ;  there  is  no  Piscina ;  the 
eastern  gable  of  the  nave  is  surmounted  by  a  sancte-bell  turret 
of  the  15th  century.  The  Aisle  is  tolerably  perfect ;  it  has  a 
fine  13th-eentury  doorway  having  attached  shafts  with  foliated 
capitals,  the  arch  is  recessed  and  charged  with  fine  bold  mould- 
ings, the  label  has  the  tooth  ornament  at  the  springing  of  the 
arch  on  each  side,  but  it  is  omitted  upwards  :  the  entrance  to 
the  Roodloft  stairs  was  in  this  aisle.  The  Font  is  of  very  early 
Decorated  character,  and  of  remarkably  vigorous  design  and  ex- 
ecution ;  the  shaft  is  octagonal,  the  vase  part  is  square  w^ithout 
and  circular  within,  the  cornice  is  enriched  with  human  heads 
alternate  with  the  ball-flower.  The  roofs  throughout  the  Church 
are  of  the  15th  century,  open-timbered,  and  leaded.^' 

SWALCLIFFE  ChurCH  (St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul)  is  a  fine 
Church  of   the   usual   plan,    partl)^    of   the     14th   century,    with 

(50)  Mr.  Derick.    The  group  of  figures  on  the  exterior  of  the  south  aisle  is  indill'erently 
represented  in  Skelton's  Oxfordshire. 
(.51)  Mr.  Derick. 

S3 


HO  CHURCHES  OF  SWALCLIFFE,  SHUTFORD, 

a  tower  of  the  loth  at  the  west  end,  and  some  parts  of  earher 
date.  The  Nave  has  on  the  north  side  four  Norman  arches  of 
the  12th  century,  round-headed  and  square-edged,  not  recessed, 
usually  marks  of  rather  early  date ;  on  the  south  side  the 
arches  are  of  later  character,  pointed  Transition  work,  with  Nor- 
man capitals  and  plain  octagon  pillars :  the  Clerestory  and  roof 
are  of  the  15th  century.  The  North  Aisle  is  of  the  14th  cen- 
tury, with  good  Decorated  windows  having  flowing  tracery,  pro- 
bably of  the  date  of  about  1320.  The  South  Aisle  is  rather 
earlier,  probably  about  1280,  with  windows  of  three  lancet  lights 
united  under  one  arch  within  ;  the  east  window  of  this  aisle  is 
of  three  lights  with  three  foliated  circles  in  the  head ;  the  south 
door  is  of  the  Early  English  style,  with  good  mouldings  and 
shafts,  having  capitals  with  the  stiff  leaf  foliage :  this  aisle  is 
altogether  of  transition  character  from  the  Early  English  to  the 
Decorated  style.  The  Chancel  is  also  of  the  same  age  and 
style ;  some  of  the  windows  have  foliated  circles  and  trefoils  in 
the  head,  others  have  the  mullions  simply  crossing,  and  one  is 
of  two  lights  with  a  lozenge  in  the  head  ;  the  Sedilia  and  Pis- 
cina are  very  good  early  Decorated  or  transition,  with  the  shafts 
detached,  but  the  mouldings  not  very  early;  the  roof  is  open 
timber  work  of  the  1 5th  century ;  there  is  a  very  good  Screen 
of  the  same  age,  with  remains  of  the  old  painting  and  gilding, 
and  some  running  scroll  work  of  the  time  of  Charles  the  First 
added  to  it.^- 

Shutford  Church,  or  rather  Chapel,  (St.  Martin,)  is  a 
chapel  under  Swalcliffe.  This  is  a  small  Church,  principally  of 
Early  English  character,  and  very  unpretending ;  it  consists  of 
a  nave,  chancel,  north  aisle  and  transept  or  lady-chapel,  and 
tower.  The  Tower,  which  is  small  and  of  two  stages  only,  starts 
from  the  end  of  the  aisle  ;  the  lower  stage  is  of  Early  English 
work  and  has  some  good  buttresses  of  that  period,  the  upper 
stage  is  of  the  15th  century.  The  Nave  is  separated  from  the 
Aisle  by  Transition  Norman  arches,  which  are  pointed  and  with- 
out mouldings  ;  they  have  plain  Norman  labels  on  one  face,  which 
stop  on,  and  are  flush  with,  the  abaci ;  two  of  the  capitals  are 
reeded,  the  remaining  one  has  some  flat  foliage  of  late  Norman 
character ;    the  shafts  are  cylindric,  the  bases  are  bold  and  stand 

(52)  Mr.  J.   H.   Parker.      One   of   tlie  windows  of   this   Church   is  engraved  in  the 
Glossary  of  Architecture,  edit.  1840,  p.  235. 


EPWELL,  AND  SHENINGTON.  141 

upon  circular  plinths.  The  Chancel  is  of  plain  Early  English 
work ;  a  part  of  the  Roodloft-screen  remains  and  is  a  good  spe- 
cimen of  the  carving  of  the  14th  centiu-y,  it  was  painted  in  party 
colours  and  richly  gilt.  The  Transept  or  Lady-Chapel,  which 
is  entered  from  the  eastern  end  of  the  aisle,  is  of  Early  English 
plain  work;  the  roof  of  this  chapel  is  of  the  Decorated  period, 
the  principal  timbers  are  hollowed  out  in  the  manner  which  in 
Heraldry  would  be  called  engrailed.  This  Church  has  no  Piscina 
visible,  but  it  has  a  Locker  in  the  transept ;  the  roofs  not  already 
described  are  of  the  15th  century  and  are  leaded  ;  the  Porch  is 
of  very  plain  Early  English  work ;  the  Font  is  octagonal,  of 
plain  Transition  Norman  character.  This  Church  has  extensive 
remains  of  early  paintings  on  the  walls. ^ 

Epwell  Church,  or  rather  Chapel,  (St.  Anne,)  is  a  chapel 
under  Swalcliffe.  It  is  a  small  Church,  consisting  of  a  chancel, 
nave,  tower  placed  on  the  south  side  of  the  nave,  and  a  small 
south  aisle  adjoining  the  tower  and  on  the  east  of  it,  but  open- 
ing only  into  the  nave.  The  Church  is  entered  from  the  south 
by  a  Decorated  doorway  in  the  Tower :  the  Nave  has  been 
stripped  of  its  original  roof,  and  a  modern  slated  one  has  been 
supplied ;  the  window  at  the  west  end  is  of  three  lights  without 
cusps,  the  Font  is  destitute  of  character.  The  Chancel  re- 
tains the  ancient  timbered  and  leaded  roof;  the  eastern  window 
is  of  three  lights,  of  the  period  of  transition  from  the  Decorated 
to  the  Perpendicular  style ;  on  the  north  side  there  is  a  De- 
corated window  of  two  lights,  on  the  south  side  one  apparently 
of  the  period  of  transition  to  the  Decorated  style,  of  a  single 
light;  the  Piscina  is  of  plain  Decorated  work.  The  South  Aisle 
is  divided  from  the  nave  by  two  arches  of  13th-century  charac- 
ter ;  the  Tower  is  of  the  14th  century  and  battlemented  at  the  top. 

SHENINGTON  Church  (Holy  Trinity)  consists  of  a  nave, 
chancel,  south  aisle,  and  a  tower  at  the  western  end  of  the  nave  : 
the  north  walls  of  the  nave  and  chancel,  and  the  east  end  of 
the  chancel,  were  rebuilt  in  the  last  century  in  the  bald  and 
tasteless  style  of  the  period.  The  Chancel  has  three  very  fine 
Decorated  windows  of  two  lights  on  the  south  side,  with  flowing 
tracery  and  label  mouldings  on  both  faces  ;  the  Piscina  and  one 
stone   seat  for  the   priest  are   in   this  wall,   both  have   canopies 

(1)  Mr.  Derick. 


]J2  CHURCHES  OF  SHENINGTON, 

of  an  ogee  shape,  cusped,  and  the  mouldings  are  particularly 
bold  and  free,  they  are  fine  specimens  of  the  period ;  the  Locker 
remains,  it  is  above  the  usual  size,  and  contained  two  shelves ; 
the  Font  is  placed  here,  it  is  of  small  dimensions  and  not  a 
discreditable  specimen  of  modern  Gothic.  There  is  a  very  fine 
Norman  arch  connecting  the  Nave  and  chancel ;  the  face  towards 
the  nave  is  highly  enriched  with  the  zigzag  and  cable  mouldings, 
the  soffit  is  at  right  angles  to  the  face  and  is  quite  plain,  the 
impost  moulding  is  very  bold,  it  is  enriched  with  the  sunk  star 
ornament  and  zigzag,  the  jambs  are  square  and  quite  plain.  The 
Roodloft  stairs  lead  out  of  the  South  Aisle  and  are  yet  entire. 
The  arches  which  divide  the  aisle  from  the  nave  are  Early 
English,  having  octagonal  shafts  and  capitals  of  the  most  ex- 
quisite workmanship  ;  the  foliage  of  the  capitals  is  undercut  so 
as  to  admit  light  behind  the  leaves,  they  are  similar  in  design 
and  equal  in  execution  to  those  of  the  organ-screen  at  Salisbury 
Cathedral ;  the  bases  are  plain :  the  windows  of  tlus  aisle  are 
very  good  specimens  of  the  art  of  the  14th  century,  and  are 
of  the  same  date  as  the  chancel.  Some  remains  of  the  Rood- 
loft-screen  (Mr.  Derick  continues)  "  are  attached  to  one  of  those 
comfortable  pews  which  can  only  be  met  with  in  this  country, 
nailed  against  the  pew  in  the  fashion  in  which  dead  birds  are 
fastened  to  gables  in  a  farm-yard ;"  these  ornaments  give  the 
age  of  the  roodloft  as  being  early  in  the  14th  century,  the  ex- 
ecution of  the  carving  is  particularly  good.  The  Clerestory 
windows  remain  on  the  south  side,  they  are  of  the  14th  cen- 
tury and  are  of  two  lights.  In  the  exterior  of  the  south  wall 
of  the  aisle  is  the  figure  of  an  ecclesiastic,  inserted  in  a  small 
Decorated  niche,  the  hands  are  elevated  as  if  giving  the  bene- 
diction ;  there  is  the  figure  of  a  bull  in  alto-relievo  on  its 
right  hand  side,  forming  part  of  the  slab  in  which  the  niche 
is  cut.  The  sancte-bell  turret  remains  over  the  chancel  arch ; 
the  Porch  is  on  the  south  side  and  is  plain  Perpendicular  work. 
The  Tower  is  of  two  stages,  of  early  Perpendicular  work  and 
not  remarkably  elegant ;  the  roofs  throughout  the  Church  are 
void  of  character." 

Alkerton   Church  (St.  Michael)  consists  of  a  nave,  south 
aisle,  and  chancel ;    the  tower  rises   from  between   the  nave   and 

(3)  Mr.  Derick.      The   attention  paid  to  cleanliness  in   every  part  of   this  Church  is 
highly  creditable  to  the  parties  to  whom  the  edifice  is  entrusted. 


AND  ALKERTON.  143 

the  chancel,  and  its  area  forms  a  sort  of  loggia  to  the  latter  ; 
this  feature  is  similar  to  that  at  Horley  Church  and  is  rather 
unusual.  The  Church  is  in  great  part  of  Early  English  charac- 
ter, but  some  portions  are  of  the  14  th  century,  and  it  was 
altered  late  in  the  16th  century  when  the  chancel  was  partly 
rebuilt.  The  old  Locker  remains.  The  Tower  is  of  three 
stages,  the  lower  stage  is  Early  English,  the  two  upper  are  of 
the  style  of  the  14th  century.  The  Nave  is  separated  from  the 
Aisle  by  an  arcade  of  Early  English  work  so  early  as  to  retain 
some  features  of  its  Norman  parentage ;  the  Clerestory  was  ad- 
ded in  the  14th  century,  when  some  windows  of  that  period 
were  inserted  in  the  side  of  the  nave  and  aisle.  The  entrance 
to  this  Church  is  in  the  south  aisle,  and  is  of  plain  Early 
English  or  13th-eentury  work;  the  Porch  is  of  the  same  date, 
and  retains  the  Stoup,  which  is  unusually  large,  in  the  north- 
east angle.  The  interior  of  tliis  Church  is  now  being  cleaned 
and  the  whitewash  of  centuries'  accumulation  being  removed, 
and  the  beautiful  details  wliich  were  before  choked  up  are 
brought  into  view.^  On  the  exterior,  the  cornice  and  the  para- 
pet of  the  Nave  are  remarkably  rich  ;  the  pedimented  portion  of 
the  parapet  is  panelled  in  quatrefoils  with  the  square  leaf  orna- 
ment of  the  14th  century  in  their  centre  ;  the  coping  is  enriched 
with  crockets ;  the  cornice  is  beautifully  sculptured,  enriched  with 
figures  of  animals,  man,  the  rabbit  or  hare,  the  lamb,  the  ass, 
and  the  type  of  the  Evil  One  in  the  figure  of  the  lioness  or  tiger. 
All  these  figures  are  of  excellent  workmanship  and  are  beauti- 
fully undercut :  "  this  cornice  was  evidently  intended  as  a  sort 
of  language  to  the  ixdtiated,  and  I  think,"  continues  Mr.  Derick, 
"  it  could  be  well  made  out  with  a  little  attention  and  study. 
The  dusk  of  evening  was  coming  on,  but  I  could  plainly  see 
figures  with  musical  instruments,  with  the  figure  of  a  man  being 
as  it  were  lulled  into  listlessness  by  their  music  ;  the  type  of  the 
Evil  One  close  at  hand,  but  in  the  attitude  of  moving  as  if  by 
stealth  towards  his  victim  ;  then  the  figures  of  two  men  in  mor- 
tal strife,  with  this  same  evil  spirit  waiting  for  its  prey ;  the 
ass  too,  emblematic  of  patience,  close  to  the  figure  of  the  lamb 
bearing  a  flag ;  the  hare  or  rabbit  emblematic  of  timidity  and 
innocence  ;  the  whole  is  evidently  a  work  of  design  and  not  a 
freak  of   fancy :"    the  cornice   of  the  Church  at  Hanwell  is  pre- 

(3)  This  is  being  done  with  praiseworthy  feeling  by  the  Rev.  R.  E.  Hughes,  rector. 


144  CHURCHES  OF  RATLEY,  WARMINGTON, 

ciselj  of  the  same  date  as  this,  similar  in  design  and  most  likely 
executed  bj  the  same  hands.  Alkerton  Church  and  its  neigh- 
bour at  Shenington  are  beautifully  situated,  being  built  upon  ground 
much  above  the  level  of  the  road.**  Thomas  Lydyat  was  born 
at  Alkerton,  and  was  rector  of  this  Church  during  the  period  of 
the  Civil  Wars ;  an  inscription  on  the  walls  formerly  marked 
nearly  the  place  of  his  interment  in  the  Church,  but  the  frail 
memorial  has  long  been  obliterated. 

Ratley  Church  (St  Peter)  is  a  beautiful  village  Church, 
consisting  of  a  nave,  chancel,  south  aisle,  chapel,  tower  at  the 
west  end,  and  north  porch.  The  Nave  is  di\dded  from  the  Aisle 
by  two  lofty  and  elegant  pillars  without  capitals,  the  span  of 
the  arches  is  wide ;  the  Chapel,  which  is  situated  at  the  east 
end  of  the  aisle,  is  open  to  it  and  to  the  chancel  by  two  spacious 
and  elegant  arches  ;  it  contains  a  Piscina  apparently  unfinished. 
The  Chancel  is  spacious,  the  beautiful  east  window  of  early 
Perpendicular  work  is  sadly  mutilated ;  it  contains  a  Piscina, 
not  in  the  usual  place,  but  in  the  side  of  a  window.  All  the 
windows  are  good  work,  mostly  Decorated,  some  of  them  large, 
which  makes  the  Church  very  light  and  cheerful. 

In  the  church-yard  stands  a  Cross,  or  rather  a  pillar  sur- 
mounted by  a  crucifix,  unusually  perfect.^ 

WARMINGTON  Church  (St.  Nicolas)  is  most  beautifully 
situated  on  the  edge  of  a  hill  commanding  one  of  the  richest 
prospects  in  England ;  it  is  a  very  interesting  Church,  chiefly 
of  the  14th  century  and  Decorated  style,  with  a  Tower  at  the 
west  end.  The  west  door  is  good  Decorated  work,  and  has  a 
window  over  it  of  the  same  style,  biit  the  upper  windows  appear 
somewhat  later,  belonging  rather  to  the  Perpendicular  style.  The 
Nave  has  four  arches  on  each  side,  three  of  wliich  are  of  the 
Transition  Norman  period ;  the  remaining  arch  on  either  side 
is  of  the  14th  century  and  Decorated  style:  there  is  no  Clere- 
story, and  the  roof  is  original  plain  timber  work.  The  North 
Aisle  is  early  Decorated  work,  in  the  style  prevalent  about  the 
end  of  the  13th  century ;  it  has  some  good  windows,  particularly 
the  east  window ;  in  this  aisle  one  of  the  original  Nonnan 
pillars  has  been  partly  cut  away  and  a  Decorated  one  formed 
out    of    it.       The    South    Aisle    is    also    Decorated    work,    but 

(4)  Mr.  Derifk.  (o)  Rev.  J.  C.  Stafford. 


FARNBOROUGH,  AND  CLAYDON.  145 

plainer   than  the  north  aisle,  and  somewhat  later  ;    on  this  side 
there   is  a   stone  Porch  of    the  14th  century.      The  Chancel  is 
also   of  the   14th  century,   and  has  a  Decorated  east  window  of 
four  lights,  not  foliated,  but  with  good  mullions  ;  on  the  south  side 
are  remains  of  two  large  square-headed  Decorated  windows :    the 
Sedilia  and  Piscina  are  Decorated,  of  a  very  elegant  and  beau- 
tiful design  ;    the  work  has  lately  been  renewed,  but  it  has  been 
carefully     done,    and    the     restoration     appears     to    be     perfect. 
Attached  to  the  north  side  of  the  Chancel  is  a   small  building 
consisting    of    two    small    square    rooms    one    over    the    other, 
with   square   windows    of   the    14th   century,    and   a   good    small 
ogee-headed  door  of  the   same  age ;    the  floor  is  gone,  but  evi- 
dent marks  of  it  remain ;    in  both  rooms  there  are  original  fire- 
places, quite  plain,  and  square,  the  chimney  is  not  carried  up  to 
the  top  of  the  wall,  but  the  smoke  escaped  from  a  sort  of  eyelet 
hole ;  in  the  lower  room,  under  the  window  which  faces  the  east, 
there  is    a  stone    Altar,   consisting  of   a    slab  resting   on   brack- 
ets, with  a  good   Decorated  Piscina   by  the   side  of  it ;    in   the 
upper  room  there  is  an  opening  through  the  wall  into  the  Chan- 
cel, where  it  has  the  appearance  of   a  niche  :    it  is  supposed  that 
this  building    was  the   Vestry  and    temporary  habitation   of   the 
Priest.     The  Pulpit  is  good  carved  oak  of  the  time  of  Charles 
the  First;  the  Font  is  Norman,  plain,  round.     This  is  altogether 
a  very  interesting  Church,  and  well  worth  a  visit  from  any  lover 
of  Gothic  Architecture.^ 

FARNBOROUGH  Church  (St.  Botolph)  is  a  small  single 
Church,  consisting  of  a  nave,  chancel,  north  transept  newly 
built,  a  low  tower  at  the  west  end,  and  a  south  porch.  It  con- 
tains specimens  of  Norman  or  Semi-Norman,  Early  English,  De- 
corated, and  Perpendicular  work.' 

ClaydoN     Church,    or    rather    Chapel,    (St.    James,)   is    a 

(6)  Mr.  J.  H.  Parker.  At  Warmington  there  is  a  fine  old  Manor-house,  the  property 
of  the  Earl  of  Jersey,  hnt  now  used  only  as  a  fiirm-house,  and  (in  1840)  much  in  want 
of  internal  repairs  and  the  re-opening  of  the  windows.  It  is  of  the  16th  century  :  the  plan 
is  the  usual  one  at  that  peiiod,  two  gables  projecting  and  a  recess  in  the  centre.  The 
windows  are  all  square-headed,  but  have  good  dripstones  and  mouldings,  the  quarter-round 
prevailing.  There  are  good  stone  finials  on  the  points  of  the  gables,  such  as  are  commonly 
called  hip-knobs.  Several  good  chimnies  and  fireplaces  remain  perfect.  The  timbers 
are  all  sound,  but  the  planks  of  the  flooring  require  to  be  renewed. 

This  may  be  a  proper  place  to  mention,  concerning  domestic  architecture,  that  there  is  at 
Middletou  Cheney,  in  a  lane  a  little  way  south  of  the  Church,  a  timber  doorway  apparently 
of  the  13th  century,  having  the  toothed  ornament  car\cd  in  the  head,  which  is  a  low  seg- 
mental arch. 

(7)  Kev.  J.  C.  Stafford. 


i^^  CHURCHES  OF  ASTON-LE-WALLS, 

chapel  under  Cropredj.  It  is  a  small  Church,  consistmg  of  a 
nave  and  chancel  without  any  division  and  under  the  same 
roof,  and  a  north  aisle  divided  from  the  nave  by  four  arches, 
three  Norman,  and  one,  to  the  east,  Semi-Norman.  The  Tower 
(a  gable-roofed  one)  and  the  eastern  end  of  the  side  aisle  (which 
may  rather  perhaps  be  called  a  chapel)  are  of  the  15th  century: 
the  south  doorway  has  a  round-headed  arch  :  porch,  date  doubt- 
ful :  font  modern  and  of  wood.^ 

Aston -LE-\Yalls  Church  (St.  Leonard)  is  situated  a  little 
beyond  the  limit  round  Banbury  prescribed  in  this  section,  but 
merits  notice  as  being  a  very  interesting  Church.  It  consists  of 
a  nave,  north  and  south  aisles  divided  from  the  nave  by  round 
and  octagon  pillars,  a  chancel,  a  tower  at  the  west  end,  and  two 
porches,  one  to  the  south  aisle,  the  other  before  the  west  door 
of  the  tower.  It  contains  work  of  four  dates,  Semi-Norman, 
Early  English,  Decorated,  and  Perpendicular:  the  Tower  is  of 
the  first  period,  with  parapet  probably  original ;  the  Nave  of 
the  first ;  the  Clerestory  apparently  of  the  third ;  the  two  Aisles 
partly  of  the  first,  second,  and  third ;  the  Chancel  of  the  third ; 
and  the  Porches  and  east  window  of  the  fourth.  In  the  Chan- 
cel, to  the  south  of  the  altar,  is  a  double  Piscina  divided  by 
a  small  pillar  resembling  the  mullion  of  a  Decorated  window 
with  a  ciuquefoil  above ;  near  it  are  two  Sedilia  of  different 
grades,  the  lower  one  apparently  intended  to  hold  two  persons ; 
to  the  north  is  a  curious  Locker  resembling  the  head  of  the 
doorway  in  St.  Thomas's  Church,  Oxford,  (see  the  Glossary  of 
Arcliitecture,  edit.  1840,  Plate  37,)  the  original  doors  and  shelf 
remain.  In  the  same  wall  is  a  monmiiental  niche  of  the  14th 
century  containing  the  figure  of  an  ecclesiastic  canopied  f  there 
is  also  an  ogee -arched  monumental  niche  in  the  outer  wall  of 
the  west  end  of  the  south  aisle.  Many  of  the  seats  in  the  nave 
are  low  and  open,  ornamented  with  good  Decorated  tracery; 
those  in  the  chancel  have  tracery  of  the  15th  century.  The 
large  square  Norman  Font  is  ascended  by  three  steps.^" 

HelmdoN  Church  (St.  Nicolas)  is  also  beyond  the  limit,  but 
merits  notice.  This  Church  consists  of  a  nave  with  two  side 
aisles,  a  tower  at  the  west  end  newly  built,  a  chancel,  and  two 

(8)  Rev.  J.  C.  Start'ortl. 

(9)  There  is  an  etching  of  this  sepulchral  ci-cctioii  and  the  lucker   near  it  in  Baker's 
Northamp.,  p.  473. 

(10)  Kev.  J.  C.  Staflbrd. 


HELMDON,  AND  SOULDERN.  H"^ 

porches  apparently  of  late  date.  The  Nave,  Chancel,  and  Aisles 
are  of  the  14th  century,  but  the  nave  has  a  Clerestory  of  the 
loth  century.  The  Chancel  is  a  good  specimen  of  the  Deco- 
rated style,  the  side  windows  are  elegant,  with  ogee  dripstones  ; 
there  are  three  Sedilia  of  three  grades  divided  by  clustered  pil- 
lars with  ogee  canopies  crocketed  ;  a  Piscina,  and  Locker  with 
a  wooden  shelf,  of  the  same  character ;  and  two  plain  brackets 
for  candelabra  high  placed  on  either  side  the  altar.  The  pillars 
dividing  the  nave  from  the  aisles  are  octagon,  but  low  and  in- 
elegant.    The  Font  is  modern,  like  a  baluster." 

SOUI.DERN  Church  (St.  Mary)  is  also  beyond  the  limit,  but 
is  interesting  in  itself;  and  is  a  fit  subject  wherewith  to  conclude 
this  article  on  the  Churches  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Banbury, 
from  the  circumstance  of  its  church-yard  and  parsonage  being 
the  theme  of  one  of  Wordsworth's  Sonnets.  It  is  beautifully 
situated  in  a  valley.  The  early  Norman  Tower  remains,  having 
walls  of  great  thickness,  but  it  inclines  far  from  the  perpen- 
dicular :  the  Nave  has  a  Clerestory,  and  is  parted  from  the  South 
Aisle  by  three  pointed  arches  resting  on  round  columns  ;  the  nave 
and  aisle  retain  some  ancient  carved  seats.  Some  of  the  windows 
of  the  aisle  are  elaborate  and  curious  specimens  of  early  De- 
corated work.  The  Porch,  and  the  aisle  to  which  it  opens,  have 
each  a  pointed  arched  doorway,  without  capitals  to  the  jambs, 
the  labels  terminate  in  heads.  The  Chancel  is  modern  and  bad. 
On  the  exterior,  the  garden  of  the  parsonage-house  comes  up  to 
the  north  side  of  the  Church,  and  joins  the  church-yard,  being 
parted  from  it  only  by  an  invisible  fence:  this  was  the  scene'- 
that  gave  rise  to  ^Yordsworth's  beautiful  sonnet  entitled  "  A 
Parsonage  in  Oxfordshire." 

"  Where  holy  ground  begins,  unhallowed  ends, 
Is  marked  by  no  distinguishable  line  ; 
The  turf  unites,  the  pathways  intertwine  ; 
And,  wheresoe'er  the  stealing  footstep  tends, 
Garden,  and  that  Domain  where  Kindred,  Friends, 
And  Neighboui-s  rest  together,  here  confound 
Their  several  features,  mingled  like  the  sound 
Of  many  waters,  or  as  evening  blends 
With  shady  night.     Soft  airs,  from  shrub  and  flower, 
Waft  fragrant  greetings  to  each  silent  grave  ; 
And  while  those  lofty  Poplars  gently  wave 

(11)  r.cv.  J.  C.  StaS'oril.  (l->)  Inlbrmation  from  the  Poet  himself 


148  WARMINGTON  PRIORY.— BANBURY  CHURCH. 

Their  tops,  between  them  comes  and  goes  a  skj' 

Bright  as  the  glimpses  of  Eternity, 

To  Saints  accorded  in  their  mortal  horn-." 

The  Priories  of  Wroxton,  Chacombe,  aud  Clattercot,  have 
been  already  noticed  (pp.  79 — 87).  At  Warm:ngton  there 
was  an  alien  Benedictine  PriORY,  which  stood,  according  to 
tradition,  near  the  centre  of  the  village  :  this  was  founded  by 
Henry  de  Newburgh  Earl  of  Warwick  (who  died  in  1123), 
who  gave  this  lordship  of  Wannington  to  the  monks  of  the 
Abbey  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  de  Pratellis,  or  Preaux,  in  Nor- 
mandy, and  built  them  a  cell  here  to  which  they  sent  over  some 
of  their  convent.  The  monks  of  Warmington  were  subsequently 
removed  to  Monks'  Toft  in  Norfolk. ^^  In  the  reign  of  Henry 
the  P'ifth  all  the  alien  Priories  were  given  to  the  King. 


BANBURY  OLD  CHURCH:    BANBURY  CROSS:    &c. 

The  old  Church  of  Banbury  (St.  Mary)  was  according  to 
every  account  a  truly  magnificent  structure,  "  worthy  to  have  been 
a  Cathedral,"  and  justly  the  pride  of  the  town  and  country  round. 
The  descriptions  which  have  come  down  to  us,  with  the  help  of 
some  drawings  and  engravings  and  a  few  fragments  which  remain 
to  bear  witness  to  its  former  magnificence,  shew  that  it  belonged 
chiefly  to  the  best  period  of  Gothic  Architecture  ;  and  that  it 
was  as  far  superior  to  the  Churches  of  Bloxham,  Adderbury, 
and  King's  Sutton,  as  these  are  to  the  generaUty  of  village 
Churches.  It  was  such  a  building  as,  if  it  were  standing  at 
the  present  day,  when  Gotliic  Architecture  is  receiving  the  atten- 
tion of  nearly  all  persons  of  education  and  taste,  would  make 
Banbury  as  celebrated  for  its  fine  Church  as  it  once  was  for  its 
beautiful  Cross.  Never  perhaps  was  a  more  wanton  and  barba- 
rous act  perpetrated  than  the  destruction  of  the  old  Church  of 
Banbury,  nor  one  more  entirely  without  excuse.  The  Cross  was 
destroyed  by  ignorant  fanatics  who  were,  to  say  the  least,  honest 
and  disinterested ;  but  for  the  destruction  of  the  Church  there 
is  no  excuse :  those  who  ought  to  have  known  better,  suffered 
themselves  to  be  blinded  by  men  who  were  guided  only  bj-  their 
self-interest;    aud,   in   1790,  imder   the   notoriously   false    pretext 

(13)  Magna  Brit.,  v.  3,  p.  780. 


THE  OLD  CHURCH  OF  BANBURY.         H5> 

that  it  was  iu  a  dilapidated  state,  this  splendid  structure  was 
pulled  down,  or  rather  blown  to  atoms,  for  these  "  dilapidated  " 
walls  could  only  be  destroyed  by  means  of  gimpowder!'^  Mr. 
Grose,  one  of  the  most  eminent  antiquaries  of  the  last  century, 
who  had  seen  this  Church  in  its  glory  and  was  able  to  appre- 
ciate it,  has  left  a  short  description.  "  Banbury  Church  is  an 
handsome  stone  edifice  having  a  lofty  square  Tower  crowned 
with  eight  pinnacles  and  containing  six  well-tuned  bells.  This 
building  has  something  elegant  and  picturesque  in  its  construc- 
tion, appearing  rather  like  a  Cathedral  than  a  common  parochial 
Church ;  its  style  bespeaks  it  of  no  modern  date,  but  neither 
the  time  of  its  erection  nor  the  name  of  its  founder  have  been 
preserved  by  history  or  tradition.""'  INIr.  Philip  Rusher  thus 
describes  the  Church  in  1789  (the  year  before  its  unhallowed 
destruction),  in  his  metrical  description  of  the  Churches  seen 
from  Crouch  Hill : — 

"  But  see  where  o'er  the  rest,  with  nobler  blaze, 
Its  eight  crown'd  turrets  Banbury  displays 
Upon  its  hallow'd  walls,  and  wide  around 
Thick  rising  structures  occupy  the  ground. 
Behold  how  Phoebus  with  his  early  lights 
Shines  on  the  battlements,  and  builded  heights."'^ 

The  Cathedral-like  appearance  of  this  venerable  pile  is  well 
shewn  in  a  pen-and-ink  sketch  of  the  town  made  in  1730,  of 
which  a  reduced  copy  is  given  on  the  next  page.  The  dimen- 
sions of  the  building,  imperfectly  stated  by  some  writers,  have 
been  given  with  accuracy — "  On  a  Scrap  of  Paper  in  Mr.  Browne 
Willis's  Hand,"  which  paper  is  preserved,  with  the  above  title, 
in  the  British  Museum,  and  contains  as  follows  : — 
"Banbury  Church.     St.  Mary's." 

"  Length  of  the  Body  from  West  to  East 

Bredth  of  the  Cross  Isle  from  East  to  West 

Length  of  the  Chancel  from  West  to  East 

Bredth  of  tlie  Body  from  South  to  North    . 

Length  of  the  Cross  Isle 3t 

Bredth  of  the  Chancel 

The  whole  length  of  the  Church  &  Chancel  from  East  to  West  64  Yards 
or  192  Feet."!' 

(14)  See  an  account  of  the  destruction  of   the  Church  (communicated  to  the  author  by 
eye-witnesses,)  when  we  come  to  the  events  of  1790. 

(15)  Grose's  Antiquities,  vol.  4,  p.  170. 

(16)  Crouch  Hill,  a  Poem.    The  author  of  this  little  Poem  was  a  resident  iu  Banhury ; 
he  died  in  1832. 

(17)  Coles  MSS.,  vol.  31. 


Yards 

Feet  Inches. 

,     31 

1 

9 

10 

2 

6 

.     21 

1 

9 

27 

1 

6 

31 

0 

0 

8 

1 

1 

150 


THE  OLD  CHURCH  OF  BANBURY. 


liWif  fVv'^q^'^Q 


THE  OLD  CHURCH  OF  BANBURY.         l^^l 

I'lie  foregoing  appear  to  liave  been  tlie  internal  dimensions.  The 
exterior  length  of  the  building  is  pointed  out  by  known  marks 
at  the  present  daj,  wluch  shew  that  it  extended  212  feet  (mcluding 
probably  the  clumsy  western  buttresses),  the  eastern  end  being 
where  the  east  wall  of  the  present  chancel  stands.  The  Church 
is  described  by  Browne  Willis  as  being  the  largest  in  Oxfordshire. 
The  following  architectural  description  has  been  furnished  for 
this  work  by  Mr.  O.  Jewitt  of  Headington.'^  "  The  Old  Church 
of  Banbury  was  built  in  the  form  of  a  cross,  with  a  tower  at  the 
intersection  and  a  chapel  attached  to  each  of  the  transepts. 
The  Nave,  which  had  a  north  and  a  south  aisle  and  a  porch 
on  the  south  side,  appears  to  have  been  the  earliest  part  of  the 
building ;  the  arches,  as  well  as  those  supporting  the  tower, 
(from  the  testimony  of  persons  who  remember  the  old  church,) 
being  semicircular  and  plain,  and  therefore  marking  its  style  as 
early  Norman,  and  its  date  as  the  early  part  of  the  12th  cen- 
tury, the  time  of  the  episcopate  of  Bishop  Alexander.  The 
piers  of  the  nave  were  circular,  those  of  the  tower  square,  and 
both  plain.  The  Aisles  of  the  nave  appear  however  to  have 
been  a  mixture  of  Early  English  and  early  Decorated.  The  west 
window  of  the  nave  (see  the  west  view,  Plate  14)  appears  to 
have  had  its  tracery  destroyed  and  its  place  supplied  by  the 
plain  upright  muUions  or  stone  bars  which  we  so  frequently  see 
disfiguring  otherwise  beautiful  Churches,  particularly  in  this  neigh- 
bourhood :  over  the  window  was  a  parapet  of  a  double  row  of 
pierced  quatrefoils,  and  in  the  centre  a  niche,  the  whole  sup- 
ported by  two  strong  and  clumsy  flying  buttresses,  probably  the 
additions  of  a  late  date,  about  1700.  The  North  Aisle  was 
double,  and  had  two  western  windows  with  intersecting  tracery, 
and  a  buttress  between  them  with  a  niche :  the  parapet  was  of 
the  open  flowing  trefoil  form  so  frequent  in  work  of  the  14th 
century.  The  South  Aisle  had  one  window  to  the  west  with 
Geometrical  (early  Decorated)  tracery,  having  the  double  triangle 
and  two  quatrefoils  in  the  head :  there  was  an  octagon  stair-tur- 
ret at  the  angle  which  had  an  arcade  above  the  stringcourse ; 
the  parapet  was  a  single  row  of  large  quatrefoils  pierced.  The 
south  windows  of  this  aisle  seem  to  have  been  of  the  same 
Geometrical  character  as  the  one  at  the  west  end.      The  South 

fl8)  Engraver  on  wood  to  the  Oxford  Society  for  promoting  the  Study  of  Gothic  Archi- 
tecture ;  also  Engraver  of  the  Plates  contained  in  the  Glossary  of  Architecture,  and  in  this 
volume. 


152  THE  OLD  CHURCH  OF  BANBURY. 

Transept  was  Decorated  ;  and  the  Chapel  attached  to  it  had  De- 
corated windows  with  qiiatrefoil  tracery  and  the  jambs  orna- 
mented with  the  ball-flower.  (See  the  southeast  view,  Plate  13.) 
The  buttresses  of  tliis  Chapel  were  enriched  with  niches  and  ter- 
minated in  pinnacles  ;  the  buttress  which  stood  at  the  angle  had 
a  pinnacle  of  extraordinary  height  and  lightness :  ihe  parapet 
was  the  flowing  trefoil  pierced :  this  Chapel  seems  to  have  been 
a  very  beautiful  specimen  of  its  style.  The  Clerestory  of  the 
South  Transept  was  late  Perpendicular  work,  with  a  panelled 
parapet.  The  North  Transept  with  its  Clerestory  appears  to 
have  been  Decorated.  The  Chapel  on  the  east  side  of  the  north 
transept  is  only  seen  in  the  northwest  view  (Plate  14),  and  in 
the  pen-and-ink  sketch  on  page  150.  The  windows  of  the  Chan- 
cel were  of  early  Perpendicular  character,  the  east  window  of 
nine  lights,  the  others  of  five,  the  dripstones  terminated  in  heads : 
the  doorway  of  the  Chancel  has  been  preserved,  the  head  of  it 
is  engraved  in  Plate  16  (fig.  1)  :  the  parapet  of  the  Chancel 
was  plain.  The  Porch,  entering  the  south  aisle,  was  Decorated, 
with  buttresses  at  the  angles,  and  a  panelled  parapet  of  which 
the  specimen  in  the  plates  of  remains  (Plate  16,  fig.  4)  appears 
to  have  been  a  portion  ;  the  arch  had  continuous  mouldings  with- 
out shafts  or  imposts.  The  North  Aisle  appears  to  have  been 
work  of  the  middle  and  end  of  the  13th  century,  a  transition 
from  Early  English  to  Decorated,  the  window  at  the  west  end 
(before  described)  having  intersecting  tracery,  and  those  on  the 
north  side  being  three-light  lancet ;  above  these  was  another  tier 
of  windows  evidently  of  later  insertion :  there  was  a  north  door 
entering  this  aisle.  The  Clerestory  was  Perpendicular,  a  head 
of  one  of  the  windows  will  be  found  in  the  plate  of  remains 
(Plate  17,  fig.  3).  The  Tower  was  plain  Perpendicular  with 
eight  panelled  pinnacles,  and  a  Clerestory  projecting  partially 
over_the  Chancel  (Plate  13). 

"  The  dates  of  the  parts  of  the   Church  were  probably  nearly 
as  follows  : — ■ 

A.  D. 
Arches  and  piers  of  the  Nave        .     .     .     about  1 1 40 

North  Aisle  of  the  Nave 1250 

Windows  in  the  west  end  of  the  North  }    ,  r.,^ 

Aisle ^ 

South  Aisle  of  the  Nave 1280  or  1300 


THE  OLD  CHURCH  OF  BANBURY.        l-'>'^ 

Porch about  1350 

North  Transept 1350 

Chapel  adjoining  the  North  Transept  . 1350 

Chapel  adjoining  the  South  Transept      . 1350 

Chancel 1-120 

Tower 1450 

Clerestory  of  the  Nave 1-150 

Clerestory  and  Parapet   of  the  South  >    1480  or  1500 

Transept ^ 

Clerestory  of  the  Chancel 1500  or  later 

"  Of  the  fragments  given  in  the  Plates  of  Remains,  the  corbel 
head  of    the  12th   century  (Plate   15,  fig.   1)"   and  perhaps   the 
grotesque  figure  (Plate  15,  fig.  6)-°  seem  to  have  belonged  to  the 
Norman  part  of  the  nave,  but  the  grotesque  figure  may  be  work 
of  a   later  period; — the    Early   English  or    13th-century    capital 
and  base  (Plate  15,  fig.  4)-''  to  the  north  aisle  of  the  nave; — the 
king's  head  (Plate  15,  fig.  2,  probably  Edward  III  ?),^^  the  bishop's 
head  with  the  conical  head-dress  of  the  14th  century  (Plate  15, 
fig.  3),"^^  and  the  gurgoyle  (Plate  15,  fig.  5),^°  to  the  Decorated  or 
14th-century  part  of  the  building ; — the  niche  and  canopy  (Plate 
17,  fig.    1)-'  to   the  chapel  or  transept; — the   portion  of    Deco- 
rated  tracery   (Plate   17,  fig.   2)^"  to  the   north  window   of    the 
clerestory  of   the   north  transept  (see  the  northwest  view,  Plate 
14);— the  wmdow  head  of  the   15th  century   (Plate  17,  fig.   3)-° 
to  the  clerestory  of  the  nave ; — the  pinnacle   of   the   15th   cen- 
tury (Plate   16,  fig.  2)"^  to  some  part  of  the  chancel,  probably 
interior; — the  arch  and  spandrels  (Plate  16,  fig.  3)^^  to  the  chan- 
cel;— the    door-head    (Plate    16,   fig.    1)""  to   the   chancel    (it   is 
seen    in   the    southeast   view,    Plate     13) ; — the    panelling    with 
shields  (Plate  16,  fig.  5)'"'  to  the  chancel;  and  the  panelling  with 
quatrefoils  (Plate  16,  fig.  4^  to  the  'porch.     The  effigy   of   an 
ecclesiastic  (Plate  17,  fig.  4,)  is  much  mutilated,  but  it  appears 
to  be  of  the  14th  century."- 

We  have  no  view  of  the  interior  of  the  Church  remaining  ; 
but  the  Norman  arches  of  the  nave  and  those  which  supported 

(19)  In  m}'  own  possession.  (20)  In  the  possession  of  John  Munton  Esq. 

(21)  In  the  possession  of  Mr.  John  Gazey. 

(22)  The  vestments  of  this  ecclesiastic  are  the  alb  and  chesible.  The  effigy  is  now  lying 
in  the  church-yard,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Church,  but  is  remembered  as  having 
been  in  the  Old  Church  and  traditionally  reported  to  be  the  monument  of  one  of  the 
Bishops  of  Lincoln. 

There  are  or  lately  were  other  fragments  of  the   Church   remaining,  namely,  a  small 
capital  and  base  of  the  13th  or  I4th  century,  four  corbels  of  the  14th  century'  and  some 
U 


154  THE  OLD  CHURCH  OF  BANBURY. 

the  tower  remained  until  the  destruction  of  the  entire  bmlding 
in  1790.  Dr.  Stukeley,  writing  in  1712,  says — "The  tower 
of  the  church,  they  say,  was  much  higher  than  at  present : 
the  church  is  of  great  compass :  three  rows  of  pillars,  but 
of  too  slender  a  manner,  which  makes  them  all  lean  awry, 
and  different  ways :  many  additions  have  been  made  to  it :  a 
touch-stone  monument  of  the  family  of  Cope  :  other  old  monu- 
ments ruined."-^  Mr.  Bray,  writing  in  1777,  says  the  church 
was  built  by  bishop  x\lexander,  "who  is  supposed  to  have 
been  buried  in  the  chancel,  under  a  tomb  on  which  is  a  muti- 
lated figure,  recumbent.  The  remains  of  two  other  figures  in 
the  chancel,  said  to  be  those  of  Judge  Chamberlain  and  his 
wife,  shew  the  folly  of  fanaticism  in  the  last  century."  ^^  Mr. 
Grose  says — "it  has  two  aisles  extending  to  the  chancel,  and 
over  the  west  end  an  handsome  organ  set  up  anno  1769  by  a 
voluntary  subscription.  Over  the  east  end  is  a  gallery  and  over 
the  west  aisle  another.  Over  the  first  is  painted  on  the  wall 
the  arms  of  the  town,  Az.  the  Sim,  Or.  Motto  '  Deus  est  nobis 
Sol  et  Scutum;'  and  above  this  the  king's  arms."-^  Between 
the  tower  and  the  chancel  there  formerly  stood  (according  to  one 
authority)  a  brazen  altar.-®  There  was  a  Chancel-screen  of  carved 
wood.  The  Font  was  octagon,  flanked  by  buttresses,  with  panels 
to  each  face;  it  was  of  early  Decorated  character,  about  the 
date  1320.^^ 

Lee,  in  1574,  copied  the  arms  in  Banbury  Church  ;  his  MS.  is 
preserved  among  the  collections  of  Anthony  a  Wood  in  the  Ash- 
molean  Library.-^  Sir  \Vm.  Dugdale  also  copied  them  in  1640  ; 
his  collection  likewise  is  preserved  in  the  Ashmolean  Library .^^ 
In  one  of  Wood's  own  MSS.  is  the  following  list  of  sixty  coats  of 
arms : — ^" 

other  relics,  in  the  possession  of  John  iSIunton  Esq. ;  a  window  in  the  possession  of  T. 
R.  Cobb  Esq. ;  and  a  few  others. 

There  have  been  published  the  following  views  of  Banbury  Church.  1st,  a  mezzotint 
engraving,  24\  by  ISJ  inches,  executed  by  J.  Wells,  representing  the  southeast  view :  2nd, 
a  similar  southeast  view,  engi-aved  in  Skelton's  Antiquities,  taken  from  a  drawing  in  the 
possession  of  R.  Bignell,  Esq.;  3rd,  a  W.S.W.  view,  7  by  5  inches,  in  Boswell's  Views 
of  Antiquities :  4th,  a  northwest  view  engraved  on  a  small  scale  in  Skelton's  Antiquities, 
from  an  original  then  in  the  possession  of  Thomas  Cobb  Esq. 

(23)  Itin.  Curios.,  p.  48. 

(24)  Bray's  Tour,  p.  31.    Bishop  Alexander,  however,  was  interred  in  his  own  Cathedral. 

(25)  Grose's  Antiquities,  v.  4,  p.  170. 

(26)  Rawlinson's  MSS.,  "  Topog.  Com.  Oxon.,"  in  Bodl.  Lib. 

(27)  It  is  preserved  by  T.  Draper  Esq. 

(28)  Wood's  MSS.  D.  14,  No.  8548.  These  arms  noticed  by  Lee  are  the  same  as  tlie 
first  2S  of  Wood's  list,  with  the  arms  and  crest  of  Cope  :  and  another  (which  appears  to 
have  been  the  arms  of  Chamberlain),  "  On  a  fess  betw.  3  birds  3  mullets,  quart,  a  rhev. 
betw.  3  birds.  Supp.  a  cock  and  a  porcupine.    Crest,  a  demi-peacock  displayed." 

(29)  Dugdalc's  MSS.  F.  1,  So.  6501,  fol.  152,  a. 

(30)  M'ood's  MSS.  E.  1,  No.  8505,  fol.  167,  a. 


ARMS  IN  BANBURY  CHURCH.  155 

"  Arms  in  Banbury  Church  Windowes. 

1  O.  fretty  of  3  &  on  a  chief  sab.  3  bcsants 

2  G.  a  fess  betw.  6  cross  crosslets  or.     Beaucha'pc 

3  Ar.  a  cross  molin  sab. 

4  Az.  3.  5  foyles  or,  seeded  arg. 

5  G.  a  fl.  de  liz  betw.  3.  5  foyles  arg. 

6  Arg.  a  lyon  ra'p.  g. 

7  O.  fretty  of  3.  as  before 

8  G.  a  cross  botony  or 

9  O.  a  fess  imbattled  s. 

10  Az.  a  spread  eagle  arg.  ung'd  [clawed]  &  beekt  or 

11  G.  3  lyons  pass.  arg.  on  the  should'  of  the  upp'most  an  annulet  sab. 

12  Arg.  a  Trivet  s. 

13  A.Z.  a  chev.  arg.  betw.  3  pheons  or 

14  Az.  o'  a  chev.  arg.  betw.  3  pheons  or  a  mullet  s. 

15  Erm.  a  fess  checquy  o.  &  bl.     Arden 

16  Arg.  3  cross  fitch  &  3  de  liz  sab. 

17  Erm.  o'  a  cheif  bl.  3  roses  or  (allii  3  5  foyles) 

18  Or  a  chev.  v' 

19  Barr.  nebule  of  4  or  g  (or  thus  O.  2  barrs  neb.  g)  quartering  bl. 

fleury  or  a  lyon  ra'p  arg.     Lovell  a  priest. 

20  S.  a  lyon  ra'p  arg.  crowned  or 

21  Arg.  2  barrs  wavee  s. 

22  Arg.  a  salt.  ingr.  s. 

23  Quarterly  o.  &  g.  within  a  bord.  arg. 

24  Quart,  o.  &  g.  a  bendlet  s. 

25  O.  a  cross  ingr.  s. 

26  Arg.  a  chev.  g. 

27  Arg.  2  barrs  g.  3  torteux  in  cheif 

28  Or  lyon  ra'p  g. 

29  Checquy  o.  &  s.  a  fess  of  the  2<i 

30  Verry  arg.  &  g.  impaling  chec.  o.  &  s.  a  fess  of  ye  2''  ut  sup. 

31  France  &  Engl,  quart. 

32  Fr.  &  Eng.  quart,  with  a  file  of  3  lab.  Erm. 

33  Fr.  &  Eng.  quart,  with  a  file  of  3  lab.  Erm. 

34  Or  2  barrs  g. 

35  G.  seme  de  bezants  a  cant.  erm.  [dext.] 

36  S.  a  lyon  ra'p  arg.  crowned  o.  impaling a  bend  g. 

37  Quarterly  or  &  v'.  in  the  1  &  last  quarter  a  cross  vert 

38  Bl.  a  fess  betw.  3  leopards  faces  or — quartering  arg.  on  bend  g.  3 

martlets  (or) 

39  The  ar'es  of  Cope  as  before  —  in  the  S.  isle  joyning  to  the  body  [Ar. 

on  a  fess  az.  betw.  3  roses  g.  slipt  &  leaved  v*.  as  many  fleur  de 
lize  or]. 

40  G.  3  lyons  pass,  or  a  file  of  three  bl. 

41  The  same  with  a  file  of  three  arg. 

42  Or  a  chevron  vert. 

43  Arg.  2  chevronells  s.  betw.  3  roses  gules  Wykam  impaling  arg.  on  a 

chief  g.  2  mullets  or. 

44  Beauchamp  ut  supra,  quartering  g.  2  bends  arg. 

45  Beauchamp  quartering  checquy  o.  &  bl.  a  chev.  erm. 

46  G.  a  saltier  or  impaling  or  a  chev.  g. 

47  Barr  nebule  of  6  (or  &  g.)  impaling  arg.  a  lyon  ra'p  g.  within  a  bord 

s.  charged  with  besants 

48  Erm.  o'  a  bend  g.  3  birds  (martlets)  v*  quartering  erm.  on  a  bend  g. 

3  chev.  o. 

49  Arg.  art  a  cross  sab.  5  lyoncells  pass,  or 

50  Quarterlie  o.  &  g. 

51  Quarterlie  o.  &  g.  a  bendlet  sab. 

52  Or  a  cross  lozengie  g. 

U3 


156  VIOLENCE  COMMITTED 

53  Arg.  chev.  g. 

54  Arg.  2  barrs  g.  3  torteux  in  cheif  lit  supra 

55  Or  lyon  ra'p  g. 

56  Or  a  spread  eagle  with  2  heads  sab. 

57  G.  a  castle  or,  quartering  arg.  a  lyon  ra'p  s, 

58  Or  a  saltier  lozengie  g.  a  crescent  in  the  upp'  part  g. 

59  Arg.  lyon  ra'p  s. 

CO  O.  on  a  bend  ingr,  s,  betw.  2  mullets  vert,  one  -  -  in  y<=  upp'  p't."^' 

The  two  Chapels  appear  to  have  been  dedicated,  the  one  to  the 
Virgin,  and  the  other  in  honour  of  the  Resurrection  of  our  Lord. 
The  Chapel  of  the  Blessed  Mary  in  the  Church  of  Banbury  is 
mentioned  in  1413;  that  in  honour  of  the  Resurrection  is  named 
in  1470.^-  William  Cope,  cofferer  of  the  household  to  King 
Henry  the  Seventh,  who  is  recorded  to  have  decorated  the  win- 
dows of  the  beautiful  southeast  Chapel  of  Banbury  Church,^^ 
was  interred  therein  in  1513  beneath  a  tomb  of  the  black  kind 
of  marble  called  touch-stone.^'  From  this  tomb,  the  door  of  the 
chapel,  seen  in  the  southeast  view  (Plate  13),  received  the  name 
of  the  Black-stone  door.^^ 

That  some  injury  had  been  done  by  time  and  violence  to  the 
Church  as  early  as  the  reign  of  Elizabeth,  is  probable :  and, 
during  the  reign  of  James  the  First,  we  have  clear  testimony 
from  Bishop  Corbet,  in  his  Iter  Boreale  written  previously  to  the 
year  1621,  concerning  the  injuries  done  to  many  of  the  orna- 
mental parts,  through  the  Puritanic  feeling  which  prevailed  in 
the  town.  After  mentioning  the  antiquities  at  the  Altar-stone 
inn,  he  says  : — 

"  Now  you  believe  the  Church  hath  good  varietie 
Of  Monuments,  when  Innes  have  such  satiety  ; 
But  nothing  lesse  :  ther's  no  inscription  there, 
But  the  Churchwardens  names  of  the  last  yeare  : 

(31)  Twelve  of  the  coats  are  described  by  Dugdale  as  being  in  the  south  windows; 

o 
and  seven  are  drawn  by  liim  in  this  form    o     o    as  being  in  the  upper  part  of  the  great 

western  window.  They  are  1.  G.  3  lions  pass.  gard.  in  pale,  O. — 2.  O.  an  eagle  displayed, 
S. — 3.  G.  a  tower,  0  ;  quartering  A.  a  lion  ramp.  S.;  4th  as  1st,  3rd  as  2nd. — 4.  An  eagle 
displayed. — 5.  O.  a  saltire  engrailed,  S. — 6.  O.  a  lion  ramp.  S. — 7.  S.  a  lion  ramp.  Ar. 

(32)  A  practice  prevailed  from  the  12th  century  amongst  wealthy  individuals  of  be- 
queatliing  their  bodies  to  some  particular  church  for  interment ;  these  bequests,  accompanied 
with  donations  of  money,  caused  the  foundation  of  many  altars  in  churches  at  which 
masses  might  be  sung  for  the  repose  of  the  dead ;  and  the  portion  thus  set  apart,  which 
was  generally  the  east  end  of  one  of  the  aisles,  was  denominated  a  chantry,  and  was  separated 
from  the  rest  of  the  church  by  a  screen  of  open  tracery :  the  practice  greatly  increased 
in  the  14th  century,  and  small  additional  side-aisles  or  transepts,  denominated  chapels, 
were  annexed  to  churches;  these  were  endowed  as  chantries,  and  also  contained  the  tombs 
of  the  founder  and  others  of  his  family. — Glossary  of  Architecture. 

(33)  Wood's  MSS.  8505. 

(31)  Dugdale's  MSS.  6501,  fol.  152,  a;  Wood's  MSS.  8505,  fol.  165,  a. 
(35)  The  monuments  in  Banbury  Church,  being  mostly  of  later  date,  will  be  mentioned 
hereafter. 


BY  THE  PURITANS.  157 

In  stead  of  Saints  in  windowes  and  on  wals, 
Here  bucketts  hang,  and  there  a  cobweb  fals  : 

***** 

And  say,  Beloved,  what  ixnchristian  charme 

Is  this,  you  have  not  left  a  leg  or  arme 

Of  an  Apostle  :  thinke  you,  were  they  whole. 

That  they  would  rise,  at  least  assume  a  soule  ? 

If  not,  'tis  plaine  all  the  Idolatry 

Lyes  in  your  folly,  not  th'  imagery. 

'Tis  well  the  pinnacles  are  falne  in  twaine  ; 

For  now  the  devill,  should  he  tempt  againe, 

Hath  no  advantage  of  a  place  so  high  :"  &c. 

In  a  scarce  pampHet  printed  in  the  early  part  of  the  reign  of 
Charles  the  Second,  there  is  a  curious  record  relating  to  the 
pulling  down  of  the  images  in  Banbury  Church.  "  Sometimes 
living  at  Banbury  in  Oxfordshire,"  says  the  writer,  "  I  grew 
acquainted  with  one  Mr.  Sharp  a  bookseller,  who  with  a  com- 
panion of  his,  an  old  Pmitan  as  wel  as  liimself,  got  into 
the  Church  in  the  night  (Sharp  being  Churchwarden)  and  threw 
down  the  Images,  receivmg  some  encouragement  from  a  Doctor, 
who  held  a  Visitation  in  Banbury,  being  a  Peculiar  witliin  the 
jurisdiction  of  Lincolne,  who  delivered  this  observation  in  his 
Sermon,  'That  it  is  the  duty  of  every  Christian  to  put  to  his 
hand  to  the  pulling  down  of  Idolatry.'  Mr.  Sharp  is  had  up  into 
the  High-Commission  court,  where  this  Doctor  was  become 
one  of  Ms  Judges,  and  to  the  clink  he  must  go.  When  he  came 
into  prison,  certain  Papists  being  likewise  prisoners  there,  one 
of  them  demanded  of  Mr.  Sharp  for  what  fact  he  was  brought 
prisoner  ?  who  answered,  '  for  throwing  down  of  Images  in  Ban- 
bury Church.'  'O,'  sayes  the  Papist,  'what  a  hodg-podg  is 
your  ReUgion !  we  are  put  in  for  setting  of  them  up,  and  you 
are  put  in  for  pulling  of  them  down.'  "^^ 

But  if  the  building  had  been  stripped  of  its  ornaments  as  early 
as  when  Corbet  wrote,  much  more  was  it  injured  during  the  Civil 
Wars ;  at  which  period  it  was  at  different  times  occupied  by 
troops,  and,  on  at  least  one  occasion,  in  August  1644,  was  used 
as  a  vantage  post  whence  to  fire  upon  the  Castle,  and  received 
the  fire  of  the  Castle  in  retm'n.^'      During  the  war   some   part 


(36)  More  News  from  Rome,  or  Magna  Charta  discoursed  of  between  a  Poor  Man  and 
his  Wife.     Loud.  1666  4to.  page  1.     In  the  possession  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bliss. 

(37)  A  Letter,  being  a  full  Relation  of  the  Siege  of  Banbury  Castle,  &c.  &c.,  4to.  1644. 
In  the  British  Museum. 


158  BANBURY  CHURCH.— TRINITY  CHAPEL. 

of  the  eliurcli  and  tower  were  pulled  down.^^  Anthony  a  Wood, 
who  visited  Banbury  again  in  1059,  speaks  of  the  woful  havock 
which  the  war  had  made  in  the  antiquities  of  the  place :  out 
of  60  coats  of  arms  that  were  in  the  windows  of  the  church 
before  the  wars  began,  only  12  or  13  were  then  to  be  seen,  and 
the  monuments  were  greatly  defaced.^^ 

The  ParUament,  in  1648,  gave  the  materials  of  the  Castle, 
then  about  to  be  demolished,  towards  the  repairs  of  the  Church 
and  ruined  buildings  in  Banbury ; ""  a  grant  of  timber  which 
had  been  confiscated  as  belonging  to  a  Mr.  Powell,  a  "malig- 
nant near  Oxford,"  being  "not  above  the  value  of  three  hun- 
dred pounds,"  having  been  previously  made  towards  the  said  re- 
pairs.*^ In  1686,  Dr.  Fell,  bishop  of  Oxford,  gave  £400  or 
.i'500  to  repair  the  Church  of  Banbury,  wliich,  it  is  said,  being 
much  out  of  repair,  "  would  otherwise  have  fallen  down."^^  An 
inscription  which  is  preserved,  says  that  the  sum  was  £400,  and 
that  it  was  expended  about  the  year  1700.  All  the  drawings  and 
prints  of  the  Church  which  remain  were  executed  subsequently  to 
the  expenditure  of  Dr.  Fell's  benefaction. 

Houses  for  Chantry  Priests.  Leland,  writing  of  Ban- 
bury in  the  reign  of  Henry  the  Eighth,  says — "  In  the  Church- 
yard be  houses  for  Chauntery  Preistes."^^  I  should  conceive  that 
these   stood   on  the  north  or  northeast  side   of   the  church-yard. 

Trinity  Chapel  in  Banbury.  Leland  further  says  of  Ban- 
bury— "  There  is  a  Chappel  of  the  Trinity  in  the  midle  of  the 
towne."^'  I  cannot  find  any  other  allusion  to  this  edifice,''^  nor 
obtain  any  evidence  of  its  site,  unless  conjecture  may  refer  us 
for  the  latter  to  the  spot  now  occupied  by  the  White  Horse 
Iim,  on  the  north  side  of  Sheep  Street  or  High  Street,  with  back 

(38)  Lords'  Journals,  July  loth  1646. 

(39)  Life  of  Wood  In  Wood's  MSS.,  B.  15,  No.  8580,  under  the  date  April  6th 
1659,  is  another  entry  of  the  "  Annas  in  Banbury  Church."  These  are  such  as  Wood 
elsewhere  says  (as  above)  had  survived  the  Civil  Wars,  and  appear  to  be  Nos.  12,  13,  14, 
in  the  list,  page  155,  described  as  being  in  the  chancel,  and  Nos.  9,  17,  18,  23,  24,  25,  53, 
54,  57,  and  one  of  England,  mentioned  as  being  on  tlie  south  side  of  the  church. 

(40)  Copy  made  from  the  original  record,  communicated  by  Wm.  Reader  Esq.  and  in- 
serted hereafter. 

(41)  Lords'  Journals,  July  15th,  1646  ;  Commons'  Journals,  same  date. 

(42)  Willis's  Cathedrals. 

(43)  Leland's  Itin.,  v.  4,  pt.  3,  fol.  163,  a.  (44)  Ibid. 
(45)  The  Corporation  records,  3rd  Jan.,  1677,  state  that  Thomas  Robins  shall  pay  "  for  the 

wast  ground  wch  was  the  alley  tliat  leads  from  Edward  Vivers  his  howse  downe  towards 
the  Chappcll  being  three  foot  &  a  halfe  broade  ife  fower  .score  and  twelve  foot  long,"  for 
the  time  he  had  made  use  thereof.  But  it  is  possible  that  this  relates  to  the  meeting-house 
of  the  Quakers,  then  lately  caused  to  be  erected  and  a  burial  ground  enclosed  by  the  said 
Edward  Vivers. 


BANBURY  CROSS.  159 

premises  formerly  opening  to  the  cliurcli-yarcl.  Witliin  these 
few  years  the  ancient  doorway  of  these  premises,  opening  from 
the  High  Street,  remained.  This  was  a  very  fine  doorway  of 
the  early  part  of  the  14th  century,  certainly  never  designed  as 
the  entrance  to  an  inn :  fortunately,  before  its  destruction,  a  draw- 
ing of  it  was  made  by  the  masterly  pencil  of  Mr.  Buckler.  (Plate 
19.)  Near  the  close  of  the  reign  of  Henry  the  Eighth  an  act 
was  passed  for  the  dissolution  of  all  Chantries,  Free  Chapels, 
&c. ;   the  endowments  of  which  were  placed  at  the  King's  dis- 


Banbury  Cross.  "The  fayrest  street  of  the  towne,"  says 
Leland,  "  lyeth  by  west  and  east  downe  to  the  river  of  Charwell. 
In  the  west  part  of  this  street  is  a  large  area  invironed  with 
meetly  good  buildinges,  havinge  a  goodly  Crosse  with  many 
degrees  [steps]  abovt  it.  In  this  area  is  kept  every  Thursday  a 
very  celebrate  markett.  There  runneth  through  this  area  a  purle 
of  fresh  water.  "^'^ 

The  situation  of  the  principal  Cross  at  Banbury  (for  there 
appear  to  have  been  several  Crosses)  is  thus  clearly  identified 
as  being  in  the  part  now  called  the  Horse  Fair.''^  We  may 
safely  say  that  this  celebrated  Cross  will  never  be  consigned  to 
oblivion  while  the  English  language  exists  ;  it  having  been  made 
famous  by  the  nursery  rhymes  which  have  been  tatight  to 
every  English  child  perhaps  from  Leland's  days  to  the  present. 

"  Ride  a-cockhorse 
To  Banbury  Cross, 
To  see  a  fine  Lady- 
Ride  on  a  white  Horse. 
Rings  on  her  fingers, 
Bells  on  her  toes  ; 
She  shall  have  music 
Wherever  she  goes." 
These   rhymes    would   lead    us    to    believe    that   some   piece   of 

(46)  Leland,  v.  4,  pt.  2,  fol.  162,  b. 

(47)  Leland  mentions  the  market  as  being  held  in  this  part.  The  general  market  has 
been  held  as  long  as  memory  reaches  in  the  part  of  the  town  called  the  Market  Place  ; 
the  writings  of  Mr.  Payne's  house,  of  the  date  of  1665,  also  describe  that  part  as  the  Market 
Place,  and  there  is  no  reason  to  suppose  that  it  was  not  so  in  Leland's  time.  The  by-laws 
of  the  Corporation  however,  of  the  6th  of  Elizabeth,  in  providing  that  no  hogs  shall  "  goo 
abrode  wythin  the  marketplace"  add,  "  nor  in  any  strette  ivhcrein  market  ys  kept ;"  which, 
with  several  other  items,  shews  that  the  market  was  not  confined  to  one  part  of  the 
town.  The  celebrated  horse  fairs  of  Banbury  might  have  been  sufScient  to  attract 
Leland's  notice,  when  speaking  of  the  market,  to  the  open  part  of  the  town  where  those 
fairs  were  held  rather  than  to  la^f  other  locality.  In  Edward  the  Sixth's  reign  that  part  is 
called  "  The  Horsemarket." 


160  BANBURY  CROSSES. 

pageantry  was  periodically  used  at  Banbury,  similar  to  those  of 
Coventry  and  some  other  places."^  It  is  not  to  be  wondered 
at  that  the  same  Puritanic  feeling  at  Banbury  which  led  to 
the  demolition  of  the  images  &c.  in  the  Church,  should  have 
caused  also  the  destruction  of  the  "  goodly  Cross."  At  a  trial 
in  1632  respecting  the  breaking  of  a  painted  window  at  Salis- 
bury, the  attorney-general  Noy  stated  that  "in  the  Queen's 
time  many  went  abroad,  of  their  own  heads,  to  break  down  Cros- 
ses, Images,  and  Pictures  of  all  sorts,  in  the  44th  of  Elizabeth 
[1602].  At  Banbury  they  pulled  down  the  Cross  there.""*^  Some 
legal  proceedings  appear  to  have  taken  place  respecting  this  outrage 
at  Banbury,  as  some  "  charges  about  the  Suyt  of  the  Crosse  " 
are  mentioned  in  the  Corporation  accounts  in  1612.  This  work 
of  mad  destruction  appears  to  have  extended  to  every  Cross  in 
Banbury.     Corbet  writes  of  Banbury,  before  1621  : — 

"  The  Crosses  also,  like  old  stumps  of  trees, 
Or  stooles  for  horsemen  that  have  feeble  knees, 
Carry  no  heads  above  ground  :  They  which  tell 
That  Christ  hath  nere  descended  into  hell. 
But  to  the  grave,  his  picture  buryed  have 
In  a  farre  deeper  dungeon  then  a  grave.  "^° 

A  document  of  the  reign  of  Edward  the  Sixth  mentions  the 
"  Highe  Crosse  ;"  and  there  are  also  at  an  early  date  the  names 
of  the  "Market  Cross,"  the  "Bread  Cross"  (repaired  in  1563),^^ 
and  "the  White  Cross  without  Sugarford  Bar"  (West  Bar), 
besides  Weeping  Cross  beyond  the  boundary  of  the  parish  and 
in  the  way  to  Adderbury. 

WiCKHAM  Chapel.     At  the  mansion  at  Wickham  there  was 

(48)  In  one  copy  of  the  verses,  "  fine  lady"  is  printed  "  old  lady."  lu  1833  appeared  at 
Astley's  Royal  Amphitheatre  a  pantomime  by  Ducrow,  called  "  The  Witch  and  the  White 
Horse,  or  the  Old  Woman  of  Banbury  Cross;"  in  which  were  promised  in  the  bills  a 
representation  of  the  Witch's  rustic  abode,  and  sports  of  tlie  olden  time  at  Banbury  Cross, 
&c. 

(49)  State  Trials,  v.  1,  p.  386,  on  proceedings  taken  in  the  Star  Chamber  against  Henry 
Sherfield. 

(60)  Corbet's  Iter  Boreale. 

(51)  Among  the  leases  of  property  left  for  the  repair  of  the  Bridge  and  highways,  enu- 
merated in  or  about  the  year  1616,  and  before  alluded  to  (p.  99,  note),  is  mentioned  "  a 
tcncm't  in  Bredcrosse  Streete  or  Bowlting  Streete ;"  and  this  answers  to  a  tenement  men- 
tioned in  the  decree  of  the  Commissioners  of  Charities  made  at  Banbury  in  1603  said 
to  be  situated  "  on  the  north  side  of  Sheep  Street  or  Bolting  Street."  Sheep  Street  (the 
western  part  of  the  present  High  Street)  being  therefore  identified  as  the  ancient  Breadcross 
Street,  it  may  be  infen-ed  that  the  Bread  Cross  stood  in  or  near  the  area  at  the  western 
end.  There  is  an  ancient  gift  of  one  Hall  of  Bodicot,  of  three  shillings  yearly  to  be 
distributed  in  bread  to  the  poor  of  Banbury  ;  the  Commissioners  on  charities  in  1824 
state  that  it  has  been  usual  to  distribute  this  bread  in  Oxford  Bar  Street  on  Good  Friday : 
the  vicinity  of  the  Cross  thereto  seems  to  give  us  the  origin  of  the  name  of  Bread  Cross. 
It  is  quite  possible  that  this  was  the  same  with  the  "  Banbury  Cross  "  first  mentioned. 


^   WICKHAM  CHAPEL.— GRIMSBURY.  K'l 

a  Chapel,  the  painted  glass  of  which  represeuted  the  shields  of 
arms  of  the  possessors.  The  glass  was  removed  many  years 
ago  by  the  Dashwood  family,  owners  of  Wickham,  to  their  seat 
at  Kirtlington,  and  put  up  in  the  chancel,  where  it  remains.^'- 

Chantry  in  Grimsbury.  The  commissioners,  prior  to  the 
suppression  of  chantries,  in  the  second  year  of  Edward  VI. 
(15'J8),  returned  a  Chantry  in  Grimsbury,  parcel  of  Our  Lady's 
Guild  of  Banbury,  endowed  with  lands  worth  £'3.  6s.  8d.  yearly  ; 
but  by  whom  given,  or  to  what  intent  or  purpose,  was  not  known. ^^ 

Hermitage  in  Grimsbury  or  Nethercot.  A  Hermitage 
stood  near  the  Hospital  of  St.  Leonard,  at  the  eastern  end  of 
Banbury  bridge.  In  the  23rd  year  of  Henry  VIII.  (1531-2), 
Nicholas  Wodhull  of  Thenford  (styled  Baron  WodhuU)  died, 
seised  of  the  manor  of  Warkworth,  which  he  held  of  the  bishop 
of  Lincoln  as  of  his  manor  of  Banbury  ;  and  also  inter  alia  of  a 
manor  at  Croughton,  held  of  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  as  of  his 
manor  of  Banbury.  By  his  will  dated  29th  March  1531,  this 
Nicholas  Wodhull  directed  his  executors  sufficiently  to  repair  the 
"  Hermitage  at  the  Brigg  foot  at  Banbury,"  and,  when  repaired, 
to  place  "an  honest  man  therein  to  pray  for  him  and  his  friends." 
The  Hermitage  close  contained  about  two  acres.^'* 

The  Hospitals  of  St.  John  and  St.  Leonard  at  Banbury 
have  been  recorded  (pp.  76 — 79). 

(.52)  Records  of  marriages  formerly  celebrated  at  Wickham  Chapel  are  entered  in  the 
parish  register  of  Banbmy.  One  of  the  coats  preser\'ed  at  Kirtlington  is  Sa.  a  lion  passant 
gardant  between  3  helmets  Or.  Beneath  is  inscribed — "  These  were  somtymes  owners  of 
Wicham." 

(53)  Baker's  Noilhamp.,  p.  749. 

(54)  Esc.  23  Henr.  VIII.  n.  119;  Bridges'  Northamp.,  p.  217;  Baker's  Northamp.,  pp. 
712,749,750.  ^    '^ 


TOLLS  CiliANTED  FOR 


EDWARD  III.  TO  HENRY  VIII. 


REIGX  OF  EDWARD  THE  THIRD. 

Several  records   occur  at  this  period  relating  to  tlie  MARKET 

and  Fairs    of   Bauburj,   the  improvement  of  the   Town,  &c., 

as  follows  : — 

Petitions,  1st  Edw.  IIL  No.  78. — "Henry  B"p  of  Lincolne  prayeth 
a  longer  time  for  the  continuance  of  his  Faire  of  Banbury  and  Newark 
&c. — Answer.     Let  him  have  a  Writt  of  the  King's  grace.     Rot.  10."' 

2nd  Edw.  in.  (1328). ^  "The  King  to  the  good  men  of  the  Town 
"  Of  Ravage  granted  in  )►  of  Bannebury  greeting.  Know  ye  that  we 
the  town  of  Banneburi.  J  have  granted  unto  you  in  aid  of  paving  the 
Town  aforesaid  that,  from  the  day  of  the  making 
of  these  presents  until  the  end  of  seven  years  next  following  complete, 
of  the  things  for  sale  coming  to  the  said  Town  you  shall  take  in  the  said 
Town,  by  those  whom  you  shall  think  fit  to  depute  for  the  purpose  and 
for  whom  you  shall  be  willing  to  be  answerable,  the  customs  underwritten, 
to  wit ;  for  every  quarter  of  corn  for  sale,  1  farthing ;  for  every  horse 
and  mare  ox  and  cow  for  sale,  1  halfpenny  ;  for  every  hide  of  horse 
and  mare  ox  and  cow  fresh  salted  or  tanned  for  sale,  1  farthing;  for  a 
cart  carrying  meat  salted  or  fresh  for  sale,  3  halfpence  ;  for  every  five  ba- 
con-hogs for  sale,  1  halfpenny  ;  for  a  salmon  fresh  or  salt  for  sale,  1  farthing ; 
for  every  hundred  of  mackerel  for  sale,  1  halfpenny  ;  for  a  lamprey  for 
sale,  1  halfpenny;  for  every  10  sheep  goats  or  swine  for  sale,  1  penny; 
for  every  ten  fleeces  for  sale,  1  halfpenny  ;  for  every  hundred  woolfells 
of  sheep  goat-skins  stag-skins  hind-skins  buck-skins  and  doe-skins  for 
sale,  1  penny ;  for  every  hundred  skins  of  lambs  kids  hares  rabbits 
foxes  cats  and  squirrels,  1  halfpenny ;  for  a  cart  of  sea  fish  for  sale, 
2  pence  ;  for  a  horse-load  of  sea  fish  for  sale,  1  halfpenny ;  for  a  bale 
of  cloths  conveyed  by  cart,  3  pence  ;  for  a  horse-load  of  cloth  for  sale 
or  of  other  sundry  and  small  things  for  sale  coming  to  the  said  town, 
1  halfpenny  ;  for  a  cart  of  iron  for  sale,  1  penny  ;  for  a  hundred  aceri 
[query — some  articles  of  steel?]  for  sale,  1  farthing;  for  a  cart-load 
of  oak  bark  for  sale,  1  halfpenny  ;  for  a  quarter  of  woad,  2  pence  ; 
for  a  cask  of  wine  for  sale,  2  pence  ;  for  a  bag  of  wool  for  sale,  2  pence  ; 
for  a  horse-load  of  wool,  1  penny ;  for  a  horse-load  of  apples  pears  or 
nuts  for  sale,  1  farthing  ;  for  every  hundred  of  linen-web  and  canvas 
for  sale,  1  halfpenny ;  for  every  hundred  of  flax  for  sale,  1  farthing  ; 
for  a  new  cart  for  sale,  1  farthing;  for  a  cart  laden  with  building  ma- 
terials for  sale,  1  halfpenny ;  for  each  thousand  of  laths,  3  halfpence ; 
for  every  hundred  of  Stok-fish  and  of  Aberden  [fish],  1  halfpenny; 
for  a  cart  laden  with  hay  or  grass  for  sale,  1  farthing  ;  for  a  cart  carrying 
rushes  for  sale,  1  penny  ;  for  a  cart  of  heath  for  sale,  1  halfpenny ;  for 
a  bundle  of  chalonum  [query — calonum,  wooden  shoes,  clogs,  or  pat- 
tens?] for  sale,  1  halfpenny;  for  a  horse-load  of  verro  [?],  1  halfpenny; 
for  a  horse-load  of  alei  [?]  for  sale,  1  halfpenny  ;  for  every  thousand 
of  herrings  for  sale,    1   farthing  ;    for  every  hundred  boards  for  sale,    1 

(1)  Rotiil.  Parliament. 


PAVING  THE  TOWN.  163 

penny  ;  for  a  cart  of  faggots  for  sale,  1  farthing ;  for  a  quarter  of  salt 
for  sale,  1  farthing ;  for  every  12  horse-loads  of  coals  for  sale,  1  half- 
penny ;  for  a  cart-load  of  coals  for  sale,  1  halfpenny  ;  for  a  cart-load  of 
brushwood  for  sale,  1  halfpenny;  for  a  horse-load  of  brushwood  for 
sale,  by  the  week  1  farthing ;  for  every  thousand  nails  proper  for  house 
building  for  sale,  1  farthing ;  for  every  hundred  horseshoes  and  clouts 
for  carts,  1  halfpenny ;  for  every  two  thousand  nails  for  sale  of  all  sorts 
except  nails  for  carts  and  for  house  building,  1  farthing ;  for  every 
buncfle  of  any  kind  of  merchandise  whatsoever  for  sale  coming  to  the 
said  town  and  exceeding  the  value  of  two  shillings,  1  farthing  ;^  And 
therefore  we  command  you  that  until  the  end  of  the  said  seven  years 
you  take  the  customs  aforesaid  in  the  form  aforesaid :  But  the  term  of 
the  said  seven  years  being  completed  the  said  customs  shall  entirely  cease 
and  be  abolished. — In  [witness]  whereof  &c.  ...  to  continue  for 
the  aforesaid  seven  years. — Witness  the  King  at  Marlebergh  the  I3th 
day  of  October.— By  AVrit  of  Privy  Seal."^ 

3rd  Edw.  Ill  (1329). 1  "The  King  to  the  Archbishops  &c.  greeting. 
"In  behalf  of  the  )►  Know  ye  that  whereas  the  venerable  father 
Bishop  of  Lincoln.  j  Henry  Bishop  of  Lincoln  hath  two  fairs  at  his 

manor  of  Bannebury  in  the  county  of  Oxford 
every  year,  to  wit,  one  on  the  vigil  and  on  the  day  of  Our  Lord's  Ascen- 
sion, and  another  on  the  Thursday  and  Friday  in  Whits\m-week,  We, 
willing  to  do  special  favoiu-  to  the  said  Bishop  in  this  behalf,  have  granted 
and  by  this  our  charter  confirmed  to  the  said  Bishop  that  he  and  his 
successors  for  ever  shall  have  at  their  aforesaid  manor  of  Bannebury 
every  year  the  aforesaid  fair  on  the  vigil  and  on  the  day  of  Our  Lord's 
Ascension  and  in  addition  for  eight  days  next  following,  and  the  said 
other  fair  at  the  same  place  on  the  Thursday  and  Friday  in  Whitsun- 
week  and  in  addition  for  other  eight  days  next  following,  imless  the  said 
additions  be  to  the  nuisance  of  neighbouring  fairs.  Wherefore  we  will 
and  firmly  command  for  us  and  our  heirs  that  the  aforesaid  Bishop  and 
his  successors  for  ever  have  the  fairs  and  additions  aforesaid  with  all 
liberties  and  free  customs  imto  fairs  of  this  kind  pertaining,  unless  the 

(2)  The  enumeration  of  the  Tolls  in  the  original  document  is  as  follows: — "Videlicet, 
de  quolibet  quarterio  bladi  venalis  unum  quadrantem,  de  quolibet  equo  &  equa,  bove  & 
vacca  venalij.  obolum:  de  quolibet  corio  equi  &  equae,  bovis  &  vaccee  frisco  salito  &  tan- 
uato  venalij.  q  :  de  carecta  ferente  carnes  salitiis  vel  friscas  venales  iij.  ob  :  de  v.  baconibus 
venalibus  j.  ob:  de  salmone  fnsco  vel  salso  venalij.  q:  de  centena  makerellorum  venalium 
j.  ob  :  de  lampreda  venalij.  ob:  dex.  ovibus  capris  velporcis  venalibus  j.  d  :  de  x.  velleribus 
venalibus  j.  ob  :  de  centena  pellium  ovium  lanutarum  caprarum  cervorumbissarum  damorum 
&  damarum  venalium  j.  d:  de  centena  pallium  agnorum  capriolorum  leporum  cuniculorum 
vulpium  catorum  &  squirellorum  j.  ob:  de  cavccta  piscis  marini  venalis  ij.  d  :  de  sumraa- 
gio  piscis  marini  venalis  j.  ob:  de  trussello  pannorum  ducto  per  carectam  iij.  d:  de  sum- 
magio  panni  venalis  vel  aliarum  rerum  diversarum  &  minutarum  venalium  venientium  ad 
eandem  villam  j.  ob  :  de  carecta  ferri  venalis  j.  d:  de  centena  aceri  venalis  j.  q:  de  carec- 
tata  tanni  venalis  j.  ob:  de  quarterio  waidai  ij.  d:  de  dolio  vini  venalis  ij.  d:  de  sacco 
lanee  venalis  ij.  d:  de  summagio  lanse  j.  d:  de  summagio  pomorum  pirorum  vel  nucium 
venalium  j.q:  de  centena  lineae  telae  &  canevacii  venalium  j.  ob :  dc  centena  lini  venalis 
j.  q:  de  carecta  nova  venali  j.  q:  de  carecta  carcata  mahevemio  venali  j.  ob:  de  miliaii 
lalharum  iij.  ob:  de  centena  de  Stok-fish  &  de  Aberden  j.  ob :  de  carecta  carcata  foeno 
vel  herba  venali  j.  q  :  de  carecta  ferente  cirpos  venales  j.  d :  de  carecta  bruerise  venalis  j. 
ob  :  de  trussello  chalonum  venalium  j.  ob:  de  summagio  de  verro  j.  ob:  de  summagio 
alei  venalis  j.  ob  :  de  miliari  allecis  venalis  j.  q:  de  centena  bordi  venalis  j.  d:  de  carecta 
fagettorum  venalium  j.  q:  de  quarterio  salis  venalis  j.  q:  de  duodena  summagiorum  car- 
bonum  venalium  j .  ob :  de  carectata  carbonum  venalium  j .  ob  :  de  carectata  buscse  venalis 
j.  ob:  de  summagio  buscae  venalis  per  ebdomodamj.  q:  de  miliari  clavorum  ad  cumulum 
domus  venalium  j.  q:  de  centena  ferrorum  ad  equos  et  clutorum  ad  carectas  j.  ob:  de 
duobus  miliaribus  omnimodorum  clavorum  venalium  exceptis  clavis  ad  carectas  &  ad  cu- 
mulum domus  j.  q:  de  quolibet  trussello  cujuscumque  mercimonii  venalis  veniente  ad 
eandem  villam  &  excedente  valorem  duorum  sulidorum  j.  q."  Rot.  Patent,  2ud  Edw.  III. 
1).  2,  m.  20,  in  the  Tower  of  London. 

(3)  Rot.  Patent.,  as  note  abo\c. 

x3 


lf)4  CHARTERS  TO  THE  BISHOP. 

said  additions  shall  be  to  the  nuisance  of  neighbouring  fairs  as  is  afore- 
said.— These  witnesses,  John  de  Eltham  earl  of  Cornwall  our  brothei-, 
Roger  de  Mortemare  earl  of  March,  and  others.  Given  bj'  oiu-  hand 
at  Kenil worth  the  17th  day  of  September. — By  Writ  of  Privy  Seal."* 

3rd  Edw.  III.  "  hO  "The  King  to  the  Archbishops  &c.  greeting, 
behalf  of  Henry  Bishop  ^  Know  ye  that  we  of  ovir  special  favour  have 
of  Lincoln.  J  granted  and  by  this  our  charter  have  confii'med 

to  the  venerable  father  Henrj"  Bishop  of  Lin- 
coln that  he  and  his  successors  the  Bishops  of  that  place  for  ever  shall 
have  free  warren  in  all  their  demesne  lands  of  Bannebury,  Cropperye, 
Dorcestre,  Drayton,  Stodham,  Chiselhampton,  Baldon,  Bridecote,  Clif- 
ton, and  Thame  in  the  county  of  Oxford  Provided  that  the  said  lands 
be  not  within  the  bounds  of  our  forest  So  that  no  one  may  enter  the 
said  lands  to  chase  in  them  or  to  take  any  thing  which  unto  the  warren 
pertaineth  without  the  licence  and  will  of  the  said  Bishop  or  his  suc- 
cessors upon  forfeiture  to  us  of  ten  pounds.  Wherefore  we  will  8zc. 
So  &c.  as  is  aforesaid.  Witnesses  the  venerable  fathers  J.  Bishop  of 
Ely,  Thomas  Bishop  of  Hereford  our  Treasiu-er,  and  others.  Given  by 
our  hand  at  Walyngford  the  12th  day  of  April. — By  the  King  himself."^ 

1th  Edw.  III.  "Of^  [This  recites  the  Patent  Roll  of  the  I3th  Oc- 
Pavage  granted  to  the  1  to'oer,  2nd  Edw.  III.,  for  the  taking  of  Tolls 
good  men  of  Banne-  [  for  seven  years;  and  the  King  grants  to  his 
bury."  J  beloved  the   good   men  of  the  town  of  Banne- 

bury, that  from  the  end  of  the  seven  years 
aforesaid  until  the  end  of  three  years  complete  then  next  following  they 
should  take  tolls  as  aforesaid  on  things  for  sale  coming  to  the  town 
in  aid  of  Paving  the  same.  At  the  expiration  of  which  time  the  said 
customs  sliould  entirely  cease.  Witnessed  by  the  King  at  Daventre 
the  29th  of  October.     By  the  King  himself]" 

4th  Edw.  III. — "The  King  to  all  Sec.  Know  ye  that  of  our  special 
favour  we  have  granted  and  licence  given  for  us  and  our  heirs  so 
far  as  in  us  lieth  to  the  venerable  father  Henry  Bishop  of  Lincoln  that 
he  *  *  *  his  wood  of  Cruche  [Crouch]  at  Bannebury  and  300  acres 
of  land  unto  the  said  wood  adjoining  *  *  *7  jjj^y  enclose  and  make 
parks  of  the  said  woods  and  lands,  and  the  woods  and  lands  aforesaid 
so  enclosed  and  the  parks  thereof  made  may  hold  for  himself  and 
his  successors  the  Bishops  of  the  place  aforesaid  for  ever.  Witness  the 
King  at  Daventre  the  29th  day  of  October,"* 

Between  England  and  the  Papal  See  differences  of  important 
character  were  now  arising.  By  no  weak  hands,  but  by  those 
of  the  illustrious  King  who  in  1346  was  the  victor  of  Crecj, 
was  the  cause  of  England  defended  against  the  aggressions 
of  the  Papal  Chair,  whilst  occupied  by  the  successive  pontiffs 
Benedict  XI.  and  Clement  VI.  Two  principal  e\'ils  com- 
plained of  in  this  country  were,  first,  the  power  arrogated  by 
the  Roman  Pontiff  of  occasional  presentation  to  spiritual  prefer- 
ments in  England,  the  exercise  of  which  caused  the  kingdom  to 
be  overrun  with  foreign  ecclesiastics ;  and,  secondly,  that  of 
judging,  in  ultimate    resort,  all   cases    of  patronage   in    England. 

(4)  Rot.  Chart.  3id  Edw.  III.  No.  12.  (o)  Rot.  Chart.  3nl  Edw.  III.  No.  1(3. 
(6)  Rot.  I'atent.  Ith  Edw.  III.  p.  2,  m.  2t).  (7)  Uthur  kinds  named. 

(5)  Rot.  Patent.  4th  Edw.  III.  p.  2,  m.  30. 


GROWTH  OF  THE  PAPAL  POWER.  16o 

There  is  a  record  that,  on  the  11th  April  1332,  Ralph  de  Stratford 
was  presented  to  the  Prebend  of  Banbury,**  "  though,"  adds  Wil- 
lis, "  I  also  find  that  Hvigoline  Filius  Pauli,  a  foreigner,  held  it 
1333,  and  that  Paul  de  Monte  Florura  [Monte-fiore],  precentor 
of  this  Church,  was  possessed  of  it  about  the  same  time."  The 
name  of  Paul  de  Monte  Florum  occurs  as  prebendary  of  Ban- 
nebury  August  24th  1336.^°  It  appears  from  the  following  docu- 
ment that  he  had  been  appointed  to  the  Prebend  by  Edward  the 
Third ;  but,  another  prebendary  having  been  named  by  Pope 
Benedict  XI.,  even  this  strong-minded  monarch,  resolute  as  he 
on  other  occasions  shewed  himself  in  resisting  Papal  aggression, 
consented  to  his  own  nominee's  vacating  the  Prebend,  and  ad- 
dressed the  Roman  Pontiff  in  the  following  terms  : — - 

"  A.  D.  1337.    An.  11)       "To  the  Pope  :  The  King  devoutly  kisses  your 
Edw.  III.  J  blessed  feet.      The   maturity   of   the   Apostolic 

See,  firmly  fixed  upon  the  foundation  of  a  rock, 
is  not  wont  to  be  shaken  or  moved  at  the  suggestions  of  detractors  until 
it  have  been  fully  infonued  of  the  truth  of  tlie  things  suggested.  May 
it  therefore  please  your  merciful  Holiness  to  give  heed,  that  we  some 
time  ago  bestowed,  as  did  for  that  turn  by  our  royal  right  pertain  unto 
us,  the  vacant  Prebend  of  Bannebiuy  in  the  Church  of  Lincoln  upon 
our  beloved  clerk  Master  Paul  de  Monte  Florum,  who,  by  virtue  of  a 
judgment  hereupon  given  in  our  court,  duly  obtained  possession  of  the 
same.  But  afterwards,  having  understood  that  your  Holiness  had  thereof 
made  provision  for  another  person,  he  by  reason  of  his  reverence  for 
the  Apostolic  See  did  with  our  licence  humbly  resign  the  same,  to  the 
great  detriment  of  his  estate,  notwithstanding  that  according  to  the  laws 
of  our  realm  he  might  lawfully  have  held  it.  May  it  therefore  please 
your  Blessedness  to  hold  the  aforesaid  Paul  excused  for  his  occupation 
of  the  said  Prebend,  and  mercifully  to  accept  the  promptitude  of  his 
devotion.  But  whereas  certain  persons,  enemies  of  truth,  envying  the 
praiseworthy  deeds  of  the  said  Paul,  have  (as  is  reported)  suggested  in 
the  court  of  your  Holiness,  that  the  aforesaid  Paul  had  received  of  us 
a  large  sum  of  money  to  be  paid  to  your  Chamber,  on  accoimt  of  tax 
unto  you  and  the  Holy  Roman  Church  by  us  due,  and  also  to  the  Lords 
Cardinals,  his  receipt  pf  which  he,  to  the  deceiving  of  the  court,  whilst 
he  was  there,  concealed, — may  your  Benignity  deign  to  know  for  certain 
that  he  was  not  charged  with  the  making  of  the  said  payment  by  us  or 
on  our  behalf,  nor  received  any  money  for  the  same  :  wherefore  with 
regard  to  the  matters  so  laid  upon  him,  we  beg,  if  it  please  you,  that 
you  will  hold  his  innocence  excused.  Moreover  Ave  humbly  implore 
your  Apostolic  Munificence,  that  in  consideration  of  our  prayers  you 
will  deign  to  have  the  aforesaid  Paul  (the  increase  of  whose  honour  and 
emoluments  we  heartily  desire  on  accoiuit  of  his  eminent  merits  and  ef- 
fectual services  towards  us)  most  sincerely  commended,  mercifully  show- 
ing towards  him,  if  it  please  you,  as  opportunities  occur,  the  bosom  of 
yoiu*  fruitful  favour  and  grace.  May  [God]  preserve  &c. — Given  at 
Westminister,  on  the  first  day  of  September. "'' 

Hugolin  de  x^digheriis,  an   alien,  the  Pope's  nominee,  and   the 
same  with  Hugoline   Filius  Pauli  mentioned  by  Willis,  is  subse- 

(9)  Willis's  Cathedrals.  (10)  Harl.  MS.,  6954,  fol.  111.  (11)  Rimer's  Fa?deia. 


166  COUNCIL  OF  TRADE. 

queiitly  recorded  as  prebendary  of  Baiinebur,  namely  on  tlie  26tli 
March  1338  ;'-  and  there  is  no  mention  of  any  further  struggle 
respecting  this  Prebend  until  1346-7. 

In  the  11th  of  Edward  III.  (1337),  Banbury,  as  a  place  of 
trade,  received  a  precept  for  making  return  to  a  Council  held  at 
Westminster,  to  which  no  knights  of  shires  were  summoned. 
The  precept  and  return  were  as  follows  :— 

"  Edward  by  the  grace  of  God  King  of  England  Lord  of  Ireland  and 
Duke  of  Aquitaine  to  the  Bailiffs  of  the  town  of  Bannebury  greeting. 
Whereas  by  reason  of  certain  matters  touching  us  and  the  urgent  affairs 
of  us  and  our  kingdom  and  you  also  and  the  town  aforesaid  and  the 
safe  keeping  of  the  same  we  you  command  and  firmly  enjoin  to  cause 
three  or  four  men  of  the  said  town  of  the  more  honest  and  discreet  men 
of  the  said  town  to  come  to  Westminster  so  that  they  be  there  personally 
on  the  Friday  next  before  the  Feast  of  St.  Michael  next  to  come  at  the 
furthest  to  treat  with  us  and  others  of  our  Council  concerning  the  pre- 
mises and  matters  touching  the  same  and  to  do  further  that  which  therein 
by  the  advice  of  ovir  Council  we  shall  see  fit  to  ordain  and  which  shall 
be  by  us  more  fully  enjoined  them  And  this,  by  reason  of  the  import- 
ance of  the  matters  aforesaid  and  as  ye  would  yourselves  towards  us 
save  harmless  by  all  means  do  Knowing  that  if  the  said  men  shall  not 
appear  at  the  day  and  place  abovementioned  we  will  punish  both  them 
and  you  in  the  severest  manner  we  with  justice  can  for  your  and  their 
disobedience  and  the  contempt  to  us  in  this  behalf  done ;  Certifying  us 
of  the  names  of  the  persons  so  coming  to  ns  at  the  said  place  at  the  said 
day,  and  returning  to  us  this  writ.  Witness  myself  at  Westminster 
the  second  day  of  September  in  the  eleventh  year  of  our  reign. — By  the 
King  himself  and  Council. 
"  On  the  back]      Names  of  the  men  of  the  town  of  Bannebury 

Robert  Basset.  Pledges  of  the  same  | g^bert  WatTmll 

John  de  Astrhopp.      Pledges  of  the  same  {  gjjjf^  ^^'.^^l^,, 
Richard  Mey.  Pledges  of  the  same  { J^h^e  Norton."i^ 

14th  Edw.  III.  The  Parliament  in  1340,  having  regard  to 
the  great  travails  the  King  had  made  and  sustained  in  liis  wars 
of  Scotland,  France,  &c.,  and  to  maintain  Ms  wars,  granted  to 
him  "  the  Ninth  lamb,  the  Ninth  fleece,  and  the  Ninth  sheep, 
to  be  taken  by  two  years  then  next  to  come :  and  of  cities 
and  boroughs  the  very  Ninth  part  of  all  their  goods  and  chat- 
tels."" From  the  Inquisitions  of  Ninths  in  the  Court  of  Ex- 
chequer, (date  of  commission  20th  April  in  the  said  14th  year,) 
is  the  following  : — 

"  Bannebury. — The  Church  of  the  said  Parish  with  all  its  portions  is 
taxed  at  £34,  the  Ninths  whereof  the  aforesaid  assess  at  J^St ;  and  1 
have  [or  understand]  by  the  aforesaid  assessors  that  by  reason  that  the 

(12)  Harl.  MS.,  69.51,  fol.  112. 

(13)  Brcvia  Parliamentaria,  11.  Edw.  III.,  in  the  Tower  of  London. 

(14)  Dcscript.  Public  Records. 


PREBEND  OF  BANBURY.  167 

parishioners  of  the  same,  in  contempt  of  our  lord  the  King,  neglected 
to  make  discovery  before  the  assessors  to  certify  the  same  respecting 
the  true  value  of  the  aforesaid  parish,  they  know  not  whether  it  be 
worth  more  :  the  chattels  of  the  town  of  Bannebi',  concerning  which, 
as  concerning  the  rest  of  the  parish,  they  would  not  make  discovery, 
are  assessed  by  the  aforesaid  assessors  at  £10."'* 

In  1342,  Thomas  le  Beck  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  Lincoln."^ 
In  the  same  year,  on  the  12th  February,  Richard  de  Murimouth 
was  collated  to  the  Prebend  of  Banbury.^'  Clement  VI.  was 
at  this  time  Pope  ;  and  the  King  was  now  beginning  to  pursue 
vigorous  measures  for  preventing  the  further  growth  of  the  Romish 
power.  It  is  recorded  that  Michael  de  Northburgh  succeeded 
Richard  de  Murimouth  in  the  Prebend  of  Banbury.'^  This  new 
prebendary  was  an  Englishman.  In  1344  the  Prebend  became 
vacant  by  the  resignation  of  Master  Michael  de  Northbourgh 
on  the  ground  of  making  an  exchange  of  it  for  the  hospital 
of  St.  John  the  Baptist  at  Wycombe  (co.  Bucks),  which  sir 
Hugh  de  Newton  before  held  as  Master:  the  Bishop  therefore 
conferred  the  said  Prebend  of  Bannebur  upon  the  said  Hugh, 
in  the  [p'sone]  of  Richard  de  Blithefeld  rector  of  the  church 
of  Ayno,  29th  April  1344 ;  and  Master  Michael  de  Northbourgh 
clerk  was  presented  by  the  mayor  and  burgesses  of  Wycombe 
to  the  cure  and  govenmient  of  the  said  hospital  at  Wycombe, 
vacant  by  the  resignation  of  sir  Hugh  de  Newton.^'  North- 
burgh was  afterwards,  in  1346,  a  personal  attendant  on  the  Mo- 
narch during  the  French  campaign,-"  and,  in  1355,  he  became 
bishop  of  London.  From  some  caiise  the  fruits  and  proceeds 
of  the  Prebend  of  Banbury  were  held  by  John  de  Stretele  from 
1345  to  1346.-1 

In  the  20th  of  Edw.  III.  (1346),  writs  were  directed  to  the 
mayors,  bailiffs,  and  commonalties  of  certain  cities  and  towns, 
concerning  the  number  of  armed  men  to  be  chosen  in  form  given ; 
amongst  others  there  were  writs 

"  To  the  Mayor,  Bailiffs,  &c.  of  the  town  of  Oxon'  for  XXX  armed 
men 

To  the  Bailiffs  &c  of  Witteneye  for  IV  armed  men 

To  the  Bailiffs  &c  of  Bannebury  for  VI  armed  men 

To  the  Bailiffs  &c  of  Thame  for  III  armed  men 

To  the  Bailiffs  &c  of  Chepyng  Norton  for  III  armed  men 

To  the  Bailiffs  &c  of  Burghford  for  IV  armed  men."-- 

(1.5)  Non.  Inquis.  in  Cur.  Scac.  (16)  Whitworth's  Nobil. 

(17)  Willis's  Cathedrals.  (18)  Willis's  Cathedrals. 

(19)  Harl.  MS.,  6951,  fols.  314,  222.  (20)  Robert  of  Avesbury. 

(21)  See  p.  169.  (22)  Ftcdern,  Litterfe,  &c.  ;  Rymer's  Fosdeva. 


168  CONTEST  WITH  THE  POPE. 

The  army  assembled  on  this  occasion  was  greater  than  on 
that  of  any  former  expedition  to  France,  and  its  operations  were 
crowned  by  the  battle  of  Crecy.  Upon  levying  the  aid,  in  the 
same  year,  for  making  the  Black  Prince  (then  aged  fifteen  years) 
a  knight,  Sir  John  de  Lyons  accounted  for  a  fourth  part  of  one 
knight's  fee  in  Warkworth,  as  held  of  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln, 
lord  of  the  manor  of  Banbury  :  and  John  le  Boteler  accounted 
for  half  a  knight's  fee  in  Grimesbury,  as  held  of  the  fee  of 
Cioches.-^ 

Bishop  Burgherst,  or  another  Henry,  bishop  of  Lincoln,  con- 
firmed the  gift  of  Robert  Bloet  made  in  the  time  of  William 
Rufus  or  Henry  L  of  the  tithes  of  Banneburi  to  the  abbot  of 
Egnesham.-^  In  1347,  John  GynweU  succeeded  to  the  bishop- 
rick  of  Lincoln ^^  and  lordsliip  of  Banbury. 

Against  the  "  army  of  Provisors  "  (as  Edward  the  Third  termed 
the  foreign  ecclesiastics  who  had  overrun  the  land)  the  Monarch, 
in  1343,  as  already  stated,  had  made  a  vigorous  stand.  He 
forbade  his  subjects  to  yield  to  their  exactions ;  and  threatened 
the  Provisors  with  severe  punishment  if  they  set  their  foot  on 
English  ground.  Notwithstanding  these  signs  of  resistance,  va- 
rious procurators  from  the  Cluu"ch  of  Rome  came  to  England 
in  the  same  year,  and  proceeded  to  levy  the  dues  claimed  by  the 
various  dependants  on  the  Holy  See."''  The  first  renewed  steps 
regarding  the  Prebend  of  Banbury  occurred  when  Hugolin  the 
son  of  Paul  de  Adigheriis  of  Parma,  before  named  as  the  Pope's 
nominee  to  the  Prebend  in  1333^  and  who  continued  in  1338, 
sent  his  procurator  in  1346  to  resume  the  said  Prebend.  Wil- 
liam de  Killesby  whose  name  occurs  in  the  following  records 
relating  to  the  present  proceedings,  was  prebendary  of  King's 
Sutton,  where,  and  at  Hornle  (Horley),  he  had  charter  of  free 
w^arren  in  the  16th  of  Edward  the  Third.'-- 

21st  Edw.  III.  (1347). — "  It  is  commanded  William  de  Killeseye  that 
he  cause  all  the  corn  and  chattels  of  the  Prebend  of  Bannebury  in  the 
chnrch  of  St.  Mary  Lincoln  which  Hugolin  son  of  Paul  de  Adigheriis 
of  Parma  an  alien  possesses  &c.  to  be  sold,  and  account  to  be  rendered 
to  the  King  of  the  monies  proceeding  therefrom  &c. —  Roll.  13."-* 


21st  Edw.  III. — "The  King  has  committed  to  John  de  Pulteneye  and 
to  John  vicar  of  the  Church  of  Bannebury  the  custody  and  adminis- 
tration of    the  fruits   rents   and   other   emoluments    [pertaining]    to   the 


(23)  Bridges'  Noitliamp.,  pp.  216, 219. 

(2-1)  Caitul.  Eguesham,fol.76;  Kcnnet,  v.  1.  p.  102. 

(25)  Whitworth's  Nobil.  (26)  .Taraes's  Life  of  the  Black  Prince  ;  Rymer. 

(27)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  697  ;  Cal.  Rot.  Chart. 

(28)  Rot.  Grig,  in  Cur.  Scac.  Abbrc\ . 


PREBEND  OF  BANBURY.  1<>-^ 

Prebend  of  Banncbury  in  the  Church  of  St.  Mary  of  Lincohi  which 
Hugolin  son  of  PaiU  de  Adighcriis  of  Parma  an  alien  possesses,?  &c.  to 
have  the  same  so  long  as  &c.  by  paying  therefrom  annually  fifty  poimds, 
to  which,  &c.— Ro.  20.  "^^ 

'21st  Edw.  III. — "  Inquisition  taken  at  Bannebury  on  the  Sabbath- 
day  next  after  the  Feast  of  St.  James  the  Apostle  in  the  twenty-first 
year  of  the  reign  of  King  Edward  the  Third  before  William  de  Kel- 
lesej'^e  clerk,  John  de  Oxeuford,  and  John  Bassett,  by  virtue  of  a 
certain  commission  of  our  Lord  the  King  to  them  directed,  on  the  oath 
of  Richard  Mey,  Robert  de  Chesterton,  John  Lyndraper,  Alexander  de 
Bloxham,  Humphrey  de  Silveston,  John  Benet,  Thomas  Scot,  Robert  de 
Thame,  Thomas  Deystere,  Walter  de  Bloxham,  John  Person,  and  Robert 
Standelf  of  Bannebury;  Who  say  on  their  oath  that  Master  John  de 
Stretele  occupied  the  fruits  and  proceeds  of  the  Prebend  of  Bannebury 
from  the  feast  of  St.  Peter  ad  Vincula  in  the  li)th  year  of  our  said  Lord 
the  King  of  England  until  the  eleventh  day  of  May  in  the  20th  year 
of  the  same,  on  which  day  Master  Bernard  de  Sartoriis  of  Parma  pro- 
curator of  sir  Hugolin  the  son  of  Paul  de  Adigheriis  of  Parma  pre- 
bendary of  the  Prebend  aforesaid  with  the  assent  and  will  of  the  aforesaid 
Master  John  re-entered  upon  and  resumed  possession  of  the  said  Prebend 
in  the  name  of  the  said  sir  Hugolin,  and  the  said  procurator  by  Richard 
de  Donewale  and  his  son  Hugh  de  Donewale  his  substitutes  in  this 
behalf  peaceably  held  and  continued  such  possession,  and  the  said  Richard 
and  Hugh  in  the  name  of  the  aforesaid  sir  Hugolin  and  Master  Bernard 
the  fruits  and  proceeds  of  the  aforesaid  Prebend  received  occupied  and 
administered  from  the  said  eleventh  day  of  May  until  the  seventeenth  day 
of  November  next  following  on  which  day  the  aforesaid  William  de 
Kclleseye  and  his  associates  by  virtue  of  a  certain  commission  of  our 
Lord  the  King  took  the  fruits  proceeds  and  emoluments  of  the  said  Pre- 
bend into  the  hand  of  the  same  [i.  e.  the  King].  They  say  also  that  on 
the  twentieth  day  of  December  in  the  said  20th  year  Nicholas  de  Stre- 
tele and  the  aforesaid  Hugh  de  Donewale  by  order  of  the  aforesaid 
Master  John  entered  the  manse  of  the  Prebend  aforesaid  so  being  in  the 
hand  of  the  King  and  the  goods  and  chattels  found  in  the  said  manse 
took  removed  and  carried  away  ;  namely,  four  cart-horses  of  the  value 
of  40  shillings  and  one  cart-horse  of  the  value  of  6  shillings  which  five 
horses  indeed  in  a  certain  inquisition  elsewhere  taken  before  the  Sherifi" 
of  Oxfordshire  respecting  such  goods  and  chattels  were  valued  at  40  shil- 
lings only,  and  one  cart  bound  with  iron  with  its  gear  of  the  value  of 
10  shillings  so  valued  in  the  said  inquisition  taken  before  the  aforesaid 
Sheriff,  12  quarters  sixfUhmis  [?],  namely  of  corn  and  fine  wheat,  the 
value  of  a  quarter  35.  4<^?.,  and  the  svim  thereof  40  shillings,  and  46 
quarters  of  drag,^"  the  value  of  a  quarter  2s.  dd.,  whereof  42  quarters 
were  contained  in  the  said  inquisition.  They  say  moreover  that  the  Pre- 
bend aforesaid,  besides  the  vicar's  portion  which  is  of  the  value  of  £'20 
per  annum,  is  worth  by  the  year  in  all  issues  according  to  the  true  value 
of  the  same  over  and  above  reprises  clear  fifty  pounds  and  there  are 
certain  yeai-ly  reprises  due  from  the  said  Prebend  in  the  church  of  Lin- 
coln which  of  this  long  time  were  not  paid  and  if  these  be  not  paid  in 
the  time  of  our  Lord  the  King  the  said  Prebend  is  worth  eight  marks 
and  a  half  per  annum  more  than  the  said  fifty_  pounds.  In  witness 
whei-eof  the  jurors  aforesaid  have  to  this  inquisition  put  their  seals. 
Given  at  Bannebury  the  day  and  year  abovenamed."^^ 

John  de  Stretele  is  subseqiientlj  recorded  as  dean  of  Lincoln 
in  13(51.^-     In  the  Register  of  Bishop   GjTxwell  there  is  a  record 

(29)  Rot.  Orig.  in  Cur.  Scac.  Abbrev.  (30)  Drag.     A  coarser  sort  of  bread  com. 

(31)  Inq.  ad  quod  damn.,  2Ist  Edw.  III.  No.  10.  (32)  Willis's  Cathedrals. 


170  REIGN  OF  EDWARD  III. 

that  "Master  Stephen  de  Baveuser  was  admitted  to  the  Prebend 
of  Bannebur  in  1348,  on  the  removal  of  Master  John  de  Strate- 
lej  the  unlawful  holder." ^^  Sir  Peter  de  Wotton,  priest,  was 
collated  to  the  said  Prebend  May  5th  1349,  and  continued  pre- 
bendary May  29th  1351.3* 

24th  Edw.  III.  (1350).  Writs  for  finding  armed  men  were 
issued,  and  directed  (amongst  others)  to  the  following  persons, 
requiring  them  to  furnish  the  number  of  men  stated,  who  were 
to  be  at  the  town  of  Sandwie  on  a  day  appointed.  The  men 
were  to  be  of  the  best  and  bravest  of  the  inhabitants,  and  to  be 
well  and  decently  furmshed  with  proper  arms : — 

"To  the  Mayor  and  Bailiffs  of  Oxon'  for  ten  armed  men 

To  the  Bailiffs  of  Witteneye  for  one  armed  man 

To  the  Bailiffs  of  Bannebury  for  three  armed  men 

To  the  Bailiffs  of  Thame  for  two  armed  men 

To  the  Bailiffs  of  Chepyng  Norton  for  one  armed  man 

To  the  Bailiffs  of  Burghford  for  four  armed  men."'^ 

In  the  37th  Edw.  III.  (1363),  John  Gynwell  was  succeeded  in 
the  see  of  Lincoln^*'  and  lordship  of  Banbury  by  John  Bucking- 
ham. In  1367  the  bishop,  after  a  visitation  of  these  parts, 
resided  for  some  time  at  his  castle  of  Bannebury,  where,  on  the 
18th  of  August,  by  virtue  of  a  privilege  granted  by  Pope  Urban 
v.,  he  gave  his  benediction  to  John  de  Ombresleye,  abbot  elect 
of  Evesham." 

In  the  43rd  Edward  III.,  by  inquisitions  taken  22nd  and  24th 
of  March  at  Chaucoumbe  and  at  Bannebury,  John  de  Moubray 
of  Axiholme  (baron  Mowbray)  was  found,  at  his  death,  to  have 
held  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  the  manor  of  Chaucoumbe  of 
John  bishop  of  Lincoln  as  of  his  Castle  of  Banbiry  by  military 
service  ;  and  one  annual  rent  Gs.  8cl.  of  the  bishop  in  soccage 
proceedmg  annually  from  one  messuage  in  Bannebury,  which  John 
Typet  held  for  his  life.^*  Edmund  Bardolph  was  presented  to 
the  Prebend  of  Banbury  Oct.  3rd,  1369.='^ 


RICHARD  II.  TO  ED^YARD  IV. 

In  the  2nd  year  of  Richard  the  Second  (1378),  several  char- 
ters relating  to  Banbury  were  renewed  and  confirmed  : — 

{^3)  Harl.  MS.  09.51,  fol.  233.  (34)  Harl.  MS.,  6951,  Ms.  229,  246. 

(.35)  Rymev's  Fcrdera.  (36)  Kennet.  (37)  Dugdale's  Monast,,  v.  1,  p.  152. 

(38)  Inq.  Post.  Mort.,  43rd  Edw.  III.  p.  2,  No.  7.  (39)  Willis's  Cathedrals. 


CHIPPING  WARDON.— CALTHORP.  HI 

2nd  Ric.  II.  "Tlie  King  to  the  Archbishops  Bishops  &c.  greeting. 
We  have  inspected  a  charter  of  Lord  Henry  of  famous  memory  formerly 
King  of  England  our  ancestor  in  these  words.  [Here  is  recited  the 
charter  of  Henry  the  Second  to  Robert  Chesny  bishop  of  Lincoln,  for 
holding  a  fair  at  Bannebiri  in  Whitsun  week.  See  page  70.1  We  have 
also  inspected  a  certain  other  charter  of  our  ancestor  in  these  words. 
[Here  is  recited  the  charter  of  the  same  monarch  to  the  same  Bishop  of 
free  warren  at  Bannebury.  See  page  70.]  We  have  moreover  inspected 
a  certain  other  charter  of  the  same  our  ancestor  in  these  words.  [Here 
is  recited  the  chailer  of  the  same  monarch  to  the  same  Bishop  for  the 
market  at  Banneberi  on  Thursday.  See  page  70.]  We  have  also  in- 
spected a  charter  of  Lord  John  of  famous  memory  formerly  King  of 
England  in  these  words.  [Here  is  recited  the  charter  of  John  to  the 
then  Bishop  of  Lincoln  for  imparking  the  spinney  of  Cruch  (Crouch)  near 
Banneberi.     See  page  87.] 

"  Now  we,  ratifying  and  approving  the  donations  grants  and  confir- 
mations aforesaid  and  also  all  things  in  the  charters  abovementioned 
contained,  do  for  us  and  our  heirs  grant  and  confirm  the  same. — Wit- 
nesses &c.  Given  by  our  hand  at  Westminster  the  12th  day  of  July. — • 
By  petition  of  the  great  council  and  in  consideration  of  ten  pounds  paid 
in  the  Hanaper."*" 

In  1380,  John  Packington,  dean  of  Lichfield,  snceeeded  Ed- 
mund Bardolph  in  the  Prebend  of  Banburj.  He  quitted  it  in 
1389  for  Leighton  Bosard,  and  John  Stacey  was  installed  in  his 
place  on  the  25th  October  in  that  year." 

In  1388  (12th  Rich.  II.),  Sir  Thomas  Latimer,  named  Bou- 
chard, brought  an  action  against  William  Sleugh,  the  vicar  of 
Blakeslej,  for  disturbing  the  market  which  he  held  at  Chipping 
Wardon.  The  vicar  defended  himself  on  the  ground  that  he 
acted  only  as  dean  of  Brackley  to  serve  the  summons  of  John 
bishop  of  Lincoln  upon  Jolm  Wodarde  of  Kuebbeworth,  who  it 
seems  was  a  capellan  residing  at  Chipping  Wardon,  and  stood 
charged  with  "maintainiag  and  spreading  abroad  divers  heresies 
and  errors,  and  publicly  preaching  against  the  belief  of  the  Ca- 
tholic Church  in  sundry  parts  of  the  diocese  of  Lincoln. "^^  Some 
further  evidence  of  opposition  at  this  time  to  the  ruling  faith 
exists  in  the  fact  that  some  Lollards  were  cited  to  the  Christian 
court  at  Oxford  in  1392  (15th  16th  Rich.  II.),  and  there  made 
to  renounce  and  abjm-e  their  opinions,  and  to  do  public  penance.^^ 

One  of  the  family  of  Brancestre  has  been  already  mentioned 
(p.  99)  as  vicar  of  Banbury  in  the  reign  of  Edward  the  First. 
The  following  document  relates  to  a  religious  service  appointed  for 
the  souls  of  John  Brancestre,  elsewhere  styled  of  Cothorp,  and 
Margery  lus  wife.     The  daughter  and  heiress  of  John  Brancestre 

(40)  Rot.  Chart.  2nd  Ric.  II.  No.  5.  (41)  Willis',?  Cathedrals. 

(42)  Balici-'s  Northamp.,  p.  .528.  No  further  nolice  of  the  market  of  Chipping  Wardon 
occurs,  and  it  probably  soon  after  fell  into  disuse. 

(43)  Kcnnet.v.  2,p.  174. 

y  3 


i'-         BRANCESTRE  AND  DANVERS  OF  CALTHORP. 

married  Richard  Danvers,  and  Calthorp  thereby  became  for  some 
generations  the  possession  of  the  Danvers  family."" 

16th  Ric.  II.  "Of^  The  King  unto  all  to  whom  &c.  greeting. 
Licence  to  give  to  }■  Ahhough  &c.  nevertheless  of  our  special  favour 
Mortmain.  J  and   in   consideration   of   forty   shillings   which 

Jolin  Atneston'  vicar  of  the  church  of  Banne- 
bery  hath  unto  us  paid  in  our  hanaper  we  have  granted  and  licence  given 
for  us  and  our  heirs  so  far  as  in  us  lieth  unto  John  Scotte  that  he  one 
messuage  and  one  garden  with  the  appurtenances  in  Bannebery  which 
are  not  of  us  liolden  may  give  and  assign  unto  the  aforesaid  vicar  to 
have  and  to  hold  unto  himself  and  his  successors  for  ever  to  hold  and 
keep  up  for  ever  a  certain  anniversary  every  year  on  the  feast  of  Saint 
George  for  the  souls  of  John  Brauncestre  knight  and  Margei'y  his  wife 
And  unto  the  said  vicar  by  the  tenor  of  these  presents  we  have  in  like 
manner  given  special  licence  that  he  the  messuage  and  garden  aforesaid 
of  the  aforesaid  John  Scotte  may  receive  and  hold  for  himself  and  his 
successors  aforesaid  for  ever  as  is  aforesaid  the  statute  aforesaid  not- 
withstanding And  we  will  not  that  the  aforesaid  John  Scotte  or  his 
heirs  or  the  aforesaid  vicar  or  his  successors  by  reason  of  the  statute 
aforesaid  be  by  us  or  our  heirs  occasioned  in  any  thing  or  grieved. 
Saving  nevertheless  unto  the  capital  lords  of  the  said  fee  the  services 
therefrom  due  and  accustomed.  In  [witness]  whereof  &c.  Witness  the 
King  at  Oxford  the  27th  day  of  September.*^ 

John  Stacey,  prebendary  of  Banbm-y,  died  on  the  I8tli  Oct. 
1394  "in  the  parts  of  Ireland  in  the  town  of  Watterford  ;"'*'  and 
was  succeeded  in  the  Prebend  of  Banbury  by  Richard  Courtney, 
clerk,  collated  Nov.  18th,  and  installed  Nov.  25th,  1394.'^  In 
1398,  Henry  Beaufort,  who  had  been  prebendary  of  King's  Sut- 
ton in  1389,'*  succeeded  John  Buckingham  in  the  bishoprick  of 
Lincoln  and  lordship  of  Banbury."^  Beaufort  was  the  son  of 
John  of  Gaunt,  and  became  lord  chancellor  iii  1404,  bishop  of 
Winchester  in  1405,  and  a  cardinal  in  1426.  In  1401  this  Bishop 
collated  sir  John  Forest  to  the  Prebend  of  Bannebury,  because 
]VIaster  Richard  Courtney  had  qrdtted  it  for  that  of  Thame.^" 
Courtney  became  bishop  of  Norwich  in  1413.  John  Forest,  who 
succeeded  him  in  the  Prebend  of  Banbury,  is  mentioned  as  Bishop 
Bokingham's  clerk  in  1394,^^  and  appears  frequently  in  the  re- 
cords as  prebendary  of  Banbury  until  1433. 

In  the  3rd-4th  Henry  IV.  (1402),  Thomas  Wickham  had  a 
charter  of  free  warren  at  his  manors  of  BroUGHTON  and  North 
Newinton,  Oxon.^'  I  am  not  aware  how  the  Wykeham  flimily 
became  possessed  of  Broughton ;  but  one  of  them,  Sir  Robert 
de  Wykham  knight,  has  been  mentioned,  previously   to  1317,   as 

(4i)  Sec  hereafter.  {4.6)  Rot.  Patent.  10th  Ric.  II.  p.  2,  m.  28. 

(46)  Harl.  MS.,  6952,  fol.  58.  (47)  Willis's  Cathedrals. 

(48)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  697.  (49)  Whitworth.           (50)  Harl.  MS.,  69.52,  fol.  66. 

(51)  Harl.  MS.,  69.52,  fol.  57.  (52)  Cal.  Rot.  Chart. 


BROUGHTON.— THE  WYKEHAM  FAMILY.  173 

one  of  the  guardians  of  the  lands  and  inheritance  of  the  son 
and  heir  of  John  de  Brotighton  (pp.  101,  102,  in  note  11).  In 
1369  the  estates  appear  to  have  been  in  the  hands  of  Sir  Thomas 
de  Broughton  (p.  102,  note  11).  In  1398  John  Wjkeham  priest 
was  presented  by  William  [of  Wykeham]  bishop  of  Winchester 
to  the  cluirch  of  Broughton. '  In  1403  (the  year  after  the  char- 
ter to  Thomas  Wickham  of  free  warren  at  his  manor  of  Brough- 
ton) it  is  recorded  that  Thomas  Wykham  Esq.,  lord  of  Wyl- 
vescote,  presented  sir  William  Broughton  priest  to  the  church  of 
Wylveseote.^  In  1415  John  Hazulford  chaplain  was  presented 
by  Sir  Thomas  Wykham  knight  to  the  church  of  Broghton  on 
the  death  of  Master  John  Wykham.^  In  1436,  sir  Thomas  Broke 
rector  of  the  church  of  Broghton,  and  Master  John  Esteby  vicar 
of  the  church  of  Banneburi,  are  mentioned  as  executors  of  the 
will  of  Sir  Thomas  Wykham  of  Broghton,  knight,  deceased."* 

Philip  de  Repingdon,  cardinal,  was  consecrated  bishop  of  Lin- 
coln in  1405,  on  the  removal  of  Bishop  Beaufort  to  Winchester. 
In  1420  (8th  Henry  V.),  Richard  Fleming  became  bishop  of 
Lincoln^  and  lord  of  Banbury.  In  the  3rd  of  Henry  VI.  (1424), 
the  prior  and  bursar  of  the  convent  of  Bm'cester  acknowledged 
the  receipt  of  thirty-seven  pounds  eight  sliilUngs  for  rent  in  Da- 
dington,  Clyfton,  and  Hampton,  and  thirteen  pounds  six  shil- 
lings and  eight  pence  for  the  yearly  farm  of  Grymmsbury."  In 
the  8th  of  Henry  VI.  are  letters  patent  for  the  repayment  of 
loans  wliich  many  cities  and  towns  had  made  to  the  King  ;  among 
them  for  the  repayment  of  a  loan  of  one  hundred  shillings  which 
had  been  made  by  the  men  of  the  town  of  Banbury.' 

Bishop  Fleming  died  in  1431  ;  and  William  Grey  succeeded 
to  the  bishoprick  of  Lmcoln^  and  lordship  of  Banbury  in  that 
year.  WilUam  Alnewick  succeeded  to  the  bishoprick  of  Lin- 
coln in  1 436,  being  translated  from  Norwich.® 

Margaret,  only  daughter  of  Sir  Giles  Arden  knight,^"  grandson 
of  that  Sir  Robert  de  Arden  who  was  governor  of  Banbury  Castle 

(1)  Harl.  MS.,  6952,  fol.  80.  William  of  Wykeham,  in  1363,  was  prebendary  of  King's 
Sutton.  (Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  697.)  In  1367  he  was  promoted  to  the  bishoprick  of 
Winchester. 

(2)  Had.  MS.,  6953,  fol.  83.  (3)  Harl.  MS.,  6953,  fol.  115. 
(4)  Harl.  MS.,  6953,  fol.  172.    John  Estbv  is  mentioned  as  having  resigned  the  church 

of  Turesmere  (Tusmore)  in  USi.—Harl.  3/5 .'6952,  fol.  148. 
(0)  Whitworth. 

(6)  Rennet's  Paroeh.  Antiq.,  v.  3,  pp.  348,  9.  In  1407,  in  the  accounts  of  Burcestrc  Priory, 
are  entered  two  Turkies  bought  at  Bannebury  with  their  expenses  16s.  lid. — Kennct. 

(7)  Rot.  Patent.  (8)  Whitworth.  (9)  Wliitworth. 
(10)  "  The  wife  of  the  which  Syr  Giles,"  says  Leland,  "  was  namid  Philip,  and  she  likewise 

was  a  woman  borne  to  faire  landes." — J(in.,y.  4,  p.  1,  fol.  16. 


174  DRAYTON.— THE  GREVILE  FAMILY. 

iu  the  reigu  of  Edward  the  Second,  carried  the  Drayton  estate 
by  marriage  to  Ludo^dck  Grevile,  Esq.  ;  ^'  which  Grevile  is  re- 
corded as  patron  of  the  church  of  Drayton  in  1398.'-  A  Latin 
inscription  cut  in  the  surface  of  an  alabaster  tomb  in  Drayton 
church  (see  p.  117)  informs  us  that  the  monument  was  erected 
to  the  memory  of  the  above  Ludo^^lck  Grevile,  who  died  in  1438, 
and  Margaret  his  wife :  another  alabaster  monument  bears  an 
inscription  to  the  memory  of  WUham  Grevile,  son  aud  heir  of 
Ludovick,  who  died  in  1440.  The  family  long  resided  at  Dray- 
ton. Leland,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  the  Eighth,  says,  "  Court 
rolles  remayne  yet  at  Draiton  that  the  Grevilles  [had]  landes  ons 
by  yere  3300  markes.""  Their  manor-house  stood  on  the  south- 
east side  of  the  church  :  the  remains  of  it  were  long  ago  con- 
verted into  a  poor-house,  but  are  now  entirely  removed. 

John  Forest,  prebendary  of  Banbury,  died  in  1446,  and  was 
buried  at  his  deanery  of  Wells."  Robert  Appulby  is  next  men- 
tioned as  prebendary,  namely  in  1448.'^  Marmaduke  Lumley, 
lord  chancellor,  and  chancellor  of  Cambridge,  translated  from 
Carlisle,  succeeded  Alnwick  as  bishop  of  Lincoln  in  1449."^ 

In  1437-8,  William  de  la  Pole,  earl  of  Suffolk  and  baron  of 
Hokenorton,  had  a  charter  to  hold  a  market  and  two  fairs  at 
Hoggenorton.  In  1447  he  was  created  Duke  of  Suffolk.  In 
1448  (26th-27th  Henry  VI.)  he  had  become  odious  to  the  peo- 
ple, and  in  1449  the  King  banished  him  ;  but,  the  vessel  being 
boarded  by  the  enemies  of  the  Duke,  he  was  brought  into  Dover 
roads,  and  beheaded  on  the  21st  of  May."  Another  nobleman 
connected  with  these  parts,  and  whose  fatal  history  also  belongs 
to  tliis  period,  was  James  de  Fenys,  lord  Saye  and  Sele  (des- 
cended from  Ingelram  de  Fien'es,  who  married  the  daughter  of 
Faramus  de  Boloign,  the  nephew  of  INIaud  wife  of  King  Stephen). 
This  James  de  Fenys,  in  the  25th  of  Henry  the  Sixth,  was  sum- 
moned to  Parliament  by  the  title  of  Lord  Saye  and  Sele,  he 
being  maternally  descended  from  the  former  barons  Saye :  he 
was  afterwards  constable  of  Dover  and  warden  of  the  Cinque 
Ports,  lord  chamberlain  to  the  king,  one  of  his  council,  and, 
finally,  lord  treasurer  of  England.  The  Commons  having  ac- 
cused him,  together  with  the  Duke  of  Suffolk,  of  treason,  he 
was  sequestered  from  the  office  of  treasurer,  and  afterwards  Corn- 
ell) Woods  MSS.  F.  21.  (12)  Harl.  MS.,  5952,  fol.  79. 
(13)  Lelaud's  Itin.,  v.  4,  p.  1,  fol.  10.  (14)  Willis's  Cathedrals. 

(15)  Rot.  Patent.  26th  Hem-.  VI.,  quoted  iu  p.  176. 

(16)  WTiitworth.  (17)  Kennet. 


LORD  SAYE  BEHEADED.  175 

mitted  to  the  Tower.  Upon  the  insurrection  of  the  Kentish  men 
under  Jack  Cade,  these  rebels,  entering  London  and  finding  their 
strength  increasing,  fetched  Lord  Saje  from  the  Tower  to  the 
Guildhall  and  there  arraigned  him  ;  after  which,  having  hurried 
hun  to  the  standard  in  Cheapside,  they  cut  off  his  head  and 
carried  it  on  a  pole,  and  caused  his  naked  body  to  be  drawn  at 
a  horse's  tail  into  Southwark  and  there  hanged  and  quartered,  on 
the  4th  July  145L  This  Lord  Saye's  son  William,  who  in- 
herited the  title,  married  JVIargaret  davighter  and  heiress  of  Wil- 
liam Wickeham  the  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Thomas  Wickeham 
knight  (lately  mentioned,  p.  173),  by  which  alliance  WUliam 
Lord  Saye  had  the  lordship  of  Broughton.  He  was  slain  at  the 
battle  of  Barnet  in  1471,  and  was  the  last  of  the  Barons  Saye 
for  the  time,  having  been  obliged,  in  consequence  of  Ms  being 
twice  made  prisoner,  to  mortgage  the  greater  part  of  his  lands 
for  the  payment  of  his  ransoms. ^^ 

John  Chedworth  became  bishop  of  Lincoln  and  lord  of  Banbury 
in  1452  (30th-31st  Henry  VI.)  and  continued  till  1471  (11th 
Edward  IV)."  John  Norman,  son  of  John  Norman  of  Banbury, 
and  member  of  the  Drapers'  Company  in  London,  held  the  office 
of  Lord  Mayor  of  London  in  1453.'°  Master  William  Wytham, 
LL.D.,  was  collated  to  the  Prebend  of  Bannebury  on  the  2nd 
April  1464.21 


ST.  MARY'S  CHANTRY  OR  GUILD  AT  BANBURY. 

In  the  1st  year  of  Henry  the  Fifth  (1413),  in  the  time  of 
John  Forest  prebendary  of  Banbury,  a  Chantry  (before  alluded 
to,  p.  156)  was  founded  in  the  prebendal  Church  of  Banbury. 

1st  Henry  V.  "  Of"i  "  The  King  unto  all  to  whom  &c.  greeting, 
licence  to  give  to  mort-  V  Although  &c.  nevertheless  of  oin-  special  favour 
main.  J  and  in   consideration   of   twenty   marks   which 

our  beloved  John  Forest  prebendary  of  the 
Prebend  of  Banbery  in  the  Cathedral  Church  of  Lincoln  hath  unto  us 
paid  at  the  hanaper  of  our  Chancery  we  have  granted  and  licence  given 
for  us  and  our  heirs  as  far  as  in  vis  lieth  unto  Richard  Eton'  William 
Harreyes  John  Waure  John  Toucetre  and  John  Danvers  that  they  twelve 
messuages  forty  shilUngs  of  rent  and   a   moiety   of  one  virgate  of  land 

(18)  Save  and  Sele  Papers.  (10)  Whitworth's  Nobil. 

(20)  Fuller's  Worthies. 

(21)  Harl.  MS.,  6952,  fol.  180.  Wytham  had  previously,  in  1454,  been  collated  to  the 
archdeaconry  of  Stow,  in  exchange  for  the  church  of  the  Blessed  Mary  le  Bow,  London. — 
Harl.  MS.,  6962,  fol.  178. 


17(5  CHANTRY  OF  THE  BLESSED  MARY. 

with  the  appurtenances  in  Banbery  W}^kham  and  Nethrop'  which  are 
not  of  us  holden  as  it  is  said  may  give  and  assign  unto  the  aforesaid 
prebendary  to  have  and  to  hold  unto  himself  and  his  successors  the  pre- 
bendaries of  the  said  Prebend  for  the  use  and  in  aid  of  sustaining  two 
chaplains  in  the  Chapel  of  the  Blessed  Mary  situate  in  the  body  of  the 
parish  Church  of  the  said  prebendary  of  Banbery  who  shall  for  ever  cele- 
brate [masses  or  services]  for  the  healthful  state  of  us  and  of  the  vener- 
able fathers  Henry  [Beaufort]  bishop  of  Winchester  and  Philip  [de  Rep- 
ingdon]  bishop  of  Lincoln  and  of  the  said  prebendary  Richard  William 
John  Waui-e  John  Toucetre  and  John  Danvers  as  long  as  we  live  and 
for  our  souls  when  we  shall  have  departed  out  of  this  life  and  for  the 
soids  of  all  those  for  whom  the  said  prebendary  Richard  William  John 
Waure  John  Toucetre  and  John  Danvers  shall  be  pleased  to  assign  or 
nominate  and  for  the  souls  of  all  the  faithful  deceased  according  to  an 
ordinance  of  the  said  prebendary  Richard  William  John  Waure  John 
Toucetre  and  John  Danvers  in  this  behalf  to  be  made  And  unto  the 
said  prebendary  by  the  tenor  of  these  presents  we  have  in  like  man- 
ner given  special  licence  that  he  the  messuages  land  and  rent  aforesaid 
of  the  aforesaid  Richard  William  John  Waure  John  Toucetre  and 
John  Danvers  may  receive  and  hold  imto  himself  and  his  successors 
aforesaid  in  the  form  aforesaid  as  is  aforesaid  for  ever  the  statute  afore- 
said notwithstanding.  And  we  will  not  that  the  aforesaid  Richard  &c. 
be  therefore  occasioned  molested  in  any  respect  or  gi-ieved.  Saving 
nevertheless  &c.  In  [testimony]  whereof  &c.  Witness  the  King  at 
Westminster  the  6th  day  of  November.  "-- 

Tliirty-five  years  later  tlie  following  occurs  : — 

26th  Henry  VI. ^  "  The  King  unto  all  to  whom  &'c.  greeting. 
(1448.)  "Of  hcence  to  [Know  ye  that  of  our  special  favour  and  on  ac- 
found  a  Chantry,  Ban-  ["count  of  our  reverence  for  Saint  Mary  the  Virgin 
nebury.  J  we  have  granted  and  licence  given  for  us  and 

our  heirs  as  far  as  in  us  lieth  iinto  Robert  Ap- 
pulby  prebendary  of  the  parish  Church  of  Bannebury  John  Estby  vicar 
of  the  same  John  Davers  John  Waget  Thomas  Mason  John  Waver 
Thomas  Herreys  John  Phippes  Richard  Eton  Richard  Harpom  Henry 
Edden  Thomas  Aysshewell  William  Saunders  William  Cappron  John 
Ayleseworth  John  Persons  WiUiam  Berston  Thomas  Hampton  John 
Rede  John  Kinge  Nicholas  Addyngton  and  Thomas  Bloxam  that  they 
to  the  praise  and  honour  of  Saint  Mary  the  Virgin  in  the  town  of  Ban- 
nebury in  the  county  of  Oxford  one  fraternity  or  perpetual  guild 
[consisting]  of  one  warden  or  master  and  brothers  and  sisters  of  the  pa- 
rishioners of  the  said  parish  and  others  who  by  reason  of  their  devotion 
shall  desire  to  be  of  the  said  fraternity  or  guild  may  in  the  town  afore- 
said begin  erect  found  unite  create  and  establish  to  continue  in  all  fu- 
ture times  for  ever  and  that  the  warden  or  master  and  brothers  and 
sisters  of  the  said  fraternity  or  guild  or  at  least  the  major  part  of  the 
same  of  the  more  notable  number  in  the  said  town  then  present  and 
their  successors  may  every  j'^ear  on  the  vigil  or  feast  of  the  Conception 
of  the  Blessed  Mary  the  Vii-gin  elect  create  and  make  from  amongst 
themselves  one  master  or  warden  to  support  the  burdens  touching  lying 
upon  and  concerning  the  said  fraternity  or  guild  out  of  the  profits  and 
revenues  of  the  said  fraternity  or  guild  and  also  to  rule  and  govern 
the  said  fraternity  or  guild  according  to  the  best  of  his  knowledge  and 
ability  And  moreover  we  have  granted  that  the  said  warden  or  mas- 
ter and  brothers  and  sisters  of  the  said  fraternity  or  guild  when  it  shall 
have  been  so  begun  united  created  founded  erected  and  established 
shall  be  in  reality  and  in  name  one  body  corporate  and  one  perpetual 
community  and  have  perpetual  succession  and  a  common  seal  to  serve 

(22)  Rot.  ratent.,l.st  Hcnr.  V.  p.  1,^..  5. 


GUILD  OF  THE  BLESSED  MARY.  177 

for  the  business  of  the  said  fraternity  or  guild  and  that  they  and  their 
successors  for  ever  shall  be  persons  able  and  capable  in  law  to  acquire 
unto  themselves  and  their  successors  in  fee  and  perpetuity  lands  tenements 
rents  and  any  other  possessions  whatsoever  that  are  not  held  of  us  in 
capite  within  the  realm  of  England  of  any  of  our  lieges  whomsoever 
And  that  the  said  warden  or  master  and  his  successors  for  ever  may 
plead  and  be  impleaded  by  the  name  of  The  Warden  or  Master  of  the 
Fraternity  or  Guild  of  Saint  Mary  of  Bannebury  before  any  of  the 
judges  whatsoever  of  us  our  heirs  and  successors  in  any  courts  and 
actions  whatsoever  And  that  the  said  master  brothers  and  sisters  of  the 
said  fraternity  or  guild  of  Saint  Mary  when  the  said  fraternity  or  guild 
shall  have  been  so  founded  erected  created  united  and  established  a 
certain  perpetual  Chantry  of  three  Chaplains  who  at  the  altars  of  Saint 
Mary  in  the  church  of  Bannebury  aforesaid  according  to  an  ordinance  as 
well  of  the  aforesaid  Master  and  Brothers  as  of  the  Prebendary  and 
Vicar  of  the  church  aforesaid  and  their  successors  in  this  behalf  to  be 
made  shall  celebrate  divine  service  for  our  healthful  state  whilst  we  live 
and  for  our  soul  when  we  shall  have  departed  out  of  this  life  and  for  the 
souls  of  all  our  forefathers  deceased  and  also  for  the  healthful  state  of 
all  the  aforesaid  and  of  the  master  or  warden  brothers  and  sisters  of  the 
said  fraternity  or  guild  whilst  they  live  and  for  their  souls  when  they 
shall  have  departed  out  of  this  life  and  for  the  souls  of  aU  the  faithful 
departed  may  found  and  establish  and  lands  tenements  and  rents  to 
the  value  of  one  hundred  marks  per  annum  and  more  which  are  not 
held  of  us  in  capite  may  acqviire  from  whatsoever  persons  they  please 
to  have  and  to  hold  unto  the  said  warden  or  master  and  brothers  and 
sisters  of  the  fraternity  or  guild  aforesaid  and  their  successors  in  aid 
and  support  of  the  chaplains  aforesaid  and  of  eight  poor  persons  dwelling 
in  the  Alrashouse^^  in  the  same  place  and  their  successors  in  the  same 
place  for  ever  The  statute  passed  respecting  not  putting  lands  and  tene- 
ments to  mortmain  or  any  other  statute  ordinance  or  act  to  the  contrary 
made  ordained  or  provided  notwithstanding.  In  [witness]  whereof  Src. 
Witness  the  King  at  Westminster  the  8th  day  of  May. — By  writ  of  privy 
seal  and  of  date  aforesaid  &c.  and  for  twenty  marks  paid  in  the  Han- 
aper."^* 

(33)  The  present  Almshouse  stands  near  the  church-yard,  where  the  old  building  is  men- 
tioned as  having  stood  in  the  reign  of  Elizabeth  (Decree  of  1603) ;  but,  being  in  a  ruinous 
state,  the  house  was  rebuilt  in  1711  by  Francis  Lord  North  and  Guilford,  son  of  the 
Lord  Keeper  Guilford.  It  contains  apartments  for  twelve  persons.  The  commissioners  on 
Charities,  in  1824,  stated  that  there  was  no  endowment,  but  that  some  of  the  inmates 
received  a  portion  of  the  charity  called  the  "  Widows'  Groats." 

But  in  fact  the  weekly  Groats  now  called  the  Widows'  Groats  formed  the  endowment  for 
the  aid  and  support  of  "eight  poor  persons  dwelling  in  the  Almshouse,"  mentioned  above  as 
being  paid  by  the  guild  of  St.  Mary;  which  sum,  in  the  reigns  of  Henry  the  Fifth  and  Sixth, 
was  ample.  In  the  26th  of  Henry  VIII.  there  is  mention  of  an  annual  payment  by  the 
above  guild  of  ^'6.  18s.  8d.  to  eight  poor  men  and  women,  or  a  groat  a  week  to  each.  In 
the  reign  of  Edward  VI.,  on  the  dissolution  of  Chantries,  this  guild  was  found  to  have 
paid  xli.  viijs.  yearly  to  twelve  poor  men  and  women,  or  a  groat  a  week  to  each :  the  pay- 
ment is  mentioned  as  having  been  made  from  the  time  of  Henry  the  Fifth,  and  it  is  or- 
dered to  be  continued.  The  almspeople  in  the  2nd  year  of  Edward  VI.  were  five  men 
and  seven  women.  In  the  4th  of  James  I.,  by  a  decree  of  the  court  of  Exchequer,  the 
amount  of  i'lO.  8s.  was  ordered  to  be  paid  yearly  for  "  xii  pore  men  and  weomen."  In 
1649,  provision  is  recorded  "  for  payment  of  twelve  poore  people  in  Banbury  every  Lord's 
Day  at  foure  pence  a  peece."  (See  the  respective  documents  hereafter.)  In  1773,  record  is 
made  that  a  debenture  for  £10.  8s.  is  annually  to  be  taken  from  the  office  of  the  deputy 
auditor  of  the  Exchequer.  (Corporation  Records.)  The  commissioners  in  1824  report 
concerning  the  Widows'  Groats,  that  the  chamberlain  of  the  corporation  received  £9.  12s. 
lOfZ.  yearly  on  account  of  a  payment  of  ^'10.  10s.  [£10.  8s.]  charged  upon  the  land  re- 
venues of  the  Crown,  and  distributed  to  twelve  poor  widows  4a!.  per  week  each,  the  corpo- 
ration making  up  the  deficiency  out  of  its  funds.  Of  late,  all  the  inmates  of  the  Almshouse 
have  been  aged  women:  but  in  1648  and  1663  funerals  of  men  therefrom  are  recorded  in 
the  parish  register. 

(24)  Rot.  Patent.,  26th  Henr.  VI.  p.  2,  m.  32. 


178  BATTLE  OF  DANESMOOR. 

A  document  of  tlie  reign  of  Edward  VI.  relating  to  Banbury 
states  that  King  Henry  tlie  Fiftli  "  gave  certeyue  Lands  and  Tent' 
[tenements]  for  the  fyndyng  of  iij  prests  one  clerke  &  a  sexten  to 
syng  &  praye  for  him  his  aunceto''^  &  all  crysten  soules  for 
eu'  [ever]  &  to  gyve  euer  to  Almes  men  &  women  the  some  of 
x'i  vii)'  as  appereth  by  the  foundaeon  here'f."-^ 


THE  BATTLE  OF  DAXESMOOR. 

In  the  0th  year  of  Edward  the  Fourth  (1409),  a  popular  in- 
surrection broke  out  in  the  north  of  England.  This  appears  to 
have  been  fomented  by  the  intrigues  of  the  Earl  of  Warwick, 
who,  indignant  at  the  hasty  marriage  of  the  King  with  the  Lady 
Elizabeth  Gray,  on  account  of  the  breach  which  it  occasioned 
in  a  uegociation  towards  marriage  in  which  the  Earl  had  been 
employed  by  the  IMonarch,  was  at  this  time  endeavouring  to  un- 
dermine the  throne  wliich  he  had  lately  assisted  to  raise.  The 
Lady  Elizabeth,  the  youthful  widow  of  Sir  Thomas  Gray,  was 
the  daughter  of  Sir  Richard  Wideville,  baron  Rivers,  who  was  de- 
scended in  the  female  line  from  Sir  John  Lj^ons  of  Warkworth,"^ 
and  was,  soon  after  the  marriage  of  his  daughter  \\ith  the  King, 
created  carl  Rivers.  Sixty  thousand  men,  who  had  been  ex- 
cited to  rise  at  York,  proceeded  in  arms  towards  London,  under 
the  nominal  command  of  Robin  of  Redesdale  (who  appears  to 
have  been  a  moss  trooper  named  Robert  Hilliard).  They  were 
accompanied  by  Henry  son  and  heir  of  Lord  Fitzliugh,  and  by  Sir 
Henry  Neville  son  of  Lord  Latimer,  the  one  the  nephew  and 
the  other  the  cousin-german  of  the  Earl  of  ^Yarwick  ;  and  to 
these  was  joined  Sir  John  Conyers,  of  Hornby  in  the  county 
of  York,  an  eminent  officer,  as  the  real  guide  and  commander. 
Hall  states  that  Conyers  was  "  a  man  of  suche  courage  &  vali- 
auntnes  as  fewe  was  in  his  daies  in  the  northe  partes."  In 
their  way  towards  London  these  insurgents  dispersed  papers  spe- 
cifying the  causes  of  their  appeal  to  arms ;  which  were  to  -the 
effect  that  the  King  had  been  too  lavish  of  gifts  to  the  Queen's 
relations  ;  that  through  them  he  had  spent  the  church  monies  ;  that 
the  Queen's  relations  would  not  suffer  the  laws  to  be  executed 
but  through  them ;    and  that  they  had  caused  the  King  to  estrange 

(2-5)  Certificate  hereafter.  {26}  Baker's  Northanip. 


BATTLE  OF  DANESMOOR.  ^-^ 

irom  liis  council  the  true  lords  of  liis  blood.'-'  The  Queen's  father 
and  brothers  hereupon  prudently  withdrew  to  their  castles  for 
safety,  while  Edward  resolved  immediately  to  explore  the  dauger 
in  person.  Meanwhile  Herbert  earl  of  Pembroke  was  hastening 
forward  with  the  royal  forces  from  Wales,  and  at  Cottishold 
(Cotswold)  he  opportunely  fell  in  with  Lord  Stafford  of  South- 
wick,  who  commanded  a  body  of  archers  which  had  been  raised 
in  the  counties  of  Somerset  and  Devon.  The  numbers  of  the 
forces  under  these  two  commanders  are  variously  stated.  Some 
of  the  chroniclers,  among  whom  is  Stow,  say  that  the  Earl  of 
Pembroke  commanded  18,000  Welshmen:  the  lowest  statement 
is  Hall's,  who  says  that  he  was  "  aecompaignied  with  his  bro- 
ther Sir  Richard  Harbert,  a  valiaunt  knight,  and  aboue  VI. 
or  VII.  thousande  Welshemenne  well  famished:"  but  this  chro- 
nicler adds  that  5,000  Welshmen  were  slain,  and  possibly  he 
underrates  the  original  number  by  an  error  in  copying  the  nu- 
merals. The  troops  under  Lord  Stafford  are  described  by  Stow 
and  others  as  6,000  "good  archers."  At  Cotswold  the  Earl  of 
Pembroke  received  intelligence  of  the  march  of  the  rebels  towards 
Northampton  ;  upon  the  receipt  of  which  news  Lord  Stafford  and 
Sir  Richard  Herbert  were  sent  forward  with  2,000  well-mounted 
Welshmen.  These,  from  the  covert  of  a  wood,  espied  the  enemy 
passing  on,  and  suddenly  set  upon  their  rear ;  whereupon,  says 
Hall,  "  the  Northren  men  with  suche  agilitie  so  quickly  turned 
aboute,  that  in  a  moment  of  an  houre,  the  Welshemen  wer  clene 
discomfited  and  scatered,  and  many  taken,  and  the  remnaunt  re- 
turned to  the  armie  with  small  gain."-*  The  spot  where  this  first 
conflict  took  place  is  not  recorded,  but  the  succeeding  events 
shew  that  it  was  at  no  great  distance  from  Banbury. 

The  insurgents  are  stated  to  have  made  no  further  advance 
southward  after  this  conflict ;  but  to  have  taken  their  way  to- 
wards Warwick,  hoping  to  obtain  the  support  of  the  Earl,  who 
had  returned  from  Calais  and  was  gathermg  his  men  together. 
But  before  the  Northern  men  received  any  succour,  the  opposing 
armies  met,  says  Hall,  "by  chaunee,  in  a  faire  plain,  nere  to  a 
toune  called  Hedgecot,  three  myle  from  Banbery,  wherin  be  three 
hilles,  not  in  equal  distaunce,  nor  yet  in  equall  quantitie,  but  liyng 
in  maner  although  not  fully  triangle."-^     The  particular  spot  men- 

(37)  Turner's  Hist.  Eng.  (28)  Hall's  Chronicle,  p.  273. 

(29)  Hall's  Chron.,  p.  273. 

z3 


180 


BATTLE  OF  DANESMOOR. 


tioned  is  Danesmoor/"  now  called  Dunsmoor,  the  recorded  scene 
of  a  former  battle  (see  p.  56)  between  the  Saxons  and  the  Danes. 
It  is  an  extensive  plain,  lying  on  the  south  side  of  the  Cherwell 
about  Trafford  bridge,  one  mile  southeast  from  Edgcot  church, 
and  five  miles  northeast  from  Banbury.^'  The  three  hills  al- 
luded to  by  Hall  are  plainly,  1st,  Chipping  Wardon  hill,  2nd, 
Edgcot  hill,  3rd,  Culworth  and  Thorp  hills,   as  marked   in   the 


THE  FIELD  OF  DANESilOOB. 

plan.  An  ancient  road  leads  from  Danesmoor  towards  the  north- 
western parts  of  the  country,  and  must  have  been  the  medi- 
tated line  of  the  Northmen's  course  towards  Warwick.  The  old 
road  from  Banbury  leading  to  Edgcot  and  Chipping  Wardon 
appears  to  have  been  the  line  of  march  of  the  forces  of  Lords 
Pembroke  and  Stafford.  "  The  Welshemen,"  continues  Hall,  "  gat 
firste  the  West  hill  [Chipping  Wardon],  hopj-ng  to  haue  recouered 
the  East  hil  [Culworth  and  Thorp] :  whiche  if  thei  had  obteined, 
the  victory  had  been  theirs,  as  their  vnwise  Prophesiers  promised 
them  before."  This  advantage  was  prevented  by  the  prior  move- 
ment of   the  insurgents,  who  had  encamped  on  the  South  hUl,^" 

(30)  Stow's  Annales,  p.  423. 

(31)  Hearne's  fragment  informs  us  that  the  land  on  whicla  the  battle  was  fought  belonged 
to  a  person  named  Clarell.  In  Baker's  Northamptonshire  (p.  493)  we  find  that  Richard 
Clarell  of  Edgcot  Esq.  died  in  1478  and  was  buried  at  Edgcot. 

(32)  Hall,  pp.  273,  274.     On  the  east  side  of  Wardon  hill,  on  the  banks  of  the  Chenvell, 


BATTLE  OF  DANESMOOR.  181 

or  that  of  Edgeot.  This  occurred  on  St.  James's  day,  the  2r)th 
of  July.  The  Earl  of  Pembroke  and  Lord  Stafford  were  at  this 
time  at  Banbury ;  where,  says  Hall,  "  the  erle  of  Pembroke  putte 
the  Lorde  Stafiforde  out  of  an  Inne,  wherein  he  delighted  muehe 
to  be,  for  the  lone  of  a  damosell  that  dwelled  in  the  house  :  con- 
trary to  their  mutuall  agrement  by  them  taken,  whiche  was,  that 
whosoeuer  obteined  first  a  lodgyng,  should  not  be  deceiued  nor 
remoued.  After  many  great  woordes  and  crakes,  had  betwene 
these  twoo  capitaines,  the  lorde  Stafford  of  Southwyke,  in  greate 
dispite  departed  with  his  whole  compaignie  and  band  of  Archers, 
leauyng  the  erle  of  Pembroke  almoste  desolate  in  the  tonne, 
whiche,  with  all  diligence  returned  to  his  host,  liyng  in  the  feld 
A^purueied  [unpurveyed,  nnproAdded]  of  Archers,  abidyng  suche 
fortune  as  God  would  sende  and  prouide.^^  Sir  Henry  Neuell 
Sonne  to  the  Lorde  Latimer,  tooke  with  hym  certain  light  horsse- 
men,  and  skirmished  with  the  ^Yelshemen  in  the  euenyng,  euen 
before  their  Campe,  where  he  did  diuerse  valiaunt  feates  of 
armes,  but  a  litle  to  hardy,  he  went  so  farre  forward  that  he  was 
taken  and  yelded,  and  yet  cruelly  slain  :  whiche  vnmercifuU  acta, 
the  Welshemeu  sore  ruied  the  next  daie  or  night."  It  is  else- 
where said  that  the  Northmen  soon  learned,  by  some  deserters,  of 
the  quarrel  that  had  occurred  at  Banbury,  and  of  Lord  Staf- 
ford's absence  from  the  field  ;  and  the  next  morning  they  valiantly 
fell  on  the  diminished  forces  of  the  Earl  of  Pembroke.  Hall 
goes  on — "  For  the  Northren  men  beyng  inflamed,  &  not  a  litle 
discontented,  with  the  death  of  this  noble  man,  in  the  mornyng 
valiauntly  set  on  the  Welshemenne,  and  by  force  of  archers, 
caused   theim  quickely   to    descende  the    [Wardon]   hill  into  the 

are  two  small  earthworks,  which  were  probably  raised  to  defend  two  fords  of  the  river. 
One  of  these  is  in  the  last  pasture  belonging  to  the  Grange  Farm,  close  to  the  principal 
road  leading  from  Wardon  to  Eydon.  The  other  is  at  the  back  of  the  fai-m  house  at  Traf- 
ford,  adjoining  a  modem  bridge  over  which  passes  a  bridle  road  commencing  from  the 
ancient  road  near  Traiford  bridge  and  running  direct  to  Eydon.  Following  the  course  of 
the  river,  the  fords  are  about  a  mile  asunder. 

(33)  An  anecdote  is  preserved  in  the  family  of  Lord  Herbert  of  Cherbury,  of  a  con- 
versation which  took  place  between  the  Earl  of  Pembroke  and  his  brother  Sir  Richard 
Herbert  just  before  the  battle.  It  is  said  that  the  Earl,  in  reviewing  his  army,  came  up  to 
his  brother,  and  found  him,  with  a  grave  countenance,  leaning  upon  his  poleaxe.  And 
he  said  to  him,  "  What  makes  thee  assume  that  position  and  that  forlorn  visage  ?  Art  thou 
fatigued?  or  art  thou  afraid?"  Sir  Richard  replied,  "I  am  not  afraid,  brother;  and  that 
you  will  see  anon ;  but  I  cannot  help  thinking  of  the  old  woman  in  Anglesey,  who,  in 
counting  her  woollen  beads,  cursed  you  for  every  bead  she  counted,  because  you  refused  to 
spare  the  life  of  one  of  her  seven  sons  condemned  to  the  gibbet  for  being  Lancastrians." 
—Note  in  Gwaith  Lewis  Glyn  Cothi,  p.  66. 

With  respect  to  the  treachery  of  Lord  Stafford  ii  must  be  noted,  that  King  Edward  after- 
wards directed  the  sheriffs  of  Somersetshire  and  Devonshire  to  apprehend  him  :  and  he, 
being  taken  in  a  village  within  Brentmarsh,  was  brought  to  Bridgewater  and  there  beheaded. 


182  BATTLE  OF  DANESMOOR. 

valey,  where  bothe  the  hostes  fought.  Th'erle  of  Penbroke  be- 
haued  hymself  like  a  hardy  knight,  and  expert  capitain,  but  his 
brother  Sir  Richarde  Herbert  so  vahauntly  acquited  hymself,  that 
with  his  Polleaxe  in  his  hand  (as  his  enemies  did  afterward  re- 
porte)  he  twise  by  fine  force  passed  through  the  battaill  of  his 
aduersaries,  and  without  any  mortall  wounde  returned.  If  euery 
one  of  his  felowes  and  compaignions  in  amies  had  doen  but  halfe 
th'actes,  whiche  he  that  daie  by  his  noble  prowes  achieued,  the 
Northre'men  had  obtained  neither  sauetie  nor  victory. 

"  Beside  tliis,  beholde  the  mutabilitie  of  fortune,  when  the  Welshe- 
men  were  at  the  very  poynt  to  haue  obteyned  the  victory  (the 
Northernmen  beyng  in  manner  disco'fited)  John  Clappam  Esquier, 
seruaunte  to  the  erle  of  Warwycke,  mou'ted  vp  the  syde  of  y" 
east  hyl  [Culworth  and  Thorp],  acco'panied  onley  with  CCCCC. 
men  gathered  of  all  the  Rascal  of  the  towne  of  Northampton 
and  other  villages  abotit,  hauyng  borne  before  them  the  standard 
of  the  Erie  with  the  Wliite  Bere,  cryenge  a  Warwycke  a  War- 
wycke. The  Welshmen  thinkyng  that  y^  Erie  of  Warwycke  had 
come  on  them  with  all  his  puyssance,  sodaynlye  as  men  amased 
fledde :  the  Northemmen  them  pursued  and  slew  without  mercy, 
for  y"  cruelty  that  they  had  shewed  to  the  lord  Latimers  sonne. 
So  that  of  the  Welshmen  there  were  slayn  aboue  v.  M.  [5,000j 
besyde  them  that  were  fled  and  takeu."^'  Warkworth's  briefer  ac- 
count is,  that  "  Robyne  of  Riddesdale  came  uppone  the  Walsche- 
menne  in  a  playne  byyonde  Banbury  toime,  and  ther  thei  faiighthe 
strongly  togedere,  and  ther  was  the  Erie  of  Penbroke  takene,  and 
his  brother  withe  hym,  and  two  M^.  Walschmenne  slayne,  and  so 
the  Walschmen  loste  the  feldc  the  xx-\-j.  day  of  Juylle  the  same 
yere."^^ 

"  The  erle  of  Pembroke,"  continues  Hall,  "  syr  Ry chard  Her- 
bert his  brother,  and  diuers  gentelmen  were  taken,  and  brought 
to  Banberie  to  be  behedded :  much  lamentacion  and  no  lesse  en- 
treatie  was  made  to  saue  the  lyfe  of  Syr  Rychard  Herbert,  both 
for  hys  goodely  personage,  whiche  excelled  all  men  there,  and 
also  for  the  noble  Chiualry,  that  he  had  shewed  in  the  felde  the 
day  of  the  battayll,  in  so  muche  that  his  brother  the  Erie,  when 
he  should  laye  doune  his  hed  on  the  block  to  suffer,  sayd  to  syr 
Ihon  Conyers  and  Clappam,  Masters  let  me  dye  for  I  am  olde, 
but  saue  my  brother,  which  is  yonge,  lusty  aiad  hardy,  mete  and 

(34)  Hull's  Chron.,  p.  27 1.  (35)  Warkworth's  Chruuicle,  p.  6. 


BATTLE  OF  DANESMOOR.  183 

apte  to  serue  tlie  greatest  prince  of  Cristendom.  But  Sjr  Ihoii 
Conjers  and  Clappam,  remembrjng  the  death  of  the  yong  kuyght 
syr  Henry  Neuel,  Cosyn  to  the  erle  of  Warwycke,  could  not 
here  on  that  side,  but  caused  the  erle  &  hys  brother  with  diners 
other  gentleme',  to  the  number  of  X.  to  be  there  behedded."^" 
"  Thys,"  adds  Hall,  "  was  the  order,  manner  and  ende  of  Hege- 
cot  felde,  comely  called  Banberie  felde,  foughten  the  morow  after 
sainct  lames  daye,  in  the  viij.  yere  of  kynge  Edwarde  the  iiij. 
the  wliiche  battaile  euer  synce  hath  bene,  and  yet  is  a  co'tinuall 
grudge  betwene  the  Northernmen  and  the  Welshemen." 

Hall,  Grafton,  and  Holinshed,  state  that  above  five  thousand 
of  the  Welshmen  were  slain  in  this  battle.  Warkworth  and  Stow 
add  a  list  of  some  of  the  slain  ;  Sir  Roger  Vaughan  knight.,  Henry 
ap  Morgan,  Thomas  ap  Roger  Vaughan  Esq.,  William  Harbarde 
of  Brecknock  Esq.,  Watkin  Thomas  son  of  Sir  Roger  Vaughan, 
Juan  ap  Jolm  of  Merwyke,  Davy  ap  Jankin  of  Lymmeryke, 
Harry  Done  ap  Pikton,  John  Done  of  Kidwelly,  Rice  ap  IVIor- 
gan  ap  Ulston,  Jankin  Perot  ap  Scottesburgh,  John  Everad  (or 
Eneand)  of  Pembrokeshire,  and  John  Courtor  (or  Contour)  of 
Hereford.^'  William  of  Worcester  says  that  at  least  168  of  the 
nobility  and  gentry  of  Wales  fell  in  this  battle.  Fifteen  hundred 
of  the  Northernmen  were  slain  on  the  same  field  f^  the  chief 
of  whom  were  Sir  Henry  Latimer  (Neville)  ^^  son  and  heir  of 
Lord  Latimer,  Sir  Roger  Pigot  knight,  James  Conyers  son  and 
heir  of  Sir  John  Conyers  knight,  Oliver  Audley  (Dudley)  Esq., 
Thomas  Wakes's  son  and  heir,  and  William  Mallory  Esq.'" 

The  barbarous  scene  enacted  at  Banbury  took  place  two  days 
after  the  battle.^^  Tradition  speaks  of  the  porch  of  the  old 
Church  as  being  the  place  of  these  executions  ;  and  Whitaker 
confirms  this,  stating  that  Clapham  "  is  said  to  have  beheaded 
with  his  own  hands  the  Earl  of  Pembroke  in  the  church  porch 

(3(3)  Hall's  Chron.,  p.  274. 

(37)  Warkwoith's  Chron.,  pp.  6,  7;  Stow's  Annales,  p.  422. 

(38)  Itin.  W.  Wyr.,pp.  120-122. 

(39;  Sir  Henry  Neville,  and  his  brother-in-law  John  Dudley,  slain  in  the  same  battle, 
were  both  buried  in  the  Beauchamp  chapel  at  Warwick. — Warkworth's  Chron.,  notes,  p.  45. 

(40)  Warkworth's  Chron. ;  Stow's  Annales. 

(41)  This  appears  from  a  Welsh  Poem  by  Gutto  Glyn,  who  says — "  Dyw  Llun  y  bu 
waed  a  lladd,"  On  the  Monday  there  was  blood  and  slaughter;  and — "  Marchog  a  las 
ddy  w  Merchur,"  On  the  Wednesday  the  Earl  was  executed.  Before  his  execution  the  Earl 
made  a  codicil  to  his  will.  Sir  Richard  Herbert  was,  from  his  stature,  known  among  the 
^^'elsh  as  Syr  Kisiart  Harbart  hir,  or  the  tall.  (Notes  iu  Gwaith  Lewis  Glyn  Cothi,  pp. 
59,  63.)  His  ashes  and  those  of  his  wife  repose  beneath  an  alaba-ster  monument  in  Aber- 
gavenny church.    Information  from  the  Rev.  J.  Jones,  precentor  of  Christ  Church,  Oxford. 


184  BATTLE  OF  DANESMOOR. 

of  Banbury."'-  This  decisive  victory  put  nearly  the  whole  king- 
dom for  the  time  into  the  power  of  the  revolters  and  their  secret 
adWsers.  The  peasantry,  joining  with  the  Northmen,  surprised 
Lord  Rivers,  the  queen's  father,  and  sir  John  Wideville,  her  bro- 
ther, at  Grafton  (or,  according  to  Stow,  in  the  "  forest  of  Deane," 
which  must  imply  the  forest  of  Whittlebury,  between  Edgcot 
and  Grafton),  and  took  them  to  Northampton,  where,  without  judg- 
ment, they  were  beheaded.  The  revolters  went  to  Warwick, 
where  the  Earl  had  gathered  a  great  multitude  of  people,  and 
"  whiche  Erie  gaue  hygh  comme'dacions  to  s}T  Ihon  Conyers  and 
other  capitajmes  of  y^  North,  much  reioysing,  that  they  had  ob- 
teyned  so  glorious  victory,  requiring  them  to  continew  as  they  had 
begon."  And  hearing  that  the  King  with  an  army  was  coming 
thither,  he,  having  used  artful  means  to  lull  the  King  into  se- 
curity, in  the  dead  of  the  night  set  upon  his  camp  and  took  him 
prisoner  in  his  bed.  The  King  was  conveyed  to  Middleham  castle, 
in  Yorkshire,  to  be  in  the  custody  of  the  archbishop  of  York.^^ 

In  Plate  12  (fig.  3)  is  engraved  a  probable  relic  of  the  Battle  of 
Danesmoor,  being  an  arrow-head  or  bolt-head  of  iron,  which  was 
dug  up  on  Chipping  Wardon  hill  about  five  years  ago  :    it  mea- 

(12)  Hist.  Deanery  of  Craven.  Wordsworth,  in  his  White  Doe  of  Rylstone,  has  alluded 
to  this  when  describing  Bolton  Priory  Church : — 

"  Pass,  pass  who  will,  yon  chantry  door  ; 

And,  through  the  chink  in  the  fractured  floor 

Look  down,  and  see  a  griesly  sight ; 

A  vault  where  the  bodies  are  buried  upright ! 

There,  face  by  face,  and  hand  by  hand, 

The  Claphams  and  Mauleverers  stand ; 

And,  in  his  place,  among  son  and  sire, 

Is  John  de  Clapham,  that  fierce  Esquiie, 

A  valiant  man,  and  a  name  of  dread. 

In  the  ruthless  wars  of  the  White  and  Red ; 

Who  dragged  Earl  Pembroke  from  Banbury  Church, 

And  smote  off  his  head  on  the  stones  of  the  porch  !" 
In  a  note  it  is  said; — "At  the  east  end  of  the  north  aisle  of  Bolton  Piiory  church  is  a 
chantry  lielonging  to  Bethmesly  hall,  and  a  vault  where,  according  to  tradition,  the  Clap- 
hams  (who  inherited  this  estate  by  the  female  line  from  the  Mauliverers)  were  interred 
upright.  John  de  Clapham,  of  whom  this  ferocious  act  is  recorded,  was  a  name  of  great 
note  in  his  time :  he  was  a  vehement  partisan  of  the  house  of  Lancaster,  in  whom  the 
spirit  of  his  chieftains,  the  Cliffords,  seemed  to  survive." 

(43)  Hume  throws  doubts  on  the  fact  of  Edward's  being  taken  prisoner,  but  totally  fails 
to  produce  evidence  to  meet  the  authorities  on  which  it  is  asserted.  Warkworth  says,  the 
Archbishop, by  the  advice  of  the  Duke  of  Clarence  and  the  Earl  of  Warwick,  "rode with 
certeyne  horsmenne  harneysed  withe  hym,  and  toke  Kynge  Edwarde,  and  had  hym  unto 
Warwyke  castelle  a  lytelle  whyle,  and  afterwarde  to  Yorke  cite."  (P.  7).  It  appears  that 
the  King  was  soon  at  liberty.  "  Whether  bribing  his  keepers,"  says  Sir  Richard  Baker, 
"  or  otherwise  winning  them  by  fair  promises,  he  got  so  much  liberty  sometimes  for  his 
recreation  to  go  a  hunting,  that  he  caused  Sir  William  Stanley,  Sir  Thomas  of  Burgh,  and 
divers  of  his  friends,  at  a  certain  time  to  meet  him,  who  took  him  from  his  keepers  and 
set  him  again  at  liberty ;  whilst  the  earl  of  Warwick,  nothing  doubting  his  brother  the 
Archbishop's  care  in  safe  keeping  him,  and  thinking  the  brunt  of  the  wars  to  be  now  past, 
dismissed  his  army,  and  intended  only  to  find  out  King  Henry,  who  was  kept  a  prisoner, 
but  few  men  knew  where." — Baker's  Chrnn. 


BATTLE  OF  DANESMOOR.  185 

snres  four  inches  and  six-tentlis  in  length,  and  weighs  two  ounces. 
The  barbs  of  the  arrow  are  so  contrived  as  to  fall  back  upon 
the  shaft  during  its  passage,  but  to  spread  out  (as  at  A  A)  on 
any  attempt  to  extract  it.'^' 

Hall's  statement  of  the  feeling  excited  in  Wales  by  the  result 
of  tliis  battle  is  fully  borne  out  by  Welsh  Poems  wliich  commemo- 
rate the  fatal  event.  One  of  these  poems  is  by  Lewis  Glyn  Cothi, 
a  celebrated  Bard  who  flourished  at  this  period :  it  is  entitled  the 
Elegy  of  Thomas  ap  Roger  [Vaughan,  son  of  Sir  Roger  Vaugh- 
an],  the  Lord  of  Herast.     The  following  is  a  translation : — 

THE  ELEGY  OF  THOMAS  AP  ROGER,  THE  LORD  OF  HERAST. 

The  mightiest  battle  in  Christiston 
Was  lost  through  treachery. 
The  victory  took  place  in  Banbury, 
With  great  slaughter  to  fair  Cambria. 
There  in  the  battle-field  were  heard 
The  cries  of  the  mighty  spearmen  ; 
Some,  Herbert !  Some,  our  Edward  ! 
Earl  Warwick !  others,  Harry  ! 

Under  the  Lord  of  Herast's  banner 
Was  the  carnage,  the  gashes,  and  the  womids. 
Thomas  maintained  the  wrathful  encounter 
With  his  flaming  spear.     But  Ap  Roger, 
Like  Arthur  when  in  his  cuirass 
Before  the  host  at  Camlan,  was  slain  ; 
And  not  slight  the  task.     For  he, 
By  his  prowess,  retaliated  on  them. 
Thomas  fell ;  like  Jesus  he  ti-iumphed. 
And,  when  the  heads  of  his  host  had  fallen, 
Thomas  in  his  bright  cuirass 
Requited  his  enemies. 

Had  he  been  fist  to  fist  with  three 
Of  the  most  noble  rank  in  Banbury, 
He  would  have  effected  the  work  of  nine. 
When  the  slaughtering  hand  was  unembarrassed.^^ 

Where  the  other  was  slain,  is  not  known  ; 
God,  and  the  man,  only  know ; 
And,  if  we  are  to  discover  where  they  met, 
He  who  conquered  must  disclose  it. 

(44)  This  curious  relic  is  in  the  possession  of  tlie  Rev.  E.  G.  Walford. 

(45)  In  consequence  of  his  extraordinary  size  and  strength,  he  was  called  Thomas  Vawr 
[the  Great].  He  was  nearly  sixty  years  of  age  at  the  date  of  this  battle. — Note  in  Givaith 
Lewis  Ghjn  Cothi. 

2a 


186  BATTLE  OF  DANESMOOR. 

When  we  had  battle  with  our  enemy 
In  cold  Banbury,  on  the  mount's  top, 
Two  chieftains  went — not  one  returned ; — 
The  Earl  of  Gwent,  and  another  of  Kingdon. 
The  descendant  of  Moreddig  possess'd 
Good  qualities  without  bad  ones  : 
•He  would  not  in  his  manor 
Enforce  any  land-tax. 
But  protected  the  commonalty  ; 
And  distributed  his  hospitality  to  all. 
Wonderful  Book  of  Knowledge  ! 
That  any  shoiild  forget,  who  knew  him. 

Ellen  Gethin"  had  been  weeping 
Moist  tears,  like  drops  of  rain  : 
Although  wailing  the  grief  of  dissolution, 
He  r-ecovered  not,  but  died. 
On  this  she  prepared  her  vigils 
And  funeral  obseqiues  in  Herast. 

After  this  shall  arise 
Three  of  like  valour  to  Saints  George  and  Derval : 
These  three  are  about  to  avenge  him, 
And  God  shall  give  to  me  revenge  ! 
Master  Watkin,  a  sweet  scion, 
Master  Richard,  and  Master  Roger, 
The  three  sons  of  Custenin 
Who  was  a  stern  man  to  prepare  them  ; 
They  shaU  avenge  their  father's  death 
On  England,  ere  the  closing  of  an  eye. 

These,  ere  many  summers, 
Shall  come  out  among  the  mightiest ! 
Length  of  days,  and  renewed  strength, 
May  Mary's  Son  give  to  them ! 
In  the  place,  and  where  he  was  slain, 
God  shall  care  for  Thomas  ! 
Mary's  Image  shall  avenge  him  ! 
And  God  likewise  avenge  him  !" 

Anotlier  Ode  bj  tlie  same  Bard  is  addressed  to  Sir  Roger 
Vaughan  of  Tretower,  in  wliich  that  chieftain  is  urged  to  march 
and  take  vengeance  on  the  English  for  the  death  of  his  relatives 
at  Banbiirj.     The  Bard  saj's  : — 

"  A  Tower,  a  Warrior,  a  steel-clad  Cambrian, 

A  valorous  Welshman  ; — 

Sir  Roger !  if  they  await. 

Do  thou  retaliate  on  them  for  Banbury  !"^^ 

(46)  The  widow  of  Thomas  ap  Roger. 

(47)  Gwaith  Lewis  Glyn  Cothi,  pp.  16—19.  (48)  Gwaith  Lewis  Glyn  Cothi,  p.  24. 


ENDOWMENT  OF  THE  VICARAGE.  1^7 


EDWARD  IV.  TO  HENRY  VII. 

A.  D.  1470.  "  John  Est'by,  vicar  of  Bannebury,  complained  to  the 
Bishop  tliat  the  former  endowment  of  the  Vicarage,  that  is  to  say  '  In 
Oblations,  Tithes  personal  made  at  the  High  Altar,  for  Oblations  for- 
gotten, with  the  Trees  growing  in  the  cluirch-yard,'  was  become  too  small ; 
on  wliich  the  Bishop,  with  the  consent  of  the  said  vicar  and  William 
Witham  LL.D.  prebendary  of  Bannebury,  allotted  to  the  vicar  and  his 
successors,  besides  the  former  endowment.  All  Oblations  to  be  made 
in  the  Chapel  which  is  built  on  the  foundation  of  the  Rectory  aforesaid 
in  honour  of  the  ResuiTection  of  our  Lord,  which  the  said  vicar  and  his 
successors  shall  take  upon  themselves  to  repair  as  often  as  there  shall  be 
occasion,  and  all  Mortuaries,  and  all  tithes  of  Milk,  Calves,  Pigs, 
Chickens,  Geese,  Pigeons,  Honey,  Eggs,  Herbs,  Apples,  Pears,  Saffron, 
and  all  kind  of  Fruits  growing  in  Orchards  and  Gardens,  and  the 
pence  of  Gardens,  commonly  called  Garden  Pennys,  and  the  tithes  of 
Flax  and  Hemp,  within  the  said  parish  without  the  foundation  of  the 
house  of  the  Rectory  aforesaid  and  ground  belonging  to  the  Rectory 
aforesaid  growing;  which  shall  remain  to  the  vicar  and  his  successors 
free  from  payment  of  all  kind  of  tithable  things.  Moreover  the  vicar 
aforesaid  and  his  successors  shall  submit  to  and  acknowledge  all  burdens 
and  impositions  as  well  to  the  Pope  as  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln  and  the 
Chapter  of  the  Cathedral  Church  of  Lincoln  and  to  the  King  of  England, 
to  the  said  Vicarage  howsoever  belonging  imposed  or  ordered ;  and  all 
burdens  used  or  accustomed  to  be  paid  by  the  former  vicar  or  vicars 
in  times  past.  And  if  any  thing  in  the  premises  shall  be  doubtful  and 
obscure  the  Bishop  and  his  successors  shall  interpret  it.  Sealed  and 
dated  Oxon  1st  April  1470,  the  14th  year  of  his  [Bishop  Chedworth's] 
consecration."' 

William  Witham,  LL.D.,  prebendary  of  Banbury  and  dean 
of  Wells,  died  in  1472,  and  was  buried  in  Wells  cathedral :'  his 
successor  in  the  Prebend  of  Banbury  was  John  Gunthorp,  clerk, 
admitted  by  procuration  I5th  August  1472  ;^  he  also  was  dean 
of  Wells.'*  In  I47I,  Thomas  Scott,  alias  Rotherham,  lord  chan- 
cellor, and  chancellor  of  Cambridge,  was  translated  from  Roches- 
ter to  the  see  of  Lincoln.  In  1480,  John  Russel,  lord  chancellor, 
and  chancellor  of  Oxford,  succeeded  to  the  bishoprick,^  and,  con- 
sequently, to  the  lordship  of  Banbury. 

Simon  Stalworth  was  master  of  the  Hospital  of  St.  John  at 
Bannebur  before  1483,  having  previously  been  prebendary  of 
Ivyldesby  and  of  St.  Margaret's  at  Leycestr :  ^  he  resigned  the 
mastership  of  the  Hospital  of  Banbury,  and  Ralph  Hamsterley 
x\.M.  was  collated  thereto  Feb.  8th  1483.^  Stalworth  was  after- 
wards subdean   of   Lincoln,  and  died  before   12th   Nov.    1511:^ 

(1)  Book  of   Memorandums  of  John  Chedworth,  bishop.      Extract  attested  by  John 
Bradley,  Dep.  Reg.,  1758,  in  tlic  possession  of  J.  \V.  Golby  Esq. 

(2)  Willis's  Cathedrals.  (3)  Harl.  MS.  6954,  fol.  149.  (4)  Willis's  Cath. 
(5)  Whitworth's  Nobil.  (6)  Harl.  MS.,  6953,  fols.  3, 13. 
(7)  Hai-1.  MS.,  6953,  fol.  13.                                                                   (8)  Harl.  MS.,  6953. 

2  A3 


188  DANVERS  OF  CALTHORP. 

he  was  clerk  of  the  Hanaper  in  the  20th  of  Henry  VII.^  Bishop 
Russel  died  Dec.  30th  1494,  and  William  Smyth,  chancellor  of 
Oxford  and  president  of  Wales,  succeeded  to  the  see  of  Lincoln 
Nov.  6th  1495  (11th  Henry  Vll).'"  The  author  of  Magna 
Britannia  states,  that  the  manor  of  Banbury  had  been  given  by 
Henry  the  Seventh  to  Jasper  duke  of  Bedford  and  earl  of  Pem- 
broke, whom  the  King  rewarded  with  many  possessions  :^'  however 
on  the  6tli  Feb.  1495-6,  the  temporalties  of  the  see  of  Lincoln 
were  restored  to  the  new  bishop.^-  Bishop  Smyth  frequently 
visited  his  castle  of  Banbury.  In  1498-9,  Feb.  10th,  he  trans- 
mitted thence  certain  injunctions  to  the  abbot,  prior,  and  canons 
of  Oseney  Abbey  ;  having  previously  found  it  necessary  to  sus- 
pend the  abbot  from  his  office."  On  the  5th  Feb.  1500-1,  and 
on  the  following  21st  April,  the  Bishop  was  at  Banbury;  as 
he  was  subsequently  in  1507.^' 

John  Gunthorp,  prebendary  of  Bannebury,  died  in  1498  at 
his  deanery  of  Wells,  and  was  buried  in  that  cathedral.  His 
successor  in  the  Prebend  of  Bannebury  was  James  Whytstons, 
D.D.,  who  resigned  the  prebend  of  Gretton,  and  was  collated  to 
that  of  Banbury  July  23rd  1498.''  Before  this  date,  Bishop 
Smyth,  having  been  personally  engaged  in  the  service  of  the 
King,  had,  in  1495,  appointed  Whytstons  commissary-general 
during  his  absence.'^  James  Whitstonys,  prebendary  of  Banbury, 
was  subsequently  returned  among  the  persons  holding  dignities 
in  the  church  of  Lincoln  and  absent  therefrom." 

For  some  generations  Calthorp  was  the  residence  of  the  family 
of  Danvers.  Richard  Danvers,  styled  of  Cothorp,  married  the 
daughter  and  heiress  of  John  Brancestre  of  Cothorp,  and  is  said 
to  have  been  descended  from  Roland  D'Anvers  of  the  time  of 
W^illiam  the  Conqueror  :  he  had  a  son  John  Danvers  (who  has 
been  mentioned,  p.  175,  concerning  the  Chantry,  1st  Henry  V.), 

(9)  Patent  in  Rolls  Chapel.       (10)  Churton's  Founders  of  Brasenose.      (11)  Vol.  4,  p.  384. 

(12)  Churton's  Founders  of  Brasenose,  p.  90.  (13)  Churton's  Founders, p.  105. 

(14)  On  the  21st  of  April  1501,  Thomas  Fort,  suflragan  of  this  diocese,  was  commis- 
sioned by  the  Bishop,  by  an  instrument  dated  in  the  Castle  of  Banbury,  to  consecrate  altars 
and  perform  other  subordinate  offices  of  episcopacy  within  certain  counties.  From  that 
year  to  1511,  Augustin  Lidensis  (of  Lydda  in  Palestine),  as  suffragan  of  Lincoln,  ordained 
at  Banbury  and  other  places  in  the  diocese. 

Bishop  Smyth  designed  to  give  to  Oriel  College  an  estate  in  land;  but,  as  that  College 
had  recently  purchased  Schynuyngdon  (Shenington),  he  gave  ^'300  on  certain  conditions  ; 
the  ordin.UKTs  uLilin:.'  to  whicii,  dated  in  the  college  chapel  May  5,  1507,  were  confinncd 
by  the  J'lisliop  iiiidrr  iiis  i  jnscdjiiil  seal  in  the  castle  of  Banbury  on  the  7th  of  the  same. — 
Chviioi/s  I-\,„i„ln-.<,  ii]!.  Hi,  ISl,  •j:!-!,233. 

(10)  Willis's  Cuth. ;  Hurl.  MS.  0954,  fol.  165.  (16)  Churton's  Founders.'p.  90. 
(17)  Ilarl.  MS.,  0953,  fols.  70,71. 


DANVERS  OF  CALTHORP.  189 

styled  of  Banbury  and  Cotliorp,  who  lived  in  the  reigns  of  Henry 
the  Fourth,  Fifth,  and  Sixth.'^  The  eldest  son  of  tliis  John  Dan- 
vers  was  Sir  William  Danvers,  of  Calthorp,  and  of  Upton  in  War- 
wicksliire,  lord  chief  justice  of  the  Common  Pleas  in  the  3rd  of 
Henry  VII.,  who  died  19th  Henry  VII.  Sir  William  had  issue 
William  Dijpivers,  of  Banbury,  Calthrope,  and  Upton ;  whose  son 
was  George  Danvers,  of  Banbury,  Calthrope,  and  Upton,  temp. 
Edw.  VI.  The  son  of  this  George  was  John  Danvers,  temp. 
Mary,  styled  of  Banbury,  Caltlu-ope,  and  Upton.  Subsequently  the 
descendants  of  this  Jolui  Danvers  are  styled  merely  of  Upton." 

In  the  reign  of  Henry  VII.,  Sir  Richard  Emson  knight,  and 
Thomas  Emson  Esq.,  held  under  the  bishop  the  offices  of  con- 
stable and  steward  of  the  hundred  of  the  castle  and  town  of 
Banbury  for  their  joint  lives. ^^     Robert  Cutts  was  constituted  bai- 

(18)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  605;  &c.  The  following  entries  respecting  John  Danvers 
and  his  descendants  occur  in  the  Heralds'  Visitations  for  Oxfordshire.  (Harl.  MS.,  5812, 
fol.  9.) 

"  John  Danvers  of  Cothroppe  in  Com"  Oson'  esquire  maried  Jane  doughter  and  heire 
of  WOl'm  Brule  of  Cothoroppe  aforesaid  esquire  and  by  her  had  yssue  Sr.  William  Dan- 
vers knight  his  eldeste  sonne,  Henry  second  sonne,  Sr.  Thomas  Danvers  knight  third 
Sonne,  Symond  Danvers  fourthe  sonne,  Elizabeth  maried  to  Thomas  Poore  of  Blechington 
in  Com'  Oson  gent.,  Jane  maried  to  Kichard  Fowler  of  Rycott  in  Com'  Oxon'  gen'  and 
chancellor  of  the  Duchie  of  Lane',  Margaret  maried  to  John  Langston  of  Caversfield  in 
Com'  Oxon'  Ar'. 

"  Sr.  William  Danvers  of  Cothoroppe  aforesaid  knight  eldest  sonne  and  heire  to  John 
aforesaid  Lorde  Cheefe  Justice  of  the  comon  place  maried  Anne  doughter  &  heire  of  John 
Purie  of  Chamberhowse  in  Com'  Barke  esquire  and  by  her  hathe  yssue  John  Danvers 
his  eldest  sonne,  Thomas  second  sonne,  and  William  Danvers  third  sonne,  Anne  maried 
to  Sr.  Verney  of  Compton  in  Com'  Warr'  knight,  Margaret  maried  to  Thomas 

Ramsey  of  Hedsore  in  Com'  Buck  esquire,  Isabell  maried  to  Martyn  Dockerie  of 
in  Com'  Kendall  gen',  Alice  maried  to  John  Raynsforde  of  Michell  tewe  in  Com'  Oxon 
esquire. 

"  William  Danvers  of  Cothoroppe  aforesaid  esquire  sonne  and  heire  to  Sr.  William  afore- 
said maried  Cescellye  doughter  of  Sr.  Raufe  Done  of  in  Com'  Chesshire 
knight  and  by  her  hathe  yssue  George  Danvers  his  eldest  sonne  and  heire,  Richard  Danvers 
second  sonne,  John  Danvers  third  sonne,  and  Edmond  Danvers  fourthe  sonne,  Elizabethe 
maried  to  Edmond  Tyrryngham  of  TyiTyngham  in  Com.  Buck  esquire,  Baibara  unmaried. 

"  George  Danvers  of  Cothoroppe  in  Com'  Oxon  esquire  eldest  sonne  and  heir  to  Will'm 
aforesaid,  maried  Margaret  daughter  of  Thomas  Doyle  of  Chesilhampton  in  Com'  Oxon' 
Ar.,  and  by  her  hath  yssue,  John  Danvers  his  eldest  sonne  &  heir  apparant,  Thomas  Dan- 
vers second  sonne. 

"  John  Danvers  of  Stanton  in  Com'  Leic'  gen',  eldest  sonne  &  heir  apparent  to  George 
Danvers  aforesaid,  maried  Dorothe  doughter  of  Sr.  Richard  Verney  of  Compton  in  Com' 
Warr'  Knight  and  by  her  hathe  yssue  two  doughters." 

The  arms  entered  are,  quarterly,  1st  and  4th,  Arg.  on  a  bend  Gu.  3  martlets  Or,  winged 
Vert. — 2nd,  Erm.  on  abend  Gu.  2  chevronels  Or. — 3rd,  Arg.  a  bar  Sab.  between  3  mart- 
lets of  the  same. 

(19)  Dugdale's  Wai-wicksh.,  &c.  In  one  of  the  windows  of  Calthorp  House  are  the 
arms  of  Danvers,  inscribed  "  Danvers  lounge  time  owner  of  Cothropp."  Another  shield  is 
— "  Danvers  mached  with  Doyley."  Under  a  third  shield  is  said — "  Robert  Doyley  cam 
oute  of  Normandie  with  the  Conqueror  man-ied  Algitha  Dr  of  Wigotu  lord  of  Walling- 
ford."  There  is  a  vignette  of  Calthorp  House  in  Skelton's  Oxfordshire.  The  building  is 
partially  visible  on  the  right  hand  side  of  the  view  of  St.  John's  Gate  (Plate  21). 

(20)  Act.  Capit.  Line,  fol.  145,  b,  14  Mai.  23  Heur.  VII. ;  confirmed  by  Chapter  28th 
May  1508.  Churton  supposes  that  the  above-named  Sir  Richard  Emson  was  the  famous 
"  Judex  fiscalis,"  as  P.  Virgil  styles  him,  who  with  his  colleague  Dudley  was  beheaded  by 
Henry  the  Eighth.  He  was  the  son  of  a  sieve-maker,  and  bom  at  Towcester ;  and  was 
a  member  of  the  House  of  Commons  in  1495.    The  two  sisters  of  Sir  Richard  Empson, 


190  WILLIAM  COPE  OF 

lifif  of  the  town  and  warder  of  the  Castle :"'  and  William  Cope 
Esq.,  in  1496,  became  lessee  of  the  manor  of  Hardwick  and  the 
river. 

"  The  Lord  Bishop  hath  let  to  farm  to  William  Cope  Esq.  all  his  manor 
of  Hardewyk  in  the  Comity  of  Oxford  and  all  the  rivulet  and  fishery 
of  the  said  Bishop  within  the  hundred  of  Banbury  to  have  and  to  hold 
after  the  date  of  these  presents  until  the  end  of  a  term  of  99  years  from 
that  time  next  following,  by  paying  annually  to  the  Bishop  and  his  suc- 
cessors for  the  farm  of  the  manor  £15.  4s.  Id.  and  for  the  farm  of  the 
said  rivulet  and  fishery  annually  6s.  8d.  Dated  22nd  June,  11th  Henr. 
VII."" 

On  the  5th  Feb.  1500-1  (16th  Henry  VII.),  a  council  of  our 
lord  the  King  was  holden  at  the  Castle  of  Banbury.'-^  About 
April  1501  a  commission  was  made  out  to  try  certain  clerks  con- 
vict, detained  in  the  Castle  of  Banbury,  who  had  robbed  Paul 
Bombyn,  a  London  merchant,  of  £200  in  Bradston  field  near 
Enstone."^ 

In  1504,  Dec.  6th,  T.  Siduall,  chaplain  of  \Yroxstan,  by  will, 
bequeathed  to  Prior  Richard  and  his  Convent  certain  legacies  ; 
and  directed  his  body  to  be  buried  in  the  conventual  church  before 
the  great  cross,  and  one  pound  of  wax  to  burn  before  the  cross 
in  the  parochial  church  of  Wroxstan."^ 

William  Cope  Esq.  has  been  mentioned  above  as  the 
lessee  of  Hardwick  in  1496.  His  ancestor  John  Cope  was  a 
person  of  some  note  in  the  reign  of  Richard  the  Second,  which 
monarch  granted  to  his  "trusty  and  well-beloved  servant  John 
Cope  Esq."  the  manor  of  Denshanger  in  Northamptonshire,  &c.-" 
Henry  the  Fourth  confirmed  to  his  esquire  and  beloved  servant, 

styled  of  Eston  Neston,  were  named  Elizabeth  and  Anne;  Elizabeth  married  William 
Spencer  of  Rodburn  co.  Warwick,  and  became  the  mother  of  that  Sir  John  Spencer 
who  purchased  Wonnleighton  in  1506  ;  Anne  married  WiUiam  Spencer's  next  brother 
John  Spencer  of  Hodnell  co.  Warwick ;  her  only  daughter  (and  heiress)  was  Jane  the 
se(^ond  wife  of  William  Cope  the  Cotferer,  of  Banbury  and  Hanwell,  presently  mentioned. 
— Pedigree  in  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  109. 

(21)  10th  Apr.  1509.    Act.  Capit.  Line.  fol.  49,  b.  (22)  Harl.  MS.,  6954,  fol.  165. 

(23)  Acts.  &c.  among  Records  in  the  Court  of  Requests,  in  Brit.  INIus. 

(24)  Reg.  Line,  fol.  70.  In  the  description  given  by  Leland  of  the  Castle  of  Banbury, 
it  is  said  that  in  the  outer  ward  there  was  "  a  terrible  prison  for  convict  men  ;"  and  the  Valor 
Ecclesiasticus  mentions  annual  alms  of  ^'10,  accustomed  of  old  time,  for  victuals  and  ne- 
cessaries to  convict  clerks  abiding  in  the  prison  of  the  lord  Bishop  at  Banbury.  Before  the 
Pope's  supremacy  was  abohshed,  ecclesiastics  and  their  officers,  and,  in  process  of  time,  all 
who  could  read,  were  allowed,  when  convicted  capitally  in  the  civil  courts,  to  claim  benefit  of 
Clergy  in  arrest  of  judgment;  whereupon  they  were  delivered  to  the  ordinary  to  be  dealt 
with  according  to  the  ecclesiastical  canons.  The  bishop  or  his  commissary  received  the 
clerk,  with  a  copy  of  his  conviction,  and  a  new  canonical  trial  was  instituted,  before  the 
bishop  or  his  deputy  assisted  by  a  jury  of  twelve  clerks.  Here  the  party  was  required 
to  make  oath  of  his  innocence,  and  twelve  compurgators  were  to  swear  they  believed  he 
spoke  truth.  Witnesses  on  behalf  of  the  prisoner  were  examined;  and  then  the  jury 
brought  in  their  verdict  on  oath,  which  usually  acquitted  the  prisoner.  Otherwise,  if  a 
clerk,  he  was  degraded  or  put  to  penance.  (Blackstone.)  For  this  pui-pose  the  bishops 
had  prisons  in  the  nature  of  dungeons,  of  which  in  this  diocese  of  Lincoln  there  were  one 
at  Newark  and  one  at  Banbury. 

(25)  Warton's  Life  of  Sir  T.  Pope,  p.  371.  (26)  Gollins's  Baronetage. 


HARDWICK  AND  HANWELL.  191 

John  Cope,  the  said  manor  of  Denshanger,  m  especial  consid- 
eration of  the  good  service  he  had  rendered  to  the  King  in  the 
preceding  reign  ;^'  and  also  granted  to  him  for  faithful  service 
the  manor  of  Westbury,  co.  Bucks.^  His  descendant,  the  above- 
named  William  Cope,  was  cofferer  of  the  household  to  Henry 
the  Seventh,  and  purchased  estates  in  and  near  Banbury  r^  he 
married,  first,  Agnes,^"  daughter  and  coheii'ess  of  Sir  Robert  Har- 
court  of  Stanton  Harcourt,  knight  banneret  and  knight  of  the 
bath,  who  was  standardbearer  to  King  Henry  the  Seventh  at 
the  battle  of  Bosworth ;  ^^  and,  subsequently,  Jane,  daughter  and 
coheiress  of  Jolm  Spencer  of  Hodnell,  co.  Warwick,  Esq.,  and 
coheiress  of  her  brother  Thomas  Spencer  of  Hodnell  Esq.^'  Le- 
land,  writing  in  the  reign  of  Henry  the  Eighth,  says — "  Mr. 
Cope  hath  an  ould  mannour  place,  called  Herdwike,  a  mile  by 
north  from  Banbury.  There  was  Herdwik  of  Herdwik.  He  hath 
another  at  Hanwell,  a  2  miles  from  Banbury  by  northwest,  and  is 
in  Oxfordshire.     This  is  a  very  pleasant  and  gallant  house. "^^ 

The  old  manor-house  of  Hardwick  stood  on  the  hill,  a  little 
to  the  north  of  the  present  farm-house.  There  are  yet  consider- 
able remains  of  William  Cope's  castellated  mansion  at  Hanwell. 
(Plate  20.)  This  was  a  fine  specimen  of  the  brick-work  of 
the  latter  part  of  the  reign  of  Henry  the  Seventh,  with  stone 
quoins ;  the  whole  being  cemented  in  the  most  diu-able  manner 
with  a  mixture  of  Southam  lime  and  powdered  granite.  It  was 
a  quadrangular  edifice,  with  a  frontage  of  109  feet ;  at  each  angle 
was  a  square  tower  flanked  by  octangular  turrets  ;  the  whole  edi- 
fice was  embattled.  The  principal  entrance  was  by  a  pointed 
doorway  in  the  west  firont,  surmounted  by  a  bay  window.  The 
room  in  the  southwestern  tower,  wliich  still  remains,  measures  20 
by  18  feet ;  above  it  are  two  rooms  of  similar  dimensions,  to  which 
the  ascent  is  by  winding  stairs  which  lead  to  the  summit  of  the 

(27)  Rot.  Pat.  1st  Henr.  IV.  p.  2,  m.  20.  (28)  Collins's  Baronetage. 

(29)  Wood's  Athenae. 

(30)  Inscription  in  the  old  Church  at  Banbury,  quoted  in  p.  192,  note  37. 

(31)  Harcourt  pedigrees ;  and  information  from  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Cope,  of  Easton,  Hants, 
to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  much  of  the  information  relating  to  his  ancestors  which  occurs 
in  the  following  pages. 

(32)  Visit.  Co.  Warwick,  1619,  in  lib.  Herald's  Coll. 

(33)  Leland's  Itin.,  v.  4,  pt.  2,  fol.  163,  a.  Perhaps  William  Cope  came  into  possession 
of  Hanwell  through  Jane  his  second  wife  ;  as  his  eldest  son  (by  his  first  wife)  and  his  des- 
cendants did  not  inherit  the  estate.  Le  Neve  (MSS.  Pedigrees  of  Baronets)  says  that 
William  Cope  had  a  grant  of  Hanwell ;  and  gives  a  reference,  "  Pat.  Henr.  VII  ;"  but 
the  Rev.  W.  H.  Cope,  who  has  taken  gi-eat  pains  to  trace  the  history  of  his  family, 
suspects  that  this  reference  is  to  the  licence  to  castellate  and  embattle  Hanwell  house,  aiid 
not  to  any  grant  of  the  estate. 


192  COPE,  OF  HANWELL, 

tower :  in  the  lower  room  is  a  very  fine  chimney -piece  of  black 
and  white  marble,  which  was  removed  from  one  of  the  state  rooms. 
The  great  kitchen  in  the  south  front  (now  used  as  a  dairy), 
and  the  adjoining  room,  have  two  curious  fireplaces  situated  back 
to  back.  In  that  part  of  the  south  front  which  looked  into  the 
quadrangle  was  a  handsome  oriel  window  now  partly  stopped  tip. 
The  stone  corbel  which  supported  the  bay  window  over  the  prin- 
cipal entrance  is  now  in  the  adjoining  garden  of  the  rectory.  The 
entire  building  remained  until  about  the  year  1777.^^ 

William  Cope  had  a  grant  from  the  Crown,  7th  May,  13th 
Henry  VII.  (1498),  of  the  lordsliips  of  Wormleighton  and  Fen- 
ny Compton  in  Warwickshire,  part  of  the  inheritance  of  Sir 
Simon  Montfort  who  was  attaiuted  in  the  10th  of  Henry  the  Se- 
venth.^^  In  the  22nd  of  Henry  VII.  he  sold  Wormleighton  to 
his  wife's  cousin,  Sir  John  Spencer  of  Snitterfield,  who  erected 
the  manor-house,  and  resided  there  with  a  family  of  sixty  persons/"""' 

William  Cope  added  some  decorations  to  the  ancient  Church 
of  Banbury.  In  one  of  Anthony  a  Wood's  MSS.,  there  is  pre- 
served a  copy  of  a  Latin  inscription,  which  was  placed  beneath 
the  arms  of  Cope  in  this  Church,  recording  that  "  William  Coope 
Esq.,  formerly  cofferer  of  the  household  of  the  most  illustrious 
King  Henry  VII,  caused  these  four  windows  to  be  made."^^  A 
marginal  note  of  Wood  states  that  these  windows,  "without 
doubt,"  were  those  of  the  "  chapel  on  the  south  side  of  the 
chm'ch."  Probably  he  merely  re-glazed  the  windows  with  coats 
of  arms  &c.;  as  it  is  hardly  conceivable  that,  at  this  date,  any 
one  should  possess  the  exquisite  taste  which  could  prompt  to  the 

(34)  An  incon-ect  drawing  of  the  original  building  has  been  preserved,  and  is  engi-aved 
in  Skelton's  Oxfordshire.  It  is  said  there  was  a  gallery  from  the  central  apartment  in 
the  tower  which  yet  remains  (and  which  is  engi-aved  in  Plate  20),  communicating  with 
the  chancel  of  the  Church,  which  stands  on  an  adjacent  bank  called  the  Gallery  Hill.  At 
this  mansion  there  was  once  a  water  clock,  which  was  worked  by  the  ever-flowing  spring 
that  rises  in  the  centre  of  the  village,  and  which  shewed  the  time  by  the  rising  of  gilded 
balls,  or  suns,  marked  with  the  hours.  The  situation  of  the  passing  ball  on  the  arch  over 
which  it  moved  shewed  the  divisions  of  the  hour  until  the  rising  of  the  next  ball. 

(35)  Collins's  Baronetage.  In  the  year  after  he  obtained  possession.  Cope  depopulated 
twelve  messuages  and  three  cottages  at  Wonnleighton,  and  enclosed  240  acres  of  land. — Mag. 
Britan. 

(36)  Baker's  Northamp.,  pp.  106, 109.  Sir  John  Spencer  added  many  other  manors  to 
his  family  patrimony.  He  is  mentioned  as  a  "  noble  housekeeper ;"  and  so  scrapulously 
just,  that  by  his  will  he  required  his  executors  to  recompense  any  one  who  could  shew 
that  he  had  wronged  him  in  any  way,  although  he  knew  of  none  such ;  and  directed 
proclamation  hereof  to  be  made  monthly,  during  the  first  year  after  his  decease,  at  War- 
wick, Southam,  Coventry,  Banbury,  Daventry,  and  Northampton .  (Collins's  Baronetage.) 
The  present  noble  family  of  Spencer  are  his  descendants,  and  retain  the  property  purchased 
by  him. 

(37)  Wood's  MSS.,  8505,  fol.  165,  a.  "Will'us  Coope  arm.  quondam  Cofferarius  hos- 
pitii  iUustriss.  Regis  Hen.  VII.  istas  quatuor  fenestras  fieri  fecit.    Agnes  et  Jana  uxores." 


HARDWICK,  AND  GRIMSBURY.  193 

restoration  of  these  windows  in  tlie  purest  style  of  the  14th  cen- 
tury. William  Cope  died  on  the  7th  x\pril  1513,  and  was  interred 
in  this  beautiful  Chapel,  beneath  a  tomb  of  black  marble.  Dug- 
dale  describes  this  as  a  "  faire  monum'  of  Tueh  "  [Touchstone]. ^^ 
It  is  remembered  as  a  plain,  raised,  flat  tomb,  standing  in  that 
part  of  the  Chapel  which  was  entered  from  the  church-yard 
by  a  door  on  the  south  side  (seen  in  Plate  13),  called,  from 
its  position  near  the  tomb,  the  Black-stone  door.  Upon  this 
tomb  marks  were  remaining  where  the  arms  had  been :  the 
inscription  was  partly  defaced  when  Dugdale  saw  the  tomb  in 
1640  f^  and  Wood,  who  was  here  in  1659,  mentions  the  arms 
"  on  brasse  plates,"  and  the  inscription,  as  having  been  "  long 
suice  defaced  and  plucked  off."^°  Wood  however  gives  the  fol- 
lowing epitaphs,  which  he  had  found  from  "  certain  collections " 
to  have  been  in  Banbury  Church  : — 

"  Hie  jacet  Will'us  Coope  Armiger  quondam  CofFerarius  hospitii  famo- 
sissimi  et  excellentissimi  Regis  Henrici  septimi,  qui  qiiidem  Will'us  obiit 
vii  die  mensis  Aprilis  an.  Dom.  MV'^XIII  cujus  a'i'e  [propicietur  Deus. 
Amen]."*! 

"  Here  lyeth  Jane  Coope  wyddow  late  the  wyfe  of  Will'  Coope  Esq. 
somtymes  CofFerar  to  K.  Hen.  VII.  wliycli  Jane  died  on  the  xii.  day  of 
Febr.  an.  Dom.  MV'^XXV  on  Avhose  [soule  Jh'u  have  mercy.     Amen]."*^ 

When  the  Church  of  Banbury  was  taken  down  in  1790,  the 
remains  of  William  Cope,  which  had  been  iuterred  277  years, 
were  exposed,  and  immediately  crumbled  to  dust.  Of  liis  chil- 
dren, his  son  Stephen,  by  his  first  wife  (Agnes),  was  serjeant  of 
the  Poultry  to  Henry  VIII.,  and  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Copes 
of  Bedenham,  Hants.**^     Wniiam  Cope's  first  son  by  liis  second 

(38)  Dugdale's  MSS.,  No.  6-501,  fol.  152,  a. 

(39)  Dugdale's  MSS.,  ibid.  (40)  Wood's  MSS.,  No.  8.505. 

(41)  "  Here  lieth  William  Coope  Esquire,  formerly  CofTerer  of  the  Household  of  the  most 
famous  and  excellent  King  Henry  the  Seventh,  which  William  died  the  7th  day  of  the  month 
of  April,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1513.    On  whose  soul  may  God  have  mercy.    Amen." 

The  present  Sir  John  Cope  Bart.,  of  Bramshill,  Hants,  is  in  possession  of  a  portrait  of 
William  Cope  the  Cofferer,  said  to  be  by  Holbein. 

(42)  Wood's  MSS.,  No.  8505,  fol.  165,  a.  The  arms  were  Ar.  on  a  chevron  Az.  betw.  3 
roses  Gul.  slipt  and  leaved  Vt.  as  many  fleurs  de  lis  O.  The  crest,  as  drawn  both  by  Lee 
and  Wood,  was  On  a  wreath  Ar.  and  Vt.  [azure  ?]  a  fleur  de  lis  Or,  a  dragon's  head 
issuing  from  the  top  thereof  Gules.  These  were  in  the  windows  before  mentioned. 
William  Cope's  paternal  coat  was  Gul.  on  a  fess  Arg.  a  boar  passant  Sab.:  he  also  used, 
as  allusive  to  his  office  of  Cofferer,  Arg.  thi-ee  coffers  (2  &  1)  Sab.  garnished  Or  (Le  Neve's 
MSS.) ;  but  subsequently  he  had  a  grant  of  the  above-mentioned  arms,  in  especial  allusion 
to  the  Royal  badges  of  the  crown,  viz.  the  red  rose  of  Lancaster,  the  fleur  de  lis,  and  the 
red  dragon.  These  aixns  and  crest  have  continued  the  bearing  of  the  family  to  the  present 
time.    They  have  also  used  as  an  ancient  badge  a  ileur  de  lis  per  pale  Arg.  and  Or. 

Jane  Cope,  after  the  death  of  her  first  husband,  the  above  William  Cope,  married  Wil- 
liam Saunders  of  Banbury  Esq.,  whom  also  she  seems  to  have  survived.  (Pedigi'ees  of 
Cope  and  Spencer.)  It  appears  however  from  the  epitaph  that  she  chose  to  designate  herself 
by  the  name  of  her  first  husband,  who  was  the  highest  of  the  two  in  rank. 

(43)  Qu.  Bedhampton  ? 

2  B 


IW  SIR  ANTHONY  COPE. 

wife  (Jane),  was  Anthony  Cope,  of  Hanwell  and  Grymsbury :  lie 
was  bom  at  Banbury,''^  was  educated  at  Oriel  College,  Oxford, 
and  afterwards  travelled  into  France,  Germany,  Italy,  and  else- 
where, visiting  the  foreign  universities,  and  associating  with  the 
most  learned  men.  Sir  Anthony  possessed  an  estate  at  Gryms- 
bury in  1534.  In  1536,  he  had  a  grant  from  Henry  VIII.  of 
the  Priory  of  Brook  in  Rutlandshire,  and  also  of  the  manor  of 
Brook  with  the  appurtenances  in  that  county,  all  which  how- 
ever he  alienated  before  his  death.  He  was  also  appointed  vice- 
chamberlain  to  Queen  Catherine  Parr :  and  at  the  coronation  of 
Edward  VI.  in  February  1547  was  created  a  knight  of  the  car- 
pet, and  in  the  next  year  was  selected  by  that  King  to  serve  the 
office  of  high  sheriff  of  Oxfordshire  and  Berkshire,  succeeding 
in  that  office  Sir  Francis  Englefield,  a  zealous  agent  for  the 
Pope  in  this  county .'^^  Sir  Anthonj'  died  "  in  summer  time  in 
fifteen  hundred  fifty  and  one,"  according  to  Wood  ;  or  on  the 
6th  January  1550-1,  according  to  Baker  ;^''  and  was  buried  in 
the  chancel  of  the  church  at  Hanwell. 


BAXBUPvY  GRAMMAR  SCHOOL:   THOMAS  STAN- 
BRIDGE  AXD  JOHN  STANBRIDGE. 

John  Stanbridge,  and  his  brother,  or  near  relative,"*'   Thomas 

(44)  Probably  at  the  manor-house  of  Hardwick. — Tanner's  Bibliotheca,  199. 

(4.5)  Wood's  Athens;  Fuller's  Worthies;  Bakers's  Norlhamp.,  p.  748;  Playfair's  Fam. 
Antiq. ;  and  information  from  the  Eev.  W.  H.  Cope.  Sir  Anthony  Cope  wrote  several 
works,  many  of  which  are  said  to  have  been  lost  in  consequence  of  the  religious  changes 
and  troubles  of  the  time.  (Pitseus,  735,  6.)  Two  only  are  now  extant,  1st,  "  The  Historic 
of  two  the  moste  noble  captaines  of  the  worlde,  Anniball  and  Scipio,  of  theyr  dyuers 
battailes  and  victories;"  gathered  and  translated  from  Titus  Livius  and  other  authors: 
this  he  dedicated  in  1-544  to  Henry  VIII.,  and  it  acquired  sufficient  popularity  to  run 
through  three  editions  before  the  end  of  that  century.  2ud,  "  Godly  Meditations  on  20 
Select  Psalms,  necessary  for  them  that  desire  to  have  the  dark  words  of  the  Prophet 
declared:  Also  for  those  that,  delight  in  the  contemplation  of  the  spiritual  meaning  of 
them  ;"  which  he  published  in  1.547,  with  a  dedication  to  his  mistress  and  patroness  Queen 
Catharine  Parr.  His  writings  shew  him  to  have  been  favourable  to  the  Reformation ;  and 
this  opinion  is  confirmed  by  the  fact  of  his  holding  a  confidential  situation  near  the  per- 
son of  Queen  Catharine,  and  by  the  honours  conferred  >ipon  him  after  the  accession  of 
Edward  tlie  Sixth. 

(40)  "Wood's  Athense;  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  748.  Edward  Cope,  eldest  son  of  Sir 
Anthony,  died  3rd-4th  Phil.  &  Mar.,  seised  of  the  manor  of  Grimesbury,  with  3  mes- 
suages, 300  acres  of  arable  land,  60  acres  of  meadow,  and  400  acres  of  pasture,  lately 
belonging  to  the  monastery  of  Burchester,  and  held  of  the  Queen  in  capite,  by  the  service 
of  a  twentieth  part  of  one  knight's  fee ;  as  also  of  other  lands  &c.  in  Grimesbury,  Nether- 
cote,  Huscote,  Overthorp,  Warkworth,  and  Middleton,  held  of  the  Earl  of  Derby  as  of 
his  hundred  of  Sutton ;  and  further  seised  of  the  third  part  of  one  messuage,  60  acres  of 
arable  land,  40  acres  of  meadow,  and  100  acres  of  pasture  called  The  Spittle,  held  of 
'  George  Calverley  and  Agnes  his  wife  as  of  their  manor  of  Warkworth,  by  fealty  and  a 
yearly  payment  of  four  shillings.— Br((/</M'  Norlhamp., -p.  220. 

(47)  Wood's  Fasti  Oxon. 


THOMAS  AND  JOHN  STANBRIDGE.  IDo 

Staubridge,  were,  the  first  of  them,  master  of  the  Hospital  of  St. 
Johu  at  Baulnirj,  aud  the  second,  the  master  of  the  Grammar 
School  there.  JOHN  Stanbridge  was  born  at  Heyford  in 
Northamptonshire,  educated  at  Winchester  school,  and,  in  1481, 
admitted,  after  two  years'  probation,  fellow  of  New  College,  Ox- 
ford. He  left  his  college  five  years  after,  and,  "  being  naturally 
delighted  m  the  faculty  of  grammar,"  though  then  B.A.,  was  made 
first  usher  of  the  free  school  adjoining  to  Magdalen  College  (so 
he  occurs  in  1488),  and,  after  the  death  of  Anwykyll,  chief  master 
thereof  ^^  On  the  22nd  x\pril  1501,  John  Stanbrigge,  being  then 
M.A.,  and  priest,  was  by  Bishop  Smyth,  at  Banbmy,  collated 
to  the  mastership  of  the  Hospital  of  St.  John  there,  which  mas- 
tership was  void  by  the  death  of  Brother  Thomas  Banbury  .'*' 
On  the  8th  February  1507,  Master  John  Stanbrigge,  M.A.,  was 
collated  to  the  church  of  Wynwyk.^"  On  the  30th  August  1509, 
he  was  collated  to  the  prebend  of  St.  Botolph.^^  He  died  in  1510, 
before  the  8tli  September.^-  The  mastership  of  the  Hospital  of 
Banbury  was  recorded  as  l.eing  vacant,  by  his  death,  on  the  20th 
September;  and,  on  the  following  7th  January  (1510-11),  Mas- 
ter Thomas  Brynknell,  D.D.,  who  held  the  prebend  of  Marston 
St.  Lawrence,  was  collated  thereto.^^  Wood  describes  John  Stan- 
bridge  as  a  right  worthy  lover  of  his  faculty,  indefatigable  in 
teaching  and  writing ;  and  says  he  lived  poor  and  bare  to  the 
last,  with  a  juvenile  and  cheerful  spirit.  (See  his  portrait,  Plate 
21.)^^ 

Thomas  Stanbridge,  master  of  Banbury  Grammar  School, 
and  who  is  styled  by  Wood  "an  eminent  grammarian,"  and  a 
"noted  schoolmaster  of  Banbury,"  took  the  degree  of  M.iV.  in 
July  1518,  being  then  of  Magdalen  College,  Oxford.  Wood  adds, 
that  he  "taught  the  grammar  composed  by  John  Stanbridge," 
and  that  the  school  at  Banbury  was  "much  frequented  for  his 


(48)  Wood's  Atheiice. 

(49)  Hail.  MS.,  69.53,  fol.  43;  Churton's  Founders  of  Brasenose. 

(50)  Harl.  MS.,  6953,  fol.  33.  (51)  Harl.  MS.,  6953,  fol.  24. 

(52)  Harl.  MS.,  6953,  fols.  25,  34.  Wood,  who  appears  to  be  quite  ignorant  of  the 
latter  part  of  John  Stanbridge's  history,  supposes  him  to  have  lived  beyond  the  year  1522. 

(53)  Harl.  MS.  6953,  fols.  25,  53,  54. 

(54)  John  Stanbridge's  works,  which  are  either  in  the  Bodleian  Library  or  enumerated 
by  Anthony  a  Wood,  are — Vocabula  Magistri  Sta'brigi,  4to,  printed  by  R.  Pynson  in  1513, 
and  again  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde  in  1525  ; — Gradus  Comparationum,  4to,  by  Wynkyn  de 
Worde ; — Accidentia,  ex  Stanbrigiana  editioue  nuper  recognita,  4to,  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde ; 
— Embiyon  relimatum,  sive  Vocabularium  Metricum,  printed  aljout  1522; — PaiTulorum 
Institutio  ex  Stanbrigiana  collectione,  4to,  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde,  1526;  De  ordine  con 
structionum ; — Vulgaria. 

2b3 


I9(i  BANBURY  GRAMMAR  SCHOOL. 

sake."  Thomas  Stanbridge  died  iu  1522,  aud  left  several  books 
to  his  college,  of  which  he  was  fellow.^ 

This  is  the  earliest  date  at  which  the  GRAMMAR  SCHOOL  of 
Banbury  is  mentioned.  Under  the  care  of  Thomas  Stanbridge 
it  acquired  great  reputation.  The  statutes  of  the  grammar  school 
at  Manchester,  of  the  date  of  1524,  ordain  that  the  high  master 
thereof  shall  be  "  able  to  teche  Childeryn  Gramyer  after  the  Scole 
use,  maner,  and  forme  of  the  Scole  of  Banbury  in  Oxford-schyre, 
nowe  there  taught,  wiche  is  called  Stanbridge  gramyer:"^  and 
it  is  said  that  the  statutes  of  St.  Paul's  school  at  London  were 
drawn  up  on  the  model  of  those  of  Banbury.^ 

Sir  Thomas  Pope,  the  founder  of  Trinity  College  Oxford,  who 
was  born  about  the  year  1508,  received  the  rudiments  of  his 
education  at  Banbury  Grammar  School  under  Thomas  Stan- 
bridge.* The  Statutes  of  Trinity  College,  dated  May  1st  1556, 
direct  that,  in  default  of  candidates  deemed  eligible  by  the  Elec- 
tors from  certain  places  therein  named,  regard  be  had  to  scholars 
from  four  or  five  other  schools,  of  wliich  number  Banbury  is  one.* 

It  is  deeply  to  be  regretted  that  no  subsequent  information  cau 
be  traced  respecting  Banbury  School :  its  endowment,  and  even  its 
site,  are  unknown,  and  aU  the  advantages  of  this  celebrated  foun- 
dation have  for  ages  been  lost  to  the  inhabitants.  The  school- 
hoiTse  is  imagined  by  some  to  have  stood  on  the  north  side  of  the 
church-yard,  where  an  old  buildiug,  which  at  a  later  period  was 
called  the  School-house,  was  standing  until  1838  ;  but  was  then 
taken  down  with  the  view  of  adding  the  site  to  the  burial  ground. 
This  building  had  about  64  feet  of  frontage  to  the  church-yard, 
and  was  16  feet  in  breadth.  At  an  early  period  it  was  called  the 
Church  House.  In  1556  (the  date  of  the  statutes  of  Trinity 
College),  mention  is  made  in  local  records  of  the  old  wood  of 
the  Church  House  f  and  in  1603  this  building  on  the  north 
side  of  the  church-yard  is  described  as  having  been  sometimes 
called  the  Church  House,  and  then  a  school-house.  It  is  stated 
as  having  been  given  for  the  repair  of  the  Church." 

(1)  Wood's  Alheufe.  (2)  Carlisle's  Endowed  Grammar  Schools. 

(3)  Carlisle.  (4)  Warton's  Life  of  Sir  T.  Pope. 

(5)  Information  from  the  Rev.  T.  Short,  Fellow  of  Trinity  College. 

(6)  Banbury  Corporation  accounts,  1556. 

(7)  Decree  on  Charities  at  Banbui-y  in  1603.  This  building  was  used  as  a  prison  during 
the  Civil  Wars.  (Rawlinson's  MSS.,  Topog.  Com.  Oxon.)  When  the  Act  was  passed 
in  1790  for  taking  down  and  rebuilding  the  Church  of  Banbury,  the  Corporation  were 
empowered  to  sell  such  premises  as  they  held  for  the  repairs  of  the  Church ;  and  under 
these  powers  the  whole  of  the  said  premises  were  sold,  except  the  tenement  described  in 


VALOR  ECCLESIASTICUS.  19^ 


THE  REIGN  OF  HENRY  THE  EIGHTH. 

Dr.  Thomas  Brjnknell,  prebendary  of  Marston  St.  Lawrence, 
who  was  collated  to  the  Mastership  of  St.  John's  Hospital  in 
Banbury  on  the  death  of  John  Stanbridge,  is  described  as  "  a  per- 
son of  great  literature,  and  a  most  skilful  interpreter  of  the  sacred 
Writ."  While  a  commoner  of  University  College,  he  became  so 
well  known  to,  and  respected  by,  Wolsey,  that  he  was  represented 
to  the  King  as  one  of  the  most  fit  persons  in  the  University  to  en- 
counter Luther.*^  On  the  2nd  Dec.  1512,  Master  Matthew  Smyth, 
A.M.,  was  collated  to  the  Prebend  of  Banbury,  void  by  the  death 
of  Master  James  Whitston.^  He  is  mentioned  in  1510  as  Prin- 
cipal of  Brasenose  College.'"  William  Smyth,  bishop  of  Lincoln, 
died  on  the  2nd  January,  1513-14  :  he  bequeathed  to  the  Hos- 
pital of  Saint  John  at  Banbury  money  (see  pp.  77,  78)  for 
erecting  buildings  in  the  Hospital,  and  repairing  the  old  ones. 
Thomas  Wolsey,  afterwards  the  celebrated  Cardinal,  was  con- 
secrated bishop  of  this  diocese,  and  became  lord  of  Banbury : 
but  in  1514  he  was  translated  to  York,  and  William  Atwater 
succeeded  him.  In  1521,  John  Longland,  chancellor  of  Oxford, 
became  bishop  of  this  see.'' 

In  the  26th  Henry  VIII.  (1534),  enquiry  was  directed  to 
be  made  into  the  values  of  manors,  lands,  tithes,  &c.,  appertain- 
ing to  the  Church.  The  return  is  contained  in  the  "  Valor  Ec- 
clesiasticus."  The  following  is  a  translation  in  some  parts,  and 
a  copy  in  others,  of  this  record,  so  far  as  it  relates  to  Banbury. 

"DIOCESE  OF  LINCOLN   AND   DEANERY   OF  DADYNGTON. 

"  Hospital  of  St.  John  in  Banbury. 

"  Doctor  Thomas  Brynknell  master  of  the  Hos-"^    I.  s.  d. 

pital  there  and  his  Hospital  there  is  worth  in  rents  >xvj       xiij       vij 
of  assise  by  the  year  one  year  with  another J 

the  Decree  of  1603  as  situate  on  the  north  side  of  the  church-yard  and  as  being  then  used 
as  a  school-house.  It  appears  the  reservation  was  made,  because  it  was  not  known  upon 
what  trust  the  Corporation  held  the  premises,  and  it  was  supposed  they  had  been  given  for 
the  purposes  of  a  school. — Meports  on  Charities. 

Carlisle  says  there  was  an  endowment  of  £5  per  annum  to  the  head  master  of  the  Gram- 
mar School  of  Banbury,  upon  condition  of  his  assisting  the  vicar  by  reading  prayers  on 
Wednesdays  and  Fridays  and  at  other  times  when  the  vicar  might  need  his  assistance. 
This  is  an  error,  and  alludes  to  a  gift  by  Mary  Metcalfe,  in  1723,  to  the  schoolmaster  of 
the  then  Church  School,  which  appears  to  have  been  the  new  Blue-Coat  Charity.  Mr. 
Carlisle  is  incorrect  in  other  particulars. 

(8)  Wood's  Athenee.  (9)  Harl.  MS.,  6953,  fol.  26. 

(10)  Churton's  Founders,  p.  287. 

(11)  Whitworth's  Nobility.  On  the  26th  June  in  that  year  the  temporaliies  of  the  sec 
were  restored  to  the  Bishop.— i/rtW.  MS.,  7408,  fol.  501. 


198  VALOR  ECCLESIASTICUS. 


I.         s.  d. 

"  Sum xvj       xiij       vij 

Therefrom 


Paj'ments. 
esolute^-  tc 
of  Lincoln  for  certain  tenements  in  Banbury  as 


Viz'.     In  Rent  Resolutely  to  the  lord  Bishop^ 


of  quit  rent  as  appears  by  his  bill  produced  and  in  ^  xxxj  ix 
the  keeping  of  the  commissioners  of  our  lord  the 

King  in  this  behalf  remaining J 

/.  s.  a. 

"  Sum  allowed xxxj  ix 

"  And  there  remains  clear xv  —      xxij 

/.  s.  d. 

"  Tenth  part  to  our  lord  the  King    xxx  ij  q' 

"  Clear  value  of  the  said  Hospital  reformed  by  virtue  of  the  warrant 
of  our  lord  the  King  in  his  court  of  first  fruits  and  tenths  certified  the 
10th  day  of  February  in  the  33rd  year  of  our  said  lord  the  King. 
"Prebend  of  Banbury. 

"  Doctor  Mathew  Smythe  prebendary  there  and^    ^  ^  ^ 

his  prebend  is  worth  by  the  year  one  year  with  I  j.:  J_  _i 
another  as  demised  to  one  William  Bingham  by  j    •> 

indenture    / 

/.  s.  d. 

"Sum lij  —  — 

Therefrom 

"  Payments.                                     I  s  d 

"  Viz'.     In  quit  rents  by  the  year  and  for  everj  J_  ^  _L 
paid  to  the  officer  of  Lincoln  and  his  successors . .  / 

"  And  in  synodals  and  procurations  yearly  paid!  ^jj-  jjjj 

to  the  archdeacon  of  Oxford  by  the  year  / 

/.  s.  d. 

"  Sum  allowed   —  _  cxiij  iiij 

"  And  so  there  remains  clear     xlvj  vj  viij 

/.  5.  d. 

"  Tenth  part  to  our  lord  the  King    iiij  xij  viij 

"  Banbury. 


Doctor  Dyngley  perpetual  vicar  and  hi 


s  VI  car - 


ageis   worth   by   the  .year  in   all   revenues   and  ^^^^^        ^.^        ^^^^ 


/.  s.         d. 


profits  by  the  year  one  year  with  another,  by  his 
own  acknowledgment,  so  demised  by  indenture  . . 

/.  s.         d. 

"Sum xxij       vj       viij 

Therefrom 
"  Payments.  .Is  d 

"Viz'.     In  quit  rents  yearly  and  for  ever  paid)  _J^       _J__  j-- 

and  by  his  heirs    / 

"  And  for  services  for  the  dead  .  .  .  yearly  and\ 

for  ever  paid / 

/.  s.  d. 

"  Sum  allowed —  vj  vj 

/.  s.  d. 

"  And  so  there  remains  clear    xxij        —        ij 

/.  s.  d. 

"  Tenth  part  to  our  lord  the  King    —       xliiij       — q' 

(12)  Rents  Resolute  were  those  payable  to  the  Crown,  the  chief  lord,  &c.,  from  the  lands 
&c.  of  religious  houses. — Description  of  Public  Meeonh. 


VALOR  ECCLESIASTICUS.  199 


"  Values  of  the  whole  rent  of  all  the  lands  and 
tenements  of  a  certain  Guild  of  the  Blessed  Mary  I     I. 
the   Virgin   within  the   town   of  Banbury  in   the  f-lviij 
county  of  Oxford  and  within  the  deanery  of  Da- 
dyngton  and  diocese  of  Lincoln  yearly  received. . 

Therefrom 

"  In  Rent  Resolute  to  sir  William  Webbe  chap-^    /.  s.  d. 

lain  of  the  aforesaid  guild  and  master  of  the  same  > —       cxvj       viij 
yearly  and  for  ever  J 

"  Paid   to    sir   William    Beassyngton   sir    JohnS 
Myllett  sir   Alexander  Chapleyn  chaplains  as  is  >xvij         x         — 
aforesaid ) 

"  Item  paid  to  two  parish  clerks  there  yearly   . .     —         liij        iiij 

"  Paid    to   Robert   Hardy   orgyn  player    there  \    •  

yearly J    ■' 

"Item    paid    to   eight    poor   men    and   women \  ^,.       ^^■■;       ^^■■ 
there  yearly    /  ^-^       ^^"^       ^"^ 


I.  s.  (I. 

"  Sum xxxix     viij  viij 

"  Item  paid  to  the  lord  bishop  of   Lincoln  for^   /.  s.  d. 

qiiit  rent  to  him  and  his  successors  j^early  and  for  Viiij  v  iiij 

ever  paid    J 

"Paid  to  Master  Anthony  Cope  and  his  heirs)  ••  •••. 

yearly  and  for  ever /  '     •'  ■' 

"  Paid  to  Master  Odell  yearly   —  iij  iiij 

"  Paid  to  the  reeve  of  Nethrop  yearly    • —  iij  iiij 

"  Paid  to  the  prebendary  of  Banbury  aforesaid  \ .  ••    ,  ,    , 

yearly j  ^  J     ^  '^ 

"  Item  paid  to  the  prebendary  men  there  yearly     —  iij  viij 

"  Paid  to  the  master  of  Colde  Norton  yearly    . .     —  iij  — \  j^ 

"  Paid  to  the  prior  of  Chacombe  yearly —  ij  — J 

"  Paid  to  the  bailiff  of  Kyngessotton —  ij  iiij 

"  Paid  to  sir  Darbe  yearly —  iij  — 

"  Item  paid  to  the  house  of  Seynt  John  within  \ . 

Banbury  aforesaid  yearly  and  for  ever    j  '    •' 

"  Paid  to  Master  Coope  for  auditor's  fee  yearly     —  xxvj  viij 
"  Paid  to  the  master  of  the  Guild  aforesaid  for^ 

his  livery  yearly  and  for  ever  according  to   the  > —  xxvj  viij 

foundation  of  the  said  guild J  _                  So 

"  Paid  to  the  clerk  of  the  aforesaid  guild  yearly     —  xlvj  viij 

I.  s.  d. 

^'™ Ivij  xvij  xjob'q;>* 

"  Sum Ij  —  ij  ob'  q'  '^ 

"  Item  paid  for  services  for  the  dead  for  Robert)  _]^  "■  •■■• 

Plommar  yearly    .__ /  •*  *' 

I  —  iiij  — 

Paid   for   services   for   the  dead  for   William)  •  ■- 

Caprone  yeai-ly j  •'  ^ 

"Paid  for   services   for  the    dead   for   Thomas\ j-  jj-- 

Hampton  yearly  j  •'  ^ 

"Item  paid  for   services  for  the   dead  for  sir)  jj-  jjj- 

John  Est'be  yearly       / 

(13)  Noted  as  "  Quytte  Re'tts." 

(14)  This  is  the  amount  deducting  the  two  items  in  italics. 

(15)  This  includes,  with  the  above  £\\.  Us.  6|d,  the  preceding  sum  £39.  8s.  Sd.    There 
aie  slight  eiTors  in  casting  or  copying. 


"  Paid  for  services  for  the  dead  for  John  Wylson 
yearly 


200 


VALOR  ECCLESIASTICUS. 


"  Paid  for  services  for  the  dead  for  Richard)  _1 
Aleyn J 

"  Paid  for  services  for  the  dead  at  four  times  of\ 

the  year i 

"  Sum — 

"  Sum  total  of  the  deduction     lij 

"  And  there  remains  clear 


xlviij 


"  Tenth  part nij 


viij 

xxxvj 
s. 

xvj 
ciij 
vj 

xvj 


ij  ob'  q' 
ix  ob'  q' 


vij  q 
(1. 


I. 
xvj 


viij 
(I. 


iiij  ob'  q' 


"  Sum  total  of  this  tenth    xxxuij      xj 

" COUNTY  OF  LINCOLN. 

"Book  of  Values  of  the  Bishoprick  of  Lincoln. 
"  Bannebury  Burgh. 
"Is  worth  in 

"  Rents  of  assise  by  the  year    xj    xix    ij 

"  Farm  of  shops  there  by  the  year —  xiij  iiij 

"  Advance  of  rents  there  by  the  year —    ij    iiij 

"  New  rent  there  by  the  year    —   T^.  ^^ 

"  Common  fine  there  by  the  year     —  xliiij  — 

"Perquisites  of  the  com-t  there  one  year)  ^^  __ 

with  another / 

"  Out  of  this  in  reprises.  I.  s. 

"  The  Fee  of  Thomas  Rowland'  bailiff  there  by\  _      ^■ 

the  year J 

/.  «._ 

"  And  the  clear  value  is xiiij        xiij 

"  Thereof  the  Tenth  part   —        xxix 

"  Bannebury  Bailiff  of  the  Hundred. 
"It  is  worth  in 

"  Common  fine  there  by  the  year iiij  xvij  viij   )    /. 

"  Perquisites  of  the  court  there  one  year?  •••    -••     >  — 

with  another  with  suit  of  the  free  tenants  . .  ^         '    ^       •'   ) 
"  Reprises.  ^  ^ 

"  Fee    of  Thomas  Barons   bailiff  there  by   the  ?  _;^ 
year S 

"  And  the  clear  value  is iiij 

"  Thereof  the  Tenth  part — 

"Bannebury  Reeve  of  the  Castle. 
"  It  is  worth  in 
"  Farm  of  the  mills  there  one  year  with?     •.     .     ••• 

another   S 

"  Farm  of  the  tolls  of  markets  and  fairs?     .     ••.  •••. 

one  year  with  another ^    ■'*    ^      ■' 

"  Farm  of  the  manor  with  demesne  land'^ 
of  Hardewike  by  the  year  demised  to  An-  >xv     x    ix 

tony  Coope  by  indenture    J 

"  Farm  of  demesne  land  with  houses  at^ 
Essendon   demised  to  William  Pierson  by 

the  year  by  indenture 

"  Farm  of  certain  demesne  meadows  and'^ 
pastures  there  lately  in  the  holding  of  Wil-  >  xiij  vj  viij 

liam  Pierson  by  the  year    J 

"  Sale  of  works  there  by  the  year    -xxviiijob'. 

(16)  This  sum,  from  which  the  tenth  is  calculated,  is  the  whole  rent  £58,  less  hy  the 
two  last  amounts  of  expenditure,  £7.  17s.  Hid.,  and  £1.  16s.  Od. 


xxvj 


vnj 


d. 
viij 

d. 
iiij 


Ixix 


d. 
ix  ob' 


VALOR  ECCLESIASTICUS. 


201 


"Therefrom  in  reprises. 

"  Fee  of  Cliarles  duke  of  Suffolck'  chief 
seneschal  of  the  domain  there  by  the  ye 
by  letters  patent 

"  Fee  of  Thomas  Rowland'  bailifi"  or 
reeve  of  the  Castle  by  the  year     

"  Alms  granted  yearly  to  the  Monastery  of 
Godstowe   

"  Alms  granted  yearly  to  the  Monastery 
of  Clat'cott  near  Bannebury 

"  Annual  alms  for  victuals  and  all  other 
things  of  convict  clerks  abiding  in  the  prison 
of  the  lord  Bishop  there  one  year  with 
another  used  and  accustomed  of  old  time  . . 


en  . 

ar  >vi   — 


Ivj 


"  And  the  clear  value  is lij 

"Thereof  the  Tenth  part   


"Nethrop' 
It  is  worth  in 


WITH    COTHROP' 


"Rents  of  assise  in  Nethrop'  with  Cothrop'  by?     {. 
the  year ^  ^'J 


thr( 


Therefrom  in  reprises 
Fee  of  William  Broun  bailiff  or  reeve  of  Ne- 


/. 
^xxvj 


VllJ 


d. 

viij  ob'  ^^ 
V  ob'  q' 

d. 
viij 


VllJ  11 IJ 


The  following  extracts  relating  to  Banbury  are  taken  from  tlie 
returns  concerning-  various  monasteries. 


"PRIORY  OF  WROXTON  IN  THE  COUNTY  OF  OXFORD. 

"  Teneme'ts  and  Cotag"  yn  Ba'bury  yn  the  said  Count'  of  Oxon'  be- 
longyng  to  the  said  Frio''  and  Convent. 

"  Banbury  &  Nethrop. 


"  It'  the  same  prio'  &  convent  dothe  receve^  I, 
yerlye  of  Will'^m  Flecher  for  a  cotag  yn  the  >- 
Schoppe'rowe  yn  Ba'bury J 

"  It'  of  a  teneme't  yn  Pepull  Lane  w'  the  said  ?  _ 
town  for  rent  by  yer     ^ 

"  It'  the  same  p'o"-  hathe  oon  yard  land  ther  now  ?  _ 
in  the  holdyng  of  Elyn  Taylo'"  wydow    \ 

"  It'  for  iij  cotag"  yn  the  hands  of  John  Herd  ?  _ 
John  Dudeley  &  WillMn  Wright  by  yer \    , 

"  Sum — 

"  Deductions  owt  of  the  same. 

"  Payments  , 

"  It'  paid  to  the  bischop  of  Lincoln  for  chief?  _ 

rent \ 

"  It'  to  Anthonye  Coop  esquier  for  quyt  rent    . .     - 
"  It'  to  the  p'son  of  Ba'burye  for  chief  rent. ...     - 


Sum . 


MONASTERY  OF  GODSTOWE. 


"  From  the    Bishop   of    Lincoln    out   of   al 
given  at  Banbury  by  the  year    ...  - 

(17)  Appears  £\Q.  too  much, 
calculation. 

2  c 


Pjobablv  the  l.ist  item  of  expenditure 


d. 


VllJ 

— 

xiij 

iiij 

xij 
xliij 

d. 
iiij 

s. 

d. 

— 

i"J 

— 

XX 

s. 

d. 

VJ 

— 

202  SIR  THOMAS  POPE. 

"  EYNESHAM  MONASTERY. 

/.  s.  d. 

"  From  the  Hundred  of  Banbury    —        xxx        — 

"It"m  for  tythis  in  Cropredy  and  Banbury  ....      x  vj         viij 

"  PRIORY  OF  BURCESTUR' 

"  Grymesbury  near  Banbury  in  the  County  of  Northampton  and  within 
the  Diocese  of  Lincoln  &  Deanery  &c. 

"  From  Anthony   Cope   Esquire  farmer   of  the"\     ,  , 

manor  there  with  the  farm  of  mills  and  other  pro-  I     .■.         *'.  ..*. 

fits  to  the  said  manor  pertaining,  so  demised  to  j  '    ^  •'  •' 

him  for  a  term  of  years,  by  the  year   } 

"  Sum  received  as  appears. 

"  Nethropein  the  County  aforesaid  and  within  the  Diocese  of  Lincoln  &c. 

"  From  Henry  Taye  and  William  Smythe  ten- 


ants  of  the  same  there   by  copy  of  court  for  2  j    /.  s.  d. 

'ods  of    ' 


lessuages  payable  at  two  periods  of  the  year  to 
anons  i       ' 
for  ever 


canons  serving  God  in  distributions  annually  and  I 


'  Sum  received  appears."'' 

Thomas  Pope  was  the  sou  of  William  and  Margaret  Pope, 
and  born  at  Deddington  near  the  close  of  the  reign  of  Henry 
VII.,  about  the  year  1508.  His  father  seems  to  have  been  in  a 
creditable  condition  of  life :  "  JNlj  londe,"  he  says  in  his  will, 
"  my  wiffe  to  have  the  one  halffe  of  the  rent,  and  the  rest  to  bee 
kept  to  the  use  of  my  sonne  till  hee  bee  of  lawfuU  age.  Item, 
I  bequeathe  to  Thomas  Pope  an  hundreth  more ;  and  to  everie 
doughter  fourtie  pownde."  After  some  other  provisions,  he  says — 
"  I  bequeathe  to  the  torchis,  the  bellis,  our  ladie  beame,  saint 
Thomas  beame,  to  everyche  one  of  theym,  iij*.  iiijc?.  Item,  to  Clif- 
ton chapel,  vj*.  viijr?.  Item,  to  everie  godchilde  a  schepe."  He 
directs  his  body  to  be  interred  in  the  "parishe  chirche  of  Da- 
dington,"  "and  to  have  a  preste  synginge  one  yeare."'^  The 
youth,  Thomas  Pope,  received  his  education,  first,  at  Banbury 
Grammar  School,  under  Thomas  Stanbridge  ,•-"  and  afterwards 
at  Eton  College.  He  rose  high  in  the  favour  of  Henry  the 
Eighth,  and  was  appointed  treasurer  of  the  "  Court  of  Augmen- 
tations," which  was  established  for  the  purpose  of  valuing  and 
selling  the  possessions  that  fell  to  the  Crown  on  the  dissolution 
of  the  monastic  houses  ;  in  which  trust  he  had  rank  with  the 
great  officers  of  the  Crown.  At  this  period  a  part  of  the  build- 
ings of  the  Priory  of  Wroxton  was  ordered  to  be  destroyed ;-' 
and  the  property  was  leased  by  the  Court  of  Augmentations  to 
William  Raynesford   Esq.    of    Wroxton,  but   upon   condition,    as 

(IS)  Valor  Ecclesiasticus.  (19)  Warton's  Life  of  Sir  T.  Pope. 

(20)  Warton's  Life  of  Sir  T.  Pope.  (21)  Gale}'  and  Ellis's  Dugdale. 


DISSOLVED  PRIORIES.  203 

far  as  regarded  the  rectories,  that  the  said  Rajnesford  shoiild  pro- 
cure two  chaplains  to  serve  the  churches  during  his  term."  In 
August  1537,  Rayuesford  sold  his  interest  to  Thomas  Pope  Esq."^ 
Afterwards,  Sir  Thomas  Pope  (for  he  was  then  knighted)  ob- 
tained, by  exchange  from  the  Crown,  the  reversion  of  all  the 
property  which  the  Convent  of  Wroxton  had  formerly  held  in 
Wroxton  and  Balscot.'"^  In  1555,  he  bestowed  these  estates  on 
Trinity  College,  Oxford,  of  which  college  he  was  the  Founder. 
An  observant  writer'^  well  remarks  that  "  he  did  not,  in  an  age 
of  debility  and  dotage,  bequeath,  but  in  the  full  vigour  of  his 
imderstanding,  and  in  the  prime  of  life,  gave  a  great  part  of  his 
ample  fortune  "  for  this  sacred  purpose.  The  rectories  belonging 
to  Wroxton  were  not  included  in  the  conveyance  to  Trinity  Col- 
lege :  it  appears  they  were  granted  by  Henry  the  Eighth  to  the 
dean  and  chapter  of  Christ  Church,  upon  the  same  condition  of 
their  providing  for  the  churches  as  had  been  made  with  Raynes- 
ford.-^ 

The  site  and  demesne  lands  of  Chacombe  Priory,  with  the 
rectory  or  ch\u-ch  of  Chacombe,  and  all  lands  and  tithes  thereunto 
belonging,  and  the  advowson  of  the  vicarage,  were  granted  in 
1543  to  Michael  Fox  of  London,  gentleman,  by  whose  descen- 
dants they  have  been  incorporated  in  the  manor."^ 

The  possessions  of  Clattercot  Priory  were  granted  by 
Henry  the  Eighth  to  Sir  WUliam  Petre,  secretary  of  state  ;  but 
fell  again  into  the  hands  of  the  King,  who  settled  them  upon 
Christ  Church  College.  For  some  generations  the  property  has 
belonged  to  the  Cartwright  family."^ 

The  account  of  Thomas  Hall,  receiver  of  the  temporalties  of 
the  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  from  the  feast  of  St.  Michael  32nd  Henry 
VIII.  to  the  said  feast  in  the  following  year,  contains  an  item 
of  £S4.  12s.  2d.  received  of  Thomas  Rowlond,  reeve  of  the 
Castle  of  Bannebury,  for  the  issue  of  the  office  for  that  year ; 
namely,  £20  by  the  hand  of  Laurence  Person  the  farmer  of  Es- 
sendon;  £'15.  10s.  9d.  by  the  hand  of  iVnthony  Cope  the  farmer 
of  Hardvdck;  £14.  15*.  Od.  by  the  hand  of  William  Weston; 
£24  for  the  farm  of   mills  and  tolls ;    and  £10.  6s.  5d.  for  the 

(22)  Skelton's  Antiq.  Oxf. 

(23)  Warton's  Life  of  Sir  T.  Po])e.    An  inventory  of  certain  buildings  and  utensils 
included  in  this  sale  has  been  inserted  in  p.  84. 

(24)  Skelton's  Antiq.  Oxf.  (2a)  Granger.  (26)  Skelton. 
(27)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  594.                                                                  (28)  Skelton's  Oxf 

2c3 


204  DR.  NICHOLAS  CARTWRIGHT. 

issue  of  the  office  of  Reeve:  Also  an  item  of  £'8.  17s.  lOd.  re- 
ceived of  Thomas  Barons,  bailiff  of  tlie  linndred  of  Bannebnrj, 
for  the  issue  of  his  office  for  that  year :  Another  of  £59.  19s.  9d. 
received  of  William  Broune  and  Thomas  Densey,  reeves  of  Ne- 
throp  with  Cothrop  and  Burton  [Bourton]  with  its  members,  for 
the  issue  of  the  office  for  the  year;  namely,  £41.  0*.  2c?.  of  the 
reeve  of  Nethrop,  and  £18.  19s.  Id.  of  the  reeve  of  Burton: 
Another  item  of  £77.  12s.  3^(7.  received  of  Richard  Robins  and 
Thomas  Barons,  reeves  of  Cropredy,  Wardyngton,  and  Cottes 
[Coton],  for  the  issue  of  the  office  for  the  year ;  namely,  £28. 
17s.  8|J.  of  the  reeve  of  Cropredy,  and  £48.  14s.  Id.  of  the 
reeve  of  ^yardyngton.■^ 

John  Longland  continued  bishop  of  Lincoln  until  1547.  Be- 
fore that  date,  namely  in  1542,  Henry  Vlll.  granted  letters  patent 
creating  the  bishoprick  of  Oxford,  which  was  taken  out  of  the 
see  of  Lincoln. 

In  1541,  Dr.  Nicholas  Cartwryght  was  presented  to  the  mas- 
tership of  the  Hospital  of  St.  John  at  Banbury.  He  had  been 
admitted  M.A.  and  B.D.  at  Oxford,  and  D.D.  on  the  5th  July 
1536.  Subsequently,  in  the  reign  of  Edward  the  Sixth,  he  was 
a  great  admirer  of  Peter  Martyr  and  his  doctrine,  and  was  his 
only  assistant  in  the  disputation  at  Oxford  against  Tresham  and 
Chedsey,  28th  May  1549.  In  the  reign  of  Mary  (1554)  he  was 
commanded  to  dispute  with  Latimer  in  the  divinity  school,  before 
the  latter  "  was  to  sacrifice  his  life  in  the  flames  ;"  but  "spoke  as 
little  as  could  be ;"  and,  two  years  after,  he  was  deprived  of  a  bene- 
fice in  the  diocese  of  Lichfield  and  Coventry.  Among  the  pen- 
sions assigned  at  the  dissolution  of  religious  houses,  and  registered 
to  be  due  in  the  year  1555,  there  is  a  pension  of  "one  hundred 
shillings  to  Nic.  Cartwright,  late  master  of  St.  Johns  nigh  Banbury." 
Cartwright  died  and  was  buried  at  Banbury  about  the  j-ear  1558.^° 

In  the  3()th  Hemy  Vlll.  (1544),  Thomas  Blank  and  others, 
had  a  grant  of  the  manor  of  Grimsbury,  parcel  of  the  late  mon- 
astery of  Burchester,  in  security  for  money  advanced  to  the  King 
for  his  journey  to  Boulogne.^^  By  them  Grimsbury  was  alienated 
to  the  before-mentioned  Edward  Cope  Esq.,  son  of  Sir  Anthony 
Cope.3- 

(29)  Harl.MS.,  7505,  fol.  15.  (30)  Wood's  Fasti  Oxon. ;  Caley  and  Ellis's  Dugdale. 

(31)  Baker's  Noithamp.,  pp.  747,  748.  Dunliin  says  the  grant  was  to  Thomas  Blencowe 
Esq.  of  Marston.  fHist.  Bicester.)  Thomas  Blencowe  Esq.  of  Marston  St.  Lawrence 
died  in  the  34lh  yearof  Henry  VIII.  {\5i3,).~Baker,  p.  640. 

(32)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  748  ;  and  see  p.  194  of  this  vol.,  note  4(>. 


COMPTON  OF  COMPTON  WYNYATE.  205 

Henry  tlie  Eighth  came  into  these  parts,  and  paid  a  visit  to 
Sir  Wilham  Compton  at  Compton  Wynyate.  Sir  William, 
at  the  age  of  eleven  years,  had  been  placed  as  a  page  or  com- 
panion to  the  young  Prince.  He  erected  his  residence  at  Compton 
Vineyatys  or  Vineyard,  (eight  miles  west  from  Banbury,)  in  the 
valley  beneath  the  Edgehills ;  and,  in  1519,  obtained  licence  to 
make  a  park  there,  and  for  an  addition  to  the  same  to  enclose 
2000  acres  of  land  thereto  adjoining.^^  The  mansion  is  a  splen- 
did one  of  the  period,  built  of  brick  in  the  very  picturesque  and 
ornamental  style  then  just  come  into  fashion.  The  plan  is  a 
quadrangle,  and  there  are  windows  looking  to  the  interior  on  all 
sides;  but  this  for  convenience  only,  as  there  are  numerous  win- 
dows in  the  outer  walls  also,  and  scarcely  the  pretence  of  fortifi- 
cation. The  hall,  with  its  fine  timber  roof  and  bay-windows,  is 
in  good  preservation,  the  walls  still  ornamented  with  antlers  &c. 
as  in  days  of  yore.  There  are  several  very  beautiful  stacks  of 
chimneys  formed  of  the  moulded  bricks  so  much  in  use  in  the 
time  of  Henry  VIII.  and  Elizabeth.  Part  of  the  house  was 
rebuilt,  or  considerably  altered,  in  the  time  of  Queen  Anne.^^ 

There  is  a  record  of  the  Plague  prevailing  at  Banbury  late  in 
the  reign  of  Henry  the  Eighth.  Thomas  Brasbridge  says — 
"  The  towne  of  Banburie  (I  being  a  childe)  was  very  sore  in- 
fected therewith :  at  what  time  it  was  in  one  of  the  next  houses 
vnto  my  father."^^  Brasbridge  was  born  about  the  29th  year 
of  Henry  the  Eighth,  and  was  elected  demy  of  his  college  in 
1553,  the  last  year  of  Edward  the  Sixth. 


THE  TOWN:   THE  GATES  OR  BARS. 

Leland  gives  the  following  account  of  the  Town  of  BANBURY 
in  the  reign  of  Henry  the  Eighth.^*^ 

"  From  Sutton  to  Banbury  is  3  miles,  all  by  champaine  barren 
of  wood.  Scant  a  mile  beneath  Sutton  I  passed  by  a  stone  bridge 
of  one  arch  over  the  river  of  Charwell. 

(33)  Dugdale's  Warwickshire,  &c.  Compton  Wynj-ate  is  provincially  called  Compton  in 
the  Hole,  from  its  deep  situation. 

(34)  Mr.  J.  H.  Parker.  The  building  was  chiefly  erected  with  materials  brought  from 
the  destroyed  castle  of  Fulbrook  ;  and  there  is  a  tradition  that  the  curious  twisted  chinmies 
were  carried  from  that  place  to  Compton  entire.  Compton  has  long  been  an  almost  deserted 
mansion. 

(35)  Brasbridge's  Poore  Mans  lewcll. 

(36)  Itin.  (commenced  about  1538),  v.  4,  pt.  2;  fols.  163,  b  ;  163,  a  ;  191,  a. 


206  LELANDS  DESCRIPTION  OF  BANBURY. 

"  The  most  part  of  the  whole  Towne  of  Banbury  standeth  in 
a  valley,  and  is  enclosed  by  north  and  east  with  lowe  groundes, 
partly  medowes,  partly  inarishes :  by  south  and  southwest  the 
ground  somewhat  hilly  in  respect  of  the  site  of  the  towne. 

"  The  fajrest  street  of  the  towne  lyeth  by  west  and  east  downe 
to  the  river  of  Charwell.  In  the  west  part  of  this  street  is  a 
large  area  invironed  with  meetly  good  buildinges,  havinge  a  goodly 
Crosse  with  many  degrees  [steps]  abovt  it.  In  this  area  is  kept 
every  Thursday  a  very  celebrate  markett.  There  runneth  through 
this  area  a  purle  of  fresh  water. 

"  There  is  another  fayre  street  from  south  to  north ;  and  at 
each  end  of  this  street  is  a  stone  gate.  There  be  also  in  the 
towne  other  gates  besides  these.  Yet  is  there  neither  any  certaine 
token  or  likelyhood,  that  ever  the  towne  was  diched  or  walled. 

"There  is  a  Castle  on  the  north  syde  of  this  area  having  2 
wardes,  and  each  warde  a  diche.  In  the  utter  [outer  ward]  is  a 
terrible  prison  for  convict  men.  In  the  north  part  of  the  inner 
ward  is  a  fayre  peiee  of  new  buildinge  of  stone. 

"  I  cannot  see  or  learne  that  there  was  ever  any  Castle  or 
Fortresse  at  Banbury  afore  the  Conquest.  Alexander  Bish.  of 
Lincolne  in  H.  I.  dayes  builded  this  Castle. 

"There  is  but  one  Paroch  Church  in  Banbury,  dedicated  to 
our  Lady.  It  is  a  large  tliinge,  especially  in  the  breadth.  I 
sawe  but  one  notable  tombe  in  the  Church,  and  that  is  Blacke 
Marble;  wherein  William  Cope,  Coferer  to  K.  H.  7.  is  buried. 

"  In  the  Church-yard  be  houses  for  Chauntery  Preistes. 

"  The  Personage  of  Banbury  is  a  Prebend  of  Lincolne.  There 
is  a  Vicar  endowed.  There  is  a  Chappel  of  the  Trinity  in  the 
midle  of  the  towne.  There  is  a  bridge  of  4  arches  very  fayre 
of  stone  at  the  east  end  of  the  towne  where  Cherwell  runneth. 
This  bridge  parteth  Oxfordshire  from  Northamptonshire. 

"  OxfordsMre  goeth  a  3  miles  further  by  north  then  Banbury 
towne.  The  Bish.  of  Lincolne  is  lord  of  Banbury,  and  the  whole 
hundred  of  Banbury  hath  beene  of  long  tyme  given  out  by 
Kiuges  in  fee-farme  to  the  Bishops  of  Lincolne.  The  Bish. 
hath  ISO/,  of  tliis  lordshippe. 

***** 

"  I  roade  from  Banbury  to  Warwik  12  miles  by  champaine 
groundes,  fruitfull  of  corne  and  grasse,  barren  of  wood,  and  2 
miles  by  some  enclosed  and  woody  groundes. 


THE  BARS,  OR  GATES.  207 


"  From  Soutliam  to  Banbury  10  miles  all  by  cbampaine,  noe 
wood,  but  exceedinge  good  pasture  and  corne. 

"  From  Banbury  to  a  small  througli-fare  Towne a  3 

or  4  miles  by  cliampaine  grounde.      Thence  by  like   groundes   a 
7  miles  to  Bercester." 

Leland's  account  must  have  been  very  accm'ate  :^'  it  is  in  great 
part  strictly  correct  at  the  present  time  ;  although  the  Castle  (see 
pp.  G3 — (56),  the  Cross  (pp.  159,  160),  the  ancient  Church  (pp.  148 
— 158),  the  Chapel  of  the  Trinity  (p.  158),  the  houses  for  Chan- 
try Priests  (p.  158),  and  the  Town  Gates,  are  now  no  more. 
The  Gates,  or  Bars,  were 

St.  John's  Bar 

Sugarford  Bar 

North  Bar 

Cole  Bar 

The  Bridge  Gate. 
It  is  probable  that  these  Bars  were  erected  with  a  view  to 
police  regulations  and  for  the  collection  of  tolls,  rather  than  for 
purposes  of  defence ;  since  they  are  scarcely  mentioned  in  the 
military  annals  of  the  place.  St.  John's  Bar  stood  near  St. 
John's  Hospital,  at  the  southern  entrance  to  the  town,  where  the 
present  obelisk  stands.  Tills  Gate,  as  it  existed  within  living 
memory,  bore  no  appearance  of  earlier  antiquity  than  the  reign 
of  James  the  First,  and  might  have  been  the  work  of  as  late 
a  period  as  the  reign  of  Charles  the  Second.  It  is  described  as 
having  an  arch  of  about  12  feet  span.  A  drawing  of  it,  taken 
May  10th  1781,  has  been  preserved  in  Mr.  Gough's  collection  in 
the  Bodleian  Library .^^  (Plate  21.)  Tills  gate  was  sometimes 
called  Oxford  Bar,  and  South  Bar. 

At  the  western  entrance  to  the  town,  where  the  street  now 
called  West  Bar  Street  is  crossed  by  the  narrow  lane  called  the 
Shades,  stood  Sugarford  Bar  or  Sugar  Bar.  The  street 
was  formerly  called  Sugarford-bar-street ;  but  the  name  was 
changed,  as  early  as  1653,  to  Bull-bar-street  (from  an  inn  there 

(37)  The  Castle  was  neai-er  NE.  than  N.  of  the  area  (the  south  end  of  the  present  Horse 
Fair)  alluded  to.  It  was  probably  only  the  market  for  horses  and  sheep,  and  not  the 
general  market,  that  was  held  in  that  "area.  The  Bridge  had  seven  arches.  These  are 
the  only  inaccuracies,  excepting  some  as  to  the  distances  of  the  neighbouring  towns. 

(38)  Gough's  Maps  and  Plans,  vol.  21.  The  Coqjoration,  about  55  years  ago,  empowered 
Mr.  Judd  to  take  do^Ti  the  Gate,  on  condition  of  his  erecting  the  present  obelisk  to  mark 
the  site. 


208  THE  BARS,  OR  GATES. 

called  the  Bull);  and,  in  1835,  tlie  name  of  the  street  was  again 
changed,  by  the  paving  commissioners,  to  West  Bar  Street.  This 
Gate,  subsequently  to  the  great  Fire  of  1628,  was  a  segmental 
arch  erected  over  the  carriage-way,  with  a  small  doorway  for  foot 
people  on  the  north  side.  The  Bar  appears  to  have  been  rebuilt 
after  the  Fire  ;  there  being  an  inscription  upon  it,  carved  on  a 
stone  placed  over  the  centre  of  the  arch,  as  follows ; — ^^ 

EXCEPT  •  THE  •  LORD 
KEEPETHE-CITYTHE 
AYACHMAN  •  WACHE 
TH  •  BVT  •  IN  •  VAINE 
1031 

It  was  standing  in  1789,  but  the  greater  part  of  it  was  taken 
down  soon  after  that  date.  The  southern  abutment  of  the  arch 
however  remained  until  about  1812  ;  the  stone-work  being  about 
four  feet  thick  and  nine  or  ten  feet  in  height,  and  retaining  one 
of  the  iron  hooks  upon  which  the  gate  had  turned.'" 

The  North  Bar  was  standing  in  1712,  when  Dr.  Stukeley 
wrote.  The  Gate  had  then,  perhaps,  been  lately  re-erected ;  as 
the  building  of  that  date  was  probably  the  same  which  remained 
until  about  the  year  1817.  This  was  a  plain  cii'cular  arch,  with 
a  ball  above,  and  spanned  North  Bar  Street  at  the  narrow  part 
(formerly  much  narrower  than  it  is  at  present),  a  few  yards 
south  of  the  part  where  the  road  turns  off  for  Neithorp. 

Cole  Bar  stood  in  the  way  leading  fi-om  the  Castle  into  the 
Oxford  and  London  road  at  Easington.  This  way  was  through 
Colebar-street ;  which  corresponded,  as  nearly  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained since  the  destructive  fires  of  Charles  the  First's  reign,  with 
the  present  Broad  Street.  There  is  no  evidence  to  decide  the 
exact  spot  where  this  Gate  stood :  the  boundary,  in  this  direc- 
tion, between  Banbury  and  Calthorp,  is  marked  by  a  stone  which 
stands  210  paces  southward  from  the  part  where  Broad  Street  is 
crossed  by  Fish  Street ;  but  the  place  where  those  streets  now 
intersect  may  be  regarded  as  the  more  probable  site  of  the  Bar. 
Cole  Bar  was  not  standing  in  1712."^ 

(39)  The  stone  bearing  the  inscription  has  been  preserved,  it  having  been  inserted  in 
the  wall  of  a  house  in  Calthorp  Lane. 

(40)  There  appears  to  have  been  a  building  near  this  gate,  called  the  Bar  House  ;  and 
mention  is  made  in  the  Neithorp  accounts  of  the  Bar-house  Leys,  which  name  refers  to 
the  closes  on  the  north  side  of  the  Bar,  now  partially  built  upon,  but  still  called  Bar-house 
or  Burrows  Leys. 

(41)  This  may  be  judged  from  the  circumstance  of  Dr.  Stulieley's  mentioning  "  three 
gates"  as  existing  at  that  date,  which  must  allude  to  the  three  which  have  been  first  men- 
tioned.— Stukeley's  Itin. 


STATE  OF  THE  TOWN.  209 

Of  the  Bridge  Gate,  wliicli  completed  the  bounds  of  the 
town  on  all  the  pomts  where  there  were  principal  roads  entering 
it,  no  account  has  been  preserved. 

The  agreement  of  Leland's  description  of  the  Towni  (see  p.  206) 
with  the  modern  localities,  shews  that  the  direction  of  the  prin-. 
cipal  streets  has  not  been  altered  since  the  reign  of  Henry  the 
Eighth,  notwithstanding  the  many  destructive  fires  which  ocem-red 
during  the  reign  of  Charles  the  First.  This  fact  is  confirmed 
by  the  concurrence  of  many  documents,  which  will  be  quoted 
hereafter,  and  will  be  more  particularly  alluded  to  in  the  section 
which  precedes  the  account  of  the  great  Fire  of  1628. 

Scarcely  a  fragment  of  the  buildings  which  existed  in  Banbury 
when  Leland  wrote  can  now  be  traced.  The  columns  and  capi- 
tals of  the  gateway  of  the  Red  Lion  Inn,  which  are  of  the  Per- 
pendicular style  of  English  Architecture,  or  that  which  prevailed 
during  the  loth  century,  are  perhaps  the  only  remaining  relic  of 
a  period  so  early  as  this,  within  the  town.  The  old  doorway  of 
the  White  Horse  Inn,  which  was  of  the  style  of  the  early  part 
of  the  14th  century,  and  which  is  engraved  in  Plate  19,  was 
removed  ten  years  ago.  There  yet  remains  a  fine  window,  of 
the  style  of  the  early  part  of  the  15th  century,  in  a  house  situated 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Boxhedge  Lane  at  Neithorp. 

The  state  of  the  streets  must  have  been  most  deplorable,  if  we 
may  judge  only  from  their  condition  within  living  memory.  Even 
then,  in  some  of  the  principal  streets,  the  carriage  roads  were 
deep  hollow  ways,  which  were  many  feet  lower  than  the  adjacent 
footpath;  and  stepping-stones  had  to  be  placed  across  them  for 
the  convenience  of  foot  people.  The  traffic  too  was  great ;  the 
soil  was  rich,  deep,  and  miry  ;  and  little  care  was  taken.  At  a 
period  as  early  as  the  6th  of  Elizabeth,  in  the  "  Orders  and 
Paines"  made  in  that  year,  the  "  bochers  shampuUs  "  were  indeed 
directed  to  be  cleaned  weekly ;  but  a  quarterly  cleansing  ap- 
pears to  have  sufficed  for  other  parts  of  the  town;  and  for  the 
"Mylne  Lane,"  and  some  other  parts  where  "people  com'oUy 
travell,"  once  a  year  was  thought  sufficient.  Places  were  then 
particularly  pointed  out  where  dung  might  be  laid ;  and  the  ricks 
of  corn  and  of  furze,  and  the  stacks  of  timber,  had  their  respec- 
tive places  assigned.  Yet  some  cleanly  precautions  were  taken. 
No  "Jakes"  was  to  be  emptied  in  the  "  Goose  Leysew ; "  and  all 
"  swpie  &  other  vndecent  cattell "  were  forbidden  the  Church- 
2  D 


-10  STATE  OF  THE  TOWN. 

yard,  and  even  precluded  the  use  of  the  Market  Place  on  market 
daj's.''-  The  "  Cuttel  brouke,"  which  flowed  through  the  Market 
Place,  was  to  be  so  far  kept  sacred,  that  no  man  might  "  sufFure 
an  J  gejse  or  doukes  to  goo  in  the  same  brouke,"  nor  "  sett  any 
honey  barelles  or  other  vessell  in  souke  "  therein. 

The  town  appears  to  have  been  supplied  with  water  from  the 
Conduit  without  Cole  Bar.  A  close  of  elevated  ground,  of  a 
few  acres'  extent,  and  which  is  situated  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
road  leading  from  Broad  Street  towards  Easington,  still  bears  the 
name  of  the  "  Conduit,"  or  the  "  Conduit  Close." 

Population.  In  the  first  year  of  Edward  VI.  (lo47),  the 
number  of  "  housling  people"  in  Banbury  was  returned  at  460.^^ 
The  population  of  the  town  must  therefore  have  been,  at  that 
period,  about  1,000. 

(12)  In  this  and  some  other  respects  our  ancestors  of  the  days  of  Queen  Elizabeth  were 
more  pailicular  than  those  of  the  last  age.  In  our  own  youth  there  was  a  saying,  grounded 
on  the  dirt  and  the  pigs  to  be  found  in  Banbury  streets,  that  a  Banbuiy  freeman's  privilege 
was,  if  he  found  three  swine  lying  any  where  in  a  row,  to  drive  up  the  middle  one  and  lie 
down  in  its  place. 

(43)  Document  in  p.  211.  Housling  people  were  those  of  age  to  receive  the  "  housel," 
that  is,  the  Eucharist. 


CHANTRY  OF  THE  BLESSED  MARY.  211 


EDWARD  VI.  TO  CHARLES  I. 


THE  REIGN  OF  EDWARD  THE  SIXTH. 

Near  tlie  close  of  the  reign  of  Henry  the  Eighth  (1540),  an 
Act  was  passed  for  the  dissolution  of  all  Chantries,  Free  Chapels, 
Guilds,  &c.  ;  the  manors,  lands,  and  hereditaments  of  which  were 
placed  at  the  King's  disposal.  The  commissioners  for  carrying 
the  Act  into  execution  in  these  parts  were  appointed  on  the  6th 
Feb.  1547  (1st  Edward  VI.);  and,  under  the  various  heads  of 
inquiry,  they  certified  as  follows  concerning  the  CHANTRY  of  the 
Blessed  Mary  at  Banbury  : — 

Names    of    the    par-^       "  The  P'isshe  of  o""  Lady  in  the  towne  of  Ban- 


ishes, with  "the  iiom-l^bury  in  the  said   Countie   where   ar  howselyng 

br(      "    "  ' 

ph 


bre  of  Howselyng  Peo-  [people  iiii'^  Ix. 


Names  of  the  Chan-?      "The   Guild   of  o'^  Ladye  in   the   said   P'ish 
tries,  Guilds,  &c.  S  Church  e. 

The         Foundations,?  "Founded  by  the  late  Kyng  Henry  the  Fyfte 
Usage,  &c.  ^  of   Englond   whiche  gave   certeyne   Lands  and 

Tent'  for  the  fyndyng  of  iij  Prests  one  Clerke 
&  a  Sexten  to  syng  &  praye  for  him  his  Aunceto"''*  &  all  Crysten  Soules 
for  eu'  &  to  gyve  euer  to  Almes  men  &  women  the  some  of  x".  viij^  as 
appereth  by  the  foundacon  here'f. 

The  Names  of  all  the  ?       "  S''    Will'm     Brasington      Stipendary     Prest 
Incumbents  &c.  )  there  of  thage  of  L  yeres     And  S''  Will'"  Clerke 

an  other  Stipendary  Prest  of  thage  of  LX  yeres 
And  Richard  Ott'  an  other  Stipendary  Prest  of  thage  XL  yeres  men  of 
good  conuersacon  &  well  learned  meate  to  kepe  a  Cure  had  for  th''  Sala- 
ryes  eu'y  of  them  vi^'.  xiij^  iiij'^.  &  havyng  non  other  lyvyngs  Anthony 
Cok'  Clerke  for  playng  yerely  at  the  Orgayns  &  singynge  in  the  quyer 
had  for  his  wag'  yerely  iiij''.  xiij^.  iiij"".  &  hath  no  other  lyvynge  John 
Wetherall  Sexten  there  for  kepynge  of  o''  Lady  Chappell  had  for  his 
salary  or  waygs  xiij^  iiij''.  yerely  &  had  no  other  lyvyng. 

The   yearly   value  ofj       "  The   value  of  all  the  Lands  &  Tent'  to  the 
Lands  &c. ;   the   repri-Vsame  belongynge  lyinge  in  the  said   county  of 
ses,  and  clear  remain,    j  Oxford  as  in    other   counties    ys   yerely    Ixij''. 
xvij^.  iiij"^. 

"  Wherof  in  Reprises  yerely  vij''  xiij"  vi**  ob' 

"  To  the  Pore x''      yiij'      — 

"  And  so  Remayn  Clere    xliiij"   xvs   ix*^  ob' 

The   goods,    chattels,  ~i 
and  ornaments ;  "  wyth  i      "  Plate  &  Jewell' weying  I    ounc    di 

the  nomber  of  plate  &  >-by  estimat' —     —      — 

Jewells  weyng  in  ounc'         "  Ornament'  to  the  same. . . .     None."** 
by  estimacon."  J 

(44)  Certificate,  hj  the  Commissioners,  Sir  John  Williams  knt.,  John  D'Oyly,  and  Ed- 
ward Chamberleyn,  Esqrs.,  remaining  in  the  Augmentation  Office,  Westminster.     There 

2  d3 


212  CHANTRY  OF  THE  BLESSED  MARY. 

Several  other  documents  of  tliis  reign  relating   to  the  Chantry 

of  the  Blessed  Marj  at  Banbury  are  referred  to  in  the  note  (44). 

In  the  2nd  Edward  VI.  the  following  occurs  : — 

"  We  Sir  Walter  Myldemay  Knight  and  Robert  Keyhvey  Esquyer 
Comyssioners  appointed  by  tlie  Kings  Maiesties  Comyssion  vnder  the 
Create  Scale  of  Englonde  beringe  date  the  xxtli  daie  of  June  last  past 
touchinge  order  to  be  taken  for  the  maynten'nce  and  contynuaunce  of 

are  also  preserved  in  the  Augmentation  Office,  the  Particulars  for  Sale  of  some  of  the 
late  possessions  "of  the  late  Guild  or  Brotherhood  of  the  Blessed  ^lary  in  Banbury;" 
which  enumerate  one  tenement  in  the  Beste  M'ket  with  one  shop  in  the  Fisshe  Shambles 
with  one  garden,  in  the  tenancy  of  William  Pernande,  yearly  rent  46s.  8d.; — a  tenement 
in  the  street  called  Flexchepinge  -^-ith  a  garden,  demised  to  William  Plomer,  yearly  rent 
33s.  4.d. ; — a  shop  in  the  Merket  Place  in  the  tenancy  of  Henry  Halhed  at  will,  yearly 
rent  10s. ; — another  shop  lying  towards  the  Highe  Crosse,  with  appurtenances,  demised 
to  John  Hartelet,  yearly  rent  13s.  4d. ; — a  tenement  in  the  tenancy  of  John  Lutter,  yearly 
rent  12s.  (all  these  valued  at  13  years'  purchase  are  put  down  at  ^£69.  4s.); — certain  lands 
in  Nethorpe  in  the  tenancy  of  John  Luter,  yearly  rent  4s. ; — one  garden  in  tlie  Horsem'ket, 
demised  to  Anthony  Cope,  yeai-ly  rent  2s.  (these  are  valued  at  24  years'  purchase,  or 
£7.  4s.  0<Z.)  The  Reprises  are,  in  rent  resolute  to  the  Lord  Duke  of  Somerset  lord  of  the 
manor  of  Banbury,  from  the  tenement  in  the  holding  of  Pernande  5s. ;  fj-om  the  shop 
in  the  holding  of  Halhed  8(1. ;  from  the  tenement  in  the  holding  of  Plomer  4s. ;  from  the 
sliDp  in  the  holding  of  Hartelet  M. ;  and  from  the  tenement  in  the  holding  of  Luter  20d. : 
total  lis.  8d.,  or,  valued  at  12  years'  rate,  £7.  "  And  so  there  remains  clear  by  the  year 
109s.  6il."     Estimated  value,  deducting  the  reprises,  £69.  8s. 

Further,  the  Ministers'  Accoimts  in  the  Augmentation  Office  include  the  account  of 
Symon  Parratt,  collector  of  all  the  possessions  of  the  Chantries  ifcc.  within  the  county 
of  Oxford.  The  account  is  rendered  for  one  year,  ending  at  the  feast  of  St.  Michael, 
3rd  Edward  VL  (1549).  The  year's  rent  and  farm  unto  the  Guild  of  the  Blessed  Mary 
in  Bauburye  belonging  or  appertaining,  due  to  our  lord  the  King,  are  stated  at  ^'56. 
13s.  M.  The  rents  resolute  were,  to  the  Lady  Elizabeth  lady  of  Banbury  .£4.  8s.  8d  ,to 
James  Edyall  3s.  id.,  to  the  Bailiff  of  Brackelye  2s.  4d.  to  the  Master  of  the  Hospital  of  St. 
John,  20d.,  to  Colnorton  3s.,  to  Thomas  Ryve  of  Nethrop  3s.  ■id.,  to  the  Prebendary  of 
Banber  3s.,  to  the  Prebendary  6s.  7kd.,  and  (formerly)  to  our  lord  die  King  as  to  his 
manor  of  Chaucome  2s.;  amounting  in  the  whole  to  £5.  lis.  ll^d.,  besides  the  2s.  paid 
to  the  late  Priory  of  Chacombe,  this  year  disallowed.  The  Vacations  of  Tenements  per- 
taining to  the  Guild  were,  the  tenement  of  Thomas  Palmer  6s.  8d.,  and  that  of  Richard 
Clarke  4s.,  in  allowance  of  this  sort  during  the  whole  time  of  this  account,  10s.  8d. ;  and  the 
tenement  of  Richard  Clarke  clerk  6s.  8d.  per  annum,  and  the  tenement  of  John  Whyttington 
13s.  id.  per  annum,  in  allowance  for  the  last  moiety  of  the  year  for  the  cause  aforesaid,  10s. 
The  Reparations  done  upon  the  tenement  of  John  Slade  of  Banbury,  pertaining  to  the 
Guild,  amounted  to  43s.  lOd.,  and  those  upon  the  tenement  of  Thomas  Payne  at  Ban- 
bury called  the  Crowne,  to  57s.  Sd.  Doctor  Owen  was  stated  to  claim,  under  letters  patent 
of  the  King,  several  rents  lately  pertaining  to  the  Guild,  namely,  for  rent  in  the  tenancy 
of  Henry  Hallehede  10s.,  of  John  Lutor  16s.,  of  William  B'aylbye  otherwise  Plumer 
33s.  4f?.,  of  John  Harter  13s.  id.,oi  William  P'nand'  46s.  Sd.,  of  Anthony  Cope  2s.,  due  to 
our  lord  the  King  for  the  whole  year,  £6.  Os.  16d.  Also  John  Perren  Knt.  and  'Thomas 
Reve,  under  letters  patent,  sundry  rents,  part  of  the  Guild  aforesaid,  by  them  purchased, 
namely,  for  rent  of  Thomas  Reede  8s,,  of  William  Davye  16s.,  of  John  Wallsole  8s.,  of 
Humfrey  VValser  16s.,  of  John  Walser  34s.  id.,  of  the  tenement  called  the  Wolehowse 
13s.,  of  Agnes  Rowland  16s.,  of  James  Idyall  IGd.,  of  Stephen  Wykket  4s.,  of  William 
Bamsley  10s.,  of  Edmund  Glover  14s.,  of  John  Barnsley  15s.,  of  John  Whetherall  10s., 
of   Bartholomew  Hekelfeld  28s.  id.,  of  Henry  Undertre  30s.,  of  Barnard  Hopkins  17s., 

and  of  Eustace  Boseworth  15s.:  total  £12.  16s.     Also Weston,  under  letters  patent 

of  the  King,  for  rent  of  one  tenement  of  Richard  Person,  parcel  of  the  Guild,  20s. : — also 

Sturge,  under  letters  patent,  for  rent  of  one  cottage  in  the  tenancy  of  Elizabeth 

Myller,  parcel  of  the  Guild,  4s.: — also  Edward  Pese  and  WiUiam  Wyulow,  under  letters 
patent,  for  rent  of  John  Luther  4s.,  of  Robert  Pj-nnes  6s.  8d.,  of  John  Wyse  6s.  8rf.,  of 
John  Hartlet  6s.  8il.,  and  of  Richard  Symons  4s.,  parcel  of  the  Guild;  in  the  whole  28s.; 
— also  John  Maynard  and  Richard  Venables,  under  letters  patent,  for  rent  of  the  shop  of 
Robert  Vyners  7s.,  and  of  Henry  Undertrye  8s.,  parcel  of  the  Guild;  total  15s.: — also 
Thomas  Reve,  under  letters  patent,  for  the  rent  of  Thomas  Pavne  66s.  8d.,  of  Edward 
Bryghtwell  41s.  id.,  of  John  Gyves  24s.,  of  William  Bosse  26s.  'Sd.,  of  John  Aberow  25s., 
of  John  Coventrye  36s.  SiL,  of  James  Edrall  20s.  over  and  above  16rf.  parcel  of  his  rent 
sold  to  Thomas  Weston,  of  Robert  Vyvers  3Ss.  4(/.,  of  William  Dudley  13s.  id.,  of  Agnes 
Dudley  13s.  id. ;  total  for  the  fii-st  half  of  the  year  £7.  12s.  8d. :— also  Tliomas  Weston, 
under  letters  patent,  for  rent  of  one  close  in  the  tenancy  of  James  Idchall  16tZ.  for  the 


CHANTRY  OF  THE  BLESSED  MARY.  213 

Scoles  and  Preachers  and  of  Priests  and  Curats  of  necessitie  for  s''vinge 
of  Cures  and  mynystracon  of  Sacraments  and  for  money  and  other  things 
to  be  contynued  and  paide  to  the  poore  and  for  dyverse  other  tilings 
appointed  to  be  done  and  executed  by  vertue  of  the  same  Comyssion  To 
the  Auditovir  and  Receyvo^  of  the  Revenues  of  the  Courte  of  Thaug- 
mentacons  and  revenues  of  the  Kings  Maiesties  Crowne  in  the  Countie 
of  Oxforde  and  to  either  of  them  greatinge  Forasmoche  as  it  appear- 
eth  by  the  certyfycate  of  the  p'ticuler  Surveio''  of  Landes  of  the  saide 
Courte  in  the  saide  Countie  that  it  is  very  nedefull  and  necessarie  to 
have  an  assistaunte  appointed  to  serve  the  Cure  in  the  parishe  of  Banbury 
in  the  said  Countie  and  that  x''  viij^  yerely  hathe  been  contynuallie  paid 
to  twelve  poore  Men  and  Women  out  of  the  Revenues  of  the  late  Guylde 
of  our  Lady  in  Banbury  in  the  saide  Countie  and  that  John  Browne 
Robert  Dawkyns  William  Daunt  John  Blythe  Thomas  Sprignell  Ka- 
teryn  Pope  Letice  Bowman  Elizabethe  Brickwood  Agnes  Cotton  Alyce 
Bratford  Elizabethe  Russell  and  Agnes  Myles  do  nowe  enjoye  the 
same  yerely  that  is  to  say  every  of  them  to  have  every  Sondaye  in  the 
yere  iiij"^  Wee  therefore  the  said  Comyssyoners  by  vertue  and  aucto- 
ritie  of  the  said  Comyssyon  have  assigned  and  appointed  that  William 
Barington  one  of  the  Incumbents  of  the  late  Guylde  of  our  Lady  in 
Banbury  aforesaide  shalbe  assistaunte  to  the  Cure  there  and  shall  have 
for  his  stipende  and  wags  yerely  _vj''  vj^  viij'i  And  that  the  saide  x" 
viij"  shalbe  paide  yerely  to  the  saide   xij  poore   men  and  women  as  it 

year: — also  Edward  Chamberlevn  Esq.,  under  letters  patent,  for  a  moiety  of  the  rent 
of  Hugh  Sley  4s.,  of  Richard  Pope  Ss.,  of  William  Davy  3s.,  of  Cristin  Wilson  7s.,  of 
Hugh  Davy  4s.,  of  William  Puddell  4s.,  of  Walter  Wever  6s.,  of  Agnes  Appowell  2s., 
of  Roger  Molsow  2s.  6d.,  of  John  WTiytington  6s.  8d.,  of  Thomas  Payne  33s.  4d.,  of  Agues 
Compton  5s.,  of  William  Bawdwyn  3s.,  of  Wilham  Plannesto  4s.,  of  John  Slead  10s.,  of 
Thomas  Hyggs  6s.,  of  Robert  Catterall  3s.  Ad.,  of  Richard  Nayler  6s.,  of  Thomas  Bys- 
shopp  4s.  6d.,  of  Edward  Marche  6s.  6d.,  of  Margaret  Tanner  4s.,  of  Roger  Brinckenill  2s., 
of  William  Williamson  4s.,  of  Thomas  Vincent  5s.,  of  Christopher  Thornton  8s.,  of  Mar- 
garet Wever  3s.,  of  Richard  Peke  3s.  4.d.,  of  Henry  Wyltesshyer  2s.,  of  Stephen  Wyket 
3s.,  of  Alice  Bradford  3s.  4d.,  of  Henry  Bradley  3s.  id.,  of  Richard  Gierke  3s.  4d.,  of  Wil- 
liam Thorpe  20d.,  of  Edward  Brightwell  20s.  8d.,  of  John  Gyves  12s.,  of  John  Longe  3s. 
4d.,  of  William  Warberton  6s.  8d.,  of  William  Bowes  13s.  4d.,  of  John  Aberowe  12s. 
6d.,  of  Richard  Symons  lis.  8d.,  of  John  Coventrye  18s.  4d.,  of  John  Idiall  10s.,  of  Robert 
Vyves  19s.  2d.,  of  Ralph  Banbridge  10s.  6d.,  of  John  Wylsher  10s.,  of  Hugh  Davy  6s., 
of  William  Dudley  6s.  8d.,  and  of  Agnes  Dudley  6s.  8d.;  amounting  to  £16.  17s.  6d. 
The  account  is  signed  as  examined  by  Richard  Godrick  and  John  Arscot. 

In  another  account  in  the  Augmentation  Office  the  Countess  of  Warwick  is  called  the 
"  Lady  of  Banbury." 

In  a  succeeding  account  of  the  rents  of  the  Guild  of  the  Blessed  Mary  in  Bauburye, 
dated  5th  Edw.  VI.,  also  in  the  Augmentation  Office,  among  the  property  above  mentioned, 
granted  by  letters  patent  to  John  Pergente  knight  and  Thomas  Reve  (22nd  Dec,  3rd.  Edw. 
VI.,  as  of  the  manor  of  Easte  Grenwiche  in  the  county  of  Kent  in  free  soccage  and  not 
in  capite),  and  therefore  the  rent  not  received  by  the  Crown,  the  house  and  garden  of 
William  Davy  are  stated  to  be  in  the  P'sons  Lane ;  John  Walsole's  house  is  near  the 
Breadecrosse ;  the  Wolehouse  is  a  vacant  tenement  in  the  Shepe  Strete;  Anne  Rowland's 
house  is  in  the  Shepemarkett :  Edyall's  garden  is  without  Schoccarlarbarre ;  William  Barns- 
ley's  shop  is  in  the  Shambles;  Edmund  Glover's  tenements  are  in  Brygestret ;  John  Barns- 
ley's  garden  near  Shoccarfarbar' ;  John  Wetherall's  tenement  in  the  Shepem'kett;  Bar- 
tholomew Hecclesfeld's  tenement  in  the  Shepem'kett  and  his  close  and  shop  in  the  Sham- 
bles ;  and  Barnard  Hopkyns's  tenement  and  shop,  and  Eustace  Bosworth's  tenement  with 
two  gardens,  in  the  Shepem'kett.  The  rents  mentioned  under  letters  patent  to  Thomas 
Rove  are  stated  as  not  being  received,  having  been  granted  1.5th  May  4th  Edw.  VI.  to 
Thomas  Reve,  John  Johnson,  and  Henry  Herdson.  Neither  was  received  £6.  5s.  id.  for 
rent  of  sundry  tenements  to  the  Guild  appertaining,  because  they  were  granted  25th  March 
3rd  Edw.  VI.  to  George  Owen  and  William  Marten.  Neither  was  received  20s.  for  the 
rent  of  the  tenement  of  Richard  Person  because  it  was  granted  10th  April,  3rd  Edw.  VI., 
to  Ralph  Agard'  and  Thomas  Smythe.  Neither  was  received  24s.  for  certain  rents  granted 
24th  Dec,  3rd  Edw.  VI.,  to  William  Pease  and  William  Wynlowe,  to  be  held  as  of  the 
manor  of  Est  Grenewich.  Neither  was  received  15s.,  for  rent  of  the  shop  in  the  Shambles 
near  the  tenement  of  Robert  Wyvers,  in  the  holding  of  Thomas  Debett,  and  the  shop  in 
the  Shambles  in  the  holding  of  Henry  Undertre,  because  they  were  granted  21st  Dec.  3rd 
Edw.  VI.  to  Richard  Venablts  and  John  Maynard  to  hold  as  of  the  manor  of  Est  Grene- 
wiche. 


214  CHANTRY  OF  THE  BLESSED  MARY. 

hathe  been  heretofore  accostomed  And  wee  the  saide  Comissioners  on 
the  Kings  Maiesties  behalf  by  vertue  of  the  saide  Comyssyon  do  requier 
youe  the  saide  Receyvo"'  that  of  suche  the  Kings  money  and  revenues 
as  from  tyme  to  tyme  shall  be  and  remayne  in  yo"'  handes  youe  do  eon- 
tente  and  paie  yerely  from  Ester  last  forthwarde  the  severall  somes  of 
money  before  mencyoned  to  the  p'sons  before  rehersed  and  to  suche 
other  p'sone  and  p'sons  as  shall  have  and  enjoye  the  romes  and  places 
of  the  same  p'sons  to  be  paide  wekely  or  quarterlye  or  otherwise  as  ne- 
cessitie  shall  requier  vntyll  suche  tyme  as  further  or  other  order  shall 
be  taken  for  the  same  And  this  warravmte  shalbe  to  youe  the  saide 
Receyvo''  and  Audito"'  sufficient  discharge  for  the  payment  and  allow- 
ance of  the  same  accordinglie  Yoven  the  xx"^  daye  of  July  in  the  se- 
conde  yere  of  the  reigne  of  our  Soueraigne  Lorde  Edwarde  the  Sixte  by 
the  grace  of  God  Kinge  of  England  Fraunce  and  Irelande  Defendo''  of 
the  faithe  and  of  the  Chiu-che  of  England  and  also  of  Irelande  in  earthe 
the  supreme  hedd. 

Wa.  Mildmay 
Robt.  Keylwey."*^ 

In  1553,  the  record  of  Pensions  paid  to  the  incumbents  of 
Chantries  &c.,  includes  Richard  Clark  and  William  Erasing,  St. 
Mary's  Guild,  Banbury,  £5  each :  Anthony  Cooke,  ditto,  £4 : 
William  Fame,  ditto,  £2f' 

One  hundred  years  later,  in  March  16-19-50,  a  memorandum, 
made  under  an  act  for  selling  all  fee  farm  rents  belonging  to  the 
Commonwealth  of  England  formerly  payable  to  the  Crown,  states 
that  "  There  are  seu'all  cottages  lands  &  tenem''  in  the  towne  of 
Banbury  parcell  of  the  late  Guild  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary 
there  of  the  yearly  rent  of  xii''  v'  iiij*^  ob.  which  albeit  I  have  cer- 
tified the  same  to  bee  in  fee  farme  yet  vpon  better  ex'i'acon  having 
sithence  pervsed  their  charter  I  find  the  same  not  to  bee  therein 
conteined  but  have  beene  out  of  lease  these  eighteene  years  last 
or  thereabouts  ;  &  so  the  fee  of  the  said  lands  are  now  in  the 
trustees  by  act  of  Parliam*  of  the  seaventeenth  of  July  1649 
for  sale  of  the  honnors  manno"  &  lands  of  the  late  King  Queene 
&  Prince  ;  &  therefore  ye  same  are  to  bee  surveyed  &  disposed 
of  by  the  s''  trustees  to  the  best  improovem*  and  Kkewise  that 
provision  bee  made  for  payment  of  twelve  poore  people  in  Ban- 
bury every  Lords  day  at  foure  pence  a  peece  which  amounts  to 
p'  ann'  x"  xdij^ :  as  for  the  stipend  of  an  Assistant  to  the  Min- 
ister their  bee  p'  ann'  \j^'  vj'  viij*^  I  suppose  hee  is  to  bee  re- 
ferred to  the  trustees  for  providing  maintenance  for  preaching 
ministers  and  other  pious  vses."^' 

In  the  1st  year  of  this  reign,  1547,  Henry  Holbech  was  trans- 

(i.5)  Original  record  preserved  in  the  Augmentation  Oliiee. 

(■4(i)  Willis's  MiU-ed  Abbies. 

(47)  Rolls  of  Fee  Farm  rents  in  the  Augmentation  Office. 


PREBEND  OF  BANBURY.  215 

lated  from  the  see  of  Rochester  to  that  of  LincohV'^  and  became 
lord  of  Banbury.  In  September  he  conveyed  Banbury  and  about 
thirty  other  manors'*^  of  the  bishoprick  to  the  Kuig  and  his  cour- 
tiers ;^"  reserving  however  to  himself  judicial  and  visitatorial  power 
over  the  Church  of  Banbury .^^  Thus  the  Manor,  Castle,  &c.  of 
Banbury  finally  passed  from  the  hands  of  the  Bishops  of  Lincoln. 
The  parish  remaras  under  the  Peculiar  jurisdiction  of  the  Dean 
and  Chapter  of  the  Cathedral  of  Lincoln.  The  manor  was, 
shortly  after  this  date,  held  by  the  Lord  Protector,  the  duke  of 
Somerset.^'  In  some  succeeding  accounts,  the  "  Lady  Eliza- 
beth," and  the  Countess  of  Warwick,  are  styled  "  Lady  of  Ban- 
bury."" The  whole  of  the  property  here  which  had  belonged  to 
the  Bishops  of  Lincoln  was  shortly  afterwards  in  the  hands  of 
John  Dudley,  earl  of  Warwick,  who  was  created  duke  of  North- 
umberland in  1551,  and  held  the  offices  of  high  marshall  of 
England  and  great  master  of  the  King's  household. 

Dr.  Matthew  Smyth,  prebendary  of  Banbury  and  principal  of 
Brasenose  College,  died  Feb.  6th  1547,  and  was  buried  in  St. 
IVIary's  church  Oxford,  but  without  a  memorial.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded in  the  Prebend  by  Henry  Parry,  installed  June  2 1st 
1548.^^  Parry  surrendered  it  on  the  following  8th  July  to  Sk 
John  Thynne  and  Robert  Keylewey,  by  the  following  instrument : — 

"  This  Indenture  made  the  viij*  daye  of  Julye  in  the  seconde  yere 
of  the  raig'e  of  o"'  Soveraigne  lorde  Edwarde  the  Sixte  by  the  grace  of 
God  Kinge  of  Englande  Fravmce  and  Ireland  Defendo""  of  the  Faithe 
and  in  earthe  sup'me  hedde  of  the  Churche  of  Englande  and  also  of 
Irelande  Betwene  Sir  John  Thynne  knyghte  and  Robert  Keylewey  es- 
quiev  of  thone  p'tie  and  Henry  Parry  clerke  p'bendarie  of  the  P'bende 
of  Banburye  one  of  the  p''bends  w'^in  the  Cathedrall  Churche  of  Lyncoln 
on  thother  p'tie  Witnesseth  that  the  saide  Henry  Parrye  for  &  in 
co'siderac'on  of  certayne  greate  somes  of  money  by  the  saide  S^  John 
Thynne  and  Robert  Keylewey  payed  vnto  the  saide  Henry  Parry  at  the 
sealinge  and  delyvery  of  these  p'sents  whereof  the  saide  Henrye  Parry 
knowledgeth  and  confesseth  hymsellfe  fully  contentid  satisfied  and  payed 
And  for  dyvers  other  cawses  and  considerac'ons  hym  sp'ially  movinge 
hathe  geven  graunted  bargayned  and  solde  and  by  these  p'nts  doth  gyve 
graunte  bargayne  and  sell  vnto  the  saide  S''  John  Thynne  and  Robert 
Keylewey  for  ever  The  saide  Prebende  of  Banburye  w'  th  app't'aunce 
and  all  the  P'sonage  of  Banbury  w*  th  app'te'unce  in  the  County  of  Oxon 

(48)  Whitwortb's  Nobil.  (49)  Willis's  Cathedrals;  Bray's  Tour;  Bakers  Northamp. 

(-50)  Willis,  in  allusion  to  this,  says  that  Holbeeh  was  the  first  married  bishop ;  and  that 
to  raise  a  family,  and  oblige  some  courtiers,  he  parted  with  every  thing  by  way  of  exchange 
for  impropriations.  It  does  not  appear  however  that  Bishop  Holbech  ever  had  a  family  : 
and  he,  having  early  joined  in  promoting  the  Reformation,  only  acted,  in  marrying,  upon 
the  principles  which  he  professed.  Indeed  it  is  probable  that  the  above  alienations,  which 
were  made  before  Bishop  Holbech  had  had  a  month's  possession  of  the  see,  were  a  con- 
sequence of  stipulations  previously  made. — Pegge's  Life  of  Grossctesle. 

(51)  Grose's  Antiquities,  v.  4,  p.  140;  Boswell's  Pict.  Antiq. 

(52)  See  p.  212,  in  note  44.  (.53)  See  pp.  212,  213,  in  note  44. 
(54)  Willis's  Cathedrals. 


21U  PREBEND  OF  BANBURY  DISSOLVED. 

and  all  those  the  Mano''s  P'sonages  Messuages  Lands  Tent's  Medowes 
Leasues  Pastures  Wooddes  Vnderwooddes  Watercou'ses  Fysshings  Rents 
Revercyons  Services  P'ronages  Advousons  Disposicyons  and  rightes  of 
patronage  of  P'sonages  Vicarages  Chappells  and  Chauntries  Tythes  Glebe- 
londs  Obvenc3'ons  Oblacyons  Emoluments  Co''tes  Leets  Viewes  of  Franc' 
plegges  Fayres  Marketts  Customes  Woi"ks  Lyberties  Franchesies  Com- 
modities ProfFyths  and  advauntages  and  all  other  heredytaments  what- 
soever they  be  sitt'  lyinge  and  beinge  in  the  Townes  Felds  or  parrisshes 
of  Banbury  in  the  saide  Coimty  of  Oxon  or  in  or  nere  the  Cathedrall 
Churche  of  Lyncoln  or  in  the  Cytie  of  Lyncoln  or  in  the  County  of  the 
Cytie  of  Lyncoln  or  ells  wheare  within  the  Realme  of  Englande  to  the 
saide  Prebende  belonginge  or  apperteynjaige  or  whiche  be  parte  parcell 
or  membre  of  the  saide  Prebende  or  haue  bene  reputed  taken  or  knowne 
for  or  as  parte  parcell  or  membre  of  the  said  Prebende  of  Banbury  or 
any  parte  or  parcell  thereof  or  whiche  the  saide  Henry  Parry  or  any  of 
his  predecessors  prebendaries  of  the  saide  Prebende  have  had  or  of 
righte  owghte  to  have  had  as  prebendaries  of  the  saide  Prebende  or  in 
the  righte  of  the  saide  Prebende  And  also  all  and  all  man'er  of  his  Evi- 
denc's  Dead's  Ch'r'es  Co''te  Rolls  Rentalls  Terr'ors  Exemplificac'ons  and 
all  other  writings  and  munyments  whatsoever  they  be  concernynge  only 
the  p'mysses  or  any  p'cell  therof  all  which  Evidenc's  Ch'r'es  and  wri- 
tings the  saide  Henry  Parry  for  liym  his  heires  and  successo''s  coven- 
a'nteth  and  gr'imteth  to  and  w'  the  saide  Sir  John  and  Robert  to  delyver 
or  cawse  to  be  delyuered  to  the  saide  Sir  John  and  Robert  their  heires 
execute's  or  assignes  or  theyres  executor's  or  assignes  of  oon  of  them 
before  the  Feaste  of  Ester  nexte  com'ynge  after  the  date  of  these  p'nts 
To  have  and  to  hold  "  [&c.  &c.  to  them  and  their  heirs  and  assigns  for 
ever.  With  the  usual  covenants.]  "  In  Witness  wherof  the  p'ties  above- 
named  to  these  present  Indentures  interchaungeably  have  sett  their  sealls 
Yeoven  the  daye  and  yere  above  rehersed."^ 

Thus  was  the  Prebend  of  Banbury  dissolved.  The  prebendal 
estate'^  became  also  part  of  the  possessions  of  John  Dudley  duke 
of  Northumberland.  In  the  5th  of  Edward  VI.,  the  Duke  of 
Northumberland  conveyed  to  the  King,  in  fee,  certain  manors, 
including  Banbury  and  other  places  in  the  vicinity,  and  the  hun- 
dred of  Banbury,  and  the  prebends  and  tithes  of  Banbury  and 
Cropredy  ;   by  the  following  instrument : — 

"This  Indenture  made  the  eight  day  of  Decembre  in  the  fifte  year 
of  the  reigne  of  our  Sou'ayne  lord  Edward  the  Sixt "  [&c.]  "  betwen  the 
same  our  Sou'ayn  lord  the  Kinge  on  thone  p'tie  and  the  right  honorable 
lohn  Duke  of  Northumb'land  Earle  of  Warwike  high  Mersshall  of  Eng- 
land and  great  master  of  the  Kings  most  honorable  househoulde  on  thother 
p'tie  Wittneseth  that  the  said  Duke  for  div's  causes  considerac'ons  &  re- 

(1)  Among  the  Cavtee  Antiquse  in  tlie  Augmentation  Office. 

(2)  Willis  says  this  was  the  impropriation  of  the  rectory  of  Banbury  and  the  advowson 
of  the  vicarage.  (Willis's  Cathedrals.)  There  was  however  Church  property  within  the 
town,  which  is  still  designated  as  the  Prebendal  property.  This  lies  between  the  Church- 
yard and  Parson's  Street;  and  comprises  the  tenements  "commencing  about  70  paces  from 
the  top  of  that  street,  continuing  as  far  as  Church  Lane,  then  along  the  west  side  of  Church 
Lane  to  the  turn  westward,  and  so  to  the  Church-yard.  This  property  was  sold  under  the 
Land-tax  Act,  for  the  purpose  of  redeeming  the  land-tax  of  the  Bishop  of  Oxford,  to 
whom  the  Rectorial  and  Prebendal  property  were  transferred  in  the  reign  of  Elizabeth. 
Mr.  Conant,  as  lessee  of  the  Bishop  of  Oxford,  holds  "  the  Marches,"  and  considerable 
other  landed  property  within  the  parish,  styled  Prebendal.  The  Banbury  Church-building 
Act  of  1790  exonerates  from  Church-building  rates  the  lands,  houses,  &c.,  belonging  to  the 
Prebend  of  Banbury,  and  then  vested  in  the  Bishop  of  Oxford  and  his  lessee  or  lessees. 


CONVEYANCE  OF  BANBURY  TO  THE  KING.  217 

conipenses  hereaftei-  in  this  p'nt  indenture  expressed  hathe  bargained  & 
sovvld  and  by  these  fuUye  and  clerelie  bargaineth  and  selleth  unto  o''  said 
Sou'ayn  lord  the  Kinge  all  those  his  Manors  Lordshippes  Towneshipp' 
&  Burrughes  of  Langley  Shipton  Mynster  Lovell  Hokenorton  Banburye 
Cropredye  Wardington  Coots  Great  Burton  and  Little  Burton  in  the 
Countie  of  Oxford  w'  all  and  sing'lar  tlieyr  rights  me'bres  and  app'ten- 
'nc's  and  also  all  that  his  Forest  of  Whichewood  and  all  those  his  Hun- 
dredes  of  Chadlington  and  Banburye  and  the  p'ke  of  Langeley  Corn- 
burye  &  Hokenorton  in  the  said  Coiuitie  of  Oxford  w'  all  &  sing'lar 
their  rights  me'bres  and  app'"ten'nc's  "  [&c.  &c.]  "  And  also  all  those  his 
Prebendes  &  Tythes  of  Banburye  &  Cropredye  in  the  said  Countie  of 
Oxon  w'  all  &  sing'lar  their  rights  me'bres  &  app'ten'nc's  "  [&c.  &c.] 
"And  also  all  &  sing'lar  his  mesuags  toftes  cotags  mylnes  bowses  buyld- 
ings  p'kes  warrens  lands  tent's  medowes  fedings  pastures  woodes  undi'woods 
rentes  reu'sions  s''uic's  hethes  mores  com'oiis  fayers  marketts  stalls  tolls 
customes  fynes  Courtes  leetes  viewes  of  Frankepledge  tythes  penc'ons 
pore'ons  p'ronag's  aduousons  bondemen  niefFes^  villaynes  w*  theyr  se- 
queir  mynes  quarreys  Knight  fees  wardes  mariag'  releffes  haryott'  es- 
chaetts  wayfFes  strayes  libtyes  franchesyes  and  all  other  hereditame'ts 
proti'etts  and  com'odities  w'  all  &  sing'lar  their  app''ten'nc's  as  well  sp'uall 
as  temporall "  [&c.  &c.]  "  situate  lying  or  being  comyng  growing  or  re- 
newing in  the  townes  feldes  p'isshes  or  hameletts  of"  [&c.  &c.]  "  Ban- 
burye Cropredye  Wardington  Cootes  Great  Burton  &  Litle  Burton  "  [&c, 
&C.J  To  have  hold  and  enioye  the  said  manors  "  [&c.  &c.]  "  to  our  said 
Sou'ayn  lorde  the  Kinge  his  Heyres  &  Successors  for  ever"  [&c.  &c.] 
"  In  Wittnes  whereof."     &c.     Signed  and  sealed &c.* 

In   the   6th  of  Edward  VI.    (1552),  a   siirvey   was  made,   of 
which  the  foUowiBg  is  the  retuxn  (translated)  : — 

"The  Lordship  of  Banbury  or  the  Castle  there. 

"  The  Office  of  Reeve'^ 
of  the  Castle  of  Ban- 
bury in  the  county  of 
Oxford  parcell  of  the 
lands  of  John  late  Duke 
of  Northumberland' 
now  in  the  hands  of  our 
Lord  the  King  by  rea- 
son of  purchase. 


"A  Survey  there  made  by  Michael  Camse- 
well  gentleman  our  lord  the  King's  Surveyor  in 
the  said  county  of  Oxford  the  lirst  day  of  August 
in  the  sixth  year  of  the  reign  of  the  now  King 
Edward  the  Sixth  and  by  the  oath  of  John  Kyn- 
ton  John  Saven  Richard  Robyns  Thomas  House 
Richard  Gybbes  William  Gyll  William  Barnes- 
ley  John  Hartlett  William  Bayley  Edward 
Bryghtwell  John  Longe  and  John  Redeshawe 
with  others  As  follows  : — To  wit 
"The    Castle    o{^       "Our  Lord  the    King  hath" 

Banbury  lying     in  his  own  hand  the  Castle  of 

within  the  Borough  >■  Banbury  aforesaid  with  all  the 

or    Town    of    Ban-     houses   unto  the   same   neces- 

bury  aforesaid.         J  sary  and  the  yards  and  courts, 
one  garden  and  one  orchard  and 

one  parcell  of  land  called  the  Stewe  containing  one 

rood  of  land  and  a  certain  ditch  without  the  walls  of 

the  said  Castle  containing  three  acres  and  he  hath 

nothing  therefrom  by  the  year  late  in  the  tenancy 

of  William   Rychardson   Bailiff  of   his  borough  of 

Banbury  and  late  Janitor  of  his  aforesaid  Castle.        J 

(3)  Neif,  or  Nief.     A  bondwoman,  or  female  villein. 

(4)  Deed  of  Purchase  in  the  Augmentation  Office. 

(5)  John  Dudley  duke  of  Northumberland  was  beheaded  in  the  beginning  of  the  next 
reign.  The  marginal  notes  &c.  to  these  ancient  documents  do  not  appear  to  have  been 
written  at  the  same  time  with  the  entries  to  which  they  refer;  but  when  the  e>treating 
clerk  examined  the  rolls  he  probably  made  them  for  his  own  convenience. 

2  E 


Nothing  because 
"in  our  lord  the 
King's  hands. 


218 


NORTHUMBERLAND'S  REBELLION. 


£18.   Now  demi- 
sed for  £12. 


"  Moreover  the  Office  of  Reeve  of  the  Castle  of  Banbury  aforesaid. 

"  Demise  o^      "  William  Richardson  holds") 

Farms  within  the  |  two  water  mills  under  one 
Borough  of  Ban-  ^-roof  lying  and  being  near  the 
bury  and  fields  Castle  aforesaid  within  the  Bo- 
there.  J  rough  of  Banbury  And  one 
Hame  unto  the  same  adjoining 
severally  containing  three  acres  and  with  all  Waters 
Fisheries  and  Fishings  unto  the  said  mill  belonging 
or  appertaining  at  the  will  of  our  Lord  the  King 
from  year  to  year  Paying  therefore  by  the  year  at  the 
feasts  of  the  Annunciation  of  the  Blessed  Virgin 
Mary  and  Saint  Michael  the  Archangel  by  equal 
portions 

"The  same  William  holds  the  Toll  of  the  Market^  £6.  It  is  grant- 
of  Banbury  with  the  farm  of  the  Drapery^  there  and  ed  to  the  Bailiff 
with  all  other  profits  and  advantages  unto  the  same  1  and  Burgesses  of 
appertaining  at  the  will  of  our  Lord  the  King  from  j  the  Town  of  Ban- 
year  to  year  Paying  therefore  by  the  year  £6   at     bury  jis   parcell   of 

J  theii 


the  two  feasts  aforesaid  equally 

"  Peter  Gylle  holds  one  tenement  and  one  gar-^ 
den  lying  and  being  within  the  Borough  of  Banbury 
before  the  gate  of  the  Castle  of  Banbury  aforesaid  ( 
with  their  appurtenances  at  the  will  of  our  Lord  from  f 
year  to  year  Paying  therefore  by  the  year  18s.  at  the 
feasts  abovesaid  equally  J 


leir  Fee  Farm.^ 


I8s.  In  the  charge 
of  William  Manne. 


fea 

"  Sum  of  the  Rents  at  will 
by  the  year. 


Banbury  aforesaid  / 


£24.  n 


THE  REIGN  OF  QUEEN  MARY 


Ou  the  death  of  Edward  the  Sixth,  which  occurred  in  July 
1553,  the  Duke  of  Northumberland,  for  the  furtherance  of  his 
own  ambitious  purposes,  put  forward  the  claims  of  Lady  Jane 
Gray  to  the  Crown.  The  great  Cecil,  true  to  the  rightful  heir 
to  the  throne,  refused  to  draw  up  the  proclamation  on  behalf  of 
the  Lady  Jane,  and  found  means  to  escape  beyond  the  power  of 
the  Duke  and  join  the  Princess  Mary.  Soon  after  Mary  was 
established  on  the  throne,  Banbury  received  a  charter  of  incor- 
poration from  her ;  and  it  appears,  from  the  Charter  itself,  that 
this  was  granted  as  a  reward  to  the  inhabitants  for  their  exer- 
tions in  the  Queen's  cause  against  the  designs  of  the  Duke  of 
Northumberland.'"      The   feeling   created   in   these    parts   in   the 

(6)  Every  pair  of  stones  is  a  mill. 

(7)  The  measure  and  aulnage  of  cloths. — Cunningham. 

(8)  This  marginal  note  is  liable  to  the  remark  made  in  note  5,  on  p.  217;  there  being  no 
Bailiff  &c.  of  Banbury  till  the  next  reign. 

(9)  Original  document  preserved  in  the  Auditor's  Office  of  the  Land  Revenue. 

(10)  Preamble  of  the  Charter,  1st  Mary.  It  states  that  the  people  of  Banbury  "  most 
fiiithfully  adhered  to  us  [the  Queen]  and  manfully  opposed  the  same  rebellion  in  great 
costs  expenses  and  burdens  to  themselves,"  &c.  &c. 


CHARTER  GRANTED  BY  QUEEN  MARY.  219 

Queen's  behalf  is  otherwise  testified,  by  the  circumstance  of  the 
men  of  Northamptonshire,  Oxfordshire,  and  Buckinghamshire, 
being  especially  enumerated  as  accompanying  Mary  when  she 
went  to  London  on  the  3rd  August." 

The  Duke  of  Northumberland  had,  as  we  have  seen,  lately 
held  the  Castle,  manor,  hundred,  and  prebendal  estate  of  Ban- 
bury, all  of  which  now  belonged  to  the  Crown  for  which  there 
had  been  on  this  occasion  two  competitors.  The  part  taken  by 
the  inhabitants  of  Banbury  on  behalf  of  Mary  may  possibly 
have  been  prompted,  and  the  subsequent  reward  have  been  sug- 
gested, by  Cecil  himself,  who,  through  his  connections,  appears  to 
have  had  influence  in  Banbury.'-  Sir  Thomas  Pope  adhered  to 
the  same  party.  Sir  Thomas,  during  the  reign  of  Edward  the 
Sixth,  had  not  been  engaged  in  any  state  employment ;  but  im- 
mediately after  the  King's  death  he  was  commissioned  by  Mary, 
along  with  Sir  Arthur  Darcy  and  others,  to  apprehend  Lord  Russel 
and  several  accomplices  in  this  rebellious  attempt  of  the  Duke 
of  Northumberland."  Sir  Thomas's  brother  John  resided,  at 
this  date,  at  Wroxton. 

It  was  moreover  desirable  at  this  juncture  for  the  party  which 
espoused  the  cause  of  Mary  to  add  to  its  strength  in  Parliament : 
the  Charter  granted  to  Banbury  therefore  empowered  the  place 
to  return  a  representative.'^ 

ABSTRACT  OF  THE  CHARTER. 

Date  26th  Jan.,  1st  Mary  (1553-4). 
The  Charter  grants  to  the   Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Banbury  that 
the  said  Town  shall  be  a  free  corporate  Borough,  consisting  of  one  Bai- 
liff,  twelve  Aldermen,   and  twelve   Burgesses,  by  the  name  of  the  Bai- 

(11)  Stow's  Anuales,  p.  613. 

(12)  The  great  Cecil  was  the  gi-andchild  of  David  Cecil,  who  had  been  twice  high  sheriff 
of  Northamptonshire ;  and  father  of  another  Cecil  who  was  sheriff  of  that  county  in  the 
reign  of  Elizabeth.  (Fuller's  Worthies.)  We  find  Cecil  man-ying  the  daughter  of  Sir 
Anthony  Cooke,  of  Gidding  hall,  whose  wife  was  daughter  and  coheiress  of  William 
Sannders  Esq.  (qu.,  of  Banbury.'  See  note  42  in  p.  193;  and  Baker's  Norlhamp.,  p.  749), 
and  inherited  property  within  this  parish.  (Baker,  749.;  Her  sister,  a  coheiress,  was  the 
wife  of  Stephen  Cope  of  Bedenhara,  eldest  son  of  William  Cope  the  Coii'erer  by  his  first 
wife  Agnes,  and  elder  brother  to  Sir  Anthony  Cope  of  Hanwell  and  Grimsbury.  In  1581, 
we  find  Anthony  Cooke,  of  Gidding  hall,  disposing  of  his  interest  in  a  messuage  called 
the  Spittle  at  Grimsbury  (the  site  of  the  Hospital  of  St.  Leonai-d ;  see  pp.  78,  79)  and  of 
three  closes  thereto  belonging. — Ibid. 

(13)  Sir  Thomas  Pope  was  entrusted  with  the  care  of  the  Princess  Elizabeth:  although 
he  was  a  rigid  Romanist,  his  conduct  towards  her  was  unblameable,  and  unsuspected.  The 
Piincess  appears  to  have  taken  great  interest  in  the  progress  of  Sir  "Thomas's  work  of  found- 
ing Trinity  College,  on  which  he  bestowed  Wroxton  in  155-5.  Sir  Thomas  died  in  1659. 
(Warton's  Life  of  Sir  T.  Pope.)  There  is  a  portrait  of  Sir  Thomas  preserved  at  Wroxton ; 
and  his  tomb  has  been  engi-aved  in  the  Glossary  of  Architecture  (edit.  1840,  Plate  66). 

(14)  Banbury,  Abingdon,  and  Higham  Ferrers,  were  all  incoi-porated  by  Queen  Mary  : 
Abingdon  returned  a  member  before.  These  three  places,  with  Bewdley  (incorporated  by 
.Tames  the  First)  and  Monmouth,  were  the  only  English  boroughs  which  returned  but  one 
member  each,  previously  to  the  Reform  Bill. 

2  e3 


220  CHARTER  GRANTED  BY  QUEEN  MARY. 

lifF  Aldermen  and  Burgesses  of  the  Borough  and  Parish  of  Banbury; 
and  that  the  same  shall  be  a  corporate  body  and  perpetual  community. 
That  they  shall  be  in  law  capable  to  acquire  and  possess  lands  &c.,  to 
plead  and  be  impleaded,  &c.,  and  to  have  a  Common  Seal. 

The  Boundaries,  namely  :— 

"  The  said  Borough  of  Banbury  and  the  circuit  and  precincts  thereof 
shall  hereafter  extend  and  reach  and  may  and  may  be  able  to  extend  and 
reach  as  well  in  length  and  breadth  as  in  circumference  to  the  bounds 
metes  and  limits  following  That  is  to  say  From  the  bridge  there  called 
Banbury  Bridge  situate  over  the  water  called  Charwell  on  the  east  side  of 
the  said  Borough  unto  the  White  Cross  without  the  gate  called  Sugarforde 
Yate  on  the  west  side  and  from  the  said  White  Cross  without  the  gate 
called  Sugarforde  Yate  to  the  gate  called  Seint  Johns  Yate  on  the  south 
side  and  from  the  said  gate  called  Seint  Johns  Yate  to  the  gate  called 
North  Yate  on  the  north  side  and  so  from  the  said  gate  called  North 
Yate  to  the  aforesaid  bridge  called  Banbury  Bridge  with  all  Lanes  Streets 
Ways  Places  Enclosures  and  Corners  within  the  aforesaid  bounds  metes 
and  limits  existing  and  as  in  the  usual  manner  they  are  reputed."'^ 

Twelve  of  the  better  and  more  honest  and  discreet  inhabitants  to  be 
Aldermen  of  the  Borough,  which  Aldermen  shall  be  able  to  choose 
twelve  others  of  the  better  and  more  honest  inhabitants  of  the  Borough 
who  shall  be  called  Capital  Burgesses.  And  which  Bailiff  Aldermen 
and  Capital  Burgesses  shall  be  the  Common  Council  of  the  Borough  for 
all  things  concerning  the  Borough  and  the  rule  and  government  thereof. 

The  Common  Council  to  elect  the  Bailiff  annually  from  among  the  12 
Aldermen. 

Vacancies  among  the  Aldermen  to  be  fiDed  up,  by  the  votes  of  the 
Aldermen,  from  among  the  Capital  Burgesses. 

Vacancies  among  the  Capital  Burgesses  to  be  filled  up  by  the  Common 
Council  from  the  better  more  honest  and  discreet  inhabitants  of  the 
Borough. 

A  Serjeant  at  Mace  to  be  chosen  by  the  Council,  for  the  execution  of 
processes  orders  and  other  businesses  in  the  Borough.  Constables  and 
other  necessary  officers  to  be  annually  chosen. 

Power  to  the  Council  to  ordain  wholesome  and  reasonable  statutes  and 
constitutions  for  the  better  rule  and  government  of  the  Bailiff  Aldermen 
and  Capital  Burgesses  and  other  Officers  and  Inhabitants  of  the  Borough 
aforesaid,  in  order  that  they  may  behave  themselves  in  their  offices  and 
businesses  for  the  public  good  and  common  weal  of  the  Borough,  and 
for  other  causes  and  businesses  touching  or  concerning  the  Borough. 
Which  statutes  &c.  were  to  be  inviolably  observed  ;  the  same  not  being 
repugnant  or  contrary  to  the  laws  and  statutes  of  our  Realm  or  to  the 
Prerogative  of  Us  our  Heirs  and  Successors. 

"  Our  beloved  William  Barmesley  an  honest  man  and  an  inhabitant 
of  our  Borough  of  Banbury  aforesaid  to  be  first  and  recent  Bailiff." 
"  Our  beloved  the  said  William  Barnesley  John  Hartlett  John  Wise 
John  Longe  William  Plomer  Robert  Hornesley  John  Redshawe  Edward 
Brightwell  Stephen  Wiggett  Richard  Fairefeld  Henry  Shutwell  and  John 
Luter  Inhabitants  of  the  said  Borough  of  Banbury  to  be  first  and  recent 
Aldermen  of  the  said  Borough  of  Banbury  so  long  as  they  shall  behave 
themselves  well  in  that  office."  "Our  beloved  John  Lorde  William 
Parnam  Thomas  Butler  alias  Carter  Edward  Bentley  Edmund  Glover 
Eustace    Bosworthe    John    Tugges    John    Barnesley    Henry    Undertrey 

(IS)  "  A  Ponte  ibidem  vocat'  Banbury  Bridge  scituat  t^ns  Aquam  vocat  Charwell  ex  p'te 
orientali  d'ci  Burgi  usq'  Albam  Crucem  exta  Portam  vocat'  Sugarforde  Yate  ex  p'te  occi- 
dentali  &  ab  eadem  Alba  Cruce  ext*  Portam  vocat'  Sugarforde  Yate  usq'  ad  Portam  vocat' 
Seint  Johns  Yate  ex  parte  australi  &  ab  eadem  Porta  vocat'  Seint  Johns  Yate  usq'  ad  Portam 
xocat'  Northyate  ex  p'te  boriali  &  sic  ab  eadem  Porta  vocat'  Northyate  usq'  p'dict'  Pontem 
vocat'  Banbury  Bridge  cum  omib'z  Venellis  Strat'  Vijs  Locis  Clausur'  &  Angulis  infra 
p'dict'  Bundas  Metas  &  Limites  existeu"  &  p'ut  modo  usitat'  reputant'." — Original  in  the 
liolls  Chapel 


CHARTER  GRANTED  BY  QUEEN  MARY.  221 

Richard  More  Roger  Jackson  and  William  Dudley  "  to  be  Capital  Bui-- 
gesses  during  good  behaviour. 

Grant  to  the  Common  Council  of  a  weekly  Market  on  Thursday  and 
"Two  Fairs  or  Holidays  there  annually  to  be  held  and  kept  that  is  to 
say  One'  Fair  or  Holiday  there  to  be  held  annually  on  the  feast  of  St. 
Peter  which  is  called  Advinc'la  and  on  the  eve  and  on  the  morrow  of  the 
said  feast  and  Another  Fair  or  Holiday  to  be  there  held  annually  on  the 
feast  of  Saint  Luke  the  Evangelist  and  on  the  eve  and  on  the  morrow  of 
the  said  feast  together  with  a  court  of  Piepowder  i''  there  during  the  time 
of  the  said  Fairs  or  Holidays  together  with  stallage  piccage  lines  amer- 
ciaments and  all  other  revenues  "  arising  from  such  markets  fairs  or 
holidays  and  coiu-t  of  Pie  Powder,  and  with  all  liberties  and  free  customs 
appertaining  or  belonging  to  the  same. 

Power  to  hold  a  Court  of  Record  "  before  the  Bailiff  and  two  Alder- 
men and  two  Capital  Burgesses  and  the  High  Steward  of  the  Borough 
and  Parish  of  Banbury  aforesaid  or  the  sufficient  Deputy  of  the  said 
High  Steward  for  the  time  being  in  some  Common  Hall  or  other  more 
convenient  place  in  the  same  Borough  to  be  held  on  Monday  from  three 
weeks  to  three  weeks  concerning  all  and  singular  pleas  complaints  and 
actions  as  well  real  as  personal  and  concerning  debts  compacts  trespasses 
agreements  contracts  detentions  and  contempts  done  or  arising  within 
the  said  Borough  of  Banbury  and  the  jurisdiction  thereof  Provided  that 
the  said  debts  compacts  agreements  contracts  trespasses  and  other  actions 
do  not  exceed  the  sum  or  value  of  Five  Pounds  And  that  such  pleas 
complaints  and  actions  be  there  heard  and  determined  according  to  the 
law  and  customs  of  our  city  of  Coventry." 

Power  to  the  Baihff  Aldermen  and  Capital  Burgesses  to  hold  and  enjoy 
liaw  Days  and  Views  of  Frankpledge  of  all  the  inhabitants  and  residents 
within  the  Borough.  The  same  to  be  held  twice  in  the  year,  namely, 
within  a  month  after  the  feast  of  Easter,  and  within  a  month  after  the 
feast  of  St.  Michael  the  Archangel,  before  the  Bailiff  and  two  Aldermen 
and  two  Burgesses,  and  the  High  Steward  or  his  sufficient  Deputy. 

The  Baihff  to  be  Clerk  of  the  Market. 

One  Justice  of  the  Peace  to  be  annually  chosen  from  among  the  Alder- 
men by  the  Common  Council.  To  have  the  same  powers  within  the 
Borough  as  a  county  justice  within  the  county. 

Forfeitures,  waifs,  and  estrays,  assise  and  assay  of  Bread,  Wine,  and 
Ale,  profits  of  the  Fairs  and  Market,  &c.  to  belong  to  the  Corporation  ; 
the  sum  of  £6.  13s.  4c?.  being  annually  paid  by  them  to  the  Queen's  Ex- 
chequer. 

Power  to  acquire  lands,  privileges,  &c.  within  the  Borough,  not  held 
immediately  of  the  Queen  in  chief  or  by  military  service,  and  not  ex- 
ceeding the  annual  value  of  twenty  pounds. 

"  Moreover  We  will  and  for  Us  our  Heirs  and  Successors  by  these  pre- 
sents We  grant  and  ordain  that  there  may  and  shall  be  in  the  said 
Borough  of  Banbury  one  Burgess  of  our  Parliament  and  that  of  our  heirs 
and  successors  and  that  the  aforesaid  Bailiff  Aldermen  and  Burgesses 
of  the  said  Borough  and  Parish  of  Banbury  and  their  successors  upon 
our  Writ  and  that  of  our  heirs  and  successors  concerning  the  election  of 
a  Burgess  of  Parliament  directed  to  them  may  and  shall  have  power  au- 
thority and  means  of  electing  and  nominating  one  discreet  Burgess 
of  the  said  Borough  to  be  a  Burgess  of  our  Parliament  and  that  of  our 
heirs  and  successors  for  the  said  Borough  and  that  they  shall  send  the 
Burgess  thus  elected  at  the  burden  and  costs  of  the  said  Borough  and 
Parish  and  the  same  community  to  our  Pai-liament  and  that  of  our  heirs 
and  successors  whensoever  it  shall  be  then  holden  in  the  same  manner 
and  form  as  in  other  boroughs  of  our  realm  of   England  it  hath  been 

(16)  Piepowder;  from  pied, /oo/,  and  pouldre,  dusty;  here  Latinized  "Cur  Pedis  Piil- 
\e'izat."  These  courts  were  held  at  fairs  and  markets  for  the  speedy  redress  of  disorders 
committed  therein. 


222  CHARTER  GRANTED  BY  QUEEN  MARY. 

usual  and  customary  AVhich  Burgess  thus  elected  and  chosen  we  will  to  be 
present  and  to  stay  at  our  Parliament  and  that  of  our  heirs  and  succes- 
sors at  the  burden  and  costs  of  the  said  Borough  and  Parish  of  Banbury 
and  the  same  community  during  the  time  in  which  such  Parliament  may 
happen  to  be  held  in  like  manner  and  form  as  other  Burgesses  of  Parlia- 
ment for  other  boroughs  or  other  borough  whatsoever  within  our  said 
realm  of  England  do  or  have  been  accustomed  to  do  And  which  Bur- 
gess in  such  our  Parliament  and  that  of  our  heirs  and  successors  shall 
have  his  voice  as  well  affirmative  as  negative  and  shall  there  do  and  per- 
form aU  and  singular  other  things  which  other  Burgesses  or  other  Bur- 
gess of  our  Parliament  for  whatsoever  other  boroughs  or  other  borough 
shall  have  do  and  perform  or  may  be  able  and  have  power  to  have  do  or 
perform  in  whatsoever  manner  and  form." 

The  Corporation  to  have  these  letters  patent  under  the  Great  Seal  with- 
out fine  or  fee. 

"  \t  Westminster  on  the  xxvi  day  of  January. — By  Writ  of  Privy 
Seal."!^ 

It  appears  that,  at  the  first  "  cowrtt  d}Tiar  "  had  bj  the  Corpo- 
ration, that  newly-appointed  body  expended  £1.  13s.  lid.;  and 
the  fare  consisted  of  "  spycce  capones,  connyes,  geese,  and  other 
cattes  [cates],  bread  &  ale,  a  pottell  of  sake,  and  a  quart  of  mol- 
linse."  "A  gallon  &  hallfe  of  wyne  and  a  C  [hundred]  of 
payres  "  were  also  used  "  when  Mastr  Kemsswell  &  M'  Fysher 
wher  atte  the  Castell  at  ower  fyrste  cowrtte :"  and  to  INIr.  Kernes - 
well,  there  is  a  payment  recorded  of  40  shillings,  "  for  his  good 
toward  vs  for  ye  chart'. "^^ 

The  granting  of  the  Charter  was  celebrated  by  a  Pageant. 
Among  the  accounts,  are  charges  for  the  carriage  of  timber  which 
"  Mr  Kemesswell  did  gyve  towards  the  Pagon,"  and  for  the  hire 
of  "  Nethrope  men  for  carryge  of  the  tre  y*  Mr  Cope  gave." 
Another  entry  is  of  "Monny  delyveryd  of  the  occupaecions 
[trades]  towards  the  Pagannt ;"  including  subscriptions  from  the 
Butchers,  Shoemakers,  Carpenters,  Barkers  and  Sadlers,  Wea- 
vers, Glovers,  Mercers,  Tailors  and  Drapers,  Smiths,  and  Bakers." 

(17)  Original  Charter  ;  and  a  Translation  thereof  at  the  Town  Clerk's  office. 

In  a  Book  of  accounts  preserved  by  the  present  Town  Clerk,  relating  to  this  period,  there 
are  entered,  after  the  names  of  the  "Aldermen  and  Free  Burgesses,"  those  of  136  "  Free- 
men." In  the  margin  are  the  names  of  John  Lovett,  Steward  of  Banhnry,  and  Peter  GyU, 
Town  Clerk. 

A  Proclamation,  in  writing,  made  at  this  period,  has  been  preserved  at  the  Town  Clerk's 
office.     The  arms  of  England  and  France  are  drawn  on  it  with  a  pen.     It  is  as  follows : — 

"The  Touke  of  Banbury  newly  erectyd  created  and  made  a  fre  borowe  &  a  towne 
incorporatyd  and  a  body  pollytyck  by  the  name  of  a  Bayly  xij  Ald'men  &  xij  hy  Burgyses 
by  the  Qwenes  Ictt's  patente  of  incorporatyon  to  them  &  ther  success's  grantyd  for  eu'  in 
consederatyon  and  for  the  goode  s'uyce  to  her  grace  downe  by  the  Inhabytance  of  the  same 
And  by  the  *  *  *  labor  &  delygent  Sewte  of  the  ryght  honorable  Lorde  Herry  Staford 
theldest  Sone  to  the  late  Duke  of  Bukynghm  Thomas  Denton  esquyer  Willm  Bamsley 
John  Wyse  John  Hartlett  John  Longe  Edward  Bryghtwen  Stephen  Wygat  &  Richard 
Ferfeld  ajd'men  of  the  same  towne  &  borowe  w-t  others  Geuen  &  graunted  in  the  yere  of 
our  Lord  God  lo54  &  Ann  R'  R'  Marie  prime.  Louett  Stewcrd 

Pet'  Gyll  Tovne  clarke." 

(18)  Book  of  accounts  refcn-ed  to  in  note  17. 

(19)  Ibid.     On  the  occ;ision  of  these  Pageants,  the  fronts  of  the  houses  through  which  the 


AFFAIRS  OF  THE  CORPORATION.  223 

A  Town  Hall  was  erected ;  and  a  cage  of  timber,  which  had 
heretofore  been  in  the  Castle,  (and  which  appears,  from  three 
items  of  carriage,  and  from  the  damage  done  to  the  Castle  wall 
in  removing  it,  to  have  been  a  cumbersome  affair,)  was  brought 
"  to  the  covrt  hall,"  and  set  up.-"  There  are  several  items  of 
accounts  relating  to  the  "stokes,"  the  "pellyry,"  and  the  "kocke- 
stoll.""^  In  1558  is  mentioned  a  payment  on  account  of  the 
"warnynge  of  the  wache."  Subsequently,  in  the  Orders  and 
Paines  of  the  6th  Elizabeth,  it  is  required  that  all  property  wliich 
had  found  a  watchman  within  forty  years  should  continue  to  pro- 
vide the  same.  The  "  Com'on  Gaoyle  of  the  Towne "  is  first 
mentioned  in  the  by-laws  of  the  Corporation  in  the  1 5th  Elizabeth. 

The  first  representative  of  Banbury  in  Parliament  was  Tho- 
mas Denton  Esq.,  who  was  returned  in  the  first  year  of  Mary's 
reign.  This  was  the  second  Parliament  of  Mary.  Before  the 
close  of  the  year  1554,  Mary's  third  Parliament  assembled,  on 
which  occasion  the  name  of   the   representative   for    Banbury   is 

given  Denton    Esq.      To   Mary's    fourth  Parliament,    in 

1555,  no  return  for  Banbury  is  recorded.  To  her  fifth  Parlia- 
ment, in  1557-8,  John  Denton,  gentleman,  was  returned.^^ 

The  following  items  occur,  amongst  others,  in  the  Book  contain- 
ing accounts  of  the  Corporation,  which  is  preserved  by  William 
Walford  Esq.,  the  present  Town  Clerk : — 

"This  ys  the  Ac'ountt  of  Jhon  Longe  mayd  the  xiiii  daye  of 
November  Anno  R  Rg  Phi  et  Marie  tercio  &  quarto  [1556]. 

In'p'mis  recevyd  the  iiij   dave  of  Octobr  for  the  hooll)     , 

toUe  of  ye  market |  "^"J*     "^^ 

processions  passed  were  usually  covered  with  rich  adornments  of  tapestry,  arras,  and  cloth 
of  gold  ;  the  magistrates  and  citizens  appeared  on  horseback  in  sumptuous  habits,  and 
joined  the  cavalcade  ;  while  the  ringing  of  bells,  the  sotmd  of  music,  and  the  shouts  of 
the  populace,  greeted  the  ears  of  the  spectators.  In  places  appointed  for  the  purpose,  the 
Pageants  were  erected,  which  were  temporary  buildings  representing  castles,  palaces,  gardens, 
roclts,  or  forests;  where  nymphs,  fawns,  satyrs,  gods,  goddesses,  angels,  and  devils,  appeared 
in  company  with  giants,  savages,  dragons,  saints,  knights,  buffoons,  and  dwarfs,  surrounded 
by  minstrels  and  choristers ;  the  heathen  mythology,  the  legends  of  chivalry,  and  Christian 
divinity,  ridiculously  jumbled  together. — StruU's  Sports,  Sfc. 
(20) "  See  several  items  of  accounts  in  1556,  pp.  224—226. 

(21)  The  Cucking-stool  existed,  till  within  these  fifty  years,  at  a  horse-pool  at  the  lower 
part  of  the  Market  Place,  The  Pillory  stood  near  it.  It  appears  that  there  was  a  Pillory 
before  the  Charter  ;  some  of  the  earliest  charges  being  for  the  removal  of  the  old  one. 

(22)  Willis's  Notit.  Pari.  Thomas  Denton  was  sheriff  of  Berks  and  Oxon  in  1526-7, 
(Fuller.)  In  1542,  the  patronage  of  the  church  of  Amhrosden,  and  the  manors  of  Am- 
brosden  and  Blackthorn,  were  given  to  John  Denton,  then  resident  at  Blackthorn,  and  the 
son  of  Thomas  Denton  of  Sunderfield  co.  Bucks.  (DLmldn's  Oxf )  John  Denton  was 
sheriff  of  Berks  and  Oxon  in  1558. 

The  elections  in  November  1554  were  influenced  by  the  Queen's  circular  letter  to  the 
sheriffs,  commanding  them  to  admonish  the  people  to  elect  Roman  Catholics.  (Pari.  Hist. 
Eng.)  It  appears  doubtful,  from  Browne  Willis,  whether  any  return  was  made  for  Ban- 
bury at  that  time.  Thomas  Denton  was  member  in  that  Parliament  for  the  county  of 
Oxford,  and  was  one  of  the  thnty-seven  members  who  seceded  when  they  saw  the  majority 
inclined  to  sacrifice  every  thing  to  the  ministry. — Pari.  Hist.  Eng. 


224  AFFAIRS  OF  THE  CORPORATION. 

Ib'm  recevid  of  Huge  Sly  for  olde  tymbr  of  the  pyllore     —  vjd 

Recevid  for  owllde  wood  that  was  lefte  of  the  Chiirche")  jj-^ 

howsse     / 

Recevid  for  tolle  in  the  markett  the  xj*  day  of  Octtobar     vjs  — 
Recevyd  on  Sayntt  Lvkes  daye  for  the  tolle  of  ower  fayre     xvijs  }d  ob' 

Recevyd  the  xxv"  daye  of  Octobar  for  the  tolle  in  the\ ^^ 

markett    _ J 

Recevyd  a  pon  all  holon  eve  for  the  tolle  in  the  markett    ijs  —  ob' 

Recevyd  of  Joynar  the  carryar  for  to  be  fre  for  one  stalled  ^^     

to  selle  his  fyche  apon / 

Recevyd  of  Wylliam  Dudleye  &  Huge  for  the  tolle  a  ponl  xiiiirfob' 

Sayntt  Lukes  daye  for  the  horsse  market  /  '     J 

Recevyd  of  ij  wenches  xv  shurt  collers  and  a  partlettl  ..  , 

and  in  monye     /  ^ 

Recevyd  for  the  feyes  of  a  wrytt —  xijid 

Recevyd  for  the  forfytt  of  a  hyd  of  a  bocher  on  skott    . .     —  xijd 

Recevyd  of  Jhon  Lutts  &  Jhon  Davys  for  the  feyes  ofl  •■      

on  wrightt J    ^ 

Recevyd  of  Wyllyam  Weston  and  Robart  Vyvers  for  the\  j.  jj-.^ 

feyes  of  ij  writts   i   ''  *' 

Recevyd  of  my  coussyn  Barnsleye  for  the  fredom  of  on)     .  ...  , 


shope  in  ye  P'sones  lane  y'  Vadry  ye  foil'  [fuller]  occupytl 

Recevyd  of  the  companye  whe'  Stevyn  Wygatt  and  i  I  xxxiiiis  viii 

wentt  to  London /  *'         •' 

Recevyd  for  the  tolle  in  the  markett  a  pon  the  fyshe  fayre)     i       ■■•,    ,  > 

daye     • /  ^ 

Recevyd  of  Lankecher  for  a  fraye  that  he  mayd  in  my)  7 

coussyn  Barnsleyes  cowrt  / 

Recevyd  of  Fawdre  the  fullarfor  his  fredom  of  his  shope     vjs    vnjd 
Recevyd  of  Rychard  Weste  at  the  makynge  of  hym  fre     xiijs     iiijd 
Recevyd  9  gerkenes  and  dubletts  of  ye  asencion  daye    . . 

Recevyd  for  tolle  on  the  assencion  daye    x\s    ijc?  ob' 

Recevyd  for  a  carcas  of  a  shep  that  Barnard  Hopknes\  •.         .  , 

stell j  'J^     ^^"^ 

Recevyd  for  the  tolle  in  the  fayre  a  pon  Lamas  the  fyrste)  ^j-      

daye  of  Auguste j  '  '' 

Recevyd  of  the  in  habytance  of  the  Shepe  markett  for  \    •  ■      

ther  penes  befor  theyr  dores J      '' 

Recevyd  by  merssmentts  of  on'  cowrtes  as  dothe  a  peyar)  j^^     -.^ 

by  a  byll  of  the  stretts     /   '  '      ■' 

Recevyd  of  Rychard  Benett  for  partt  of  his  fredome vs    — 

Recevyd  of  marsmentts  for  the  clarke  of  the  marketts)  j 

cowrtt J 

Recevyd  for  the  stalls  sett  by  the  yeare xxxixs    — 

The  Charge. 

In'p'mvs  for  takynge  downe  of  the  pellyry    —    ijd 

Payde  to  the  carpendar  for  workenge  of  the  pyllrye  and)     -^     yiud 
att  ower  hall  for  vj  dayes  &  nyghtts    /    "'  •' 

Payd  to  the  massones  for  taykynge  downe  of  the  pyllry)  ••      -.7 
and  workenge  downe  of  the  particcion  of  ower  halle )   ^       ■' 

Payd  to  the  gaythers  of  the  tolle  in  the  markett  beynge)  ••  7 

the  iiijth  of  Octobar j  •> 

Payd  for  a  gallon  &  hallfe  of  wyne  and  a  C  of  payresS 
when  Mastr  Kemsswell  &  M"'  Fysher  wher  atte  the  Castell  >ijs     vujd 
at  ower  fyrste  cowrtte J 

Payd  to  RafFe  Plesto  &  his  wyfFe  and  the  bellman  &  his") 
wyfTe  for  carrynge  of  stone  and  ramyll  owtt  of  ower  halle  > —     xvjrf 
&  sarvynge  of  ye  pavyors ) 

Payd  to  the  pavyors  for  96  yards  of  the  markett  placce. .     xiJ5     nijd 


AFFAIRS  OF  THE  CORPORATION.  '■^' 

Payd  to  W'°  Joynar  for  his  makynge  of  the  frame  at  tlie  ?  j.      jjj- ^ 
hall  for  the  Kings  armes     j   ^  ^ 

Payd  to  Pettr  Gyll  for  his  cost  to  Mr  Deyntons   —     iijc? 

Payd  for  ij  li  of  candull      —     vj<Z 

Payd  to  Nycolas  Sturgon  for  workinge   v  daye  &  nyghts    iiijs    vjd 

Payd  to   Nycolas  Sturgon  for  v   quai-tres  of  his  owne  ?  ••      jj-^ 
tymbar    >  _ 

Payd  to  Rychard  Jones  for  towe  strike  of  lym —     xijf? 

Payd  to   Jhon  Wallso  for  the  hyer  of  his  mare  when"| 
Pettr  Gyll  went  to  M"^  Dentones  to  feche  M'  Kemeswells  > —    v}d 
lett' ) 

Payd  to  my  brother  Wyes  for  sarten  bords    

Payd  to  my  coussen  Barnesley  for  bread  &  ale  and  other?  j-^jj:^     jij:^ 
cattes  [cates]  att  ower  fyrste  dyner  of  ou'  cowrt S"      •'  •' 

Payd  for  a  pottell  of  sake  and  a  quart  of  mollinse  ye  sani  ?  i 

tym S 

Payd  for  spycce  capones  and  connyes  geese  and  other?     •-•       ---^ 
catts  for  the  cowrtt  dynar  as  dotth  apea  by  a  byll    S  ' 

Payd  to   M''  Kemeswell  for  his  good  toward  vs  for  ye  ?  ^  i  ^ 
chart' P^* 

Payd  for  carynge  partt  of  the  cage  fro  the  Castell   —     vjrf 

Payd  to  Nycolass  Sturgn  for  vj  dayes  work  for  makynge  ?  

of  ower  steyres  at  the  hall S 

Payd  to  Northan  Jhon  for  caryge  of  tymbar  of  the  cage  ?  •  j 

from  the  castell i  ^ 

Payd  for  a  locke  for  ower  hall  dore —     xijV/ 

Payd  for  vj  copuU  of  ches  y'  wer  sennt  to   London  to?     •••      

Stevyn  Wygatt  and  Rychard  Fearfelld S       ■' 

It'm  payd  for  iij  couppell  of  capones  bought  in  the  mar-1 
kett  and  sentt  vp  to  London  to  Stevyn  Wygatt  &  Rychard  >vs    m}d 
Fearfelld j 

Payd  to  Edward  Marche  for  carryge  of  the  chesses  and? 7 

the  caponnes S^^^    ^'"•' 

Payd  for  the  sarjantt  to  Oxford  when  he  dyd  carry  the  ?  -i 

indenture  to  the  shrive  for  the  burg'*  of  the  parlamentt >  ^ 

Payd  for  hallfe  a  li'  of  marmalantt  and  in  appuells  &  bys-?  •• 
ketts  a  potle  of  read  wyne  and  for  on  potell  of  sake    \   ^^ 

Payd  to  Ellen  Bowton  for  the  weringe  of  hir  hvsbandT 
goune 


xvs     


Ki]d 

Payd  at  the   comynge   of   M''  Jhon   Frogmarton  in  the  ?  ••      „;:.•  j 
evyinge  for  v  quartts  of  wyne  appulls  byskett  ma'latt    S 

Payd  to  good  wyfFe  Bennett  for  M"^  Frogmartnes  dyner  i' 
and  his  mennes  in  the  morninge  [ 

Payd  for  xx  orriggs  and  hallfe  a  li'  of  marmalate  when'j 
Wyllyam   Plom'  and  Jhon  Longe   wentt  theyther  to   M''  > —     xvj^ 
Dentons  at  Chrysmas J 

Payd  for  ij  quear  of  paper  to  make  a  boke  for  ou'  cov'ts     —     vjt? 

Payd  for  v  dayes  worke   of  ij  menes  for  to  make  the?     , 

kockestoll r"-"*    "'J'^ 

Payd  to  Jhon  Awod  for  makinge  of  sarten  stapulls  and?  ••      

hokes  for  the  kockestoll S  'J* 

Payd  for  settynge  vp  of  the  cagge  to  Nycolas  Sturgon?     •         ...  , 
and  Jhon  Carpendr S    J*     ^""^ 

Payd  to  Thomas  Yoyke  for  carryge  of  the  tymbr  of  the  ?  .  , 

cage  to  the  covrt  hall  from  the  castell     S  ^ 

Payd  for  a  peace  of  ashe  to  Nycolas  Sturgon  for  the  ?  .  •, 

kockstoll : ^  -    vjrf 

Payd  for  a  covpoll  of  henes  that  were  gyven  M''  Lovytt  ?  7 

at  London \         ^" 

2  F 


226  AFFAIRS  OF  THE  CORPORATION. 

Payd  for  iij  quartts  of  clarytt  wyne  and  a  quart  of  malm- 

seye  &  in  appulls  at  M""  Kemesswells  beynge  heare  the  v*''  J- —    xvyi 

daye  of  Febuary  

Payd  for  a  gallond  of  wyne  when  M""  Lvce  and  Mayster?  ^-.^ 

Fynes  was  heare  att  Dychcr  &  Bramleye  pleye    ^  'J 

Payd  for  the  charg  of  the  Baly  and  Stevyn  Wygatt  at  ?  ^       

London  for  them  and  ther  horsses  iij  dayes )  '^ 

Payd  for  M""  Loiivtts  dynar  at  Ouessbrige —     vjd 

Payd  to  M'  Bartram  a  counseller  of  gres  in  [Gray's  Inn]  ?  jj.      jj..^ 

for  his  counssell  in  the  corproaccion    )     ■'  J 

Payd  to  Mr  Oditores  clarke  for  his  p'ynes —     xxd 

Payd  to  the  Kyngs  mystrels  att  my  cossyn  Barnsles  ....  iiiJ5  — 
Payd  for  a  gaha'd  of  wy'e  gyuen  to  the  byshop  of  Lyncon  —  xijrf 
Payd  for  sarten  wyne  that  we  had  to  Dedyngeton  when )  .■■.  , 

we  shoulld  have  mett  Mayster  Deynton S  ^^i' 

Payd  for  the  carigeto  the  cartresfor  carrynge  of  iij  lodes'^ 

of  tymbr  of  the  tre  that  M"^  Kemesswell  did  gyve  towards  Viijs    vjd 

tlie  Pagon   J 

Payd  for  makynge  the  castell  walle  agayne  y'  was  broken  ? •••.  , 

doune  in  havy'g  out  ye  cage S 

Payd  to  Nethrope  men  for  carryge  of  the  tre  y'  M""  Cope  ?  .7 

gave  to  our  Pagon    S 

Payd  for  bread  and   all  and   other  catts   at  the    cowrt?    ..•••.      

dynnar  as  dothe  mor  playly  apeyre  by  a  byll    ^  '        •' 

Payd  for  ij  liorsse  lokes  for  the  cagge  dore  and  the  stokes  —  xxd 
Payd  for  the  carryge  of  Benard  Hopkynes  to  the  gayll  of?  • , 

Oxford    S   J*        ■' 

Payd  to  M""  Denton  for  his  hallfe  yeare  feyes    xx*     — 

Payd  for  a  gallon  of   clarritt  wyn  that  we  gave   B™w ?  ••  , 

Raynsford  at  ou'  pley      S 

Payd  for  a  potell  of  claritt  wyn  y*  we  gave  M''  Foxe  at  ye  ?  •  , 

pley S 

Payd  for  ij  gowne  clothes  to  M"'  Hartlett  on  for  ye  sar-?     i---.      

gon  and  a  nother  for  the  clarke     5 

Pyd  for  mendynge  and  gylldyng  of  ower  macce \s    — 

Payd  for  a  pottell  of  claritt  wyn  when  ye  hygh  shrefe  ? .  , 

was  hear S  ^^ 

Payd  for  the  vndershreves  breafast  att  the  Swan  w'  my?  .  , 

brother  Wysse S 

Payd  to  my  cossyn  Barnesleye  for  the  cargs  of  my  lorde  ?     , 

ChefFe  Justes  beynge  in  Banbury     S     ■"*  ..!:'"' 

Payd  for  wyne  &  marnialatt  &  byskets  at  the  sam  tyme  vs  nijd 
Payd  to  M''  aturney  for  his  feyes  agaynst  yoimg  Weston     vjs    viijc? 

Payd  to  the  sargauntt  for  his  waggs vjs     viijd 

Payd  for  pleyers  gere  that  we  bought  at  Couentre-'  ....  xxs  — 
Payd  to  the  Queues  mageste^*   vj''  xiijs  iiijrf 

Monny  delyveryd  of  the  occupaccions  towards  the  Pagaiuit. 

In  p'imvs  of  the  Buchars  xs     — 

Recevyd  of  the  Shumakers    ix«     vjd 

Recevyd  of  the  Carpyndars vijs    ijd 

Recevyd  of  the  Barkeres  &  Sadlores vs    — 

Recevyd  of  the  Wevers vs    — 

Recevyd  of  Robert  Stafford —     viijd 

Recevyd  of  the  Glovers vjs     viijd 

Recevyd  of  the  Marcres     viijs    vjd 

(23)  Coventry,  in  the  monastic  ages,  was  remarkable  for  the  magnificent  and  costly  per- 
formance of  the  religious  dramas  called  Mysteries.  In  the  reign  of  Mary,  plays  were 
employed  by  the  Romanists  to  difluse  their  doctrine  :  and,  under  Elizabeth,  nothing 
was  so  popular  as  to  represent  the  Pope  as  a  devil,  and  monks  and  nuns  as  his  offspring. 

(24)  For  this  payment,  see  Charter  of  Mary,  in  p.  221. 


AFFAIRS  OF  THE  CORPORATION.  227 

Recevyd  of  Taylores  &  Drapers xn     — 

liecevyd  of  the  Smythes     v*     — 

Recevyd  of  the  Baykeres   ivA'    — 

1558  [Receipts.] 
In  p'm's  Recevyd  vppon  Seynt  martynes  daye  for  the?  ■•.  , 

staUege  of  the  market S  "^"-I 

The  shipe  market —  Xviijf/ 

The  next  Thursdaye  the  stallage —  xjfZ 

The  shepe  markett ijs  — 

The  beste  markett    —  vjd 

The  Neweres  evyn  for  all  ye  market  —  ijd 

The  twelfe  evyn  all  ye  market —  xd 

Lether  fayre  ye  stallage iijs  viijd 

The  beaste  market    —  v'ld 

The  shepe  market    —  vijf/ 

R'  by  xij  Shype     xxs  — 

R'  more  by  a  payre  of  Stocckings  for  hosse  &  a  read?  •••,  

pettycot  ^  "J* 

Itm  for  ij  payre  of  Showes     —  xvjd 

[Charges.] 

In  p'mis  pd  to  the  qimes  Jester    ijs    — 

Pd  for  Cowple  of  capons  when  my  Lorde  Wylliames  was?  ••• 

hear S    J 

Pd  for  wyne  the  same  tyme   ijs    iujd 

Pd  to  M''  Denton xx5    — 

Pd  for  a  sug'  lofFe     vjs     viijf/ 

Pd  to  to  M'  Barnslay  when  Sur  Antony  Honngerford?  •■      •••.  , 

was  hear S  ^^    ^^^^ 

Pd  when  my  lord  Chaundos  was  hear —     vjd 

Pd  to  the  Sargaunt  towards  hys  gowne xxs     — 

Pd  to  Rychard  More  for  ij  yards  &  iij  q'"  of  brod  clothe  ? 

for  Petr  Gyll S  .  ~ 

Pd  for  wyne  gyvyn  to  Sur  Fraunces  Ingfelld    ijs    v'njd 

Pd  to  Gorge  Cowly  for  warnynge  of  the  wache    —     xxd 

Pd  for  a  booke  of  statutes —    xijd 

It'm  my  chargs  for  the  towne  Leat  Dynners iiij''  ijs  y'ujd 

Pd  to  mysteres  Barnslaye  when  younge  Mayster  Deyn-  ?  „ 

ton  was  theyr    i 

ABSTRACT  OF  THE  BY-LAWS  OF  THE  CORPORATION. 

4th-5th  Philip  and  Mary. 

"  Banbury  Bouke  of  Ord's  &  Inrowlements  Constitucyons  and  Decreys 
hade  made  &  deuysed  by  Henry  Shuttylworth  nowe  beyng  Bayly  of  the 
Tovn  &  Borowe  of  Banbury  concludyd  on  by  the  holle  consent  &  assent 
of  the  Ald'men  &  Burgyses  of  the  same  by  vertu  &  forse  of  the  Queues 
Magestes  lett's  patente  of  in  corporatyon  to  them  &  ther  success's  geuen 
&  granted  as  here  after  foloweth  deuysed  &  stablyshed  as  lawes  to  endure 
frome  tyme  to  tyme  made  the  xiiij  day  of  Mail  1558. 

"  Fyrste  yt  ordeyned  condyscendyd  &  agreed  that  on  the  daye  of  Sent 
Mychell  tharkangell  yerely  at  one  of  the  cloke  in  aft'noone  the  Aldei-- 
men  &  capytall  Bui'gyses  in  ther  beste  app'ell  shall  cum  unto  the  housse 
of  the  Bayly  &  frome  thens  attend  vpon  the  seid  Bayly  vnto  the  p'ishe 
cliurche  and  ther  the  Bayly  Ald'men  &  capytall  Burgys'  shall  knele  before 
the  sacrement  &  make  ther  prayers  vnto  All  myghty  God." 

Then  follows  the  order  of  procession  to  the  Town  Hall,  and  of  the 
election  of  the  Bayly;  on  whose  instalment  into  office  the  old  Bayly  is 
to  deliver  to  him  "the  Kyng  &  the  Queues  Mace  as  a  syne  and  a  repre- 

2  f3 


228  AFFAIRS  OF  THE  CORPORATION. 


sentment  of  the  Kyng  &  the  Queues  Levetenant.  Also  the  order  oi 
the  election  of  the  Justice  of  Peace,  and  other  yearly  officers. 

The  Bayly  not  to  absent  himself  more  than  seven  days  without  having 
appointed  a  deputy  approved  by  the  Aldermen  and  capital  Burgesses.  To 
maintain  the  liberties  of  the  Borough.  And,  when  going  in  his  office,  or 
accompanying  worshiped  or  honourable  persons,  to  be  in  his  gown. 

The  Aldermen  to  assist  the  Bayly  and  Justice.  To  lose  office  if  found 
doing  any  thing  to  the  prejudice  of  the  Corporation.  To  be  "  of  quyett 
&  honest  behauyor  bothe  in  worde  &  dede;"  or  else  to  be  removed.  If 
absent  from  the  town  three  weeks  without  license  from  the  Bayly  to  for- 
feit xls.  None  of  the  Aldermen  to  "  vexe  sewe  or  dysquyete  any  other 
of  thys  company  "  in  any  coiu-t  out  of  the  Borough  :  iDut,  having  a  griev- 
ance, to  submit  the  same  to  the  Bayly,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  majority 
of  the  Aldermen ;  on  pain  of  one  day's  imprisonment,  and  deposition 
until  submission  be  made  and  a  fine  of  vjs  viijc?  paid.  The  Aldermen 
to  Avear  gowns  on  Sundays  and  Holy  Days,  and  when  they  attend  at 
courts,  or  on  the  Bayly.  The  "  hed  IJurgyses  "  to  observe  all  the  same 
ordinances  as  the  Aldermen. 

No  inhabitant  "shall  sewe  vexe  or  moleste  another  of  them"  in  any 
court  "  owte  of  the  courte  of  Banbury  as  longe  as  thei  may  have  vnde- 
leyed  ryght  &  spedy  justice  ;"  on  pain  of  one  day's  imprisonment  and 
the  forfeiture  of  xx,s. 

There  shall  be  elected  two  Wardens  of  every  Company  or  occupation, 
"for  the  better  gou'nance  vtillite  &  good  order  of  the  same;"  and  they, 
"  with  the  reste  of  the  seu'all  Companyes  shall  have  power  &  actoryte  to 
make  orders  &  constitucyons  emong  themselffs  for  ther  seid  occupatyons 
beynge  nott  p'iudiciall  to  the  corporation  nor  repugnant  to  the  lawes  of 
thys  realme  so  that  the  same  be  allowed  by  the  Bayly  &  Aldermen." 

No  person  shall  be  made  free  of  the  town  by  redemption,  on  a  less 
payment  than  xxs  to  the  Chamber,  xijfZto  the  Towne,  and  a  penny  "  to  the 
releiff  of  the  pore  &  prysoners." 

Apprentices-^  to  be  enrolled  ;  and  each,  on  taking  up  his  freedom,  to 
pay  to  the  Chamber  xijd  and  to  the  Town  Clerk  iiijc?.  The  Town  Clerk 
to  make  the  indentures  of  all  covenanted  servants  and  apprentices. 

All  inhabitants  to  be  obedient  to  the  Bayly,  Justices  of  the  Peace,  and 
officers,  and  "  redy  at  all  lawfid  commandementes  of  the  Bayly  &  Jus- 
tice ;"  upon  pain  of  two  days'  imprisonment  and  loss  of  freedom. 

Any  man  within  the  town  chosen  Bayly  or  Justice  refusing  to  take 
office,  "  shalbe  by  the  Bailie  comytted  vnto  warde  withowte  bayle  or 
maynpryse  ther  to  remeyne  vnto  suche  tyme  as  he  haue  payed  vnto  the 
Chamber  xx^'.  And  "  Yf  any  beynge  chossin  in  offyce  of  Alderman 
Burges  constable  or  other  ofFycer  obstenally  deney  to  s'ue  [serve]  in  the 
seid  office  to  haue  too  days  of  in  pressonement  &  to  forfyte  to  the  Cham- 
ber xls." 

"  Every  Ald'man  &  Burges  on  the  day  of  the  Assencyon  Corpus  X'pi 
day  &  euery  fayre  shall  repayre  vnto  the  BaylyfF  housse  by  viij  of  the 
cloke  in  the  mornyng  in  ther  best  &  desent  ap'ell  &  shall  accompany  the 
said  Baylyff  in  the  p'ambulacyon  thorow  the  faire  &  m'kett  in  desent  ord' 
&  so  aft'  p'clymation  made  at  the  m'ket  crosse  to  accompany  the  Bayly 
vnto  hys  housse  &  frome  thenss  eu'  [every]  man  to  dep'te  abowte  hys 
lawful!  busynes.''^" 


(25)  There  are  several  entrances  of  Apprentices,  none  of  whom  are  bound  for  less  than 
seven  years.  In  the  4th  Edw.  VI.,  a  shoemalier's  apprentice  is  to  have  at  the  end  of  the 
term  of  10  years  double  clothing  and  3s.  4d.  wages. — In  the  7th  Edw.  VI.,  a  taylor's 
apprentice  is  to  have  at  the  end  of  his  apprenticeship  double  clothing  and  40s.  wages. — 
In  the  1st  Phil,  and  Mary,  a  blacksmith's  apprentice  is  to  have  at  the  end  of  his  apprentice- 
ship double  clothing  and  13s.  4d.  "  pro  salario  et  stependio."— And  a  taylor's  apprentice  is 
to  have  at  the  end  of  his  apprenticeship  double  clothing  and  food  for  one  year. 

(26)  Book  of  accounts,  &c.,  preserved  by  the  present  Town  Clerk. 


AFFAIRS  OF  THE  CORPORATION.  229 


REGULATIONS  OF  THE  COURT  OF  RECORD. 

"  Ordynances  for  the  Cowrte  and  the  OfFys's  of  the  same. 

"  Fyrste  yt  ys  ordyned  &  decreed  by  on  hoUe  assent  &  consent  of  the 
baylie  aldermen  &  burgesses  that  ther  shalbe  no  man  constreyned  to 
answere  in  the  Cowrte  withowte  lawful!  accyon  com'ensed  &  entered  in 
Cowrte  &  that  the  Defendant  haue  lawful!  somonce  and  yf  he  appere 
nott  vppon  lawful!  somons  to  be  geuen  by  the  S'gyant  at  the  Mace  then 
one  dystres  to  be  granted  &  yf  the  Defendant  appere  nott  vppon  the 
dystres  then  the  S'gyant  to  returne  a  nicliell  and  then  sliall  goo  furthe 
at  the  suyte  of  the  Plantyft"  a  capyas  and  then  the  p'ty  attached  shall  goo 
to  presson  except  he  put  in  Suertes  &  bayle  as  well  to  answere  the 
accyon  or  plainte  comensed  as  also  to  pay  tlie  costes  &  damages  of 
the  Defendant  yf  he  be  condempned  or  els  to  brynge  in  the  body  of 
the  p'tie  Defendant  or  Defendantes  aft'  jugement  geuyn  &  before  exe- 
cutyon  awardyd. 

."  It'm  yt  ys  ordered  that  no  capyas  shalbe  graunted  bvit  by  the  bailie 
for  the  tyme  beynge  &  a  plante  lawfully  entered  be  fore  the  capias  shall 
go  furthe  And  that  the  capias  be  made  &  derected  under  seylle  of  the 
Towne  derive  and  subscrybed  with  hys  liand  &  name  And  the  p'tie 
attaclied  shalbe  brouglit  before  the  Bailie  &  to  hym  shall  put  in  Suertes 
or  pleges  to  answere  the  liolle  plainte  comensed  agaynst  hym  as  ys  afore 
specyfyed. 

"  It'm  yt  ys  agreed  that  ther  shalbe  no  capias  granted  at  the  sewete  of 
any  forany'  or  forryn'  [foreigners,  i.  e.,  persons  residing  without  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  court]  except  yt  sliall  fyrste  appere  planly  to  the  baylie 
or  tlie  towne  clarke  that  tlier  ys  goode  cause  to  com'ense  the  same  sewte 
within  the  libertie  of  tlie  seid  towne. 

"  It'm  yt  ys  agreed  that  tlie  S'gyant  at  the  Mace  shall  nott  attache 
any  man'  of  p'son  or  p'sones  or  put  them  in  feare  of  Suete  withowte  his 
lawful!  warrante  furthe  of  the  Cowrte  yf  he  do  the  contrary  to  liaue  ij 
days  of  impressonement  &  to  pay  to  the  Chamber  for  hys  offence  iijs  iiijrf. 

"  It'm  yt  ys  ordeyned  that  tlie  S'gyant  at  Mace  sliall  s'ue  [serve]  all 
man'  of  p'cess  to  hym  derected  withowte  conseylment  &  make  juste  & 
dewe  returne  of  the  same  vppon  payne  of  one  day  of  impressonement  & 
pay  iijs  iiijc^. 

"It'm  yt  ys  ordered  that  he  that  bathe  the  ofyce  of  preynatory  shall 
make  goode  &  p'fyte  declaratyons  answeres  replycations  reioynders  &  so 
delyu'  wykly  as  the  case  requirethe  vnto  tlie  Attorneys  of  the  Cowrte 
&  the  seid  attorneys  at  eu'y  cowrte  to  delyu'  them  unto  the  Cowrte  fayre 
&  p'fyte  Wrytin  with  ther  liandes  putto  the  same  plees  and  yf  the  prey- 
nattory  make  defaute  therein  then  he  to  paye  for  eu'y  such  defaute  xxd 
And  if  the  defaute  be  in  tlie  attorneys  then  eu'y  suche  attorney  to  loose 
&  pay  iiijrf  for  eu'y  plee  the  forfytir  to  be  to  the  vse  of  tlie  Chanib'. 

"  It'm  yt  ys  ordered  that  aft'  j^ssue  joyiied  in  any  matt'  tliat  the  Towne 
Clarke  sliall  make  the  recordes  p'fyte  &  ingrosse  them  on  p'chement 
vppone  payne  of  dayes  of  impressonement  &  pay  to  the  Chamber  xx(?. 

"It'm  yt  ys  ordered  that  tlie  Towne  Clarke  eu'y  too  moneythes  shall 
make  &  engrosse  vppe  fayer  the  recordes  of  the  Cowrtes  vppon  payne  of 
dayes  of  impressonement  &.  to  forfytt  ij.?. 

"  It'm  yt  ys  ordered  that  netlier  the  Towne  Clarke  nor  S'gyant  at  Mace 
shall  take  any  other  fees  cons'nynge  ther  offices  other  then  suche  as  be 
mencyoned  in  a  table  sett  &  hanged  vpp  in  the  Cowrte  Hall  of  the  seid 
towne  vppon  payne  of  too  days  of  impressonement  andfyne  at  the  plessure 
of  the  baylie  for  the  tyme  beyng. 

"  It'm  yt  ys  ordered  that  the  Towne  Clarke  &  S'gyant  at  Mace  shall 
waite  on  the  bailie  eu'y  Sonday  &  Hollyday  &  all  other  tymes  convenyent 
except  sicknes  &  other  lawful  excuses  and  the  S'gyant  daylie  to  wayte 
vppon  the  bailie  except  specyall  lycence  vppon  payne  of  eu'y  offence  xxd. 


230  THE  REIGN  OF  ELIZABETH. 

"  It'ni  "  [the  manner  of  the  officers  of  the  Borough  Court  being  sinu- 
moned].^' 

William  Binslej,  of  New  College,  Oxford,  who  was  admitted 
bachelor  of  laws  iu  1536,  was,  subsequently  to  tliat  date,  vicar  of 
Adderburj.  He  resigned  the  vicarage  in  1554,  and  became  about 
the  same  time  chancellor  to  Pole,  bishop  of  Peterborough.  It  is 
said  that  he  was  a  persecutor  of  the  Protestants  during  Queen 
Mary's  reign,  while  he  was  chancellor ;  but,  after  Elizabeth  came 
to  the  throne,  he  was  neverthelesss  made  archdeacon  of  Peterbo- 
rough.'^^ 


THE  REIGN  OF  ELIZABETH. 

To  Cecil,  lord  Burleigh,  is  due  the  merit  of  having  discovered, 
and  called  to  the  service  of  his  country,  the  abilities  of  Sir  Fran- 
cis Walsingham ;  who,  at  the  age  of  22  years,  was  returned  to 
Parliament  for  Banbury  in  the  1st  Eliz.  (1558-9).  To  the  suc- 
ceeding Parliament  (5th  Eliz.),  Walsingham  was  again  chosen  for 
Banbury,  and  also  for  Lyme.  He  took  his  seat  for  Lyme,  and 
Owen  Brereton  Esq.  was  chosen  in  his  stead  for  Banbury.-^ 

The  following  items  occur  among  the  Corporation  accounts  for 
1563:— 

"  The  Chargs  of  the  Leyte  Dynn's v"  —      — 

The  Clrqks  of  the  Courts  Wags    —     xxs     — 

The  Srgyant  Wags —  xxvjs  viije^ 

The  Clarks  gowne    —  xxs     — 

The  Srgyant  leuerey    —  xxs     — 

The  Chargs  for  mendyng  the  Courte  housse  the  brede^ 

crosse   the   tomreU  the  pynfold  &   the  towne   bosshell   &  >v''  iiijs    vnjd 

cheyne  &  the  stoks  in  the  Court  Hall J 

Itm  for  bakyng  of  Venyson  that  Mast'  Fynes  sent 

Itm  for  Venyson  that  Mast  Cope  sent     

Itm  for  Venyson  sent  by  Masf  Wodhull    —  xls      — 

Itm  to  Masf^  Cowp'  hys  fe —  xls      — 

Itm  to  Masf  Louet  hys  fee    —  X5     — " 

In  the  6th  Elizabeth  the  following  local  Regulations  were  es- 
tablished : — 

(27)  Book  of  accounts  &c.,  preserved  by  the  present  Town  Clerk.  The  handwriting  of 
the  above  is  apparently  of  the  time  of  Mary ;  and  the  document  immediately  follows  the 
By-Laws  of  her  reign. 

(28)  Wood's  Athenaj. 

(29)  Willis's  Notit.  Parliament.  It  has  been  said  of  Walsingham  that  "  he  knew  how 
to  be  grave  or  facetious,  could  laugh  with  Henry  IV.  of  France,  and  quote  Greek  and  Latin 
authors  with  James  VI.  of  Scotland.  He  was  so  far  from  raising  a  fortune,  that  he  spent 
his  patrimony  in  the  service  of  the  public  ;  and  was  buried  in  the  night,  at  the  expense  of 
his  friends,  who  were  apprehensive  that  his  corpse  might  be  arrested  for  debt." — Granger. 


LOCAL  REGULATIONS.  231 

"ORDERS  AND  PAINES  establyshed  made  and  confyrmed  by  tlie 
Grett  Inqueste  of  &  for  oui-  Sou'ane  Lady  the  Queue  within  the  Touno 
and  Borowe  of  Banbury  to  be  obs'ued  and  kept  for  eu'  establyshed  ii. 
greed  vppon  the  xxiiij  day  of  Aprell  1564  Anno  R'  R'  Elizabethe  n'nc 
Regine  Anglie  &c  sexto." 

1st.  "  For  setting  op-?  "  Fyrste  we  doo  order  &,  decree  that  no  man 
pon  of  Shope  Wyndowes^  nor  woman  of  what  dedre  or  occupatyon  so  eu' 
thay  be  wythin  the  p'cyncts  of  thys  lyb'ty  shall 
vppon  the  Sabot  Day  or  other  festyuall  day  sett  oppe'  any  ther  shope  or 
shoppe  wyndowes  to  vse  ope'  hying  or  sellyng  nether  vse  wythin  ther 
housses  any  kynd  of  syenes  labor  or  manuall  occupatyon  other  then  the 
lawes  of  thys  realme  wyll  p'myte  but  eu'y  man  &  woman  to  cu'  to  the 
churche  in  tjnne  of  devyne  s'uyc'  vppon  payne  eu'  man  fonde  defectyvo 
to  forfyte  &.  pay  for  eu'y  offence  iij.9  iiij«?  hauyng  no  ressonable  excuse 
lawfully  prouyd  the  oone  halfe  of  wyche  forfett  or  forfytures  to  remayno 
&  be  leuyed  to  the  vse  of  the  Chamb'  of  the  seyd  corporatyon  &  the  other 
halfe  to  be  leuyed  &  payed  to  the  relene  of  the  pore  people." 

2nd.  The  next  item  is; — "  For  vittelers  sellyng  ayle  or  other  vitall  in 
tyme  of  devyne  s'uyce."     The  sale  is  forbidden  on  pain  as  above. 

3rd.  The  3rd  item  is  "  For  takyng  of  inmates."  "  No  inhahyt'  to  re- 
cyue  into  his  house  any  inmate  or  und'  tenente  wythe  owte  lycense  of  the 
Bayly  &  Justyce  of  the  Peace  on  payne  of  foi-fytyng  vjs  vi'ijd  &  to  have 
ij  days  of  impressonement  and  any  person  keepyng  any  inmate  or  imd' 
tenente  nott  lysoned  aboue  xij  days  nott  only  to  forfyte  xls  but  to  loose 
his  fredom  &  lyb'ty  of  the  Toune  for  eu'  after  except  on  new  redemcyon." 

4th.  "  For  the  Clen-^  "  Itm  Wee  do  establyshe  &  order  that  the 
sing  of  the  P'sones  Vinhabyt's  dwellynge  betwene  the  northe  barre 
Layne.  )  &  the  nether  end  of  the  P'sones  Layne  estwarde 

&  also  the  Fermor  of  the  P'sonege  shall  yerly 
dense  ther  stretes  &  the  grounds  afore  ther  dores  yerly  a  fore  the  feest 
of  Est'  &  the  same  so  clensed  the  fylthe  therof  to  be  caryed  awey  yerly 
a  fore  the  feest  of  the  Assencyon  &  so  eu'y  yere  quart'ly  to  be  clensed 
&  caryed  awey  vppon  payne  eu'y  man  defectyve  for  eu'y  offynce  to  loose 
forfyte  &  pay  iijs  iujd  And  the  lyke  ord's  &  paynes  to  be  for  all  other 
streetes  in  the  towne." 

5th.     The  fifth  item  is  against  laying  wood  in  the  streets. 

6th.  "  For  the  iiij  pla- \  "Itm  we  doe  establyshe  &  decrey  that  ther 
ces  for  laying  of  dong.  J  shalbe  no  fylthe  nor  dong  layed  wythin  any 
strete  wythin  the  lyb'tys  of  the  tovne  or  layne 
but  in  foure  places  here  mencyoned  &  appoynted  that  ys  to  sey  the  fyrste 
in  Sent  Jones  Strett  ou'  agaynst  the  house  where  the  wyff  of  Hewe 
Slee  no  we  dwellythe  the  second  a  gaynst  a  closse  latly  Jone  Wyb 'tones 
in  the  Northe  Barre  Strete  the  thurd  wyth  owte  colle  barre  on  the  est 
syde  xx'i  fooyte  frome  the  barre  &  the  forthe  so  what  be  nexthe  the  housse 
where  Will'm  P'kyns  dwelleth  in  &  xij  foyte  frome  the  hey  wey  &  he  that 
dothe  the  contrary  to  forfyt  &  pay  for  eu'y  offence  xijd." 

7th.  Against  laying  "  fylthe  or  dong  wythin  the  Scaldynge  Layne." 

8th.  "  For  clensing  the  bochers  sham  pulls  &  eu'  wyke  to  carry  a  wey 
the  fylth." 

9th.  "  That  no  man  shall  ley  in  soke  nor  washe  any  felts  in  Charwell 
nor  throw  in  pelts  into  the  wat'  wythin  xx*"  foyte  of  the  brege." 

10th.  "  Itm  we  do  order  that  no  man  shall  ley  any  caryen  or  empty 
any  p'uy  or  Jakes  in  the  Goose  Leysew  or  els  where  in  any  place  within 
the  p'sycts  of  this  tovne  but  shall  bury  the  same  vi  foyte  wythin  the 
grouude  vppon  payne  eu'y  man  offendyng  to  loose  forfyte  &  pay  for  eu'y 
tyme  vjsvujd." 

11th.  This  item  declares  "  Where  shepe  pennes  shall  be  sett ;"  namely, 
frome  the  est  syde  of  Mast'  Hartlett  yate  where  Thom's  NecoU  now  or 
late  dwellyde  eestward  and  frome  the  est  corn'  of  Bartyl  Ekelfeld  housse 
westward." 


232  LOCAL  REGULATIONS. 

12th.  Regulates  the  price  of  pens.  No  man  "  shall  take  for  the  lyngth 
of  an  hurduU  nott  on'  &  aboue  yl  &  on  holly  thursday  corpus  x'ri  daye 
&  eu'y  fayre  day  nott  above  iiijrf  for  a  pen  ;"  on  pain  of  forfeiting  xijrf. 

13th.  Strangers  bringing  sheep  to  sell  to  put  them  in  the  pens  (if  any 
be  empty)  ;  on  pain  of  forfeiting  iiijcl  for  every  sheep. 

14th.  That  no  person  "  shall  sett  any  ryke  or  houell  wythe  fui-ses 
fagotts  strawe  or  corne  but  in  such  places  as  shalbe  thought  most  meyte 
by  the  I3ayly  &  Justyce  of  the  Peace  as  well  for  the  save  garde  of  the 
own's  as  other  ther  neyburs." 

15th.  "  The  Mylne  Layne  yerely  before  the  feeste  of  Est'  "  to  be 
"  clensed  vpon  payne  of  xxd  "  for  every  defaulter. 

16th.  "The  lyke  payne  we  make  &  order  for  the  Scaldyng  Layne  & 
all  other  laynes  &  stretts  where  people  co'molly  travell." 

17th.  "For  selling)  "  Itm  we  order  &  decree  that  noo  inhabyt 
of  egges.  /  wythin  the  tovn  shalby  any  egges  to  sett  in  ther 

wyndowes  or  other  wyse  to  sell  owte  of  ther 
hoiisses  neyther  by  smaylle  or  grett  but  Inkep's  &  other  Vytel'ers  admyt- 
ted  to  kepe  vyttelynge  housses  &  to  spend  them  in  ther  housses  upon 
payne  eu'y  man  defectyve  to  loose  &  pay  for  evi'y  tyme  vjs  viijc/." 

18th.  "  For  mend-")  "  Itm  wee  doo  order  &  constytute  that  the 
yngetheGrattesabowte  >Farm'  of  the  P'sonage  shall  yerly  &  at  all  tymes 
the  Churche  yerd.  j  &  frome  tyme  to  tyme  repayre  amend  &  mey- 

teyne  the  grattes  a  bowte  the  Churche  Yerde  in 
good  ord'  &  in  thos  places  here  to  fore  of  ancyent  tyme  vsed  &  in  suche 
lyke  sorte  as  all  people  may  have  safe  passage  to  the  Churche  &  at  all 
tymes  may  be  a  lawfull  defence  to  kepe  furthe  Swyne  &-  other  vndecent 
cattell  vppon  payne  of  xl?  for  eu'y  thre  wykes  lyinge  &  knowne  in  de- 
faute  for  lake  of  amendcment  as  is  afore  seyd." 

19th.  "The  Cuttelbroke  shall  yerely  be  clensed  frome  the  housse 
wherin  John  Wysdom^"  nowe  dwellyth  in  to  the  housse  wherein  Will'm 
Hancoke  dweUythe  at  the  costes  and  charges  yerly  of  the  inhabyt's  dwel- 
lynge  on  the  northe  syde  of  the  same  broke  &  the  fylthe  there  furthe 
yerly  to  be  caste  on  the  northe  syde  of  the  same  Brouke." 

20th.  "  That  the  same  Cuttelbrouke  betwene  the  northe  barre  &  the 
house  that  John  Wysdom  dwelleythe  in  shall  yerely  be  clensed  at  the 
coste  &  charges  of  the  inhabyt's  dwellynge  in  Banbviry  &  whosse  groundes 
ar  adjoynynge  to  the  same  &  that  no  man  shall  turne  the  same  Brouke 
of  Wat'  owte  or  furthe  of  the  ryght  coursse  except  lycense  obteyned  of 
the  leyte  &  not  hurtfull  to  the  brouke  vppon  payne  for  eu'y  defauyt  vjs 
vujd." 

21st.  That  "  Ther  shall  no  hogges  goo  abrode  wythin  the  market  place 
nor  in  any  strette  wherein  market  ys  kept  vppon  the  market  day  rynged 
or  unrynged." 

22nd.  That  "no  man  shall  swepe  ther  gutt's  in  to  the  Cuttelbrouke  or 
caste  any  fylthe  in  to  the  same  nor  sufFure  any  geyse  or  doukes  to  goo 
in  the  same  brouke  nor  shall  sett  any  honey  barelles  or  other  vessell  in 
souke." 

23rd.  That  "  no  man  shall  lett  ther  hogges  goo  abroade  in  any  p'te  of 
the  Toune  vmrynged  nor  no  swyne  nor  geese  to  goo  wythin  the  Churche 
Yerde." 

24th.  That  "nether  Inkep'  Vytteler  or  any  other  man  dwellynge 
wythin  the  p'syncts  of  this  tovn  shall  receyue  or  loge  in  ther  housses  ether 
begg'  or  vagrant  p'sone  wytheowte  lycense  of  the  offyc's  vppon  payne 
eu'y  man  defectyue  to  pay  for  eu'y  tyme  iijs  injd  &  to  have  ij  days  of 
impressonment. ' ' 

25th.  That  "No  Inhold' "  or  other  man  should  suffer  any  "  prentes 
or  chyld  "  to  play  at  any  unlawful  games,  or  spend  their  masters'  or  pa- 
rents' goods ;  or  receive  of  them  any  kind  "  of  ware  for  ther  expences 
or  vyttell;"  on  pain  of  forfeiting  vj.?  viiifZ  and  to  have  two  days'  imprison- 
ment. 

(30)  Probably  the  present  Plough  Inn. 


LOCAL  REGULATIONS.  233 

Under  the  same  penalties,  no  innliolder  or  other  man  shall  suffer  to 
come  within  his  house  "any  jurneyman  or  couen'nte  s'uant  to  play  at 
any  vnlawfull  gaymes." 

No  man  (innkeepers  excepted)  to  sell  "ayle  or  vyttell,"  unless  bound 
in  recognisance. 

26th.  "  Yt  ys  agreed  that  no  man  shall  sell  any  charcolle  a  boue  iujd 
the  stryke,"  on  pain  of  forfeiting  2s. 

27th.  "  Vynten'  [Vintners]  shall  sell  ther  wyne  in  mesures  sysed  & 
seled." 

28th.  "  All  that  ether  sell  hony  or  oyle  shall  have  ther  messures  sysed 
&  selled." 

29th.  "  That  all  the  coman  Brewers  shall  kepe  ther  assyse  geuen  them 
wykly  by  the  Bayly  or  his  depute  &  shall  make  bothe  ther  ayle  &  drynk 
good  &  holsome  for  mans  body  &  well  &  sufFycyent  harmed  and  nether 
dense  furthe  ther  ayle  nor  drynk  tyll  the  tasters  have  tasted  &  alowed  yt 
upon  payne  for  eu'y  offence  vjs  viijrZ." 

30th.     Sets  forth  the  duties  of  the  Tasters. 

31st.  "For  a  sawcy\  "  Itm  we  do  order  that  no  sawcy  beche  shall 
beche.  /  goa  abrode  wythin  tlie  p'synctes  of  this  tovne 

upon  payne  of  iijs  iiij^Z." 

32nd.  "For  frey  &\  "Itm  that  what  man' of  p'sone  or  p'sones  so 
blod.  /  eu'    dothe    make   any    frey   or   drawethe   blode 

shalbe  comytted  to  warde  &  ther  to  remayne 
vnto  suche  tyme  as  the  p'te  who  made  the  fray  to  pay  for  the  frey  iijs  uijd 
&  yf  ther  be  bloude  di'auen  for  the  blonde  shede  vjs  viijtZ,  &  the  wepon 
forfytted  wherwythe  the  frey  or  bloude  was  made  with  the  offer  in  tryall 
of  the  offend'  to  be  juged  by  the  ij  constables  &  iij  thythingmen,"  &c.  &c. 

33rd.  All  property  which  had  found  a  watchman  within  40  years  to 
continue  to  find  the  same. 

34th.  "That  no  Jernemayn  except  he  be  a  freeman  shall  kepe  eney 
staylle  or  standynge  place  vpon  the  m'ket  or  fayre  day  beneythe  Roger 
Jacksones  standynge  vpon  payne  of  iijs  n'ljd." 

35th.  "Itm  all  thos  that  bryngeth  any  peres  aples  or  other  frute  to  sell 
shall  stand  &  make  saylle  thereof  ou'  agaynst  Mast'  Longes  housse  next  to 
the  well  ou'  &  agaynst  Will'm  Hylles  housse  &  in  no  other  place." 

3Gth.  "All  the  Bochers  &  Chandelers  to  obs'ue  &  kepe  the  pryces  of 
talowe  &  candell  sett  by  the  Bayly  beynge  clarke  of  the  Markett." 

37th.  That  "  ther  shalbe  no  stalles  of  fyshe  but  in  the  place  now 
apoynted  ou'  agaynst  mast'  Longes  house  &  that  the  place  for  fyshemong's 
be  not  forstalled  by  any  other  stalle  or  standyng  &  that  no  fysher  stalle 
nether  Strang'  or  townes  man  any  nether  the  Crosse  on  the  south  syde 
than  Will'm  Longes  housse  &  on  the  northe  syde  the  shope  of  Thomas 
Longe." 

38th.  "  No  woode  or  nowance  "  to  be  laid  from  the  house  of  Thomas 
Louge  to  the  garden  in  the  occupation  of  Robert  Pope." 

S9th.  That  "  No  man'  of  p'son  shall  feche  leed  or  cary  any  donge  or 
mucke  furthe  of  the  tovn  but  betwene  the  fyrst  day  of  May  &  the  feest 
of  Sent  Michell  tharckangell."^^ 

The  Town  Seal  of  Banbury  is  entered  in  the  Heralds'  Visita- 
tations  of  1566^2  and  1574^^  (see  Plate  26,  fig.  2).  The  follow- 
ing arms  are  stated  by  Browne  Willis^^  to  have  been  taken  by  the 
Corporation,  but  at  what  date  is  not  mentioned  : — Az.  the  Sun  in 
glory  Or  (see  Plate  26,  fig.  3) ;  and.  On  a  Mount  Vert  a  Lily  Arg. 
In  base  the  letters  B  A  (see  Plate  26,  fig  4). 

(31)  Book  of  accounts  &c.  preserved  by  the  present  Town  Clerk. 

(.32)  Harl.  MS.,  1097.  (33)  Harl.  MS.,  109-5.  (31)  Notit.  Pari. 

2  G 


234  BY-LAWS  OF  THE  CORPORATION. 

The  Corporation  made  some  new  Bj'-Laws  on  the  2nd  Sept., 
1573.  (15th  Eliz.) 

ABSTRACT  OF  THE  BY-LAWS  OF  THE  CORPORATION,  15th  Eliz. 

The  choice  of  Bailiff.  On  the  morrow  after  St.  Matthew  the  Apostle 
the  Common  Council  shall  repair  to  the  common  hall,  and  the  bailiff  shall 
call  to  him  the  justice  and  two  other  aldermen,  who  shall  name  two  al- 
dermen to  stand  for  the  office  of  Bailiff;  who  shall  be  approved  by  the 
remainder.  And  then  "  the  sayd  baylyf  to  goe  fo'most  havinge  the 
S''iant  at  Mace  afore  him  w**"  his  mace  on  his  right  shoulder  And  aft' 
the  baylyf  shall  folow  the  justyce  and  next  after  the  same  two  elect  shall 
go  together  and  then  all  the  rest  of  the  sayd  Aldermen  and  Burgesses 
in  their  auncyentye  to  accompanye  the  baylyf  to  his  howse  and  then  to 
depart  for  that  tyme."  And  on  Michaelmas  day  following  "the  Alder- 
men and  Burgesses  of  the  sayd  burrow  together  wth  the  said  two  elect 
shall  betwene  twelve  and  one  of  the  clock  in  the  aft'  noone  of  the  same 
day  repayre  vnto  the  baylyf  his  howse  then  beinge  w*hin  the  same  bur- 
rowe  and  ther  decentlye  arayed  w**"  gownes  and  capps  and  oth''  comly  ap- 
parayle  in  sage  and  dyscreet  manner  shall  make  their  aboade  vntyll  the 
sayd  bayliff  shalbe  redye  to  go  to  the  sayd  election  and  then  in  lyke  man- 
ner according  to  their  auncyentye  and  degrees  in  offyce  to  accompany  the 
same  baylyfe  from  his  howse  vnto  the  churche  and  from  thence  to  the 
sayd  co'mon  hall  and  the  offycer  called  the  S'iant  at  mace  for  the  sayd 
burrowe  shaU  go  before  the  sayd  baylyf  in  a  longe  gowne  havinge  tlie 
one  end  of  his  mace  in  his  hand  the  other  leanynge  vpon  his  ryght  shoul- 
der." The  two  aldermen  elect  having  retired  to  an  inner  chamber,  the 
paper  of  their  election  being  produced,  the  Bailiff,  Aldermen  and  Bur- 
gesses present  were  severally  to  set  "  prycks  "  against  the  name  of  him 
they  would  have  to  be  Bailiff.  The  two  aldermen  being  then  brought  to 
the  bar,  "the  Stewarde  or  Town  Clarke  to  go  to  the  barr  and  takynge 
the  ald''man  to  whom  most  voyces  shall  chaunce  to  be  gyven  by  the  hand 
shall  brynge  him  to  the  Clarkes  table  vpon  which  standynge  the  ould 
baylyf  shall  pronounce  to  him  his  election  and  therevpon  the  Steward  or 
Town  Clarke  shall  gyve  him  his  othe  and  then  the  ould  baylyf  in  takynge 
him  by  the  hand  shall  gyve  him  his  place  &  delyu'  vp  his  mace  and  wysh 
him  good  successe  in  his  offyce  and  all  the  howse  shall  say  Amen." 

Then  follow 

The  Bailiffs  oath  of  office  ; 

Penalties ; 

Elections  in  case  of  death  ;  &c. 

In  respect  that  the  Bailiff  "  is  to  be  a  lanthorne  in  good  vsage  and  order 
as  well  to  all  the  rest  of  his  brethren  as  to  the  whole  comynalty  of  the 
sayd  boroughe  therfore  the  sayd  baylyf  shall  well  and  decently  behave 
himself  in  all  degrees  and  indyfferently  and  ryghtlye  fudge  and  deale 
towards  all  men  of  the  same  borowe  accordynge  to  the  ryght  of  the  cause 
and  so  lykewyse  shalbe  comelye  attyred  in  apparayle  aft'"  a  comelye  sage 
and  dyscreet  order  and  alsoe  at  all  socli  tyme  as  he  shalbe  occatyoned  to 
go  into  the  said  towne  or  the  p'ambulac'on  of  the  same  ether  on  the 
fayre  dayes  markett  dayes  or  anye  other  tymes  and  about  the  exec 'on  of 
his  offj'ce  or  togayth'  with  his  brethren  touchinge  anye  affayres  or  busy- 
nes  of  the  sayd  boroughe  he  shall  have  on  his  gowne  and  in  lyke  manner 
when  it  shall  fortune  the  sayd  baj^lyf  to  accompanye  anye  noble  or  wor- 
shipfull  wt'^in  the  sayd  towne  and  in  all  the  sayd  doinge  he  shall  have  the 
S''iant  at  Mace  to  be  attendant  vpon  him  with  his  mace." 

At  all  meetings,  "  and  evrye  Sonday  and  holyday  at  the  Church  we  the 
said  Aldermen  and  Burgesses  and  our  successors  and  eu'ye  of  vs  shall 
have  and  weare  a  longe  gowne  and  capp  vpon  payne  eu'ye  one  of  vs  "  to 
forfeit  for  every  offence  iij«  iiij(7. 

"Yt  shall  be  lawful  for  the  sayd  baylyf  justyce  aldermen  &  burgesses. 


GREVILE  OF  DRAYTON.  235 

or  the  more  part  of  them  by  agreement  to  remove  soch  obstynate  p'son 
from  their  companye  and  neverthelesse  to  comytt  soch  p'son  for  his  sayd 
contempte  to  the  co'mon  Gaoyle  of  the  Towne  there  to  remaine  by  soch 
space  as  shalbe  thought  convenyent  and  meet  for  his  contumacye." 

Aldermen  and  Burgesses  not  to  inhabit  out  of  the  Borough.  Inhabi- 
tants shall  not  be  sued  by  inhabitants  in  actions  cognizable  under  the 
letters  patent  except  in  the  borough  courts. 

"  All  manner  of  freemen  as  well  resyant  w^'in  the  sayd  boroughe  as 
w'hout  "  to  keep  the  orders  of  the  "Common  Counsayle,"  as  well  touch- 
ing the  order  of  "  Companyes  of  Craftesmen  "  as  other  matters;  "and 
eu'ye  of  them  that  shall  openly  or  secretly  dyspyse  dysdayne  resyst  or 
dei^rave  the  same  beinge  thereof  duely  convicted  by  examynac'on  before 
the  sayd  comon  covmsayle  or  the  more  part  of  them  to  forfett  and  pay 
soch  fyne  as  shalbe  taxed  and  seased  by  the  sayd  com'on  coimsayle  and 
also  suffer  one  dayes  emprysonm'  w'hout  bayle  or  maynpryse." 

"All  and  eu'ye  p'son  and  p'sons  beinge  of  the  Com'ynalty  free  or  not 
free  that  shall  wyllingly  advysedlye  malyciously  and  slanderouslye  rayse 
vp  speake  talke  wryte  synge  or  say  any  false  report  of  or  agaynst  the 
sayd  co'mon  counsayle  or  anie  of  them  for  acte  or  actes  thinge  or  thinges 
done  or  sayd  spoken  or  declared  by  them  or  anye  of  them  syttinge  in 
co'mon  counsayle  for  the  sayd  boroughe  or  syttinge  in  place  of  iustyce 
in  the  court  of  recorde  or  leet  or  other  court  of  the  sayd  boroughe  or  yf 
that  any  soch  p'son  or  p'sons  of  the  com'ynaltye  shall  rayse  p'nounce  or 
declare  by  speakinge  wrytinge  or  synginge  or  otherwyse  anye  soch  matter 
abovesayd  upon  report  of  anye  other  p'son  or  p'sons  and  beinge  requyred 
to  dysclose  the  same  p'son  and  wyll  not  then  the  same  p'son  so  reportinge 
soch  talke  to  be  taken  for  the  pryncypall  speaker  of  the  sayd  slavmderous 
talke  vntyll  he  shall  playnly  showe  his  auc'tor  and  neu'thelesse  as  well 
eu'ye  soch  p'son  and  p'sons  so  raysing  up  anye  slanderous  talke  as  also 
eu'ye  soch  p'son  and  p'sons  that  shall  upon  report  declare  the  same  and 
wyll  not  vtter  his  auc'tor  (beinge  of  the  same  offences  or  anye  of  them 
duely  convicted  by  examynac'on)  to  haue  and  suffer  soch  fyne  taxed 
vpon  him  them  and  eu'ye  of  them  as  by  the  sayd  co'mon  counsayle  or 
the  more  part  of  them  shall  be  thought  meete  and  neverthelesse  for  his 
and  their  contempt  to  be  comytted  to  prysonn  there  to  remayne  for  the 
space  of  three  dayes  w"^out  bayle  or  maynprise  wch  sayd  fyne  and  fynes 
and  eu'ye  of  them  to  be  levyed  by  attachm't." 

Two  Wardens  or  Masters  to  be  yearly  chosen  by  every  Company. 

Foreigners,  before  being  admitted  freemen,  to  compound  with  the  Com- 
pany whereof  they  mean  to  be  to  pay  to  the  "  Chamberlain  xijd  &  to  the 
S'"iant  vjf?."35 

Liiclovick  Grevile,  the  descendant  of  the  Greviles  of  Dray- 
ton mentioned  in  p.  174,  was  lord  of  the  manor  of  Drayton  in 
the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  having  succeeded  to  the  estate  at 
the  age  of  22  years.  In  the  9th  Eliz.  he  obtained  from  the  Queen 
permission  to  erect  a  castle  at  Milcot  in  Warwickshire  ;  and  by 
this  and  other  expenses  he  greatly  injured  liis  fortune.  To  recruit 
his  finances,  he  formed  a  design  upon  the  estate  and  life  of  one 
Webb,  a  wealthy  bachelor,  who  had  been  his  servant,  and  was 
then  the  occupier  of  his  Drayton  estate.  Ludovick  Grevile  in- 
vited his  victim  to  a  merry-making,  at  his  residence  at  Seasoncot 

(35)  The  copy  of  the  By-Laws  which  is  contained  in  the  Book  of  accounts  &c.  preserved 
by  the  present  Town  Clerk,  was  afterwards  altered  and  interlined  in  order  to  adapt  the 
same  to  the  Charter  of  James  the  First. 

2  g3 


236  GREVILE  OF  DRAYTON. 

in  Gloueestersliire  ;  and  then  hired  two  of  his  servants  to  strangle 
his  visitor  in  bed.  The  murder  being  thus  perpetrated,  it  was 
given  out  that  Webb  was  sick  and  apparently  in  danger ;  the 
parson  was  sent  for  to  make  his  will ;  and  one  of  the  murderers 
was  put  into  the  bed,  with  the  curtains  drawn  close,  where  he 
continued  moaning,  to  enact  the  part  of  a  djing  man.  The  will 
which  was  thus  fabricated  bequeathed  the  whole  of  Webb's  pro- 
perty to  his  former  master  Ludovick  Grevile  ;  with  the  excep- 
tion of  one  legacy,  which  was  given  to  an  attorney  in  Banbury, 
whose  mouth  "  thereby  being  stopt,"  it  was  supposed  that  no  one 
else  was  likely  to  interfere  about  either  Webb's  life  or  property .^"^ 
A  report  was  then  spread  that  Webb's  sickness  increased  ;  and 
next  that  he  died. 

The  above  representation  appears  to  have  met  with  credit,  until 
one  of  the  mm'derers  talked  indiscreetly  of  the  affair,  when  "in 
his  cups  "  in  a  publick  house  at  Stratford  upon  Avon,  where  he 
stated  that  "  he  could  hang  his  master."  Hereupon,  fearful  of  a 
discovery,  Grevile  sent  oiit  the  two  murderers  on  a  dark  night 
on  pretended  business,  with  secret  instructions  to  the  less  talkative 
of  the  two  that  he  was  to  murder  the  other.  This  second  dia- 
bolical act  was  committed,  and  the  body  was  thrown  into  a  pit 
of  water  ;  but,  it  being  afterwards  discovered,  and  the  assassin 
confessing  his  guilt,  both  master  and  man  were  tried  for  their 
crimes  at  Warwick.  Grevile,  desirous  to  prevent  the  loss  of  his 
lands,  refused  to  plead  to  the  indictment,  and  was  consigned  to 
the  fate  then  decreed  in  such  cases :  he  received  judgment  to  be 
pressed,  and  suffered  death  accordmgly.^^ 

Anthony  Cope  Esq.  was  chosen  representative  for  Banbury  in 
the  Parliament  which  met  in  the  13th  Eliz.  (1571)  ;  and  also  in  all 
the  succeeding  Parliaments  of  Elizabeth,  except  that  of  the  27th 
year  of  her  reign  (1585),  when  Richard  Ferris  (Fenys  or  Fiennes) 
Esq.  was  returned.^*^  This  Richard  Fenys  was  descended  from 
James  de  Fenys,  lord  Saye  and  Sele,  who  was  beheaded  by  Cade's 

(36)  Wood's  MS.,  8474. 

(37)  Wood's  MS.,  8474.  Edward,  sou  and  heir  of  this  Ludovick  Grevile,  succeeded  to 
the  lordships  which  had  belonged  to  his  father.  In  his  younger  years,  this  Edward  Grevile, 
when  shooting  with  a  long-bow  upright,  discharged  an  arrow  which  fell  on  his  elder  bro- 
ther's head  and  killed  him.  The  father,  Ludovick,  was  so  little  properly  sensible  of  tlie 
event,  that  he  made  a  jest,  telling  Edward  that  it  was  the  best  shot  he  had  made  in  his  life. 
Edward  Grevile  was  afterwards  knighted:  he  married  Joan,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas 
Bromley,  chancellor  of  England ;  but,  being  much  involved  in  debt,  he  sold  his  estate ; 
and,  having  only  daughters  surviving  him,  the  elder  branch  of  the  family  of  the  Greviles 
of  Drayton  and  Milcot  became  extinct. — Brydges's  Collinss  Peerage. 

(38)  Willis's  Notit.  Pari. ;  &c. 


FIENNES,  LORD  SAYE  AND  SELE.  237 

rebels  (see  pp.  174,  175)  ;  aud  he  was  tlie  first  of  the  family  that 
regaiuecl  the  title  after  the  death  of  William  lord  Saye,  the  son 
of  that  nobleman.  In  1595  he  is  styled  Sir  Richard  Fenys 
knight ;  and  in  the  same  year  (37th  Eliz.)  the  castle  of  Banbury 
was  leased  by  the  Queen  to  his  three  cliildren,  then  minors. ^^  In 
1603,  James  the  First  revived  in  his  person  the  barony  of  Saye 

(39)  The  original  lease  is  in  the  possession  of  the  Hon.  T.  W.  Twistleton  Fiennes.  This 
instrument  grants  "  to  our  beloved  William  Fenys  the  son  of  the  aforesaid  Richard  Fenys 
knight  and  Ursula  Fenys  and  Elizabeth  Fenys  daughters  of  the  aforesaid  Richard  Fenys 
knight  All  that  our  Castle  of  Banbury  with  all  and  every  its  appurtenances  in  our  county 
of  Oxford  parcel  of  our  manor  of  Banbury  aforesaid  and  parcel  of  the  lands  and  posses- 
sions which  John  tlie  late  Earl  of  Warwick  [Duke  of  Northumberland]  lately  had  And 
before  times  parcel  of  the  possessions  which  the  bishops  of  Lincoln  held  And  all  and 
singular  houses  horse-stables  dove-houses  orchard  for  apples  gardens  wastes  leys  courts  yards 
And  one  parcel  of  land  called  the  Stew  containing  one  rood  of  land  whether  more  or  less 
and  all  other  profits  commodities  easements  and  emoluments  within  the  bounds  sight  cir- 
cuits and  precincts  of  the  same  Castle  and  Walls  of  the  same  with  the  Fosse  and  the  Banks 
beyond  the  Walls  surrounding  the  aforesaid  Castle  with  all  and  singular  our  liberties  of 
egress  and  regi-ess  with  all  appurtenances  to  the  said  Castle  belonging  or  appertaining 
Also  that  our  Hundred  of  Banbury  with  its  members  and  appurtenances  in  our  said  county 
of  Oxford  in  the  said  diocese  of  Lincoln  formerly  appertaining  and  belonging  and  parcel 
of  the  possessions  which  the  aforesaid  John  late  Earl  of  Warwick  lately  held  And  all  that 
certain  annual  Rent  of  the  aforesaid  Hundred  paid  in  the  different  villages  following 
(namely)  in  Shuttersford  9s  lOd  in  Clayton  otherwise  Claydon  8s  in  Swacliffe  13s  4d  in 
Burton  Magna  and  Burton  Parver  10s  in  Prescot  10s  in  Hardwick  12d  in  Nethrope  and 
Cowthrope  8s  within  Swacliffe  3s  in  the  Prebend  of  Banbury  6s  8d  in  Williamscot  5s  and 
in  Lee  6s  And  all  manner  of  courts  leet  views  of  frankpledge  with  all  perquisites  aud 
profits  of  the  same  Also  all  suits  at  the  Court  of  the  Hundred  aforesaid  Also  goods  and 
chattels  waifs  estrays  goods  and  chattels  of  felons  and  fugitives  and  all  other  liberties  fran- 
chises jurisdictions  profits  commodities  advantages  and  emoluments  whatsoever  in  the  Hun- 
cked  aforesaid  appertaining  or  belonging  or  within  the  Hundred  aforesaid  happening 
coming  renewing  or  being  in  as  full  and  ample  manner  and  form  as  any  Bishop  or  Bishops 
of  the  said  bishoprick  of  Lincoln  had  in  the  said  Hundred  or  as  they  had  held  or  enjoyed 
or  that  were  to  be  had  held  or  enjoyed  or  ought  or  should  be  held  and  in  the  fullest  manner 
and  form  as  they  all  and  singidar  of  them  came  to  our  hands  or  to  the  hands  of  our  well 
beloved  predecessors  Henry  the  Eighth  and  Edward  the  Sixth  fomierly  kings  of  England 
or  to  the  hands  of  either  of  them  or  to  the  hands  of  our  heretofore  beloved  sister  Mary 
formerly  queen  of  England  were  payable  or  ought  to  be  paid  as  into  our  hands  they  ought 
to  be  paid  And  all  those  Closes  or  Close  formerly  called  Castle  Orchard  lying  within  our 
lordship  of  Banbury  aforesaid  in  our  said  county  of  Oxford  with  all  its  appurtenances 
parcel  of  our  manor  of  Banbury  aforesaid  and  parcel  of  the  possession  which  the  said  John 
late  Eai-1  of  Warwick  formerly  held  there  Except  nevertheless  always  reserved  to  our  heirs 
and  successors  all  and  all  manner  of  fines  amerciaments  accruing  annually  or  from  time 
to  time  hereafter  becoming  payable  in  any  of  our  Courts  of  Record  or  to  be  taken  in  the 
Court  of  the  Hundred  aforesaid  or  before  our  Justices  of  Assize  or  our  Justices  of  the 
Peace  or  Clerk  of  our  Markets  or  in  any  ways  arising  or  happening  within  the  liberty  or 
collection  of  either  of  them  within  the  Hundred  aforesaid  Also  except  and  in  like  manner 
to  us  our  heirs  and  successors  All  those  certain  annual  rents  in  Wardington  C'otty  alias 
Cott  Cropredy  in  the  aforesaid  county  of  Oxford  being  parcel  of  certain  rents  of  the 
Hundred  of  Banbury  aforesaid  and  all  trees  woods  underwoods  mines  which  in  the  said 
premises  are,"  &c.  For  the  Castle  and  Hundred,  an  annual  rent  of  7Ss.  is  to  be  paid ; 
and  for  the  CasOe  Orchard  a  like  rent  of  40s.  The  instrument  then  goes  on — "Also  the 
said  William  Fenys  Ursula  Fenys  and  Elizabeth  Fenys  and  their  assigns  The  aforesaid 
Cdsde  of  Banbury  aforesaid  and  all  houses  edifices  moats  fosses  enclosures  shores  banks 
and  fortification  walls  and  all  necessary  reparation  of  the  premises  from  time  to  time  and 
at  all  times  necessary  which  ought  to  be  done  at  their  own  proper  expense  well  and  suffi- 
ciently shall  repair  support  sustain  cleanse  keep  and  maintain  during  the  separate  tei-ms 
aforesaid  and  so  shall  leave  the  said  premises  so  repaired  at  the  end  of  their  separate  tenns 
And  we  will  and  by  these  presents  grant  unto  the  aforesaid  William  Ursula  and  Elizabeth 
and  their  assigns  that  it  should  be  lawful  for  then  or  either  of  them  from  time  to  time  to 
take  receive  and  have  growing  on  the  said  premises  competent  and  sufficient  house-boot 
hedge-boot  plough-boot  and  cart-boot  there  and  not  elsewhere  to  be  expended  and  used 
during  the  term  aforesaid  and  that  they  shall  have  materials  in  wood  and  stone  to  be  found 
im  the  land  part  of  the  said  premises  for  the  use  and  reparation  of  the  Castle  and  house 
edifices  aforesaid,"  &c. 


238  SIR  ANTHONY  COPE :   THE  PURITANS. 

and  Sele.  He  inherited  Brougliton,  by  descent  from  William 
Lord  Saje  and  his  wife  Margaret  the  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir 
Thomas  Wickeham  (see  p.  175).  Fuller  sajs — "he  was  a  wor- 
thy gentleman,  and  bred  fellow  (being  the  founder's  kinsman)  of 
New  College  in  Oxford."     He  died  in  1612.-'» 

The  above-named  Anthony  Cope  Esq.  is  styled  of  Hanwell, 
Hardwick,  and  Grimsbury.  He  was  chosen  member  for  Banbury 
in  the  following  Parliaments  of  Elizabeth ; — the  third  Parliament 
of  Elizabeth,  in  1571  ;  the  fourth  Parliament,  in  1572  (which 
continvied  elev^en  years);  the  sixth,  in  1586;  the  seventh,  in 
1588  ;  the  eighth,  in  1592-3  ;  the  ninth,  in  1597  ;  and  the  tenth, 
in  1001.^^  This  Anthony  Cope  was  the  son  of  Edward  Cope 
before  mentioned  (p.  194,  in  note  46),  and  grandson  of  Sir  An- 
thony Cope  the  son  of  the  Cofferer."*^ 

Anthony  Cope  resided  at  Hanwell.''^  He  was  one  of  the 
leaders  of  the  early  Puritans.  On  the  27th  February  1587-8, 
after  speaking  in  the  House  of  Commons  touching  the  necessity  of 
a  learned  ministry  and  the  amendment  of  things  amiss  in  the  ec- 
clesiastical estate,  he  offered  to  the  House  a  bill  and  a  written 
book ;  the  bill  containing  a  petition  that  it  might  be  enacted,  that 
all  laws  then  in  force  touching  ecclesiastical  government  should 
be  void,  and  that  the  book  then  offered,  being  a  form  of  Com- 
mon Prayer,  and  none  other,  might  be  received  into  the  Church 
to  be  used.  The  Speaker  hereupon  interposed  that  her  Majesty 
had  commanded  the  House  not  to  meddle  with  this  matter,  and 
desired  that  it  woidd  please  the  House  to  spare  the  reading  of  the 
Book.  This  was  over-ruled  by  the  House,  and  the  Book  was 
ordered  to  be  read :  whereupon  Mr.  Dalton  observed,  that  it  was 
not  meet  to  be  read,  as  it  appointed  a  new  form  of  administration 

(40)  Fuller's  Worthies.  Sir  Richard  is  reputed  to  have  resided  at  one  period  at  his 
manor-house  at  Shutford,  some  remains  of  which  yet  exist,  the  building  having  heen  con- 
verted into  a  farm-house. 

(41)  Willis's  Notit.  Pari.  &;c.  (42)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  748. 
(43)  In  the  26th  EMzabeth  (1584),  there  is  a  lease  from  the  Crown  of  two  water  mills, 

with  appurtenances,  within  the  borough  of  Banbury,  and  the  hame  to  the  said  mills  ad- 
joining, to  Anthony  Cope  Esq.  In  the  29th  Eliz.'the  premises  are  described  as  having 
been  lately  in  decay  for  lack  of  reparations,  so  that  one  of  the  said  mills  had  fallen  down  to 
the  ground,  "  the  newe  buyldinge  wherof  together  wtb  the  repayring  of  the  other  did  coste 
the  sayd  Mr.  Cope  above  one  hundreth  marks."  Whereupon  a  new  lease  was  granted  for 
the  term  of  41  years,  on  payment  of  a  rent  and  fine  specified.  (Particulars  of  Leases  in 
the  Augmentation  Office.)  In  the  8th  James  I.  (1610),  Sir  Anthony  Cope  obtained  a  grant 
of  the  manor  of  Grimsbury,  in  the  counties  of  Oxford  and  Northampton,  with  the  water- 
mill  and  lands  as  particularly  described,  parcel  of  the  late  monastery  of  Bicester,  of  the 
yearly  value  of  .£13.  6s.  8d.  Probably  this  was  to  remove  any  doubt  which  might  arise 
on  the  validity  of  the  title,  in  consequence  of  its  having  been  forfeited  by  the  former  grantees. 
(Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  748.)  The  manor-house  at  Grimsbury  was  within  these  few  years 
an  humble  abode :  it  was  taken  down  in  1836,  and  a  new  residence  has  since  been  erected 
on  the  site  by  E.  L.  Fisher  Esq. 


SIR  ANTHONY  COPE.  239 

of  the  Sacraments  and  Ceremonies  of  the  Church,  to  the  discredit 
of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  and  the  whole  state  ;  and  he 
thought  this  deahug  would  bring  her  Majesty's  indignation  against 
the  House,  thus  to  enterprise  the  dealing  with  those  things  which 
her  Majesty  had  especially  taken  into  her  own  charge  and  direc- 
tion. Mr.  Lewkenor  spoke  next,  in  favour  of  the  motion  that 
the  Book  be  read ;  and  two  other  members,  Harleston  and  Baiu- 
brigg,  followed  on  the  same  side  :  when,  the  time  being  passed,  the 
House  broke  up.  Queen  Elizabeth  hereupon  sent  to  the  Speaker 
for  the  Petition  and  Book ;  and,  on  the  2nd  March  (after  Mr. 
Wentworth  had,  on  the  1st,  delivered  to  the  Speaker  certain  articles 
touching  the  liberties  of  the  House),  Anthony  Cope,  Lewke- 
nor, Harleston,  and  Bainbrigg,  were  sent  for  before  the  Privy 
Council,  and  committed  to  the  Tower ;  whither  Wentworth  had 
been  committed  on  the  preceding  evening.  Two  days  after,  Sir 
John  Higham  made  a  motion  in  the  House,  "that  since  several 
good  and  necessary  members  of  that  House  were  taken  from  them, 
it  would  please  them  to  be  humble  Petitioners  to  her  Majesty 
for  the  restitution  of  them  again  to  the  House."  The  Vice- 
Chamberlain  argued  against  the  motion,  and  observed  that  the 
House  would  soon  know  more  :  as  for  the  Book  and  the  Petition, 
her  Majesty,  for  good  causes  best  known  to  herself,  had  thought 
fit  to  suppress  them  without  any  farther  examination.^^  The  Five 
Members  continued  prisoners  imtil  the  dissolution  of  the  Parliament 
on  the  23rd  March. 

However,  the  Queen's  displeasure  towards  Anthony  Cope  does 
not  appear  to  have  been  lasting,  for  she  knighted  him  in  1590, 
in  which  year  he  was  also  appointed  sheriff  for  Oxfordshire — an 
office  which  he  had  before  served  in  1581-2  (24th  Eliz.).^^  In 
1601  Sir  Anthony  made  preparations  to  receive  a  visit  which  the 
Queen  intended  to  pay  him  at  Hanwell,  but  which  does  not 
seem  to  have  taken  place.^''  In  September  of  that  year,  when  the 
Queen  was  at  Caversham  at  the  seat  of  her  minister  Sir  Francis 
Knollys,  Sir  Anthony  Cope  went  there  to  wait  upon  her,  "with 
a  great  shew  and  train  of  retainers."  He  appears  to  have  been 
in  much  favour  with  James  the  First,  who  appointed  him  his  first 
liigh  sheriff  for  Oxfordshire,  on  his  accession  in  1 603  :^^  he  then 
retired  from  public  life  to  his  seat  at  Hanwell,  where  he  is  recorded 

(44)  Pail.  Hist.  Eng.,  v.  4,  pp.  314—319.  (43)  Fuller's  Worthies, 

(46)  Nichol's  Progresses  of  James  I.,  v.  1,  p.  525.  (47)  Fuller's  Worthies. 

t 


240  SIR  ANTHONY  COPE. 

to  have  kept  "  a  hospitable  house  in  the  old  English  style  "  and 
to  have  lived  beloved  and  respected  b}^  his  neighbours  and  country- 
men. Here  he  entertained  King  James  and  his  Queen  for  a  day 
and  a  night  on  the  20th  August  1605;  and  again  on  the  occasion 
of  a  second  visit,  on  the  27th  August  1612.^^  He  was  called 
from  his  retirement  to  serve  in  Parliament  for  Oxfordshire  in  the 
second  Parliament  of  James  I.,  in  1614  ;*^  and  died,  full  of  honour 
and  universally  lamented,  soon  after  its  dissolution,  in  the  same 
year.  He  had  been  created  a  baronet  on  the  first  institution  of 
that  order  in  1611,  and  had  received  from  the  King  a  grant  of 
the  dissolved  abbey  of  Brewem,  or  Bruerne,  in  this  county,  and  of 
some  oF  the  lands  of  the  dissolved  Chantry  of  St.  Mary  at  West- 
bury  in  Gloucestersliire.^"  Sir  Anthony  was  buried  at  Hanwell 
in  July  1614,^^  when  his  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  the 
celebrated  puritan  Dr.  Harris,  whom  he  had  presented  to  the 
rectory.  In  the  Church  at  Hanwell,  in  the  north  wall  of  the 
chancel,  is  a  handsome  monument,  in  the  mixed  Italian  style  of 
the  time ;  where,  partly  within  an  arch  flanked  by  Corinthian 
columns,  is  a  recumbent  effi.gy  of  Sir  Anthony  Cope,  clad  in 
armour,  carved  in  white  marble :  a  little  below  and  in  front 
is  represented,  in  the  curious  dress  of  the  day,  his  first  lady, 
Frances,  of  the  family  of  the  Lyttons  of  Knebworth  in  Hertford- 
shire (and  sister  of  Sir  Rowland  Lytton  of  Knebworth,  captam 
of  the  band  of  gentlemen  pensioners  to  Queen  Elizabeth),  who 
died  in  the  year  1600.  There  are  three  escutcheons  of  ams ;  one 
displaying  the  family  bearings  of  the  Cope  family ;  another,  "  Or, 
a  Cross  engrailed  Sab."  for  Mohun,^'  impaling  Cope :  and  the 
third.  Cope,  impaling  "  Erm.  On  a  chief  indented  Azure  three 
ducal  coronets  Or "  for  Lytton.  A  Latin  inscription  on  three 
tablets  is  as  follows  : — 

(■18)  Nichol's  Progi-esses.  (49)  Willis's  Notit.  Pari. 

(50)  Rudder's  Gloucestershire,  pp.  292,  370. 

(51)  Sir  Anthony  had  three  daughters.  The  eldest,  Anne,  married  Sir  John  Leigh,  an- 
cestor (by  a  former  wife)  of  the  now  extinct  Lords  Leigh  of  Stoneleigh.  (Register  of  Ken- 
sington; Collins's  Peerage,  1768,  v.  7,  p.  18.)  Elizabeth  married,  at  Hanwell,  Sir  Richard 
Cecil,  second  son  of  Thomas  first  Earl  of  Exeter  and  ancestor  by  her  of  the  present 
Marquis" of  Exeter.  (Register  of  Hanwell;  Collins's  Peerage,  v.  3,  pp.  119,  120.)  The 
youngest,  Mary,  married,  at  Hanwell,  Henry  Champernown,  of  Partington  in  Devonshire, 
Esq. — Register  of  Hanwell;  Playfair's  Family  Antiq. 

(52)  The  marshalling  of  this  coat  exemplifies  a  custom  of  the  heralds  of  that  age,  of 
placing  the  lady's  arms  on  the  dexter  side  of  the  shield  in  certain  cases  when  she  was  of 
high  and  noble  birtli,  or  brought  in  the  representation  of  her  own  blood  and  line  to  her 
husband's  family.  The  arms  above  noted  are  those  of  Edward  Cope  of  Hanwell  Esq.  (Sir 
Anthony's  father),  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  daughter  and  heiress  of  VV alter  Mohun  of  Wol- 
laston  in  Northamptonshire,  Esq.,  who  derived  from  a  younger  son  of  John  Lord  Mohun, 
of  Dunster  in  Somersetshire,  who  died  in  1330. 


SIR  ANTHONY  COPE  :— THOMAS  BRASBRIDGE.        2^1 

[first  tablet.] 

hio  lacet  sf.rvlt;   vir  vere  nobius 

antonivs  l-ope,  miles  &  baronett; 

qvi  obijt  post  qvam  conivgivm  cvm 

dvabvs  nobilissimis  vxollibvs  sanc- 

-tissime  colverat,  &  ex  earvm  altera 

gvatvdr  filios  &  tres  filias  svsceperat 

anxo  salvtis  qvidem  nostr^e 

1614. 

/■etatis  vero  sv^e  cc. 

[second  tablet.] 

EPICEDION    HONOBATISSIMI    VIRI    A.    C. 
OLIM    Ml  LITIS    &    BARONETTI 

in  effigiem. 

siccine  divinum  nobis  heroa  eeponis 

effigies?  vult  ;  siccine  et  ora  refers? 

siccine  deformis  tibi  trunc  ;   invtilis  excoes  !' 

siccine  sordebat  qvem  pia  tvrba  stvpet  ? 

ast  pallor:  prvdentl-  agis,  dvm  nocte  recondis 

dicere  qv^e  neqvevnt  marmora,  mvsa,  dies. 

at  licet  illivs  non  sis  prieconia  fando 
finge  tamen  vocem,  ac  vltima  verba  refer. 

[third  tablet.] 

effigies  ad  lectorem. 

qvj3  te  fata  manent  ex  me  vkl  disce  (viator) 

qvo  nemo  a  fatis  tvtior  esse  potest. 

est  formosa  tibi  conivtc,  nvmerosaq.  proles. 

est  domvs  &  fvndvs,  gloria,  forma,  decvs 

corporis,  ac  animi  dotes  :   prvdensq.  pivsq. 

sobbivs  &  castvs  diceris  :    esto  :  mihi 

et  conivx  pr.-eclaka  fvit,  nvmerosaq.  proles. 

et  domvs  &  fvndvs,  gloria,  forma,  decvs 

corporis,  ac  animi  dotes  :   prvdensq.  pivsq. 

siccvs  eram  &  sanvs  (si  qva  fides  popvlo 

nam  meq.  me  memorare  piget)  mors  ista  moratvr 

fjil  minvs  ;    ergo  etiah  te  tva  fata  manent 

-serivs  avt  citivs,  mors  vltima  linea  rellvm 

maemore  te  condet  ;    cespitibvsq.  teget. 

CONCLU3I0. 

QUOD    MORS    UNA    DOCET    DIXI,    DEHINC    CETERA    MITTO  :  "j  R.    H.53    yETF.RN/E 

UNA    RESURGENDI    SPESQ.    FIDESQ.    MANET  :  (  MEMORI.?; 

VNA    SALUS    CHRISTUS    DEUS    ET    PATER   VNUS,   &    UNA  t  SVMMI    VIRI 

VRNA   DOMUS    PB.S:SENS,  VNA   FUTUBA  POLUS.  J  D.    D. 

The  early  prevalence  of  Puritan  principles  in  Banbury  is  not 
e^'idenced  merely  by  the  facts  just  related,  concerning  the  part 
which  was  taken  in  Parliament  by  the  representative  of  the  town 
against  the  measures  of  the  Court.  There  is  further  proof  of 
such  principles  being  prevalent  in  some  particulars  relating  to 
the  then  Vicar  of  Banbury,  Thomas  Brasbridge.  This  per- 
son was  born,  according  to  Anthony  a  Wood,  in  Northampton- 
shire ;  but  he  himself  speaks  of  his  father's  living  at  Banbury  when 
he  was  a  child. "^*  His  birth  occurred  in  or  near  the  year  1537 
some   years   before  the   parish   register   commences.      Brasbridge 

(53)  Robertas  Harris. 

(•54)  Poore  Mans  lewell.    There  are  entries  in  the  parish  register  of  burials  of  William 
Brasbridge  on  the  25th  March  1676,  and  of  Alice  Brasbridge  on  the  22nd  April  1580. 


242  THOMAS  BRASBRIDGE. 

was  elected  demy  of  Magdalene  College,  Oxford,  at  the  age  of  16 
years,  by  the  endeavours  of  Peter  IVIorwjTig,  in  1 553  ;  and,  after 
he  had  continued  a  sedulous  student  for  some  years,  was  elected 
probationer-fellow  of  All  Souls  College  in  1558,  and  admitted  B.  A. 
on  the  18th  November  in  the  same  year.  Thence  he  returned 
to  Magdalene  College,  of  which  he  became  fellow  in  1562  ;  and 
soon  after  (Oct.  20th,  1564)  proceeding  in  arts,  he  applied  his 
mind  to  divinity  and  physic.  In  1574  he  supplicated  to  be 
admitted  to  the  reading  of  the  sentences,  but  whether  he  was  ever 
admitted  does  not  appear.^  The  next  year  he  resigned  his  fel- 
lowship ;  he  having,  says  Wood,  "  a  spiritual  cure,  or  school,  or 
both,  conferred  on  him  at,  or  near  to,  Banbury  in  Oxfordshire, 
where,  as  it  seems,  he  practised  physic."-  It  is  certain  however 
that  Brasbridge  resided  in  London  for  some  years.^  In  1581,  on 
the  19th  September,  he  was  inducted  to  the  perpetual  vicarage  of 
Banbury,  "  by  Jonas  WTieeler  schoolmaster ;  the  Bailiff  and  other 
elders  of  the  town  being  there  present  and  consenting."''  Wood 
was  ignorant  of  this  part  of  Brasbridge 's  history,  and  he  entirely 
loses  sight  of  him  in  1586.  Brasbridge  continued  to  reside  at 
Banbury  in  1592  f  but  he  ceased  to  be  vicar  in  1590,  on  grounds 
of  conscience  taken  by  the  early  Puritans.  The  following  are 
copies  of  some  original  documents  which  are  preserved  among 
Lord  Burleigh's  papers  : — ® 

"  To  ye  Righte  Honorable  and  our  very  good  Lord  the  Lord  Treasurer 
of  England  [Lord  Burleigh]  one  of  her  Maiesty  most  honorable  Privy 
Co'nsaile,  &c. 

"  Righte  honorable  whereas  Thomas  Brasebrige  many  yeares  a  preacher 
of  ye  worde  of  God,  allowed  by  the  vniu'sitye  of  Oxon  was  by  the  p'sen- 
tation  of  her  maiestye  placed  amongste  vs  for  our  pastor,  of  whose  godlye 
conu'sation  we  are  all  witnesses  :  where  also  he  haithe  paynfullye  labored 
in  his  vocation,  teachinge  vs  our  dutyes  towardes  god,  her  maiestye  and 
of  one  towardes  another:  So  it  is  (Righte  honorable)  that  ye  said  m'' 
Brasebrige  is  either  altogether  or  verie  lyke  to  be  depryved  of  ye  small 

(1)  Wood  elsewhere  says  that  Brasbridge  supplicated  to  be  admitted  B.  D.  in  1574,  but 
was  "  uot  at  all  admitted  in  this  university." 

(2)  Athente  Oxon. ;  Fasti.  Oxon.  (3)  Brasbridge's  Poore  Mans  lewell. 
(1)  Parish  Register. — "Anno   D'ni  1581. — Anno  d'ni  suprascripto  &   decimo  nono  die 

Septembris,  Thomas  Brasbrige  artium  Magister  in  pei-petuam  vicariam  de  Banburie  in- 
ductus  est  per  Jonam  Wheelerimi  Pa3dagogum  ibidem  presentibus  &:  consentientibus  Balius 
&  Senioribus  alijs  eiusdem  oppidi,  &  octauo  Octobris  proxime  sequente  dictus  Thomas 
Brasbrige  legit  Artioulos  de  confessione  fidei,  &  doctrina  Sacramentorum,  per  Episcopos  & 
alios  EcclesiiB  Anglicanse  Antistites  editos  Anno  D'ni  1562:  Hos  inquam,  (quemadmodum 
per  quondam  actum  Parliamenti  statutum  est)  Articulos  legit,  die  dominico  post  secundam 
sacrarum  literarum  lectionem,  &  eisdem  assensus  est  coram  paroecis  suis  ad  vespertinas 
preces  ibidem  congressis.    his  Testibus  Jonas  Wheeler  Mathewe  Wigget  Edward  Weston." 

(5)  Dedication  to  Poore  Mans  lewell,  2nd  edit. 

(C)  Laasdowne  MSS.,  No.  64,  lettered  "  Burghley  Papers  1590,"  in  the  Brit.  Mus. 


THOMAS  BRASBRIDGE.  243 

livinge  he  had  emongst  vs,  some  matters  of  ceremonies  beinge  prose- 
cuted against  him  by  suche  his  adversaries  of  whose  vyolence  and  wronge 
towards  him  y«  whole  contrye  haithe  harde.  In  tender  considerac'on 
wherof,  and  for  that  the  mayntenaunce  in  this  place  is  so  small  that  no 
learned  man  will  vndertake  the  same,  wherbye  we  are  lyke  to  be  ledd  by 
an  vnfitt  giiyde  :  May  it  please  yo"^  honor  yf  vpon  his  relation  of  ye 
matter  it  shall  seeme  reasonable  to  vouchsafe  vs  the  inhabitants  of  Ban- 
burye  yo""  honorable  favour  to  be  a  meanes  that  he  may  continue  amongste 
vs  his  paynfuU  function,  and  we  all  shall  make  prayers  for  so  honorable 
a  personage,  by  whom  we  haue  receaved  so  greate  a  blessinge  as  is  the 
ordinarye  winninge  of  our  soules  vnto  god. 

Your  honors  most  humbly  to   co'mand  the 

BaylifFe  Justyce,  and  other  the  inhabitants  of 

the  boroughe  and  pysh  of  Banburye." 

[To  the  foregoing  document  are  appended  95  signatures,  including  the 

autographs  of  Halhed,  Showell,  Long,  Whately,  Knight,  Wigatt,  Edens, 

WagstafFe,  Wise,  and  others  of  the  most  considerable  persons  in  the  town. 

The  paper  is  thus  endorsed: — "16  Junij   1590     The  inhabitants  of  the 

towne   of  Banbury  in  nvmber  Ixxxxv  hauing   subscribed  this  peticion 

Humbly  pray  y''  1?  honorable  fauor  for  the  contynuance  of  their  mynes- 

ter  and  a  preacher,  one  m''  Bracebridg  amongst  them,  who  is  like  to  be 

depi-iued  for  matters  of  ce.emonyes."] 

"To  ye  right  honorable,  &  my  very  good  Lord,  ye  Lord  Highe  Trea- 
surer of  England. 

"  Right  honorable,  my  duty  in  most  humble  maner  remembred,  for  as 
much  as  ye  right  honorable  S  Francis  Knowles,  hath  both  written  & 
spoken  in  my  behalfe,  (vnto  whose  honour  I  am  knowne  by  ye  credible 
reporte  of  right  worshipfull  gentlemen)  &  also  for  y*  no  small  number, 
both  rich  &  poure,  of  good  reporte,  of  ye  towne,  &  parish  of  Banbury, 
have  geven  me  a  good  co'mendation,  in  a  supplicatio'  vnto  yovu-  Lord- 
shipe;  I  am  bold  to  ti-ouble  your  honour,  w*  my  letters,  requesting  ye 
same  thing  y*  they  have  requested  :  vz.  I  being  deprived  of  ye  small 
living  I  had  at  Banbury,  yf  there  be  no  hope  to  recover  yt :  yet  at  ye 
least,  y*  I  may  by  your  honoures  meanes  be  admitted  to  p''ch  there.  My 
reason  ys  for  y*  ye  towne  &  parishe,  in  consideration  of  ye  former  paines, 
yt  for  ye  space  of  nine  yeares,  I  have  taken  amonge  them,  ar  minded  to 
maintaine  me,  whether  I  p''che,  or  p''che  not.  And  therefore  seeing  he 
y*  laboureth  not  ys  not  worthy  to  eat :  I  am  desirous  to  take  some  paines 
for  yt.  More  over  may  yt  please  your  honour  to  understand ;  th'  he  w"^ 
ys  p'sented  in  my  place,  ys  but  a  yong  scholar,  and  therfore  (vpon  cer- 
taine  knowledge  I  speake  yt)  ys  not  willing  to  p''che  often.  The  w'^h 
often  p'"ching  as  yt  ys  necessary  in  al  places,  so  especially  in  y*  place, 
because  many  recusantes  soiourn  hard  by  ye  towne ;  who  notw^tanding 
their  close  keping,  may  do  much  harmc  to  ye  parishioners,  yf  papistry 
be  not  diligently  laboured  aganst;  whervnto  many  of  ye  inhabitants  are 
to  much  enclined.  Also  yf  ye  people  shale  lacke  their  accustomed 
p''ching,  many  of  them  wil  eassily  straggle  to  other  parishes  adioyning 
2  h3 


244  THOMAS  BRASBRIDGE:— THE  PURITANS. 

to  heare  ye  word,  in  heat,  and  in  fowle  wether :  ye  W^""  will  be  no  small 
inconvenience:  especially  seing  y*  by  better  meanes,  they  also  y»  tary 
at  home,  might  at  one  instante,  together  w'  ye  residew  be  satisfied  : 
who  wold  not  willingly  be  destitute  of  their  accustomed  exercises :  the 
w'=''  sute,  y*  by  your  ho.  meanes  I  may  y^  better  obtaine,  I  promise  y*  in 
my  sei-mons  I  wil  handle  no  matters  in  controv''sy,  but  only  papistry, 
such  as  ar  condemned  by  pviblike  authority,  in  ye  church  of  England, 
and  also  y'  I  wil  by  al  godly  meanes  so  farre  as  in  me  heth  maintane 
peace  &  vnity,  w''  ye  minister  of  y«^  place,  &  al  other  p'"chers.  The 
yfch  yf  I  ^Q  not  performe,  I  submitte  myself  to  any  punishment,  what- 
soever. Thus  much  knowing  y'  your  lo.  to  no  small  encrease  of  your 
great  honour,  hath  don  good  in  y'=  like  casse,  I  was  ye  more  encouraged 
to  trouble  your  lo.  desiring  ye  lord  of  honour,  to  i/serve  you  to  his  glory, 
ye  good  of  his  church,  &  your  perpetuall  honour.  Junii  23.  1590. 
your  honours  most  humble  suppliant 

Thomas  Brasbridge." 

[The  foregoing  paper  is  endorsed  on  the  outside  as  follows  : — 

"  Mr  Bracebridg 

"  That  if  the  commendacion  geuen  'out  hym,  by  the  inhabitants  of 
Banbury,  and  the  request  of  m""  Threasorer  of  the  Howshold,  to  whom 
he  is  well  knowen,  may  not  kepe  hym  from  deprivation 

"  Yett  considering  the  towne  in  respect  of  his  former  paines  are  content 
to  give  hym  mayntenance,  preache  he  or  i)reache  he  not,  He  prayes  that 
by  y°''  Ip  good  meanes  he  may  be  permitted  to  preache,"] 

Brasbridge  lived  about  three  years  after  tlie  above  date  ;  and 
died  in  1593  at  the  age  of  56  years.^  He  becarae  best  known 
by  his  "  Poor  Man's  Jewel,  or,  a  Treatise  of  the  Pestilence,"  the 
editions  of  which,  and  those  of  his  other  known  works,  are  given 
in  a  note.'^  Nine  years  after  his  death,  the  zeal  of  the  people 
of  Banbury  in  the  cause   of  Puritanism  was  violently  shewn  by 

(7)  The  following  is  the  entry,  in  the  Register,  of  his  burial  in  November  1593: — "Tho- 
mas Brasbridge  sometimes  viccar  of  the  Church  of  Banburie  was  buried  the  11  daye." 

(8)  Brasbridge's  known  works  are: — 1.  Abdias  tlie  Prophet,  intei-preted  by  T.  B.,  fellow 
of  Magdalene  College  in  Oxforde.  Lond.  1574,  octavo.  Dedicated  to  the  Earl  of  Hun- 
tingdon:—2.  The  Poor  Man's  Jewel;  or  a  Treatise  of  the  Pestilence,  1578,  1580,  and 
1592,  small  octavo: — 3.  Questiones  in  OlBcia  M.  T.  Cicerouis,  compendiarium  totius  opus- 
culi  Epitomen  continentes,  Oxon.  1615,  octavo.  Dedicated  to  Dr.  Laur.  Humphrey, 
president  of  Magdalene  College,  an.  1586." — Wood's  Alhen<e,  &c. 

The  first  edition  of  "  The  Poore  Mans  lewell "  appeared  in  1678,  the  occasion  of  the 
treatise  being  that — "  Forasmuch  as  the  famous  citie  of  London,  (where  I  am  an  inhabitant) 
is  eftsoones  infected  with  the  dangerous  disease,  called  the  Pestilence,  to  the  hinderance  as 
well  of  them  that  are  cleere,  as  also  of  them  that  haue  the  sicknes  in  their  houses:  I 
(vnderstanding  that  the  hearbs  Carduus  Benedictus,  and  Angelica,  are  preseruatiues,  and 
medicines  for  this  and  many  other  diseases,)  haue  thought  good  to  gather  out  of  the  writings 
of  learned  Physitions,  a  Treatise  of  the  Pestilence,  annexing  thereunto  the  vertues  of  the 
said  hearbs."  A  reprint  was  published  in  1580,  while  Brasbridge  continued  in  London. 
The  second  edition  was  published  in  1592.  This  is  dedicated  "  To  the  Right  Worshipfvll 
Master  Anthony  Cope,  esquire :  and  Mistres  Francis  Cope  his  wife,"  and  is  dated  from 
"  Banburie  the  20  of  Jauuarie,  1592."  In  this  dedication,  mentioning  the  Plague  as  one 
of  the  shar]jcst  rods  wherewith  God  chastises  his  people,  Brasbridge  says — "  The  which  I 
haue  very  oftentimes  seen  whisking  about  mine  earcs :  but  through  the  great  mercie  of  God, 
it  neuer  touched  my  bodie.  The  towne  of  Banburie  (1  being  a  childe)  was  very  sore  infected 
therewith :  at  what  time  it  was  in  one  of  the  next  houses  vnto  my  father."  He  then  mentions 
the  severity  of  the  Plague  while  he  was  at  Oxford,  "so  that  all  the  students,  sauing  two. 


BANBURY  CROSS  DESTROYED.  245 

the  destruction  of  the  "goodly  Cross  "  in  1002.^  All  the  Crosses 
in  the  town  appear  to  have  been  destroyed  during  tins  period 
of  outrage ;  and  the  ornamental  parts  of  the  Church  suffered 
greatly  also.^"  The  celebrated  John  Dod,  one  of  the  greatest  and 
best  of  the  early  Puritans,  was  at  this  tinae  living  at  Hanwell, 
his  own  rectory  .^^  John  Prime,  then  deceased,  had  been  the 
Puritan  vicar  of  Adderbury,  and  obtained  note  there  as  a  preacher 
from  1589  to  1596.'^ 

The  Parish  Registers  of  Banbury  commence  in  the  first  year  of 
Elizabeth."     The  following  are  extracts  : — 

"  Anno  D'ni  1558.  This  booke  entreth  the  first  day  of  Januarie  in  the 
first  yeere  of  the  Raigne  of  our  Soueraigne  Ladie  Queene  Elizabeth  &c 
Which  representeth  all  the  Childrens  names  baptized  and  the  names  of 
such  as  hauc  beene  Maried,  and  of  such  as  haue  been  Buried  within  the 
Prebcndarie  of  Banbury." 

Aug.  1580.     "  Thomas  Moore  viccar  v/as  buried  the  18  daye." 

Jan.  1584.  "  Owen  ap  Lewes,  the  servant  of  Thomas  Dix,  beeing 
slayne  of  his  fellowe  was  buried  the  17  daye." 

Dec.  .1584.  "  William  Ostree  a  stiaur.ger  and  a  pettie  chapman  of 
small  wares  beeing  a  Shropsbeere  man  was  buried  the  9  daye." 

May  1585.  "  William  Morris  a  stravmgcr  of  Brinklowe  in  Warwick 
sheire  departed  at  the  Swan  and  was  buried  the  26  daye." 

1590.  "  Licensed  the  lOtb  of  Marchc  Humfrey  Hadley  &  his  wyfe 
for  their  extreme  grife  and  Elizabeth  Knight  new  brought  to  bed  to  eate 
fleshe  according  to  statute  for  the  daycs  appointed  &  so  fro'  time  to  time 
vntill  the  recovery  of  their  strengthe." 

Dec.  1590.  "  Thomas  the  sonnc  of  no  man  borne  of  Joyce  Dyx 
daughter  of  Thomas  Dyx  beeing  base  borne  was  christened  the  28th  day." 

Oct.  1593.  "  Josirana  Houghton  the  wife  of  Rafe  Houghton  viccar 
of  Banbiu-ie  was  buried  the  10  daye." 

Oct.  1594.  "Thomas  Bull  of  Nethrop  was  buried  in  the  Church  the 
3  daye  and  was  the  first  that  was  buried  w*  the  great  bell  whiche  was  new 
cast  at  Reading  in  Barksheir  the  18  day  of  September  before  going." 

or  three,  and  a  few  singing  men  (in  whose  lodgings  the  infection  was)  fled  into  the  countrie : 
I  being  one  that  remained :  and  in  some  sort  accompanying  the  affected.  After  that  I  dwell- 
ing at  London :  there  was  (as  diuers  yeers  togither,  so  especially  one  yeere)  a  very  great 
plague,  both  in  the  citie,  and  suburbs :  the  which  did  compasse  me  in  such  sort,  that  I 
could  not  go  out  of  mine  house,  either  at  the  fore,  or  backe  doores,  neither  on  the  right  hand, 
nor  on  the  left :  but  I  must  needs  haue  passed  by  an  infected  house,  next,  or  very  neere 
adioining  vnto  mine  owue.  Yea  both  I,  and  my  wife  had  schollers  that  fell  sicke  at  our 
feet ;  and  (as  I  may  say  in  our  laps)  who  going  home,  died,  within  two,  or  three  dales." 
Upon  this  occasion  he  published  the  first  edition  of  his  work.    "  I  am  persuaded,"  he  says, 

"  that  almightie  God  did  giue  no  smal  blessing  vnto  my  small  labor."    "  Minding 

to  print  the  booke  againe,  I  haue  thought  good  to  dedicate  it  vnto  your  worships :  as  vnto 
personages  resient  neere  vnto  my  habitation ;  as  also  vnto  whom  I  am  very  much  bound  : 
persuading  my  selfe,  that  through  your  Worships  fauor ;  the  little  booke  will  be  the  more 
generally  receiued  of  my  countrie  men."  The  Poor  Man's  Jewell  occupies  63  pages  in 
black  letter. 

(9)  Seep.  160.  (10)  See  pp.  156, 157, 160. 

(11)  He  was  the  predecessor,  at  Hanwell,  of  Dr.  Harris,  just  mentioned.  Both  are  noticed 
hereafter. 

(13)  Wood's  Athenaj.  Prime  was  the  author  of  a  Treatise  on  the  Sacraments  and  of  a 
Treatise  of  Nature  and  Grace,  besides  Sermons  and  other  works.  He  died  in  1596,  and 
was  buried  in  his  chm'ch  at  Adderbury. 

(13)  The  present  copies  of  the  early  registers  were  made  on  parchment,  from  the  ancient 
books,  by  authority,  in  the  early  part  of  James  the  First's  reign.  One  of  the  old  books 
however  remains,  eommencing  in  1580. 


246  RECTORY  OF  BANBURY:   TITHES  OF 

July  1597.  "  Wright  a  stranger  carried  from  Constable  to  Constable 
towards  Coventrie  was  buried  the  13  daye." 

"  John  Gill,  gener,  licensed  by  reason  of  his  sicknes  the  lO""  of  Marche 
1598  to  eate  fleshe  so  advrtised  by  his  Phisition  vntill  his  health  be  re- 
covered." 

"  Mawde  Wateley  licensed  according  to  statete  for  her  weakenes  to 
eate  meate  the  v''  of  Marche. 

"  In  such  sort  &  for  like  cause  haue  I  lycensed  the  same  time 

Anne  Naylor 
EUenor  Rymell 
George  Nicolls," 

July  1601.  "Ales  Yewicke  daughter  to  Richarde  Yewick  borne  beneth 
the  Castell  was  baptised  the  5th  daye." 

Jan.  1602.  Ralph  Houghton,  M.x\.,  is  mentioned  as  having  been  12  years 
vicar  of  Banbury.     His  burial  is  subsequently  recorded,  15th  Feb.  1609, 

The  Rectory  of  Banburj  and  the  Prebendal  property  had  been 

demised  to  William  Corwall ;    but  afterwards,  on  the  termination 

of    the    lease    to    Corwall,    they    were    granted,    10th    Ehzabeth 

(1567-8),  to  Richard  Fenys,  by  lease  for  21  years,  at  an  annual 

rent  of   £49.    18*.   9c?.     On  the   termination   of  the  latter  lease, 

32nd   Eliz.    (1590),   the   Queen  granted   the   said    possessions    to 

the  Bishop  of  Oxford  : — 

32nd  Eliz. — "  We  grant  to  the  aforesaid  John  bishop  of  Oxford  all  that 
our  Rectory  of  Banbury  and  our  Prebend  of  Banbury  with  all  their  rights 
members  and  appurtenances  in  the  said  county  of  Oxford  being  lately 
parcel  of  the  lands  and  possessions  of  John  late  Earl  of  Warwick  and 
by  our  letters  patent  sealed  with  our  Great  Seal  of  England  bearing 
date  the  19th  day  of  January  in  the  tenth  year  of  our  reign  demised  and 
granted  for  the  term  of  twenty-one  years  (commencing  from  the  end  or 
determination  of  a  former  demise  thereof  made  to  one  William  Corwall) 
and  in  consideration  of  the  yearly  rent  of  forty-nine  pounds  eighteen 
shillings  and  nine  pence  to  Richard  Fenys  Esq.  And  also  the  advowson 
gift  free  disposition  and  right  of  patronage  of  the  Vicarage  of  Banbury 
with  its  rights  members  and  appurtenances."^* 

In  the  30th  Elizabeth  (9th  Feb.,  1587-8),  are  letters  patent  of 

the  Queen  concerning  the   Tithes  &c.  of   Grimsbury,  Nethercot, 

and  Overthorp  ;  as  follows  : — 

"  The  Queen  unto  all  to  whom  &c.  greeting.  Know  ye  that  we  as  well 
in  consideration  of  the  manor  of  Frenchey  otherwise  Frengey  with  all  its 
rights  members  and  appurtenances  in  our  County  of  Kent  by  our  beloved 
subjects  Thomas  Fludd  of  Milgate  in  our  said  County  of  Kent  Esquire 
Henry  Brockhull  of  Aldington  Nicholas  Gylborne  of  Charinge  and  John 
Goughe  of  Mulgate  aforesaid  in  the  said  County  of  Kent  gentlemen  unto 
us  our  heirs  and  successors  lately  bargained  sold  given  and  granted  as 
at  the  humble  petition  of  Robert  earl  of  Essex  and  in  consideration  of  the 
good  true  and  acceptable  service  of  the  said  earl  unto  us  before  these 
times  done  and  rendered  and  for  divers  other  causes  and  considerations 
us  specially  moving     Of  our  special  grace  and  of  our  certain  knowledge 

(14)  Original  gi-ant,  presei-ved  in  the  registry  of  the  Bishop  of  Oxford.  Elizabeth  kept 
the  see  of  Oxford  long  vacant,  and  took  from  it  many  estates,  in  lieu  of  a  pnrt  whereof 
she  now  licstowed  upon  it  the  above  property,  and  also  rent  at  Banbury  to  the  amount 
of  £1.  6s.  H<i.  (Willis's  Cathedrals.)  The  Eectory,  and  advowson  of  the  Vicarage,  of  Ban- 
bury, and  the  former  prebendal  property,  are  still  vested  in  the  Bishop  of  Oxford. 


GRIMSBURY,  NETHERCOT,  AND  OVERTHORP.        247 

and  mere  motion  Have  given  and  granted  and  by  these  presents  do  for 
us  our  heirs  and  succesors  give  and  grant  unto  Edmund  Downing  and 

Miles  Dodinge  gentlemen"     [Here  follows  a  recital  of  numerous 

gi'ants  in  various  counties,  amongst  others] "  All  and  all  manner 

of  our  Tithes  of  sheaves  grain  hay  and  lambs  and  other  Tithes  what- 
soever of  whatsoever  kind  nature  or  sort  they  be  annually  and  from  time 
to  time  growing  proceeding  or  renewing  within  the  townships  places  and 
fields  of  Grymesburye  Nethercote  and  Overthroppe  in  our  said  County  of 
Northampton  being  lately  parcel  of  the  lands  and  possessions  of  John  late 
Earl  of  Warwick  and  before  that  parcel  of  the  possessions  of  the  Bishop- 
rick  of  Lincoln  And  all  those  our  Messuages  and  Tenements  with  the 
appurtenances  and  all  those  our  two  virgates  of  Land  Meadow  and  Pas- 
ture with  the  appurtenances  situate  lying  and  being  in  Grymesburye  afore- 
said being  lately  i^arcel  of  the  lands  and  possessions  of  the  said  John 
late  Eai-1  of  Warwick  and  before  that  parcel  of  the  possessions  of  the 
Bishoprick  of  Lincoln  Which  premises  in  Grymesburye  Nethercote  and 
Overthroppe  aforesaid  by  our  letters  patent  bearing  date  the  seventeenth 
day  of  JNlarch  in  the  sixteenth  year  of  our  reign  were  demised  and 
granted  unto  Edward  Fetyplace  for  the  term  of  twenty-one  years  begin- 
ning from  the  Feast  of  the  Annunciation  of  the  Blessed  Mary  the  Virgin 
then  next  to  come  after  the  date  of  the  aforesaid  letters  patent  and  for 
the  annual  rent  of  40  shillings  And  afterwards  by  other  our  letters  pa- 
tent bearing  date  the  twelfth  day  of  February  in  the  twenty-sixth  year  of 
our  reign  were  demised  unto  Simon  Wickham  for  the  term  of  the  life  of 
the  said  Simon,  remainder  thereof  unto  Thomas  Wickham  for  the  term 
of  the  life  of  the  said  Thomas,  remainder  thereof  unto  Mary  Wickham 
for  the  term  of  her  life,  as  by  the  said  letters  patent  more  fully  appears  " 
[&c.  &c.]  To  be  held  of  the  Queen  her  heirs  and  successors  as  of  the 
manor  of  East  Greenwych  in  the  county  of  Kent  by  fealty  only  in  free 
and  common  soccage  and  not  in  capite  nor  by  military  service.  And  by 
rendering  and  paying  to  her  her  heirs  and  successors  of  and  for  the 
aforesaid  Tithes  and  other  premises  in  Grymesburye  Nethercote  and 
Overthorpe  aforesaid  forty  shillings.  Dated  at  Westminster  the  9th  day 
of  February." 

Downing  and  Dodinge,  on  tlie  day  following  the  above  date, 
transferred  the  above  property  at  Grimsbury,  Nethercot,  and  Over- 
thorp,  to  Richard  Merrick  of  Banbury  and  Edward  Shugborough 
of  Bronghton.  On  a  partition  between  these  parties  in  the  follow- 
ing year,  tlie  tithes  were  assigned  to  Merrick ;  and  the  messuages 
and  lands  witli  the  tithes  of  the  same  to  Shugborougli.  In  the 
34th  Elizabeth,  Richard  Merrick  of  South  Newington  sold  the 
tithes  for  .^'400  to  Richard  Chetwode  of  Warkworth  Esq.,  from 
whom  they  descended  by  the  same  title  as  the  manor  of  Wark- 
worth to  Francis  Eyre  Esq.  At  the  time  of  the  enclosure,  the 
commissioners  made  an  allotment  of  land  to  Eyre,  in  lieu  of  "  that 
part  of  the  Parsonage  impropriate  of  Warkworth  aforesaid  which 
is  called  Banbury  Tythiug ;"  and  which  included  all  tithes  "  except 
the  tithes  of  bushes  and  thorns,"  for  wliich  the  commissioners 
alloted  4a.  Ir.  18p.  of  land  to  the  \icar  of  Banbury."^ 

(15)  Copy  of  Letters  Patent,  in  the  possession  of  T.  Tims  Esq. 

(16)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  749. 


24S  DECREE  CONCERNING  CHARITIES. 

The  foliowing  entries  occur  in  the  Corporation  accounts  : — 

34tla  Elizabeth.     "  Pickage  and  Stallage  and  tole    xxxij''  xj   x  ob 

"  Layd  out  for  mendj'nge  of  tlie  townehall  paym'ts  ofj 
the  Quenes  rent  and  dyv's  other  things  as  in  the  booke  >xxxvjxvijj  ob" 
made  for  that  purpose  may  appere J 

"xviii  Decemb''  1592,  35th  Eliz. 

"  A  note  of  such  things  as  are  dcliu'ed  by  Henry  Showell  late  BaylifFe 
to  Thomas  Whateley  nowe  Bayhf. 

Imprimis  the  Charter  &  the  Seale  &  the  Mace. 

Item  the  brasen  measures  videlt  a  pottell  a  quart  &  a  pynt  a  brasen 
yard  &  a  half  yard. 

Item  iij  marking  irons  to  seale  weights  &  measures. 

Item  a  strike  at  the  Cage  tyed  with  a  chayne  &  another  at  the  Court 
Hall  to  try  the  strikes  &  a  peck. 

Item  the  booke  of  account  the  booke  of  orders  the  booke  of  the  poore 
y*  have  the  quens  pencon  and  two  toll  books  videlt  one  for  the  Shepe 
m'ket  &  another  for  the  Beast  m'ket. 

Item  the  obligaccons  for  the  money  given  by  Mr  Bryghtwell 

Item  a  counterpart  of  the  gifte  of  Mr  Okens^'  money  and  of  the 
indenf 

Item  the  brasen  weights  &  skales  w"^^  the  Tasters  vse 

Item  Stocks  pillory  cooking  stoole  &  tiimbrell." 

40th   Eliz.     "  Paied   out  hereof   for  o''  dynn'   at  the\ „       

Alt'stone J  ' 

Payed  to  good  wif  Thorpe  that  her  husband  Clarkson  \ „        „  , 

lent  to  the  buylding  of  the  newe  hall f  ^*      ^'^ 

For  that  the  sayd  avditors  payed  Nicodemus  Edens\ ,„      ,, 

that  he  lent  to  the  buylding  y^  hall /  ^"* 

1601.     "And  they  [the  Claamberlains]  are  to  receavel  •••];    

of  Robert  Horwood  for  his  fredome    j     J 

And  to  receave  of  William  Whrigham  for  his  freedome     v'"      —      — "'^ 

An  Order  and  Decree  concerning  the  Banbury  Charities  was 
made  at  Banbury  on  the  20th  January,  4oth  Eliz.  (1602-3).'^ 
It  contains,  on  the  examination  of  witnesses,  and  the  oaths  of 
twelve  lawful  men  of  the  county  of  Oxford,  an  enumeration  of 
the  property  iu  Banbury  which  had  been  given  to  Charitable  Uses  ; 
namely  : — 

1.  The  Property  left  for  the  repair  of  the  Bridge  and  Highways  (see 
p.  99,  in  note  1). 

2.  An  Almshouse  situate  near  the  Churchyard,  "  employed  to  lodge 
the  most  poor,  old,  and  impotent  people  there  in  the  said  town."  (See  p. 
177,  in  note  23.) 

(17)  Thomas  Oken  of  "Warwick,  a  person  of  moan  parentage  who  died  in  1.573,  left  to 
the  bailiff  and  aldermen  of  Stratford  ^'40,  to  be  let  out  to  eight  tradesmen  {£6  each),  for 
tlu-ee  or  four  years,  at  8d  per  pound :  of  which  proceeds  half  was  to  go  to  the  poor,  3*.  4d. 
to  a  minister  to  preach  a  sermon  to  them,  and  the  rest  to  be  men-y  with.  And  in  like 
manner  he  did  to  the  town  of  Banbury. 

(18)  An  entry  in  the  volume  states"  that  the  tenants  of  the  manor  of  Bloxham  ai-e  free 
from  tolls,  by  a  charter  bearing  date  the  13th  May,  17th  Eliz.  (1575),  and  confirmed  by 
a  charter  dated  loth  Feb.,  3rd  James  I. 

(19)  By  Sir  Richard  Fennys  and  Sir  Anthony  Cope,  knights,  Richard  Chetwood,  Thomas 
Chamberlayne,  and  Thomas  Horton,  Esquires,  Thomas  Drope  bachelor  of  divinity,  and 
Humfrey  CoUes  gentlemen.  Commissioners  authorized  by  the  Comt  of  Chancery  under 
the  Great  So;il,  liearing  date  at  Westminster  the  26th  of  June  1602,  "  for  to  redress  the 
misemploment  of  Lands  Goods  Pensions  Annuities  and  Stocks  of  money  heretofore  given 
to  Charitable  Uses"  in  the  County  of  Oxford,  according  to  the  Statute  43rd  Eliz. 


DECREE  CONCERNING  CHARITIES.  241) 

3.  For  the  repair  of  the  Parish  Church  in  Banbury  : — One  acre  of 
arable  land  and  two  butts  of  ley  ground  lying  in  the  fields  of  Neithrop, 
in  a  place  called  Barrett  Leys  ; — one  sidelong  of  pasture  in  Cothrop 
field; — oneland  of  arable  and  sidelong  of  pasture  in  Cothrop  fields  on 
the  south  side  of  the  brook  or  lake  in  a  place  called  the  Vineyards ; — 
two  acres  of  arable  land  in  Cothrop  fields  called  the  Vineyards  -j^" — 
two  acres  more  or  less  of  arable  land  in  Cothrop  fields  lying  without  the 
lane  called  Sugarford  lane  at  the  nether  end  of  Berrey  Moor  in  a  place 
called  the  Church  Pits; — "one  burgage  or  tenement  sometimes  called 
the  Church  House  and  now  a  School  House  situate  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Church-yard  of  Banbury  aforesaid  now  in  the  tenure  of  the  Bailiff 
Aldermen  and  Burgesses  of  Banbury  aforesaid  at  the  yearly  rent  of  6s. 
Sd.;" — a  burgage  on  the  west  side  of  Newland  Street; — four  burgages 
lying  together  on  the  north  side  of  Parson's  Lane,  situate  between  the 
land  of  William  Bowers  husbandman  on  the  east  and  the  land  of  the 
Queen  now  in  the  occupation  of  Matthew  Knight  on  the  west; — and  four 
burgages  on  the  the  south  side  of  Parson's  Lane,  situate  between  the 
Parsonage  yard  on  the  east  side  and  the  High  street  on  the  west  side.^^ 

4.  A  tenement  on  the  east  side  of  Colebar  Street,  situate  between  a 
tenement  of  William  Wootten  on  the  north,  and  one  of  Sir  Anthony  Cope 
on  the  south,  given  by  John  Knight  to  the  use  of  the  poor  of  the  Borough. 

5.  An  annuity  of  205.  given  by  Edward  Brj^twell  to  the  use  of  the  poor 
of  Banbury,  payable  for  ever  out  of  a  house  in  Barkhill  Street  occupied 
by  Thomas  AVebb,  between  the  tenement  of  on  the  east, 
and  the  tenement  of  John  Pyme  on  the  west. 

6.  An  annuity  of  20*.  to  the  poor,  given  by  Johan  Knight  out  of  her 
part  of  a  lease  of  Ensham  meadows. 

7.  An  annuity  of  20s.  given  by  Henry  Halhead  to  the  poor,  out  of  a 
tenement  in  Sheep  Street ;  to  be  bestowed  upon  the  poor  in  Prize  in  the 
presence  of  the  minister  and  the  bailiff. 

8.  An  annuity  of  10s.  given  by  the  said  Henry  Halhead  for  ever,  out 
of  a  shop  being  the  corner  shop  adjoining  to  Barkhill  Street,  the  tenement 
in  the  tenure  of  Thomas  Webb  on  the  west  side ;  to  be  employed  in  the 
maintenance  of  the  true  and  sincere  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  and  the 
true  word  of  God  weekly,  within  the  parish  of  Banbury ;  and  in  default 
of  such  lecture  then  to  the  teaching  of  poor  children  there. ^^ 

9.  An  annuity  of  20s.  given  by  Walter  Callcott,  late  of  WiUiamscot, 
for  the  poor  of  Banbury,  arising  out  of  a  stock  of  jBIOO  to  be  lent  to 
artificers  or  occupiers  in  Banbury  or  elsewhere. 

10.  An  annuity  of  3s.  given  by  Thomas  Hall  of  Bodicot  to  the  poor 
of  Banbury,  to  be  bestowed  in  bread. 

(20)  The  closes  called  the  Vineyards  are  in  Neithoi"p  township,  near  the  foot-way  leading 
from  Banbury  to  North  Newington.  Some  writers  attribute  the  destruction  of  the  English 
Vineyards  to  the  falling  of  Gasoony  into  the  hands  of  the  English,  whence  better  and 
cheaper  wine  was  imported.     Doubtless  the  English  wine  was  bad  enough. 

(21)  The  Banbury  Church-building  Act  of  1790  enacts  that  the  Corporation  may  sell, 
for  the  purposes  of  that  act,  certain  messuages,  lands,  &c.,  of  which  they  were  seised  upon 
trust  for  the  repairs  of  the  Church ; — namely,  a  messuage,  with  yard,  garden  &c.,  situate  on 
the  north  side  of  Parson's  Street  called  the  Flying  Horse  Inn;— eleven  other  tenements 
situate  at  the  top  of  Parson's  Street; — two  pieces  of  land,  measuring  about  4  acres,  in 
Wicliham ;— a  piece  of  land  called  the  Causeleys,  situate  in  Neithoip,  and  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  Oxford  Canal  proprietors; — and  divers  commons  belonging  to  the  aforemen- 
tioned tenements,  for  horses  and  cows  to  depasture,  in  Parson's  Meadow. 

(22)  The  Commissioners  on  Charities  in  1825-6,  report  that  there  were  then  collected  two 
several  sums  of  10s.,  on  account  of  the  Vicar ;  one  paid  out  of  a  house  in  the  Market  Place 
in  the  occupation  of  John  West  [and  now  of  .John  Payne]  ;  the  other  from  a  corner  house 
in  Red  Lion  Street  [High  Street],  the  property  of  John  Hopcraft,  being  the  Ship  Inn,  then 
occupied  by  Jonathan  Adams.  The  Commissioners  suggest  that  the  payment  from  the 
latter  might  be  in  respect  of  the  gift  of  Henry  Halhead.  A  document,  however,  of  Ed- 
ward Vlth's  reign,  mentions  an  annual  rent  of  10s.  formerly  paid  to  the  Guild  of  the  Blessed 
Mary  from  "  a  shop  in  the  Merket  Place  in  the  tenancy  of  Henry  Halhed."  (See  p.  212, 
note.)  This  probably  refers  to  Mr.  Payne's  premises  in  the  Market  Place.  From  another 
document  it  appears  likelv  that  Barkhill  Street  was  the  north  side  of  the  Market  Place. 

2  I 


250  DECREE  CONCERNING  CHARITIES. 

11.  A  stock  of  £40  given  by  Oken  of  Warwick,  to  be  let  out 

yeai'ly  to  the  poor  occupiers  at  Banbury.  The  proceeds,  £l.  6s,  Sd.,  were 
yearly  paid  to  the  vise  of  the  poor,  the  meeting  of  the  company,  and  to  a 
preacher.     [See  p.  218,  note  17.] 

12.  £50  given  by  Edward  Brytwell  to  be  lent  to  poor  artificers  and 
occupiers  freely  for  ever. 

13.  £100  given  by  Walter  Calcott  to  be  lent  to  occupiers  at  Banbury 
or  elsewhere. 2^ 

14.  A  stock  of  £22.  I85.  6d.,  given  by  divers  persons;  wherewith  the 
Churchwardens  were  in  the  summer  to  buy  coals,  and  in  the  winter  to 
sell  them  to  the  poor  at  such  rate  as  that  the  stock  might  still  be  pre- 
served : — the  overplus,  if  any,  to  be  given  to  the  poor. 

"And  for  as  much  as  upon  complaint  made"  that  the  same  Lands 
Tenements  and  Bm-gages  had  been  misapplied  and  not  bestowed  accord- 
ing as  they  were  intended,  the  Commissioners  called  before  them  the  Bai- 
liff Aldermen  and  Burgesses,  and  the  Church-wardens,  and  entered  into 
the  examination  thereof  by  their  own  consent,  it  was  found  that  they  had 
dealt  very  honestly  and  faithfully  therein.  Wherefore  it  was  decreed, 
that  the  bailiff  aldermen  and  burgesses  and  their  successors  should  be 
seised  of  all  the  premises  therein  mentioned,  and  should  employ  the  rents 
and  profits  to  the  uses  whereunto  they  were  given  ;  that  they  should  be 
and  be  called  Governors  of  the  said  lands  &c. ;  and  should  have  power 
to  demise  the  same  at  such  rents  and  fines  as  to  them,  and  the  minister 
and  churchwardens,  or  the  more  part  of  them,  should  be  thought  reason- 
able. That  they  should  yearly  elect  two  honest  and  substantial  men  of 
the  said  town  or  company,  who  should  be  called  Bridge-masters,  Over- 
seers, or  Receivers,  to  manage  the  same  ;  and  that  the  Bridge-masters 
should  render  their  accounts  once  every  year  before  the  auditors  of  the 
corporation,  and  the  minister,  or  vicar,  and  churchwardens.  And,  reciting 
that  divers  of  the  annuities  had  been  bestowed  obscurely  and  privately, 
it  was  ordered  that  the  same  should  be  yearly  brought  by  those  who  were 
to  pay  the  same  at  the  days  appointed  to  the  said  Bridge-masters,  to  be 
disposed  of  there  in  the  presence  of  the  minister ;  and  a  note  thereof  to 
be  set  down  in  a  book,  to  be  shewn  with  the  accounts  at  the  audits.  And 
that  the  bailiff  aldermen  and  burgesses  shoidd  have  the  disposal  of  the 
monies  for  coals ;  and  that  they  and  the  minister  should  appoint  yearly 
two  of  the  churchwardens,  or  two  other  substantial  men,  to  see  the  same 
employed,  and  to  be  accountable  to  them  and  the  other  inhabitants  of  the 
borough  at  such  time  as  the  churchwardens  should  yearly  render  their 
accounts.  There  being  some  ambiguity  in  the  gift  of  Walter  Calcott,  and 
the  £100  being  in  the  hands  of  his  grandson,  Calcott  Chambers,  an  agree- 
ment was  made  as  to  the  same.  And  lastly,  it  was  decreed,  for  the  better 
encouragement  of  others  to  do  the  like  charitable  acts,  that  the  bailiff 
aldermen  and  burgesses  should  cause  to  be  made  a  table,  fair  written,  of 
the  lands,  annuities,  &c.  &c.  that  had  been  or  shovild  be  given  to  the  church 
or  poor  or  to  highways  or  to  any  other  charitable  uses  within  the  town  and 
parish,  and  the  names  of  the  Givers  of  the  same,  and  the  particular  uses 
of  the  same,  to  be  set  up  or  hanged  in  the  Church,  before  the  feast  of 
Easter  next  ensuing,  and  there  to  remain. ^^ 

(23)  Callcott's  will  bears  date  10th  Nov.  1574:  he  bequeaths  £100  to  be  put  out  by  his 
executors  in  sums  of  £10  or  ^£20  to  poor  persons  in  the  country  who  would  take  the  same 
at  five  per  cent. ;  and  directs  that  the  £5  arising  annually  therefrom  shall  be  distributed 
among  the  poor  of  Banbury  and  those  of  several  neighbouring  places. — Reports  on  Charities  ; 
and  see  the  above  account  of  Charities,  No.  9. 

(24)  Decree,  in  the  Town  Clerk's  office.  Other  Charities,  of  subsequent  periods,  are 
enumerated  by  the  Commissioners  in  182-1.     Among  them  are  : — 

Metcalfe's  Charities.  Thomas  Metcalfe  left  property  in  1712,  subject  to  the  pay- 
ment of  £1S  per  annum,  namely, — i£10  every  second  year  to  apprentice  two  poor  Banbury 
boys ;  £\0  every  second  year  to  clothe  sis  poor  Banbury  widows  ;  and  the  remainder  for 
other  purposes.    Mary  Metcalfe  in  1723  left  £6  annually  to  the  schoolmaster  of  the  Church 


SURVEY,  4th  JAMES  I.  251 


THE  REIGN  OF  JAMES  THE  FIRST. 

A  Survey  of  property  iu  Banbiiry  ^-ielding  revenue  to  the 
Crowu  &c.'-^  was  made  on  the  30th  July,  4th  James  I.  (1606),  by 
Sir  Anthony  Cope  knight  and  John  Hercye  Esq.,  commissioners 
appointed  for  that  purpose.     It  states  as  follows  : — 

1.  The  names  of  76  Free  Tenants,  being  occupiers  in  Bridgstrete, 
Barkhillstrete,  Shoprowe  or  Highstrete,  Horsemarkett  strete,  Bircliley 
strete,  and  Brickley  strete.  The  amount  of  their  rents  of  assise  was 
£7.  9s.  Qd. 

2.  "  Richard  Lord  Sey  and  Seale  claims  to  hold  by  virtue  of  letters 
patent  under  the  seal  of  the  Exchequer  dated  the  day  of 

in  the  year  of  the  reign  of  the  Rectory  and  Tithes 

of  Banbury,  that  is  to  say,  the  tithes  of  Sheaves  Grain  Hay  Wool  and 
Lambs  in  Nethrop  Cowthrop  and  Wickham  of  the  yearly  value  to  demise 
j6100:  Glebe  Lands  in  the  common  fields  and  meadows,  that  is  to  say 
ploughed  land  in  the  fields  of  Nethrop  being  three  yard  lands  by  estima- 
tion 45  acres ;  ploughed  land  in  Cothrop  field  being  one  yard  land  by 
estimation  20  acres ;  meadow  in  Leaz  in  Nethrop  fields  by  estimation  6 
acres  :  The  Tithe  Barnes  is  8  bays.  Annual  Value  £20."  Other  property 
£5. 

3.  Henry  Hawtayne  gent,  claimed  to  hold  of  John  Bishop  of  Lincoln, 
by  indenture  dated  12th  August  3Gth  Henry  VIII.  made  to  John  Fran- 
cnishe,  arable  lands  in  demesne  in  tlie  fields  of  Cothrope,  appertaining  to 
the  manor  of  Banbury  or  Essingdon  grange  nigh  to  Banbury,  with  the 
appurtenances,  and  all  the  meadows  leasowes  and  pastures  following, 
namely,  a  dwelling  house,  kitchen,  &c.,  a  great  barn  of  bays,  a  stable, 
garden,  and  two  courts,  together  1  acre  ;  a  meadow  called  Castlemeade 
5  acres ;  the  first  mowing  of  Greate  Fullake  4  acres  ;  the  first  mowing 
of  Litle  Fullake  2  acres ;  an  enclosed  meadow  called  Gadresse  7  acres ; 
a  meadow  called  Swinslowe  1|  acres;  enclosed  arable  land  called  Winmill 

School,  on  condition  that  he  should  assist  the  vicar  by  reading  service  on  Wednesdays  and 
Fridays  &c.  in  the  parish  church;  £6  annually  to  the  vicar  and  his  assistant  to  distribute 
amongst  the  sick  poor ;  and  £5  annually  to  be  given  in  weekly  bread  to  six  poor  families 
who  should  live  orderly  and  frequent  the  church.  Henry  Metcalfe  left  £'100,  the  interest 
to  be  laid  out  in  bread  for  the  poor  on  St.  Thomas's  day. 

Countess  of  Arran's  Charity.  The  property  belonging  to  this  charity  consisted,  in 
1824,  of  a  house  occupied  by  Mr.  Alderman  Kirby  in  the  High  Street  at  a  rent  of  £'27 
per  year,  a  house  and  yard  in  Chm-ch  Lane  worth  £Q  or  £Q  per  year,  and  JlOO  stock. 
This  charity  was  under  the  management  of  the  corporation,  and  the  income  was  applied 
in  putting  out  youths  as  apprentices. 

Henry  Smith's  Charity.  This  amounted,  in  1824,  to  about  J35  per  annum,  the  value 
of  which  was  distributed  in  flannel. 

A  few  minor  Charities  existed,  besides  those  relating  to  the  Blue-coat  School;  and  several 
others  were  lost.  See  Knight's  and  Brytwell's  Charities,  p.  19  of  the  reprinted  reports; 
Halhead's  ditto,  p.  20  ;  Calcott's,  p.  21 ;  Loans,  p.  22 ;  Coal  Fund,  and  Plestow's  Charity, 
p.  23  ;  some  of  Metcalfe's  Charities  not  here  enumerated  ;  and  Lost  Charities,  p.  33. 

(25)  A  preceding  document,  dated  12th  April  1603  (preserved  in  the  Book  of  accounts 
remaining  in  the  hands  of  the  Town  Clerk),  is  entitled  "  A  Note  of  all  The  Leasses  wch 
are  nowe  in  esse  of  the  Burgages  and  Tenemts  wch  wee  hold  of  or  Sou'raigne  Lord  the 
Kinge."  This  enumerates  the  Leather  Hall ;  Crown  poole  banck  ;  and  property  in  St  Jones 
streete,  the  Beastem'ket,  the  Hogm'ket,  the  Beastm'ket  or  Colebar  streete,  Newe  Land, 
Sheepe  streete  or  Sheepem'ket  stret,  Northbar  streete,  near  Sugerford  Bar  or  Shugerbar 
streete,  at  the  upper  end  of  the  Mil  lane  in  the  netner  end  of  the  Hogm'ket,  by  the  Church 
stile,  in  the  High  streete  at  Pibble  lane  end,  and  on  the  east  of  the  Lether  hall. 

(26)  A  building  which  was  called  the  Tithe  Barn  down  to  our  own  times,  stood  in 
Church  Lane,  nearly  opposite  to  the  meeting-house  of  the  Independents. 

2  i3 


252  SURVEY,  4th  JAMES  I. 

Feild  30  acres;  pasturage  of  two  closes  called  Durdan  from  the  feast  of 
the  Annunciation  to  the  feast  of  St.  Michael  8  acres  ;  a  meadow  called 
Berriemore  mcade  5  acres;  a  close  of  pasture  called  Lodge  Close  here- 
tofore a  rahbit  warren^'  7  acres ;  a  close  called  the  Crouche  40  acres  ;  free 
fishery  &c.  in  the  water  called  Charwell  from  Banbury  bridge  to  the 
farthest  side  of  the  manor  of  Banbury ;  and  arable  land  in  the  common 
fields  called  Easingdon  Feilds  70  acres  : — to  have  and  to  hold  from  the 
expiration  of  a  former  lease  made  to  William  Pearson  (7th  March,  Cth 
Henry  VIII.),  for  the  term  of  fifty  years,  rendering  yearly  £100. 

4.  The  Bailiff  Aldermen  and  Burgesses  of  Banburie  held  by  letters 
patent  dated  13th  Feb.,  15th  Eliz.,  divers  messuages,  tenements,  and  cot- 
tages in  the  town  of  Banburie,  namely;  a  house  in  St  John's  streete  of 
the  yearly  value  of  20s. ;  a  piece  of  waste  ground  in  St  John's  streete 
upon  which  is  built  a  mansion  house  of  8  bays  with  garden  and  curtilage 
half  a  rood ;  a  dwelling  house  &c.  value  40s. ;  a  dwelling  house  thatched 
with  straw  whh  garden  &c.  in  St  John's  streete ;  a  dwelling  house  of  six 
bays  in  the  Horsefaire  with  garden  &c.  in  the  occupation  of  Peter  Woot- 
ton  half  a  rood ;  a  dwelling  house  and  garden  in  Sugar  barre  streat ;  a 
dwelling  house  &c.  in  St  John's  streete  in  the  occupation  of  Seth  Pope  ; 
a  dwelling  house  and  garden  in  Northbar  streete  ;  a  dwelling  house  and 
garden  in  the  occupation  of  Sir  Anthony  Cope  knight ;  a  cottage  in  Hog- 
market  streete;  another  cottage  in  Hogmarket  streete  six  bays  with  gar- 
den and  curtilage  2  roods,  valued  at  21s.,  with  "  10s  for  the  Mill  there" 
[Cuttle  mill]  ;  another  cottage  in  Hogmai'ket  streete  ;  a  dwelling  house 
in  Hogmarket  streete  ;  two  cottages  with  a  garden  in  Sheepe  streete  ;  a 
tenement  and  garden  in  Sheepe  streete ;  one  tenement  eight  bays,  and 
garden,  having  three  occupiers,  in  ditto,  2  roods ;  one  tenement  and 
garden,  in  ditto ;  one  tenement  ditto  ;  one  tenement  eight  bays,  with  gar- 
den and  curtilage,  in  the  occupation  of  Edward  Weston,  1  rood,  in  ditto ; 
one  tenement  and  garden  in  ditto  ;  one  barn,  and  garden,  1  rood,  in 
Myllane  ;  one  tenement  lately  burnt,  and  garden,  in  the  Beaste  Markett ; 
one  tenement,  with  garden  and  curtilage,  2  roods,  in  the  Beaste  Markett ; 
one  tenement  four  bays  with  garden  and  curtilage ;  one  tenement  and 
garden  near  the  Bridge  ;  one  waste  piece  of  land  in  Cobarstreete ;  one 
cottage  with  garden  &c.  in  Shepestreete  ;  one  ditto  in  ditto  ;  two  cottages 
in  ditto ;  one  tenement  in  the  lane  called  Caltrop  lane,  in  the  occupation 
of  Edward  Weston  ;  one  cottage  in  Highstreete ;  one  ditto  in  ditto ;  one 
ditto  there  near  the  Shambles ;  one  cottage  with  garden  in  Northbar- 
streete  ;  one  cottage  with  curtilage  in  ditto ;  one  cottage  in  ditto  ;  one 
tenement  four  bays,  and  garden,  in  the  occupation  of  Robert  Hawes,  in 
ditto  ;  one  cottage  near  the  Burial  grovmd  now  in  the  occupation  of  the 
aforesaid  Bailiff  &c.,  three  bays ;  to  hold  for  60  years ;  yearly  value 
£41.  9s.  4(7. 

5.  Nicodemus  Edons  claimed  to  hold  by  letters  patent  of  the  4th 
James  I.,  a  dwelling  house  with  shop  and  curtilage,  10  perches,  for  60 
years  ;  yearly  value  20s. 

6.  Edward  Walker  claimed  to  hold  by  letters  patent  dated  5th  June, 
4th  James  I.,  made  to  John  Wase,  gent., — a  dwelling  house  3  bays,  and 
a  garden,  in  Cornemarkett  streete,  half  a  rood ;  a  shop  at  the  west  end 
of  the  garden  aforesaid,  one  bay,  and  a  stone  house  newly  erected  called 
the  Townhall-*  three  bays ;  to  hold  for  40  years  ;  yearly  value  40s. 

7.  "The  Right  Honorable  Richard  Lord  Say  and  Seale  holds  by  virtue 


(27)  The  present  Lodge  Close  is  a  lofty  pasture  gi-ound  between  Broad  Street  and  Bodicot 
fields.  A  deed  made  in  1650  mentions  "The  Warren"  as  part  of  Easington,  Calthorp, 
Neithorp,  or  Wickham,  and  appears  to  relate  to  property  lying  west  of  the  Horse  Fair. 

(28)  It  seems  that  this  Town  Hall  stood  at  the  present  Cornhill  (the  northwestern  part  of 
the  Market  Place).  The  building  which  is  at  present  remembered  as  the  Old  Town  Hall 
was  erected  chiefly  of  timber,  and  stood  on  the  same  spot  as  the  present  wretched  Town 
Hall  which  was  built  in  1800  or  1801. 


BOUNDARY,  4th  JAMES  I.  253 

of  letters  patent  the  Castle  and  Hundred  of  Banbury  with  the  Leet  and 
View  of  P'rankpledge  within  the  Hundred  aforesaid,  that  is  to  say : — 

A  Mansion  House  within  the  inner  gates  of  the  same  Castle  twenty- 
three  bays  covered  with  lead 

The  outermost  Gate  six  bays  covered  with  slate 

One  close  called  the  Stewe  by  estimation  1  acre 

One  other  close  of  pasture  called  the  Castle  Orcharde  in  the  occupation 
of  Thomas  Wise  by  estimation  3  acres 

To  hold  to  William  Feenes  son  of  the  aforesaid  Lord  Say  Ursula  and 
Elizabeth  for  the  term  of  their  lives  successively  Rendering  by  the  year 
£3.  18s.  Od.  for  the  Castle  and  Hundred  and  40s.  for  the  Castle  Orcharde. 
Yearly  value  to  demise  jglO." 

8.  "  M''  yt  appeareth  by  a  Decree  of  the  Courte  of  Excheq''  made  ye 
xxviijth  day  of  November  in  the  xvth  yere  of  the  raigne  of  the  late 
Queene  Elizabeth  ex  parte  R  R"'^  (viz*)  by  the  right  Ho^'  W™  Lo.  Burgley 
Lo.  Highe  Thre'r  of  England  S"'  Walter  Mildmay  k'  S''  Edward  Saunders 
k*  Lo.  Cheife  Baron  &  ye  residue  of  the  Barons  there  y*  x^'  viij^  shall  be 
paid  yerely  to  xij  pore  men  and  weomen  weekely  quarterly  or  otherwise  & 
vjii  vj"  viij^  shalbe  yerely  paid  to  an  assistant  to  serve  the  Cure  in  Ban- 
bury-" by  the  Receiver  Generall  of  ye  Q.  Ma**  Revenewes  of  the  said 
County  or  by  the  Bayley  or  Collector  of  the  Rents  &  Revenewes  of  the 
Chauntry  Lands  in  the  said  Countie  of  Oxon  or  of  the  Rents  and  Reve- 
news  of  ye  Castle  or  Manner  of  Banbury  &  that  the  said  some  of 
xvj"  xiiij*  viij'i  shalbe  paied  yerely  to  the  Bayley  Aldei-men  &  Burgeses 


of  Banbury  aforesaid  for  the  time  beinge  at  fewer  usuall  feasts  in  the 
yeare  viz*  the  Birth  of  o''  Lo.  God  the  Annunc'  of  ye  Blessed  Virgin  Mary 
ye  Nativity  of  S'  John  Baptist  &  ye  Feast  of  S'  Michaell  the  Archangell 


to  be  paied  to  the  said  xij  pore  men  and  weomen  &  to  the  said  Assistant'" 
w'^  Warrant  to  ye  Auditor  &  Receiver  for  paym*  &  alowance  therof  as 
by  an  exemi)lification  of  ye  said  decree  under  ye  scale  of  Thexcheq''  bear- 
ing date  ye  xij"'  daye  of  February  in  ye  xv*''  yere  of  Her  Ma**  said 
Raigne  appeareth." 

9.  Sir  Anthony  Cope,  knt,,  claimed  to  hold,  by  lease  of  John  Longland 
bishop  of  Lincoln,  dated  the  last  day  of  March  35th  Henry  VIII.,  to 
William  Robyns  &c.,  a  close  of  meadow  called  Calves  Close ;  a  close  of 
meadow  or  pasture  called  Greate  Kinsham  and  Little  Kinsham  [the  En- 
sham  Meadows]  ;  a  cottage  and  garden  two  roods  :  a  close  called  the 
Procession  AVay  2  roods  ;  a  close  called  the  Cow  Close  4  acres  ;  to  hold  to 
the  said  Robyns  &c.  for  81  years  :  yearly  value  £50.^' 

The  Boundary  was  taken  on  the  following  15th  September  (1606), 

as  follows  : — 

"  Burgus  et  P'ochia^  "  The  Lymyts  and  P'cinctes  of  the  said  Bo- 
de Banburie  in  Com'  >  rough  and  P'ish  scene  &  viewed  the  xvth  daye 
Oxon  J  of  September  in  the  fowerth  yere  of  the  raigne 

of  o'  Sov'aign  Lord  James  by  the  Grace  of  God 
Kyng  of  England  France  &  Ireland  &  of  Scotland  the  fortyeth  and 
founde  &  p'sented  by  the  Jury  whose  names  are  und'wrytten  the  xviijth 
day  of  November  in  the  year  aforesaid  w<^''  before  were  chosen  and  ap- 
poynted  by  Hersye  Esquier  the  Kyngs  Ma'  Surveyer. 

Imprimis  from  the  East  Arch  of  the  Bridge  w"^"^  standeth  over  the 
Water  called  Charwell  on  the  East  parte  alonge  by  the  said  Water  on  the 
East  syde  of  the  plott  of  grounde  called  the  Gooseleys  vnto  the  mea- 
dowe  called  the  Parsons  Meadowe  and  soe  over  the  said  meadowe  and  over 
a  lyttle  closse  of  one  Thomas  Halhed  and  vp  a  close  called  Gattridge 

(29)  See  p.  283. 

(30)  The  sum  of  £5.  17s.  Id.  (the  rest  being  deducted  for  fees)  is  still  annually  paid  lo  the 
"  Assistant  Preacher  of  Banbury"  by  the  receiver  of  the  land  revenues  of  the  Crown  for  the 
county  of  Oxford. 

(31)  From  the  original  record  in  the  Crown  Office. 


254  NEW  CHARTER,  6th  JAMES  I. 

and  soe  into  the  old  lane  called  Cothrop  Lane^^  and  then  strayght  forwards 
to  the  Sowth  Bar  called  S'  Jones  Barr 

"  Item  from  the  Sowth  Barr  downe  along  the  Lane  betwene  the  Closes 
and  Cothropp  field  vnto  the  great  Stone  called  the  White  Crosse^^  on  the 
Weste  parte 

"  And  from  the  said  Stone  called  the  White  Crosse  over  to  the  run'yng 
streme  of  Water  by  the  North  end  of  the  Leyes  called  the  Barridge 
Leyes  and  soe  throwe  a  little  shorte  lane  by  the  howse  of  Edward  Keel- 
inge  meeting  there  w^^  another  run'ynge  streme  of  Water  and  soe  by  the 
said  Water  vnto  the  Barr  called  the  North  Barr 

"  Item  from  the  said  North  Barr  along  by  the  said  water  which  is  called 
the  Cuttle  Brooke  vnto  the  howse  of  one  Edward  Wysdome  where  Walter 
Wafford  nowe  dwelleth  and  from  thence  alonge  the  back  sydes  of  the 
Howses  by  the  Castle  Mote  vnto  the  place  where  the  Mill  did  stande 
called  the  Cuttle  Mill  and  soe  alonge  by  the  Cuttle  Brooke  streme  or 
water  vnto  the  water  aforesaid  called  CharweE  and  then  by  Charwell  vnto 
the  said  Easte  Arch  of  the  Brydge. 


'  The  Names  of  the  Jurie, 
Wyllyam  Knyght 
Henry  Showell 
William  Longe 
William  Alsop 
Thomas  Tunney 
Theodor  Maior 
Richard  Vivers 


Bartholomewe  Nayler 
John  Awsten 
John  Dixe 
Mathew  Longe 
Henry  Shirwood 
Edward  AVysdome 
William  Sowtham  "^* 


Tlie  privileges  of  the  Corporation  were  extended,  and  the 
Borough  was  made  a  majoral  town,  under  a  new  Charter  granted, 
on  the  petition  of  the  Council,  28th  June,  Gth  James  I.   (1608.) 

ABSTRACT  OF  THE  CHARTER  OF  JAMES  I. 

L  The  Recital,  to  the  eftect  that,  whereas  the  Bailiffs,  Aldermen,  and 
Burgesses  of  the  Borough  have  held  and  enjoyed  divers  franchises,  liber- 
ties, &c. ;  and  whereas  the  now  Bailiff  Aldermen  and  Burgesses  have 
humbly  entreated  measures  for  the  better  government  of  the  Borough  ; 
the  said  Bailiff,  Aldermen,  and  Burgesses,  and  all  Freemen  being  inhabi- 
tants of  the  said  Borough,  are  hereby  constituted  a  corporate  and  po- 
litical body,  by  the  name  of  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Burgesses  of  the 
Borough  of  Banbury. 

2.     Power  to  have  a  common  seal. 

(3'2)  Not  the  lane  now  so  called ;  but  perhaps  the  old  road  leading  from  Broad  Street  into 
the  Adderbury  road  at  Easington,  or  the  narrow  lane  which  led  from  that  old  road  to  St. 
John's  Bar,  where  the  wide  road  has  recently  been  made. 

(33)  The  "N\Tiite  Cross  Stone  stood  at  the  west  end  of  the  present  West  Bar  Street,  pro- 
bably about  eight  paces  eastward  from  where  a  lane  turns  off  southward  into  the  Bloxham 
road. 

(34)  Copy  in  the  Book  of  accounts  preserved  by  the  Town  Clerk.  An  inaccurate  record 
of  the  same  survey  was  obtained  by  the  parish  authorities  from  one  of  the  public  offices 
some  years  ago,  when  the  boundaries  of  the  borough  were  disputed. 

In  1818,  a  case  was  laid  before  counsel,  under  the  impression  that  the  hamlets  might  be 
compelled  to  pay  rates  in  common  with  the  borough  towards  the  support  of  the  poor.  The 
circuit  of  the  Borough  which  is  given  above  clearly  includes  a  part  of  Calthorp,  if  not  also 
small  portions  of  Easington  and  Neithorp.  Indeed  it  appears,  from  a  case  reported  in 
Skinner,  that,  as  late  as  the  reign  of  James  II.,  the  adjacent  townships,  though  having 
their  separate  ofBcers,  joined  with  Banhury  in  one  account  for  the  relief  of  the  poor. 

By  the  Act  of  the  43rd  Eiiz.,  the  poor  were  to  be  maintained  by  the  respective  parishes ; 
but  "by  the  13th-14th  Charles  II.,  when  a  parish  was  so  large  that  it  could  not  reap  the 
benefit  of  the  Act  of  the  43rd  Eliz.,  the  several  townships  were  empowered  to  maintain  their 
own  ]ioor  in  districts.  Doubtless  the  present  divisions  were  fonued  under  the  Act  of  the 
13th-14th  Chas.  II. 


NEW  CHARTER,  (Jth  JAxMES  I.  255 

.3.     Boundaries  to  be  as  befoi-e. 

4.  Power  to  make  perambulation. 

5.  Twelve  of  the  Biu-gesses  shall  be  named  Aldermen,  of  which  Al- 
dermen one  from  time  to  time  shall  be  Mayor. 

6.  Six  other  of  the  Burgesses  shall  be  Chief  Burgesses. 

7.  There  shall  be  a  Recordator  and  a  Chamberlain  of  the  Borough. 

8.  The  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Chief  Bui-gesses  shall  be  the  Common 
Council  of  the  Borough. 

9.  There  shall  be  within  the  Borough  30  honest  and  discreet  men  who 
shall  be  helpers  or  Assistants  of  the  same  Borough.  And  the  rest  of  the 
Aldermen,  and  the  Chief  Burgesses,  Recordator,  Chamberlain,  and  As- 
sistants, shall  be  helping  to  the  Mayor  so  often  as  it  shall  be  requisite,  in 
all  things  belonging  to  or  concei-ning  the  Borough. 

10.  Power  to  the  Common  Council  to  make  By-Laws  for  the  govern- 
ment of  the  town,  and  to  punish  by  fine  and  imprisonment  for  breach  of 
the  same  :  such  By-Laws  not  to  be  contrary  to  the  laws  of  England. 

11.  Thomas  Webb,  one  of  the  Aldermen,  to  be  the  first  Mayor. 

12.  Thomas  Wickham,  Thomas  Wheatly,  Henry  Shewell,  Edward 
Edon,  John  Nicholes,  Thomas  Halhed  the  elder,  Thomas  Webb,  John 
Gyll,  Thomas  Foster,  George  Nicholes,  Nicodemus  Edens,  and  Robert 
Russell,  to  be  Aldermen,  for  life,  unless  for  their  evil  government  or  for 
some  other  just  cause  they  shall  any  of  them  be  removed  by  the  majority 
of  the  Council. 

13.  John  Pym'e,  John  Winge,  Robert  Bentlye,  George  Moselye,  Ed- 
ward Wisdome,  and  John  Austin,  to  be  Chief  Burgesses  for  life,  unless 
as  before. 

14.  William  Fines,  Richard  Cope  Esquier,  Edward  Wickham,  and 
Thomas  Drope,  Clerks,  Thomas  Crew,  Edmund  Meek,  William  Wright, 
Richard  Griffin,  Edwarde  Yorke,  Walter  Floyd,  Henry  Hawteyne,  Cal- 
kett  Chambers,  John  Blincoe,  George  Mole  Esquire,  Thomas  Garwey, 
Thomas  Garner,  Edward  Bentlye,  William  Knight,  Martin  Wright, 
Thomas  Hollawey,  Edward  Gyll,  William  Tayler,  Rowland  Bull,  gent., 
John  Halhed,  Edward  Man,  Bartholmew  Naylor,  Ralph  Dyx,  Edward 
Warner,  Thomas  Halhed  the  younger,  and  Nicholas  Barrowes,  to  be 
Assistants  for  life,  unless  as  before. 

15.  The  Mayor  to  be  chosen  annually  from  the  Aldermen,  on  the  first 
Monday  in  September,  by  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  Chief  Burgesses,  Cham- 
berlain, and  Assistants. 

16.  If  the  Mayor  die,  or  from  the  office  for  any  just  and  reasonable 
cause  be  removed,  the  Aldermen  and  Chief  Burgesses  to  choose  another 
Alderman,  to  serve  as  Mayor  during  the  remainder  of  the  year. 

17.  Power  to  fill  up  other  vacancies,  namely,  of  Aldermen  from  the 
Chief  Burgesses,  of  Chief  Burgesses  from  the  Assistants,  and  of  the 
Assistants  from  the  more  honest  and  discreet  men  in  the  foresaid  Borough. 
All  the  appointments  to  be  by  the  Council,  and  the  oath  to  be  taken  by  the 
party  chosen. 

18.  Fine  for  refusing  any  of  the  offices  not  to  exceed  five  pounds. 
Imprisonment  in  case  the  fine  is  not  paid. 

19.  The  Council  in  future  to  elect  "  one  honourable  man  that  shall 
and  may  be  Baron  of  this  our  Realm,  or  at  least  a  Knight,  for  the  time 
being  to  be  The  Chief  Steward  of  the  foresaid  Borough."  The  charter 
appoints  "our  wellbeloved  and  trusty  Coimsellor  William  Lord  Knoles 
of  Gray's  Inn,  &  Treasurer  of  our  Inn,  the  Chief  Steward." 

20.  The  Council  in  futxire  to  elect  "  one  honest  and  discreet  man  skil- 
ful in  the  laws  of  England  "  to  be  Recordator  of  the  Borough.  The 
charter  appoints  "  our  wellbeloved  Thomas  Chamberleyne  of  Graies  Inn 
London  esquier,"  the  first  Recordator. 

21.  The  Chambei'lain  in  future  to  be  chosen  from  the  Aldermen  by 
the  Council.  The  charter  names  William  Knight,  gent.,  the  first  Cham- 
berlain. 


2.')0  NEW  CHARTER,  Cth  JAMES  I. 

22.  In  case  of  inability  or  absence  of  tlie  Mayor,  the  senior  Alderman 
to  be  his  deputy. 

23.  On  reasonable  cause  shown,  the  Recordator  may  have  a  dejiuty, 
he  being  skilful  in  the  laws  and  approved  by  the  Aldermen. 

24.  Waste  ground,  commons,  ways,  lanes,  streets,  lands,  &c.  granted 
to  the  Mayor  Aldermen  and  Chief  Burgesses,  with  a  confirmation  of  all 
their  former  grants  liberties  and  privileges. 

25.  A  Court  of  Record  to  be  holden  every  Monday,  for  actions  wherein 
the  debt  or  damage  shall  not  exceed  forty  pounds,  before  the  Mayor  or 
his  deputy,  one  of  the  Aldermen,  two  Chief  Burgesses,  and  the  Recorder 
or  his  deputy — or  before  three  of  them,  whereof  the  Mayor  or  his  deputy 
must  be  one.     The  Mayor  to  appoint  attorneys  of  this  court. 

26.  Two  Serjeants  at  Mace  to  be  appointed  by  the  Mayor  and  Alder- 
men, for  the  execution  of  processes,  &c.,  and  to  "  carry  and  bear  the 
gilded  and  silvered  maces  and  with  the  signet  of  our  arms  oiir  heirs  and 
successors  engraven  and  adorned  within  the  foresaid  Borough  liberties 
and  precincts  of  the  same  before  the  Mayor  of  the  foresaid  Borough  for 
the  time  being  or  his  deputy." 

27.  A  Prison  or  Gaol  to  be  within  the  borovigh  ;  the  Mayor  to  be  the 
keeper  thereof. 

28.  All  fines  and  amerciaments  to  go  to  the  use  of  the  Mayor,  Alder- 
men, and  Chief  Burgesses. 

29.  The  Mayor,  Aldermen,  Burgesses,  and  Freemen,  to  be  free  from 
serving  on  juries  out  of  the  Borough. 

30.  William  Lord  Knoles,  Richard  Lord  of  Say  and  Scale,  Sir  Roger 
Wilbraham  knight  one  of  our  masters  of  our  requests.  Sir  Anthony  Cope 
knight.  Sir  Richard  Chittwood  knight,  Thomas  Chamberleyne  Esq.,  Ed- 
ward Wickham,  and  William  Knight,  gents.,"  and  also  the  Mayor  and 
Recorder  for  the  time  being  and  their  sviccessors,  and  three  of  the  Alder- 
men to  be  named  by  the  Council,  to  be  Justices  of  the  Peace  within  the 
Borough.     Their  powers  defined. 

31.  Three  justices,  whereof  the  Mayor  and  Recorder  shall  be  two, 
shall  have  power  to  keep  Sessions,  and  to  swear  honest  and  lawful  men  of 
the  Borough,  by  which  the  truth  of  the  matter  may  the  better  be  known 
of  all  felonies,  murders,  poisonings,  enchantings,  sorcei'ies,  magical  arts, 
transgressions,  forestallers,  regrators,  ingrossers,  and  extortioners  within 
the  foresaid  Borough.  "And  also  of  all  those  who  in  the  conventicle 
against  our  peace  shall  go  or  who  to  the  distiu'bance  of  our  people  by 
force  of  arms  shall  go  or  ride''^  or  presume  to  go  or  ride  (impostors  and 
others).  And  also  for  the  finding  out  of  all  those  who  for  the  killing  or 
slaying  of  our  nation  shall  lay  wait,"  &c.  To  be  heard  and  determined 
of  as  in  any  counties  of  our  realm  of  England,  without  any  other  com- 
mission or  letters  patent. 

32.  That  the  Mayor  Aldermen  and  Burgesses  and  their  successors  may 
have  and  shall  have  authority  and  shall  within  the  foresaid  Borough  be 
able  to  erect  and  have  a  pair  of  Gallows-'"'  for  the  hanging  of  all  those 
convicted  of  felonies  murders  and  other  misdemeanours  within  the  fore- 
said Borough  precincts  limits  and  liberties  of  the  same  who  shall  be  ad- 
judged to  be  hanged  according  to  the  laws  of  our  realm  of  England. 

33.  Power  to  imprison. 

34.  Henry  Shewell,  John  Gyll,  and  George  Nicoles,  to  be  the  three 
first  Aldermen  Justices  of  the  Peace. 

35.  The  Mayor  to  have  the  execution  and  return  of  all  His  Majesty's 
writs  within  the  Borough. 

36.  No  High  Sheriff,  &c.  to  enter  the  Borough  for  the  execution  of 
any  writ,  luiless  in  defect  of  the  Mayor  or  his  officers. 

(3.5)  "Going  or  riding"  signifies  going  or  riding  armed  in  the  day  or  night  to  the  terror 
of  the  people.  It  was  an  offence  at  common  law,  and  by  2ud  Edw.  III.,  cap.  3,  and  10th 
Ric.  II.,  cap.  1,  was  made  punishable  by  fine  and  imprisonment. 

(36)  See  the  situation  of  the  Gallows  in  1730  in  the  wood  cut,  p.  150. 


NEW  CHARTER,  Gtii  JAMES  I.  257 

37.  A  Coroner  to  be  appointed. 

38.  The  Mayor  to  be  Clerk  of  the  Market  and  Escheator. 

39.  A  grant  of  a  weekly  Wool  Market,  for  the  bepefit  of  the  poor  by 
providing  work  for  the  men  women  boys  and  girls  in  the  same  Borough, 
empowers  every  freeman  being  an  inhabitant  of  the  Borough  to  buy  and 
sell  Wools,  Threads,  Woollen  and  Linen,  to  be  kept  or  wrought  or  em- 
ployed by  labour  and  industry  within  the  foresaid  Borough,  for  the  shun- 
ning of  sloth  and  idleness,  &c.  And  because  the  Wools,  Threads,  &c., 
brought  into  the  Borough  on  the  days  whereon  the  said  market  shall  be 
holden,  may  arise  to  a  greater  quantity  than  shall  be  necessary  for  the 
setting  on  work  of  the  foresaid  poor,  it  is  granted  to  every  freeman  resi- 
dent within  the  Borough  that  they  may  sell  the  same  Wools,  Threads, 
Woollens,  and  Yarns,  within  any  city,  village,  or  borough  in  England ;  so 
that  the  foresaid  Wools,  Threads,  Woollens,  and  Yarns  to  be  sold  without 
the  foresaid  Borough  may  not  exceed  in  any  one  year  two  thousand 
Tods.^'  Together  with  a  court  of  piepowder  &c.  The  profits  of  the 
Wool  Market  to  be  for  the  use  and  public  good  of  the  Borough,  and  for 
the  sustenance  of  the  poor  and  infirm  inhabitants  of  the  same. 

40.  No  foreigner  or  person  not  a  freeman  to  sell  or  expose  to  sale 
within  the  Borough  any  merceries  merchandises  or  wares,  except  in  gross 
or  at  the  fairs,  under  a  penalty  of  6s. 

41.  Power  to  tax  the  inhabitants  in  any  matter  for  the  public  good  of 
the  town. 

42.  Two  Fairs  or  Marts  established,  namely,  "  one  of  them  on  the 
vigil  on  the  feast  and  on  the  day  after  the  feast  of  the  Annunciation  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin  Mary  And  the  other  on  the  first  Thursday  which  shall 
happen  next  before  the  feast  of  St.  Nicholas  the  Bishop  and  on  the  even 
and  the  day  after  the  same  day  every  year  for  ever  to  be  holden  for  and 
during  all  the  same  days    Together  with  a  court  of  piepowder,"  &c. 

43.  A  Horse  Market  to  be  held  every  Thursday,  with  a  court  of  pie- 
powder. 

44.  The  Mayor  and  Jvistices  shall  have  power  for  the  "punishment 
and  correction  of  all  and  singular  drunkards  and  of  all  and  singular 
whorehunters  strumpets  and  others  whatsoever  of  a  lascivious  and  incon- 
tinent living  and  of  all  and  singular  who  dishonestly  or  maliciously  by 
any  occasion  of  communicating  together  or  wicked  scolding  may  be 
named  or  in  English  may  be  called  scolds  brawlers  and  quarrellers." 

45.  Power  to  purchase  lands  not  exceeding  £40  per  annum. 

46.  One  wise  and  discreet  man  to  be  elected  who  shall  be  called  the 
common  writer  or  clerk,  in  English  the  Town  Clerk.  Nicholas  Awstin 
appointed  to  this  office  by  the  charter. 

47.  "And  because  that  many  are  poor  within  the  foresaid  Borough 
and  that  there  may  fitly  be  provided  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  and  susten- 
tation  of  the  said  inferior  men  and  other  the  men  and  women  inhabitants 
and  abiders  within  the  foresaid  Borough  Know  ye  therefore  that  we  of 
our  especial  grace  certain  knowledge  and  mere  motion  Will  and  grant 
and  by  these  presents  ordain  for  us  our  heirs  and  successors  That  for 
ever  there  shall  be  one  Hospital  in  the  foresaid  Borough  for  the  relieving 
and  sustentation  of  the  poor  and  inferior  men  and  other  the  men  and 
women  dwellers  and  inhabitants  in  the  foresaid  Borough  Which  said 
Hospital  shall  be  called  the  Hospital  of  our  sovereign  lord  James  the 
King  within  the  Borough  of  Banbury  in  the  county  of  Oxon  and  the  same 

(37)  A  Tod  of  Wool  (by  2nd  Chas.  I.)  is  28ffi.  The  "  Wolehowse  "  is  mentioned  in  the 
3rd  year  of  Edward  VI.;  and,  two  years  subsequently,  it  is  said  to  be  in  "  Sbepe  Strete." 
(See  pp.  212,  213,  in  the  note.)  Subsequently  to  this  grant,  by  the  charter,  of  a  Wool 
Market,  the  Corporation  accounts,  in  1610,  mention  the  making  of  the  "Howse  for  the 
wooll  market."  It  is  said  that  the  staple  hall  for  Wool  was  at  one  period  in  the  rooms 
over  the  Town  Gaol,  where  subsequently  the  Blue  Coat  School  was  kept;  (Rawlinson'sMSS., 
Topog.  Com.  Oxon;)  and  some  such  hooks  as  are  used  by  woolpackers  were  remaining  on 
the  beams  70  years  ago. 

2k 


258  NEW  CHARTER,  6th  JAMES  I. 


Oxon  we  have  firmly  by  these  presents  erected  ordained  founded  and 
established."  The  same  Hospital  to  be  of  four-and-twenty  poor  and  Aveak 
men  and  women  who  are  altogether  disabled  from  getting  their  living. 
"  And  that  om-  foresaid  intent  may  take  the  better  effect  and  that  the 
goods  and  chattels  manors  messuages  lands  tenements  rectories  tithes 
rents  reversions  revenues  annuities  and  other  the  profits  and  heredita- 
ments for  the  relief  and  sustentation  of  the  poor  and  weak  men  and 
women  in  the  same  Hospital  from  time  to  time  to  be  relieved  sustained 
granted  assigned  and  appointed  shall  be  the  better  governed  by  the  con- 
tinuance of  the  same  Hospital  We  will  grant  and  ordain  for  us  our  heirs 
and  successors  that  for  ever  hereafter  there  may  and  shall  according  to 
the  ordinances  in  these  letters  patent  contained  and  specified  be  elected 
named  and  assigned  one  discreet  man  who  shall  be  and  shall  be  called 
Guardian  of  the  foresaid  Hospital  and  three  honest  and  discreet  men 
at  the  least  who  shall  be  and  shall  be  called  Fellows  or  Brethren  of  the 
foresaid  Hospital  which  said  Guardian  and  Fellows  or  Brethren  shall  be 
and  shall  be  called  the  Governors  and  Brethren  of  the  goods  posses- 
sions and  revenues  of  the  Hospital  of  our  sovereign  lord  James  King 
of  England  within  the  Borough  of  Banbury  in  the  county  of  Oxon." 
And  "  We  have  elected  named  and  assigned  and  by  these  presents  do 
elect  name  and  assign  and  constitute  Edward  Wickham  clerk  being  and 
to  be  first  and  last  Guardian  of  the  Hospital  aforesaid  and  Thomas  Drope 
and  John  Dod  clerks  Richard  Wickham  Nicholas  Woodhall  and  Edward 
Meek  esquires  Martin  W^right  Thomas  Holloway  Thomas  Garway  Thomas 
Garner  William  Tayler  David  Floyd  Thomas  Wickham  William  Knight 
Thomas  Foster  and  Rowland  Bull  gents,  being  and  to  be  the  first  and  last 
Fellows  or  Brethren  of  the  goods  possessions  and  revenues  of  the  said 
Hospital  of  James  King  of  England  in  Banbury."  The  said  Governors 
and  Brethren  to  be  a  corporate  and  politick  body  and  to  have  ever- 
lasting succession.  To  have  a  common  seal.  To  be  in  law  capable  of 
holding  and  receiving  lands,  chattels,  &c.,  and  of  pleading  and  being 
impleaded.  To  be  able  to  receive  and  hold  to  the  sustentation  of  the 
foresaid  Hospital,  lands  &c.  not  exceeding  the  clear  yearly  value  of  forty 
pounds  per  annimi  besides  all  charges  and  reprises.  The  same  to  be  ap- 
plied to  no  other  purposes  whatsoever.  That  when  the  aforesaid  Guar- 
dian die  or  be  removed  by  the  King,  the  Brethren  surviving  may  elect  an 
honest  discreet  and  fit  man  to  supply  his  place.  That  when  either  of 
the  foresaid  Brethren  die  or  be  removed,  the  Guardian  and  others  the 
said  Brethren,  or  the  greater  part  of  them,  whereof  the  Guardian  shall  be 
one,  may  elect  a  successor.  And  that  the  said  Governors  and  Brethren 
may  elect  or  remove  at  their  pleasure  the  said  poor  and  Aveak  men  and 
women  to  the  foresaid  Hospital. 

48.  A  confirmation  to  the  mayor  aldermen  and  burgesses  of  all  former 
grants  and  privileges.'^ 

In  the  9th  year  of  James  I.  (1611-12),  the  Corporation  en- 
acted new  By-Laws,  under  the  powers  of  the  foregoing  Charter : — 

ABSTRACT  OF  THE  BY-LAWS  OF  THE  CORPORATION. 

9th  James  I." 

Recital  of  the  power  of  the  Common  Council  to  make  by-laws,  under  the 
new  charter.  The  manner  of  their  proceeding  to  the  Common  Hall  for 
the  election  of  mayor,  "in  such  decent  apparell  as  shall  befit  their  place 

(38)  Original  Charter,  and  a  Translation  thereof,  at  the  Town  Clerk's  office. 

(39)  By  the  oath  of  Jane  Newlove,  made  7th  June  1716,  it  appears  that  Philip  Style,  the 
deponent's  father,  had  been  Town  Clerk  of  the  Borough  ;  and  that  he,  having  taken  a  copy 


BY-LAWS  OF  THE  CORPORATION,  Otii  JAMES  I.      259 

and  callinge  and  such  gownes  as  tliey  now  vse  upon  such  occac'ons  or 
shall  hereafter  by  the  most  part  of  the  company  aforesaid  be  agreed 
upon  :"  every  defaulter  to  forfeit  20*.  Fine  for  not  attending  common 
halls,  or  for  departing  without  leave,  3s.  4rf.  Fine  for  councilmen  not 
conducting  themselves  "soberly,  discreetly,  and  peaceably,"  at  common 
halls,  3s.  4:d.  The  mayor  to  have  the  casting  vote.  The  manner  of 
choosing  the  mayor :  every  one  refusing  to  vote  or  not  giving  his  voice 
in  convenient  time  to  forfeit  20s.  The  Mayor  to  reside  within  the 
borough,  or  foi-feit  40s.  for  every  month  he  shall  be  absent  without  the 
consent  of  the  council.  Every  inhabitant  of  the  Borough  being  hereafter 
chosen  mayor,  justice,  chamberlain,  alderman,  burgess,  assistant,  con- 
stable, churchwarden,  tithiugman,  overseer  of  the  highways  or  of  the 
poor,  taster  of  victuals,  searcher  or  sealer  of  leather,  or  to  any  other 
office  within  the  said  Borough,  having  due  notice  or  knowledge  of  their 
election,  who  shall  refuse  or  deny  or  do  not  take  the  oath  and  exercise 
the  offices  to  which  they  respectively  shall  be  appointed,  shall  forfeit  to 
the  use  aforesaid  20s.  Every  inhabitant  "shall  be  of  good  behaviour 
as  well  in  words  as  deeds  towards  the  Mayor  Justices  of  the  Peace 
Aldermen  Capital!  Burgesses  and  other  Officers  there  and  shall  be- 
have them  towards  the  said  officers  with  due  respects  of  their  place 
and  calling  upon  pain  that  every  one  offending  shall  forfeit  3s.  4f/." 
"  Item  it  is  ordered  according  to  the  auntient  custome  of  this  Borough 
that  every  person  that  shall  break  his  Ma*'"^*  Peace  or  the  peace  of  his 
heirs  and  successors  within  the  said  Borough  by  any  blow  or  force 
offered  wherein  no  blood  is  shed  being  duely  convict  thereof  shall  pay 
3s.  4:d.  to  the  use  aforesaid  and  if  any  blood  be  shed  6s.  Srf.  and  the  party 
soe  breaking  the  peace  shall  be  com'itted  to  Prison  of  the  said  Borough 
untill  he  shall  make  payment  thereof."  "  Item  it  is  ordered  (as  by  tlie 
said  Letters  Pattente  is  granted)  That  the  said  Mayor  Aldermen  and 
Capital!  Burgesses  or  the  more  part  of  them  shall  have  power  and  au- 
thoi-ity  from  time  to  time  as  need  shall  require  to  tax  and  levy  as  well 
the  said  Mayor  Aldermen  and  Burgesses  as  alsoe  all  other  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  said  Borough  towards  the  Entertainement  of  his  Ma*'*'  the 
Prince  his  sonn  the  Queen  or  any  of  his  Ma*'"-'^  Royal  and 

towards  the  paveing  rayling  or  mending  the  Streets  repairing  the  Bridge 
keeping  of  Prisoners  the  Poor  and  house  of  Correcc'on 

maintaining  of  the  Prison  and  Prisoners  or  to  or  for  any  other  publick 
thought  needfull  to  be  done  in  or  about  the  said  Borough 
by  the  greater  part  of  the  said  Com'on  CounseU."  Persons  refusing 
to  pay  to  be  fined,  or  imprisoned  by  warrant  from  the  mayor  "for  want 
of  such  distresse  to  be  found."  Every  "  Forreigner  or  other  inhabi- 
tant "  that  shall  practise  "  any  trade  art  craft  mistery  science  or  oc- 
cupac'on  or  that  shall  be  a  scrivener  inneholder  innekeeper  victualler 
or  maulster  w"^in  the  said  Borough  &  practising  the  same  w^^in  the  s''  Bo- 
rough not  being  first  made  a  Freeman  of  the  s<i  Borough  by  the  most 
part  of  the  Com'on  Counsell  &  having  taken  his  oath  &  be  entred  into 
ye  Chamberlains  booke  of  the  s<i  Borough  shall  forfeit  s."  Every  one 
not  a  Freeman  who  shall  sell  or  expose  to  sale  or  cause  to  be  sold  or  put 
to  sale  any  wares  or  merchandise  within  the  Borough  or  the  liberties 
thereof,  "  otherwise  then  in  grosse  to  a  Freeman  or  upon  Markett  dayes 
or  Faire  dayes,"  to  forfeit  10s.  The  Common  Council  may  tax  "  every 
p'son  that  shall  come  to  the  said  faires  and  marketts  for  the  makeing 
cleane  the  Streets  for  their  more  convenient  standing  to  sell  their  said 


of  the  By-Laws  of  the  Corporation  made  under  the  foregoing  charter  and  allowed  10th 
March,  9th  James  I.,  called  the  Deponent  to  him  to  examine  the  same  by  the  Original ; 
which  copy,  made  on  eight  sheets  of  paper,  was  su'uscribed  by  both.  That  the  said  copy  was 
annexed  to  this  oath ;  and  that  Deponent  believed  she  had  heard  her  father  declare  that  it 
had  been  approved  and  made  use  of  as  a  true  co]>y.— Copy  of  the  By-Laws  remaining  in 
the  Town  Clerk's  Office. 

2  k3 


260        RECUSANTS  CONFINED  IN  BANBURY  CASTLE. 

merchandise  for  a  payment  to  be  made  quarterly  for  the  vse  aforesaid  so 
as  the  same  exceed  not  \2d.  ?-  quarter  at  most."  Every  felon  committed 
to  the  Common  Gaol  shall  pay  for  his  delivery  to  the  gaoler  such  fees  as 
are  paid  in  the  county.  Every  one  committed  for  misdemeanour,  "if 
he  he  com'itted  to  the  Com'on  Goale  4fZ. :  if  to  the  other  of  the  better 
sort  6d.  :  and  for  every  one  that  is  bound  by  recognisance  \2d."  Any 
tradesman  &c.  taking  or  retaining  "any  p'son  to  dwell  wth  him  or  them 
to  learne  the  said  p'son  his  or  their  art  trade  mistery  science  or  oc- 
then  seaven  years  in  good  and  plaine  meaning,"  or 


taking  any  married  man  apprentice  without  consent  of  the  Council,  or 
taking  any  "  coiderably,"  or  sufiering  an  apprentice  to  serve  [out  of?] 
the  said  Borough  for  a  longer  time  than  six  months,  shall  forfeit  £5.     Re- 


gulations, fees,  and  fines  concerning  apprentices  and  freemen.     "  Iten: 
Whereas  in  all  Christian  societies  for  the  better  performance  of  our  dutj 


Item 

.  ty 

to  Allmighty  God  it  is  requisite  that  spetiall  care  be  had  of  his  Sabboth 
com'only  called  Sondays  It  is  therefore  ordered  that  if  any  Inhabitant 
w'l'in  the  said  Borough  doe  at  any  time  hereafter  make  or  procure  any 
other  to  worke  by  excerciseing  or  putting  in  vse  any  art  trade  handy  craft 
mistery  science  or  occupac'on  ^NH^^  the  s*i  Borough  upon  any  such  Sab- 
both day  unlesse  it  be  upon  com'andm'  for  the  Princes  service  or  upon 
some  necessary  occac'on  to  be  approved  by  the  mayor  and  two  of  the 
aldermen  or  burgesses  for  the  time  being  before  the  thing  be  done  or  if 
any  such  Inhabitant  shall  sell  or  put  or  offer  to  sale  any  goods  merchan- 
dises or  wares  upon  the  Sabboth  day  (necessary  victualls  to  be  sold  out 
of  Devine  Service  only  excepted)  Or  if  any  baker  butcher  vintner  or 
any  other  victualler  shall  set  open  any  shop  doore  or  window  or 
such  necessary  victualls  in  any  other  place  then  at  his  dwelling  house 
Or  if  any  butcher  shall  kill  any  upon  the  Sabboth  day  that 

every  such  p'son  soe  offending  for  every  such  default  shall  pay  to  the  vse 
aforesaid  ."     Against  unlawful  games  on  the  Sabboth  :  the  mayor 

or  his  deputy  and  one  other  justice  to  decide,  but  not  to  inflict  more  than 
2't  hours'  imprisonment.  Concerning  the  accounts.  Concerning  the  re- 
covery of  fines.  All  which  Orders  Ordinances  and  Constitutions  were 
allowed  by  the  Justices,  Sir  Christopher  Yelverton  and  Sir  Edward  Wil- 
Hams;  subject  to  revision  if  found  prejudicial,  or  if  any  were  vexed  or 
troubled  in  body  or  goods  by  the  abusing  of  these  orders  ;  and  also  to  be 
regarded  as  nugatory  if  hurtful  to  the  King's  prerogative,  &c. 

Oil  the  11  til  October  1612,  tlie  following  letter  occurs  from  Sir 
Autliony  Cope  to  Sir  Julius  Csesar,  chancellor  of  the  Exchequer : — 

"  Maye  it  please  yo""  Hono""  to  be  advertised  we  have  comitted  the 
Ladye  Stoner,  and  some  fyve  oth'  gentellwomen  of  our  Cuntrey  for  ther 
recusancye  to  the  Shreifes  custodye  to  be  brought  to  the  Castell  of  Ban- 
burye  according  to  the  Councell'  letters,  by  his  Ma''^  to  us  directed, 
myselfe  being  imployed  by  the  Justices,  to  see  the  Castell  made  readye, 
doe  fynde  one  Downes,  a  tean'ant  ther  sett  in  by  the  latte  Lord  Saye 
muche  discontented,  &  verye  unwilling  to  remove,  My  Lo.  Saye  looking 
in  his  letters  Pattent'  fyndethe  the  graunt  to  be  absolut  for  three  Lyves 
w"'out  reservation  or  condition,  being  bound,  both  to  paye  rent  &  keepe 
repayr,  the  tenant,  therfore,  haveing  taken  a  lease  from  the  late  Lo.  Saye 
thinkethe  it  a  hard  measure  for  him  to  be  removed,  notw'i'standing  for 
y'  the  recusant'  have  bin  formerlye  placed  ther  upon  suche  occasion  as 
this  is,  I  have  caused  the  house  to  be  made  in  suche  a  readynes  as  it 
maye  be  desiering  yo""  bono''  y'  some  respect  might  be  had  to  him  y*  is 


SIR  WILLIAM  COPE,  OF  HANWELL.  201 

the  tenant,  for  some  losse  he  is  lyke  to  susteyne  by  his  sudeyne  removal. 
So  w*  Remembrance  of  my  dutye,  I  leave  you  to  God. 

Yo""  Hono''  to  be  Comanded 

Anthony  Cope."" 
"  Hanwell  this  11th  of  October  1612. 

"  To  the  Right  Ho*''''^  S--  Julius  Ceeser 
Knight  Chauncell'  of  his  Ma''"  Ex- 
cheqr  be  these." 

Sir  William  Cope,  son  of  Sir  Antliony  Cope,  was  returned  for 
Banbury  to  the  three  first  Parliaments  of  James  I. ;  namely,  iu 
1603-4,  1(314  (in  which  Parliament  his  father  sat  for  the  county), 
and  1620-21.*^  Previously  to  his  father's  death  he  resided  at 
Hardwick.''"  He  was  knighted  by  James  the  First  (soon  after  that 
monarch's  arrival  in  England),  at  the  Charter  House,  11th  May 
1603."^  On  the  death  of  Sir  Anthony  in  1614  he  succeeded  to 
the  baronetage.  In  1616  he  was  to  have  been  raised  to  the 
peerage  as  a  Baron  ;  but,  on  his  hesitating  to  pay  the  exorbitant 
sum  of  c€  10,000,  which  was  demanded  by  the  venal  ministry  of 
that  period  as  the  price  of  a  barony,  a  more  compliant  candidate 
for  the  honour  of  the  peerage  was  found  in  the  person  of  Sir 
Philip  Stanhope,  who  was  accordingly  created  a  baron.  "  Your 
cousin  S"'  William  Cope,"  writes  Mr.  Chamberlain  to  Sir  Dudley 
Carleton,  12th  October  1616,  "hath  long  been  in  treaty  with  Mr. 
Secretary  to  be  made  a  Baron:  but  he  hath  dallied  and  delayed 
so  long  that  now  at  last  he  hath  fully  concluded  with  Sir  Philip 
Stanhope.  The  agreement  is  £2,000  presently,  c£'4,000  at  mid- 
summer, and  c£4,000  at  this  time  twelvemonth."''^ 

Sir  William  Cope  married,  at  Hanwell  in  1602,  Elizabeth  Cha- 
worth,  (see  p.  240,  in  note  51,)  daughter  of  liis  father's  second 
wife  (Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Paston  of  Paston  in  Norfolk,) 
by  her  former  husband  Sir  George  Chaworth  of  Wiverton  in 
Nottuighamshire.^^  Sir  William  was  honoured  with  a  visit  from 
James  the  First  and  his  Queen  at  Hanwell,  from  the  22nd  to  the 

(40)  Lansdowne  MS.,  161,  fol.  310.  Recusants  were  such  Roman  Catholics  as  refused  to 
take  the  oath  of  supremacy  or  to  conform  in  matters  of  religion. 

(41)  Willis's  Notit.  Pari.  (43)  Dedication  of  one  of  Dod's  works  to  him. 

(43)  Nichol's  Progresses  of  James  I.,  v.  1,  p.  115. 

(44)  Nichol's  Progresses,  V.  3,  p.  191.  Sir  Philip  Stanhope  was  created  Baron  Stanhope 
of  Shelford  co.  Nottingham,  7th  Nov.  1616;  and  Earl  of  Chesterfield  in  16-28.— Collins's 
Peerage,  v.  3,  p.  267. 

(45)  With  her,  who  was  Sir  George  Chaworth's  sole  heir,  he  acquired  the  manor  and 
estate  of  Marnham  in  Nottinghamshire,  and  other  considerable  property  :  and  by  her  he  had 
issue  three  sons.  Sir  John  Cope,  Anthony,  and  Jonathan,  (which  last  inherited  Rauton 
Abbey  and  Ellenhall  in  Staffordshire  under  his  father's  will,  and  founded  the  family  of  the 
Copes  of  Brewem  in  Oxfordshire  and  Ranton  Abbey,  baronets,  who  eventually  succeeded 
to  the  greater  part  of  the  family  estates  in  Oxfordshire,)  and  two  daughters. 


262  SIR  WILLIAM  POPE,  EARL  OF  DOWNE. 

24th  August  1624,  on  their  Majesties'  return  from  Warwick 
Castle."'*'  In  the  same  year  he  was  chosen  representative  of  the 
count}-  of  Oxford  in  the  last  Parliament  of  James  I.  He  died 
2nd  August  1(337,  and  was  buried  in  Hanwell  church  the  day  after, 
but  his  obsequies  were  solemnly  celebrated  there  on  the  22nd  Au- 
gust.    Sir  WiUiam's  brother,  Richard  Cope,  resided  at  Calthorp."^ 

James  the  First  paid  a  visit  to  WrOXTON,  where,  Warton 
says,  he  was  entertained,  "probably  in  the  old  Abbey-house,"  by 
Sir  William  Pope,  and  diverted  with  the  amusements  of  hawk- 
ing and  bearbaiting.'*^  It  appears,  however,  from  the  evidence 
given  in  the  note,  that  this  visit  took  place  after  the  erection  of 

(46)  Nichol's  Progresses ;  and  MS.  Journal  of  Sir  Simon  Archer. 

(47)  Parish  Reg.  Richard  Cope  afterwards  went  to  Ireland,  where  he  obtained  an  estate 
in  the  county  of  Monaghan,  and  ultimately  settled  at  Drunilly  in  the  county  of  Armagh 
and  was  ancestor  of  the  familv  there  now  extinct  in  the  male  line.  (Lodge's  Irish  Peerage.) 
He  died  in  1628. 

(48)  Warton's  Life  of  Sir  T.  Pope,  p.  438.  Nichol  says  (but  afterwards  disputes  the 
fact)  that  this  visit  to  Wroxton  was  paid  by  the  King  on  the  same  day  that  he  was  at  Han- 
well with  Sir  Anthony  Cope,  namely  the  20th  August  1605.  (Progresses,  v.  1,  p.  627.) 
Warton  mentions,  that  on  the  occasion  of  the  visit  of  James  I.  to  Wroxton,  the  lady  of  Sir 
William  Pope  had  been  lately  delivered  of  a  daughter,  and  that  the  babe  was  presented  to 
the  King,  holding  in  her  hand  the  following  verses,  which  are  believed  to  have  been  written 
by  Richard  Corbet,  afterwards  the  Bishop,  and  then  a  young  student  at  Christ  Church  ; 
with  which  verses  his  Majesty  is  said  to  have  been  highly  pleased : — 

"  See  this  little  mistres  here, 
Did  never  sit  in  Peter's  chaire. 
Or  a  triple  crowne  did  wearc ; 

And  yet  she  is  a  Pope. 
"  No  benefice  she  ever  sold, 
Nor  did  dispence  with  sins  for  gold  ; 
She  hardly  is  a  sev'nnight  old. 

And  yet  she  is  a  Pope. 
"  No  King  her  feet  did  ever  kisse. 
Or  had  from  her  worse  look  than  this : 
Nor  did  she  ever  hope. 
To  saint  one  with  a  rope ; 
And  yet  she  is  a  Pope. 
A  female  Pope  youU  say,  a  second  Joan  ; 
No  sure — she  is  Pope  Innocent  or  none." 
The  two  sons  of  Sir  William  Pope,  William  and  Thomas,  were  born  in  1596  and  1598  ; 
but  the  date  of  the  birth  of  bis  only  known  daughter,  Anne,  does  not  seem  to  be  on  record, 
either  in  the  register  of  Wroxton  or  elsewhere.    This  Anne  appears  to  have  died  unmar- 
ried : — "  Anne  Lady  Pope  was  buried  July  13th  "  1629  (Register  of  Wroxton). 

In  the  Royal  Progress  of  1618,  James  the  First,  on  the  2oth  June,  visited  Sir  Thomas 
Watson,  at  Halstead  in  Kent ;  whose  daughter  (and  only  child)  Elizabeth  was  married  to 
Sir  (for  he  was  then  knighted)  William  Pope,  son  of  the  above-named  Sir  William  Pope. 
It  was  here,  according  to  other  accounts,  that  the  above  verses  were  presented  to  the  King, 
namely,  by  the  hand  of  the  infant  granddaughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Watson  and  eldest  child 
of  Sir  Winiam  Pope  knight.  (Cotton.  MS.,  Titus,  C.  vii.  fol.  96,  b.)  This  infant,  Anne 
Pope,  was  christened  at  Wroxton  on  the  5th  January  1617  (Register  of  Wroxton);  and, 
consequently,  poetic  license  must  be  allowed  in  the  above  verses  as  regards  her  age  at  the 
date  of  the  Royal  visit.    The  Cotton  MS.  referred  to  above  has  the  line  thus : — 

"  She  scarcely  is  a  quarter  olde." 
Her  only  sister  was  Elizabeth,  born  at  Halstead  December  19th  1618. 

Nichol,  in  another  place,  speakhig  of  the  Royal  Progress  in  1619,  says  : — "  On  the  23rd 
of  August  his  Majesty  was  probably  at  Wroxton,  the  seat  of  Sir  William  Pope,  baronet, 
aTid  afterwards  Earl  of  Downe."  (Progresses,  v.  3,  p.  663.)  The  evidences  he  gives  are ; — 
1st,  a  letter  of  Mr.  Chamberlain  to  Sir  Dudley  Carleton,  dated  June  5th  1619,  wherein  he 
says,  that  on  the  18th  July  the  King  intends  to  begin  "  his  Progress  northward,  as  far  as 


MANSION  AT  WROXTON  ERECTED.  '-203 

the  present  mansion  at  Wroxton.  Sir  William  was  the  only  sur- 
viving son  of  John  Pope  of  Wroxton  (the  brother  of  Sir  Thomas 
Pope,  see  p.  219),  and  was  born  in  1573.  On  the  arrival  of  James 
the  First  in  England  he  had  been  created  knight  of  the  bath,  in 
the  great  gallery  of  St.  James's  Palace,  July  24th  1603  ;  and 
on  May  22nd  1611  he  was  created  a  baronet.  He  erected 
the  present  mansion  at  Wroxton,  which  was  finished  in  1618, 
on  the  site  of  the  ancient  Priory  .''^  Some  portions  of  the  old 
buildings  (which  are  reputed  to  have  been  destroyed  by  fire)  were 
retained  ;  these  have  been  partially  noticed  in  p.  84.  The  kitchen 
and  dormitory  may  yet  be  traced;  and  also  the  ancient  cellars, 
beneath  the  present  hall. 

The  west  front  of  the  present  mansion  at  Wroxton  extends 
118  feet  in  length :  the  porch  is  a  very  elegant  specimen  of  the 
Italian  decorated  entrances  so  frequently  attached  to  buildings  of 
this  period.  The  hall  measures  45i  feet  from  north  to  south 
by  24 1  feet  from  east  to  west :  at  the  south  end  is  the  highly- 
decorated  screen  of  the  music  gallery,  which  is  supported  on 
columns,  leaving  the  space  beneath  the  gallery  open :  the  pendant 
in  the  centre  of  the  ceiling,  intended  for  the  suspension  of  the 
lights,  is  extremely  elegant :  the  stags'  heads  introduced  into  the 
walls  are  also  striking  ornaments.  The  dining  room  measures 
39i  by  21  feet,  and  is  decorated  with  a  beautifully  enriched  ceil- 
ing. The  chapel  measures  27  feet  2  inches  by  16  feet  10  inches: 
the  ancient  window  thereof  (see  p.  84)  is  decorated  with  stained 
glass  by  Van  Ling.  The  Lord  Keeper  Guilford  (who  became 
possessed  of  W^roxton  by  his  marriage  with  the  Lady  Frances  Pope, 
daughter  and  heiress  of  Thomas  third  earl  of  Downe,  in  the  reign 
of  Charles  the  Second,)  made  some  additions  to  the  mansion ;  and, 
in  the  present  century,  Francis,  fourth  Earl  of  Guilford,   erected 

Eoyston,  Nottingham,  Derby,  and  so,  by  Warwick  and  Sir  W.  Pope's,  to  Woodstock,"  &c. 
(p.  552.)  •.—2nd,  that  Wroxton  is  directly  on  the  road,  and  about  half  way,  between  War- 
wick, where  the  King  was  on  the  21st  August,  and  Woodstock,  where  he  stayed  on  the 
25th: — 3rd,  an  inscription  formerly  remaining  in  a  small  mansion,  called  the  Chicken 
House,  at  Hampstead  ;  where  was  formerly  some  well-executed  stained  glass,  representing 
in  one  window  a  small  portrait  of  James  the  First,  and  a  label  beneath  it  as  follows: — "  Icy 
dans  cette  chambre  concha  nostre  Roy  Jacques,  premier  de  nom,  le  23me  Aoust,  1619." 
Now  it  is  certain  that  the  King  was  not  at  Hampstead  on  the  23rd  August :_  the  glass  must 
therefore  have  been  made  for  some  other  place  ;  and  it  is  not  unlikely  that  it  was  designed 
for  Sir  William  Pope's  new  mansion  at  Wroxton,  which  had  been  completed  just  before 
this  date,  in  1618,  and  on  the  execution  of  some  windows  of  which  the  eminent  Dutch 
artist  in  glass,  Van  Ling,  was  employed.  Nichol  adds  that  the  Wroxton  glass  was  disper- 
sed, part  of  it  now  embellishing  theDuke  of  Buckingham's  Gothic  Temple  at  Stow.  (P. 
563.) 
(49)  Warton's  Life  of  Sir  T.  Pope,  pp.  433—438. 


264         PETER  ALLIBOND  :— SHAKERLEY  MARMION. 

the  spacious  and  elegant  library,  after  a  plan  by  Smirke.'^"  The 
mansion  contains  many  portraits  of  the  families  of  Pope  and 
North :  among  which  are  an  original  of  Sir  Thomas  Pope,  by 
Holbein ;  one  of  Sir  William  Pope,  first  Earl  of  Downe,  by  Van- 
somer ;  two  of  the  Lord  Keeper,  by  Sir  Peter  Lely  and  Riley ; 
and  one  of  Lord  North  the  Premier,  by  Dance. 

Sir  WilUam  Pope  was  by  Charles  the  First,  in  1629,  made  Baron 
of  Belltm-bett  and  Earl  of  Downe  in  Ireland.  He  died  July  2nd 
1631,  at  Wroxton,  and  was  buried  in  the  church,  on  the  north 
side  of  the  altar  :  over  his  remains,  and  those  of  his  lady  (Anne 
daughter  of  Sir  Owen  Hopton)  who  died  in  1625,  was  erected 
the  magnificent  alabaster  monument  before  mentioned  (p.  123).^^ 

The  Plague  visited  Banbury  in  1623  (21st  James  I.)  ;  at  which 
period  twenty-six  deaths  by  Plague  are  recorded  in  a  part  of  the 
original  register  which  has  not  been  transcribed  into  the  parchment 
copy. 

Peter  Allibond,  '*  an  ingenious  man  in  the  opinion  of  all  that 
knew  him,"  was  bom  at  Wardington  about  the  year  1569,  became 
a  student  of  Magdalene  Hall,  travelled,  and  was  afterwards  rector 
of  Cheyneys  in  Buckinghamshire.  He  was  the  author  of  several 
works,  and  died  in  1628  and  was  buried  at  Cheneys.^'  Shakerley 
Marmion  (who  was  descended  from  the  ancient  and  noble  family 
of  the  Marmions  of  Scrivelsby,  in  whom  was  vested  the  right  to 
the  chivalric  office  of  the  King's  Champion  at  coronations,)  was 
a  dramatic  writer  and  poet,  and  was  born  at  the  manor-house  of 
his  father,  at  Aynho,  and  baptized  21st  Jan.  1602-3.  He  became 
a  commoner  of  Wadham  College,  Oxford,  and  died  in  1639.^^ 

Sir  Erasmus  Dryden,  bart.,  was  returned  member  for  Banbury 
to  the  Parliament  of  1623-4.^^ 

(50)  There  is,  in  Skelton's  Oxfordshire,  an  engraving  of  the  hall  and  beautiful  screen  at 
"Wroxton,  and,  on  the  title  page,  an  engraving  of  the  west  front  of  the  mansion :  and  in 
Nash's  Mansions  of  England  in  the  Olden  Time  there  are  engravings  of  the  porch  and  hall. 

(51)  Warton's  Life  of  Sir.  T.  Pope,  pp.  435,  6.  (52)  Wood's  Athense. 

(53)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  559  ;  Mannion's  Cupid  and  Psyche,  reprinted  in  1820.  Mar- 
mion's  works  are:— 1,  Some  fugitive  pieces  which  are  dispersed  in  different  pu'olioations : — 
2,  Holland's  Leaguer,  a  Comedy,  4to.,  1632  and  1633 : — 3,  A  Fine  Companion,  a  Comedy, 
4to.,  1633 : — 4,  A  Morall  Poem,  entitled  the  Legend  of  Cupid  and  Psyche,  or  Cupid  and  his 
Mistris,  4to.,  1637: — 5,  The  Antiquary,  a  Comedy,  4to.,  1641.  He  also  wrote,  but  never 
printed,  "  The  Crafty  Merchant,  or  the  Soldier  turned  Citizen,"  a  Comedy. 

The  "  manor  of  Aynhoo,  alias  Aynehoo,  alias  Ayno,  alias  Aynhoo  on  the  hill,  alias 
Eynhoo,"  with  capital  messuage  and  lands,  was  sold  b)'  the  father  of  the  dramatist  to 
Richard  Cartwright,  of  the  Inner  Temple,  Esq.,  in  1615,  for  the  sum  of  £5250.— Baker, 
p.  548. 

(54)  Willis's  Notit.  Pari.  By  the  marriage  of  one  of  the  Drydens  with  the  daughter  of 
Sir  John  Cope  in  the  early  part  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  the  Dryden  family  came 
into  possession  of  Canons  Ashby.  Sir  John  Cope  here  mentioned  was  a  younger  son  of 
William  Cope  the  Cofferer.  Sir  Erasmus  Dryden,  the  member  for  Banbury,  was  the  grand- 
father of  the  poet  John  Dryden. — Baker's  Northamp. 


THE  TOWN  ARMOUR.  26.") 

The  following  items  occur  during  this  reign,  among  the  accounts 
&c.  of  the  Corporation  : — 

1603.  A  Note  of  Leases  mentions  a  lease  dated  42nd  Eliz.,  to  Thomas 
Whateley,  of  "the  Leather  HalP^  andstalles  vnd'  it  for  9  yeres." 

1612.  "The  18  of  Aprilh  Whereas  seu'all  somes  of  money  were 
expended  about  c'tayn  Suyts  &  ohtayning  of  the  Chrt'  of  this  Borough 
&  Charges  about  the  suyt  of  the  Crosse  and  other  things  the  int'tayne- 
ment  of  the  King  tlie  buyhling  of  the  W^ool  Hall  and  other  busynesses 
conc'ning  the  Corporac'on  w"^''  said  seu'all  somes  are  now  paied  out  of 
the  private  purses  of  the  maior  ald'men  and  burgesses  chamb'lyn  &  towne 
dark  of  this  Boroxigh  as  by  a  p'ticuler  note  here  vnd'  wryghten  may 
appeare  It  is  fully  agreed  by  all  the  said  company  ye  maior  ald'men  & 
bui-gesses  that  as  any  money  shal  be  receaued  to  the  vse  of  the  saide 
corporacon  the  same  shal  at  cu'y  account  be  devided  p'portionally  to 
eu'y  one  of  them  "  till  their  several  debts  be  paid. 

1612.  "  To  Henry  Sharpe  for  the  Kings  p'visc'on —     405.     — 

To  M'  W™  Knight  chamb'lyn  for  glasing  of  the  Court^ 

Hall  for  iorons  &  other  things  for  tlie  prisons  for  paving  the  |  ^,  ,  .  ,^  , 
castell  orchard  lane  repayring  of  the  Almshowse  &  such  [  ' 

like  things j 

For  the  armor  swords  daggars  &c    

For  the  muster  m'' " 

5th  Oct.  1612.  Ordered  "that  eu'y  day  laborer  of  this  Borough  shall 
eu'y  working  dale  that  he  lacketh  worke  goe  to  the  leather  all  by  six  of 
the  clock  in  the  mornyng  &  there  tarry  one  hower  at  the  least  uulesse  he 
be  hiered  vppon  payne  that  eu'y  laborer  fayliiig  herein  &  being  found 
idle  shall  for  eu'y  tyme  so  fayling  be  sett  in  the  Stockes  two  bowers.  And 
that  noe  handicraftsman  be  geared  or  goe  to  daie  labor  out  of  harnesse 
if  he  may  have  work  at  his  owne  occupac'on  or  trade  vppon  payne  of 
eu'y  one  offending  herein  to  be  set  in  the  Stockes  two  bowers  for  eu'y 
tyme  soe  offendinge." 

1613.  "  Rec  of  Richard  Devill  for  frayes  and  bloudsheds     —  xix*.  — " 

1615.     "  Of  Rychard  Devill  Constable —      xs.      — 

Of  M''  Edons  for  Alsopps  quart  potts  being  to  lyttle   ....     —      xs.      — 

Ani'cem''  for  victualling  w"'out  lycence  &c    —    xxs.   —  " 

"  It  is  agreed  this  15th  of  January  1615  that  Barth.  Nayler  shalbe  payd 

half  yearelye  xs.  to  the  mendying  and  dressing  of  armor  belonging  to 
the  towne  and  his  first  paym'  is  to  begyn  at  the  Lady  day  next  and  the 
Chamb'lyn  to  pay  it     And  he  must  keepe  a  noate  of  the  armor  " 
[There  is  afterwards  added]  : — 

"M'ch  the  11.   1617.     A  Note  of  all  the  Armo'  that  belongeth 
vnto  the  Bourovigh  of  Banburie 

Imp'm'  3  Cosletts  furnished 

4  Musketts  furnished." 

1615.  [Payd]  "  For  our  supp'  at  the  Lyon —  xxjs.    xd. 

For  our  suppers    —  xvjs.  vijd. 

For  wyne  and  lyghts    —     ijs.     ij(/. 

For  warning  of  the  watch    —  iiJ5.  iiijf/." 

1616.  "  For  the  Companyes  dynners —     xls.      — " 

In  this  year,  a  list  of  the  "  Towne  Rents"  gives  ten  names  in  "  Brige 

North;"  six  in  "Persons  lane  M'ket  place  Bread  Crosse;"  four  in  the 
"Horsemarkett ;"  thirteen  in  "Brige  Southe  &  New  Land;"  four  in 
"North  Barr;"  eight  in  "St.  Johns;"  and  twelve  in  "  Sheepe  Street." 

1617.  "Rec-i  of  Willm   Maunder  Thomas   Vdall   and\  „„,     ,, 
Robert  Kinge  Constables   /  ''^'-    ^^^-    ~ 

(.5.3)  The  Leather  Hall,  at  a  later  date,  was  the  building  on  the  north  side  of  High  Street 
or  the  south  side  of  the  Butchers'  Kow,  since  converted  into  the  shop  and  dwelling-house 
now  occupied  by  Mr.  Perry. 

2  L 


260  KNOLLYS,  EARL  OF  BANBURY. 

"  Whereof  Paid  vnto  Will'm  jSIaund''  for  his  layiiige  out\  ^ -^     j.       q^_ 

for  the  Kinge's  p'viscon j 

Paid  alsoe  vnto  M'  Wynge  for  traine  souldiers  &  the\^_       g        q,. 

Kings  proviscon    _ ,••.•••,•.•••■"■-'    i         i      , 

ltil9.  "  A  Note  of  all  the  Companies^  wh  m  this  Bourough  and  what 
they  paid  yearelye  for  their  orders. 

Itm  Of  the  M'cers  Companye —      xs.      — 

Itm  Of  the  Drap's  Companye —      vs.      — 

Itm  Of  the  Bakers  Companye —      x*.      — 

Itm  Of  the  Glov's  Companye —      X5.      — 

Itm  Of  the  Smithes  Companye    —  vjs.   vnjf/. 

Itm  Of  the  Shu'  makers  Company —  vj*.  v'njd." 

"  PJ  M' Mavor  for  the  super  at  ou' court   —    xlvjs.    — 

Pd  for  a  cak  &  sack —  viijs.  vjc?." 

1620.  "  Paied  Thom  Wynge  for  the  muster  master  fori  j^        g 

the  last  yeare     _•  • J 

Paied  unto  the  Constables  for  the  Kinges  p'vision 5.       1.       8." 

1621.  "  Paid  M"^  Edens  "  (he  was  Town  Clerk)  "  for  his  "I 

chardges  when  he  went  to  London  w*  the  Charter  and  for  Vxxxijs.  vjd." 
his  horse  hier — ) 

1624.  "The  Constables  accompt  p' Andrewe  Ansely  the ^  I.  s.  d. 
receipt  for  the  Sesement  made  for  his  Ma*""  p'vision  and  Vxiiij  ij  viij 
other  expences  cometh    )   I-      s.       d. 

Ther  remaineth  vngathered  of  the  same  Seasement    iij  xviij   xj." 


KNOLLYS,  EARL  OF  BANBURY. 

Sir  Francis  Knollys  was  a  fellow  minister  of  the  great  Cecil, 
being  Treasurer  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  household.  He  had  mar- 
ried Catharine,  the  daughter  of  Mary  BuUen  (sister  to  the  Queen's 
mother,  Ann  BuUen) :  his  second  son  by  this  marriage  was  Sir 
WilHam  KnowUs,  or  Knollys,  who  succeeded  his  father  in  his  office 
at  court.  In  the  1st  year  of  James  L  (1603),  Sir  William  was 
advanced  to  the  title  of  Baron  Knollys  of  Greys:  in  1608  he 
was,  by  the  charter  to  Banbury,  made  High  Steward  of  the 
Borough  and  Justice  of  the  Peace.  In  1616,  he  was  created  Vis- 
count Wallingford;  and,  in  the  1st  Charles  I.  (1625),  Earl  OF 
Banbury.  He  continued  to  be  High  Steward  of  Banbury  until 
his  death  in  1632.  The  Knollys  family  resided  at  Greys  Court, 
at  Rotherfield  Greys  in  Oxfordshire  .- 

(1)  In  1687  there  is  record  of  a  deed  of  Covenants  between  the  Mayor  and  the  Company 
of  Woollen  Drapers  in  Banbury.  In  more  recent  accounts  of  the  Corporation  are  entries 
of  the  Smiths'  Company  paying  6s.  &Z.  as  late  as  1747;  the  Glovers'  Company  10s.  in  1763 
and  1770;  and  the  Shoemakers'  Company  their  "annual  acknowledgment"  6s.  Sd., 
regularly,  till  the  year  1800.  Freedoms,  besides  those  of  the  members  of  the  Common 
Council,  were  taken  up  as  late  as  1803 ;  chiefly  or  wholly  by  publicans. 

By  the  Freemen's  oath,  every  Freeman  was  required  to  bear  truth  to  the  King ;  to  aid  his 
Justices  and  Ofiicers  ;  to  maintain  the  liberties  and  customs  of  the  Borough ;  to  contribute  to 
all  charges ;  and  to  warn  the  Mayor  and  Justices  of  any  gatherings  against  the  King's  peace. 
—  Corporation  Records. 

['i)  In  the  church  of  Rotherfield  Greys  is  the  burial  place  of  the  Knollys  family,  wherein 


REV.  WILLIAM  WHATELEY.  267 

The  Earl  of  Banbury  had  two  sons  (at  least  so  said  the  after 
claimant  of  the  title)  f  Edward,  who  died  without  issue  ;  and 
Nicholas,  claimant  of  the  title.  This  Nicholas  was  reputed  to 
be  the  son  of  Edward,  fourth  Lord  Vaux,  who  married  the 
Earl  of  Banbury's  second  wife  and  widow ;  but  he  was  born  be- 
fore the  decease  of  the  Earl.  The  claimant  was  only  once 
summoned  to  Parliament,  namely  in  1660.  His  son,  Charles 
KnoUys,  also  preferred  a  claim  to  the  earldom  of  Banbury,  but 
received  no  summons. 


WILLIAM  WHATELEY,  VICAR  OF  BANBURY. 

This  noted  Puritan  divine  was  born  at  Banbury,  and  was 
Vicar  of  the  place  during  the  greater  part  of  the  reigns  of  the 
First  James  and  Charles.  As  a  preacher,  his  fame  was  so  great, 
that,  as  the  biographer  of  Mede  says,  some  "  great  wits "  would 
often  "  slip  out  of  Oxford  on  purpose  to  hear  him,  and  came  at 
first  with  prejudice  enough." 

William  Whateley  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Joyce 
Whateley  of  Banbury,  and  born  on  the  2 1st  May  1583:"  his  fa- 
ther was  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  twice  mayor,  of  the  Borough. 
The  youth  received  the  rudiments  of  his  education  at,  or  in  the 
neighbourhood  of,  Banbury:  Scudder  says^  his  "ripenesse  in 
grammer  learning  in  Latine,  Greeke,  and  Hebrew,  was  so  earely, 
that  about  the  fourteenth  yeare  of  his  age  he  was  sent  to  Christ's 
CoUedge   in   Cambridge ;    where    God   provided   him   and   me   a 

is  a  monument  of  elaborate  workmanship,  which  was  raised  by  William  Earl  of  Banbury. 
Under  a  canopy  supported  by  pillars  of  black  marble,  lie  the  effigies  of  Sir  Francis  Knollys 
and  his  lady ;  by  whose  side  is  the  effigy  of  a  child  who  died  when  an  infant.  Seven  soils 
and  six  daughters,  with  the  countess  of  Banbury  (daughter-in-law),  are  represented  kneel- 
ing, on  two  of  the  sides.  In  the  upper  part  of  the  monument  the  Earl  of  Banbury  is 
represented  with  his  lady,  robed,  and  kneeling  before  a  desk  and  open  book. 

Fuller  thus  ^vTites  of  the  contemporary  families  of  Knollys  and  Norris : — "  No  county 
in  England  can  present  such  a  brace  of  families  cotemporaries,  with  such  a  bunch  of 
brethren  on  either,  for  eminent  achievements.  So  great  their  states  and  stomachs,  that  they 
often  justled  together:  and  no  wonder  if  Oxfordshire  wanted  room  for  them,  when  all 
England  could  not  hcJd  them  together."  The  family  of  Knollys  is  represented  as  shining 
most  in  the  court ;  that  of  Norris  in  the  camp.  "  Queen  Elizabeth  loved  the  Knowlls  for 
themselves,  the  Norrises  for  themselves  and  herself,  being  sensible  that  she  needed  such 
martial  men  for  her  service.  The  Norrises  got  more  honor  abroad,  the  Knowlls  more  profit 
at  home,  conversing  constantly  at  court ;  and  no  wonder  if  they  were  the  warmest  who  sat 
next  to  the  fire." 

(3)  Reports,  Trin.  Term,  6th  Will.  &  Mary. 

(4)  "  Maij  26  [1583].  Die  Dominic.  3  p'  Trinitatis  festo.  William  Whateley  baptizatus 
est  filius  Thomae  at  leisae  Whateley  natus  Mail  vicesimo  primo." — Original  Register. 

"  May  1583.  William  Wheateley  the  sonne  of  Thomas  and  Joyce  Wheateley  was 
christened  the  26  daye." — Parchment  Copy  of  the  Jtegister. 

(5)  Life  and  Death  of  W.  Whatelev,  prefixed  to  Whateley 's  Prototypes, 

2  l3 


2C8  REV.  AVILLIAM  WHATELEY, 

tutor  [Thomas  Potman],  one  of  a  thousand  for  pietie,  learning, 
diligence,"  &e.  While  Whateley  continued  at  Cambridge,  he 
was  the  constant  hearer  of  Dr.  Chaderton,  Perkins,  and  others 
who  held  Puritan  opinions,  until  he  became  B.  A.  in  1601,  when 
he  was  taken  home  by  liis  father."  Soon  after,  he  married  Mar- 
tha Hunt,  a  granddaughter  of  that  John  Hunt  who  is  mentioned 
in  the  Book  of  Martyrs  as  having  been  condemned  to  be  burned 
for  rehgion  but  saved  from  the  execution  thereof  by  the  death  of 
Queen  INIary.'  Young  Whateley's  talents  were  soon  discovered 
by  "understanding  men  who  frequented  Banbm-y  ;"  particularly  by 
Ids  father-in-law,  Mr.  George  Hunt,  who,  having  by  importu- 
nity prevailed  upon  him  to  make  trial  of  his  ability  to  preach,  at 
length  persuaded  him  to  devote  himself  to  the  mioistry.  There- 
upon he  entered  himself  at  St.  Edmund  Hall,  Oxford,  where  he 
was  incorporated  B.  A.,  July  loth  1602;  and,  with  the  foun- 
dation of  logic,  philosophy,  and  oratory,  which  he  had  made  at 
Cambridge,  he  soon  became  a  noted  disputant  and  a  ready  orator. 
On  the  26th  Jvme  1604  he  took  his  degree  of  M.  A.,  being  then 
considered  "  a  good  philosopher  and  a  tolerable  mathematician." 
Soon  after,  he  entered  into  holy  orders,  and  was  appointed  Lec- 
turer of  Banbury.  When  he  had  filled  this  situation  five  or  six 
vears,  he  was,  in  1610,  instituted  to  the  Vicarage  of  Banbury,^ 
which  preferment  he  held  nearly  thirty  years,  until  his  death. 

It  appears  that  Whateley  encountered  some  obstacles  to  his 
ministry  on  first  coming  to  Banbury,  on  account  of  his  dissent 
from  the  former  teachers.^  These  obstacles  however  were  soon 
got  over,  and  his  popularity  in  the  town  and  throughout  the  ad- 
jacent country  became  extreme.^"  He  is  recorded  to  have  had  "  a 
most  able  body  and   sound  lunges  :"    tradition  states  that,  from 

(6)  Wood's  Athena;. 

(7)  Scudder's  Life  of  Whateley.  In  the  dedication  of  one  of  Whateley's  works,  the 
"  Bride  Bash,"  to  "  his  verie  loving  and  mvch  esteemed  father-in-law.  Master  George  Hvnt, 
Pastor  of  Collingburne  Ducis  in  Wiltshire,"  Whateley  says : — "  The  Lord  of  heauen  hath 
abundantly  fulfilled  his  promise  to  your  father,  whose  pouerty  (hy  reason  of  the  taking  away 
of  all  his  goods,  &  long  imprisonment  in  Qu.  Maries  dales)  was  such,  that  at  his  death  he 
had  nothing  in  the  world  to  bequeath  vnto  you  but  his  Bible." 

(8)  Wood's  Alhena3,  and  Fasti  Oson.;  Scudder's  Life  of  Whateley.  On  the  9th  Feb. 
1610,  Christopher  Langley  delivered  to  Dr.  Othowcll  Hill,  auditor  causarum,  letters  of 
proxy  from  Mr.  William  Wlieatley  M.  A.,  instituted  to  the  vicarage  of  Banbury  by  the 
Bishop,  to  which  he  was  presented  by  King  James,  whereupon  Dr.  Hill  gi-anted  induction. — 
Bliss's  edit.  Ant.  Wood. 

(9)  Durham's  Life  of  Dr.  Eobert  Hai-ris,  p.  12. 

(10)  See  more  hereafter,  when  we  come  to  speak  of  the  Puritan  Divines  of  the  neighbour- 
hood. Whateley  for  some  time,  alternately  with  other  divines  of  similar  Puritan  sentiments, 
]jreached  a  lecture  at  Stratford  upon  Avon  :  it  afterwards  appears,  from  Archbishop  Laud's 
annual  accounts  of  his  province  to  the  King,  that  the  Bishop  of  Worcester  certified  to  the 
Archbishop  that  he  was  less  troubled  with  nouconfoi-mists  since  Mr.  'V^Tieatley  of  Banbury 


VICAR  OF  BANBURY. 


269 


his  powers  of  voice  and  style  of  preacliing,  he  was  called  "  The 
Roaring  Boy  of  Banbury."  Scndder  says  that  he  had  but  an 
ordinary  study  of  books,  yet  he  had  "  read  very  much,"  and  had 
always,  when  it  pleased  him,  the  "benefit  of  a  bookseller's  shop." 
He  usually  penned  his  sermons  at  large ;  and  if,  before  he 
preached,  he  had  time  to  read  over  what  he  had  written  and  to 
gather  it  up  into  short  heads,  he  was  able  to  deliver  it  in  public 
nearly  in  the  same  words.  "And  according  as  his  matter  in 
hand,  and  his  auditory  needed,  he  was  both  a  terrible  Boanerges, 
a  Sonne  of  thunder,  and  also  a  Barnabas,  a  sonne  of  sweet  con- 
solation."" Whateley's  portrait,  copied  from  the  engraving  in  his 
"  Prototypes,"  is  given  in  Plate  22. 

The  learned  Sir  Edward  Leigh  remarks  thus  of  Whateley : — 
"  Of  all  the  ministers  that  ever  I  knew  so  experimentally,  he  was 
the  most  unblameable  in  his  conversation.  I  had  the  happinesse 
to  live  almost  a  yeare  with  him  in  his  house,  neare  foure  yeares 
lender  his  ministry,  and  to  be  esteemed  b}^  Mm  one  of  liis  foith- 
fullest  friends ;  I  have  cause  to  blesse  God  for  him  whilst  I  live, 
since  it  pleased  Him  by  his  meanes,  not  onely  to  reveale  many 
saving  truthes  unto  mee,  but  also  to  set  them  on  with  such  power, 
as  I  hope  I  shall  never  forget  them.  Oh,  with  what  life  and 
zeale  would  hee  both  preach  and  pray !  and  how  strict  and  watch- 
full  was  hee  in  his  whole  life."^^  It  was  his  practice  to  set  apart 
days  of  humiliation  for  his  family  ;  besides  which  he  had  his  own 
seasons  for  private  fasting,  and  humblmg  himself  before  God  alone. 

For  some  sentiments  contained  in  one  of  his  works,  the  "  Bride 
Bush,"  published  in  1619,  Whateley  had  to  undergo  a  charge  be- 
fore the  High  Commission  Court :  '^  these  sentiments  he  recanted, 

gave  over  his  lecture  at  Stratford.  (Bliss's  Wood's  Athense.)  Anihouy  a  Wood  owns  that 
Whateley  "was  an  excellent  preacher,  a  person  of  good  parts,  well  versed  in  the  original 
text  both  Hebrew  and  Greek ;"  but,  he  adds — "  being  a  Calvinist,  and  much  frequented 
by  precise  and  busie  people  there  [Banbury],  and  in  the  neighbourhood,  for  his  too  frequent 
preaching,"  he  "  laid  such  a  foundation  of  faction  in  that  place,  that  it  will  never  be  easily 
removed."  \^'hateley  appears  to  have  regularly  preached  at  Banbury  on  Tuesdays.  (See 
Whateley's  Sermon  on  the  Fire  in  1628.)  There  is  an  entry  in  the  Book  of  accounts  of 
the  Corporation,  in  1026  ; — "  Paied  unto  Will'm  Allenn  for  Mr.  Wheatelys  lecture  the  some 
of  31  wli  was  due  vnto  Mr.  Wheately  frome  the  company  att  Midsomer  &  att  St  Tho.  last 
past." 

(11)  Scudder's  Life  of  Whateley.  Han-is  of  Hanwell  used  often  to  say,  that  "  for  all  the 
requisites  in  a  preacher,  both  for  matter,  method,  elocution,  pronunciation,  all,  he  seldom 
met  with  an  abler  man  than  his  brother  Whateley  of  Banbury." — Life  of  Harris,  p.  91. 

(12)  Leigh's  Epistle  Dedicatory  to  Whateley's  Prototypes. 

(13)  For  two  propositions  therein  contained:— 1st,  that  "committing  the  sin  of  adultery 
by  either  of  the  married  persons,  doth  dissohe,  annihilate,  and  uutyc  the  bond  and  knot  of 
marriage :" — 2nd,  that  the  malicious  and  wilful  desertion  of  either  of  the  man-ied  persons 
doth  in  like  manner  dissolve  the  connection.  These  opinions  being  noted  and  complained 
oi  to  the  Archbishop,  Whateley  was  convened  before  the  High  Commission :  but  he,  inge- 
nuously confessing  that  he  could  not  make  any  satisfactory  answer,  recanted  on  the  -Ith  of 


270  REV.  WILLIAM  WHATELEY, 

and  thereupon  he  was  dismissed  the  court.  Fuller  says  of  him  : — 
"  He  became  minister  in  the  town  of  his  nativity  ;  and  though 
generally  people  do  not  respect  a  prophet  or  preacher  when  a  man 
whom  they  knew  whilst  a  child,  yet  he  met  there  with  deserved 
reverence  to  his  person  and  profession.  Indeed  he  was  a  good  lin- 
guist, philosopher,  mathematician,  divine  ;  and  (though  a  poetical, 
satirical  pen  is  pleased  to  pass  a  jeer  upon  him)"  free  from  faction. 
He  first  became  known  to  the  world  by  his  booke  called  the  Bride- 
bushe,  which  some  say  hath  been  more  condemned  than  confuted, 
as  maintaining  a  position  rather  odious  than  untrue :  but  others 
hold  that  blows  given  from  so  near  a  relation  to  so  near  a  relation, 
cannot  be  given  so  lightly  but  they  will  be  taken  most  heavily." 
*  *  *  "  Sure  I  am  that  Banbury  had  a  gracious,  learned,  and 
painful  minister ;  and  this  town  need  not  be  ashamed  of,  nor 
grieved  at  what  scoffers  say  or  write  thereof;  only  let  them  add 
knowledge  to  their  zeal,  and  then  the  more  of  zeal  the  better  their 
condition."'^ 

Sir  Edward  Leigh,  addressing  the  Corporation  and  people  of 
Banbury  soon  after  Whateley's  death,  says: — "Master  Whately 
was  the  most  bountifull  minister  to  the  poore  I  tliinke  in  England 
of  his  meanes ;  your  consciences  will  witnesse  that  hee  hath  often 
pressed  and  urged  this  dutie  upon  you,  and  as  hee  was  earnest 
in  perswading  his  hearers  to  beneficence,  so  hee  practised  the  same 
himselfe,  entertaining  some  poore  widdowes  or  necessitous  per- 
sons weekely  at  the  least  at  his  table,  and  giving  the  tenth  of  all 
his  estate  that  way ;  and  see  how  God  blessed  him  for  the  same, 
his  estate   (as  himselfe  told  mee)  prospered  the  better  after  hee 

May  1621.  (Wood's  Athenae.)  To  a  new  edition  of  the  Bride  Bush,  which  appeared  in 
1623,  were  appended  two  pages  explaining  the  grounds  of  the  Author's  recantation  of  his 
former  opinions;  concluding  thus,  Sept.  4th.  1623:— "From  him  that  had  rather  con- 
fesse  his  owne  error,  then  make  thee  eiTe  for  company." 

(14)  Doubtless  alluding  to  Corbet,  who  in  his  Iter  Boreale  thus  satirizes  the  mutilated  pave- 
ment of  Banbury  Church,  and  also  the  Banbury  Vicar: — 

"  If  not  for  Gods,  for  Mr.  Wheatlyes  sake, 
Levell  the  walkes  ;  suppose  these  pittfalls  make 
Him  spraine  a  lecture,  or  misplace  a  joynt 
In  his  long  prayer,  or  his  fiveteenth  point  ?" 

(1.5)  Fuller's  Worthies.  I  have  not  discovered  who  was  the  "near  relation"  of  Whateley 
that  is  here  alluded  to  by  Dr  Fullei-.  Harris  of  Hanwell  had  manied  Whateley's  sister, 
and  Scudder  of  Drayton  had  married  Whateley's  wife's  sister.  It  is  just  noticeable  that 
Harris  was  not  one  of  those  who  were  appointed  by  "^Tiateley  to  peruse  and  print  his  manu- 
scripts after  his  death,  he  having  selected  Leigh  and  Scudder  for  that  purpose. 

Scudder  says  that,  although  Whateley's  maintenance  from  his  parishioners  was  but  small, 
and  unkindnesses  and  discouragements  many,  and  although  his  oflers  of  greater  prefer- 
ment in  the  Church  were  often  and  importunate,  he  would  not  leave  Banbury : — "  yea 
though  once  for  reasons  which  suddenly  tooke  him,  he  did  promise  to  accept  of  another 
charge,  yet  within  a  while  hee  intrcated"  mee  to  tell  that  person  to  whom  he  had  promised, 
that  hee  had  better  thought  of  it,  and  did  desire  to  be  released  of  his  piomise  ;"  and  that  out 
of  consideration  of  tliat  great  people  which  he  should  leave  if  he  undertook  a  lesser  charge. 


VICAR  OF  BANBURY.  271 

tooke  that  course,  and  in  his  sicknesse  hee  comforted  himselfe 
with  that  promise,  Psalm  xli.  1,  3.  '  Blessed  is  hee  that  con- 
sider eth  the  poore,  the  Lord  will  deliver  him  in  time  of  trouble. 
The  Ijord  will  strengthen  him  upon  the  bed  of  languishing.'  "^'^ 

Whateley's  last  sickness  continued  about  eight  weeks.  For  a 
good  while  before,  he  had  with  comfort  and  joy  declared  to  his 
dearest  friend  that  God  had  given  him  victory  against  liis  greatest 
corruptions,  winch  had  for  a  long  time  kept  him  in  continual  ex- 
ercise. He  continued  to  the  last  to  give  counsel  to  his  family, 
friends,  and  neighbours  who  came  to  visit  him.  On  a  time  when 
"  a  brother,  in  the  ministry,  and  by  alliance,"  (probably  Harris,  or 
Scudder,)  came  to  see  him,  and  was  praying  with  him  and  for 
him  to  this  effect  ; — that,  if  his  time  was  not  determined  or  ex- 
pired, God  might  be  pleased  to  restore  him  for  the  good  of  his 
Church ;  or,  if  otherwise,  that  He  would  put  an  end  to  his  pain 
if  He  saw  good ;  Whateley  lifted  up  his  eyes  steadfastly  towards 
Heaven,  and  also  one  of  his  hands  (he  not  being  able  to  lift  up 
the  other)  ;  and,  in  the  close  of  that  prayer  gave  up  his  spirit, 
shutting  down  his  eyes  himself  as  if  he  were  fallen  into  a  sweet 
sleep.^'  His  death  occurred  on  Friday,  10th  May,  1639,  when 
he  had  nearly  completed  his  56tli  year.  "God  took  him  away," 
says  Fuller,  "  a  little  before  the  Civil  Wars  began,  and  before  the 
sad  desolations  that  fell  upon  the  town  of  Banbury  in  particular." 
His  remains  were  interred  in  the  Church-yard,  on  the  south  side  of 
the  Church.  In  one  of  the  Harleian  MSS.,  occurs  the  following 
notice  of  his  monument: — ■ 


"  In  the  church  yard 
On  the  side  of  a  great  raised  r 


great  raised  mon',  this 


(16)  Leigh's  Epis.  Dedic.  to  Whateley's  Prototypes.  It  is  elsewhere  related,  that  Whate- 
ley, preaching  on  a  holy-day  on  the  subject  of  charity,  recommended  his  hearers,  when  they 
had  received  good  gain  by  traffick  or  otherwise,  to  take  6(1.  or  4(1.  in  the  pound,  and  put  it 
in  a  purse  by  itself  for  works  of  piety  ;  a  practice  which  he  maintained  would  be  beneficial 
to  their  estate,  and  take  away  all  secret  grudging  ;  for  when  they  had  laid  so  much  aside  for 
such  a  purpose,  they  would  rather  ^vish  for  an  opportunity  of  disbursing  it.  After  the  ser- 
mon, a  neighbouring  divine,  one  who  was  allied  to  him,  called  upon  him,  and  desired  more 
particular  directions.  "  As  for  that,"  said  Whateley,  "  I  am  not  to  prescribe  to  others;  but 
since  here  are  none  but  very  good  friends,  and  we  are  all  so  private,  I  will  tell  you  what 
hath  been  my  own  practice  of  late,  and  upon  what  occasion.  You  know  sir,  some  years 
since,  I  was  often  beholden  to  you  for  the  loan  of  ±'10  at  a  time  :  the  truth  is,  I  could  not 
bring  the  year  about,  though  my  receipts  were  not  despicable,  and  I  was  not  at  all  conscious 
to  myself  of  any  vain  expenses,  or  of  improvidence.  At  length,  I  began  to  examine  my 
family  what  relief  was  given  to  the  poor,  and  alihough  I  was  assured  that  was  not  done 
niggardly,  yet  I  could  not  be  so  satisfied,  but  resolved  instantly  to  lay  aside  every  tenth 
shilling  of  all  my  receipts  for  charitable  uses.  And  (to  let  you  see  how  well  I  have  thrived 
this  way  in  a  short  time)  now,  if  you  have  occasion  to  use  an  XlOO  or  more,  I  have  it  ready 
for  you."  This,  says  the  writer,  "  I  can  avouch,  for  I  was  present  both  at  the  sermon  and 
at  the  conference."— Zyf/c  of  Mede. 

(17)  Scudder's  Life  of  Whateley. 


272  REV.  WILLIAM  WHATELEY. 

Tlie  body  of  Will    Wiiately   Lecturer  in  this  Church  3j    Vicar  29 
yeares  was  here  into'bed  May  14.  1639. 
Lege  _  Luge 

Clauditur  hoc  tumulo  qui  cceki'  pectore  clausit 

In  ccelo  cujus  mens  pia  clausa  manet 
Prodiga  lingua,  benigna  manus  dispersit  abunde 

Divitias  coeli  divitiasq'  secli. 
Dans,  meditans,  orans,  exortans,  fata  peregit, 
Eheu  !  quam  multos  flebiUs  ille  cadit. 
AVhat  so'ere  thou'lt  say  who  passest  by 
Why  here's  inshrined  celestiall  dust 
His  bones,  whose  fame  &  name  can't  dye 
These  stones  as  foeoifecs  weepe  in  trust 
Its  Wilham  Whately  y'  here  lyes 
Who  swamme  to's  tombe  in's  peoples  ej^es. 
Death  was  his  crowne  biit  our  crosse 

If  not  a  great  man  yet  ile  say 
A  good  man  sure,  the  greater  losse 

Is  falln  in  Israeli  this  day, 
Both  learnd  in  arts  and  hearts  :  O  can 
Whole  ages  give  us  such  a  man. 
Nor  prayrs  nor  teares  nor  means  nor  men 
Nov  his  owne  grace  &  partes  so  knowne 
Could  save  from  death,  though  many  then 

For  his  life  would  have  pawnd  their  owne 
Read  this  O  man  &  rightly  know 
That  one  day  thou  must  ly  as  low. 
Anagramma  duplex 
f    , .  f  Gulielmus  Whately 

l.atin  \  Hui  luges  !  Ellum  vita 

(  William  Whately 

Cronogramma  duplex 
n639     VenVstI  sVnt  peDes  eIVs  qVI  eVangeLIzat 
.       .    y,.,   .         I  saLVteM 

Annis  U  ni         ■(  j^gg     VsqVe    qVos    VenI    DoMIne    lesV    CVr  non 

I,  Venis 

3-,,   ,.      .     -.   rn  fLVgebIs 
yiitatis  ejusj  50  JLooi^e  ^^  i^jg  ^^^^.^^  t^eu  poy^e  forth  teares."i« 

(18)  Harl.  MS.,  No.  4170.  The  Life  of  Whatclcy,  bj-  Scudder,  is  closed  by  two  folio 
pages  of  verses,  called  "  Banburies  Funcrall  Teares  po\vi-ed  forth  upon  the  death  of  her  late 
pious  and  paincfull  Pastour  Mr.  William  Whateley  deciphered  in  this  Sympathizing  Elogy." 

Whateley's  Works  are ;— Sermons. — 1,  "  The  New  Birth:  or  a  Treatise  of  Regeneration." 
Lond.  1619  and  1628,  4to.  This  was  delivered  "in  certaine  sermons  "at  Banbury,  and  is 
dedicated  to  the  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Burgesses,  and  the  rest  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  and  Parish  of  Banbury.  The  dedication  concludes  thus. :— "  With  my  most  feruent 
prayers  to  God  for  your  prosperity,  I  kindly  take  my  leaue ,  resting  (so  long  as  the  ouer- 
weightinessc,  and  ouer-tovlesomnes  of  the  place  shall  suffer)  your  Pastor." — 2,  "  Sinne  No 
More,"  a  sermon  on  the  Fire  in  1628  (see  hereafter).— 3,  "  The  Oyl  of  Gladness,"  in  several 
sermons.  Lond.  1637,  8vo. — 4,  "  Poore  Man's  Advocate,"  in  certain  sermons.  Lond.  1637, 
8vo.— 5,  "Redemption  of  Time."  Lond.  1606,  8vo,  and  1619,  4to.— 6,  "Caveat  for  the 
Covetous."  Lond.  1609,  8vo.,  and  1616,  12mo.— 7,  "Samuel's  Funeral,  Senii.  at  the  Fun. 
of  Sir  Anth.  Cope  Kt.  and  Bar."  Lond.  1618-19,  4to.— 8,  "Mortification."  Lond.  1623, 
4to. — 9,  "  Charitable  Teares :  or  a  Sermon  shewing  how  needfvU  a  thing  it  is  for  every 
godly  man  to  lament  the  common  sinnes  of  our  Countrie,"  1623,  preached  in  Banbury. 
— 10,  "  Gods  Hvsbandry :  the  First  Part.  Tending  to  shew  the  Difference  betwixt  the 
Hypocrite  and  the  true-hearted  Christian.  As  it  was  delivered  in  certaine  Sennons,  and 
is  now  published  by  William  Whately,  Preacher  of  the  Word  of  God  in  Banbury  in 
Oxfordsheire:"  dated  April  6th,   1619,  dedicated   to  Dod  of   Hanwell.— 11,  Gods   Htis- 


THE  TOWN  OF  BANBURY.  27;^ 

Whatelej's  wife  survived  him  more  than  two  years.  The  same 
MS.  in  the  Harleian  Library  gives  tlie  inscription  which  was 
placed  over  her  remains  in  the  Churcli-yard  : — 

"  The  body  of  Martha  Whatelv  wife  of  WilHam  Whately  min.  lyetb 
under  this  adjoyning  tombe,  who  was  buryed  tbe  10  of  Dec'ber  ICtl. 
Scarce  had  tbe  streanies  of  the  sad  teares 
Causd  by  this  tombe  svuxeast  tlieir  course 
But  loe  another  straight  appeares 
Which  doth  renew  their  former  force."" 


THE  TOWN  OF  BANBURY,  PREVIOUSLY  TO  THE 
FIRE  OF  1028.^^° 

Commencing  our  account  at  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  town, 
from  the  Bridge,-'  the  first  street  was  Bridge  Street,  or  Bridge-end 
Street,  now  Bridge  Street,  running  westward.  Next  was  the  Beast 
Market,  the  present  Bridge  Street  South ;  this  part  is  described  as 
the  "  Beast  Market "  in  the  writings  of  the  Altarstoue  Inn  and 
other  property.  Colebar  Street  ran  off  from  the  Beast  Market 
southward,  at  or  near  the  present  Broad  Street  (lately  called  Broad 
Lane),"  and  formed  a  portion  of  the  direct  way  from  the  Castle 
into  the  Oxford  road :  probably  Colebar  Street  was  destroyed  by 
the  Fire  of  1 028,  since  no  ancient  houses  are  remembered  in  this 
part,  and  the  name  and  direction  of  the  street  have  been  nearly 
lost.  From  the  Beast  IVIarket,  southwestward,  the  way  was 
through  Shop   Row  or  High  Street.-^      High  Street  extended  as 

bandry:  The  Second  Part.  Tending  chieflv  to  the  Reforming  of  an  Hypocrite,  and 
making  him  True-hearted."  Lond.  1623,  4to. — Other  sermons  were  printed  in  various  years. 
Other  works. — 1,  "A  Bride  Bvsh;  or,  a  Direction  for  Married  Persons."  Lond.  1619 
and  1623,  4to.— 2,  "  A  Pithy,  Short,  and  Methodical  Way  of  opening  of  the  Ten  Com- 
mandments." Lond.  1622,  8vo. — 3,  A  Care  Cloth :  or  a  Treatise  of  the  Cvmbers  and 
Trovbles  of  Marriage."  Lond.  1624,  4to. — 4,  "  Prototypes,  or  the  Priraarie  Precedent  Presi- 
dents out  of  the  Booke  of  Genesis,  applied  to  our  Information  and  Reformation."  Lond. 
1640  and  1647,  folio.  Published  by  the  author's  great  admirers,  Edward  Leigh  Esq.,  and 
Henry  Scudder,  minister  of  Colingbourne  Ducis. — 5,  A  tract  on  the  Art  of  Preaching. — 
Whaleley's  writings ;  Wood's  Athena. 

(19)  William  Whateley  had  some  children :  one,  a  son  named  William,  married  Joyce 
Tustian  in  1638.  (Register.)  The  Banbury  family  of  the  Whateleys  is  now  extinct  in  "the 
male  line:  the  last  of  them  was  the  late  John  Wheatley  Esq.  of  Broughton,  who 
died  in  March  1817  and  was  buried  in  the  chancel  of  Banbury  Church,  and  whose  only 
daughter  married  George  Cobb  Esq.,  of  the  Tump,  Monmouthshire. 

(20)  Desciibed  from  the  preceding  Inquisitions  and  Records,  Leland's  account  of  the 
Town,  various  title  deeds,  &c.,  and  the  modem  localities. 

(21)  Where  the  boundary  post  stood.     See  the  engravings  on  pp.  98  and  1.50. 

(22)  Called  Colebar  Street  in  the  title  deeds  of  Mr.  Dickason's  premises  and  of  the 
Flower-de-Luce  Inn,  1674  and  1733.  I  have  not  met  with  the  name  "  Broad  Lane  "  earlier 
than  1705.  As  "  Coale  Bar  Street "  and  "  Broad  Lane  "  are  both  mentioned  in  a  list  of  the 
streets  in  1718  (Rawlinson's  MSS.,  Top.  Com.  Oxon),  it  maybe  surmised  that  the  former 
name  was  applied  to  the  part  where  houses  stood,  the  latter  to  the  road  beyond. 

(23)  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  Shop  Row  was  only  a  part  of  the  High  Street,  where  it 

2  M 


2/4  THE  TOWN  OF  BANBURY. 

far  soutliwestward  as  the  end  of  Scalding  Lane,  now  called  Fisb 
Street.  Then  came  Sheep  Street  or  Bolting  Street  (so  named  in 
the  decree  of  Charities,  1603),  otherwise  called  Breadcross  Street 
or  Bowlting  Street  (in  the  note  of  Leases  in  1616,  see  p.  99, 
note  1):  this  was  recently  known  as  Sheep  Street;  but  the  Pav- 
ing Commissioners,  when  they  put  up  the  names  of  the  streets 
in  1835,  included  it  as  a  part  of  High  Street.-'  At  the  western 
end  of  Sheep  Street  was  the  area  formerly,  as  now,  called  the 
Horse  Fair :  beyond  which,  southwestward,  was  Sugar  Bar  Street, 
Sugerford  Bar  or  Shoccarfarbarre  Street ;  called  in  1649  West 
Bar  otherwise  Bull  Bar  Street ;  which  forms  the  first  portion  of 
the  present  West  Bar  Street.  At  that  part  of  this  street  where 
the  lane  called  the  Shades  crosses  it  at  right  angles,  the  Bar 
stood  r^  the  remainder  of  the  present  West  Bar  Street  is  modern. 

The  main  line  of  streets  as  above  enumerated  ran  from  east  to 
southwest.  Crossing  this  line,  and  running  from  south  to  north, 
was  another  line  of  streets ;  the  first  of  which,  commencing  at 
the  South  Bar,  was  St.  John's  Street,  afterwards  frequently  called 
Oxford  Bar  Street,  and  named  by  the  Commissioners,  in  1835, 
South  Bar  Street.  Next  was  the  Horse  Fair,  sometimes  called 
Horsemarket  Street,  the  area  above  alluded  to,  still  called  the 
Horse  Fair.  This  line  of  streets  was  completed,  to  the  North  Bar 
of  the  town,  by  North  Bar  Street,  now  bearing  the  same  name. 

Such  were  then,  as  now,  the  principal  lines.  To  the  south  of 
Colebar  Street,  and  running  in  the  same  direction,  was  New  Land, 
or  Newland  Street ;  lately  called  New  Land,-^  but  included  by  the 
Commissioners  in  1835  as  part  of  Broad  Street.  Scalding  Lane 
branched  off  from  New  Land  and  the  southern  end  of  Colebar 


is  now  widest,  and  may  then  have  been  divided  by  houses  in  the  middle  of  the  street  which 
have  been  since  removed.  The  writings  of  Mr.  Wise's  property,  on  the  north  side  of  High 
Street,  describe  that  part  as  "  Shopp  Row."  In  Rawlinson's  MS.  before  mentioned,  of  the 
date  1718,  the  list  of  the  streets  of  Banbury  includes  botli  "Red  Lyon  Street"  (that  is 
High  Street)  and  "  Shop  Row  Street." 

(24)  The  writings  of  the  house  occupied  by  Mr.  Lovell,  being  the  corner  house  of  Fish 
Street  (on  the  north  side)  turning  into  High  Street,  describe  that  part  as  "  High  Street  or 
Bolting  Street." 

(25)  The  boundary  of  the  Borough  was  about  222  paces  beyond  the  Bar,  namely,  at  the 
White  Cross  Stone.  (See  pp.  220,  254.)  Further  on,  in  the  road  to  Broughton,  appears 
to  have  once  stood  a  stone  called  the  "  Old  Gallows  Stone." — Banhury  Veslry  Book,  1770. 

(26)  Some  writings  of  tlie  date  of  1688  describe  this  part  as  New  Land  or  Fish  Street; 
and  the  comer  house  of  New  Land  towards  Scalding  Lane  was  long  known  as  the  "  Fish 
House,"  having  some  fishes  carved  on  the  front  of  it  in  stone.  The  Fish  House  is  mentioned 
in  1722  as  belonging  to  the  poor  ;  and  in  1774  it  was  let  by  the  parish. 

New  Land  Wake,  an  aimual  holiday,  has  been  kept  up  from  time  immemorial  in  the 
week  commencing  with  the  second  Sunday  in  July  :  on  the  Monday,  a  Mayor  of  New 
Land  is  chosen  with  much  mock  ceremony, "to  bear  an  empty  title  for  the  ensuing  year. 


THE  TOWN  OF  BANBURY.  275 

Street,  and  joined  Sheep  Street  and  High  Street:  this  part,  in 
1835,  received  from  the  Commissioners  the  name  of  Fish  Street.-' 

It  is  uncertain  wlietlier  Caltrop  Lane,  mentioned  in  some  early 
records,  was  the  present  Calthorp  Lane  connecting  South  Bar 
Street  with  High  Street ;  as  the  Cothrop  Lane  mentioned  in  the 
boundaries  of  the  borough  (p.  254)  must  have  been  in  another 
direction.  This  part  was  also  probably  destroyed  by  the  Fire  of 
l(i28.  Persones  Lane  was  the  present  Parson's  Street,"^  running 
from  North  Bar  Street  eastward,  to  the  parts  of  the  town  then 
described  as  the  Market  Place,  Cormnarket  Street,  and  Bark- 
liill  Street.  The  two  first  of  these  names  evidently  apply  to  the 
present  Market  Place,  the  northwestern  portion  of  which  is  still 
called  Cornhill:  Barkhill  Street,  called  also  Brickley  or  Bu-chley 
Street,  seems  to  have  been  on  the  north  side  of  the  Market  Place, 
or  that  nearest  to  the  Castle."^ 

The  Cuttle  Brook  ran  through  Cornhill  and  the  present  Market 
Place,  on  the  side  nearest  to  the  Castle:^"  the  principal  stream 
(which  remained  to  our  own  times)  flowed  from  the  west,  along 
the  south  side  of  the  Castle  Orchard  Lane  (now  Back  Lane), 
turning  through  the  narrow  passage  near  the  Plough  Inn;  and 
thence  through  the  Market  Place  to  its  eastern  part,  where  it 
fed  the  Cucking-pool.^^  Hereabouts,  probably  near  the  present 
Bear  Inn,  the  Cuttle  mill  stood,  which  is  described  as  being  in 
the  Hogmarket.  Another  stream  appears  to  have  come  down 
Parson's  Street  and  to  have  flowed  into  the  Cuttle  Brook  in  the 

(27)  For  no  better  reason  than  its  leading  to  the  ancient  locality  of  that  name.  See 
the  preceding  note  (26). 

(28)  Called  Parson's  Lane  until  1835.  The  name  of  the  Lane  had  the  same  origin  as 
that  of  Parson's  Meadow ;  it  being  in  great  part  Church  property.  (See  p.  216,  note  2 ; 
and  p.  249.)  The  name  "  Parson's  Lane  "  is  as  early  as  the  reign  of  Edward  VI.  (see  p.  213, 
in  the  note) ;  and  another  name,  which  occurs  in  the  writings  of  the  Raindeer  Inn  (of 
the  date  of  1561),  may  not  have  referred  to  that  street,  but  to  some  alley  connected  with  it. 

(29)  This  may  be  inferred  from  the  List  of  Free  Tenants  in  the  Inquisition  of  1606; 
wherein  a  tenement  in  the  holding  of  "  the  Feoffees  of  the  church  of  Lapworth  "  is  described 
as  being  in  "  Barkhill  Strete."  The  house  alluded  to  is  situated  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Market  Place,  and  is  now  in  the  occupation  of  Mr.  Coles.  The  title  deeds  of  the  Cock  Inn, 
on  Cornhill,  of  the  dates  of  1601,  1640,  and  1691,  describe  that  part  as  "Breechlesse 
Streete,"  probably  the  same  name.  The  decree  concerning  Charities  in  1603  mentions 
the  shop  of  Henry  Halhed  (now  occupied  by  Mr.  John  Payne),  before  described  as  situated 
in  the  "  Market  Place,"  as  being  "adjoining  to  Barkhill  Street."  (Pp.  213,  249.)  Perhaps 
the  name  "  Market  Place  "  was  confined  to  the  part  of  the  present  Market  Place  where  the 
Town  Hall  stands.  The  writings  of  Mr.  Payne's  house,  of  the  date  of  1665,  describe  that 
part  as  the  Market  Place. 

(30)  Cuttle  Brook  was  in  fact  the  outer  ditch  of  the  Castle  on  the  south  side :  a  portion 
of  Barkhill  Street  appears  to  have  been  on  the  north  side  of  it,  nearer  to  the  Castle. 

(31)  Cucking-pool.  The  pool  where  the  Cucking-stool  was  placed  (see  p.  223,  in  note 
21)  for  the  ducldng  of  "  scolds  and  unquiet  women."  The  same  punisliment  was  anciently 
inflicted  upon  brewers  and  bakers  transgressing  the  laws  ;  who  were  thereupon,  in  such  a 
stool  or  chair,  to  be  ducked  or  immerged  in  some  muddy  or  stinking  pond.  (Cunningham.) 
The  Cucking-stool  at  Banbury  was  not  removed  until  after  the  death  of  an  offender,  by  the 
use  or  misuse  of  it,  more  than  fifty  years  ago. 

2  m3 


276  ANCIENT  HOUSES. 

Market  Place.^-  Hogmarket  Street  was  the  present  pig-market 
and  Bridge  Street  North,  extending  from  the  eastern  end  of  the 
Market  Place  to  Myllane,  Mylne  Lane,  Mill  Lane,  which  led, 
as  at  present,  to  Banbury  mill.  The  name  "  Castle  Street "  ap- 
pears to  be  modern ;  it  is  now  given  to  the  street  or  way  where 
anciently  the  road  led  from  Colebar  Street,  across  the  lower  part 
of  the  Market  Place,  to  the  Castle. 

The  ShampuUs,  or  Shambles,  was  the  present  Butchers'  Row,^^ 
being  the  small  street  which  leads  from  the  Market  Place  west- 
ward, parallel  with  High  Street.  The  two  passages  which  unite 
the  INIarket  Place  with  High  Street  have  gone  by  the  names  of 
the  Great  and  Little  Ture.  Pibble  Lane  was  the  present  Church 
Lane,  running  from  High  Street  into  Parson's  Street.^^  I  have 
not  met  with  the  name  of  Pepper  Alley  (the  lane  which  runs  from 
High  Street  into  Fish  Street)  at  an  earlier  date  than  1705,  Tink- 
a-tank^^  was  a  very  narrow  lane  leading  from  Sheep  Street  into 
the  Church-yard  :  since  it  was  widened  in  1835,  it  has  been  named 
Church  Passage. 

Some  of  the  old  Houses  of  Banbury  afford  good  specimens  of 
the  style  of  building,  called  Elizabethan,  but  more  usually  per- 
taining in  reality  to  the  period  of  James  the  First.  Their  pointed 
gables,  and  enriched  verge-boards  pierced  in  every  variety  of  pat- 
tern, theii*  finials  and  pendants,  and  pargetted^®  fronts,  give  an 
air  of  the  picturesque  contrasting  broadly  with  the  stiffness  of 
the  modern  brick  dwellings. 

The  House  in  the  High  Street,  of  which  an  engraving  is  given 
in  Plate  23,  is  the  most  perfect :  it  was  probably  erected  about 
the  year  1600.  This  house  has  suffered  principally  in  the  first 
story  :  it  has  a  fine  oak  staircase  well  worth  a  visit,  the  newels 
are  beautifully  carved  and  enriched  with  pierced  finials  and  pen- 
dants. In  the  Market  Place  there  are  two  good  specimens  of 
Houses  of  nearly  the  same  date :  one  of  them,  a  portion  of  which 
is  now  the  residence  of  Mr.  Strange,  and  which  was  probably 
the  ancient  front  of  the  Unicorn  Inn,  still  retains  a  fine  pair  of 
wooden   gates,   having   characteristic   dressings,   and  bearing   the 

(33)  As  appears  from  remains  of  old  water-courses  at  a  considerable  depth. 

(33)  In  title  deeds  of  the  date  of  1627  this  part  is  called  the  "  Butcher  Row  or  Shambles." 

(34)  As  appears  from  the  writings  of  the  Star  Inn,  1694  and  1722. 

(35)  The  name  of  "  Tink-a-tank  "  was  doubtless  given  from  the  noise  (well-rememhered) 
which  was  occasioned  by  persons  walking  along  the  pebbled  lane,  between  two  lofty  walls 
which  were  not  more  than  three  feet  apart. 

(36)  An  engraving  of  a  portion  of  the  pai'getting  of  a  house  in  the  High  Street  is  given 
iu  the  Glossary  of  Architecture,  edit.  1840,  p,  153. 


THE  GREAT  FIRE  OF  BANBURY,  1628.  277 

date  of  1G48.  In  Parson's  Street,  at  the  Raindeer  Inn,  there  is 
another  pair  of  gates,  of  earlier  but  plainer  character  ;  these  bear 
the  date  of  1570,  and  an  inscription  rudely  cut : — 

IHONKNIGHT  -^  IHONEKNIGHT  4>-  DAVID-HORN 

On  one  part  of  this  Inn  is  the  date  1624.  A  gable  of  the  same 
house  bears  the  date  1637;  immediately  beneath  which  is  the 
window  (large  enough  for  that  of  a  castle)  of  a  very  fine  room, 
the  expensive  and  elaborate  panelling  of  the  wainscot  of  wliich, 
and  the  rich  plaster  ceiling,  mark  the  house  as  having  been  a  place 
of  consequence.  This  room  is  of  the  style  known  as  the  Cinque- 
cento  style  of  Italy.  A  part  of  the  Old  George  (formerly  the 
George  and  Altarstone)  Inn  bears  the  date  1614.  A  considerable 
number  of  ancient  stone  houses  which  have  been  taken  down 
of  late  years  would  seem,  from  the  fact  of  coins  of  Elizabeth's 
reign ^^  having  been  found  in  the  walls  and  chimneys,  to  have 
been  erected  before  the  period  of  the  great  Fire  of  1628. 

Besides  the  Cuttle  Brook,  and  its  tributary  which  flowed  down 
Parson's  Street,  there  was  another  stream  which  ran  through  the 
town,  namely,  from  Sugarford  Bar  Street,  through  the  Horse  Fair, 
Sheep  Street,  Scalding  Lane,  and  Parson's  Meadow  Lane,  into  the 
Cherwell. 

The  Population  of  the  town  appears  to  have  increased  very 
considerably  between  the  years  1547  and  1628.  In  1547,  it  has 
been  estimated  (see  p.  210)  at  about  1000.  In  1628,  the  num- 
ber of  dwelling-houses,  as  appears  from  two  isolated  passages  in 
Whateley's  Sermon  on  the  Fire  (see  the  next  section),  was  about 
310,  giving  the  probable  amount  of  the  population  as  near  1600. 


THE  GREx\T  FIRE,  MARCH  1627-8. 

"Sunday  morning  the  2.  of  March,  1627  [1628],  whilest  the 
people  were  at  diuine  seruice,  a  great  part  of  the  towne  of  Ban- 
bury was  burned,  which  began  in  a  Malt-house,  by  negligence  of 
a  mayde." 

Such  is  the  brief  account  given  by  the  continuator  of  Stow's 
Annals.^^      Some  additional  particulars  are   recorded  in   William 

(37)  The  houses  in  which  Elizabethan  coins  have  been  found  were  chiefly  built  of  the 
ferruginous  sandstone  of  the  district,  the  walls  inclining  a  Httle  outward  at  the  top,  the  roofs 
of  a  steep  pitch,  and  slated. 

(38)  Stow's  Annales,  by  Howes  (1631),  p.  1043. 


278  THE  GREAT  FIRE  OF  BANBURY,  1628. 

WTiateley's  Sermon  on  the  Fire,  which  was  published  May  2Gth 
1628.  This  is  entitled  "  SiNNE  NO  More,  or  a  Sermon  preached 
in  the  Parish  Church  of  Banbury  on  Tuesday  the  fourth  of  March 
last  past,  \T3on  occasion  of  a  most  Terrible  Fire  that  happened 
there  on  the  Sabbath  day  immediatly  preeedent."^^  It  is  stated 
on  the  title  page,  that  the  Fire  "  within  the  space  of  foure  houres 
was  carried  from  the  one  end  of  the  Towne  to  the  other,  with 
that  fury,  as  continuing  to  burne  all  the  night,  and  much  of  the 
next  day,  it  consumed  103  dwelhng-houses,  20  kilne-houses,  and 
other  out-houses,  to  the  number  of  660  bayes  and  vpwards,  to- 
gether with  so  much  malt  and  other  graine  and  commodities,  as 
amounted  at  the  least  to  the  value  of  twenty  thousand  pounds." 
"  Carelesnesse  and  negligence  of  any  person,"  says  Whateley, 
"could  not  haue  produced  so  lamentable  a  losse,  if  Gods  proui- 
dence  had  not  so  disposed,  that  such  negligence  should  haue  falne 
out,  at  such  a  time,  in  such  a  rough  and  violent  winde,  sitting  in 
such  a  point  as  to  driue  it  vpon  you,  not  from  you.  The  Lord 
that  knew  the  winds  would  then  bee  very  boysterous  and  violent, 
and  that  they  woidd  sit  fitly  to  carie  the  flame  from  house  to  house, 
euen  til  they  had  passed  through  al  the  places  which  he  saw  fit 
to  strike,  hee  I  say,  he  by  his  good  prouidence,  did  order  tilings 
so  that  the  heedlesnesse  of  some  or  other  should  then  giue  oc- 
casion, to  the  breaking  out  of  the  fire,  when  the  frosty  winde  had 
made  each  tiling  as  dry  almost  as  tinder  to  receiue  fire,  and  when 
the  present  tempest  was  ready  to  scatter  and  disperse  the  fire."^" 
The  first  alarm  was  given  while  Whateley  was  administering  the 
holy  sacrament  f^    and  the  fire  "  came   riding,"   says   Whateley, 

(39)  1st  edit.  "  London,  Printed  for  Edward  Langham,  and  are  to  be  sold  by  him  in 
Banbury,  1628."  A  second  edition,  printed  in  London  "  for  Edward  Langham  in  Ban- 
bury," appeared  in  the  same  year;  and  a  third  edition  came  out  in  1632.  Mr.  Rusher  of 
Banbury  published  a  reprint  of  the  Sermon  in  1824. 

(40)  1st  edit.,  pp.  50,  51. 

(41)  "  I'he  cry  of  fire,  fire,  came  flying  in  at  the  church  doores  euen  in  that  instant, 
when  wee  had  newly  begunne  to  celebrate  the  Lords  Supper ;  when  some  had  receiued 
that  holy  Sacrament,  and  the  greater  number  were  to  receiue,  then  did  God  inill  vs  from 
bis  table,  and  thrust  vs  out  of  his  house  by  force,  then  was  I  compelled  to  request  all  of 
you  (that  had  strength  and  ability  to  do  seruice  there)  to  make  al  haste  to  the  place  of 
danger,  and  the  rest  (that  could  haue  but  troubled  others  with  their  presence  and  outcries) 
to  stay  still  at  church."  (1st  edit,  of  the  Sermon,  pp.  34,  35.)  Whateley  goes  on  moralizing 
on  the  circumstances.  "  Thinke  of  the  place  also,  where  did  the  burning  begiune  ?  At  a 
kilne,  I  say  a  kilne,  a  mault  forge,  the  proper  instrument  of  making  that  thing,  which  is 
the  next  and  immediate  worker  of  drunkennesse,  that  huge  sinne,  that  fertill  broody  big- 
bellied  sin,  which  is  (as  they  say  of  the  first  matter)  apt  to  take  the  formes  of  all  sinnes, 
which  by  burying  reason,  and  choaking  conscience,  and  setting  loose  all  passions,  dotli 
turne  a  man  into  a  beast,  or  rather  into  a  Diuell,  which  makes  a  man  for  the  time,  a 
mecre  Atheist,  a  very  denyer  of  God,  and  thrusts  out  of  his  brest  all  remembrance,  all  feei-e, 
all  louc  of  him.  *  *  *  The  Fire  bct,'an  in  a  kilne,  it  consumed  twenty  kilnes,  it  left 
no  kilne  standing  that  was  within  its  walke,  it  leaped  from  one  side  of  the  street  to  the 
other,  to  fetch  in  kilnes,  it  spared  none  it  came  neere,  it  spoyled  more  mault,  then  of  any 


THE  GREAT  FIRE  OF  BANBURY,  l()28.  275) 

"as  it  were  in  triumpli,  through  your  streetes,  disdaining  all  re- 
sistance, till  it  had  passed  from  end  to  end  of  your  towne,  and 
could  not  be  restrained.""*'^  Of  the  whole  town,  he  says,  "  I 
thinke  a  third  part  haue  passed  thorow  the  flames.  *  *  * 
Blessed  be  God,  that  a  part  alone,  and  not  the  whole  borough, 
hath  beene  consumed ;  and  that  the  greater  part  remaineth  to 
succour  the  lesser."  ^^ 

There  is  no  account  which  part  of  the  town  was  destroyed, 
and  we  can  only  now  judge  from  the  character  of  the  present 
houses  and  other  buildings.  Conjecture  would  thus  refer  to  West 
Bar  Street,  South  Bar  Street,  Calthorp  Lane,  Fish  Street,  and 
Broad  Street,  as  the  scenes  of  desolation.""  An  inscription  which 
was  placed,  after  the  fire,  over  the  (perhaps  newly  re-erected)  Bar 
in  West  Street,  has  been  given  in  p.  208 : — "  Except  the  Lord 
keepe  the  City  the  wachman  wacheth  bvt  in  vaine.  1631."^^ 

It  appears  from  the  Journals  of  the  House  of  Lords  that,  not 

other  goods  of  one  kinde  (so  fan-e  as  I  can  learne)  Say  what  you  thinke  brethren,  Is  it 
not  plaine  that  the  Lord  doth  admonish  you  of  that  fault  (whereof  the  liquor  of  manlt 
is  the  most  common  instrument)  when  he  bai'e  so  hard  an  hand  against  kilnes  and  against 
mault."— Pp.  34—36. 

(42)  P.  36. 

(43)  Pp.  13, 15.  "  Had  I  beene  a  sti'anger,"  he  says,  "  to  lodge  amongst  you  for  a  night 
alone  ;  or  a  traueller,  to  baite  in  your  Towne  for  an  houre,  or  passe  thorow  your  streets  for  a 
moment,  yet  I  could  not  but  haue  sadly  lamented  so  heauie  a  spectacle,  tie  flaming  of  so 
many  houses  at  once,  the  consuming  of  so  much  substance,  the  out-cries  of  so  many  persons, 
the  desolation  of  so  great  a  number  of  your  dwellings  ;  but  being  an  inhabitant,  borne,  bred, 
and  brought  vp  amongst  you  from  mine  iufancie,  and  neuer  absent  from  you  aboue  seuen 
yeares,  for  learnings  sake ;  and  now  at  last,  a  Minister  amongst  you,  and  Pastor  ouer 
you,  for  the  space  of  twenty  yeares  together;  I  might  be  iustly  charged  to  haue  lost  all 
sense  and  humanity,  if  I  were  not  deepely  touched  with  your  calamitie.  Giue  mine  eyes 
leaue  therefore,  to  speake  vnto  you  in  the  language  of  teares,  and  seeing  I  heard  so  gene- 
rail  a  cry  for  water,  water,  the  other  day  ;  let  me  also  cry  water,  water ;  and  let  all  our 
eyes  ioyne  together,  to  powre  forth  a  streame  of  water,  sufficient  to  quench  the  remainders 
of  those  flames  which  are  yet  burning  amongst  you;  yea,  to  quench  the  glowing  fire  of 
Gods  displeasure  for  our  sinnes,  which  hath  iustly  kindled  all  these  flames  amongst  vs. 
*  *  *  But  I  beseech  you  (brethren)  let  there  be  none,  no  not  one  amongst  you,  that 
out  of  a  malicious  desire  to  scourge  pietie,  so  nicke-named,  vpon  our  sides,  shall  mocke  at 
Puritanisme,  vpon  occasion  of  this  hand  of  God  which  he  hath  sti-etched  out  against  vs, 
whom  the  world  hath  pleased,  but  falsely,  to  terme  Puritans.  Or  if  any  man  will  needs 
take  occasion  to  laugh  at  his  brethren,  whom  his  father  sees  good  to  correct  before  his  eyes, 
we  cannot  but  be  assured  that  such  petulancie  and  wantonnesse  shall  much  displease  that 
louing  Father,  which  vseth  his  rods  to  wanie  one  in  anothers  sufferings:  and  leaning  him 
to  bee  iudged  by  God,  that  can  take  his  times  of  fit  corrections  for  all  his  sonnes  and 
daughters,  wee  will  pitty  his  ignorant  follie,  that  doth  so  misse-inteiiiret  the  Lords  seue- 
ritie,  comforting  om-  selves  with  the  Apostles  saying,  that  hath  told  vs,  how  'Judgement 
begins  at  the  house  of  God,'  and  that  '  the  Father  correcteth  euery  sonne  whom  he  recei- 
ueth.'"    (Pp.  2,3,  23.) 

The  sermon  must  have  occupied  about  two  hours  in  the  delivery. 

(44)  Whateley  dates  his  sermon  from  his  own  "  study  "  in  the  old  Vicarage-house ;  and 
includes  himself  (p.  15)  among  those  who  had  "  only  felt  the  wind  of  the  stroake  as  it 
were,  and  not  the  smart  of  it,  and  some  not  so  much  as  the  wind."  Of  the  parts  named 
above  which  I  have  conjectured  to  have  been  destroyed,  Broad  Street  (the  vicinity  of  the 
ancient  Colebar  Street),  and,  perhaps,  Calthorp  Lane,  seem  to  be  all  in  the  rebuilding  of 
which  the  former  localities  of  the  streets  were  not  observed. 

(45)  It  is  said  that  a  superstitious  terronr  originated  by  this  Fire  prevailed  so  long  in  the 
town  that,  as  late  as  1754,  many  inhabitants  used  to  provide  tubs  of  water  on  the  auni- 
rersary  of  the  day  of  the  Fire,  to  prevent  the  recurrence  of  a  similar  calamity. 


280  THE  GREAT  FIRE  OF  BANBURY,  1C28. 

mauy  days  after  the  Fire,  there  was  a  threat  made  of  a  repeti- 
tion of  a  similar  cahamity  to  tlie  remaining  part  of  the  town. 
This  was  given  by  some  soldiers,  who  were  quartered  in  Banbury 
for  the  purpose  probably  of  keeping  the  peace  among  the  houseless 
sufferers.^*' 


THE  REIGX  OF  CHARLES  THE  FIRST. 

James  Fiennes  Esq.,  the  grandson  of  Sir  Richard  Fenys  or 
Fiennes,  Baron  Saye  and  Sele,  before  mentioned  (pp.  230 — 238), 
and  the  eldest  son  of  William  Viscount  Saye  and  Sele  who 
appeared  so  prominently  in  the  great  Rebellion,  was  returned  to 
Parliament  for  Banbury  on  the  accession  of  Charles  the  First, 
in  1625.  On  a  second  Parliament  being  summoned  in  the  fol- 
lowing February,  Calcot  Chambre,  or  Chambers,  Esq.,  was  re- 
turned for  Banbury.'*'  To  the  third  Parliament  of  this  reign, 
in   1627-8,  John   Crewe  Esq.  was  chosen:'*^   he  was  son  of   Sir 

(46)  On  the  26lh  March  1628,  the  Earl  of  Devon  reported  to  the  House  a  petition  pre- 
sented the  day  before  "  concerning  the  burning  of  Banbury  which  the  soldiers  billeted  there 
did  threaten  to  fire ;  and  complaining  of  divers  outrages  committed  by  the  soldiers  there 
against  tlie  constable,"  and  that  the  mayor  and  magistrates  had  not  done  the  constable 
justice.  The  constable  (George  Phillips),  and  John  Haines  and  Henry  Hollead,  having 
been  hereupon  examined  with  reference  to  the  allegations,  it  was  ordered  that  the  Serjeant 
at  arms  should  forthwith  bring  up  the  bodies  of  Epiphany  Hill  mayor,  and  William  Knyte 
and  John  NichoUs,  justices,  to  answer  the  complaint;   and  also  the  bodies  of  the  officers 

and  soldiers  concerned  in  the  outrage,  namely,  Henry  Reynde,  the  Auncient ;   

Browne,   a   soldier ;    Edward   •,   an   Irishman ;    John    ,  a   Welchman  ; 

Lewes  Braunch,  the  serjeant;  and  Captain  Elvenston,  the  captain  of  the  said  soldiers. 
Accordingly,  on  the  2nd  April,  the  Mayor,  Justice  Knyte,  Captain  Elvenston,  and  the 
Auncient  and  other  soldiers,  were  brought  before  the  House ;  when,  after  the  examination 
of  evidence  and  a  long  debate,  their  Lordships  considered  "  That  though  the  Mayor  and 
Justices  denied  justice  to  the  constable,  according  to  the  law,  for  that  they  mistooli  and  verily 
believed  that  they  could  not  punish  the  soldiers  without  consent  of  their  Captains,  as  it 
was  affiiTned  by  them  of  their  first  coming ;  yet  the  said  Justices  pacified  the  quarrel,  and 
took  such  good  order  that  the  place  was  afterwards  kept  quietly :  Their  Lordships  also 
considered,  that  the  outrage  of  the  Soldiers  began  out  of  the  opinion  also  that  they  were 
not  to  be  punished  but  by  their  Captain,  which  caused  the  assault  upon  the  Constable  ; 
in  which  assault  the  soldiers  being  beaten  and  wounded,  it  moved  the  House  to  mitigate 
their  censures  against  them :  And  first,  that  the  Mayor  and  Justice  should  be  excused,  the 
Constable  admonished  to  carry  himself  temperately  for  the  time  to  come,  yet  so  that  he 
should  not  neglect  to  do  his  duty  :  That  the  Captain  and  Soldiers  should  be  charged  to  live 
orderly,  and  subject  to  the  laws  of  the  laud  ;  and  that  they  must  not  expect  to  be  governed 
otherwise  than  by  the  law  of  the  land,  unto  which  they  must  submit  themselves,  as  also 
unto  those  magistrates  and  other  inferior  officers  under  whom  they  live.  This  being  agreed 
upon,  the  Mayor  and  Justice  were  first  called,  then  the  Constable,  then  the  Captain  and 
Soldiers  ;  and  the  Lord  Keeper  declared  the  censure  of  the  House  upon  them  severally, 
one  after  the  other,  as  they  were  called ;  and  concluded,  that  their  Lordships  did  take  this 
mild  proceeding  against  them  all,  that  it  might  breed  love  and  friendship  amongst  them." 
On  the  4th  April  William  Knyte  the  justice  petitioned  for  a  mitigation  of  fees;  but  his 
request  was  not  granted. — Lords'  Journals. 

(47)  Willis's  Notit.  Pari.  Chambers  was  an  Assistant  in  the  Corporation.  (See  p.  25.5.) 
The  decree  of  1603  mentions  Calcott  Chambers  as  grandson  of  that  Walter  Caloott  of 
Williamscot  who  left  money  to  the  poor  of  Banbury  (see  pp.  249,  2-50). 

(48)  Willis.  John  Crewe  represented  Bracklcy  in  1625,  and  the  county  of  Northampton 
in  1640. 


THE  REIGN  OF  CHARLES  THE  FIRST.  281 

Thomas  Crewe,  of  Steane,  who  was  twice  speaker  of  the  House 
of  Commons,  in  1623  and  1625. 

In  1629,  the  King,  by  letters  patent  dated  15th  September, 
granted  to  William  White  and  others,  in  fee-farm,  the  Borough  of 
Banbury  and  the  rents  of  assise  of  the  free  tenants,  &c.,  with 
certain  lands  and  tenements  which  are  enumerated  in  a  subsequent 
deed  of  sale  made  in  1651.''^  On  the  same  day  the  King  granted 
to  William  Viscount  Saye  and  Sele,  in  fee-farm,  the  castle  and 
Hundred  of  Banbury,  as  described  in  the  same  deed. 

An  extraordinary  appearance  of  the  Aurora  Borealis  over  Ban- 
bury in  1631  is,  at  a  later  date,  superstitiously  alluded  to  by 
Joshua  Sprigge  (a  Puritan  writer  who  was  born  at  Banbury)  ;  and 
conjectured  by  him  to  have  been  a  portent  of  the  wars  and  trou- 
bles which  afflicted  "  that  professing  place  "  eleven  years  after.  He 
says : — "  The  strange  sights  that  were  seen  over  that  Towne  six- 
teen yeers  agoe,  in  the  night  time,  when  as  the  appearance  of 
fighting,  pikes  pushing  one  against  another,  was  discerned  in 
the  ayre,  &c.  whereof  I  was  an  eye-witnesse,  with  many  others, 
might  portend  the  portion  which  Providence  hath  since  prepared 
for  them."^» 

The  following  are  extracts  from  the  accounts  of  the  Corpora- 
tion : — 

1625.  "  Recevyd  for  the  woolbeame ij/.  xviiJ5." 

1626.  "  IVP.     There  is  owing  vnto  the  Company  from  y^'\  I.    s.    d. 
towne  w'ch  M"^  Knight  paid  fourth  of  the  chamber  for  car-  >  1   19     6  " 
riage  of  Amies  to  Ox.  and  for  traine  Souldiers  charges  &c.     J 

1628.  "  Receipts.     For  Fellons  goods  horses  bridells  sad-1   ,   ,  ^     „ 
dels  and  swords    |  *  ^"^     0 

For  Pahners  clocke  [cloak]  &  apparrell      1     0  0 

For  Harp's  pistoll 0     4  0 

For  bloodsheds  swearinge  and  oth' disorders    Ill  6 

Payements.     For  sessions  dinner  supp'  and  breckfast    3  18  0 

For  a  supp'  att  the  eating  M*^  Watsons  bucke    3     0  0 

A  new  yeares  gift  to  S''  Tho.  Crewe     2     0  0" 

1629.  "  For  the  Lord  Says  keep's  fee    0  10  0 

For  a  dinner  att  the  Sessions  and  for  a  supper  the   Lord)  „  ,„  ^  ,, 

Says  bucke /  3  10     0 

Sept.  29th,  1629.  "  The  names  of  those  that  refuse  to  paie  to  the  last 
Seastm*  made  for  the  Const,  for  moneys  laied  fourth  by  them  for  the 
Kings  Househould — M''  Tustian  Richard  Hill  John  Wheately  Anthony 
Hall.  It  is  agreed  that  the  Const  shall  take  cowrse  against  those  that 
would  not  paie  &c.  and  to  be  allowed  their  charges." 

"  Januarye  13th,  1629  [1630].     A  Note  of  the  Towne  Amies. 

4  Musketts  w*''  Swordes,  rests,  bandeleers,  and  belts  :  one  more  ould 
Muskett  newly  stocked. 

3  newe  corsletts,  3  head  peeces,  twoe  swords,  twoe  bellts. 

3  ould  corsletts  newly  fashioned  w"^  3  head  peeces  w"=''  Amies  were  this 

(49)  See  hereafter,  in  1651.  {60)  Sprigge's  Anglia  Eediviva,  1647,  p.  2.52. 

2  N 


282  THE  REIGN  OF  CHARLES  THE  FIRST. 

day  deliu'ed  by  the  ould  constables  vnto  the  constables  for  the  tyme  beinge. 

4  pikes  whereof  3  of  them  are  armed  &  one  bare." 

1637.  "The  accompt  of  M"'  Fi-anscis  Andrewe  late  Maior  "  contains 
the  following  : — 

"Of  well  money  there  is  due  for  the  Towne  to  paie  ll.  6s.  Sd.  laied 
fourth  by  M'  Maior  for  his  charges  goinge  upp  to  London  about  the  Shipp 
Money." 

The  old  Register  contains  tlie  following  : — 

March  1632.  "  Memorandom  that  nV  William  Whately  vicker  of  this 
parish  did  give  and  grant  licence  to  m''  Peregi-ine  Gastrell  of  his  parish 
to  eat  flesh  on  dayes  prohibitted  to  others  for  that  the  sayd  Peregrin 
Gastrell  is  notoriosly  sicke  with  the  ague  in  his  joynts  and  other  infer- 
mities  the  wich  licenc  bereth  date  the  8  of  March  1632  and  for  that  his 
infermity  contineweth  still  the  same  licenc  is  granted  still  and  according 
to  the  lawe  provided  in  that  behalfe  is  entred  into  the  Cherch  booke  this 
19  of  March  1632." 

On  the  death  of  the  Earl  of  Banbury  in  1632,  the  Common 
Council  of  Banbury  elected  William,  Viscount  Saye  and  Sele,  to 
the  office  of  High  Steward  of  the  Borough  : — 

"  To  the  Right  Ho^^  Will'm  Lord  Viscount  Saye  and  Seale. 

"Burgusde  Banbux-y\  "  Maye  it  please  yo'' good  Lo''p  After  notice 
in  Com'  Oxon'  (  of  vs  taken  of  the  death  of  the  right  hono''able 

Will'm  late  Earle  of  Banbury  the  late  Highe 
Steward  of  our  Boroughe,  wee  have  mett  in  Common  Counsell  and  by 
one  vnanimous  consent  made  choyce  of  yo""  LorP  to  be  Highe  Steward 
in  hys  place  p'suming  of  yo''  hono'able  acceptance  Whereinas  alreadie 
for  manye  former  fauo''*  wee  acknowledge  ourselus  in  all  dutye  much 
obliged  to  yo''  LorP  :  Soe  shall  we  account  it  a  further  fauo'  that  our 
Towne  maye  be  honno'ed  by  soe  worthie  a  p'son  to  be  our  Patron  :  And 
in  Testimonye  of  tliis  our  choyce  wee  haue  subscribed  our  names  and 
afiixed  our  Common  Seale  of  our  said  Boroughe  Dated  the  five  and 
twentith  daye  of  June  in  the  eight  yeare  of  the  raigne  of  our  Soueraigne 
Lord  King  Charles  over  England  &c  Anno  D'ni  1632 

George  Robins  Maior 

Thomas  Whateley  ^ 

Thomas  Webb  >  Justic 

Thomas  Halhed  )  Nathaniell  Wheatlye 

Robert  Russell  1  Nathaniell  Hill 

Richard  Viuers  Andrew  Annesley  i^R  "•    " 

John  Awsten  |  Organ  NichoUs  |     "^^' 


Capital 
(►Aldr  John  Webb  j 


wTll'm  Allen 
Francis  Andrews 
John  Tustian 

On  the  8th  June  1639,  John  Howes,  M.  A.,  was  inducted  to 
the  perpetual  vicarage  of  Banbury,^  on  the  death  of  WilHam 
Whateley. 

After  an  interval  of  eleven  years  from  the  dissolution  of  the 
Parliament,   another  Parliament   (the   fourth   of   this   reign)    was 

(1)  Original  document  in  the  possession  of  the  Hon.  T.  W.  Twistleton  Fiennes. 

(2)  Parish  Register. 


PURITAN  DIVINES:— JOHN  DOD.  283 

convoked  by  the  King,  April  I3tli  1C40 ;  to  which  the  Hon. 
Nathaniel  Fiennes,  second  son  of  William  Viscount  Saye  and 
Sele,  was  returned  for  Banbury.  This  Parhament  was  dissolved 
on  the  5th  May,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  fifth  and  last  Parlia- 
ment of  Charles  the  First,  which  was  convoked  in  the  same  year, 
Nov.  3rd,  16-10:  Nathaniel  Fiennes  was  again  returned  for  Ban- 
bury.^ This  was  the  Long  Parliament,  which  continued  until 
April  20th,  1653,  when  it  was  broken  up  by  Cromwell. 


THE  PURITAN  DIVINES  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

The  feeling  of  hostility  to  the  government  of  Charles  the  First, 
which  prevailed  so  generally  in  Banbury  and  the  district  around 
it  before  and  during  the  great  civil  conflicts  upon  which  we  are  now 
about  to  enter,  has  been  attributed  in  great  part  to  the  influence 
of  the  Puritan  preachers,  especially  the  lecturers  in  the  different 
towns  :  it  will  therefore  be  necessary  to  record  some  particulars 
relating  to  the  chief  of  these  divines. 

Of  those  Puritan  Divines  who  have  been  already  noticed  in  this 
volume,  Brasbridge,  \'icar  of  Banbury,  and  Prime,  vicar  of  Ad- 
derbury,  died  nearly  half  a  century  before  the  commencement  of 
the  Civil  War.  Nor  is  any  thing  known  relating  to  Whateley 
which  appears  to  impUcate  him  personally  with  the  great  strug- 
gle of  parties  which  broke  out  into  open  rebelUon  within  three 
years  after  his  decease  :  although  we  meet  with  the  name  of  one 
of  his  near  relatives,  John  Wliateley,  along  with  those  of  Tiis- 
tian,  Hill,  and  Hall,  (Banbury  Puritans,)  who,  as  early  as  1629, 
refused  to  pay  to  the  usual  assessment  for  his  Majesty's  house- 
hold,'' about  the  time  when  Hampden  set  the  public  example 
of  refusing  to  contribute  in  aid  of  the  King's  necessities.  Of 
the  other  eminent  Puritan  preachers  who  officiated  within  this 
district,  Dod  and  Harris  lived  to  witness  all  the  horrors  of  war 
around  their  own  dwellings.  John  Dod  was  the  youngest  of 
the  seventeen  cliildren  of  John  Dod  Esq.  of  Shocklach  in  Che- 
shire, where  he  was  born  in  1555.  He  was  educated  at  Jesus 
College,  Cambridge,  of  which  college  he  was  elected  fellow  in 
1585:  in  the  same  year  he  was  incorporated  M.  A.  of  Oxford, 
and   was  presented  to  the   rectory  of  Hanwell  by  Sir  Anthony 

(3)  "Willis,  i-c.  (4)  See  p.  281. 

2n3 


284  PURITAN  DIVINES  :— DOD, 

Cope.  He  was  a  learned,  pioiis,  and  eminent  divine,  particularly 
skilled  in  Hebrew;  and  nothing  has  ever  been  objected  to  bis 
character  but  the  fact  of  his  "being  a  Puritan."  He  held 
the  living  of  Hanwell  twenty  years,  to  the  great  satisfaction 
both  of  the  Bishop  and  people,  preaching  and  catechising  with 
great  diligence,  and  keeping  hospitahty  at  his  house,  for  eight  or 
twelve  poor  persons,  twice  every  week.  Being  at  length  suspen- 
ded by  the  new  Bishop  of  Oxford,  Bridges,  for  nonconformity, 
and  consequently  unable  to  continue  his  ministerial  office  at 
Hanwell,  he,  in  or  about  the  year  1605,  commenced  preaching 
at  Fenny  Compton.  Soon  after,  he  removed  to  Canons  Ashby, 
where  he  was  once  more  silenced :  but  after  the  death  of  James 
the  First  (which  occurred  in  1625)  he  was  again  permitted  to 
preach.  He  was  one  of  five  Puritan  ministers  who  kept  up  a 
weekly  lecture  at  Banbury.  Towards  the  latter  part  of  his  life, 
being  patronised  by  the  Knightley  family,  he  took  up  his  abode 
at  Fawsley ;  being,  in  1637,  presented  by  Richard  Knightley  Esq. 
to  the  vicarage  of  Fawsley.^  It  is  said  that  he  never  meddled 
with  affairs  of  state  during  the  period  of  the  national  troubles : 
yet  he  did  not  escape  some  share  of  suffering,  being  on  one 
occasion  severely  used  by  some  cavalier  troopers,  who  plundered 
his  house,  and,  it  is  said,  would  have  possessed  themselves  even 
of  his  sheets,  but  that  the  good  old  man,  who  was  scarcely  able  to 
rise  from  his  chair,  had  carefully  put  them  iinder  him  for  a  cush- 
ion." He  died  in  1645,  aged  90  years,  and  was  interred  at  Faws- 
ley on  the  19th  August.  There  is  a  scarce  portrait  of  him,  which 
was  engraved  for  an  edition  of  one  of  his  works  published  after 
his  decease  :  beneath  it  are  the  following  lines  : — 

"  A  grave  Divine  ;  precise,  not  turbulent ; 

And  never  guilty  of  the  Churches  rent : 

Meek  even  to  sinners  ;  most  devout  to  God  : 

This  is  but  part  of  the  due  praise  of  Dod." 
Dod's  writings  are  all  excellent.  In  conjunction  with  ROBERT 
Cleaver,  the  Puritan  minister  of  Drayton,  he  published  a  cele- 
brated work,  entitled  An  Exposition  of  the  Ten  Commandments ; 
which  won  for  Dod  the  name  of  "The  Decalogist:"  but  the  brief 
pages  which  brought  him  the  most  fame  were  his  "  Sayings." 
His  successor  at  Hanwell,   Dr.   Harris,  used  to  say  that  "if  all 

(.5)  Wood's  Fasti  Oxon ;  Clark's  Lives;   Dod's  wiilings  ;   Ni-al's  Hist,  of  the  Puritans; 
(Granger's  Biog.  Hist. ;  Baker's  Nortliamp. 
(6)  Ncal's  Hist,  of  the  Puritans,  v.  3,  p.  320. 


CLEAVER,  AND  HARRIS.  285 

Dod's  apoplitliegms  were  collected,  tliey  would  exceed  all  that 
Plutarch  in  Greek,  or  others  in  Latin,  have  published."^  Many 
of  them,  on  two  sheets  of  paper,  were  long  to  be  seen  pasted  on 
the  walls  of  cottages :  Granger  says — "  An  old  woman  in  my 
neighbourhood  told  me  that  she  should  have  gone  distracted  for 
the  loss  of  her  husband,  if  she  had  been  without  Mr.  Dod's 
'  Sayings '  in  the  house."*  Fuller  characterises  him  as  "  by 
nature  a  witty,  by  industry  a  learned,  by  grace  a  godly  divine."^ 

Robert  Harris,  the  successor  of  Dod  in  his  rectory  of  Han- 
well,  and  afterwards  President  of  Trinity  College,  Oxford,  was 
another  celebrated  Puritan  preacher  of  this  period.  He  was  born, 
says  Durham,  "  in  a  dark  time  and  place ;"  namely,  at  Broad 
Campden  in  Gloucestershire  in  1578.  He  entered  Magdalene 
Hall,  Oxford,  in  1595  ;  took  one  degree  in  arts,  and,  being  driven 
from  Oxford  by  the  occurrence  of  the  Plague,  was  prevailed  upon 
to  preach,  in  the  \dcinity  of  that  city,  by  Mr.  Doyley,'"  a  gentleman 
of  the  ancient  Oxfordshire  family  of  De  Oily,  who  resided  six 
miles  from  Oxford  and  was  "  a  great  friend  to  the  Gospel."  Some 
time  after  this,  there  was,  the  same  writer  says,  "  a  fearful  eclipse 
upon  the  Church ;  a  constellation  of  ministers  was  at  once  dark- 
ened. Amongst  the  rest  those  three  shining  stars,  Mr.  Dod,  Mr. 
Cleaver,  and  Mr.  Lancaster.  Hereupon  Sir  x\nthony  Cope  (who 
had  before  placed,  and  now  lost,  Mr.  Dod  at  Hanwell,  and  Mr. 
Cleaver  at  Drayton,)  became  suitor  to  his  brother  Doylye  (so  he 
was  by  marriage)  for  Mr.  Harris."  To  Hanwell  Harris  accord- 
ingly went,  where  "  he  found  that  country  in  tliis  posture,  preach 
he  might,  and  welcome,  but  pastors  they  would  own  none  but 
their  old."  The  conclusion  of  this  affair  was  that  Harris  shoiild 
preach  to  the  congregations  of  Hanwell  and  Drayton  only  u.ntil 
it  should  be  possible  to  recover  the  former  pastors." 

(7)  Durham's  Life  of  Harris,  p.  18.  (8)  Granger's  Biog.  Hist.,  v.  2,  p.  74. 

(9)  It  was  John  Dod  who  was  alluded  to  in  Cartwright's  comedy,  the  Ordinary,  in  the 
passage — "  Spring  up,  and  Dod's  blessing  on't."  Dod  and  Cleaver's  celebrated  work,  en- 
titled "  A  Plaine  and  Familiar  Exposition  of  the  Ten  Commandments,"  was  published  in 
4to.  in  1604,  and  in  8vo.  in  1607,  dedicated  to  Sir  Anthony  Cope.  In  conjunction  with 
the  same  Cleaver,  Dod  published  in  1606,  and  reprinted  in  1611,  "Ten  Sermons,  tending 
chiefely  to  the  fitting  of  men  for  the  worthy  receiuing  of  the  Lords  Supper,"  4to. ;  dedicated 
to  the  lady  Anne  Cope,  wife  of  Sir  Anthony  Cope  of  Hanwell,  and  Lady  Elizabeth  Cope, 
wife  of  Sir  William  Cope  of  Hardwicke.  Dod  and  Cleaver  further  published,  in  4to.  in 
1612,  "An  Exposition  of  the  Proverbs,"  from  -^hap.  9  to  20,  4to.  In  1635  Dod  published 
"  A  Plain  and  Familiar  Exposition  on  the  Lord's  Prayer,"  first  preached  in  divers  sermons 
["above  twenty  years  agoe"],  4to.  He  also  pubUshed  Sermons  in  1614,  1618,  and  1621. 
Dod's  "  Sayings"  have  been  printed  in  various  forms. 

(10)  John  Doyley  Esq.,  of  Chiselhampton,  co.  Oxon,  who  married  Ursida,  the  daughter 
of  Edward  Cope  Esq.  of  Hanwell  and  the  sister  of  Sir  Anthony  Cope. 

(11)  Life  of  Harris,  by  W.  D.  [Durham],  12mo.,  1660,  pp.  1—12. 


286  PURITAN  DIVINES:— HARRIS, 

This  was  at  the  same  time  that  Whateley  entered  the  pxilpit  at 
Banbury,  where  he  also  was  unpopular  upon  "  account  of  dissent 
from  their  ancient  teachers."  "  The  truth  is,"  says  Durham, 
"  they  both  had  a  sad  time  of  it  a  great  while,  notwithstanding 
all  the  wisdom  and  moderation  of  Sir  Anthony  Cope,  and  Mr. 
Dod,  to  the  contrary."'- 

Arehbishop  Bancroft,  finding  no  compliance  in  the  two  silenced 
ministers  (Dod  and  Cleaver),  presented  two  chaplains  to  the 
churches  of  Hanwell  and  Di'ayton  upon  the  ground  of  a  lapse. 
Sir  Anthony  Cope  now  thought  it  "high  time  to  stir;"  and, 
taking  with  him  one  or  two  members  of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, he  presented  his  clerks  to  the  Archbishop.  The  latter  gave 
his  consent  that  Sir  Anthony  should  present;  but,  as  Sir  An- 
thony had  spoken  in  Parliament  against  insufficient  ministers,  and 
made  some  reflections  upon  the  Bishops,  the  x\rchbishop  referred 
both  the  clerks  to  his  own  ablest  chaplain  to  be  examined.  The 
chaplain  brought  in  the  clerk  designed  for  Hanwell  (which  place 
Harris  had  declined)  altogether  insufficient,  although  he  is  stated 
to  have  been  "  a  grave  and  discreet  divine  :"  the  other  was  re- 
turned "  Mediocriter  doctus."  Barlow,  bishop  of  Rochester,  being 
present,  was  then  asked  to  undertake  to  examine  Harris  ;  and  this 
Bishop,  being  an  active  and  witty  man,  immediately  proceeded 
to  try  him  in  divinity,  but  more  in  other  learning,  particularly 
Greek,  where  the  Bishop's  strength  lay :  but  so  long,  says  Dur- 
ham, "they  both  Greeked  it,  till  at  last  they  were  both  scoted, 
and  to  seek  of  words  ;  whereupon  they  both  fell  a  laughing,  and 
so  gave  up."  The  Bishop  then  went  in  to  the  Archbishop,  and 
there  (as  Harris  expressed  it)  "  set  him  as  much  too  high  "  as  the 
chaplain  had  "  set  his  fellow  too  low."  The  Archbishop  was 
thereupon  content  to  admit  Harris,  upon  condition  that  he  should 
have  the  rectory  of  Hanwell ;  which  was  easily  settled,  as  Sir 
Anthony  had  before  offered  him  the  living,  and  Dod  was  also 
present  to  desire  it.^^ 

"  Well,"  says  the  biographer,  "  now  they  have  a  new  pastor  at 
Hanwell,  which  begets  a  new  tumult :  withall  Drayton  is  also 
furnished  with  one  Mr.  Scudder,  a  prudent  man.  And  now  there 
were  three  united,  not  only  in  judgment  and  Christian  affection, 
but  in  affinity  :  INIr.  Harris  marrying  Mr.  Whately's  own  sister ; 
and  Mr.  Scudder  his  wife's  sister.    These  three  met  a  while  weekly, 

(12)  Life  of  Harris,  pp.  12,  13.  (13)  Life  of  Harris,  pp.  13—15. 


WHATELEY,  AND  SCUDDER.  287 

and  alternatim  translated  and  analysed  each  his  chapter,  but  their 
public  employments  soon  took  them  off  this."  A  domestic  afflic- 
tion visited  Harris  soon  after  he  was  fixed  at  Hanwell ;  but  this 
cloud  was  blown  over,  and  after  a  time  the  people  began  to 
relish  his  ministry,  and  he  had  great  comfort  in  the  proximity  of 
many  divines  of  his  own  class.  Among  these  are  mentioned 
Cleaver  (lately  ejected  from  Drayton)  as  a  "  sohd  text-man ;"  Lan- 
caster, "  a  most  humble  and  self-denying  man,"  by  birth  a  gentle- 
man, who,  when  at  Cambridge,  is  said  by  Dr.  Collins  to  have  de- 
livered himself  in  lectures  in  as  pure  Latin  as  ever  Tully  uttered, 
having  no  notes  but  what  he  wrote  upon  the  nails  of  his  fingers  ; 
and,  above  all,  Dod.  This  last-named  divine  daily  read  a  chapter 
with  Harris  in  the  original,  and  much  of  their  time  was  spent 
together :  but  this  happiness  had  its  end  on  Dod's  removal  into 
Northamptonshire . '  ^ 

In  1614,  Harris  purchased  the  'Spital  estate  at  Banbury  of  his 
father-in-law,  Thomas  Whateley,^^  the  father  of  WilHam  Whate- 
ley.  During  his  long  residence  at  Hanwell,  he  had  "  sundry  calls 
to  London,  now  to  the  Cross,  and  now  to  the  Parliament,  and 
sometimes  to  the  Country-feasts ;  which  gave  occasion  to  many 
invitations  to  places  there."  To  Hanwell  several  young  students 
resorted,  and  his  small  house  there  became  a  little  academy.  He 
was  a  constant  preacher  in  his  own  church  on  Sundays,  and  on 
such  festival  days  as  did  not  interfere  with  the  Lecture  or  Market 
at  Banbury :  it  is  said  that,  on  Easter  Mondays  and  Whit  Mon- 
days especially,  "troops  of  Cliristians  "  came  many  miles,  from 
all  quarters,  to  hear  him  ;  and  on  the  morrow  these  were  in  like 
manner  "  entertained  at  Banbury  by  Mr.  Whately."  "  What  a 
fair  of  souls,"  continues  Durham,  "was  then  held  at  Hanwell 
and  Banbury  by  these  two  brothers  !  How  did  religion  flourish  ! 
how  did  professors  thrive  !"  These  occasions  made  Harris  not 
forward  to  engage  in  lectures  at  a  distance  from  home ;  yet  he, 
with  others,  kept  up  a  lecture  at  Deddington ;  and  for  some  time 
he  was  engaged  alone  in  a  lecture  at  Stratford  upon  Avon  once  a 
fortnight.'" 

Harris  remained  at  Hanwell  long  enough  to  witness  the  last 
days  of  three  successive  patrons,  Sir  Anthony,  Sir  William,  and 

(14)  Life  of  Harris,  pp.  15—20. 

(15)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  749  :  and  see  an  account  of  the  'Spital  property  [Hospital  of 
St.  Leonard]  in  p.  79  of  this  vol. 

(16)  Life  of  Harris,  pp.  20—26. 


288  HARRIS  OF  HANWELL  :— THE  CIVIL  WAR. 

Sir  John  Cope,  baronets  ;  the  last  of  whom  died  13th  October 
1638,'^  only  about  fourteen  months  subsequesitly  to  the  decease  of 
his  father,  Sir  WilHam.  Many  of  Harris's  contemporary  minis- 
ters among  the  Puritans  were  also  deceased,  including  his  brother- 
in-law  Whateley,  who  died  in  1639.  On  the  25th  April  1642, 
Harris  was  presented,  among  other  Puritan  divines  from  various 
coimties,  as  fit  to  be  consulted  by  the  Parliament  "touching  the 
reformation  of  Church  Government  and  the  Liturgy."'^  He  was 
summoned  to  London  to  preach  before  the  Parliaments^  on  the 
occasion  of  an  appointed  fast,  25th  May  1642,  a  short  time 
before  the  outbreak  of  the  war :  he  however  returned  to  Hanwell ; 
and,  in  the  beginning  of  August  following,  was  by  some  cavalier 
troopers  turned  out  of  his  house,  with  his  family,  on  a  Sunday 
evening,  and  made  to  wander  for  a  lodging.  The  troopers  also 
took  temporary  possession  of  Hanwell  Castle,  then  the  abode  of 
Lady  Cope,  the  widow  of  Sir  John  Cope  and  mother  of  the 
youthful  Sir  Anthony.""  "  Now,"  says  his  biographer,  "  begin 
those  cloudy  times,  and  his  sadder  dales  ;  now  troops  and  armies 
march  towards  those  qviarters  about  Edgehill,  where  they  sit  down, 
and  there  is  fought  a  bloody  battel  upon  the  Lord's  Day"  [23rd 
October],  "  about  four  miles  distant  from  him  ;  notwithstanding 
(which  he  took  for  a  great  mercy)  hee  heard  not  the  least  noise 
of  it,  till  the  publiek  work  of  the  day  was  over,  nor  could  he 
believe  the  report  of  a  fight  till  a  souldier  besmeared  with  blood 
and  powder  came  to  witness  it."  From  this  period,  Harris's 
troubles  were  multiplied.  "  Now  hee  was  threatned  with  this,  now 
with  that  garrison :  here  hee  was  a  Roundhead,  and  there  a  Ma- 
lignant ;  still  oppressed  with  a  succession  of  souldiers  quartering 
upon  him,  yet  still  hee  kept  his  standing.  In  his  family  some  of 
his  [military]  guests  would  joyn  with  him  in  family  duties,  wherein 
hee  was  alwaies  constant,  albeit  his  devotions  were  by  some  en- 
tertained, and  by  others  scorned,  because  not  mingled  with  book- 

(17)  It  would  appear,  from  the  following  notice  which  occurs  iu  an  abstract  of  the  in- 
quisition taken  28th  December  1638,  that  Sir  John  Cope  died  a  violent  death : — "  John  Cope 
bar.  fil.  &  hser.  vul."  \_vulneratus,  wounded]  "  11  Oct.  1638,  ob.  13  Oct.  1638."  (Harl. 
MS.  760,  fol.  276.)  His  remains  were  interred  at  Hanwell  on  the  25th  October.  (Register 
of  Hanwell.)  _  Sir  John  Cope's  eldest  son  and  heir,  the  second  Sir  Anthony  Cope  bart., 
was  at  this  period  only  six  years  of  age. 

(18)  4to  Tract  of  the  period  in  my  own  possession. 

(19)  Which  he  did  from  the  test — "  Shall  not  God  avenge  his  own  Elect,  which  cry  day 
and  night  unto  him."  (A  Sennon,  &c.  by  Robert  Harris,  1612.)  This  sermon  was  pub- 
lished by  order  of  the  House,  and  is  then  dated  "  From  my  poore  Study.  lune  13.  1642." 

(20)  "  Proceedings  at  Banbury,"  &c.,  a  4to.  tract  preserved  in  the  King's  Collection 
in  the  British  Museum.  This  Lady  Cope  was  Sir  John  Cope's  second  u-ife,  the  Lady 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Fi-ancis  Earl  of  Westmorland.     She  died  in  1669. 


HARRIS  OF  HANWELL:— THE  CIVIL  WAR.  28J) 

prayers."  In  his  cliurcli  lie  kept  up  his  usual  course  on  Sundays  ; 
and  most  of  the  soldiers  who  were  quartered  upon  him,  being 
leaders  and  officers,  were  civil  towards  him  and  his  :  yet  on  one 
occasion  the  company  were  so  "  outrageously  blasphemous  "  that 
he  could  not  forbear  using  the  text,  James  v.  12;  which  so  "net- 
tled" some  of  them,  that,  with  the  most  horrible  imprecations  upon 
their  own  heads  if  they  failed  herein,  they  vowed  to  shoot  the 
preacher  if  ever  he  handled  that  text  again.  The  next  day  he 
went  on  upon  the  same  text,  whereupon  a  soldier  took  up  his 
carbine  and  "  fumbled "  aboiit  the  lock ;  but  the  preacher  went 
through  his  discourse  without  any  further  interruption.-^ 

Although  invited  to  the  Assembly  at  London,  Harris  continued 
at  Hanwell,  until,  his  tenements  in  the  neighbourhood  (perhaps 
the  'Spital  property  at  Banbury)  being  fired,  the  wood  and  nur- 
series of  wood  destroyed,  and  himself  threatened,  and  at  last 
enforced  by  a  Scottish  commander  to  shift  for  quarters,  while 
some  of  his  neighbours  were  ready  to  betray  him,  he  went  to 
London  "  a  sad  man ;"  and  at  the  Assembly  is  said  to  have  found 
"  much  more  undone  than  done."  Such  of  his  books  and  notes 
as  remained  at  Hanwell,  together  with  all  his  goods  left  beliind, 
were  seized,-'  and  the  living  was  given  to  another.  He  now  at- 
tended the  Assembly,  but  was  careful  to  "  hear  all  and  say  little."-^ 
He  soon  after  received  an  appointment  to  St.  Botolph's  Church 
in  Bishopsgate  Street.  In  1645,  he  was  named  one  of  the 
"tryers"  of  those  who  were  to  be  ruling  elders.  The  Committee 
of  Hampshire,  about  the  year  1646,  gave  him  the  rich  living  of 
Petersfield ;  and  about  the  same  time,  he,  with  four  other  divines, 
was  commanded  to  go  to  Oxford,  then  under  suspension.  There 
a'  paper  was  put  out  against  him,  containing  an  account  of  his 
livings  and  revenues ;  which  seems  to  have  much  annoyed  him, 
notwithstanding  that  he  is  stated  to  have  "  stood  clear  in  his  own 
and  others'  consciences  ;"  and  he  felt  compelled  to  resign  Pe- 
tersfield. The  Chancellor  (the  Earl  of  Pembroke),  coming  to 
visit  Oxford  in  1648,  conferred  upon  Harris  the  degree  of  D.  D. ; 
and  in  the  same  year  he  became  president  of  Trinity  College, 
Oxford,  and,  consequently,-  rector  of  Garsington.  In  1654,  he, 
with  Dr.  John  Owen,  Dr.  Thomas  Goodwin,  Samuel  Wells  the 

(21)  Life  of  Harris,  pp.  30—32. 

(22)  It  is  entered  in  the  register  of  Hanwell  that  the  said  Eegister  Book  was  carried 
away  by  the  soldiers  in  1642,  and  missing  till  1649,  when  it  was  found  at  Oxford. 

(23)  Life  of  Harris,  p.  32,  33. 

20 


2UU         PURITAN  DIVINES  :— CLEAVER  AND  SCUDDER. 

then  Puritan  minister  of  Banbury,  Taylor  of  Brougliton,  and 
others,  was  appointed  assistant  to  the  commissioners  of  Oxford- 
shire for  ejecting  "  scandalous  and  ignorant  ministers  and  school- 
masters," a  definition  wliich  was  generally  made  to  include  such 
as  were  inclined  to  the  Royalist  cause.  In  his  old  age,  Harris  ex- 
perienced severe  affliction  from  the  circumstance  of  his  wife  (the 
sister  of  Whateley),  with  whom  he  had  lived  nearly  fifty  years, 
being  given  up  (Durham  says)  "to  Satan's  buffetings,  to  such 
horrours  of  minde,  and  hellish  temptations,  as  smote  a  grief  and 
terrour  into  all  spectators."  Dr.  Harris  died  in  1658  ;  his  last 
words  signifying  to  liis  son  "that  he  lived  and  died  in  the  faith 
which  he  had  preached  and  printed,  and  now  he  found  the  com- 
fort of  it."     He  was  buried  in  the  chapel  of  Trinity  College.-^ 

Robert  Cleaver,  the  Pmitan  rector  of  Drayton  who  was 
contemporary  with  Dod,  has  been  already  mentioned  in  pp. 
28-1 — 287.  The  succeeding  rector  of  Drayton,  Henry  Scud- 
DER,  (who  has  also  been  noticed  in  pp.  267,  286,)  in  conjunction 
with  the  learned  Sir  Edward  lieigh  published  in  1640  the  "Proto- 
types "  of  William  Whateley ;  with  a  Life  of  Whateley  prefixed, 
written  by  Scudder.  Scudder  was  subsequently  minister  of  Col- 
lingbourn  Duels  in  Wiltshire."^ 

(24)  Bliss's  Wood's  Athenso  ;  Life  of  Harris.  The  latter  work  is  entitled  "  The  Life  and 
Death  of  that  judicious  Divine  and  accomplished  Preacher,  Robert  Harris,  D.  D.,  late 
President  of  Trinity  College  in  Oxon.  Collected  by  a  joint  concurrence  of  some,  who  knew 
him  well  in  his  Strength,  visited  him  often  in  his  Sickness,  attended  him  at  his  Death,  and 
still  honour  his  Memory.  Published  at  the  earnest  Request  of  many,  for  the  Satisfaction 
of  some,  for  the  Silencing  of  others,  and  for  the  Imitation  of  all.  By  W.  D.  [Durham] 
his  dear  Friend  and  Kinsman."  Lond.,  1st  edit.  1G60 ;  2nd  edit.,  1661 ;  12mo. 

Harris's  works  are : — 1,  S.  Pavls  Confidence  ;  delivered  in  a  Sennon  before  the  Ivdges  of 
Assise,  1628. — 2,  Davids  Comfort  at  Ziklag ;  a  plaine  Sermon  made  in  time  of  dearth 
and  scarcitie  of  Corne  and  Worke,  1628. — 3,  Samvels  Fvnerall :  or,  a  Sermon  preached 
at  the  Funerall  of  Sir  Anthonie  Cope,  knight,  and  baronet;  1618,  1622,  &  1626. 
Dedicated  to  his  widow,  Lady  Anne  Cope.  Dated  from  Hanwell,  July  11.  1618,  four 
years  after  the  funeral.— i,  Absaloms  Fvnerall.  Preached  at  Baubvrie  by  a  Neighbovr 
Minister.  Or,  The  Lamentation  of  a  loving  father  for  a  rebellious  childe ;  1617  &  1626. 
Dated  2.5  August  1610.— 5,  The  Drvnkards  Cvp:  1619  &  1626.  Dedicated  to  Justices  of 
the  Peace  near  about  Hanwell. — 6,  Gods  Goodnes  and  Mercie.  Laid  open  in  a  Sermon 
preached  at  Pauls-Crossc  on  the  last  of  June,  1622.  Printed  1626.  -7.  Hezekiahs  Reco- 
very [2nd  edit.,  1626].— 8,  Peters  Enlargement  vpon  the  Prayers  of  the  Chvrch :  with 
certain  Queries  and  Cases  concerning  Prayer  [0th  Edit.  1629].— 9,  The  Blessednesse  of  a 
Sovnd  Spirit:  with  the  Misery  of  a  Wovnded  Spirit,  1628.— 10,  Judas  his  Miserie.  A 
Sermon  preached  at  the  Vniversitie  of  Oxford,  1628. — 11,  A  Sermon  preached  to  the 
Honorable  Hovse  of  Commons  assembled  in  Parliament,  at  a  I'ublike  Fast,  May  2-5, 1612. 
Published  by  Order  of  the  House.  Lond.  1642.— 12,  Saint  Pauls  Exercise.— 13,  Two  Ser- 
mons on  a  Good  Conscience. — 14,  Barzillai,  preached  at  Saint  Marie  Aldennanburie.— 
1.5,  The  Way  to  True  Happinessc,  in  Twenty  four  Sermons  on  the  Beatitudes.— 16,  A  Trea- 
tise of  the  New  Covenant. — 17,  A  Remedy  against  Covetousnesse. 

(25)  Scudder  wrote  and  published  "  The  Christian's  Daily  Walk,"  in  Svo.  Also,  in  1644, 
"  God's  Warning  to  England,"  a  sermon  preached  before  the  House  of  Commons,  4to. 


WILLIAM,  VISCOUNT  SAVE  AND  SELE.  291 


THE  GREAT  CIVIL  WAR. 


BANBURY:    THE  FIENNES  FAMILY. 

We  are  now  entering  upon  u  period  wlien  tlie  local  history  of 
Banbury  occupies  a  conspicuous  place  in  our  National  annals. 
The  immediate  neighbourhood  was  the  scene  where  those  secret 
consultations  were  carried  on  amongst  the  Chiefs  of  the  English 
maleconteuts,  which  led  to  open  resistance  to  the  Court:  and, 
when  the  rebellion  actually  broke  out  in  1042,  the  town  and  its 
Castle  became,  and,  until  1646,  continued  to  be,  involved  in 
hot  and  furious  conflict.  Of  the  strength  of  the  Castle  we 
have  hitherto  learned  but  little :  perhaps  its  long  possession 
by  the  Bishops  of  Lincoln  may  have  been  the  cause  why  in 
stormy  times,  the  town  was  often,  apparently,  in  peace.  Now, 
however,  the  Castle  was  held  by  one  of  the  first  agitators  and 
leaders  in  the  Rebellion,  William,  "Viscount  Saye  and  Sele. 
This  influential  nobleman  was  the  son  of  Richard,  Baron  Saye 
and  Sele:  he  was  born  at  Broughton  in  1582;  received  his 
grammar  learning  in  Wykeham's  school  near  Winchester ;  be- 
came a  fellow-commoner  of  New  College,  Oxford,  in  his  four- 
teenth year ;  and  afterwards  travelled  abroad.  In  1612  he 
succeeded  to  the  barony  of  Saye  and  Sele  on  the  decease  of  his 
father;  and  was  afterwards,  in  1624,  advanced  by  James  the 
First  to  the  dignity  of  a  Viscount.  The  first  mention  of  this  no- 
bleman in  connection  with  Banbury  (beyond  that  of  his  holding 
the  Castle  under  the  lease  granted  during  the  life  of  his  father) 
is  in  1629,  when  some  expenses  are  recorded  as  having  been 
incurred  by  the  Corporation  on  account  of  a  supper  on  "the 
Lord  Says  bucke.""''  In  1632,  he  was  appointed  High  Steward 
of  the  borough.-'  With  reference  to  the  intimate  connection  of 
this  nobleman  with  Banbury,  it  was  written  by  a  friendly  pen, 
that  he  "  sparkled  many  glimpses  into  the  consciences  of  all  that 
were  near  him,  and  enlightened  more  places  besides  Banbury."*^ 

(26)  See  p.  281.  (27)  Sec  p.  282.  (28)  Meroiuius  Britanicus,  No.  59. 

2o3 


292  NATHANIEL  FIENNES. 

His  eldest  son,  James  Fiennes,  represented  Banbury  in  Parlia- 
ment in  1625.  His  second  son,  Nathaniel  Fiennes,  a  popular 
and  talented  young  nobleman,  was  chosen  representative  of  Ban- 
bury in  both  the  Parliaments  of  1640,  and  was,  like  his  father 
a  counsellor  and  leader  in  the  Rebellion. 

Nathaniel  Fiennes  was  born  at  Broughton  in  1608;  edu- 
cated in  grammar  learning  in  Winchester  school ;  and  admitted 
perpetual  fellow  of  New  College,  Oxford,  (at  his  first  entry 
therein,  he  being  a  founder's  kinsman,)  in  1624.  He  remained 
at  Oxford  about  five  years,  when  he  departed,  without  a  degree, 
and  went  to  Geneva ;  where,  and  among  the  cantons  of  Switzer- 
land, he  increased  the  feeling  of  disinclination  to  the  Church  of 
England  which  he  had  imbibed  from  his  years  of  infancy.  Re- 
turning from  Ms  travels,  he  passed  through  Scotland  at  the  time 
when  the  rebellion  there  was  in  the  bud:  and  when,  in  1640, 
he  was  found  in  the  "  Long  Parliament "  as  the  member  for 
Banbury,  he  at  once,  by  his  bold  yet  wary  counsel,  and  his  great 
powers  of  language,  shewed  himself  fit  to  be  a  leader  in  that  as- 
sembly. Noble  says  that  Nathaniel  Fiennes  had  so  great  a 
dislike  to  monarchy  and  episcopacy,  that,  from  the  moment  of 
his  entering  Parliament,  he  was  one  of  those  called  "root-and- 
branch  men."  His  opponent.  Lord  Clarendon,  admits  him  to 
have  had  "very  good  parts  of  learning  and  nature;"  and,  next  to 
Hampden  himself,  he  was  regarded  as  most  possessing  the  con- 
fidence of  the  House  of  Commons. 

There  is  reason  to  believe  that  Banbury  Castle  was  greatly 
strengthened  soon  after  this  period.  Heath  (writing  after  the  Civil 
Wars)  says,  it  had  "  recovered  itself  from  the  decays  of  a  long 
antiquity."-^  Dr.  Stukeley,  writing  in  1712,  says: — "  in  the  Civil 
Wars  it  received  new  additional  works,  for  there  are  plain  remains 
of  four  bastions,  a  brook  running  without  them."^"  Joshua 
Sprigge,  a  Banbury  Puritan,  writing  immediately  after  the  siege 
of  the  Castle  in  1646,  says: — '-This  Castle,  though  old  through 
time,  yet  was  recovered  and  revived  by  art  and  industry  unto 
an  incredible  strength,  much  beyond  many  places  of  greater  name 
and  reputation."^'  Lord  Saye  was  not  only  the  keeper  of  this 
stronghold,  but  also,  in  affairs  of  state  and  religion,  the  chosen 
leader  of  almost  the  entire  population  of  the  district  around  Ban- 

(20)  Heath's  Chronicle,  p.  108. 

(30)  Stukeley's  Itin.  Curios.,  p.  48.  (31)  Sprigge's  Auglia  Ecdiviva,  p.  253. 


REFUSAL  TO  PAY  SHIP  MONEY.  293 

bur  J.  We  liave  seen,  as  early  as  1629,  several  persons  of  re- 
spectability in  Banbury  refusing  to  pay  to  the  assessment  made 
on  account  of  the  King's  household,^"  nearly  at  the  period  when 
Hampden  set  the  example  of  refusing  to  contribute  in  aid  of  the 
King's  necessities.  There  is  another  record,  in  1637,  of  money 
laid  out  by  the  Mayor  of  Banbury  for  his  charges  of  going  to 
London  concerning  the  Ship  Money .''^  This  tax  had  been  de- 
manded in  some  maritime  places  and  in  London  in  1 634  :  but 
it  was  not  until  1636  (at  which  date  Ship  Money  was  first 
levied  on  all  counties,  cities,  and  corporate  towns,)  that  Hamp- 
den and  Lord  Saye  made  their  celebrated  stand  against  the  im- 
post ;  and  it  appears,  from  the  date  of  the  above  memorandum, 
that  the  people  of  Banbury  were  thus  early  concerned  in  the 
like  resistance.^' 

In  the  southeastern  parts  of  Warwickshire,  adjacent  to  Oxford- 
shire and  Northamptonshire,  Lord  Brook^^  was  the  chosen  leader 
of  a  population  who  also  were  decidedly  opposed  to  the  measures 

(32)  See  p.  281.  (33)  See  p.  282. 

(34)  From  a  copy  of  one  of  the  scheilules  of  Ship  Money  which  has  been  preserved  at 
Stowe  and  published  by  Lord  Nugent  in  his  Memorials  of  Hampden,  the  following  items 
are  taken,  shewing  the  amount  of  this  tax  claimed  from  this  neighbourhood.  The  entries 
for  some  other  places  are  added  for  the  sake  of  comparison : — 

Tons      Meji        £  s.    d. 

"Oxfordshire      one  shipp  of 280. ..  .112. .  3500  0    0 

Citly  of  Oxfordo 100  0     0 

Towne  of  Burforde    40  0    0 

Burrough  and  Pai-ish  of  Banbury    40  0    0 

Burrough  or  Towne  of  Chipping  Norton    30  0     0 

Burrough  of  Woodstocke 20  0     0 

Citty  of  Coventrie 266  0    0 

Towne  of  Northampton 200  0    0 

Burrough  and  Parish  of  Buckingham 70  0    0 

Burrough  of  Stratford  upon  Avon    50  0    0 

Burrough  of  Daventry 50  0    0 

Burrough  of  Brackley   60  0     0 " 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  this  schedule  was  made  not  long  after  the  destruction  of  one 

third  of  the  town  of  Banbury  by  fire. 

(35)  Clarendon.  Eobert  Grevile,  Lord  Brook,  was  descended  from  Sir  Fulke  Grevilc, 
second  son  of  Sir  Edward  Grevile  of  Drayton  and  Milcot  who  lived  in  the  reign  of  Henry 
VIII. 

Lords  Saye  and  Brook,  a  few  years  before  the  Civil  War,  at  a  time  when  the  hopes  of 
their  party  were  low,  were  among  those  who  meditated  a  settlement  in  New  England.  By 
them,  a  little  town,  called  Saybeook,  was  built  in  1635  ;  and  it  is  now  a  flourishing  place 
in  the  province  of  Connecticut.  To  this  wild  and  distant  settlement,  these  two  peers  of 
England  had  at  that  time,  says  Lord  Nugent,  "  determined  to  retreat,  in  failure  of  their 
efforts  for  justice  and  peace  at  home ;  and  there  they  were  jointly  to  become  the  founders 
of  a  patriarchal  community.  Of  this  new  settlement  liberty  of  conscience  was  to  be  the 
first  law,  and  it  was  afterwards  to  be  governed  according  to  their  darling  scheme  of  a  free 
commonwealth."  (Memorials  of  Hampden,  v.  1,  pp.  253,  254.)  How  "free"  the  new 
commonwealth  might  have  proved,  we  cannot  judge  :  but  Lord  Saye,  who,  but  a  few  years 
after,  appears  prominently  as  the  persecutor  of  the  Quakers  on  his  estates  at  Broughton, 
can  hardly  be  supposed  likely  to  have  long  secured  "  liberty  of  conscience "  within  his 
commonwealth. 

Lords  Saye  and  Brook  were  the  only  members  of  the  English  nobility  who  refused  their 
concurrence  to  the  Protestation  that  all  men  should  profess  their  loyalty  to  his  Majesty,  and 
disclaim  holding  any  correspondence  with  the  Scottish  rebels.  Clarendon  says : — "  No 
man  imagined  it  possible  that  any  of  the  English  would  refuse  to  make  that  protestation; 


294      SPENCER  COMPTON,  EARL  OF  NORTHAMPTON. 

of  the  Court.  The  neighbouring  parts  of  Northamptonshire  were 
equally  disaffected.  The  borders  of  Buckinghamshire,  on  the 
side  towards  Oxfordshire,  were  wholly  under  the  guidance  of 
Hampden.  The  strong  Castles  of  Banbury,  Warwick,  and  North- 
ampton, and  Lord  Saye's  castellated  house  at  Broughton  near 
Banbury,  were  all  in  the  keeping  of  the  malecontents. 

On  the  other  hand,  Oxford  was  the  head  quarters  of  the  King's 
adherents :  and  the  Earl  of  NORTHAMPTON,  the  powerful,  the 
beloved,  the  bold,  the  uncompromising  friend  of  Royalty,  had  a 
defensible  seat  at  Compton  Wynyate,  within  eight  miles  of  Ban- 
bury. Spencer  Compton,  Earl  of  Northampton,  had  lived  until 
this  period  in  indulgence  and  luxury :  but,  being  now  aroused  in 
the  cause  of  his  Sovereign,  he  immediately  devoted  all  his  ener- 
gies to  its  support.  He  levied,  at  the  first,  a  regiment  of  foot 
and  a  troop  of  horse  at  his  own  charge,  and  dedicated  all  his 
children  to  the  service.  It  is  said  that  at  the  first  great  battle, 
that  of  Edgehill,  he  brought  into  the  field  two  thousand  of  the 
best  disciplined  men  in  the  army.  He  bore  the  hardships  of  war 
as  though  he  had  never  known  profusion  or  ease :  and,  in  the 
spirit  of  a  hero  who  threw  away  the  scabbard  when  he  drew 
the  sword,  he  would  often  say  "  that  if  he  outlived  these  wars 
he  was  certain  never  to  have  so  noble  a  death. "^® 

Such  were  the  elements  and  indications  of  the  gathering  storm 
which  was  soon  to  burst  over  the  devoted  town  of  Banbury. 


BROUGHTON:    FAWSLEY.— THE  ARMING. 

The   first   Parliament   of    1G40  was  precipitately  dissolved  on 
the  5th  May  :   and,  on  the  following  day,  warrants  were  issued  for 

and  they  who  thought  worst  of  the  Scots,  did  not  think  they  would  make  any  scruple  of 
doing  the  same,  and  consequently  that  there  would  be  no  fruit,  or  discovery  from  that 
test;  but  they  were  deceived:  the  Scots  indeed  took  it  to  a  man,  without  grieving  their 
conscience,  or  reforming  their  manners.  But  amongst  the  English  nobility  the  Lord  Say 
and  the  Lord  Brook  (two  popular  men,  and  most  undevoted  to  the  Church,  and,  in  truth, 
to  the  whole  government),  positively  refused,  in  the  King's  own  presence,  to  make  any  such 
protestation.  They  said : —  '  If  the  King  suspected  their  loyalty  he  might  proceed  against 
them  as  he  thought  fit;  but  that  it  was  against  the  law  to  impose  any  oaths  or  protes- 
tations upon  them  which  were  not  enjoined  by  the  law ;  and,  in  that  respect,  that  they 
might  not  betray  the  common  liberty,  they  would  not  submit  to  it.'  This  administered 
matter  of  new  dispute  in  a  very  unseasonable  time  ;  and  though  there  did  not  then  appear 
more  of  the  same  mind,  and  they  two  were  committed,  at  least  restrained  of  their  liberty, 
yet  this  discovered  too  much  of  the  humour  and  spirit  of  the  Court  in  their  dayly  dis- 
courses upon  that  subject ;  so  that  the  King  thought  it  best  to  dismiss  those  two  Lords,  and 
require  them  to  return  to  their  houses."— Clarendons  Hist.  Rebel.,  v.  1,  p.  117. 
(36)  Lord  Clarendon;  Nugent's  Memorials  of  Hampdeu. 


MEETINGS  AT  BROUGHTON  AND  FAWSLEY.         295 

searching  the  lodghigs  and  "  pockets  "  of  Lord  Brook  and  the  Earl 
of  Warwick,  on  strong  suspicion  that  they  held  correspondence 
with  the  Scots  who  were  then  in  arms.^'  "  How  far,"  says  Lord 
Nugent,"  it  may  have  been  under  the  advice  of  the  leaders  of 
the  popular  party  in  London  that  the  Scottish  army  was  now 
advanced  into  England,  will  probably  always  remain  matter  of 
doubt.  That  a  constant  communication  was  kept  up  between 
them  by  letters  and  by  messengers  is  certain."  ^^ 

The  retired  country-houses  of  the  English  malecontents  were 
considered  to  be  the  safest  places  for  the  grave  and  dangerous 
consultations  which  were  carried  on  at  this  time  betweeia  the 
leaders  of  that  party  and  the  Commissioners  from  Scotland ;  and 
two  places  were  selected,  which  were  eligible  both  on  account  of 
their  privacy  and  their  favourable  position  at  no  great  distance 
from  the  northern  road.  These  were,  Broughton  Castle,  and 
Fawsley. 

Broughton  Castle,  the  seat  of  Lord  Saye,  (which  has  been 
already  described  in  this  volume,  pp.  100 — 102,)  is  situated  two 
miles  and  three  quarters  southwest  from  Banbury.  It  is  sur- 
rounded with  a  broad  and  deep  moat,  over  which  there  is  a  stone 
bridge,  defended  by  the  ancient  gatehouse,  which  is  yet  remaining. 
(See  Plate  24.)  Fawsley  is  in  Northamptonshire,  13  miles 
northeast  from  Banbury ;  and  was  at  this  period  the  seat 
of  Richard  Knightley  Esq.,  whose  eldest  son,  Richard  Knight- 
ley,  had  married  Elizabeth,  the  eldest  and  favourite  daughter  of 
Hampden.  In  these  two  secluded  houses  did  Hampden,  Pym, 
St.  John,  Lord  Saye,  and  Lord  Brook,  and,  later  in  the  year 
1640,  the  Earls  of  Bedford,  Warwick,  and  Essex,  Lord  Holland, 
Nathaniel  Fiennes,  and  the  younger  Vane,  hold  their  sittings ; 
which  were  sometunes  attended  by  other  persons  of  great  rank 
and  property,  who  were  as  deeply  involved  in  the  general  plan  of 
resistance.^'  Anthony  a.  Wood  describes  the  secret  meetings  at 
Broughton.  "For  so  it  was,"  he  says,  "that  several  years  be- 
fore the  Civil  War  began,  he  [Lord  Saye]  being  looked  upon  as 
the  godfather  of  that  party,  had  meetings  of  them  in  his  house 
at  Broughton,  where  was  a  room,  and  passage  thereunto,  which 
his  servants  were  prohibited  to  come  near :   and  when  they  were 

(37)  Pari.  Hist.  Eng.,  v.  8,  p.  489;  Nugent's  Memorials,  v.  1,  p.  31L 

(38)  Nugent's  Memo.,  v.  1,  p.  32L 

(39)  Nugent's  Memo.,  v.  1,  p.  327.  The  old  printing-press  established  at  Fawsley  by  Sir 
Richard  Knightley  in  the  reign  of  Elizabeth  is  said  to  have  been  at  this  time  again  brought 
into  use  for  the  purposes  of  the  cabal. — Ibid. 


296  THE  LONG  PARLIAMENT. 

of  a  compleat  number,  there  would  be  great  noises  and  talkiugs 
heard  among  them,  to  the  admiration  of  those  that  lived  in  the 
house,  yet  could  they  never  discern  their  lord's  companions."^" 

Before  the  writs  were  issued  to  summon  the  second  Parhament 
of  1640,  the  leaders  of  the  malecontent  party  actively  canvassed 
the  country  for  the  return  of  their  friends.  The  consequence, 
in  these  parts,  was,  that  James  Fiennes  was  elected  for  Oxford- 
shire ;  Hampden  for  Buckinghamshire ;  Nathaniel  Fiennes  for 
Banbury  ;  and  Hampden's  two  sons-in-law,  the  younger  Knightley 
and  Sir  Robert  Pye,  for  Northampton  and  Woodstock.  On  the 
3rd  November  the  King  opened  the  "  Long  Parliament,"  which 
soon  gave  evidence  of  the  spirit  which  animated  a  large  pro- 
portion of  its  members.  Some  proceedings  took  place  respecting 
Lord  Saye  and  the  Vicar  of  Banbury,  which  are  recorded  in 
the  Journals  of  the  House  of  Lords : — 

Dec.  lOtli,  1640.  "  The  Petition  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Ban- 
bury was  read,  to  this  effect ;  That  John  Howes,  Vicar  of  Banbury,  liatli 
shewed  himself  to  be  a  person  ill  affected  to  tlie  State  ;  for,  upon  the  5th 
of  November  1639,  though  he  had  the  Statute  Book  sent  to  him  by  tlie 
Churchwardens,  and  was  desired  to  read  the  Statute  appointed  to  be 
read  that  daj^,  to  keep  thankfully  in  memory  the  great  deliverance  from 
the  Powder  Plot,  he  refused  to  read  the  same ;  nor  would  he,  upon  the 
last  .5th  of  November,  read  these  words  in  the  Prayer  appointed  to  be 
read  that  day  ;  viz.  '  Whose  Religion  is  Rebellion,  and  whose  Faith  is 
Faction;"  nor  keep  the  Fast  appointed  at  the  last  Parliament:  Besides, 
he  hath  cast  out  aspersions  upon  some  of  the  Nobihty,  saying,  in  the 
liearing  of  divers,  That  some  of  the  Lords  promised  to  aid  the  Scots, 
when  they  should  come  into  England ;  but,  now  they  were  come,  durst 
not  be  seen  in  it.  Whereupon  it  was  ordered,  the  said  John  Howes  is 
to  be  sent  for  by  the  Serjeant  at  Arms,  and  brought  before  their  Lord- 
sliips  tomorrow  morning,  to  answer  the  same. 

"  It  was  moved.  That  it  may  be  considered  by  what  right  the  aforesaid 
John  Howes  was  presented  to  the  Vicarage  of  Banbury ;  whereupon 
it  was  thought  fit  to  be  committed  to  these  Lords  following :  videhcet, 
E.  of  Bath,  E.  of  Warwick,  E.  of  Bristoll,  L.  Viscount  Say  &  Scale, 
L.  Bp  of  Co.  &  Litchfeld,  L.  Bp  of  Exon,  L.  Bp  of  Carlisle,  L.  Bp  of 
Bristoll,  D^  Willoughby  de  Earsby,  D^  Wharton,  D^  Brooke,  D^  Roberts. 
Lord  Chief  Justice  Brampston  and  Justice  Crawly  Assistants.  To  meet 
tomorrow  in  the  afternoon,  at  two  o'clock,  in  the  Painted  Chamber." 

Dec.  11th,  1640.  "  This  day  Mr.  Howes,  Vicar  of  Banbiuy,  was  brought 
to  the  Bar  as  a  Delinquent,  to  answer  the  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of 

(10)  Wood's  Athena3.  And  see  the  same  facts  asserted  in  Persecutio  Undecima,  1641. 
Lord  Nugent  says,  that  a  room  in  Broughton  Castle  which  is  surrounded  with  thick  stone 
walls  and  casemated  is  reported  by  tradition  to  have  been  the  place  used  for  the  secret  sit- 
tings of  the  Piu-itans.  He  adds, — "  It  seems  an  odd  fancy,  although  a  very  prevailing  one, 
to  suppose  that  wise  men,  employed  in  capital  matters  of  state,  must  needs  choose  the  most 
mysterious  and  suspicious  retirements  for  consultation,  instead  of  the  safer  and  less  re- 
markable expedient  of  a  walk  into  the  open  fields."     V.  1,  pp.  327,  338. 

A  vulgar  opinion  also  remains,  that  a  cave,  which  exists  in  the  enclosure  called  Bretch 
(about  sixty  yards  from  Broughton  tollgate),  although  nearly  a  mile  from  Broughton  Castle, 
was  a  place  of  secret  entrance  thereto.  This  cave  is  a  series  of  irregular  chambers  natu- 
rally formed  in  the  rock,  succeeding  each  other  for  about  150  or  170  feet.  No  part  of  the 
cave  is  so  high  as  5ft.  10  in.  The  floor,  if  such  it  may  be  called,  is  covered  to  the 
depth  of  aljout  two  feet  with  rubble  .stones  which  have  fallen  from  the  roof. 


THE  LONG  PARLIAMENT.  297 

Banbury  against  him  ;  and  these  witnesses  following  were  sworn  and 
examined  in  open  Court,  videlicet,  John  Webb,  Tho.  Helled,  Robert 
Vivers,  Tho.  Robins,  Jo.  Wamsley,  Ann  Vivers,  Mary  Helled.  And 
after  a  full  hearing  of  what  the  witnesses  could  say  touching  the  proof 
of  the  matters  charged  in  the  Petition,  the  House  did  conceive,  that 
there  was  not  a  sufficient  proof  made,  whereby  to  censure  Mr.  Howes 
upon  these  particulars ;  but  concerning  the  words  which  Mr.  Howes  did 
speak  concerning  the  Right  Honourable  the  Lord  Viscount  Say  and 
Seale,  though  they  were  not  mentioned  in  the  Petition,  yet,  because  they 
were  proved  by  one  witness,  and  confessed  by  Mr.  Howes  himself,  the 
House  did  think  fit  that  he  should  be  committed;  whereupon  the  Lord 
Viscount  Say  did  desire  the  House,  That,  if  their  Lordships  did  not 
think  it  fit  to  censure  him  upon  the  charge  in  the  Petition,  that  the  House 
would  be  pleased  to  remit  what  did  concern  himself  in  particular  ;  which 
motion  the  House  commended,  as  proceeding  from  his  noble  disposition, 
yet  thought  it  fit  that  some  exemplary  punishment  be  shewn  therein. 
It  was  therefore  Ordered  by  the  House,  That  Mr.  Howes  should  be 
forthwith  committed  to  the  Fleet,  there  to  remain  until  he  make  his 
humble  submission  for  his  foul  and  scandalous  words  against  the  Lord 
Viscount  Say  and  Seale." 

Dec.  12th,  1610.     "  The  Petition  of  John  Howes,  Clerk,  was  read,   i?i 
h(EC  verba : 

"  '  To  the  Right  Honourable  the  Lords  Spiritual  and  Temporal,  in  the 
High  Court  of  Parliament  assembled. 

"  'The  humble  Petition  of. John  Howes,  Clerk,  Vicar  of  Banbury,  now 
a  Pi'isoner  in  the  Fleet, 
"  '  Humbly  Sheweth 

"  'That  your  Petitioner  doth  most  humbly,  and  with  all  thankfulness, 
acknowledge  your  Lordships'  most  Honourable  and  full  hearing  of  him, 
and  your  Gracious  proceedings  upon  the  Petition  to  this  most  High  Court 
against  him. 

"  '  And  he  doth  hmnbly  acknowledge  his  great  offence  against  a  very 
Honourable  Person,  a  Peer  and  member  of  tliis  High  and  Honourable 
Court  of  Parliament;  and  that  therein  likewise  he  hath  (to  his  exceed- 
ing great  grief)  given  offence  to  your  Lordships,  for  which  he  is  sorry 
from  his  heart,  and  doth  confess  he  hath  been  justly  and  deservedly  com- 
mitted for  it  to  the  Fleet. 

"  '  He  therefore  most  humbly  beseecheth  your  Honourable  good  Lord- 
ships, That,  upon  this  his  most  humble  and  hearty  submission  (in  all 
humility  herein  presented  to  your  Honours),  he  may,  by  your  good  Grace 
and  Favours,  be  now  enlarged  from  tliis  his  Imprisonment,  and  repair  to 
his  Cure.     And,  as  he  is  bound,  shall  pray,'  &c. 

"  Hereupon  it  was  Ordered  by  the  House,  That  the  said  Mr.  Howes 
shall  be  released  of  his  Impi-isonment  upon  Monday  next,  and  first 
brought  to  this  Bar  to  make  his  humble  siibmission  to  this  Honourable 
House,  and  to  the  Lord  Viscount  Say  in  particular." 

Dec.  14th,  1640.  "  This  day  Mr.  Howes,  Vicar  of  Banbury,  was  brought 
to  the  Bar,  according  to  an  Order  of  this  House,  made  the  12th  of  tliis 
instant  December,  to  make  his  humble  submission  and  acknowledgment 
to  this  Honourable  House,  and  in  particular  to  the  Right  Honourable 
the  Lord  Viscount  Say  and  Seale ;  which  accordingly  he  did.  After 
this,  the  Lord  Viscount  Saye  desired  their  Lordships  to  pardon  the  said 
Mr.  Howes,  and  rendered  their  Lordships  thanks  for  the  care  they  have 
had  in  reparation  of  his  honour ;  whereupon  it  was  Ordered  by  the 
House,  upon  the  suit  and  request  of  the  Lord  Viscount  Say  and  Seale, 
that  the  said  Mr.  Howes  should  be  pardoned  for  this  offence,  and  be  re- 
leased of  his  Imprisonment  for  this  particular." 

Api-il  28th,  1641.  "Ordered,  That  the  Lords'  Committees  formerly  ap- 
pointed by  this  House,  in  a  business  concerning  John  Howes,  Clerk, 
are  to  consider  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Jurisdiction  of  the  Vicarage  of  Ban- 

2p 


298  CIVIL  WAR.— FIRST  MILITARY 

bury,  being  a  Peculiar,  and  belonging  to  tbe  Dean  and  Chapter  of  Lin- 
colne ;  and  whether  the  Bishop  of  Lincolne  or  the  Bishop  of  Oxford  is 
to  give  Institution,  and  a  Mandate  for  Induction,  unto  the  Vicarage  of 
that  place  ;  And  that  the  said  Lords'  Committees  are  to  meet  on  Friday 
next,  at  Two  of  the  Clock  in  the  afternoon,  in  the  Painted  Chamber,  at 
which  time  all  parties  interested  in  the  said  Cause  are  hereby  enjoined 
to  attend  their  Lordships." 

The  dispute  between  the  King  and  the  Parliament  arrived  at 
a  crisis  in  the  beginning  of  1642.  The  House  of  Commons,  on 
the  9th  February,  proceeded  to  nominate  and  recommend  per- 
sons whom  they  desired  to  be  entrusted  with  the  militia  of  the 
kingdom ;  Lord  Saye  being  named  for  Oxfordshire,  Lord  Brook 
for  Warwickshire,  and  Lord  Spencer  for  Nortliamptonsliire.'^  On 
the  5th  March  (the  King  having  refused  every  demand  of  the 
Parliament  to  limit  or  suspend  his  own  powers  over  the  militia), 
the  Parliament  published  their  celebrated  Ordinance,  appointing 
lieutenants  of  the  several  counties  to  array  and  arm  the  militia. 
This  was  considered  a  declaration  of  war,  and  wherever  it  was 
obeyed  the  King's  authority  ceased  of  course.  The  King's  Com- 
mission of  xA.rray  followed,  and  the  summer  was  employed  by 
both  parties  in  making  preparations  for  war. 

The  Commission  of  Array  for  the  county  of  Warwick  was  en- 
trusted by  the  King  to  the  Earl  of  Northampton ;  who,  by  the  aid 
of  the  trainbands  and  other  loyal  persons  whom  he  assembled 
under  him,  speedily  attempted  to  disperse  the  Warwickshire  forces 
which  were  gathering  under  Lord  Brook,  and  to  secure  the  chief 
places  of  that  county  to  the  King's  interest. 

A  minute  and  graphic  account  of  the  first  military  proceedings 
at  Banbury,  written  by  one  of  the  Puritan  party,  occurs  in  an 
original  pamphlet  of  the  period  which  is  preserved  in  the  British 
Museum.  It  shows,  even  ludicrously,  how  utterly  unprepared  the 
place  and  people  were  for  war  in  the  face  of  such  an  opponent 
as  the  Earl  of  Northampton ;  whose  activity  afforded  a  strong 
contrast  to  the  want  of  energy  prevailing  amongst  most  of  the 
other  adherents  of  the  Royalist  cause  : — 

"  My  Lord  Brooke  having  sixe  pieces  of  Ordnance^-  granted  him  from 
the  Parliament  to  strengthen  his  castle  at  Warwicke,  they  were  conveyed 
safe  to  Banbury  upon  Friday  the  29.  of  July,  1642.     My  Lord  Brooke 

(41)  Pari.  Hist.  Eng.,  v.  10,  pp.  287,  288. 

(42)  One  of  the  accounts  describes  them  as  being  "six  small  pieces  of  iron  ordnance." 
The  original  new.spapers  and  pamphlets,  relating  to  the  period  of  the  Civil  Wars,  which 
are  quoted  in  the  following  pages,  are  contained  in  the  King's  Library  or  general  Library 
at  the  British  Museum ;  the  Bodleian,  Ashmolean,  or  Christchurch  Libraries ;  or  iu  my 
own  collection  ;  unless  where  otherwise  specified. 


PROCEEDINGS  AT  BANBURY.  299 

comming  from  Warwicke,  riding  all  Friday  night,  came  to  Banbury  by 
foure  of  the  clock  on  Saturday  morning,  bringing  with  him  about  a  hun- 
dred men  to  guard  them  to  his  castle,  and  going  out  of  Banbury  about 
nine  of  the  clocke  that  morning,  divers  of  Banbury  gentlemen  and  others 
thereabouts  going  out  with  them  ;   they  had  not  gone  above  foure  miles, 
but  (according  to  their   suspition,   and  some  intelligence)  the  Earle   of 
North-hampton  appeared  to   them  accompanied  with  about  150  or  200 
horse,   and   about   200   musketeers  and  pikes ;    the   news   thereof  being 
carried  backe  to  Banbury,   and  townes  adjoyning,   presently  the   Lord 
Brooke  was  assisted  with  more  men  and  munition,  the  countrey  came  in 
very  thick  to  his  assistance,  and  but  few  to  the  Earle  of   North-hamp- 
tons  ;  but  my  Lord  Brookes  company  increasing  in  a  few  houres  to  the 
number  of  a  thousand  at  least,  women  also  to  his  company  bringing  in 
Beere  and  Victuall  in  aboundance,  and  six  or  seven  cartload  of  harrowes 
to  welcome  their  horses  :  the  Earle  of  North-hampton  seeing  their  forces 
increase  so  unexpectedly  and  the  love  of  the  countrey  brought  in  so  fast ; 
he  curse  and  swore  bitterly  that  he  was  come  into  the  mouth  of  all  the 
divels  and  round-heads  in  the  coimtrey  ;    he  desired  a  parley  with  my 
Lord  Brooke,  and  produced  his  commission  of  array,  and  demanded  the 
Ordnance  ;   and  said  he  must  have  them,  the  Lord  Brooke  affirming  that 
lie  should  not  have  them ;  on  either  side  their  forces  standing  upon  their 
guard  were  ready  presented  to  give  fire  upon  tlie  first  word  of  command, 
the  Lord  Brooke  his  souldiers  would  faine  have  been  at  it,  to  make  their 
Avay  through  them  ;  but  after  three  parleys  between  them,  and  many  pro- 
positions desired  and  refused,  they  concluded,  That  the  Ordnance  should 
be  returned  to  Banbury,  and  my  Lord  Brooke  to  give  the  Earle  of  North- 
hampton notice   three  dayes  before  he   intended  to  remove  them,  and 
likewise  that  he  should  doe  the  like  to  my  Lord  Brooke  before  he  should 
attempt   any  force   for  them,    and  ingaged   their  honours  hereunto ;    to 
which  conditions  the  Lord  Brooke  was  perswaded  and  induced  to,  rather 
then  to  make  that  County  the  seat  of  warre,  and  to  begin  the  Civill  warre 
there   upon  that  occasion,  till  he  had  made  the  Houses  of  Parliament 
acquainted  therewith.     In  the  Interim  of  this  parley,  the  Lord  Brooke 
his  men  had  so  beset  and  hemb'd  in  the  Earle  of  North-hamptons  men 
that  they  were  glad  they  were  out  of  their  danger,  for  most  of  them  knew 
nothing  of  this  designe,  but  they  should  goe  see  a  piece  of  Ordnance, 
and  thought  they  should  have  onely  trained,  but  when  they  saw  them- 
selves in  that  strait  said  afterward,  before  they  woidd  come  upon  such 
a  designe  againe  with  him  they  would  be  hanged  at  their  doores,  for  had 
the  word  been  but  given,  the  Lord  Brook  having  his  ordnance  ready  to 
give  fire,  and  they  none,  they  might  easily  have  cut  them  off.     But  these 
conditions  being  concluded  on,  the  Ordnance  were  returned  to  Banbury 
that  night,  and  put  into  the  Castle,  and  men  to  keep  them  ;  and  my  Lord 
Brooke  came  up  to  the  Parliament ;    In  the  meane  time  Banbury  men 
doubting  the  worst  and  hearing  rumours  of  the  Earle  of  North-hampton 
comming  to  fetch  the   Ordnance,  prepared  and  fortified  tlieir  towne  as 
well  as  they  could,  in  which  course  had  they  persisted,  we  are  confident 
the  Ordnance  had  beene  there  still :  But  those  they  tooke  for  friends  aftcr- 
2  p3 


300  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 

ward  betraid  them,  as  you  shall  hear  by  and  by.  The  Castle  on  the  one 
side  of  the  towne  being  double  moted,  they  thought  it  indifferently  secure, 
and  where  the  towne  was  naked  of  defence,  they  fortified  it  with  Har- 
rowes  and  other  devises  to  keep  off  the  horse,  and  placed  musketeers  to 
play  upon  them  :  The  countrey  hearing  of  their  feares  and  dangers  divers 
came  in  thereabouts,  and  about  1500  out  of  North-hamptonshire  with 
their  armes,  Colours  and  Captaines  came  in  freely  on  Thursday  night 
the  fourth  of  August,  and  being  welcomed  and  feasted  next  day  by  Mr. 
John  Feines,''^  and  the  towne  also ;  some  of  the  men  not  thinking  the 
danger  so  neere,  they  having  urgent  occasions  went  home,  promising  to 
come  againe  at  an  houres  warning,  and  bring  others  with  them  ;  And 
on  Saturday  [August  6th]  the  rest  were  drawne  away  by  a  plot  of  the 
Cavaleers,  who  gave  out  and  sent  some  to  North-hampton,  to  make  as  if 
they  would  then  besiedge  it;  North-ham])tonshire  men  hearing  this,  had 
no  mind  to  stay,  but  home  they  must,  to  defend  their  own  countrey, 
wives,  children,  &c.  Banbury  after  this  sending  out  for  ayde,  and  some 
in  comming  from  Buckinghamshire,  and  other  parts,  the  Cavaleers  who 
kept  the  wayes,  and  began  to  draw  neerer  Banbury,  sent  scouts  about 
to  meet  them  and  turn'd  them  back,  telling  them  they  came  too  late, 
there  was  nothing  to  doe  at  Banbiu-y,  all  was  quiet,  and  they  had  yeelded 
up  the  Ordnance,  and  all  was  well ;  and  some  they  disarm'd,  and  tooke 
away  their  horses  who  were  peremptory  to  come ;  neither  coidd  any  thing 
be  done  in  the  town,  but  (doe  what  they  could)  their  enemies  knew  it 
presently.  And  sending  some  of  the  countrey  cunningly  to  tell  them, 
who  came  as  friends  to  advise  them,  and  willed  them  to  fortifie  them- 
selves very  strong,  for  their  enemies  would  come  upon  them  with  an 
overpowring  multitude,  thousands  comming  this  way,  and  thousands  that 
Avay,  and  so  many  thousands  another  way  ;  their  ayde  being  then  with- 
drawen  when  they  had  most  need:  they  hearing  every  day  thousands 
were  comming  from  London,  yet  none  came,  though  all  hast  was  here 
made  that  could  be  devised.  They  maintain'd  their  former  fortifications 
of  the  towne  till  Sunday  night  [August  7th].  And  then  being  out  of 
hope  of  helpe,  and  they  at  the  weakest ;  and  the  Earle  of  North-hamp- 
ton having  j^lanted  three  Ordnance  on  Crowtch  hill  to  command  the 
towne,  supposed  themselves  not  able  to  hold  out  two  houres  fight. 
Then  was  there  also  a  plot  beyond  all  the  rest : 

"  A  Commander,  one  Captain  Austin,  who  they  had  lately  intertained 
to  help  and  instruct  them  in  their  martiall  affairs,  and  made  great  boasts 
what  he  would  doe,  and  counselled  them  to  those  fortifications,  and  what 
an  Army  they  could  keep  out  with  them,  making  a  plausible  speech 
perswaded  them,  that  seeing  now  there  was  such  a  mighty  force  coming 
against  them,  and  their  aide  was  weak,  so  that  it  was  not  possible  to 
keep  the  town,  he  therfore  advised  them,  it  was  the  best  way  to  get  the 
best  of  their  things  into  the  Castle,  and  so  secure  themselves  and  chil- 
dren, and  some  of  their  goods,  which  after  some  debate  they  were  most 
unhappily  perswaded  to,  and  on  Sunday  night  removed  their  fortifica- 

(43)  John  Fienues  was  the  third  sou  of  Lord  Save. 


FIRST  ATTACK  ON  BANBURY.  301 

tions  about  the  town  and  gates,  and  drew  them  to  the  Castle  to  fortifie 
that  more ;  which  when  the  rest  of  the  men,  the  women  and  children 
knew  thereof,  their  was  on  a  sodain  such  a  lamentable  schreeking  and 
crying  out  throughout  the  town  not  to  be  exprest  with  pen,  whereby  the 
whole  town  were  in  such  a  maze,  distraction,  and  confusion  they  knew 
not  what  they  did,  they  were  all  maskerd :  Help  gone,  no  forces  to  aide 
them,  they  had  weakned  themselves,  their  enemies  coming  in  upon  them  ; 
for  their  Perdu  had  inform'd  them  so,  whom  they  had  pi-ivily  sent  out  to 
lie  by  a  lane  side  to  hear  of  their  coming.  At  which  time  also  those  few 
neighbours  of  the  adjacent  towns  that  were  left  and  stayed  to  assist  them, 
fled  also  :  then  also  the  women  and  children  of  the  towne  at  the  privat- 
est  wayes  they  covdd  find  ran  out  of  the  town,  eari-ied  and  lug'd  away 
their  children  and  goods  all  night,  and  every  one  cast  about  which  way 
to  shift  for  themselves :  And  those  also  who  had  brought  much  of  their 
best  goods  and  children  into  the  towne  before  from  adjacent  villages, 
(supposing  they  would  be  safer  there  then  in  their  own  townes,  they 
looking  to  be  presently  ransanckt  and  pillaged)  came  hurrying  all  night 
into  the  town  as  fast  to  fetch  away  what  they  had  trusted  there.  Their 
Captaine  also  formerly  mentioned,  when  they  Avere  brought  to  this  passe, 
run  likewise  out  of  the  town,  and  at  his  departure  very  eai-ly  by  break 
of  day  on  Munday  morning  [August  8th]  was  met  flying  and  taking 
no  other  leave,  but  bid  the  party  remember  him  to  Colonell  Feines  (then 
in  the  Castle)  and  to  Captaine  Vivers,  and  to  tell  them  he  was  gone  to 
call  in  the  countrey  to  aide  them  ;  which  businesse  with  many  other 
circumstances  then  made  the  town  think  and  say,  of  a  certain  they  were 
betrayed.  And  now  let  the  reader  judge,  though  we  have  no  proofe  but 
these  deep  conjectures,  whether  it  was  not  so  or  no  ;  and  whether  tam- 
pering and  feeing  had  not  brought  this  about.  In  this  strait,  their 
Pastours  and  Ministers  lookt  to  be  severely  dealt  with  above  all,  either 
by  forcing  them  if  they  could  to  burthen  their  conscience,  or  in  some 
other  way  as  bad,  having  example  newly  acted  since  this  businesse  was 
first  in  agitation,  of  one  Mr  Sutton,  a  neighbour  minister,  being  taken 
by  them,  would  have  forced  him  upon  his  knees  to  drink  a  health  to  the 
confusion  of  all  the  Round-heads,  but  their  Hquor  for  the  present  failing, 
he  got  away  out  of  their  hands  ;  and  also  to  sweare  that  he  should  never 
preach,  but  woidd  amply  read  the  Common  Prayer,  nor  never  preach 
any  more  factious  sermons  :  And  the  chief  man  in  this  businesse  no  lesse 
then  a  Lord.  And  also  grave  &  reverend  Mr.  Harris  (of  Ilanwell  neer 
Banbury)  who  preacht  lately  at  a  fiist  before  the  Parliament,  they  outed 
him  and  his  family,  took  possession  of  his  house  on  Sunday  night,  and 
made  him  wander  for  his  lodging,  and  took  possession  of  the  Lady  Copes 
house  there,  and  of  all  the  amies,  and  ammunition  they  could  meet  with 
in  the  town.  Their  enemies  greatest  force  coming  down  Plardwick  lane 
neer  adjoyning  to  the  towne,  on  Sunday  night  the  7th  of  August,  very 
late,  and  very  silent  and  still,  and  were  heard  by  their  scout  to  say  not 
a  word,  but  softly  Troup  along,  Troup  along  ;  But  the  night  growing  ex- 
treme dark,  they  forbore  all  that  night,  and  being  verily  expected  the  next 
morn  by  break  of  day  being  Munday  ;   the  Cavaliers  sent  and  desired 


302  FIRST  ATTACK  ON  BANBURY. 

a  parley,  and  being  met  they  told  them  many  base  lyes,  perswading  them 
to  deliver  up  the  ordinance,  why  should  they  hazard  and  lose  their  lives 
for  that  which  was  none  of  theirs,  they  came  but  for  the  King's  goods, 
and  the  Parliament  regarded  them  not,  and  the  Lord  Brooke  would  not 
owne  them,  nor  come  at  them,  and  how  weak  they  were,  and  how  many 
would  come  against  them,  they  could  not  hold  out,  but  were  all  dead 
men  if  they  resisted,  with  many  other  affirmations  and  perswasions,  the 
same  also  being  used  by  the  aforesaid  Captaine  a  little  before  his  depar- 
ture, and  counselled  them  to  yeeld  up  and  save  their  lives  and  goods, 
they  were  but  small  peeces,  and  could  not  advantage  their  enemies  much, 
beside  the  same  perswasions  was  used  to  one  Mr.  Wheatly,  who  being 
acquainted  at  the  Earle  of  Northamptons  was  sent  by  the  towne  on 
Sunday  morning  to  them,  coming  as  of  his  own  accord,  that  so  he  might 
learn  what  he  could  by  them,  who  kept  him  all  the  day  till  night  till 
their  designes  were  ripe,  and  in  conclusion  told  him,  they  must  either 
deliver  the  Ordnance,  or  they  would  fire  the  towne,  with  morter  pieces 
and  firebals  which  they  had  there  for  that  purpose,  then  dismissing  him 
he  returned.  The  town  being  in  a  sad  case,  not  knowing  how  they 
would  deal  with  them,  exposed  themselves  and  town  on  Munday  morn- 
ing [the  8th],  and  in  a  while  after  they  came  in  with  about  5  or  600 
horses,  but  300  good  ones,  and  the  rest  sorry  jades,  any  thing  [they]  could 
get  from  the  poor  countrey  men,  some  at  work ;  and  as  beggarly  i-iders  set 
on  them,  though  for  the  present  they  flovirished  with  money,  yet  their 
cloths  bewrayed  them  to  be  neither  gentlemen  nor  Cavaliers.  And 
liaving  fil'd  the  town  with  horses  the  chief  of  them  came  to  the  Red 
Lion  Inne,  and  desired  to  speak  with  Colonell  Feines  and  Captaine 
Vivers,  who  were  in  the  Castle,  to  whom  reply  was  made,  they  should, 
if  they  would  send  two  as  considerable  men  in  liew  which  they  did,  then 
they  produced  the  Commission  of  Array,  and  required  them  to  deliver 
the  Ordnance,  otherwise  they  would  take  them  by  force,  and  fire  the  town. 
And  having  obteined  that  they  came  for,  the  ordnance  and  ammunition 
thereunto  belonging  they  clear'd  the  town  again,  and  were  all  departed 
before  night,  who  carried  them  to  the  E.  of  Northamptons  house  [Comp- 
ton  Wynyate],  and  it  was  thought  they  intended  to  goe  to  Warwicke 
castle  the  next  day,  but  the  Lord  Brooke  had  noe  notice  from  the  Earle 
of  three  dayes  warning,  as  was  agreed  between  them ;  There  was  also 
Colonell  Li\nsford,  and  divers  Lords  too  long  to  name  ;  There  was  the 
Lord  Wilmot,  who  kept  backe  the  town  of  Atherbury  from  coming  in  to 
aide  Banbury,  and  threatned  he  would  hang  up  the  men  and  send  the 
souldiers  to  their  wives  and  children ;  There  was  also  the  Lord  Duns- 
more."^* 

(44)  "  Proceedings  at  Banbvry  since  the  Ordnance  went  down  for  tlic  Lord  Brooks  to 
fortifie  Warwick  Castle,"  4to.,  1643.  Among  the  King's  Pamphlets  in  the  British  Mu- 
seum. 

It  is  remarkable  that  the  Earl  of  Northampton  did  not  secure  the  Castle  of  Banbury 
as  well  as  the  ordnance.  A  letter,  dated  20th  August,  from  "  John  Golbcc,"  styled  a 
"  gentleman  of  good  worth "  who  had  been  in  all  the  oppositions  to  the  Earl  of  North- 
ampton's proceedings,  states  that,  after  the  Earl  had  taken  the  ordnance  from  Banbury, 
he  went  with  it  to  besiege  Warwick  Castle,  wheie  he  lost  some  of  his  men,  and,  by  a  bullet, 
a  part  of  his  own  lip :   that  he,  being  afraid  to  oppose  Warwick  Castle  further,"  purposed 


THE  CIVIL  WAR.  303 

A  newspaper  of  the  same  date  says  (9th  Aug.  1642)  that  the 
Commission  of  Array  had  been  put  in  execution  in  Northamp- 
tonshire :  also  "  that  the  Troopers  do  threaten  to  bunie  Banbury, 
if  it  bee  not  delivered  up  to  them  with  the  magazine  :  Vpon 
debate  of  which  businesse,  it  was  ordered  that  the  Deputy  Liev- 
tenants  for  the  county  sliDuld  forthwith  goe  down  to  settle  the  . 
Militia,  and  to  preserve  the  peace  of  the  county  against  all  such 
trayterous  practizers,  and  to  liaue  such  aide  from  the  Lord  Gen- 
erals forces  as  shall  be  needfuU.  Also  ordered  that  the  horse 
and  foot  appointed  for  the  Lord  Brook  for  the  reliefe  of  Banbury 
and  Warwick  Castle  be  forthwith  sent  downe."*'^  The  Collegians 
at  Oxford  now  thought  it  high  time  to  put  themselves  in  a  pos- 
ture of  defence,  on  the  report  that  the  Parliament's  soldiers  were 
moving  down  to  strengthen  Banbury.'*''  The  followuig  occurs  from 
the  King  to  Sir  William  Dugdale  (the  Warwicksliire  historian), 
Rouge  Croix  pursuivant  in  ordinary  : — 

"  To  our  trusty  and  welbeloved  WUliam  Dugdale,  Rouge  Croix,  one  of 
our  Officers  at  Armes. 

"  Charles  R. 
"Trusty  and  welbeloved  wee  greete  you  well.  Whereas  wee  are  cer- 
tainly informed  that  the  Lord  Brooke,  with  divers  others  his  Adherents, 
have  in  a  warlike  manner  assembled  themselves  together  in  the  Castles 
of  Banbnry  and  Warwick,  to  the  great  terroiir  of  our  peaceable  snbjects 
in  those  parts,  contrary  to  the  Lawes  of  this  Kingdome,  and  to  the 
manifest  breach  and  disturbance  of  the  peace  thereof.  We  doe  there- 
fore charge  and  command  you,  according  to  the  duty  of  yo''  place,  that 
you  forthwith  repaire  unto  the  said  Castles,  and  there  require  the  said 
Lord  Brooke,  and  all  his  Adherents,  to  lay  downe  all  their  forces,  as  well 
horse  as  foote,  and  to  deliver  up  all  Arnies  and  Amimition  to  the  Comis- 
sion"  of  Array,  and  to  such  others  as  are  by  us  authorised  for  that  pur- 
pose, and  to  disperse  themselves,  and  to  returne  every  man  to  his  owne 
home,  in  a  peaceable  manner ;  w*  if  they  shall  refuse  to  do,  wee  doe 
then  hereby  charge  and  comaund  you  to  proclayme  the  said  Lord  Brooke, 
and  all  his  Adherents,  to  be  Traytors  against  us,  our  Crowne  and  Dig- 
nity. And  wee  doe  further  command  you  to  Declare  our  pleasure,  that 
whosoever  shall  thereupon  deliver  up  the  said  Lord  Brooke,  S''  Edward 
Peto,  or  any  other  his  Adherents,  or  shall  come  themselves  away  and 
submitt  themselves,  shall  receive  our  gracious  Pardon.  And  hereof  you 
ai-e  not  to  faile  as  yovi  will  answere  the  contrary  at  yo''  utmost  perill. 
And  for  doing  thereof  this  shall  be  yo'^  sufficient  warrant  and  Authority. 

returning  to  Banbury :  that  on  the  preceding  Thursday  (the  18th)  the  Royalists  had  again 
assaulted  Banbury  with  200  horse  and  foot,  but  were  beaten  off:  that  on  the  Saturday 
another  attack  on  Banbury  was  looked  for,  no  aid  being  come  from  London;  and  that 
Parliamentary  parties  from  the  neighbourhood  of  V/arwick  were  gone  to  Banbury,  resolving 
"  rather  to  die "  than  that  the  remaining  arms  and  ammunition  there  should  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  Royalists ;  "  for  the  Cavaliers  swear  they  will  possess  themselves  of  Banbury 
Castle  again,  because  they  cannot  get  "Warwick,  but  we  hope  so  soon  as  the  army  comes  down 
to  deal  well  enough  with  them." — True  ^  Exact  Relation  of  the  most  Remarkable  Pas- 
sages at  Warwicke  and  Banbury.     Aug.  20.  1643. 

(45)  Perfect  Diurnal.  (46)  Anthony  Wood. 


304  RAISING  OF  THE  MILITIA. 

Given  under  o'  signo  manuall  at  o'  Co""'  at  York,  the  fourth  day  of  August, 
in  the  eighteenth  yeare  of  our  Reigne."^^ 

In  tlie  midland  counties  the  King's  Commission  of  Array  was 
published  only  partially,  and  generally  with  very  little  success. 
Very  different  was  the  progress  of  the  Parliamentarian  party. 
Lord  Nugent  gives  the  following  spirited  picture  of  the  raising  of 
the  militia.  "  It  was  under  the  woody  brows  of  his  own  beauteous 
Chilterns  that  Hampden  first  published  the  ordinance  to  marshal 
the  militia  of  his  native  county.  The  parishes  and  hundreds, 
often  with  their  preachers  at  the  head,  mustered  at  their  mar- 
ket-houses to  march  forth  to  training.  In  the  dearth  of  all  the 
ordinary  implements  of  war,  arms  and  accoutrements  of  the  most 
grotesque  fashion  now  left  the  walls  where,  from  the  times  of  the 
civil  wars  of  the  Two  Roses,  they  had  hung  as  hereditary  tro- 
phies in  the  manor-houses,  the  churches,  and  the  cottages  of  the 
yeomen.  In  the  returns  of  arms,  particularly  of  the  le\des  of 
the  northern  parts,  at  the  first  outbreak,  the  long-bow,  the  brown 
bill,  and  the  cross-bow,  resumed  their  place  among  the  equip- 
ments of  a  man-at-arms.  It  was  not  till  some  months  after, 
when  the  stores  of  Hull,  and  Newcastle,  and  Plymouth,  and  of 
the  Tower  of  London,  were  distributed,  that  the  matchlock  and 
pistol  found  their  way  into  the  hands  of  the  '  ordered  musqueteers 
and  dragooners '  in  the  country  parts  ;  and,  even  to  the  end  of  the 
civil  wars,  large  bodies  of  men,  besides  the  regular  pikemen,  were 
furnished  only  with  rude  lances  ;  and,  on  the  King's  part,  many 
thousands,  particularly  of  the  Welshmen,  went  to  the  battle  with 
staves  and  Danish  clubs."  ""^ 

The  Parliament's  regiments  of  infantry,  as  their  clothing  be- 
came more  complete,  assumed  the  colours  of  their  respective 
leaders.  Among  those  that  first  gathered  to  the  conflict  were 
Hampden's  Green-coats,  Lord  Saye's  Blue-coats,''^  Lord  Brook's 
Purple-coats,  and  Holles's  London  Red-coats.  Lords  Saye  and 
Brook,  Nathaniel  Fiennes,  John  Fiennes,   and  Francis   Fiennes, 

(47)  Hamper's  Life  of  Dugdale.  Hamper  adds,  that  all  this  was  duly  performed  by 
the  said  Mr.  Dugdale,  in  his  coat  of  arms,  with  trumpets  sounding  before  him. 

(48)  Nugent's  Memorials  of  Hampden,  v.  2,  pp.  171,  172. 

(49)  The  Officers  of  Lord  Saye's  regiment  were  : — Col.,  William  Lord  Saye  ;  Lieut.-CoL, 
Geo.  Hutchinson ;  Serg.-Major,  Jas.  Atchason ;  Capls.,  Geo.  Marrow,  Christo.  Burgh, 
Jam.  Temple,  Walter  Lloyd,  Morgan  Tinne,  Robert  Blowe,  Bussy  Basset;  Quart. -Mast., 
Humph.  Dix  ;  Lieuts.,  John  Kainsford,  Luke  Weekins,  Jam.  Hannam,  Hoare,  Langford, 
Tho.  Haynes,  Wil.  Howard,  Jon.  Newcomin,  Edw.  Carwardine;  Ensigjis,  John  Butcher- 
field,  Joseph  Fames,  Jo.  Kelly,  Corby,  Ben.  Lee,  Tho.  Golledge,  Gittings,  Tho.  Sweeper, 
True  Prideaux.  The  Colonel's  company  consisted  of  200  men,  the  Lieutenant-Colonel's 
of  100,  the  Serjeant-Major's  of  140,  and  the  seven  Captains'  companies  of  100  men  each: 
total  1200  men,  besides  oilicers.— 4/o.  Tract  of  the  period  in  my  own  collection. 


AFFAIR  AT  BRACKLEY.  305 

raised  troops  of  cavalry  also,  at  their  own  charge.^"  The  officers 
all  wore  an  orange  scarf  over  their  armour,  that  being  the  colour 
of  the  lord-general,  the  Earl  of  Essex,  and  now  worn  by  his 
body  guard.  Each  regiment  carried  a  small  standard,  bearing  on 
one  side  the  device  and  motto  of  its  Colonel,  and  on  the  other 
the  watchword  of  the  Parliament : — "  God  With  Us."^^ 

On  the  20th  August  the  King  appeared  before  Coventry ;  but, 
notwithstanding  that  the  Earl  of  Northampton  was  then  in  the 
town,  the  citizens  mounted  Lord  Brook's  colours  and  resisted  the 
entrance  of  the  Royal  troops.  The  Earl  of  Northampton  at- 
tempted to  muster  a  force  around  liim,  but  was  unable  to  raise 
more  than  400  men ;  and  was  at  length  obliged  to  make  his 
escape,  which  he  did  out  of  the  back  door  of  the  Black  Bull  Inn, 
where  the  barracks  now  stand.^-  Lord  Brook,  Hampden,  Col. 
Fiennes,  and  other  Parliamentarian  leaders,  were  on  their  march 
from  Banbury  with  all  speed  towards  Coventry,  and  the  King 
therefore  retired  to  Leicester  ^^  and  Nottingham. 

On  the  22nd  the  King  erected  his  standard  at  Nottingham  ; 
the  erection  of  the  Royal  Standard  being  the  olden  signal  that 
the  Sovereign  demanded  the  extraordinary  aid  of  his  subjects. 
From  Nottingham  he  despatched  three  troops  of  horse,  under  the 
command  of  Sir  John  Byron,  to  the  defence  of  Oxford.  These 
reached  Brackley  on  the  28th  August:  but  they  had  been  so 
closely  pursued  by  the  country  people,  who  had  armed  them- 
selves for  the  encounter  with  pikes,  bills,  and  pitchforks,  that, 
before  they  could  quit  Brackley,  they  lost  more  than  60  horses 
and  60  or  70  men,  and  much  gold  and  silver  and  other  valuables, 
estimated  as  being  worth  £6,000  or  £8,000.  In  the  confusion. 
Sir  John  Byron  had  sent  away  a  cabinet  and  packet  of  writings, 
and  other  things  of  great  value,  by  a  servant  to  Oxford  ;  but  he, 
losing  his  way,  hid  the  treasure  in  a  field  of  oats  near  "  Pimlico 

(50)  The  officers  of  the  troops  raised  by  the  Fiennes  family  were  : — 

Lord  Saye's  Troop,— Ca-pt,  Lord  Saye ;  Lieut.,  Henry  Atkinson ;  Cornet,  John  Croker  ; 
Quarter-Master,  Robert  Parin. 

Nathaniel  Fiennes's  Troop, — Capt.,  Nath.  Fiennes. 

John  Fiennes s  Troop, — Capt.,  John  Fiennes;  Lieut,  Jo.  Carmichaell ;  Cornet,  Edw. 
Walley ;  Qu.-Mast.,  Wil.  Bugslock. 

Francis  Fiennes's  Troop, — Capt.,  Fran.  Fiennes;  Lieut.,  James  Moore;  Cornet,  Henry 
Fiennes;  Qu.-Mast.,  Geo.  Malteu. 

Each  troop  consisted  of  60  horse,  besides  2  trumpeters,  3  corporals,  a  saddler,  and  afanier. 
(4to.  Tract  in  my  own  collection.)  Francis  Fiennes  was  the  son  of  James  Fiennes,  Lord 
Saye's  eldest  son. 

(51)  Nugent's  Memo.,  v.  2,  p.  200. 

(52)  Information  from  Wm.  Reader  Esq.,  the  historian  of  Coventry. 

(53)  A  Famous  Victory  obtained  by  the  Citizens  of  Covuntry,  -Ito.,  1642  ;  Nugent's  Me- 
morials of  Hampden. 

2q 


306  AFFAIR  AT  BRACKLEY. 

House "  (half  way  between  Souldern  and  Cottisford),  and  wan- 
dered to  Crougliton,  where  he  was  taken.  Some  forces  from 
Banbury  going  that  way,  he  was  forced  to  discover  all,  and  the 
treasure  was  captured  and  taken  to  Banbury.^  The  following 
letter  occurs  from  Sir  John  Byron  respecting  this  affair : — 
"  To  Master  Clarke  at  Craughton  neer(  BracMey  in  Northamptonshire. 

"Sir, 
"  In  my  way  to  Oxford,  I  made  some  stay  at  Brackley  to  refresh  my 
selfe,  and  my  Horses,  after  a  long  march,  where  I  was  unexpectedly 
assaulted  by  sundry  Troo^os  of  Rebels  that  came  (as  I  am  since  informed) 
from  Northampton,  and  the  adjoyning  places,  and  withall  most  treacher- 
ously set  upon  by  the  Towne  of  Brackly,  so  that  I  was  forced  to  make 
a  speedy  retreat  to  the  Heath  to  resist  them,  had  they  had  the  courage 
to  come  forth  of  the  Town.  In  this  confusion  one  of  my  Grooms  who 
had  charge  of  my  baggage  was  surprized  in  the  Town  ;  another  who  had 
a  Box,  wherein  was  money,  apparell,  and  other  things  of  value,  left  it 
in  a  land  of  standing  corn,  which  since  hath  been  found,  and  as  I  heare 
brought  to  you ;  I  have  therefore  sent  this  Messenger  to  require  the  res- 
titution of  it ;  which  if  you  doe,  I  shall  represent  it  to  His  Majesty  as 
an  acceptable  service,  if  not,  assure  yourself  I  will  finde  a  time  to  repay 
my  self  with  advantage  out  of  your  estate ;  And  consider,  that  as  rebel- 
lion is  a  weed  of  a  bastle  growth,  so  it  will  decay  as  siuldenly,  and  that 
there  will  be  a  time  for  the  Kings  loyall  Subjects  to  repaire  their  losses 
sustained  by  Rebels  and  Traitours ;  So  I  rest  in  expectation  of  a  speedy 
answer  by  this  Bearer. 

Your  Friend  and  Servant 

John  Biron."^ 
Oxford,  2  Sept.  1612." 

Sir  John  Byron's  troop  was  the  first  that  took  possession  of 
Oxford :  hut,  on  Hampden's  proceeding  thither,  joined  by  Lord 
Saye  with  his  Blue-coats  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Banbury, 
Sir  Jolni  Byron  departed  into   Gloucestershire.^      On  Thursday, 

(1)  King's  Pamphlets  ;  Balser's  Northamptonshire,  p.  .572. 

(2)  Husband's  Collection,  p.  611.  This  letter  having  been  conveyed  to  the  Parliament, 
a  declaration  was  ordered  (13th  September)  and  published,  that  whereas  Sir  John  Biron, 
knight,  on  the  28th  of  August,  had  marched  into  the  county  of  Northampton  in  a  traitorous 
and  warlike  manner,  whereupon  divers  of  his  Majesty's  well-affected  subjects  according 
to  their  duty  did  assemble  themselves  together  and  pursue  the  said  Traitors,  <fcc.  &c. ;  and 
whereas  the  Lords  and  Commons  have  been  since  informed  that  the  said  Sir  John  Biron, 
in  a  presumptuous  and  insolent  way,  wrote  a  letter  to  one  Master  Clarke  of  Craughton  a 
gentleman  of  quality  in  the  said  county  of  Northampton,  whereby  most  falsely  and  impu- 
dently he  presumes  to  style  the  faithful  and  dutiful  service  of  his  Majesty's  good  subjects 
by  the  name  of  treachery  and  rebeUion,  endeavouring  to  transfer  that  odious  crime  and 
title  due  unto  himself  to  them,  and  using  divers  menacing  speeches  against  Master  Clarke 
&e. ;  the  Lords  and  Commons,  taking  the  same  into  their  consideration,  do  declare  that 
the  assembling  together  of  the  said  inhabitants  of  the  county  of  Northampton,  and  pursuing, 
apprehending,  and  chasing  the  said  rebels,  was  according  to  the  laws  of  the  land  and  the 
duty  of  good  subjects,  and  very  acceptable  to  both  Houses  of  Parliament,  who  will  take  them 
and  all  others  that  shall  follow  their  good  examples  into  their  care  and  protection. — Hus- 
band's Collection,  pp.  610,  611. 

(3)  Exceeding  Happy  Newes  from  Oxford.    London,  4to  ,  Sep.  1612. 


NATHANIEL  AND  JOHN  FIENNES.  307 

the  8th  September,  Nathaniel  Fiennes  and  John  Fiennes,  with 
their  troops  of  horse,  came  into  Banbury :  on  the  following 
Saturday  "they  had  intelligence  that  the  Cavaleers  in  Oxford" 
[Sir  John  Byron's  three  troops  of  horse]  "  were  removing  from 
thence  toward  Worcester,  whereupon  they  marcht  forth  towards 
Chiping  Norton  unto  Chappell  of  Heath,  which  place  it  was  sup- 
posed they  would  come  over.  The  country  arose  and  went  along 
with  them,  so  that  they  were  (as  I  suppose)  six  hundred  strong, 
where  they  continued  most  part  of  the  day;  but  the  Cavalleers 
having  warning  of  us  came  not,  onely  we  tooke  eight  of  them 
that  were  sent  out  for  scouts.  *  *  *  The  day  being  far  spent 
we  returned  all  home,  and  the  troops  unto  their  quarter  to  Ban- 
bury.'"* On  Saturday  night  Sir  John  Byron's  forces  were  at  Stow. 
"  The  news  of  their  coming  to  Stow  &  Broadway  was  brought 
to  Banbury  upon  Sunday"  [11th  September]  "by  one  of  the 
clocke  in  the  afternoone,  and  the  trumpet  sounded  presently  for 
the  2  troops  of  horse  to  make  ready  presently  to  pursue  them  ; 
they  set  forth  from  Banbury  about  3.  of  the  clocke,  great  store 
of  the  towne  going  with  them."  After  a  long  march,  extending 
beyond  Evesham,  the  troops  returned  to  Banbury  "without  doing 
any  thing."  "  This  day,"  the  account  goes  on,  "  Collonell  Browne 
with  500  dragoneres  came  to  Banbury,  and  the  2  troopes  of  horse 
went  forth."'' 

On  the  23rd  September,  letters  were  received  in  London  from 
Oxford,  stating  that  Lord  Saye  had  settled  the  peace  of  that 
county,  had  put  the  militia  in  execution,  and  was  marching  to- 
wards Worcester,*'  whither  the  lord-general  was  directing  his  forces. 
On  the  1 5th  October,  "  a  great  butt  filled  with  plate  and  money 
was  brought  into  the  Guildhall  of  London  from  Banbury,  for  the 
Parliament's  assistance."' 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN: 
BATTLE  OF  EDGEHILL. 

The  reluctance  with  which  the  country  round  Nottingham 
answered  to  the  King's  summons,  rendered  it  necessary  for  him 
to  remove  to  a  part  of  the  country  more  favourable  to  his  cause. 

(4)  Good  News  from  Banbury  [signed  S.  R.],  4to.,  Lond.,  20th  Sep.  1642:  among  the 
King's  Pamphlets. 

(5)  Ibid.  (6)  Perfect  Diurnal.  (7)  England's  Memorable  Accidents 

2  q3 


.308  PROGRESS  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN. 

Accordingly,  he  marched  to  Shrewsbury ;  where,  from  the  neigh- 
bouring counties  and  from  Wales,  he  was  enabled  to  collect  an 
army  not  inferior  in  numbers  to  that  wliich  the  Parliament  had 
placed  under  the  command  of  the  Earl  of  Essex.  The  latter 
general  joined  his  forces  at  Northampton,  and  then  marched  into 
Worcestershire.  On  the  22nd  September,  he  sent  forward  Colo- 
nel Nathaniel  Fiennes  and  Colonel  Sandys  in  command  of  a  party 
of  horse,  to  prevent,  if  possible,  the  coming  up  of  some  of  the 
forces  from  South  Wales  to  join  the  King  at  Shrewsbury.  This 
advanced  party  of  horse,  falling  in,  at  Po^^^^ck  Bridge  (four  miles 
from  Worcester),  with  a  body  of  the  King's  horse  commanded 
by  Prince  Rupert  (who  had  joined  there  with  Sir  John  Byron), 
was  utterly  routed,  and  Colonel  Sandys  was  mortally  wounded.^ 
Essex  however  made  good  his  advance  upon  Worcester. 

The  object  which  the  King  was  desirous  to  accomplish  was  to 
break  up  the  ParUament ;  in  order  to  effect  which  it  was  ne- 
cessary either  to  defeat  Essex  in  battle,  or  to  out-flank  him,  and  so 
march  upon  London.  Charles  chose  to  attempt  the  latter  course. 
On  the  12th  October  he  left  Shrewsbu.ry,  and,  on  the  16th,  reached 
Kenilworth,  which  lies  midway  between  Warwick  and  Coventry. 
Here  the  difficulties  of  his  march  commenced.  He  had  reached 
the  confines  of  the  hostUe  country  in  which  Lords  Brook  and 
Saye  were  the  chosen  leaders  of  almost  the  entire  population  :^ 
the  walls,  and  the  spirit  of  the  citizens,  of  Coventry,  prevented 
the  King's  entering  that  city  ;  and  the  castle  of  Warwick  was 
also  held  by  a  brave  and  sufficient  garrison  ;  while  the  Earl  of 
Essex,  who  had  quitted  Worcester  on  the  1 4th,  was  pressing  to- 
wards him  by  forced  marches.  The  Kiag  had  therefore  no  course 
left  but  to  cross  the  Avon  at  one  of  the  fords  between  Warwick 
and  Coventry,  and  so  advance  to  Southam.  The  flank  of  Es- 
sex's army  was  now  turned :  but,  Hampden  and  Lord  Brook 
ha^dng  entered  Stratford  upon  Avon  on  the  ]  8th,  the  entire  length 

(8)  Heath's  Chronicle,  pp.  39,  40;  Clarendon's  Hist.  Rebel.,  v.  2,  p.  2.5.  The  troops 
both  of  Nathaniel  and  John  Fiennes  were  engaged  in  the  action  at  Powick.  (State  Trials, 
V.  l,p.  770.)  Lord  Nugent  says  that  Nathaniel  Fiennes  behaved  with  great  valour,  and, 
with  his  own  hand,  pistolled  an  officer  who  commanded  a  portion  of  the  King's  horse. 
(Nugent's  Memo.,  v.  2,  p.  266.)  On  the  subsequent  trial  of  Nathaniel  Fiennes,  in  1643, 
for  sm-rendering  ijristol  to  Prince  Rupert,  his  valiant  conduct  at  Worcester  was  pleaded ; 
where,  it  is  said,  "  He  and  his  brother,  when  the  forces  were  there  routed,  were  some  of  the 
last  officers  that  came  oflF  the  field." — State  Trials,  v.  1,  p.  769. 

(9)  In  the  district  of  which  Edgehill  is  the  centre,  the  Parliamentarian  troops  had 
every  necessary  thing  brought  to  them  without  the  least  trouble  to  themselves :  whereas 
the  people  were  so  disafTected  to  the  King  that  they  carried  away,  or  concealed  from  his 
foraging  parties,  all  their  provisions ;  and  the  smiths  hid  themselves  that  they  might  not  be 
compelled  to  shoe  the  horses.— CTarenfZom's  Ilht.  Rebel.,  v.  2,  p.  46. 


THE  KING  AT  EDGCOT.  309 

of  the  Avon  lay  open  for  the  unmolested  passage  of  Essex's 
army  in  pursuit  of  that  of  the  King. 

On  the  20th,  the  King's  advanced  guard  was  before  Banbury. 
On  the  21st,  he  himself  slept  at  Southam ;  and  on  the  22nd 
he  came,  with  his  two  sons  (afterwards  the  second  Charles  and 
James),  to  the  mansion-house  at  Edgcot  (then  the  seat  of  Toby 
C'hauncy  Esq.^"),  situated  five  miles  and  a  half  northeast  from 
Banbury.  The  continuator  of  Dugdale  records  that  the  King, 
on  his  march  towards  Edgcot,  observing  a  gentleman  near  Shuck- 
burgh  amiTsing  himself  with  a  pack  of  hounds,  inquired  of  his 
followers  who  it  was  that  could  hunt  so  merrily  when  his  Sove- 
reign was  going  to  fight  for  his  crown  and  dignity ;  and  Mr. 
Richard  Sliuckburgh  being  introduced,  the  King  prevailed  on 
him  to  forego  his  sport  and  return  home  and  raise  his  tenantry ; 
which  Mr.  Shuckburgh  did  with  such  expedition  that  he  joined 
the  Royal  army  with  a  troop  of  horse  the  next  morning,  and  was 
knighted  by  Ms  Majesty  on  the  battle-field  of  Edgehill.'^ 

On  the  night  of  the  22nd,  the  main  army  of  the  King  lay  en- 
camped on  the  southern  side  of  the  Cherwell,  between  Edgcot 
and  Cropredy :  this  latter  village  is  four  miles  north  from  Ban- 
bury. Prince  Rupert,  who  commanded  the  rear,  took  up  quar- 
ters on  the  same  night  at  Lord  Spencer's  seat  at  Wormleighton, 
four  miles  north  of  Cropredy.  The  main  body  of  the  Parlia- 
ment's army  reached  their  quarters  the  same  night  at  Kineton, 
or  Kington,  a  small  market  town  situated  in  the  Vale  of  Red 
Horse,  about  ten  miles  northwest  from  Banbury,  and  within  seven 
miles  of  Prince  Rupert's  quarters  at  Wormleighton. 

The  King  held  a  council  of  war  at  Edgcot ;  at  wliich,  no 
intelligence  having  been  then  received  of  the  near  vicinity  of 
Essex,  it  was  determined  that  the  army  should  halt  on  the  next 
day  (Sunday),  while  Sir  Nicholas  Byron  with  his  brigade  should 
attempt  the  taking  of  Banbury  Castle,^-   which  the  Parliamenta- 

(10)  Thomas  Cromwell,  earl  of  Essex,  purchased  the  manor  and  advowson  of  Eggecote 
in  1535  (26th-27th  Henry  VIII,),  and  built  a  portion  of  the  old  manor-house  there.  On  the 
Earl's  attainder  in  1540,  Edgeot  escheated  to  the  crown.  In  the  33nd  Henry  VIII.  the 
manor  was  included  in  the  dower  or  grant  for  life  to  the  ci-devant  queen  Anne  of  Cleves, 
who  demised  her  life  interest  to  William  Chauncy  gent.  In  the  37th  Henry  VIII.  this 
W^illiam  Chauncy  obtained  a  grant  of  the  reversion  in  fee. — Baker's  N'orlhamp.,  v.  1 ,  p.  494. 

(11)  Subsequently  to  the  taking  of  Banbury  Castle  and  the  King's  retirement  from  these 
parts,  Sir  Richard  went  to  his  own  seat  and  fortified  himself  on  the  top  of  Shuckburgh  hill. 
Being  attacked  there  by  some  of  the  Parliament's  troops,  he  defended  himself  till  he  fell 
with  most  of  his  tenantry  about  liim ;  but,  being  taken  up,  and  life  perceived  in  him,  he 
was  carried  prisoner  to  Kenilworth  castle,  where  he  lay  a  considerable  time,  and  at  last 
imrchased  his  liberty  at  a  dear  rate. — Thumas's  edit.  Dugdale  s  Wunmckshire. 

(12)  Clarendon,  v.  2,  p.  44. 


310  EDGEHILL. 

rians  had  now  garrisoned  with  the  Eari  of  Peterborough's  regi- 
ment, 600  strong,  and  other  forces  ;  amounting  in  the  whole  to 
800  infantry,  besides  some  horse. ^^  An  account,  printed  at  Oxford 
immediately  after  the  events  it  describes,  states  that  the  King,  on 
the  22nd  October,  had  given  orders  for  the  summoning  of  Ban- 
bury, and,  in  case  of  refusal,  the  besieging  of  it  with  4,000  foot 
and  four  pieces  of  cannon :  that  on  the  same  evening  intelligence 
was  brought  of  an  intention  of  relieving  Banbury,  though  the  news 
was  not  so  certain  as  to  occasion  any  change  of  the  orders :  but 
that,  upon  Sunday  morning,  at  three  o'clock,  certain  intelligence 
was  brought  that  the  Parliament's  army  was  approaching  with  all 
expedition,  and  was  then  quartered  for  the  night  at  Kineton. 
Whereupon  the  King  gave  orders  for  all  his  army  to  march  im- 
mediately to  Edgehill,  which  was  five  miles  distant  from  his 
nearest  quarters,  and  within  three  miles  of  Essex's  army." 

Edgehill  is  situated  seven  miles  from  Banbury,  and  near  the 
southern  extremity  of  the  county  of  Warwick.  It  is  the  face,  or 
edge,  of  the  table  land  of  the  north  of  Oxfordshire,  which  is  ele- 
vated high  above  the  vale  of  Warwickshire.  (See  the  Map,  Plate 
25.)  The  liill  has  two  faces,  one  to  the  northwest,  and  the  other 
to  the  northeast,  the  salient  angle  being  at  the  part  called  Bullet 
hill  (see  the  Map),  where  the  present  turnpike  road  winds  up  the 
hUl  from  Kineton.  When  seen  from  the  Warwickshire  vale 
beneath,  Edgehill  has  the  appearance  of  a  steep  ridge,  with  a 
remarkably  well-defined  edge,  whence  probably  its  name.  The 
outline  of  the  figure  of  a  horse,  cut  in  the  red  loam  on  the  side 
of  the  hill,  in  the  lordship  of  Tysoe,  (near  the  inn  called  the  Sun 
Rising,  see  the  Map,)  gives  the  name  of  the  "  Vale  of  Red 
Horse  "  to  the  plain  below.^^  From  the  brow  of  the  hill  is  to  be 
seen  the  great  midland  plain  of  England,  extending  from  the  Mal- 
vern Hills  on  the  borders  of  Herefordshire  to  the  hills  of  Charn- 

(13)  Dugdale's  Short  View;  Clarendon;  and  "  Relation  of  the  Battaile"  quoted  hereafter. 

(14)  A  Relation  of  the  Battaile  lately  fought  between  Keynion  and  Edgehill;  printed  at 
Oxford  by  Leonard  Litchfield,  Printer  to  the  Vniversity.     1642. 

(15)  The  figure  of  the  Red  Horse  was  anciently  of  colossal  dimensions :  it  is  said  to  have 
been  originally  cut  in  commemoration  of  Richard  Neville,  earl  of  Warwick ;  who,  at  the 
battle  of  Touton,  which  was  fought  on  Pabn  Sunday  in  1461,  plunged  his  sword  in  the 
breast  of  his  horse  when  he  found  the  army  in  imminent  danger,  and  vowed  to  share  that 
danger  with  the  meanest  of  his  soldiers.  The  battle  was  won,  and  the  event  was  long  after- 
wards commemorated  at  Edgehill  by  cleaning  out  the  figure  of  the  horse  annually  on 
Palm  Sunday,  some  lands  in  the  lordship  of  Tysoe  being  at  one  period  held  by  this 
service.  (Smith's  Warwickshire.)  The  same  ceremony  is  still  occasionally  observed.  In 
allusion  to  the  circumstance  of  the  battle  of  Edgehill  being  fought  in  the  Xale  of  Red 
Horse,  a  Parliamentarian  writer  says,  "  The  Lord  made  the  Red  Horse  of  his  wrath  (men- 
tioned Rev.  vi.  4,)  ride  about  most  furiously  to  the  ruin  of  our  enemies." — Viccars's  God 
in  the  Mount, 


BEACON-HOUSE  AT  BURTON  DASSET.  311 

wood  Forest  in  Leicestershire.  Considered  in  connection  with 
tlie  great  battle  fought  on  the  23rd  October  1642,  the  hill  has 
the  advantage  of  giving  a  birds-eje  view  of  the  places  of  the 
leadmg  events  wliich  preceded  it.  On  the  west,  until  lost  in  the 
distance,  is  seen  the  country  surrounding  Worcester,  the  towers 
of  which  city  may  be  perceived  on  a  clear  day.  Thence,  sweep- 
ing to  the  northward,  are  the  coal  and  iron  districts  of  Stafford- 
shire, the  smoke  of  whose  furnaces,  said  to  be  sometimes  seen 
from  Edgehill,  points  out  the  route  of  the  King's  advance  from 
Shrewsbury  towards  Kenilworth.  In  the  foreground  runs  the 
Avon,  at  an  average  distance  of  ten  or  twelve  miles ;  its  course 
being  marked,  almost  from  its  source  to  its  termination,  by  the 
rising  mists  of  the  summer  evening,  or  by  the  hills  of  Dunsmore, 
the  spires  of  Coventry  beyond  the  river,  the  tower  of  St.  Mary's 
church  at  Warwick,  the  spire  of  the  collegiate  church  of  Stratford 
upon  x\von,  and  by  Bredon  Hill  in  Worcestershire.  A  walk  to 
the  angle  of  the  hill  places  within  view  the  country  about  Edg- 
cot  and  Cropredy ;  Edgcot  being  situated  seven  miles  and  a  half, 
and  Cropredy  five  miles  and  a  half,  east  from  the  hill.  Towards 
Wormleighton,  at  the  distance  of  two  miles  northeast  from  Edge- 
hUl,  is  the  serrated  range  of  the  Dasset  hills,  which  projects  far 
into  the  Vale  of  Red  Horse,  (see  the  Map,  Plate  25,)  and  on 
which  the  beacon  was  fired  by  the  Parliamentarians  after  the 
battle  of  Edgehill,  to  give  notice  to  the  Parliament  of  the  battle 
and  the  claimed  victory. 

The  singular  and  interesting  Beacon-house  is  situated  on  the 
extreme  northwestern  point  of  the  Dasset  hills,  and  appears  to  be 
an  erection  of  the  15th  century.  (Plate  19.)  It  is  a  circular 
building  of  stone,  measuring  sixty-two  feet  in  girth  at  the  base, 
and  fifteen  feet  four  inches  in  height  to  the  top  of  the  parapet. 
It  has  a  conical  roof,  formed  entirely  of  faced  stone,  rising  from 
within  the  parapet,  and  on  which  the  burning  materials  could  be 
placed  so  as  to  produce  a  great  blaze  of  light  with  even  a  scanty 
supply  of  fuel.'*^     From  this  point  the  view  is  not  confined  to  the 

(16)  The  ancient  doorway  has  been  built  up  (see  Plate  19),  but  the  building  is  otherwise 
in  nearly  a  perfect  state.  There  is  a  small  window  on  the  W.S.W.  side.  Some  years  ago, 
there  was  an  iron  cresset,  or  fire  pan,  preserved  in  the  adjacent  Church  of  Burton  Dasset, 
which  had  been  often  used  for  giving  signals  from  the  Beacon  hill :  this  is  described  as 
having  been  a  circular  pan  of  iron  about  three  feet  in  diameter,  and  one  foot  deep  in  the 
middle.  So  late  as  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century.  Beacons  appear  to  have  been 
placed  near  the  principal  roads :  they  were  generally  merely  an  iron  cresset  elevated  on  a 
stout  pole,  with  a  spar-ladder  to  ascend  them.  The  Beacons  had  watchmen  appointed  ;  and 
also  hoi-semen, 'called  hobbelars,  to  give  notice  of  an  enemy  in  the  daytime  when  the  fire 
could  not  be  seen. 


312  BEACON-HOUSE  AT  BURTON  DASSET. 

Vale  of  Red  Horse  and  the  distant  hills  which  bound  it ;  but, 
the  adjacent  hills  opening  behind,  the  prospect  is  clear  southeast- 
ward, in  the  direction  of  Ivinghoe  at  the  eastern  extremity  of 
Buckinghamshire  ;  where,  at  the  distance  of  forty  miles  in  a  di- 
rect line,  there  was  a  corresponding  Beacon.  Other  Beacons, 
communicating  with  this  on  Burton  Dasset  hill,  were  at  Church 
Bickenhill  and  Monks  Kii'by  in  Warwicksliire,  the  former  twenty- 
four  miles  northwest,  the  latter  twenty  miles  and  a  half  N.N.E., 
in  a  direct  line,  from  Dasset.  The  villagers  of  Burton  Dasset 
assert  that  their  Beacon  corresponded  also  with  one  on  Nettlebed 
hill  in  Oxfordshire,  at  the  distance  of  forty-five  miles,  in  a  direct 
line,  S.S.E. 

The  commanding  stations  afforded  by  the  Dasset  hills  for  pic- 
quets  were  not  likely  to  be  overlooked  by  Prince  Rupert,  whose 
quarters,  on  the  night  of  the  22nd,  were  at  Wormleighton  (only 
three  miles  distant)  ;  and  from  these  the  fires  of  the  Parliament's 
picquets  were  seen  in  the  vale.  Immediately  on  this  intelligence 
being  forwarded  by  Rupert  to  the  King  at  Edgcot,  with  the  in- 
formation that  it  was  in  the  King's  power,  if  he  thought  fit,  to 
fight  a  battle  the  next  day,  the  orders  for  the  attack  on  Banbm'y 
were  countermanded,  and  the  army  ordered  to  rendezvous  on 
Edgehill.  This  was  at  three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Sunday 
the  23rd  October.  The  main  body  of  the  army  therefore  re- 
crossed  the  Cherwell  at  Cropredy  bridge,  taking  the  road  which 
leads  through  Mollington  and  Warmington  to  Edgehill.  Some 
of  the  horse  from  Prince  Rupert's  quarters  at  Wormleighton 
reached  Edgehill  before  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and,  by 
their  appearance  on  the  brow,  gave  the  first  intelligence  to  Essex 
that  he  had  an  enemy  to  encounter.  The  foot  did  not  arrive 
until  some  hours  after.  The  line  of  battle  was  formed  along  the 
brow  of  the  hill :  the  right  resting  on  Bullet  hill  (the  angle  of 
Edgehill  where  the  road  comes  up  from  Kineton  ;  see  the  Map)  ; 
the  centre  over  the  village  of  Radway,  where  the  King's  tent 
was  pitched  and  his  Standard  displayed  near  where  the  Round 
House  now  stands :  and  the  left  where  the  road  runs  up  from 
Stratford  upon  Avon  to  the  lone  inn  on  the  top  of  the  hill, 
then  called,  as  now,  the  Sun  Rising.  The  two  flanks  were 
protected  by  the  difficult  ground  on  the  right  of  Bullet  hill  and 
on  the  left  of  the  Sun  Rising.  A  stronger  position  cannot  "easily 
be  imagined. 


THE  PARLIAMENT'S  ARMY.  313 

At  the  time  when  the  Parliament's  army  was  thus  unexpect- 
edly placed  on  the  brink  of  action,  some  of  their  strongest  and 
best  regiments  of  foot  (including  those  of  Hampden  and  Gran- 
tham), in  all  3,000  men,  under  the  command  of  Hampden,  were 
a  day's  march  in  the  rear,  in  charge  of  the  greater  part  of  the 
ammunition  and  artillery.  In  this  difficult  situation  the  Earl 
of  Essex  is  admitted  to  have  performed  the  part  of  a  wise  gen- 
eral. The  Parliament's  force  in  the  field,  ready  to  engage,  con- 
sisted of  ten  regiments  of  foot,  forty-two  troops  of  regular  horse, 
and  about  seven  hmidred  dragoons,  in  all  between  12,000  and 
13,000  men.''  The  Earl  placed  a  detachment  of  guns  on  the 
right,  among  the  enclosures  on  a  rising  ground  commanding  that 
part  of  the  field  (then  open)  which  is  now  known  by  the  name 
of  "the  Two  Battle  Farms,"  or  Battleton  and  Thistleton.  The 
right  wing  was  composed  of  three  regiments  of  horse,  under  the 
orders  of  Sir  John  Meldrum,  Sir  Philip  Stapleton,  and  Sir  Wil- 
liam Balfore,  with  Colonel  Richard  Fielding's  regiment  and  some 
guns  in  reserve,  and  supported  by  musketeers  lining  a  long  hedge 
at  a  right  angle  with  their  front.  Next  to  these  were  the  Lord 
Roberts's  and  Sir  William  Constable's  infantry.  In  the  centre 
were  the  Lord-General's  own  regiment,  and  Colonel  Ballard's, 
and  Lord  Brook's,  with  Holles's  (also  infantry)  in  reserve.  The 
left  wing  consisted  of  five  regiments  of  infantry;  Lord  Whar- 
ton's, Lord  Mandeville's,  Colonel  Cholmley's,  and  Colonel  Charles 
Essex's,  with  Sir  William  Fairfax's  in  reserve.  On  the  extreme 
left  flank  were  a  few  guns,  with  twenty-four  troops  of  horse 
commanded  by  Sir  James  Ramsay,  a  Scot.  Preachers  were 
seen  riding  along  the  ranks,  exhorting  the  men  to  do  their  duty 
and  fight  valiantly.'^ 

The  King  is  said  to  have  taken  breakfast,  on  the  morning  of 
this  eventful  day,  at  a  cottage  in  the  vUlage  of  Radway  im- 
mediately below  the  present  Round  House.  A  small  mount  or 
hUlock  of  earth,  situated  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  due  west  from 
Radway  church  by  the  side  of  an  ancient  road  leading  to  the 
Battle  Farms,  is  reputed  to  have  been  the  spot  to  which  the  King 

(17)  Nugent's  JNlemo.,  v.  2,  p.  284.  The  dragoons  were  dislinrt  from  the  regular  horse. 
They  acted  with  the  regular  cavalry,  but  often  on  foot,  and  sometimes  mounted  behind  the 
horsemen  in  advance  or  retreat.  They  were  armed  with  long  swords,  and  also  with  match- 
locks :  and  are  supposed  to  have  derived  their  name  from  the  locks  of  the  carbines  of  the 
first  dragoons  having  the  representation  of  a  dragon's  head,  with  the  lighted  match  borne 
in  its  jaws. 

(18)  Nugent's  Memo.,  v.  2,  pp.  284,  293, 294. 

2r 


'"314  THE  KINGS  ARMY. 

advanced  and  vritli  liis  prospect-glass  took  a  view  of  the  eiiemj.^'-' 
A  hasty  council  of  war  was  summoned.  The  King's  armj  was 
superior  in  numbers  to  that  of  the  enemy  on  the  field  by  at 
least  2,000  infantry  and  sixteen  troops  of  horse,  and  was  in 
sight  of  a  plain  where  cavalry  might  act  with  eminent  advan- 
tage. His  soldiers  were  high  in  spirit,  and  impatient  of  any 
delay  in  coming  to  an  engagement  with  an  adversary  whom  they 
despised.  Piince  Rupert  commanded  the  cavalry,  on  whom  the 
greater  share  of  the  promised  day's  glory  in  the  plain  of  Kineton 
was  likely  to  rest ;  and  he,  by  his  adventurous  courage,  had 
obtained  an  influence  over  the  mind  of  the  King  which  he  had 
no  other  quality  to  justify.  Under  all  the  tempting  incentives 
to  an  immediate  engagement,  it  was  no  wonder  that  the  prudent 
counsel  of  the  general,  the  Earl  of  Lindsey,  and  that  of  several 
experienced  officers,  was  rejected ;  and  that,  instead  of  awaiting 
the  battle  in  position,  it  was  determined  to  push  forward  the  two 
first  lines  and  meet  the  attack  half  way.-"  The  King  first  rode 
along  the  lines,  clad  in  steel,  and  wearing  his  Star  and  Garter 
on  a  black  velvet  mantle  over  his  armour,  and  a  steel  cap  covered 
with  velvet  on  his  head.  He  had  already  addressed  his  principal 
officers,  in  his  tent,  in  spirited  and  eloquent  language :  "  Come 
life  or  death,"  he  said,  "your  King  will  bear  you  company." 
He  also  spoke  twice  at  the  head  of  his  troops.  The  brave 
Lord  Lindsey 's  prayer,  immediately  before  the  advance,  is  said 
to  have  been  as  follows  : — "  O  Lord  !  thou  knowest  how  busy  I 
must  be  this  day.  If  I  forget  thee,  do  not  thou  forget  me. 
March  on,  boj's!"'-^  It  was  nearly  two  o'clock  when  the  army 
advanced. 

The  order  in  which  the  army  descended  the  hill  was  as  fol- 
lows : — Prince  Rupert,  at  the  head  of  the  Prince  of  Wales's  regi- 
ment, led  the   cavalry  of   the  right  wing,   and   Lord   Byron  the 

(19)  Traditions  of  the  neighbourhood.  The  cottage  at  Eadway  in  which  his  !Majesty  is 
stated  to  have  breakfasted  is  the  one  nearest  to  the  Rouud  House.  The  hillock  from  which 
the  King  gazed  has  been  since  planted  and  preserved  in  memory  of  the  event. 

I  have  not  heard  of  there  being  any  tradition  relating  to  the  spot  where  the  "  King's 
Barn  "  is  marked  in  the  map.     The  name  is  taken  from  the  Ordnance  Map. 

(20)  The  strongest  argument  that  could  be  adduced  against  the  proposition  for  an  imme- 
diate battle,  would  be  the  great  importance  of  not  delaying  the  march  of  at  least  a  portion 
of  the  Royal  forces  on  London.  Yet,  for  the  King  to  have  maintained  his  position,  with 
the  other  portion  of  his  forces,  on  the  heights  of  Edgehill  for  many  days,  would  probably 
have  been  impracticable,  in  a  part  of  the  country  which  was  altogether  hostile  to  him,  and 
when  many  of  the  troops.  Clarendon  says,  had  "  scarce  eaten  bread  "  for  forty-eight  hours. 
Besides,  Hampden's  brigade  and  the  Parliament's  artillery  were  coming  up  to  the  support 
of  Essex ;  and  Banbury  Castle  lay  immediately  in  the  King's  rear,  well  garrisoned,  and  a 
rallying  point  for  the  Parliamentarians. 

(21)  Nugent's  Memo.,  v.  2,  pp.  285—293. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  EDGEHILL.  315 

reserve ;  on  the  extreme  right  of  which  Colonel  Washington's 
dragoons,  supported  by  six  hundred  regular  horse,  took  possession 
of  some  bushes  and  enclosures.  On  his  left  were  eight  regiments 
of  infantry.  The  infantry  of  the  centre,  in  column  of  six  lines, 
was  led  by  General  Ruthven  and  Sir  Jacob  Astley;  the  Earl 
of  Lindsey,  with  his  son  Lord  Willoughby,  at  the  head  of  the 
Royal  Foot  Guards,  the  red-coats ;  and  Sir  Edmund  Verney, 
carrying  the  King's  Standard.  Behind  these,  and  a  little  to  the 
right,  the  King  took  post  with  his  guard  of  pensioners.  The 
cavalry  of  the  left  wing  was  commanded  by  Lord  Wilmot,  and 
consisted  of  the  regiments  of  Lord  Goring  and  Lord  Fielding. 
These  were  supported  by  Lord  Carnarvon  at  the  head  of  six  hun- 
dred pikemen  and  a  small  body  of  musketeers.  The  reserve  was 
commanded  by  liord  Digby ;  and  Sir  George  Lisle's  and  Colonel 
Ennis's  dragoons  lined  the  hedges  and  broken  ground  in  advance 
of  the  extreme  left,  as  Washington's  did  on  the  right.  In  the 
rear  of  these  were  the  ill-armed  and  almost  totally  undisciplined 
levies  from  Wales."-  "  It  was  near  three  of  the  clock  in  the  after- 
noon," says  Lord  Clarendon,  "  before  the  battle  begun."  The  ac- 
tion was  commenced  by  the  Parliament's  guns,  which  opened 
from  their  right  flank,  and  were  instantly  answered  by  the  whole 
park  of  the  King's  artillery  from  the  centre,  the  cannonade  con- 
tinuing briskly  for  some  time.  The  first  charge  was  made  by 
the  King's  cavalry  from  his  left,  and  was  repulsed  ;  the  mus- 
keteers who  supported  them  being  also  driven  back  to  take  refuge 
behind  the  second  line  of  pikes.  But  on  the  other  wing  their 
success  was  very  different.  The  Parliament's  line  had  been 
weakened  here,  by  extending  itself  to  avoid  being  outflanked. 
And,  at  the  commencement  of  the  conflict  on  this  part,  Sir  Faith- 
ful Fortescue,  an  Irishman,  who  commanded  a  troop  of  the 
Parliament's  horse,  ordered  his  men  (who  appear  to  have  been 
quite  indisposed  to  the  service  in  which  they  were  engaged)  to  fire 

(22)  Nugent's  Memo.,  v.  2,  pp.  291,  292.  A  few  days  before  this  engagement.  Prince 
Rupert,  on  receiving  a  message  delivered  by  Lord  Falkland,  bad  declared  that  he  would 
acknowledge  no  orders,  in  march  or  in  battle,  but  from  the  King  hiuiself.  This  unman- 
ageable disposition  of  Rupert  now  forced  on  the  King  a  very  inconvenient  arrangement ; 
since  the  Earl  of  Lindsey,  the  King's  lieutenant-general,  saw  that  the  Prince  had  disclaimed 
his  control  also.  For  the  King  to  allow  the  line  to  be  commanded  by  Rupert  was  im- 
possible ;  and  a  sort  of  compromise  was  therefore  attempted.  The  King  proposed  that  the 
order  of  battle  should  be  formed  by  General  Ruthven,  who  had  served  for  some  time  in 
the  same  army  with  Rupert  in  Germany.  To  this  Lindsey  consented,  putting  himself,  on 
foot,  at  the  head  of  the  King's  Guards,  "in  the  centre  of  the  first  line  ;  and  thus  remaining 
answerable  for  the  fate  of  an  army  drawn  out  by  another,  and  the  whole  right  wing  of  which 
was  commanded  by  a  rash  man  who  would  take  no  orders  from  him. — Nugent's  Memo., 
pp.  286,  287. 

2  R  3 


31  ti  PRINCE  RUPERT'S  CHARGE 

their  pistols  into~tbe  ground,  and  then   galloped  with  them  into 
Prince  Rupert's  hnes."' 

"  And  now  Prince  Rupert,  charging  with  the  whole  of  the 
cavalry  of  the  King's  right  wing,  broke  through  and  entirely 
routed  Sir  James  Ramsay's  horse,  who,  enfeebled  and  dismayed, 
were  making  an  irresolute  attempt  to  gain  the  advantage  of  the 
hill.  Even  Colonel  Essex's  regiment,  who  had  moved  up  to 
support  them,  also  broke  and  fled.  The  battle,  on  that  part,  soon 
became  a  chace,  though  Essex  did  all  that  he  could  to  rally  the 
flying  troops,  and  Holies  and  Ballard  advanced  gallantly  from  their 
right  to  cover  their  groimd."-""  The  plain  was  soon  covered  \\ath 
nearly  the  whole  of  the  Parliament's  left  wing  in  complete  disorder, 
and  Rupert's  horse  in  close  and  unsparmg  pursuit.  "The  Lord 
Mandeville's  men,"  says  an  eye-witness,  "would  not  stand  the 
field ;  though  his  lordship  beseeched,  nay  cudgelled  them.  No, 
nor  yet  the  Lord  Wharton's  men."^  Sir  William  Fairfax  his 
regiment,  except  some  eighty  of  them,  used  their  heeles."-*^  "  Nor 
did  Cholmley's  behave  better.  Cavalry  endeavouring  to  force 
their  flight  through  the  infantry  who  were  ordered  to  support 
them,  the  infantry  scarcely  better  disposed  to  stand,  but  unable 
to  fly  before  the  rapid  torrent  of  Rupert's  charge, — all  were  in 
one  confused  mass,  and  not  a  face  of  a  private  soldier  fronted  that 
of  his  enemy,  except  Lord  Brook's  purple-coats.  Colonel  Ballard's 
grey-coats,  and  Denzil  HoUes's  gallant  red-coats,  who,  again  op- 
posed to  superior  numbers,  and  under  the  severer  trial  of  witness- 
ing the  cowardice  of  their  comrades,  had  nobly  rushed  across  the 
advancing  enemy.  But  the  King's  cavalry  had  already  swept  by 
with  an  impetuosity  which  infantry,  forming  hastily,  and  from  a 
flank,  could  not  withstand.     But  these  brave  regiments,  although 

(23)  Nugent's  Memo.,  v.  2,  p.  294.  Accident  punished  the  desertion  of  Sir  FaiOiful 
Fortescue's  troop ;  for,  being  mistaken  for  enemies,  they  received  from  Rupert's  men  a  fire 
which  laid  twenty-five  of  them  dead.  Clarendon  states  that  they  had  neglected  to  throw 
away  their  orange  tawny  scarfs  which  they  wore  as  the  Earl  of  Essex's  colours,  and  that 
they  were  killed  by  mistake  in  the  charge  which  immediately  followed.    The  troop  of  Sir 


Faithful  Forstescue  had  been  raised  for  the  Irish  wars :    and  whether  they  were  pressed 

'    _       "  '  "ly  marched  wifli  the  Pa  " 
meat's  forces  with  the  intention  to  desert  them  in  the  day  of  battle,  cannot  now  be  ascertained. 


or  deceived  into  their  present  service,  or  whether  they  wilfully  marched  wifli  the  Parlia- 


The  reception  they  met  with  proves  that  their  desertion  had  not  been  preconcerted  with 
Rupert. 

(24)  Nugent's  Memo.,  v.  2,  p.  295. 

(25)  Anthony  Wood  says  that  Lord  Wharton,  "  after  all  his  men  had  run  away,  hid 
himself  in  a  sawpit."  (Wood's  Athenae.)  Lord  Wharton,  in  his  speech  to  the  citizens 
of  London  four  days  after,  owns — "  there  were  that  ran  away.  Sir  William  Fairfax's  regi- 
ment. Sir  Henry  Cholmley's,  my  lord  Kimbolton's,  and,  to  say  the  plain  truth,  my  own." — 
Pari.  Hist.  Eng.,  v.  11,  p.  475. 

(26)  "  Special  Ncwes  from  the  Army  at  Warwicke  since  the  Fight ;  sent  from  a  Minister 
of  good  note."  In  the  collection  of  W.  Staunton  Esq.  of  Longbridge  House  new  War- 
wick. 


AND  MISCONDUCT.  317 

overborne,  rallied,  and  at  once  engaged  and  cliecked  the  whole 
infantry  of  the  King's  right  and  centre.  Meanwhile,  the  pursuit 
lasted  across  the  open  fields  for  three  miles,  up  to  Kineton  itself, 
with  tremendous  slaughter.  But  here  Rupert's  triumph  ended  ; 
and  he  incurred  the  reproach  of  allowing  himself  to  be  detained 
in  an  inglorious  work  of  plunder  for  upwards  for  an  hour,  while  the 
King's  infantry  was  engaged,  and  worsted  for  lack  of  his  support. 
The  principal  part  of  the  baggage  of  the  Parliament's  army  was 
lying  in  waggons  in  the  streets  of  Kineton.  Few  were  left  to 
guard  it,  and  the  horses-  had  been  all  moved  forward  to  assist 
with  the  artillery,  which  was  in  action.  The  pillage  of  these  now 
wholly  fixed  the  attention  of  the  Prince,  who  thus  delayed  his 
return  to  the  battle,  and  gave  his  soldiers  an  example  of  insubor- 
dination which  it  was  one  of  his  most  urgent  duties  to  discoun- 
tenance and  repress.'"^  The  alarm  was  given  to  him,  while  thus 
employed,  that  the  enemy  was  again  forming,  reinforced  by  fresh 
troops,  on  the  outskirts  of  the  town.  The  ground  on  which  he 
rallied  and  drew  up  his  ca^'alry  to  charge  them  again,  is  stUl 
known  as  'Prince  Rupert's  Headland,'  and  gives  its  name  to  a 
farm  about  a  mile  to  the  northeastward  of  Kineton.  But  it  was 
now  too  late.  Hampden,  who  had  left  Stratford  on  Avon  the  even- 
ing before,  had  piished  on  with  Colonel  Grantham's  regiment  and 
his  own  green-coats,  and  five  gtms,  with  which  the  men  had  all 
night  toiled  tlirough  the  deep  roads,  leaving  beliind  Colonel  Bark- 
ham's  and  Lord  Rochfort's  regiments  to  bring  up  the  rest  of  the 
artillery  and  great  store  of  ammunition,  which  did  not  arrive 
till  the  day  after.  And  now  the  two  regiments,  led  by  Hampden, 
were  seen  hastening  across  the  enclosures  to  support  the  mangled 
squadrons  of  flying  horse.  Dragging  their  guns  out  of  the  lanes 
along  which  they  had  advanced,  they  formed  between  the  pur- 
sued and  the  pursuers,  and  opened  their  fire  upon  Rupert,  killing 
several  of  his  men  and  horses,  and,  though  unable  to  pui'sue, 
obliging  him,  in  his  turn,  to  recross  the  plain  in  great  confusion.""^ 
One  account  states  that,  in  the  flight,  Rupert  cast  away  his  beaver 
and  feather  that  he  might  not  be  a  mark  for  the  pursuers."^ 

Meanwhile,  Holles's,  Ballard's,  and  Brook's  regiments,  havuig 
made  good  the    ground  which  was  abandoned  by  the  fugitives, 

(27)  It  is  said  of  the  Prince,  that,  ou  his  return  to  the  field  of  battle,  finding  the  Eoval 
army  in  confusion,  and  the  King  himself  in  gicat  danger,  he  told  them  that  he  "  could 
give  a  good  account  of  the  enemy's  horse."  "  Ay,  by  G — ,"  exclaimed  a  cavalier,  "  and  of 
their  Parts  too !" — IVvgcnt's  Memo.,  v.  2,  p.  297. 

(28)  Nugent's  Memo.,  v.  2,  pp.  295—298.  (29)  Perfect  Diurnal. 


318  BATTLE  OF  EDGEHILL. 

liad  poured  iu  ^'  from  the  flank  upon  tlie  main  body  of  tlie  King, 
which  at  the  same  time  was  charged  in  front  by  the  rest  of 
the  ParHament's  mfantrj  headed  by  the  Earl  of  Essex  in  per- 
son. The  gentlemen  and  officers  of  the  cavalry,  instead  of 
flying  with  their  men,  had  joined  to  strengthen  the  centre.  And 
Colonel  Charles  Essex,  having  striven  in  vain  to  rally  his  craven 
regiment,  returned  to  die  bravely  as  a  volunteer  in  more  hon- 
ourable company.  He  and  the  Lord  St.  John  met  their  death  in 
this  charge. 

"  The  Lord-General's  lifeguard  of  gentlemen,  to  whom  these  gal- 
lant persons  had  joined  themselves,  first  broke  the  King's  guards, 
who  were  afterwards  '  abundantly  smitten  down  by  the  orange- 
coats,  by  Sir  William  Constable's  blue-coats,  the  Lord  Roberts's 
red-coats,  and  the  Lord  Saye's  blue-coats,  led  by  Sir  John  Mel- 
drum.'  And  the  cavalry  from  the  Parliament's  right,  under 
Balfore,  Stapleton,  and  the  Lord  Willoughby  of  Parham,  and 
composed  of  the  troops  of  Hazelrigge,  Lord  Brook,  Lord  Grey, 
Gunter,  Draper,  Temple,  Long,  Fiennes,  Luke,  Cromwell,  Hunt, 
and  Urrey,  now  rushed  in  furiously.^"  x\t  this  time  was  slain 
Sir  Edmund  Verney ;    and  the  royal  standard,  which  he  bore,  was 

(30)  Lord  Saye's  blue-coats  aud  Fiexnes's  troop  of  cavalry  are  thus  recorded  as  having 
bravely  shared  in  the  dangers  of  this  eventful  day.  Nathaniel  Fiennes  is  subsequently 
stated"(in  his  defence  on  his  trial  in  1643  for  surrendering  Bristol)  as  being  "  one  of  the  next 
to  Sir  William  Balfore,"  charging  "  up  to  the  cannon  of  the  enemy,  when  the  horse  killed 
the  cannoneers  as  they  lay  under  the  carriages. "    (State  Trials,  v.  1,  p.  769.) 

Although  the  troop  of  Cromwell  is  enumerated  by  Lord  Nugent  among  those  above 
who  rushed  in  under  the  command  of  Balfore,  yet  in  no  account  which  I  have  met  with 
is  Cromwell  himself  recorded  as  being  present ;  and  indeed  a  charge  of  cowardice  has  been 
made  against  him  for  absence.  In  "  A  short  View  of  the  late  Troubles  in  England,"  said 
to  have  been  written  by  Sir  William  Dugdale,  it  is  said  that  "  Oliver  Cromwell  was  one  (if 
some  of  ihe  most  eminent  persons  of  his  own  party,  who  were  in  the  fight,  bely  him  not,) 
who,  being  captain  of  a  troop  of  horse  in  the  General's  regiment,  came  not  into  the  field, 
but  got  up  into  a  steeple  within  view  of  the  battel,  and  there  discerning  by  a  prospective- 
glass  the  two  wings  of  their  horse  to  be  utterly  routed,  made  such  haste  to  be  gone,  that 
instead  of  descending  the  stairs  by  which  he  came  up,  he  swing'd  down  by  a  bell-rope,  and 
ran  away  with  his  troop."  The  church  alluded  to  is  traditionally  said  to  have  been  that 
of  Burton  Dasset,  which,  seen  from  Bullet  hill,  stands  close  on  the  right  of  the  Beacon- 
house  and  beneath  it.  On  the  Parliamentarian  side,  Lord  Holies,  six  years  after  the  action, 
says: — "Oliver  Cromwell  was  as  arrant  a  coward  as  he  was  notoriously  perfidious,  ambi- 
tious, and  hypocritical.  This  was  his  base  keeping  out  of  the  field  at  Keinton  battle,  where 
he  with  his  troop  of  horse  came  not  in,  impudently  and  ridiculously  affirming,  the  day  after, 
that  he  had  been  all  that  day  seeking  the  army  and  place  of  fight,  though  his  quarters 
were  but  at  a  village  near  hand,  whence  he  could  not  find  his  way,  nor  be  directed  by  his 
ear,  when  the  ordnance  was  heard  20  or  30  miles  off."  (Gleig's  Military  Commanders, 
v.  1,  p.  327.) 

In  defence  of  Cromwell  it  must  be  added,  that  the  account  of  the  battle  which  was  sent 
to  the  Parliament  was  signed  by  five  of  the  leaders,  of  whom  Holies  was  one.  He  there- 
fore must  be  supposed  to  have  had  full  knowledge  of  the  facts,  and  the  power  to  criminate 
Cromwell  by  those  facts  if  he  were  guilty.  Holies  certainly  did  not  want  the  inclination 
to  do  so.  But  he  deals  only  in  general  statements ;  and  the  pitiful  excuses  said  to  have  been 
pleaded  by  Cromwell  are  not  in  keeping  with  his  known  character.  Had  Cromwell  asserted 
that  he  "  was  seeking  the  Lord,"  the  story  would  have  told  better.  It  may  be,  however, 
says  Gleig,  "  that  here,  as  well  as  elsewhere,  Cromwell  permitted  affairs  to  take  their  course, 
because  he  saw  that  the  whole  merit  of  a  victory  which  it  rested  with  him  to  secure  would 


BATTLE  OF  EDGEHILL.  319 

taken  by  Mr.  Young,  one  of  Sir  William  Constable's  ensigns, 
and  delivered  by  -Lord  Essex  to  his  own  secretary.  Chambers, 
who  rode  by  his  side.  Elated  by  the  prize,  the  secretary  rode 
about,  more  proudly  than  wisely,  waving  it  round  his  head. 
Whereupon,  in  the  confusion,  one  of  the  King's  officers,  Captain 
Smith  of  the  Lord  John  Stewart's  troop,  seeing  the  standard  cap- 
tured, threw  round  him  the  orange  scarf  of  a  fallen  Parliamenta- 
rian, and,  riding  in  among  the  lines  of  his  enemies,  told  the 
secretary  that  '  it  were  shame  that  so  honourable  a  trophy  of  war 
should  be  borne  by  a  penman.'  To  which  suggestion  the  cre- 
dulous guardian  of  this  honourable  trophy  consenting  surrendered 
it  to  the  disguised  cavalier,  who  galloped  back  with  it  amain,  and, 
before  evening,  received  knighthood  under  its  shadow."^' 

Clarendon  admits  that,  when  the  Standard  was  taken,  the  King 
was  in  great  personal  danger,  he  being,  with  fewer  than  one  hun- 
dred horse,  and  those  without  an  officer,  wnthin  half  musket 
shot  of  the  enemy.  The  brave  old  general,  the  Earl  of  Lindsey, 
received  a  shot  in  the  thigh,  when  on  foot  at  the  head  of  his 
regiment ;  on  which  he  fell  and  was  immediately  surrounded  by 
the  enemy :  his  son.  Lord  Willougliby,  who  bravely  and  piously 
attempted  to  rescue  his  father,  was  taken  prisoner  with  him. 
W^heu  Rupert  returned  to  the  field  he  foimd  this  great  alteration, 
and  the  hopes  of  a  day  of  victory  completely  vanished.^-  For 
the  Royal  army  was  now  so  severely  pressed  in  front  and  on  its 
left,  menaced  also  on  its  right  by  a  body  of  horse  which  had 
regained  that  rising  ground  from  which  Ramsay's  brigade  had, 
early  in  the  fight,  been  driven,  that  Charles  was  vehemently  im- 
portuned to  leave  the  field.  But  this  his  ardent  courage,  and  the 
pledge  which  he  had  given  to  his  troops  to  abide  with  them  for 
life  or  death,  would  not  permit.  He  would  have  charged  in  per- 
son with  his  reserves  of  two  regiments  and  his  band  of  pension- 
ers ;  but  from  this  liis  household  officers  withheld  him.^^  Tradition 
points  out  the  ascent  of  the  present  turnpike  road  from  Kineton 
towards  the  brow  of  Edgehill  as  one  of  the  hardest  fought  points 

be  awarded  to  another ;  and  if  so,  then  is  his  conduct  strictly  in  agreement  with  that  deep 
and  resolute  selfishness,  for  which  we  have  already  given,  and  shall  again  find  ample  cause 
to  give,  him  credit." — Gleig's  Milit.  Commmiders,  v.  1,  p.  227. 

(31)  Nugent's  Memo.,  v.  2,  pp.  298—300.  The  rank  which  Smith  received  was  that  of 
knight  banneret,  that  is,  one  knighted  by  his  Sovereign  on  the  field  of  battle.  Sir  Edmund 
Vemey,  who  thus  fell  while  bearing  the  King's  Standard,  had  long  sided  with  the  malecontent 
party  in  Parliament;  and  expres.sed  doubts  of  the  justice  of  the  King's  cause  even  when 
he  became  engaged  in  it ;  but  gave  as  a  reason  that  "  he  had  eaten  the  King's  bread,"  and 
was  therefore  bound  to  his  service  in  personal  honour. — Nugent's  Memo.,  v.  2,  pp.  191,  192. 

(32)  Clarendon's  Hist.  Rebel.,  v.  2,  p.  48.  (33)  Nugent's  Memo.,  v.  2,  pp.  300,  301. 


320  BATTLE  OF  EDGEHILL. 

of  the  day  ;  and  the  number  of  balls  found  there,  and  the  name 
"  Bullet  Hill "  which  is  given  to  this  part  at  the  steepest  ascent, 
serve  to  confirm  the  tradition  ;  and  seem  to  point  out  this  part 
as  the  rising  ground  which  had  been  regained  by  the  Parliament's 
horse.  If  so,  the  situation  of  the  King's  army  was  extremely 
critical.  But  now  the  evening  was  setting  in,  and  the  darkness 
made  it  difficult  to  distmguish  friends  from  foes.^*  "Night,"  says 
Clarendon,  "  the  common  friend  to  wearied  and  dismayed  armies, 
parted  them ;  and  then  the  King  caused  his  cannon  which  were 
nearest  the  enemy  to  be  drawn  off;  and  with  his  whole  forces 
spent  the  night  in  the  field,  by  such  a  fire  as  could  be  made  of 
the  little  wood  and  bushes  which  grew  thereabouts." 

When  the  day  dawned,  a  portion  of  the  Parliament's  troops 
were  seen  standing  in  the  same  posture  and  place  in  which  they 
had  fought.  But  the  ill  success  of  both  parties  on  the  preceding 
day  had  been  so  nearly  balanced,  both  had  suffered  so  severely, 
and  the  condition  of  each  was  so  perilous,  that  neither  side  was 
eager  to  renew  the  combat.  Both  sides  claimed  the  doubtful 
victor}'  :  it  appears,  however,  upon  the  whole,  that  the  advantage 
lay  with  the  Parliament.  Their  horse  on  the  field  were  victo- 
rious; their  infantry  were  proved  superior;  and  they  had  been 
reinforced  by  the  energetic  Hampden  with  his  green-coats,  and 
Grantham's  regiment  also,  the  best  in  the  service.  Essex  called 
a  council  of  his  principal  officers,  and  he  listened  mainly,  as  he 
had  ever  done,  to  the  advice  of  the  cautious  Dalbier.  "  Resolute 
under  difficulty  and  repulse,  it  was  when  success  was  to  be  im- 
proved that  Essex  was  timid  and  indecisive.  In  vain  did  Hamp- 
den, Grantham,  Holies,  and  Brook,  urge  him  to  renew  the  attack. 
Hampden  was  for  instantly  pressing  forward,  and  endeavouring 
to  force  the  King's  position ;  and  so  to  relieve  Banbury,  and  throw 
himself  at  once  on  the  contested  line  of  the  great  London  road. 
And  Ludlow  and  Whitelocke  assert,  and  Warwick  and  Clarendon 
confess,  that  if  this  course  had  been  adopted,  the  King's  condi- 
tion might  have  become  hazardous  in  the  extreme. "^^ 

The  slaughter  at  Edgehill  was  very  great,  but  has  been  much 
misrepresented  and  overrated.  According  to  one  of  the  accounts 
sent  to  the  Parliament,  and  published  "  to  prevent  false  informa- 
tions," the  King  lost  in  slain  abovit  three  thousand,  the  Parliament 

(34)  It  being  the  23rd  October,  old  style,  the  suu  would  set  at  about  half  past  four  o'clock. 

(35)  Nugent's  Memo.  v.  2,  p.  303. 


BATTLE  OF  EDGEHILL.  -i'-i 

three  hundred.  Accordmg  to  that  which  issued  from  tlie  King's 
press  at  Oxford,  the  amount  of  the  King's  loss  is  doubtful,  but 
"  this  is  certain,  that  the  Rojal  army  slew  five  Parliamentarians 
for  every  one  slain  of  theirs."  Of  course  none  of  these  con- 
flicting accounts  are  to  be  depended  on.  Clarendon  states  that 
"  the  number  of  the  slam,  by  the  testimony  of  the  ministers,  and 
others  of  the  next  parish,  who  took  care  of  the  burymg  of  the 
dead,  and  which  was  the  only  computation  that  could  be  made, 
amounted  to  above  five  thou.sand,  w^hereof  two  parts  were  con- 
ceived to  be  of  those  of  the  Parliament  party,  and  not  above  a 
third  part  of  the  King's."  But  others  give  a  far  less  number. 
Gibson  says  that,  by  a  survey  taken  by  Mr.  Fisher,  vicar  of 
Kineton,  who  was  appointed  by  the  Earl  of  Essex  for  that  pur- 
pose, the  list  of  the  slain  was  thirteen  hundred  and  odd.^°  The 
Warwickshire  liistorian,  Dugdale,  who  was  present  at  the  battle, 
visited  the  battle-field  again  in  the  following  February  in  com- 
pany with  a  "skilful  surveyor;"  and,  noting  all  the  positions  and 
the  graves  where  the  slain  were  buried,  and  judging  from  these 
and  from  the  information  collected,  he  computed  the  whole  number 
of  slain  as  being  less  than  a  thousand  men.^^  The  Parliamen- 
tarians seem  to  have  lost  more  in  private  soldiers ;  the  King's 
certainly  most  in  persons  of  distinction.  The  King  lost,  of  su- 
perior officers,  the  Earl  of  Lindsey  (who  died  of  his  wounds 
within  a  few  hours  after  the  battle  ^^),  Lord  Aubigny,  Sir  Edmund 
Verney,  and  Colonel  Munro.  Lord  Willoughby,  and  Colonels 
Lunsford,  Vavasour,  Stradling,  and  Rodney,  were  taken  prisoners. 
Sir  Jacob  Astley,  Sir  Nicholas  Byron,  Colonel  Gerrard,  and  Sir 
George  Strode,  were  wounded.  On  the  side  of  the  Parliament, 
the  principal  persons  killed  were  Lord  St.  John  of  Bletzo  and 
Colonel  Charles  Essex :  Sir  William  Essex  was  taken  prisoner.^® 
The  roads  were  covered  with  the  wounded  of  both  armies.  "  It 
would  be  a  charitable  worke,"  says  "a  minister  of  good  note" 
in  a  letter  to  an  Alderman  of  London,  "  if  some  rich  citizen 
would  drop  the  silver  oyle  of  his  purse  into  the  womids  of  the 
sick  and  maimed  souldiers  who  have  soe  freely  hazarded  theire 
lives  for  the  gospell."'"'     The  same  merciful  wish  is  not  breathed 

(36)  Gibson's  Camden's  Brit.,  v.  2,  p.  598.  (37)  Wood's  Fasti  Oxon. 

(.38)  "  Lindsey  died  in  the  lord-general's  coach,  on  the  way  to  Warwick  Castle,  under 
whose  portcullis  his  corpse  entered  side  by  side  with  that  of  his  youthful  and  gallant 
enemy,  Charles  Essex." — Nugent's  Memo.,  v.  2,  p.  304. 

(39)  Lord  Clarendon  ;  Heath's  Chronicle  ;  Nugent's  Memorials. 

(40)  Tract  in  the  possession  of  AV.  Staunton  Esq.,  being  No.  12  in  the  following  note  (4-5). 


322  BATTLETON  AND  THISTLETON. 

for  the  wounded  Royalists ;  and  Clarendon  asserts  that  such  of 
them  as  straggled  into  the  villages  for  relief  were  knocked  on 
the  head  by  the  common  people. 

Since  the  enclosure  of  the  field  of  battle,  the  principal  ground 
of  contest  and  the  neighbouring  lands  have  been  laid  out  in  two 
farms,  called  the  "  Battle  Farms,"  and  distinguished  from  each 
other  by  the  names  of  Battleton  and  Thistleton.  Between  the 
farm-houses,  but  in  the  last-named  farm,  are  two  grounds,  one 
arable  and  the  other  pasture,  called  the  "  Grave  Grounds."  (See 
the  Map,  Plate  25.)  Here  a  great  portion  of  the  slain  were 
buried  ;  and  thus  the  site  of  the  main  battle  is  identified. 

After  so  minute  an  account  of  the  battle,  a  summary  one,  given 
about  eight  years  ago  by  an  aged  labourer  residing  on  the  spot, 
will  not  be  unacceptable.  "  The  King  "  (said  the  narrator,  who 
was  standing  on  the  road  on  the  top  of  the  hUl,  near  the  Round 
House)  "  was  on  the  liill  here  ;  the  others  came  Kineton  way. 
They  fought  in  two  companies ;  one  along  the  hill  at  Bullet  Hill, 
where  the  road  comes  up ;  but  the  main  in  the  vale  at  Battleton 
and  Thistleton.  They  on  the  hill  drove  the  others  down  into 
Kineton ;  while  they  at  Battleton  and  Thistleton  made  head,  and 
forced  the  King  back  to  the  hill."^^  Thus  oral  tradition  agrees 
with  historical  testimony,  and  clearly  points  out  the  exact  ground 
of  combat.^^ 

Amid  the  alarm  on  the  outbreak  of  the  war  and  the  King's 
advance  towards  London,  the  Parliament  had  given  orders  for 
firing  the  nearest  Beacon  whenever  the  Earl  of  Essex  might 
overtake  the  King  and  arrest  his  progress.  The  light  by  night, 
or  the  smoke  by  day,  was  to  be  the  signal,  which  the  country 
people,  on  the  heights,  up  to  London,  were  by  proclamation  di- 

(41)  Communicated  by  Mr.  Fraufillon  of  Banbury. 

(42)  The  Prince  of  Wales  and  the  Duke  of  York,  then  of  the  ages  of  twelve  and  ten  years, 
were  on  Edgehill  during  the  battle.  A  plantation  of  firs  subsequently  marked  the  place 
where  the  two  Princes  were  left  under  the  care  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  William  Harvey, 
physician  in  ordinary  to  the  King.  It  is  said  that,  during  the  action,  the  Doctor,  forgetful 
alike  of  his  danger  and  his  charge,  and  sensible  only  of  the  value  of  time  to  a  philosopher, 
took  out  a  book  and  sat  on  the  gi-ass  to  read,  till,  warned  by  the  sound  of  the  bullets  around 
him,  he  rose  and  withdrew  the  Princes  to  a  securer  distance.  (Nugent's  Memorials;  Smith's 
Warwickshire.) 

William  Walker,  who  was  born  in  1613,  was,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine  yeais,  one  of 
the  combatants  in  this  battle.  He  had  witnessed  the  progress  of  the  discontents  which 
brought  about  the  Civil  War ;  and  he  afterwards  lived  to  witness  the  downfal  of  mo- 
narchy, the  subsequent  restoration  of  Charles  the  Second,  the  Revolution  of  1689,  the 
glory  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne,  the  accession  of  the  House  of  Hanover,  and  the  beginning 
of  the  reign  of  George  the  Second.     He  died  in  1736,  aged  123  years.    (Caulfield's  Portraits.) 

Richard  Baxter  was  preaching  within  hearing  of  the  cannon  on  this  eventful  Sunday. 
He  says:—"  On  October  23,  1642,  little  knowing  what  was  doing  at  Edgehill,  I  was  preach- 
ing in  his  [Samuel  Clark's]  pulpit  at  Alcester,  on  those  words,  '  The  kingdom  of  heaven 


THE  BEACON  SIGNAL.  323 

rected  to  repeat.  After  tlie  Sunday's  fight  at  Edgeliill,  when  the 
darkness  had  set  in,  a  small  party  of  the  Parliament's  troops, 
who  had  gained  the  summit  of  the  Beacon  hill  at  Burton  Dasset, 
gave  the  signal.  Tradition  says  that  some  shepherds,  on  a  part 
of  the  high  ridge  over  Ivinghoe,  on  the  borders  of  Buckingham- 
shire and  Hertfordshire,  (forty  miles  in  a  direct  line  from  Edge- 
hill),  saw  a  twinkling  light  to  the  northwestward,  and,  upon  com- 
munication with  their  minister,  "  a  godly  and  well-affected  person," 
fired  the  Beacon  there  also,  which  was  seen  at  Harrow  on  the 
Hill ;  and  thence  the  intelligence  was  at  once  carried  on  to  Lon- 
don.''^ There  also  came  tip  a  post  to  the  Parliament,  bringing 
information  "that  the  King  with  his  army  had  been  at  Banbury, 
but  was  bravely  resisted  by  the  townsmen,  who  stood  upon  their 
guard  and  fortified  the  town  upon  the  sudden  by  stopping  up  the 
passage  with  logs  of  wood,  cutting  down  trees,  and  laying  them 
in  the  way  with  carts,  harrows,  &e."  In  less  than  half  an  hour 
after  this  came  another  post,  bringing  an  account  of  the  meeting  of 
the  King  and  Lord  Essex  at  Edgeliill  on  Sunday  morning.'*''  On 
the  25th,  messengers  from  the  army  arrived  in  London  ;  followed 
by  a  letter  from  Holies,  Stapleton,  and  others,  claiming  a  corn- 
plete  victory.  It  was  however  impossible  to  conceal  the  fact 
that  the  King's  army  was  still  between  Lord  Essex's  army  and 
London,  and,  in  consequence,  the  alarm  was  extreme.  The  people 
thronged  to  the  barricades,  the  trainbands  beat  to  arms  ;  and 
directions  the  most  positive  were  forwarded  by  repeated  expresses 
to  the  lord-general,  to  throw  himself  at  all  hazards  upon  Lon- 
don. Lord  Saye  delivered  a  speech  in  the  Guildhall  on  the  27th, 
exhorting  the  city  to  raise  more  money  to  carry  on  the  war. 
At  this  critical  time,  the  indecision  of  the  Royalist  commanders 
came  to  the  relief  of  the  citizens  and  the  Parliament. ^^ 

suflereth  violence.'  My  voice  hindered  me,  but  the  auditors  heard  the  cannon  :  that  night 
was  passed  by  us  in  sad  watching,  with  the  noise  of  fugitive  troops:  the  next  day  (such 
spectacles  being  i-are,  and  sad)  Mr.  Clark  and  I  rode  to  the  field  to  see  what  was  done, 
where  we  saw  the  dead  bodies  of  Englishmen  slain  by  one  another." — Prefixed  hy  Baxter 
lo  Clark's  Lives. 

(43)  Nugent's  Memo.,  v.  2,  pp.  311,  312. 

(M)  Speciall  and  Remarkable  Passages  informed  to  both  Houses,  4to.,  1642. 

(45)  The  following  Tracts  relating  to  the  Battle  of  Edgehill  are  in  the  collection  of  Wm. 
Staunton  Esq.  of  Longbridge  House  near  Warwick: — 

1.  A  Relation  of  the  Battaille  lately  fought  between  Keynion  and  Edgehill  by  his  Ma- 
jesties army  &  that  of  the  Rebells,  &c.  &e.    4to.,  0.\.ford  1642. 

2.  A  True  Relation  of  a  Great  &  Happy  Victory  which  it  hath  pleas'd  God  to  give  to  his 
Excellency  the  Earl  of  Essex  &  his  Forces  over 'the  Kings  army.  In  which  Battell  his 
Majesty  lost  sis  colours  &  his  Standard,  5  Waggons  laden  with  ammunition  &  Plate,  a 
Coach,  8  Pieces  of  Ordnance  and  3000  men,  all  which  the  Parliaments  Foreees  obtain'd  willi 
the  losse  of  300  on  their  side.    Also  they  have  taken  the  Lord  Lindsey,  Generall  of  the  Field, 

2  S3 


324  BATTLE  OF  EDGEHILL. 


THE  KING  TAKES  BROUGHTON  AND  BANBURY. 

After  the  battle  ou  Sunday,  the  greater  part  of  the  Parliament's 
army  was  ordered  for  the  night  to  Kineton ;  but  a  brigade  of 
observ^ation  was  left  on  the  advanced  position  which  they  had  won 
at  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  field.     The  next   morning  both 

Sf  Thomas  Lunsford,  Sr  Edward  Stradling  &  Col.  Vavasor,  &c.  &c.     Oct.  27th.    London, 
printed  for  John  Wright.     1642. 

3.  An  Exact  &  True  Eelation  of  the  Dangerous  &  Bloudy  Fight,  between  His  Majesties 
armie,  and  the  Parliaments,  neere  Kyneton  in  the  Countie  of  Warwick,  tlie  23d  of  this 
instant,  Oct.,  &c.  ifec.     4to.,  London,  printed  for  Francis  Wright. 

4.  An  Exact  &  True  Relation,  &c.  (This  seems  to  be  a  reprint  or  duplicate  of  the  fomier.) 
Printed  by  John  Field.    4to.,  London,  Oct.  28th,  1642. 

5.  A  "More  True  &  Esacter  Eelation  of  the  Battaile  of  Keyton  than  any  foiTDeriy, 
Written  by  T:  C.  one  of  the  Chaplains  in  the  Array,  &c.  &c.  Printed  for  Edward  Black- 
more  at  the  Angel  in  Pauls  Churchyard.     4to.,  Nov.  26th,  1642. 

6.  A  most  True  &  Exact  Eelation  of  both  the  Battells  fought  by  his  Excellency  &  his 
Forces  against  the  bloudj'  Cavelliers.  The  one  on  the  2311  of  October  last,  neer  Keynton 
below  Edge  Hill  in  Warwickshire,  the  other  at  Worcester  by  Col :  Brown,  Captain 
Nathaniel  &  John  Fiennes,  and  Col :  Sands,  and  some  others.  Written  by  a  Worthy  Cap- 
tain Master  Nathaniel  Fiennes,  &c.  &c.  4to.,  London,  printed  for  Joseph  Hunscott,  Nov. 
9th,  1642. 

7.  A  most  True  Eelation  of  the  present  state  of  His  Majesties  Army,  Wherein  also  the 
Truth  of  that  Declaration  publish'd  by  the  Parliament  of  their  happy  Victory  in  the  Bat- 
taile at  Keyton,  is  both  jusUy  asserted  and  abundantly  provi,  &c.  &c.  Large  4to.,  London, 
printed  for  L  E.  at  the  Eagle  and  Child  in  Paules  Church,  1642.  (At  the  end  of  this  Tract 
is  bound  up  a  "  Prayer  of  Thanksgiving  for  liis  Majesties  late  Victory  over  the  Eebells.") 

8.  His  Majesties  Declaration  to  all  his  Loving  Subjects  after  his  late  Victory,  against 
the  Eebells  on  Sunday  23''  of  October.  Printed  by  his  Majesties  command  at  Oxford,  by 
Leonard  Lichfield,  Printer  to  the  L^niversity.    4to.,  1643. 

9.  His  Majesties  Declaration  to  all  his  loving  subjects  after  his  late  victory  against  the 
Eebells  on  Sunday  the  23d  of  October.  Together  with  a  Relation  of  the  Battell  fought 
between  Keyton  and  Edge  Hill,  by  his  Majesties  Armie,  and  that  of  the  Eebells.  With 
other  successes  of  his  Majesties  Armie  happening  since.  Printed  by  his  Majesties  com- 
mand at  Oxford  by  Leonard  Lichfield  Printer  to  the  L'niversitie,  1643.  And  now  reprinted 
at  London.    Large  4to. 

10.  A  Declaration  of  the  Lords  &  Commons  assembled  in  Parliament  in  answer  to  his 
Majesties  Declaration  intitl'd :  His  Majesties  Declaration  to  all  his  loving  Subjects,  after 
his  late  Victory  against  the  Rebells  on  Sunday  the  23d  of  October,  1642,  &c.  &c.  London, 
Printed  for  Edward  Husbands,  and  John  Franke.     Large  4to. 

11.  Three  Speeches  made  by  the  Kings  Most  excellent  Majesty,  the  first  to  divers  Lords 
&  Colonels  in  his  Majesties  Tent,  the  second  to  His  souldiers  in  the  field,  the  third  to  His 
whole  army,  immediately  before  the  late  Battell  at  Keinton  neer  Banbury,  &;c.  &c.  4to. 
London,  printed  for  Richard  Johnson. 

12.  Special  Newes  from  the  Army  at  Warwicke  since  the  Fight,  sent  fi-om  a  Minister  of 
good  note  to  an  AldeiTnan  here  in  London,  wherein  is  related  the  names  of  such  that  are 
slain  &  taken  prisoners  on  both  sides,  &c.  &c.  Also  a  most  pious  passage  utter'd  by  His 
Excellency  to  Master  Marshall,  upon  their  discourse  of  the  Battle.  4to.,  London,  printed 
for  Henry  Overton,  at  his  Shop  in  Popes  Head  Alley,  Oct.  29th  1643. 

13.  The  last  true  intelligence  from  Warwick,  being  a  certain  Eelation  of  the  death  of  the 
Earl  of  Lindsey,  Lord  Generall  of  the  Kings  Army,  who  was  sorely  wounded  upon  his 
being  taken  prisoner  in  the  late  battell  neer  Banbury.     4to.,  London,  Oct.  31st. 

14.  A  Great  Wonder  in  Heaven.    (See  p.  334.) 

15.  The  New  Yeares  Wonder.     (See  p.  337.) 

Mr.  Staunton  also  possesses  a  humorous  Tract,  entitled  "  The  Welshmans  new  Almanack 
and  Prognostication  for  this  present  yeare  1643,  likewise  giving  notice  to  all  good  peoples 
to  beware  of  the  danger  that  will  befall  them  ;  if  they  take  not  heed  in  good  time  :  wherein 
if  there  be  found  any  one  lye,  her  will  be  content  to  lose  all  her  credite,  and  also  her  other 
Legge  and  Arme,  as  her  did  at  Kenton  Battailes.  Withall  Her  doe  forbid  to  have  any 
red  lettere  to  be  printed  in  her  Almanacke,  because  her  do  not  love  the  red  colour  never 
since  her  lost  so  much  of  her  bloud  at  that  time  as  her  did  at  Edge-hil."  London,  printed 
1643,  in  black  letter. 


MOVEMENTS  AFTER  THE  BATTLE,  1G12.  325 

armies  were  drawn  iip  in  order  of  battle ;  but  tbe  King  kept 
the  lull,  and  Essex  durst  not  attack  Uim  there.  Hampden  in- 
deed repeated  the  bold  advice  to  Essex,  to  press  forward  and 
force  the  King's  position,  and  so  to  strengthen  Banbury  and 
throw  the  Parliament's  army  at  once  on  the  London  road ;  and 
he  volunteered  to  lead  the  advance  in  person  with  his  own  fresh 
and  eager  brigade.  But  Dalbier's  more  cautious  counsel  pre- 
vailed."' About  sunset,  "  for  what  reason,"  says  Ludlow,  "  I 
know  not,"  Essex  commanded  a  retreat  on  Warwick.^'  The 
direct  road  to  London  remained  open  to  the  King,  with  no  other 
obstruction  than  that  which  Banbury  might  afford  ;  yet  Charles 
did  not  avail  himself  of  this  advantage.  Did  not  other  circum- 
stances forbid  the  conclusion,  the  retirement  of  Essex  to  AYar- 
wick,  and  that  of  Charles,  soon  after,  to  Aynho  and  Oxford, 
would  seem  to  have  been  the  result  of  compromise  :  but  there  are 
some  facts  recorded  which  throw  light  on  the  conduct  of  both 
parties.  It  is  stated,  in  the  original  papers  of  James  the  Se- 
cond, that  the  King's  march  on  London  was  opposed  on  this 
occasion  by  the  advice  of  many  of  his  council,  who  were  afraid 
that  the  King  should  return  to  his  capital  by  conquest :  ""^  it  is 
no  wonder  therefore  that  his  movements  from  this  period  became 
disconnected  and  dilatory.  As  regards  Essex,  it  appears  that, 
on  the  eighth  day  after  the  battle  of  Edgehill,  an  action  took 
place  at  Aylesbury,  in  which  Sir  William  Balfore,  who  had  com- 
manded the  cavalry  of  the  Parliament's  right  wing  at  Edgehill, 
with  six  troops  of  horse  and  part  of  Hampden's  and  Grantham's 
regiments  which  had  been  in  the  rear  at  Edgehill,  took  a  part,  and 
defeated  Prince  Rupert ;  "*"  and  while  this  occurred,  Essex  was  pur- 
suing the  somewhat  circuitous  route  towards  London  by  North- 
ampton. Might  not,  then,  a  knowledge  of  the  state  of  the  country 
have  warranted  Essex  in  the  belief  that  he  could  place  himself 
in  front  of  London  before  the  King  could  approach  it  ?^° 

After  the  return  to  Edgehill  of  parties  of  the  King's  horse  who 
had  been  sent  to  hover  on  the  retreat  of  Essex,  the  King  directed 
his  army  to  retire  to  their  old  quarters  about  Edgcot.  On  Wed- 
nesday morning   he   appointed  General    Ruthven   general  of  his 

(46)  Nugent's  Memo.,  v.  2,  pp.  306,  309.  (47)  Ludlow's  Memoirs. 

(48)  Nugent's  Memo.,  v.  2,  p.  307.  (49)  Nugent's  Memo.,  v.  2,  p.  322. 

(50)  It  is  certain  that,  as  the  event  fell  out,  Essex  was  enabled  to  do  so ;  and  that  the 
Parliament  were  satisfied  with  his  conduct  is  evident  from  their  vote  of  thanks  to  him 
and  the  reward  of  .£5,000. 


326  BROUGHTON  TAKEN  BY  THE  KING,  1642. 

army,  and  then  marched  to  Ajuho.^^  (See  the  Map,  Plate  25.) 
In  the  direction  to  Aynho,  the  way  led  by  Chacombe  and  Mid- 
dleton  Cheney,  between  which  villages,  and  in  the  parish  of  Cha- 
combe, is  a  field  (adjoining  the  Banbury  Lane)  called  the  King's 
Stile,  on  which  Charles  is  traditionally  stated  to  have  rested  while 
he  took  refreshments  of  cake  and  wine  furnished  from  the  Priory 
house  of  Chacombe,^'-  then  the  property  of  Michael  Fox  Esq. 

On  this  day,  Wednesday  the  26th.  October,  the  King  took  a 
^'iew  of  Banbury,  (which  he  had  ample  opportunity  of  doing 
fi-()m  the  hills  along  which  he  was  advancing  to  Aynho,)  and  de- 
signed to  attempt  the  siege  of  the  Castle  on  the  following  day.^^ 
IVIany  of  his  officers  were  of  opinion  that  the  task  of  reducing 
the  place  was  one  to  which  the  army  was  not  equal,  -under  the 
present  circumstances,  and  at  the  approach  of  winter  ;  ^^  but  the 
King  resolved  on  making  the  attempt,  and  accordingly,  on  the 
same  day,  he  sent  Sir  William  le  Neve,^^  Clarencieux  King  at 
Arms,  with  a  summons.  The  King  then  proceeded  against 
Broughton,  the  castellated  mansion  of  Lord  Saye,  which  was 
garrisoned  with  a  troop  of  horse.  There  was  some  show  of 
resistance  at  Broughton  ;  the  place  holding  out  for  that  day,  and 
consuming  a  portion  of  another  day  in  settling  the  articles  of 
capitulation.^*^  Slight  as  was  the  real  advantage  of  having  taken 
Broughton  (beyond  that  of  obtaining  possession  of  the  supply 
of  arms  there ^^),  the  affair  might  be  regarded  as  of  present 
importance,  since  the  taking  of  "  Lord  Saye's  Castle  "  would  be 
hailed  as  a  great  event  in  the  distant  parts  of  the  kingdom. 

On  Thursday,  the  King,  from  Aynho,  sent  the  following  letter 
to  the  Lord  Willotighby  (now  Earl  of  Lindsey),  prisoner  at  War- 
wick Castle  : — 

"  To  the  Earl  of  Linsay,  Lord  High  Chamberlain  of  England. 

"  LiXSAY, 

"  You  cannot  be  more  sensible,  as  I  believe,  of  your  Father's  loss  than 
myself,  his  death  confirming  the  estimation  I  had  of  him.  As  for  your- 
self, the  double  sufferings  you  have  had  for  my  sake,  both  in  your  father's 
person  and  your  own,  puts  upon  me  the  strictest  obligation,  not  only  to 

(51)  Clarendon,  v.  2,  p.  57. 

(52)  Information  from  Mr.  Matthew  Jessop,  of  Banbury. 

(53)  Clarendon,  v.  2,  p.  57.  (54)  Ibid. 
{6o)  Anthony  Wood's  copv  of  the  "Relation  of  the  Battaile"  (which  is  preserved  in  the 

Ashmolean  Library) ;  and  MS.  note  therein. 

(56)  Nugent's  Memo.,  v.  2,  p.  315.  Portions  of  the  Castle  are  yet  pointed  out  where 
woolpacks  were  hung  up  to  receive  the  shot  of  the  enemy. 

(57)  Clarendon,  v.  2,  p.  57. 


BANBURY  TAKEN  BY  THE  KING,  1G12.  -^'21 

restore  you  to  your  liberty,  now  unjustly  detained  from  you,  but  also  to 
shew  to  the  world  by  my  actions,  how  really  I  am 

Your  assured  and  constant  friend, 

CUARLES    R."' 
"Ayno,  27  0ct.  1642." 

Oil  the  same  day,  tlie  King  marclied  to  Banbury.  The  canuoii 
were  phmted  against  the  Castle ;  and  the  first  brigade  of  tlie  Royal 
army,  commanded  by  Sir  Nicholas  Byron,  was  drawn  out  before 
the  fortress.  Although  the  accounts  given  by  different  writers  do 
not  agree,  it  is  quite  plain  that  the  Castle  was  on  this  occasion 
surrendered  in  a  cowardly  if  not  in  a  treacherous  manner.  "  Upon 
the  first  shot  made,"  says  Lord  Clarendon,  "  the  Castle  sent  to 
treat,  and  upon  leave  to  go  away  without  their  armes,  they  fairly 
and  kindly  deliver'd  the  place ;  and  half  the  common  soldiers  at 
the  least  readily  took  conditions,  and  put  themselves  into  the  King's 
army,  the  rest  of  the  armes  came  very  seasonably  to  supply  many 
soldiers  of  every  regiment,  who  either  never  had  any  before,  or 
had  lost  them  at  the  battle  "  [of  Edgehill].^  "  After  the  firing  of 
one  small  drake,"  says  another  authority,  "the  Pari,  forces  sub- 
mitted to  His  Mai.  mercy,  which  were  in  number  about  800  foot 
of  the  Earle  of  Peterboroughs  and  Lord  Says  regiments,  with  ten 
colours  and  a  troupe  of  horse."^  "  Though  about  a  thousand  of 
our  men  were  in  the  town,"  says  a  writer  on  the  Parliamentarian 
side,  "  yet  pretending  it  not  to  be  sufficiently  provided  for  a  siege, 
they  surrendered  it."'*  Burton  says  the  town  and  castle  were 
surrendered  without  a  blow,  and  that  two  regiments  of  foot  and 
a  troop  of  horse  took  arms  under  the  King.^  May  and  Sir  R. 
Baker  say  there  were  1,500  stand  of  arms  in  the  Castle. 

It  is  however  elsewhere  stated,  that  Sir  William  Compton,  the 
gallant  son  of  the  Earl  of  Northampton,  on  this  occasion  led  his 
men  to  three  attacks  on  Banbury  Castle,  and  had  two  horses 
shot  under  him.^  Still  the  brief  resistance  which  was  offered  by 
the  Castle  accords  ill  with  the  judgment  given  by  some  of 
Charles's  officers  on  the  preceding  day,  and  with  the  formal  array 
of  the  numbers  which  composed  the  garrison.  The  explanation 
of  the  case  is  found  in  the  fact  (arrived  at  from  the  statements 
above  given  by  Clarendon  and  Burton)  that  there  was  a  dispo- 
sition  on  the  part   of   a  very  large  portion  of    the   garrison   in 

(1)  Dunkin's  Oxfordshire,  v.  1,  p.  114.  (2)  Clarendon's  Hist.  Rebel.,  v'2,  p.  57. 

(3)  Micro-Chronicon,  1647.  (4)  Ludlow's  Memoirs. 

(5)  Burton's  (R.)  Wars  of  Charles  the  First.  (6)  Chalmers's  Biog. 


328  BANBURY  TAKEN  BY  THE  KING,  1C42. 

favour  of  the  King.  Probably  this  defection  existed  in  the  Earl 
of  Peterborough's  regiment,  of  which  Sir  Faithful  Fortescue,  who 
deserted  with  his  troop  of  horse  from  the  Parliament's  lines  at 
Edgehill,  was  lieutenant-colonel.'  But  if  the  surrender  is  to  be 
accoimted  for  otherwise  than  by  treachery,  how  different  a  de- 
fence (if  it  may  be  called  one)  was  this  from  those  of  1644  and 
1646!  The  garrison  deposited  their  arms;  and  the  King  took 
possession  of  the  Castle  and  town,  and  "  sent  some  of  his  prin- 
cipall  offieers  to  discover  and  bring  away  all  such  Armes  and 
ammunition  as  were  found  in  the  Towne,  and  to  take  upon  tickets 
all  the  woUen  eloath,  stockings,  shooes,  and  victualls  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  his  souldiers,  forbidding  all  manner  of  plundring, 
and  permitting  only  one  regiment  to  enter  and  remain  in  the  Town 
that  night."^ 

On  Monday  the  31st,  information  was  communicated  to  the  Par- 
liament that  Banbury  had  been  yielded  on  Thursday  ;  that  the 
"  1,500  men "  who  where  placed  there  by  the  lord-general  had 
quarter  given  them  to  leave  the  town,  but  that  their  arms  were 
taken  from  them ;  and  that  the  Cavaliers  had  plundered  the  town, 
and  iitterly  undone  the  greatest  part  of  the  inhabitants ;  having 
taken  the  cloth  in  the  mercers'  shops  to  their  own  uses,  saying 
that  his  Majesty  would  pay  for  it  hereafter.^  A  later  accou.nt, 
dated  Nov.  5th,  says : — "  It  is  certaine  that  Prince  Robert  [Ru- 
pert] hath  plundered  the  Lord  Say  his  house,  Master  Fynes  his 
house.  Master  Whitlockes  house,  members  of  Parliament,  and 
taken  away  all  his  cattle,  and  destroyed  his  deere,  and  such  as 
they  could  not  kill,  they  brake  down  the  parke  pales  to  let  them 
out :  x\nd  that  when  the  Maior  of  Banbury  shewed  Prince  Robert 
the  King's  hand  and  scale  that  the  towne  should  not  be  plundred, 
for  that  his  Maiestie  had  accepted  of  a  composition.  Prince  Ro- 
bert threw  it  away,  and  said,  my  Unkle  little  knowes  what  belongs 
to  the  warres,  and  so  commanded  his  men  to  plunder,  which  they 

(7)  The  officers  of  this  regiment  were  ; — Col.,  John,  FJarl  of  Peterhorough  ;  Lieut-Col., 
Sir  Faithful  Fortescue  ;  Serj.-Major,  Francis  Fairfax  ;  Capls.,  Sir  Edw.  Payton,  Phil.  But- 
ton, Bevill  Prideaus,  Robt.  Knightley,  Jo.  Butler,  Hen.  Lovell,  Geo.  Blunt;  Lieuts.,  Geo. 
Rouse,  Rich.  Grfice,  Jo.  Rice,  Wil.  Thorp,  Hen.  Case,  Ornall  Fountain,  Tho.  Treist,  Jo. 
Balstone,  Geo.  Hartridge,  Jam.  Grimes ;  Ensij/ns,  Goldsborough,  John  Apew,  Alex.  Thory, 
Jo.  Bridges,  Jam.  Harrison,  Bevill  Cruttenden,  Rich.  Lidcoat,  Tho.  Laharn,  Jo.  Pew, 
Cha.  Harrow. — 4to  Tract  in  my  own  collection. 

(8)  Relation  of  the  Battaile.  The  Court  periodical  {Mercurius  Aulicus)  aftei-wards  says, 
of  this  second  capture  of  Banbury,  that  Banbury  was  "taken  first  in  August  1642,  when 
Mr.  John  Fiennes  wept  at  his  departure  thence;  at  which  time  his  Majesties  forces  having 
taken  the  Ordnance,  armes  and  ammunition,  left  the  towne  upon  promise  of  future  loyalty  ; 
but  they  behaving  themselves  like  my  Lord  Says  neighbours,  his  Majesty  took  it  againe  in 
October  after,  with  800  souldiers,  whereof  the  Lord  Say's  regiment  were  part." 

(9)  Perfect  Diurnal. 


BANBURY  OCCUPIED  BY  THE  ROYALISTS,  1642.      329 

did  to  the  purpose  and  had  no  respect  of  persons,  for  the  Malig- 
nants  suffered  more  than  the  honest  men  of  the  Towne,  whom 
they  called  Roundheads  :  But  that  which  startles  us  most  is  a 
warrant  under  his  Majesties  owne  hand  for  the  plundering  of  the 
Lord  Say  his  house,  and  demolishing  of  it,  and  invites  the  people 
to  doe  it,  with  a  grant  unto  them  of  all  the  materialls  of  the 
house  ;  wee  had  thought  till  this  warrant  was  produced  that  the 
King  had  not  beene  accessary  to  these  horrible  pilfering  courses ; 
there  is  a  Banbury  man  gone  up  to  the  Parliament  with  the  war- 
rant, who  informes  of  most  wicked  and  divellish  outrages  com- 
mitted by  Prince  Robert  his  forces,  yet  to  put  a  colour  upon  the 
businesse  it  is  given  out  it  is  against  the  King  and  Prince  Robert's 
mind  to  plunder ;  they  hanged  a  man  but  yesterday,  and  yet  they 
plunder  the  more :  This  warrant  under  the  Kings  owne  hand  is 
an  undoubted  truth,  and  fit  to  be  made  knowne  to  all  the  king- 
dome,  that  they  may  see  what  they  are  like  to  expect."^" 

In  consequence  of  the  capture,  of  the  important  fortress  of  Ban- 
bury, the  army  of  the  King  was  now  regarded  as  victorious. 
A  strong  garrison  was  placed  in  the  Castle,  and  the  command 
given  to  the  Earl  of  Northampton  :  and  the  King,  on  Friday  the 
28th  October,  marched  to  his  palace  at  Woodstock,  whence  on 
the  next  day  he  proceeded  with  his  whole  army  to  Oxford, 


SUBSEQUENT  EVENTS  IN  1642. 

The  Castle  of  Banbury  was  henceforth  in  the  keeping  of 
those  who  shewed  themselves  more  brave  and  faithful  than  its 
former  possessors.  From  this  period,  until  the  close  of  the  Civil 
War,  it  continued  to  be  a  stronghold  of  the  Royalists,  though 
situated  in  the  midst  of  a  district  ardently  attached  to  the  Par- 
liament. 

On  the  3rd  November,  the  King,  at  Oxford,  put  forth  a  decla- 
ration of  pardon  to  all  persons  in  Oxfordshire  who  had  taken 
arms  against  him,  excepting  Lord  Saye,  Nathaniel  Fiennes,  Sir 
William  Cobb  [of  Adderbury],  and  John  Doyley  Esq."  Mean- 
while the  Earl  of  Essex,  hastening  on  towards  London  by  the 
road  through   Northampton,    secured  the  metropolis   against   any 

(10)  Special!  Passages,  &c.  informed  to  both  Houses,  No.  13, 

(11)  Broadsheet  preserved  in  the  British  Museum. 


•330      BANBURY  OCCUPIED  BY  THE  ROYALISTS,  1642. 

danger  from  the  now  irresolute  and  dilatory  movements  of  the 
King.  The  latter  took  up  his  quarters  for  the  winter  at  Oxford ; 
and,  ha-sdng  forces  quartered  at  Banbury,  Brill,  Wallingford,  and 
Abingdon,  he  had  the  whole  of  Oxfordshire  under  his  command, 
with  most  of  Berkshire,  and  a  part  of  Northamptonshire  and 
Buckinghamshire . 

On  the  16th  November,  Lord  Saye  was  by  the  King  formally 
deprived  of  his  office  of  Master  of  the  Court  of  Wards,  and  was 
proclaimed  a  traitor.^-  The  Parliament  took  a  different  view  of 
his  services,  and  rewarded  him  with  .i' 10,000  and  a  part  of  the 
estate  of  the  Earl  of  Worcester. 

The  following  occurs  from  the   King  to   Grevill  Verney   Esq. 
of  Compton  Verney  : — 
"Charles  R. 

"  Trusty  and  Welbeloved  We  greete  j'ou  well,  Whereas  Wee  haue  con- 
stituted Our  Right  trusty  and  right  Welbeloved  Cousin  Spencer  Earle 
of  Northampton  Our  Governoiu-  and  Commander  in  CliiefF  in  our  Towne 
of  Banbury  for  the  safety  and  security  of  Our  sayd  Towne  and  the 
Coimtyes  adiaucent;  And  haue  required  him  to  move  you  to  contribute 
what  in  you  lyes  towards  Our  Assistance  and  Defence,  and  the  Preser- 
vacon  of  Our  kingdome  ;  Wee  doe  hereby  desyre  you  forthwith  to  fiu-nish 
Us  with  such  Horse,  Arnies,  Amimition,  Plate,  money  or  other  Provi- 
sions as  yo"'  Love  to  Us  and  your  Country  shall  persuade  you  to.  And 
to  deliuer  the  same  to  our  sayd  Cousin,  whome  Wee  haue  intrusted  to 
receiue  it  of  you  ;  And  that  you  persuade  all  yo'  Neighbours,  Tenants, 
and  Friends  to  the  lyke  contribution.  And  Wee  promise  you  on  the  word 
of  a  King  to  repay  the  same  as  soone  as  God  shall  enable  Us.  And  of  this 
service  Wee  cannot  doubt,  since  if  you  should  refuse  to  give  Us  the  Tes- 
timony of  yo"^  AIFection,  you  will  give  Us  too  great  Cause  to  suspect  yo"^ 
Duty  and  Inclination  both  to  Our  Person  and  to  the  Publique  Peace. 
Given  at  our  Court  att  Oxford  this  20"'  of  December.     1G42." 

"To  Our  trusty  and  Welbeloved 
Grevill  Verney  Esq"' 

And  to  the  Ladie  Verney  his  Mother 

These  "'^ 

Towards  the  close  of  December  there  came  letters  from  Ban- 
bury to  London,  stating  that  the  Parliament's  forces  in  North- 

(12)  The  instrument  states  that — "The  said  lord  viscount  Sa.v  and  Scle  hath  been  aydiiig 
and  assisting  comforting  and  abetting  unto  the  said  Robert  Earl  of  Esses  and  other  the 
trayters  and  rebells  aforesaid  and  hath  taken  part  with  tliem  in  the  said  warr  against  us 
and  himself  in  his  own  p'son  in  our  cittie  of  Oxford  and  our  towne  of  Banbury  in  our 
county  of  Oxford  and  elsewhere  hath  leavied  warr  against  us ;  for  which  causes  "  &c. — 
Original  instrument  in  the  possession  of  the  Hon.  T.  W.  Twistleton  Fiennes. 

(13)  For  the  permission  to  print  this  family  document,  which  is  remaining  at  Compton 
Verney,  I  am  indebted  to  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Willoughby  de  Broke.  In  the  original,  the 
second  numeral  of  the  day  of  the  month  is  blurred  and  nearly  illegible.  The  date  may  be 
the  24th. 


BESIEGED  BY  THE  PARLIAMENT,  1612.  331 

amptonsliire  had  pursued  a  party  of  the  Earl  of  Northampton's 
troops,  who  had  gone  from  Banbury  to  Byfield,  back  to  Banbury, 
passed  the  bridge  there  "for  all  their  great  and  small  shot,  set 
upon  the  towne,  and  valiantly  overcame  them,  with  the  losse  of 
one  man,  killing  seven  of  the  enemies  ;"  and  that  they  were  then 
attacking  the  Castle,  in  which  there  were  "300  Cavaliers  poorly 
provided,  as  it  is  conceived."''  An  account  given  in  the  Perfect 
Diurnal  states  that  the  Northamptonshire  troops  were  headed  by 
Sir  John  Norris  and  Mr.  Crew,  and  that  twenty  of  the  Earl  of 
Northampton's  men  were  slain. '^  Another  accovmt  says  that  the 
Parliament's  troops  forced  the  Castle  to  a  parley,  in  which  the 
garrison  desired  that  six  of  the  chief  of  them  might  retire  to 
Oxford,  and  all  the  rest  yield  themselves  prisoners  [a  not  very 
probable  story].  This  account  goes  on,  that  the  Northampton- 
shire forces,  being  unwilling  to  let  any  escape,  and  being  con- 
fident of  gaining  the  Castle,  refused  to  grant  the  terms  proposed ; 
but,  not  long  after  receiving  notice  of  a  great  party  coming  against 
them  from  Oxford,  they  on  Friday  left  the  town.'"  Another  copy 
of  the  Perfect  Diurnal  adds  that  four  scouts  sent  from  Banbviry 
fell  in,  about  two  miles  from  the  town,  with  some  scouts  of  the 
King's  army ;  and  that,  killing  one  of  them,  and  wounding  the 
rest,  one  who  was  brought  a  prisoner  to  Banbury,  finding  kind 
usage,  confessed  that  Prince  Rupert  was  coming  with  great  strength 
aud  was  within  four  miles  of  the  town  :  which  information  being 
i'ound  to  be  true,  the  Northamptonshire  forces  quitted. 

A  better  account  of  these  proceedings  is  contained  in  a  letter 
sent  from  Banbury,  which  is  as  follows  : — 

"  Brother, 
"My  desire  is  to  let  you  understand  the  state  and  condition  that  our 
countie  is  in  at  this  present.  It  was  true  that  you  heard,  that  Northamp- 
tonshire men  came  into  Banbury,  but  they  stayed  not,  for  the  Major 
having  yeelded  the  towne  before  unto  the  King,  would  not  shew  them 
any  countenance,  and  so  they  left  the  towne  presently,  and  went  away 
againe  the  same  day  that  they  came  in.  And  my  Lord  of  Northampton 
came  in  upon  the  morrow,  and  tooke  possession  of  the  towne  and  Castle, 
where  he  hath  continued  ever  since,  imtill  it  was  Tuesday  night  last  22 
day  [December],  and  then  drew  all  his  forces  out  of  the  towne  towards 
Oxford  in  the  night,  but  onely  his  foot,  and  they  went  all  into  the  Castle, 
and  carryed  in  all  the  provision  that  they  could  come  by  in  thither,  and 
left  the  towne  open.     Northamptonshire  men  kept  themselves  together 

(14)  Special  Passages,  No.  20.  (1.5)  Perfect  Diurnal,  No.  20 

(16)  Contin.  of  Special  Passages,  26th  to  30th  Dec. 

2  T  3 


332    BANBURY  BESIEGED  BY  THE  PARLIAMENT,  1612. 

all  this  while,  and  came  againe  to  Byfield,  a  towne  six  [nine]  miles 
from  Banbury,  where  they  lay  for  a  weeke :  but  so  soone  as  they  heard 
that  my  Lord  of  Northampton  was  gone  out  of  Banbury,  they  presently 
advanced  forward,  and  made  for  Banbury  againe,  and  came  before  the 
towne  upon  Wednesday  in  the  afternoone  about  three  of  the  clock,  and 
came  into  the  towne  over  the  bridge.  They  in  the  Castle  having  foure 
peeces  of  Ordnance,  shot  at  them  as  fast  as  they  could  all  the  time  that 
they  came  in,  but  yet  it  pleased  God  to  preserve  them,  that  they  came 
all  safe  into  the  towne,  only  one  horse  kild,  and  a  man  hurt,  and  one 
man  kild  with  musket  shot  after  they  came  into  towne.  They  continued 
in  the  towne  that  night  and  all  day,  on  the  morrow  they  were  as  was 
supposed  about  foure  thousand,  all  countrymen,  but  one  hundred  of  sea- 
men :  among  them  they  brought  two  small  peeces  into  the  towne  with 
them,  and  sent  to  Northampton  for  one  more  bigger,  which  came  in 
upon  Thursday  about  twelve  a  clock.  They  shot  at  the  Castle  with  their 
musketiers  all  day  Thursday,  and  it  was  supposed  they  kild  some  that 
were  upon  the  walls  ;  and  likewise  they  shot  from  the  walls  all  day, 
and  with  the  ordnance  from  the  Castle,  but  kild  none,  but  hurt  two  or 
three.  And  upon  Thursday  night  they  planted  their  great  peece  against 
the  Castle  wall,  and  the  two  smaller  peeces  against  the  gate,  but  could 
not  force  it  to  make  any  entrance  at  aU.  In  the  meane  time,  my  Lord 
of  Northampton  brought  all  the  Kings  strength  of  horse  from  Oxford, 
and  came  to  Dedington,  within  foure  [six]  miles  of  Banbury,  on  Thurs- 
day night,  where  they  lay  all  night  in  the  field :  which  Northampton- 
shire men  hearing  and  seeing  they  could  not  doe  any  good  at  the  Castle, 
left  the  towne  againe,  and  marched  away  about  foure  a  clock  in  the 
morning  with  their  ordnance,  and  the  King's  army  of  horse  came  in  on 
Fryday,  and  quaild  all  the  countrey  over  on  Fryday  night,  but  returned 
towards  Oxford  againe  in  the  morning,  onely  leaving  some  to  keepe  gar- 
rison in  Banbury ;  and  so  now  our  condition  is  worse  than  ever  it  was : 
for  many  shewed  themselves  forward  to  joyne  the  Northamptonshire 
men,  And  now  they  being  gone  againe,  wee  are  in  more  feares  then 
ever  wee  were.  I  pray  God  in  mercie  look  upon  us,  and  put  it  into 
the  heart  of  our  King  and  Parliament,  that  there  may  be  an  accommo- 
dation for  peace,  for  otherwise  our  countrey  will  be  wholly  ruinated  in 
a  short  time  :  Wee  cannot  enjoy  any  thing  that  is  our  owne.  The  towne 
of  Banbury,  for  the  most  part  the  chiefest  men,  are  whoUy  undone  all 
alreadie,  and  wee  in  the  countrey  cannot  long  subsist:  For  wee  have 
great  Taxes  layd  upon  us,  and  if  wee  will  not  pay  them,  our  selves  and 
goods  are  both  taken  away.  I  prayse  God  I  have  my  libertie  yet,  but 
doe  not  know  how  long  I  shall  enjoy  it,  for  I  am  in  great  feare  of  my  selfe. 
"  I  rest  your  Brother  to  command, 

S.  R."i' 
"29  Decemb.  1642." 

During  the  winter,    six  regiments    of    the    King's   horse   were 

(17)  "Exact  and  Full  Relation  of  all  the  Proceedings  between   the   Cavaliers  and  the 
Nortbamiiionshire  forces  at  Banbury."    4to.  Lend.  1613.     In  the  Brit.  Miis. 


EARLY  EFFECTS  OF  THE  WAR,  1642. 


333 


quartered  upon  this  county.  These  consisted  of  twenty-eight 
troops  of  eighty  men  each,  or  2,240  men  and  horse.  The  charge 
was  estimated  at  seven  shillings  each  horse  and  three  shillings 
and  sixpence  each  man  per  week;  in  the  whole  X'1,176  weekly. 
At  a  meeting  at  Christ  Church  on  the  21st  December,  a  number 
of  the  gentry  and  freeholders  of  the  county  apportioned  the  tax 
upon  the  different  hundreds  :  namely : — upon  Banbury  Hundred, 
weekly,  £73.  IO5.  Od. ;  upon  Bloxham  Hundred,  weekly, 
£73.  10s.  Od. ;  and  upon  the  rest  in  proportion.^* 

The  parish  Register  of  Banbury  is  carried  on  with  great  regu- 
larity from  its  commencement  in  the  first  year  of  Elizabeth  imtil 
the  30th  May  in  this  year  1642  ;  after  which  there  is  a  blank 
till  the  25th  December  in  the  same  year.  In  the  old  paper 
copy,  a  memorandum  made  against  the  date  June,  July,  &c. 
1042,  says: — "In  those  7  months  here  recited  in  the  first  be- 
gininge  of  the  warrs  the  ages  of  those  that  were  baptized  were 
burnt  &  could  not  possible  be  recouered  any  more  to  be  set  downe." 
The  earliest  effects  of  the  war,  as  regards  Banbury,  are  therefore 
not  to  be  gleaned  from  the   Register  ;   but  the  records  which  im- 

(18)  Agreement  betwixt  His  Majesty  and  the  Inliabitants  of  the  County  of  Oxon,  4to., 
1643:  in  the  collection  of  Anthony  Wood.  The  amounts  apportioned  to  the  different 
Hundreds  were  to  be  subdivided  by  the  high-constables  of  Hundreds  among  the  several 
townships,  and  the  collections  were  ordered  to  be  made  by  the  petty-constables,  and  paid  by 
them  to  the  high-constables,  who  were  to  hand  over  the  money  to  receivers  appointed. 
Sir  Thomas  Pope  knt.  was  appointed  receiver  for  the  Hundreds  of  Banbury  and  Bloxham, 
and  the  monies  therein  raised  were  apportioned  to  Sir  Thomas  Byron,  towai'ds  the  main- 
tenance of  the  six  troops  of  the  Prince's  Regiment. 

Those  who  paid  the  tax  in  provisions,  or  who  had  horses  quartered  upon  them,  were 
allowed  after  this  rate  :— 

"  For  Hay  by  the  Todde dd. 

For  Dates  by  the  Bushell    20d. 

For  Beanes  by  the  Bushell 2s. 

For  Straw  to  make  Litter,  by  the  load 6s.  8d." 

And  every  one  who  paid  his  part  of  this  weekly  loan,  and  also  of  the  Free  Contribution 
of  i61,800  a  month,  was  to  be  free  from  all  other  extraordinary  payments  whatever,  and  to 
enjoy  his  horses,  cattle,  and  goods  quietly.  No  other  troops  were  to  be  quartered  on  the 
county,  unless  in  case  of  necessity  ;  and  for  such  the  inhabitants  were  to  receive  payment. 
This  agreement  to  continue  three  months ;  and  the  King  to  give  security  to  six  or  more 
gentlemen  for  the  repayment  of  the  money.    (Ibid.) 

Sir  Thomas  Pope,  knt.,  mentioned  above,  was  the  second  son  of  William  first  Earl  of 
Downe.  He  was  knighted  in  1635,  and  appears  from  Warton  to  have  borne  amis  in  the 
Royal  cause.  Thomas,  the  second  Earl  of  Downe  (who  was  the  son  of  this  Sir  Thomas 
Pope's  elder  brother  William),  suffered  severely  for  his  activity  as  a  Royalist  during  the 
Rebellion,  and  was  compelled  to  sell  his  house  and  estate  at  Cogges  and  to  leave  the  king- 
dom about  the  time  of  Cromwell's  coming  into  power.  In  his  distresses.  Trinity  College, 
Oxford,  granted  him  sums  of  mone.r,  as  appears  by  a  schedule  in  the  College  treasury: — 
"Mem.  A.  D.  1647,  Given  to  the  Earl  of  Downe,  post  finitum  Computum,  by  order  of 
Mr.  President  and  Officers,  =£T45.  13s.  4d."  In  the  following  year  the  College  gave  a 
present  to  his  uncle,  the  forenamed  Sir  Thomas  Pope  knt.,  who  was  also  a  considerable 
sufferer  in  the  Royal  cause.  Sir  Thomas  became  a  baronet,  and  third  Earl  of  Do^^•ne,  on 
the  death  of  his  nephew  the  second  Earl  in  1660;  he  died  in  1667.  (Warton's  Life  of 
Sir  T.  Pope,  pp.  443 — 450.)  Warton  adds,  "  One  is  surprised  at  these  donations  [by  Trinity 
College],  under  the  government  of  Dr.  Robci-t  Harris,  Cromwell's  Presbyterian  President. 
But  Harris  was  a  man  of  candour,  and  I  believe  a  majority  of  the  loyal  old  fellows  still 
remained." 


334  APPEARANCES  IN  THE  HEAVENS. 

mediately  follow,  compared  with  those  which  precede,  this  date, 
sufficiently  and  terribly  point  out  the  consequences  of  the  war. 
From  the  amount  of  deaths  in  former  }"ears,  varying  from  thirty 
to  ninety-eight,  the  numbers  rise  in  1643  to  255,  and  in  1644  to 
297 :  and  these  without  including  such  soldiers  as  fell  in  any 
numbers  in  combat,  whose  burials  are  not  alluded  to.  But  the 
Plague  had  followed  in  the  train  of  war  ;  and  the  mortality  does 
not  diminish  until  the  close  of  strife  in  1647,  when  an  equally 
awful  fact  is  elicited ;  the  depopulated  state  of  the  town  at  once 
reduced  the  annual  number  of  deaths  to  twenty-six !  Well  might 
the  biographer  of  Whateley,  in  a  passage  already  quoted,  say : — 
"  God  took  him  away  a  little  before  the  Civdl  Wars  began,  and 
before  the  sad  desolations  that  fell  upon  the  town  of  Banbury  in 
particular." 

In  the  collection  of  W.  Staunton  Esq.,  of  Longbridge  House 
near  Warwick,  there  are  two  very  curious  pamphlets  relating  to 
this  period.  One  is  entitled  "A  GREAT  WONDER  in  Heaven, 
shewing  the  late  Apparitions  and  prodigious  Noyses  of  War  and 
Battels,  seen  on  Edge-Hill,  neere  Keinton:"  and  the  contents  are 
''  Certified  under  the  hands  of  WilHam  Wood,  Esquire,  and  Jus- 
tice for  the  Peace  in  the  said  Countie,  Samuel  Marshall,  Preacher 
of  Gods  Word  in  Keinton,  and  other  Persons  of  Qualitie."'^ 
The  date  of  this  pamphlet  is  exactly  three  months  after  the 
battle  of  Edgehill.     The  contents  are  as  follows : — 

"  That  there  hath  beene,  and  ever  will  be,  Laruse,  Spectra,  and  such 
like  apparitions,  namely.  Ghosts  and  Goblins,  have  beene  the  opinion  of 
all  the  faniousest  Divines  of  the  Primitive  Church,  and  is,  (though  op- 
pugned by  some,)  the  received  Doctrine  of  divers  learned  men  at  this 
da}',  their  opinion  being  indeed  ratified  and  confirmed  by  divers  Texts 
of  Scripture,  as  the  Divells  possessing  the  Swine,  and  the  men  possessed 
with  Divells  in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  that  came  out  of  them,  and 
beat  the  Exorcists,  by  which  it  is  evidently  confirmed,  that  those  legions 
of  erring  angels  that  fell  with  their  great  Master,  Lucifer,  are  not  all 
confined  to  the  local]  Hell,  but  live  scattered  here  and  there,  dispersed 
in  the  empty  regions  of  the  ayre  as  thicke  as  motes  in  the  Sunne,  and 
those  are  those  things  which  our  too  superstitious  ancestors  called  Elves 
and  Goblins,  Furies,  and  the  like,  such  as  were  those  who  appeared  to 
Machbeth  the  after  King  of  Scotland,  and  foretold  him  of  his  fortunes 
both  in  life  and  death.  It  is  evident,  besides,  that  the  divell  can  con- 
dense the  ayre  into  any  shape  he  pleaseth ;  as  hee  is  a  subtill  spirit,  thin 
and  open,  and  rancke  himselfe   into  any   forme  or  likenesse,    as  Saint 

(19)  London  :  Printed  for  Thomas  Jackson,  Jan.  23,  Auno  Dom.  1013  [1013]. 


APPEARANCES  IN  THE  HEAVENS.  335 

Aiigustin,  Priidcntius,  Hieronimus,  Cyril,  Saint  Basil  the  Great ;  and 
none  better  then  our  late  Soveraigne  King  James  of  ever-living  memory, 
in  his  Treatise  de  Demonologia,  hath  sufficiently  proved  :  but  to  omit 
circumstance  and  preamble,  no  man  that  thinkes  hee  hath  a  soule, 
but  will  verily  and  confidently  believe  that  there  are  divels  ;  and  so 
consequently  such  divels  as  appeare  either  in  premonstrance  of  Gods 
Judgements,  or  as  fatall  Embassadours  to  declare  the  message  of  moi'- 
tality  and  destruction  to  offending  Nations ;  and  hath  in  Germany  and 
other  places  afflicted  afterwards  with  the  horror  of  a  civill  and  forraigne 
warres  notoriously  manifested. 

"  But  to  our  purpose.  Edge-Hill  in  the  very  confines  of  Warwick- 
shire, neere  unto  Keynton  in  Northamptonshire  [Warwickshire],  a  place, 
as  appeares  by  the  sequele,  destined  for  civill  warres  and  battells ;  as 
where  King  John  fought  a  battell  with  his  Barons,  and  where  in  the  de- 
fence of  the  Kingdomes  lawcs  and  libertie  was  fought  a  bloody  conflict 
betweene  his  Majesties  and  the  Parliaments  forces,  who  under  the  con- 
duct of  his  Excellence  the  Earle  of  Essex,  obtained  there  a  glorious 
victory  over  the  Cavaliers ;  at  this  Edge-Hill,  in  the  very  place  where 
the  battell  was  strucken,  have  since,  and  doth  appeare,  strange  and 
portentuous  Apparitions  of  two  jarring  and  contrary  Armies,  as  I  shall 
in  order  deliver,  it  being  certified  by  the  men  of  most  credit  in  those 
parts,  as  William  Wood  Esquire,  Samuel  Marshall  Minister,  and  others, 
on  Saturday,  which  was  in  Christmas  time,  as  if  the  Saviour  of  the 
world,  who  died  to  redeeme  mankinde,  had  beene  angry  that  so  much 
Christian  blood  was  there  spilt,  and  so  had  permitted  these  infernall 
Armies  to  appeare,  where  the  corporeall  Armies  had  shed  so  much  blood ; 
between  twelve  and  one  of  the  clock  in  the  morning  was  heard  by 
some  Sheepherds,  and  other  countrey-men  and  travellers,  first  the 
sound  of  Driuns  afar  off,  and  the  noyse  of  Soulders,  as  it  were,  giving 
out  their  last  groanes ;  at  which  they  were  much  amazed,  and  amazed 
stood  still,  till  it  seemed  by  the  neernesse  of  the  noyse  to  approach 
them,  at  which  too  much  affrighted,  they  sought  to  withdraw  as  fast 
as  possibly  they  could,  but  then  on  the  sudden,  whilest  they  were  in 
these  cogitations,  appeared  in  the  ayre  the  same  incorporeall  souldiers 
that  made  those  clamours,  and  immediately  with  Ensignes  displayed 
Drums  beating,  Musquets  going  off,  Cannons  discharged,  Horses  neygh- 
ing,  which  also  to  these  men  were  visible,  the  alarum  or  entrance 
to  this  game  of  death  was  strucke  up,  one  Army  which  gave  the  first 
charge,  having  the  Kings  colours,  and  the  other  the  Parliaments  in  their 
head  or  front  of  the  battells,  and  so  pell  mell  to  it  they  went ;  the  bat- 
tell that  appeared  to  the  Kings  forces  seeming  at  first  to  have  the  best, 
but  afterwards  to  be  put  into  apparent  rout;  but  till  two  or  three  in 
the  morning  in  equall  scale  continued  this  dreadfull  fight,  the  clattering 
of  Armes,  noyse  of  Cannons,  cries  of  souldiers  so  amazing  and  terri- 
fying the  poore  men,  that  they  could  not  believe  they  were  mortall,  or 
give  credit  to  their  eares  and  eyes,  runne  away  they  durst  not,  for  fear 
of  being  made  a  prey  to  these  infernall  souldiers,  and  so  they  with  much 
feare  and  affright,  stayed  to  behold  the  successe  of  the  businesse,  which 


336 


APPEARANCES  IN  THE  HEAVENS. 


at  last  suited  to  this  effect :  after  some  three  houres  fight,  that  Army 
which  carryed  the  Kings  colours  withdrew,  or  rather  appeared  to  flie ; 
the  other  remaining,  as  it  were,  Masters  of  the  field,  stayed  a  good  space 
triumphing,  and  expressing  all  the  signes  of  joy  and  conquest,  and  then, 
with  all  their  Drummes,  Trumpets,  Ordnance,  and  Souldiers,  vanished, 
the  poore  men  glad  they  were  gone,  that  had  so  long  staid  them  there 
against  their  wils,  made  with  all  haste  to  Keinton,  and  there  knocking 
up  Mr.  Wood,  a  Justice  of  Peace,  who  called  up  his  neighbour,  Mr.  Mar- 
shall the  Ministei-,  they  gave  them  an  account  of  the  whole  passage,  and 
averred  it  upon  their  oaths  to  be  true.  At  which  affirmation  of  theirs, 
being  much  amazed,  they  should  hardly  have  given  credit  to  it,  but 
would  have  conjectiu'ed  the  men  to  have  been  either  mad  or  drunk,  had 
they  not  knowne  some  of  them  to  have  been  of  approved  integritie  ;  and 
so  suspending  their  judgements  till  the  next  night  about  the  same  houre, 
they  with  the  same  men,  and  all  the  substantiall  Inhabitants  of  that  and 
the  neighbouring  parishes,  drew  thither  ;  where  about  halfe  an  houre 
after  their  arrivall  on  Sunday,  being  Christmas  night,  appeared  in  the 
same  tumultuous  warlike  manner,  the  same  two  adverse  Armies,  fighting 
with  as  much  spite  and  spleen  as  formerly  :  and  so  departed  the  Gentle- 
men and  all  the  spectatours,  much  terrified  with  these  visions  of  horrour, 
withdrew  themselves  to  their  houses,  beseeching  God  to  defend  them 
from  those  hellish  and  prodigious  enemies.  The  next  night  they  ap- 
peared not,  nor  all  that  week,  so  that  the  dwellers  thereabout  were  in 
good  hope  they  had  been  for  ever  depai'ted  ;  but  on  the  ensuing  Satvirday 
night,  in  the  same  place,  and  at  the  same  houre,  they  were  again  scene, 
with  far  greater  tumult  fighting  in  the  manner  afore-mentioned  for  foure 
houres,  or  verie  neere,  and  then  vanished,  appearing  againe  on  Sunday 
night,  and  performing  the  same  actions  of  hostilitie  and  bloudshed ; 
so  that  both  Mr  Wood  and  others,  whose  faith  it  should  seeme  was  not 
strong  enough  to  carrie  them  out  against  these  delusions,  forsook  their 
habitations  thereabout,  and  retii'ed  themselves  to  other  more  secure  dwel- 
lings ;  but  Mr  Marshall  stayed,  and  some  other,  and  so  successively  the 
next  Saturday  and  Sunday  the  same  tumults  and  prodigious  sights  and 
actions  were  put  in  the  state  and  condition  they  were  formerly.  The 
ruinoiu'  whereof  comming  to  his  Majestic  at  Oxford,  he  immediately 
dispatched  thither  Colonell  Lewis  Kirke,  Captaine  Dudley,  Captaine 
Wainman,  and  three  other  Gentlemen  of  credit,  to  take  the  full  view 
and  notice  of  the  said  businesse,  who  first  hearing  the  true  attestation 
and  relation  of  Mr  Marshall  and  others,  staid  there  till  Saturday  night 
following,  wherein  they  heard  and  saw  the  fore-mentioned  prodigies,  and 
so  on  Sunday  distinctly  knowing  divers  of  the  apparitions,  or  incorporeall 
substances  by  their  faces,  as  that  of  Sir  Edmund  Varney,  and  others  that 
were  there  slaine  ;  of  which  upon  oath  they  made  testimony  to  his  Majes- 
tic. What  this  does  portend,  God  only  knoweth,  and  time  perhaps  will 
discover ;  but  doubtlesly  it  is  a  signe  of  his  wrath  against  this  Land,  for 
these  civill  wars,  which  He  in  his  good  time  finish,  and  send  a  sudden 
peace  between  his  Majestic  and  Parliament. — Finis." 


APPEARANCES  IN  THE  HEAVENS.  -'^-iT 

The  other  Tract  in  Mr.  Staunton's  collection  (and  which  is  be- 
lieved to  be  the  only  copy  in  existence)  relates  to  the  same  strange 
story,  and  bears  this  title: — "The  New  Yeares  Wonder  being 
A  most  certaine  and  true  Relation  of  the  disturbed  inhabitants  of 
Kenton  And  other  neighbouring  villages  neere  unto  Edge-Hil, 
where  the  great  battaile  betwixt  the  Kings  army,  and  the  Par- 
liaments forces  was  fought.  In  wliich  place  is  heard  &  seene  fear- 
full  and  strange  apparitions  of  spirits  as  soimds  of  drums,  trumpets, 
with  the  discharging  of  Canons  Muskies,  Carbines  pettronels,  to 
the  terrour  and  amazement,  of  all  the  fearfull  hearers  and  be- 
houlders.  Certified  under  the  hands  of  William  Wood,  Esquier, 
and  Justice  for  the  Peace  in  the  said  Countie,  Samuel  Marshall, 
Preacher  of  Gods  Word  in  Keynton,  and  other  persons  of  quahtie. 
Printed  for  Robert  Ellit,  lodger  neere  the  old  Rose  in  Thames- 
street,  who  was  an  eye  witnesse  unto  this."  A  wood-cut  on  the 
back  of  the  title-page  represents  a  standardbearer  between  a 
drummer  and  fifer,  and  a  file  of  halberdiers.  The  contents  are 
as  follows : — 

"  Not  altogether  disalowing  of  old  folkes  similys  and  saying  that  winters 
nights'  thunder  presageth  events  of  suniars  strange  wonders,  which  is 
greatly  to  be  feard  &  doubted  if  it  begin  before  sumar  and  ushers  in 
the  new  yeare  amoungst  us  with  such  care  terour  and  strange  eye  optick 
apearance,  as  is  by  divers  affirmed  and  related. 

"  To  which  avoydance  therefoer,  wee  ought  every  hopefull  and  beleeing 
christian  to  put  on  new  obedience  unto  Heaven,  and  begin  with  the 
new  yeare,  a  newness  of  life  &  conversation,  with  the  endeur  of  con- 
tinuance till  the  nihgt  of  our  death  comes. 

"  With  love  feare  &  obedience  contineu  in  prayei's  to  Almighty  God, 
that  he  would  be  pleased  to  call  back  his  destroying  Angell  from  amongst 
us,  and  with  the  hand  of  his  mercy  sheath  vip  the  sword  of  his  venganc, 
which  his  wrath  by  our  multiplying  sinns  caus'd  him  draw  against  us, 
unto  our  feares  and  terours. 

"Still  apearinga  prodigious  meteor  or  the  fern-full  head  of  this  dis- 
tracted Kingdome,  and  that  this  little  He  that  was  but  late  the  admira- 
tion of  lergar  Christendme,  for  selfe  accomodation  and  comerce  for 
plenty  and  for  every  thing  besides,  with  such  a  largnes  of  abundancy, 
that  it  almost  needeth  noe  affinity  with  any  neighbouring  nation  but  its 
owne. 

"  And  now  to  see  the  change  times  heere  hath  made,  and  with  it  made 
us  a  laghter  to  the  world  to  see  our  selues  divided  against  our  selves, 
doing  ourselues  that  ill,  which  forain  nations  would  but  could  not  doe. 

"  Which  Heaven  of  his  mercy  grant  a  period  that  both  the  offended 
sides  no  more  may  sheath  their  wraths  in  one  another,  but  be  freinds, 


338  APPEARANCES  IN  THE  HEAVENS. 

and  brandish  palmes  insted  of  polaxes  and  that  these  apparitions  I  am 
entring  in  Relation  of,  beget  no  farther  Sumer  feare  amoungst  us. 

"As  famine  from  euasion  and  utter  reuine  that  may  enter  in  that  gap 
we  open  our  selves,  and  that  no  more  such  fields  as  Kenton,  maybe  fought 
nor  Edge-Hill  sharpened  to  cut  us  more. 

"Whose  troubles  peete  of  earth  plastred  with  English  goare  and  turned 
unto  a  golgotha  of  bones  is  now  become  the  plot  of  feare  and  horrour, 
whose  earth  now  groning  with  the  weight  of  lives  whose  last  beds  there 
were  maid  to  sleepe  upon,  rests  in 

"  Whose  dying  grones  a  second  time  reviues  breking  the  cauerns  of  the 
couring  earth,  and  sends  both  feare  &  horour  round  about  to  terifie  the 
living  with  dead  soules,  which  first  amasing  wonder  began  his  shadowing 
apparitons  on  the  first  of  January,  as  neere  as  the  relatours  gest  in  the 
afternone  betwixt  three  and  foure  of  the  clocke  which  was  beheld  by 
three  Countrymen  rideing  a  long  the  way  in  the  likenesse  of  a  Troope 
of  horse  posting  vp  to  them  with  full  speede,  which  caus'd  the  Country- 
men to  make  a  stop  as  fearfuU  of  their  euents. 

"But  coming  neer  unto  them  they  of  a  sudaine  sunke  into  the  earth 
which  turned  to  their  more  greater  feare  and  amaizement  then  at  there 
first  aduancing. 

"  But  seeing  some  certain  heards-men  atending  on  cattell  in  the  fields 
they  rode  up  to  them  who  related  the  same  story  which  thay  were  eye 
witnisses  unto  them  the  horsemen  at  the  heards-mens  confermation  of 
what  themselves  had  senee  ware  so  affrighted  that  they  resolued  to  goe 
no  farther  then  Kenton  that  night,  where  the  on  being  glad  of  eithers 
human  sosiety  a  companyes  each  other. 

"  Where  having  taking  vp  there  nightly  habitation  they  began  to  relate 
it  unto  the  Townesmen,  the  on  confirming  the  words  of  the  other  both 
strangers  and  there  townes  dweling  heardsmen,  which  soone  was  spred 
abroud  but  few  or  none  that  had  belife  unto't. 

"  On  the  morning  the  strangers  departed  &  thouhgt  al  the  towne  heard 
the  relation  of  it,  yet  they  made  slight  of  it,  this  passed  on  till  the  forth  of 
January  nothing  more  heard  or  scene,  which  made  the  poore  heardsmen 
the  more  derided  for  it. 

"  But  the  forth  of  January  being  come  many  of  the  towne  went  to  the 
heardsmen  grased  there  cattell,  jeering  the  poore  men,  when  should  they 
heard  more  wonders  from  them. 

"  But  the  day  being  spent,  and  all  the  Towne  at  rest  within  there  beds, 
about  the  midle  season  of  the  night,  that  which  apeard  to  them  rediculus, 
gaue  them  a  Testimony  of  their  owne  belife. 

"  For  why  the  dolfull  and  the  hydious  groanes  of  dying  men  were  heard 
crying  revenge  and  some  againe  to  ease  them  of  their  paine  by  friendly 
killing  them,  this  waked  many  in  the  towne,  and  sent  they  trembling 
agues  in  there  beds. 

"  But  their  to  amplifie  the  noyse  of  Drumes  and  Trumpets  sounded  a 
sudaine  alarum  as  if  an  enimye  had  entred  in  their  towne  to  put  them 
to  a  sudaine  exicution  and  plunder  all  their  estates. 

"  Some  hid  themselves  in  corners,  some  over-head  and  eares  lay  sweat- 


APPEARANCES  IN  THE  HEAVENS.  339 

ing  and  halfe  smothered  in  their  beds,  and  some  of  better  courage  looke 
through  the  winddowes  where  they  to  there  apearing  visibly  saw  armed 
horsemen  riding  one  againe  the  other  and  so  vanisht  all. 

"  Many  women  feare  made  them  miscary,  and  the  stoutest  hearted  man 
amoungst  them  all  could  not  denye  but  that  then  he  feared  death. 

"  Next  night  they  set  strong  watch  every  where  and  from  there  nieh- 
bouring  townes  gathered  more  assistance  the  crosse  heyway  and  every 
place  besides  was  strongly  warded  neither  would  women  or  children  that 
were  able  keepe  either  house  or  beds. 

"  But  they  expected  hover  of  twelue  being  come,  Drumes  and  Trumpets 
gave  againe  to  sound  a  lanmi  to  fight  and  all  the  spirit  horse  and  foot 
appeared  and  stood  in  battleray,  the  foot  againe  the  foot  and  horse  against 
the  horse  discherging  of  M.  peeternell  and  Carbines  the  one  againe  the 
other,  falling  to  the  ground  o»  either  side  apace,  and  Ordinance  playing 
on  against  the  other  as  plainely  visable  to  the  behoulders  view  as  if  the 
reall  action  had  bin  there. 

"  All  night  it  lasted  in  this  hidious  maner,  but  at  the  break  of  day  all  as 
they  formarly  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  did  vanish. 

"But  since  hath  no  more  bin  seene  which  caus'd  the  Inhabitants  of 
Kenton  to  forsake  their  Towne  and  get  new  habitations  for  themselves. 

"But  some  learned  men  have  since  delivered  their  opinions,  that  there 
may  be  yet  unburied  kackasses  found,  so  dilligent  search  hath  bin  made 
and  found  it  so. 

"Which  God  of  his  mercy  cease  these  warrs  and  blesse  our  Land  with 
peace. 

"  Mr.  Marshall  the  Minister  of  Kenton,  went  to  Oxon  to  the  King,  and 
did  informe  him  of  the  apparitions  of  all  the  aforesaid  proceedings  of  the 
spirits. 

"  The  King  presently  sent  to  Edge-Hill  Colonell  Lewis  Kirke,  Captaine 
Dudly,  Captaine  Winman,  and  three  other  Gentelmen  of  worth  who 
heard  of  this  sad  fearful  and  hidious  sight  which  Mr.  Marshall,  related 
to  his  Majesty  and  then  departed  wonderous  fearfull  amaized  and  af- 
frighted, &  saw  divers  to  their  apperance  that  were  there  slaine  as  Sir 
Edmund  Varney,  with  divers  others :  Thus  have  you  heard  the  sad  rela- 
tion of  the  apperance  of  these  vgly  fiends  Upon  which  was  made  oath 
to  his  Majesty,  which  the  Lord  in  his  mercy  inlighten  his  Majestys  heart, 
that  those  eveill  councelares  which  are  about  him  may  be  put  ever  far 
from  him  and  that  wee  may  have  peace.     Amen. — Finis. "^^ 

(20)  For  accurate  copies  of  these  two  scarce  pamphlets,  and  the  permission  to  publish 
them,  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Staunton.  The  fii-st  pamphlet  has  been  reprinted  (incor- 
rectly) by  Lord  Nugent  in  his  "Memorials  of  Hampden."  His  lordship  says  of  it: — 
The  world  abounds  with  histories  of  preternatural  appearances  the  most  utterly  incredible, 
supported  by  testimony  the  most  undeniable.  *  *  *  j^  well-supported  imposture,  or 
a  stormy  night  on  a  hill  side,  might  have  acted  on  the  weakness  of  a  peasantry  in  whose 
remembrance  the  terrors  of  the  Edgehill  fight  were  still  fresh  ;  but  it  is  difficult  "to  imagine 
how  the  minds  of  officers,  sent  there  to  correct  the  illusion,  could  have  been  so  imposed 
upon."     (Vol.  2,  pp.  304,  305.) 

It  cannot  for  a  moment  be  supposed  that  appearances  such  as  are  described  in  the  two 
foregoing  Tracts  are  attributable  to  the  atmospherical  phenomenon  called  the  "  Mirage." 
Such  an  explanation  would  require  that  the  I'&spective  armies  seen  in  the  heavens  should 
be  at  that  time  actually  engaged  in  the  vale,  although  out  of  the  direct  view  oi'  the  spectatw; 

2  u3 


340  DEDDINGTON  BELLS. 


THE  YEAR  1643. 

On  the  niglit  of  January  5tli,  Hampden's  regiment,  wMle  em- 
ployed on  the  Parliament's  ontposts  near  Brackley,  had  their 
picqiiets  attacked  by  a  body  of  the  Earl  of  Northampton's  horse 
from  Banbury  :  but  Hampden,  having  suspected  such  a  design 
and  reinforced  himself  with  some  dragoons  brought  in  from  the 
Buckinghamshire  side  after  dark,  repulsed  the  assailants  and  pur- 
sued them  till  after  daybreak ;  with  the  loss  of  his  lieutenant- 
colonel,  Wagstaffe,  who  was  captured  by  the  Royalists.^^ 

A  Proclamation  from  the  King  at  Oxford,  dated  January  21st, 
requires  the  people  of  DEDDINGTON  to  deliver  up  to  him  the 
broken  bells  of  the  Church  there  (the  tower  of  which  had  fallen 
in  1634):— 

"  To  our  trusty  and  well-beloved  subjects,  the  Parson,  Churchtvardens, 
Constables,  and  Officers,  and  others,  the  parishioners  of  Dadington. 
"  Charles  R. 

Whereas  information  is  given  us  that  by  the  fall  of  your  Steeple  at 
Dadington  in  this  our  County,  the  Bells  are  made  unserviceable  for  you 

of  the  image ;  and  a  degree  of  light  falling  on  the  real  objects  which  could  not  be  the  case 
at  the  hour  of  midnight  and  in  winter.  The  only  natural  phenomenon  which  can  be  sup- 
posed to  have  occurred  on  so  many  nights,  and  to  have  given  rise  to  tbese  marvellous 
stories,  is  the  Aurora  Borealis ;  concerning  which  it  is  even  now  made  a  matter  of  doubt 
by  many  whether  some  audible  sounds  do  not  accompany  its  appearance.  The  rest  of  the 
sti'ange  story  must  be  presumed  to  be  made  up  from  the  imagination  of  the  country  people ; 
except  where  it  may  be  traced  to  the  natural  exaggerations  of  the  relators,  and  the  venality 
of  those  persons  who  published  the  above  accounts.  These  accounts  are  unconfirmed  (as  far 
as  I  can  trace)  by  any  tradition,  or  by  any  allusion  contained  in  the  various  newspapers 
which  were  issued  at  the  period. 

Lord  Nugent  appears  to  allow  to  the  whole  of  the  first  tale  the  credit  of  "  testimony  the 
most  undeniable."  It  is  however  worthy  of  notice,  that  Bishop  Gibson  (in  his  edition  of 
Camden's  Britannia,  v.  1,  p.  598,)  has  recorded  the  name  of  the  vicar  of  Kineton  at  this 
period,  namely,  Fisher,  not  "  Marshall."  (See  p.  321  of  this  vol.)  The  principal  pretended 
witness  to  the  story  may  therefore  be  after  all  merely  a  "  man  of  straw  ;"  although  the  name 
Marshall  certainly  occurs  in  another  pamphlet  relating  to  the  battle  of  Edgehill  (see  p.  324, 
Tract,  No.  12).  I  have  not  yet  met  with  any  certain  evidence  of  the  existence  of  such  a  per- 
son as  Wood,  the  justice  of  Kineton  :  and  as  for  Ellit,  who  sets  himself  up  for  a  witness  in 
the  second  Tract,  his  intimation  of  the  place  where  his  strange  story  is  to  be  purchased 
(at  a  great  distance  from  the  spot  where  the  events  are  stated  to  have  occuiTed)  is  enough 
to  suggest  an  opinion  that  he  was  (as  Jackson,  the  publisher  of  the  other  Tract,  might  also  be) 
a  retailer  of  pamphlets  in  those  times,  who  coidd  well  dress  up  a  popular  story  in  order 
to  bring  caish  into  his  till. 

Jackson's  pamphlet  describes  Kineton  as  being  in  "  Northamptonshire,"  a  proof  that 
the  writer  of  the  account  personally  knew  little  of  the  place.  The  appearances  are  des- 
cribed as  occun-ing  on  Saturdays  and  Sundays  only,  in  the  night,  from  Saturday  the  24th 
December  1642  to  Sunday  the  15th  January  1643.  Ellit's  pamphlet  on  the  contrary  states 
that  they  were  first  seen  on  Sunday  the  1st  January,  between  three  and  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon ;  and  subsequently  on  Wednesday  and  Thursday  the  4th  and  5th  January. 
The  discrepancies  in  the  two  tales  ai'e  not  such  as  would  be  likely  to  occur  in  the  testi- 
mony of  persons  whose  object  it  was  to  relate  merely  the  plain  truth.  I  conclude  that  both 
Jackson  and  Ellit  dressed  up  a  popular  story  of  the  day,  for  sale  among  the  superstitious 
and  the  wonder-mongers  of  the  age ;  and  that  the  asserted  testimony  of  the  King's  officers 
sent  from  Oxford  is  a  fabrication  altogether. 

(21)  Nugent's  Memo.,  v.  2,  pp.  362,  303. 


13EATH  OF  LORD  BROOK,  1613.  341 

till  that  shall  be  rebuilt,  and  they  are  new  founded ;  and  that  the  metal 
of  them  may  be  fit  for  present  use,  both  for  our  own  and  public  occasion, 
we  hereby  require  you  to  send  the  same  to  our  Magazine  here  in  New 
College,  and  some  such  ti-usty  persons  with  them  as  may  see  the  just 
weight,  and  the  nature  of  them  taken  by  our  Officers  there,  to  the  end 
that  we  may  restore  the  same  in  materials  or  monies  to  your  Church, 
when  you  shall  have  occasion  to  use  the  same  ;  and  to  the  end  we  may 
the  better  effect  this,  we  hereby  command  the  commissioners  of  our  train 
to  remember  us  hereof  when  it  shall  be  opportune  :  and  for  full  assurance 
hereof  to  your  whole  parish,  we  are  graciously  pleased  to  confirm  this 
by  our  own  royal  signature.  Oxford,  at  the  Court,  January  the  one- 
and-twentieth,  in  the  eighteenth  year  of  our  reign."  -- 

On  the  28th  February,  the  Parliament  applied  for  safeconduct 
for  Lord  Saye,  the  Earl  of  Northumberland,  and  others,  to  treat 
with  His  Majesty  at  Oxford ;  which  safeconduct  was  granted 
(except  to  Lord  Saye,  respecting  whom  exception  was  taken  on 
the  ground  of  his  having  been  excluded  by  name  from  the  King's 
declaration  of  pardon  on  the  3rd  November),  but  there  was  no 
result  from  the  negotiation."^  The  Earl  of  Northampton  was  at 
this  time  seeking  further  for  adventure.  Lichfield  had  been  taken 
possession  of  by  the  Royahst  gentry  of  that  vicinity :  whereupon 
Lord  Brook,  with  his  forces  from  Warwick,  assisted  by  Sir  John 
Gell  from  Derby,  undertook  to  reduce  the  place  into  submission 
to  the  Parliament.  This  being  made  known  to  the  Earl  of 
Northampton,  the  latter  proceeded  with  a  strong  body  of  horse 
and  dragoons  from  Banbury  in  aid  of  the  Lichfield  Royalists. 
Before  these  succours  could  arrive,  the  place  had  capitulated  \ 
but  Lord  Brook,  while  directing  the  attack,  from  a  window,  had 
been  killed  on  the  2nd  March  by  a  musket  shot  fired  from  the 
Cathedral  tower  hitting  liim  in  the  eye.'"'  The  Earl  of  North- 
ampton took  up  quarters  at  Stafford.  On  Sunday  the  19th  March, 
was  fought,  near  that  town,  the  battle  of  Hopton  Heath,  where, 
a  few  days  after  his  great  rival  Lord  Brook  had  been  borne  to 
his  grave,  the  Earl  of  NORTHAMPTON  was  slain.  His  horse  had 
fallen  with  him  among  the  rabbit  burrows :  but,  thus  unhorsed, 
and  surrounded  with  enemies,  he  scorned  to  take  quarter.  Cla- 
rendon says : — "  What  his  behaviour  was,  and  their  carriage 
towards  him,  can  be  known  only  by  the  testimony  of  the  rebels ; 
who  confessed,  that  after  he  was  on  his  feet,  he  killed  with  his 

(2-2)  Skelton's  Antiq.  Oxf.  (23)  Husband's  Collection,  p.  925,  &c. 

(21)  Clarendon,  v.  2,  p.  140;  Niigents  Memo.,  v.  2,  pp.  385,  386. 


342      DEATH  OF  THE  EARL  OF  NORTHAMPTON,  1G13. 

own  liand  the  colonel  of  foot  wlio  made  first  haste  to  him ;  and 
that  after  his  headpiece  was  stricken  off  with  the  but  end  of  a 
musket  they  offered  him  quarter ;  which,  they  say,  he  refused, 
answering  that  he  '  scorned  to  take  quarter  from  such  base  rogues 
and  rebels  as  they  were.'  x\fter  which  he  was  slain  by  a  blow 
with  a  halbert  on  the  hinder  part  of  his  head,  receiving,  at  the 
same  time,  another  deep  wound  in  the  face."-^ 

The  Earl's  eldest  son,  James  Lord  Compton  (who  now  suc- 
ceeded to  his  father's  title),  was  present  on  the  field  and  received 
a  shot  in  the  leg.  Three  days  after  the  Earl's  death  he  wrote 
the  following  to  the  widowed  Countess,  his  mother : — 

"Deare  Mother, 

On  Sunday  last  we  got  the  day  of  the  Rebels,  but  our  losse  (especially 
your  Honours  and  mine)  is  not  to  be  expressed.  For  though  it  be  a 
generall  losse  to  the  kingdome,  yet  it  toucheth  us  nearest.  But  Madam, 
Casualties  in  this  world  will  happen,  &  in  such  a  cause  who  would  not 
have  ventured  both  life  and  fortune?  'pray'e  Madam,  let  this  be  your 
comfort,  that  it  was  impossible  for  any  to  do  braver  then  he  did,  as  ap- 
peares  by  their  owne  Relation.  I  sent  a  Trumpeter  to  know  what  was 
become  of  my  Father,  hee  brought  me  a  Letter  from  Sir  John  Gell  and 
Sir  William  Brereton,  assuring  mee  of  my  Fathers  death,  making  strange 
demand  for  his  body,  such  as  were  never  before  heard  of  in  any  warre, 
as  all  their  Amnivmition,  Prisoners,  and  Cannon  which  we  liad  taken. 
I  sent  them  word  backe,  that  their  demands  were  unreasonable,  and 
against  the  Lawes  of  Amies,  but  desired  them  to  give  free  passage  to 
some  Chirurgeons  to  embalme  him,  or  to  let  their  Chirurgeons  doe  it, 
and  I  would  satisfy  them  for  their  paijies.  Their  last  Answer  I  have  sent 
in  Philip  Willoughby's  Letter  which  is,  that  they  will  neither  send  the 
body  nor  suffer  our  Chirui'geons  to  come  to  embalme  it,  but  will  see  their 
owne  Chirurgeons  doe  it.  Their  Relation  was,  tliat  He  was  assaulted  by 
nnany  together,  and  with  his  owne  hand  killed  the  Colonel  and  others 
also,  but  was  unhorsed  by  the  multitude,  his  horse  being  shot :  But  his 
Armour  was  so  good  that  they  could  not  hurt  him,  till  he  was  downe, 
and  had  undone  his  head-peece. 

'Pray'e  Madam,  be  comforted,  and  think  no  man  could  more  honour- 
ably have  ended  his  life  (fighting  for  his  Religion,  his  King,  and  his 
Country)  to  be  partaker  of  heavenly  joies.     We  must  certainely  follow 

(25)  Clarendon,  v.  2,  pp.  150,  151 ;  &c.  Lord  Brook  and  the  Earl  of  Northampton 
were  the  first  of  any  rank  or  note  who  were  personally  engaged  in  the  Wars.  (May's  Hist. 
I'arliament;  and  see  pp.  298  &c.  of  this  vol.)  Lord  Nugent  says  of  Lord  Brook: — 
"  He  was,  indeed,  of  a  spirit  so  pure,  pious,  and  brave,  that  while  he  was  revered  by  the 
Parliamentarians,  as  one  whose  reputation  added  glory  and  power  to  their  cause,  his  enemies 
could  find  no  ground  of  censure  against  his  motives."  Baxter  has  placed  him  in  heaven, 
together  with  White,  Pym,  and  Hampden.  Lord  Clarendon  owns  that  they  who  were 
acquainted  with  Lord  Brook  believed  him  to  be  well-natured  and  just. 

The  Poet  Cleveland  wrote  some  verses  to  the  memory  of  the  rivid  hero  : — 
"  So  here  Northampton,  that  brave  hero,  fell ; 
Triumphant  Roman,  thy  pure  parallel!"  &c. 


WILLIAM  NEEDLE  :-MRS.  PHILLIPS.     1643.  343 

him,  but  can  hardly  hope  for  so  brave  a  death.     Thus  humbly  craving 
your  blessing,  I  shall  remaine  till  death 

Your  obedient  Sonne 

Northampton."-" 
"  Stafford,  March  22   1642  [3]." 

The  joung  Earl  was  appointed  to  succeed  his  father  in  the 
command  of  Banbury.  While  the  foregoing  events  were  occur- 
ring at  a  distance,  scenes  took  place  at  Banburj  which  shew  in 
full  force  the  character  of  some  of  the  firmest  of  the  stern  Puri- 
tans of  those  times.  WILLIAM  NEEDLE  was  a  youth  of  Ban- 
bury, scarcely  twenty  years  old,  and  in  somewhat  humble  circum- 
stances ;  but  said  to  be  virtuous  and  religious,  and  endowed  with 
no  mean  gifts  of  mind.  It  had  chanced  that  Captain  Trist,  one 
of  the  King's  officers  of  horse,  had  been  severely  wounded  and 
made  prisoner  by  Lord  Brook  in  a  skirmish  which  occurred  at 
Stratford  upon  Avon  some  little  time  before  ;  and  was  left  at  Strat- 
ford (as  being  thought  unfit  to  travel),  under  an  engagement  to 
be  forthcoming  a  prisoner  on  demand.  A  party  of  Royalists  from 
Banbury  however  fetched  away  their  comrade,  and  carried  him, 
first,  to  Banbury,  and  then,  for  safety,  towards  Oxford.  Here- 
upon one  Mrs.  ELIZABETH  Phillips  (the  wife  of  a  magistrate 
of  Banbury  who  had  fled  from  the  town  long  before  by  reason 
of  the  danger),  sent  William  Needle  as  her  messenger  to  the  Par- 
liament's forces  then  lying  at  Bicester,  in  order  that  Captain  Trist 
might  be  apprehended  "  as  an  enemy  to  the  state  and  the  grand 
disturber  of  the  peace  of  that  county."  Needle  was,  however, 
himself  taken  by  a  scouting  party  of  the  King's ;  who,  aflecting 
to  be  soldiers  of  the  Parliament,  drew  from  him  the  nature  of 
his  errand,  and  carried  him  prisoner  to  Banbury.  Being  examined 
there  by  Colonel  Hunks,  the  Governor,  Needle  also  confessed 
by  whom  he  had  been  sent  on  the  errand:  whereupon  Mrs.  Phil- 
lips (who  is  represented  as  having  been  found  "playing  the  good 
huswife  at  home,"  where  she  had  ten  children),  was  brought  up ; 
and  she,  acknowledging  that  her  wish  was  to  have  had  Captain 
Trist  taken,  was  also  committed  to  the  Castle,  and  her  house  and 
shop  were  "  ransack'd."  This  took  place  on  the  10th  March. 
On  the  11th,  a  council  of  war  passed  sentence  of  death  on  both 
the  prisoners,  who  had  made  themselves  amenable  to  mihtary 
law  as  spies  ;    and  on  Tuesday  the  14th  they  were  brought  from 

(26)  Battaile  of  Hopton  Heath,  4to,  1643.     lu  the  Ashmolean  Library. 


344  WILLIAM  NEEDLE  :— MRS.  PHILLIPS.     1(343. 

the  Castle  to  be  executed  in  the  Market  Place.  It  being  de- 
manded of  Needle,  as  he  stood  upon  the  ladder,  why  he  sought 
to  surprise  Captain  Trist,  he  answered  that  he  considered  Trist  to 
be  an  enemy  to  the  church  of  God,  the  peace  of  the  kingdom, 
and  the  quiet  of  the  place  where  he  was.  In  answer  to  a  remark 
of  Lieutenant  Poultney  (an  Irishman),  that  he  was  "  a  traitor  to 
the  King,"  Needle  declared  that  he  never  had  an  ill  thought  of 
the  King,  but  that  he  constantly  prayed  for  his  Majesty's  pre- 
servation, and  for  the  Queen's  conversion :  that,  assenting  to  his 
Majesty's  proclamation  that  whosoever  plundered  or  pillaged  should 
be  prosecuted  according  to  law,  he,  knowing  Captain  Trist  to  be 
notoriously  guilty  of  both,  had  sought  to  have  him  punished  by 
law.  Then,  casting  his  eyes  about  him,  with  the  rope  round  his 
neck,  and  espying  some  dejected  countenances  and  weeping  eyes, 
he  said  : — "  I  would  not  have  God's  people  discouraged,  nor  think 
the  worse  of  this  cause  wherein  I  suffer  ;  nor  mourn  nor  grieve 
for  my  death:  for  as  I  have  testified  to  the  world  I  lived  God's 
child,  so  I  declare  to  you  I  die  his  servant." 

Being  about  to  remark  that  the  enemies  of  God's  people  would 
laugh  at  this  cause  and  rejoice  at  his  death,  he  was  interrupted  by 
Poultney,  who  asked  liim  if  he  thought  the  council  of  war  were 
the  enemies  of  God's  people  ?  Needle  answered, — "  Those  that 
are  enemies  to  God  are  enemies  to  God's  people."  A  Bible 
being  sent  for,  for  Needle  to  "  sing  and  pray  in  before  he  died," 
and  wliich  Bible  had  not  the  Common  Prayer  Book  in  it,  Poultney 
cursed  the  people  that  there  was  not  one  Bible  out  of  ten  "  that 
had  the  Common  Prayer  or  Apocrypha  in  them."  The  execu- 
tioner, being  now  about  to  do  his  last  office,  was  stopped  by 
Poultney  while  the  latter  went  to  the  council :  meanwhile  Needle 
took  half-a-crown  from  his  pocket,  and  called  to  one  of  Mrs. 
Phillips's  children,  and  gave  it  her  to  "keep  in  remembrance  of 
him."  Poultney,  on  returning  from  the  council,  bade  the  execu- 
tioner do  his  office  upon  Needle,  who  did  not  "  shrink  nor  shiver," 
but  "  bid  the  world  heartily  adieu,  and  so  was  turned  off."  Some 
time  after  death,  he  was  cut  down  by  the  sword  of  a  gentleman, 
one  of  the  King's  soldiers,  who  said  he  was  persuaded  that 
Needle's  soul  was  gone  to  Heaven,  and  that,  he  being  unjustly 
executed,  his  innocent  blood  would  be  required  at  their  hands. 

Mrs.  Phillips  standing  with  the  halter  about  her  neck,  a  soldier 
would  have  put  it  under  her  handkerchief;  but  she  would  not  suffer 


BANBURY  FIRED  BY  THE  ROYALISTS,  16V3.  ''M5 

him,  saying  she  was  not  ashamed  to  suffer  reproach  and  shame 
in  this  cause.  But,  her  children  being  about  her  and  himenting 
their  mother's  fate,  the  brutal  Poultuej  exclaimed, — "  Ye  are 
bound  to  curse  your  mother."  He  then  caused  Mrs.  Phillips  to 
be  led  about  the  Market  Place  in  derision,  and  afterwards  re- 
turned her  to  prison  in  the  Castle."' 

On  Wednesday  the  3rd  May  it  was  stated,  by  letters  received 
in  London  from  Banbury,  that  the  commander-in-chief  thereof 
for  the  King  had  maliciously  set  on  fire  and  burnt  great  part  of 
the  town,  "  even  at  a  time  when  no  enemy  approached  it."-^^  On 
the  next  day  an  account  states  that  "  upon  occasion  of  his  Majes- 
ties summoning  all  his  forces  to  Oxford,  the  garison  of  Banbury 
left  the  towne  and  went  to  Oxford,  and  upon  their  departure  in 
a  barbarous  cruell  manner  fired  the  towne,  whereby  neere  upon 
100  dwellmg  houses  (some  say  200)  were  burnt  downe  to  the 
ground  before  the  fire  could  be  quenched."-^  This  account  as 
regards  the  burning  must  be  a  gross  exaggeration.  A  few  days 
after,  letters  from  Northampton  to  London  stated  that  the  North- 
amptonshire men  were  so  much  incensed  at  this  cruelty  of  the 
Cavaliers,  that  they  resolved  to  do  their  utmost  to  relieve  the 
oppressed  inhabitants  of  Banbury  and  to  be  revenged  on  the 
Cavaliers :  and  for  that  purpose  they  advanced  on  Friday,  with 
500  or  600  men  and  one  small  drake,  towards  Banbury,  but  be- 
fore they  could  obtain  the  town  they  were  surprised  by  a  great 
party  of  the  enemy's  horse  and  put  to  flight.^"  The  following 
is  the  account  given  by  the  Royalists  of  this  skirmish  : — 

Saturday,  6th  May.  "  About  twelve  of  the  cloeke  to  day  my 
lord  [the  Earl  of  Northampton]  had  certaine  notice  of  the  Rebells 
being  at  Culworth,  whereupon  my  Lord  drew  out  his  forces  to- 
wards Bodicot  within  a  mile  of  Banbury,  where  he  saw  the  enemy 
(being  about  700  foot  and  4  or  5  tropes  of  horse)  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river ;  his  Lordship  sent  a  party  commanded  by  Cap. 
Trist  to  face  them,  and  keep  them  in  action ;  which  the  Cap. 
performed  so  well  &  souldierlike  that  he  put  the  enemy  into  a 
posture  of  retreating :  then  my  Lord  drew  up  all  his  horse,  being 
about  10  or  12  troops  (for  his  regiment  of  foot  was  at  the  Lea- 
guer) &  found  the  enemy  in  a  close  body  in  Middleton  Cheny 

(27)  Perfect  Relation  of  the  apprehending  &c.  of  Wm  Needle  and  Mistris  Phillips,  4to., 
1643.     In  the  possession  of  W.  Upcott  Esq.  of  Islington. 

(28)  Speciall  Passages,  No.  39.  (29)  Perfect  Diurnall,  No.  47. 
(.30)  Continuation  of  Speciall  and  Remarkable  Passages,  4th  to  llth  Mav. 

2  X 


34(5  BATTLE  AT  MIDDLETON  CHENEY,  1(J4;L 

towue  field,  where  they  made  a  stand  &  gave  fire  upon  his  Lord- 
ship with  their  brasse  peece  3  severall  times,  &  then  gave  him  a 
very  hot  volley  of  musket  shot :  which  done,  his  Lordship  charged 
them  on  the  front,  Sergeant  Major  Daniel  on  the  right  wing,  & 
Cap.  Trist  on  the  left :  some  of  my  Lords  horse  pursued  theirs, 
killed  &  tooke  many  of  them,  yet  the  rest  were  so  fleet  that  they 
escaped  in  small  companies  into  by-lanes  and  hedges  and  ranne 
to  Northampton  to  tell  the  newes  to  their  brethren.  But  to  avoid 
former  errours  of  overhasty  pursu^ing  their  fugitive  horse,  his 
Lordship  charged  their  foot,  &  wholly  routed  them,  killed  217 
upon  the  place,  and  tooke  above  300  prisoners,  tooke  their  brasse 
peece,  all  their  ammunition,  416  muskets,  150  pikes,  and  almost 
500  sword :  his  Lordsliip  lost  but  3  men  and  none  of  any  note,  nor 
any  officer  so  much  as  hurt  save  onely  Major  Daniell  had  a  slight 
hurt  in  the  legge,  the  prisoners  that  were  taken  say  they  were 
commanded  to  march  towards  Banbury  by  the  Committee,  which 
as  farre  as  we  can  gather  was  upon  some  treachery  to  be  practiced 
in  Banbury  Towne  and  Castle  being  my  Lords  quarters,  for  there 
were  Banbu.ry  men  amongst  these  Rebels,  &  many  of  them  lay 
dead  in  the  field  ;  there  were  divers  Captaines  and  commanders 
taken,  Captaine  Martin,  Captaine  Melvin  a  Scottish  man,  with 
others  whom  we  shall  know  better  to  morrow  when  they  are  ex- 
amined. The  reader  may  see  here  His  Majesties  exceeding 
mercy,  &  clemency,  that  hath  not  burned  to  the  ground  this  most 
wicked  rebellious  Towne  of  Banbury,  which  hath  so  often  pro- 
voked him,  and  will  take  no  warning."^* 

Other  accounts,  given  by  the  Parliamentarians,  and  dated  Tues- 
day the  9th  May,  state  that  a  forged  letter  as  from  the  lord -general 
had  directed  the  Northampton  forces  to  fall  on  Banbury  wliile  his 
Excellency  attacked  Oxford ;  and  that  they  in  consequence  went, 
600  strong,  or,  according  to  another  statement,  "500  horse  and 
dragoons  and  some  footj  under  Captain  Martin,  Captain  Needham, 
and  Captain  Sawyer :"  but  that  they  found  the  Earl  of  Northamp- 
ton was  ready  for  them,  and  learned  of  three  ambuscades  of  horse 
which  he  had  prepared.  A  retreat  was  therefore  commanded  by 
the  Parliamentarian  captains :  but  the  country  people,  complaining 
of  being  thus  drawn  out  to  lose  their  labour,  went  on,  and  beat 
up  the  first  ambuscade  of  horse,  which  joined  the  second,  and  then 
both  fell  upon  them ;   at  which  "  our  horse  ranne  away ;   and  so 

(31)  Mercurius  Aulicus. 


BATTLE  AT  MIDDLETON  CHENEY,  1G43.  347 

at  the  secoucl  charge  the  foote  were  routed  and  every  man  shifted 
for  himselfe,  the  caunomer  shot  three  shot  with  his  drake,  and 
killed  of  their  men  about  30  and  unhorsed  a  gallant  sparke  whom 
men  suppose  to  be  the  young  Earle  of  Northampton ;  they  slew 
of  our  men  about  20,  and  tooke  100  and  odde  of  prisoners, 
for  there  are  so  many  missing,  and  3  captaines  and  300  armes." 
A  later  account  admits  50  killed  and  300  prisoners  :  and  adds 
that  it  was  thought  Captain  Sawyer  was  killed,  and  two  other  cap- 
tains taken. ^^ 

On  the  day  following  the  battle,  7th  May  1643,  there  is  a  record 
of  forty-six  soldiers  being  buried  at  Middleton  Cheney .^^  Cla- 
rendon observes  that  most  of  the  prisoners  were  "  shrewdly  hurt, 
the  young  Earl  that  day  sacrificing  to  the  memory  of  his  father."^* 

The  Queen,  who  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion 
had  gone  to  Holland  (partly  for  her  own  safety  and  partly  in 
order  to  raise  supplies),  having  taken  ship  for  England  and  landed 
in  the  north,  sent  to  Newark  about  forty  cart-loads  of  arms  and 
ammunition  for  the  King.  For  the  further  safe  conveyance  of 
these  materials  of  war  from  Newark  towards  Oxford,  there  came 
twenty-six  troops  of  horse,  some  dragoons,  and  1,000  foot,  mider 
the  command  of  Henry  Percy,  to  Banbury;  where  the  charge 
was  delivered  up  to  the  Earl  of  Northampton,  who  conveyed  it 
to  Woodstock  on  the  1 3th  May.^*' 

Tuesday  16th  to  Tuesday  23rd  May.  "Many  of  the  poore 
men  that  were  prisoners  in  Banbury,  are  happily  escaped,  and  got 
away,  little  lesse  then  sixtie  in  one  night,  their  keepers  (as  was 
informed)  being  then  drunke ;  and  these  prisoners  have  reveal'd 
such  inhumane  cruelties  of  the  Cavaliers  as  would  make  even  a 
souldiers  heart  to  tremble,  one  for  example,  (to  omit  many  others) 
they  promised  quarter  to  them  that  would  lay  downe  their  armes, 
which  being  done,  they  so  cruelly  handled  them,  that  to  some, 
they  gave  six  wounds,  to  others  seven  or  eight,  nay  to  some  of 
them  ten  or  twelve. "^*^ 

(32)  Perf.  Diurnall,  Nos.  4S  and  49.  Another  account  is  that  150  foot  \vere  sent  on 
Thursday,  as  many  on  Friday,  and  three  troops  of  horse  about  120  in  all,  the  whole  com- 
manded by  the  serjeant-major  of  Colonel  Barkley.  On  a  hill  three  miles  from  Banbury 
they  saw  troops  coming,  when  the  serjeant-major,  contrary  to  the  opinion  of  others,  ordered 
his  forces  to  descend  into  the  valley,  where  they  were  defeated,  and  lost  their  drake  and  a 
load  of  match,  powder,  aud  huWet—Speciall  Passages,  No.  40. 

(33)  "Anno  Domini  1643.     Burialls. 

"  May  7.     46  Soldiers." 
Such  is  the  brief  record  in  the  Register  of  Middleton  Cheney.    At  the  end  of  the  year 
apjiears  the  name  of  Cresswell  Whatelv  as  Curate  of  the  Parish. 

(34)  Clarendon's  Hist.  Rebel.,  V.  2,  p'.  245.    (35)  Merc.  AuHcus.    (.36)  Spec.  Pass.,  No.  41. 

2x3 


348    MEETING  OF  THE  KING  AND  QUEEN  AT  EDGEHILL. 

The  Queen  was  ou  her  way  from  York  towards  Oxford,  bring- 
ing with  her  more  than  2,000  well-armed  infantry,  1,000  horse, 
six  pieces  of  cannon,  two  mortars,  and  about  100  waggons." 
The  Earl  of  Essex  had  been  directed  to  prevent,  if  possible,  the 
junction  of  Prince  Rupert's  forces  with  those  of  the  Queen ;  but 
found  it  impracticable,  as  the  Prince  joined  her  on  Tuesday 
the  11th  July  at  Stratford  upon  Avon.  The  King  also  marched 
from  Oxford,  attended  by  many  of  his  lords  and  the  gentlemen 
of  his  troop.  On  Thursday,  July  13th,  he  reached  Banbury, 
whence  he  proceeded  to  meet  Her  Majesty  below  Edgehill ;  ^^ 
Prince  Charles  and  the  Duke  of  York  accompanying  him,  and 
"  riding  also  forth  with  most  chearfull  countenances  to  receive  the 
blessings  of  so  deare  and  renowned  a  mother."^*  The  meeting 
of  the  King  and  Queen  in  the  Vale  of  Kineton  was  commemo- 
rated by  a  medal,  struck  at  Oxford  from  such  silver  articles  as 
the  King  could  procure  in  Ms  necessities.  The  medal  is  about 
the  size  of  a  crown-piece  ;  and  bears,  on  the  obverse,  the  figures 
of  Charles  and  his  Queen  at  full  length,  seated,  and  at  their 
feet  Python  transfixed  and  pinned  to  the  earth  by  an  arrow ; 
the  inscription  "  CERTIVS  PYTHONEM  IVNCTI :"  on  the  reverse 
"XIII  •  IVL  •  CAROL  •  ET  •  MAREE  •  M  •  B  •  F  •  ET  •  H  •  R  ■  R  •  IN  • 
VALLE  ■  KEINTON  •  AVSPICAT  •  OCCVRRENT  •  ET  •  FVGATO  • 
IN  •  OCCIDENT  •  REBELLIVM  •  VICT  •  ET  •  PAC  •  OMEN  •  OXON  ■ 
MDCXLIII  •  w  •"^°  Their  Majesties  came  on  the  same  evening 
to  ^Yroxton  to  the  house  of  Su-  Thomas  Pope,  where  they  slept; 
and  the  next  morning  proceeded,  with  the  Prince,  the  Duke  of 
York,  and  the  whole  army,  to  \Yoodstock  castle.^^ 

On  Saturday  the  loth  July,  the  Earl  of  Essex  mustered  his 
forces   about   Buckingham.      On   Monday   he   advanced   towards 

(37)  Clarendon,  v.  2,  p.  292.  (38)  Mercurius  Civicus,  No.  8. 

(39)  Merc.  Aulicus.  The  meeting  is  said  to  have  taken  place  about  four  o'clock  in  the 
aftemoou,  at  the  foot  of  Edgehill,  in  Kineton  field.  See  Hamper's  Introduction  to  "  Two 
Copies  of  Verses  on  the  Meeting  of  King  Charles  the  First  and  his  Queen  Henrietta  Maria, 
in  the  Valley  of  Kineton."    4to.,  privately  printed,  1822. 

The  verses  here  alluded  to  are  preserved  in  manuscript  amongst  the  private  papers  of  Sir 
William  Dugdale  at  Merevale  Hall.     They  are  sad  trash,  and  commence  with  : — 
"  Prodigall  Fates  !  what  all  your  grace 
And  all  your  blessings  on  one  place  ? 
See  how  Edge-Hill  is  growne  unruly, 
Since  the  thirteenth  day  of  July  : 
And  proudly  lords  it  over  all  the  crew 
Of  hills  and  vales  that  lye  within  his  view !  " 

(40)  Commemoration  medal  in  the  possession  of  Wm.  Staunton  Esq.,  who  has  had  a 
private  plate  of  it  engraved.  This  medal  is  considered  to  be  unique,  and  was  sold  at  the 
auction  of  Sir  Charles  Frederick's  coins  for  J26.  5s.  Od. 

(41)  Merc.  Civicus,  No.  8.  For  some  notice  of  Sir  Thomas  Pope,  sec  p.  333  of  this  vol. 
(note.) 


TRIAL  OF  NATHANIEL  FIENNES,  1G43.  349 

Banbury  and  Oxford ;  three  companies  of  pioneers  being  ap- 
pointed to  go  before  and  throw  down  the  hedges  and  banks.'-  In 
the  same  week  information  was  conveyed  to  London  that  "  di- 
vers and  active  malignauts  had  got  great  store  of  cattle  together 
and  driven  them  into  Lord  Saye's  pastures,  and  into  some  grounds 
befonging  to  Master  Fynes  near  Banbury,  intending  to  supply 
Oxford,  which  divers  of  the  resolute  and  well-affected  country- 
men took  opportunity  to  seize,  and  returned  the  stolen  ones  and 
kept  the  others."'^ 

On  the  27th  July,  Nathaniel  Fiennes,  who  had  been  ap- 
pointed Governor  of  Bristol,  delivered  up  that  city  and  its  castle  to 
Prince  Rupert's  forces,  under  circumstances  which  prove  Fiennes's 
entire  unfitness  for  the  trust  in  which  he  had  been  placed.  In 
December  following  he  was  tried  by  a  council  of  war,  found 
guilty,  and  sentenced  to  be  beheaded;  but  was  afterwards  par- 
doned by  the  Lord-General,  through  the  interest  of  his  father,^^ 

The  death  of  one  of  the  Chamberlayne  family  (of  Wickham 
in  the  parish  of  Banbviry),  in  a  skirmish  which  took  place  on 
the  4th  August  1643,  leads  to  a  brief  notice  of  some  members 
of  that  family.  Sir  THOMAS  CHAMBERLAYNE  of  Wickham, 
bart.,  (who  married  in  the  year  1612,)  was  Justice  of  the  King's 

(42)  Merc.  Civicus,  No.  8.  (43)  Merc.  Civicns,  No.  8. 

(44)  State  Trials.  Prynne  conducted  the  case  against  Fiennes.  With  reference  to  state- 
ments then  made  of  Fiennes's  valour  aforetime,  at  Powick  Bi'idge  and  at  Edgehill,  (see  pp. 
308  and  318  of  this  vol.,)  Prynne  said : — "  that  he  [Nathaniel  Fiennes]  and  his  brother 
[John  Fiennes]  were  some  of  the  last  officers  of  horse  who  there  came  oS  the  field,  it  might 
be  as  well  because  they  were  in  the  rear  of  all  the  horse  and  so  could  not  possibly  fly  out 
of  the  field  before  the  rest,  as  by  reason  of  any  extraordinary  valour  in  them  more'than 
others :"  and  that  Nathaniel  Fiennes's  "  valiant  charging  in  Sir  Wm.  Balfore's  regiment 
at  Edgehill,  where  every  man  did  valiantly,  and  none  turned  their  backs  in  all  that  bri- 
gade, can  be  no  speciall  proof  of  his  courage,  since  every  coward  will  charge  in  company 
when  no  man  tui-ueth  his  back,  and  where  there  is  greater  danger  in  flying  than  charging.'" 
(P.  770.) 

Lord  Nugent  observes  that  "  the  courage  of  Fiennes  was  given  to  him  in  an  unequal 
measure;  and  his  is  one  of  the  instances,  not  unfrequently  met  with,  which  show  that 
courage  is  a  faculty  which  may  materially  depend  upon  the  different  positions  of  responsi- 
bility in  which  the  man  is  placed.  There  is  no  reason  for  imputing  personal  timidity  to 
Nathaniel  Fiennes.  On  the  contrary,  his  valour  was  often  and  eminently  displayed  ;  nor 
was  there  ever,  in  the  most  hazardous  moments,  a  bolder  politician.  Yet  there  licver  was 
a  man  whose  timidity  under  a  great  military  charge,  such  as  that  in  which  it  was  his  mis- 
fortune to  find  himself  when  he  commanded  at  the  defence  of  Bristol,  gave  stronger  proof 
of  his  consciousness  that  for  such  duties  he  was  entirely  mifit."  (Hampden's  Memo,  v,  2, 
p.  35.)  Lord  Clarendon  says  that,  if  Fiennes  "  had  not  encumbered  himself  with  com- 
mand in  the  army,  to  which  men  thought  his  nature  not  so  well  disposed,  he  had  sure  been 
second  to  none  in  those  [the  Parliament's]  counsels  after  Mr.  Hampden's  death."  Hist. 
Rebel.,  v.  2,  p.  409.)  Joshua  Sprigge  (once  of  Banbury),  a  witness  partial  to  Fiennes,  when 
mentioning  the  re-capture  of  Bristol  by  the  Parliament  in  1645,  says : — "  Besides  the  pub- 
lique  mercy  to  the  kingdome,  in  the  recovery  of  Bristol,  the  vindication  of  Colonel  Na- 
thaniel Fiennes  (once  governour  thereof)  seems  to  have  been  also  particularly  designed  by 
Providence.  The  general,  with  the  lieutenant-general  (sitting  upon  Prior's-hill  fort  after 
the  storm)  and  most  of  the  chief  officers  of  the  army,  upon  a  view  of  the  place  ;  comparing 
the  present  strength  of  it,  with  \vhat  it  was  when  he  delivered  it,  and  other  circumstances  ; 
freely  expressed  themselves,  as  men  abundantly  satisfied,  concerning  the  hard  misfortune 
that  befell  that  noble  gentleman." — Anglia  Rediviva,  p.  119. 


350  CHAMBERLAYNE  OF  WICKHAM. 

Bench,  Oct.  8th,  1620,^^  and  Chief  Justice  of  Chester.  He  was 
living  in  1622;*®  but  probably  dead  in  1628,  when  Wickham 
was  the  residence  of  Sir  Thomas  Dutton.'^  Judge  Chamber- 
lajne  was  interred  in  the  chancel  of  Banbury  Church ;  where  his 
tomb  also  was  erected,  but  was  afterwards  mutilated  by  the  sol- 
diers during  the  Civil  Wars.  Bray,  in  1777,  says,  the  remains 
of  two  *'  figures  in  the  chancel,  said  to  be  those  of  Judge  Cham- 
berlaine  and  his  wife,  shew  the  folly  of  fanaticism  in  the  last 
century."^** 

Of  the  original  mansion  at  WiCKHAM  no  account  appears  to 
have  been  preserved  beyond  its  embattlement  in  the  4th  year  of 
Edward  the  Third.  (See  p.  107.)  In  the  reign  of  James  the 
First  a  new  mansion  was  erected  by  Judge  Chamberlayne  :*®  this 
was  for  the  most  part  taken  down,  and  another  residence  subse- 
quently erected.  Wickham  became  the  property  of  the  Dashwood 
family  of  Kirtlington,  by  the  marriage  of  Sir  Robert  Dashwood 
bart.,  about  the  reign  of  James  II.,  with  Penelope,  daughter  and 
coheiress  of  Sir  Thomas  Chamberlayne. 

The  officer  who  was  slain  in  the  skirmish  above  alluded  to  was 
Captain  James  Chamberlayne,  the  youngest  brother  of  that  Sir 
Thomas  Chamberlayne  of  Wickham  who  in  1643  was  high-sheriff 
of  Oxfordshire.  On  Friday  the  4th  August,  a  party  of  thirty 
horse  from  Banbury,  commanded  by  Captain  Chamberlayne,  fell 
in,  near  Towcester,  with  about  120  Parliamentarians  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Lawson.  In  an  affair  which  ensued.  Captain 
Chamberlayne  was  first  wounded,  and  afterwards  shot  dead.  He 
had  been  at  the  battles  of  Powick  Bridge,  Edgehill,  &c.,  where 
"  his  valour  was  eminently  manifested  :"  the  Court  periodical  adds 
that  he,  by  this  last  action  wherein  he  lost  his  life,  added  further 
"  to  the  honour  of  that  worthy  and  loyall  family."  Captain  Law- 
son  also  was  wounded,  and  some  of  his  men  killed.^" 

The  Court  periodical  gives  one  of  two  intercepted  letters  of 
Captain  Lawson  relating  to  this  affair ;  which,  with  a  sort  of 
running  comment  made  by  the  publisher  and  inserted  in  brackets, 
stands  as  follows  : — 

'•'  This  is  to  give  you  notice  that  I  have  given  the  Banbarians  the 
greatest  overthrow  that  ever  they  received ;  I  heard  of  90  Cavaliers  [alias 

(4.5)  Whitworth's  Nobility.  (46)  Baker's  Northamp. 

(47)  Whateley's  Sermon  on  the  Fire  of  Banbury.  (48)  Bray's  Tour,  p.  31. 

(49)  Information  from  Daniel  Stuart  Esq.,  the  present  proprietor  of  Wickham. 

(50)  Merc.  Aulicus,  compare  32nd  and  33rd  week. 


CHAMBERLAYNE  OF  WICKHAM.  'Wl 

50]  at  a  place  called  Towcester,  neare  us  ;  they  advanced  towards  me,  and 
I  advanced  towards  them  with  a  brave  courage,  and  so  did  my  troopes 
likewise,  and  I  my  selfe  advanced  to  their  nose,  and  their  Captainc 
towards  me  ;  we  both  discharged,  but  I  shot  him  just  in  the  very  head ; 
he  is  one  of  great  note,  one  Captaine  James  Chamberlaine,  one  of  the 
greatest  accompt  that  was  in  England,  esteemed  by  the  King  and  all  the 
noblemen  :  To  be  short,  I  routed  his  forces,  kill'd  dead  in  the  field  18 
brave  men  [he  lyes  but  15]  and  14  taken  prisoners  [that  is  4]  all  the  rest 
grievously  woxmded  [his  owne  bee  meanes.]  Brother,  for  the  time  there 
was  never  such  service,  there  were  but  7  of  my  men  hurt  [kill'd  and 
wounded  just  27.]  I  my  selfe  was  cut  over  the  backe,  [his  other  letter 
sayes,  the  cut  was  in  his  hand,  likely  it  was  on  the  backe  of  his  hand :] 
the  Captaine  and  I  did  fight  it  out  to  the  last  [and  yet  the  Captaine  was 
shot  dead  at  the  first]  there  is  great  lament  made  for  him,  I  have  his 
horse.  There  is  two  of  Sir  John  Deiklies  men  came  over  to  mee  for  be- 
having myselfe  in  the  field  ;  they  report  if  I  would  come  to  them,  I 
should  have  command  of  500  horse.  So  the  Lord  make  me  thankefuU 
to  my  God  for  my  behaving  my  selfe  in  the  field.  If  I  had  beene  a 
Prince  I  could  have  no  more  honour.  Most  of  all  Northampton  came 
out  and  brought  mee  into  the  towne,  I  pray  you  shew  my  father  Hamleton 
this  letter,  and  all  our  friends.     I  rest  your  owne, 

Thomas  Lawson."^ 

August  18th.  "  It  was  advertised  tliis  day  also  that  a  partee 
of  horse  sent  out  of  Banbury  by  the  Earle  of  Northampton,  had 
intercepted  a  stand  of  armes  of  Sir  Peter  Wentworth's  ;  which 
put  the  towne  of  Northampton  into  sucli  a  fright,  that  witlaout 
the  consent  of  the  Committee,  the  Maior  and  others  of  the  Magis- 
trates tliereof,  sent  one  Captaine  Spicer  to  tlie  Earle  of  Manchester, 
to  have  his  advice  concerning  the  keeping  or  yielding  up  of  the 
town.'"- 

In  this  month  of  Atigust,  Lord  Wilmot  was  appointed  to  the 
command  of  a  strong  body  of  the  King's  horse,  which  were  sta- 
tioned about  Banbury  to  watch,  and  if  possible  to  prevent,  the 
advance  of  the  Parliamentarian  forces  to  the  relief  of  Gloucester. 
On  the  20th  the  King  in  person  took  the  conduct  of  the  siege  of 
that  city.  The  Parliament  ordered  the  Earl  of  Essex  to  relieve 
it;  and  on  the  26th  he  began  his  march  to  Beaconsfield,  and 
afterwards  proceeded  to  Brackley  heath  ;  where  the  Earl  awaited 
a  reinforcement  from  London  of  the  trainbands  and  other  aux- 
iliaries. These  arriving  on  the  1st  September,  his  army  amoun- 
ted to  15,000  men.  Essex  took  up  liis  quarters  at  Aynho,  and 
sent  a  regiment  forward  that  night  to  DeddinGTON,  under  the 

(1 )  Merc.  Aulicus,  pp.  445,  440.  (2)  Merc.  Aulicus. 


352  AFFAIR  AT  DEDDINGTON,  1643. 

command  of  Colonel  INIiddleton ;  who,  hearing  of  two  regiments 
of  the  King's  horse  being  there,  first  sent  two  companies  of  dra- 
goons and  a  party  of  horse  to  approach  the  town.  The  King's 
horse  thereupon  retreated  to  a  passage  towards  Oxford,  where  Lord 
Wilmot  was  with  fifty  troops.  The  next  morning,  two  Parha- 
mentarian  regiments,  conducted  by  Colonel  Middleton  and  Sir 
James  Ramsay,  advanced  to  that  pass,  where  the  enemy  stood  in 
two  great  bodies  ;  and,  after  some  skirmish,  gained  the  pass  and 
placed  dragoons  to  maintain  it.  The  King's  forces,  however, 
drew  up  again  towards  it,  and  a  very  hot  skirmish  ensued, 
which  lasted  many  hours.  At  length  the  King's  troops  made  a 
retreat ;  but,  perceiving  that  Colonel  Middleton  marched  back 
towards  the  main  army,  they  sent  a  party  of  horse  to  fall  on  his 
rear,  who  followed  them  through  Deddington,  but  were  beaten 
back  through  the  town  in  some  confusion.^ 

The  Lord-General,  with  his  own  regiment  of  horse,  and  the 
Lord  Gray,  came  to  Adderbury  ;  and,  upon  intelligence  that  some 
of  the  King's  horse  from  Banbury  were  abroad,  they  sent  out  a 
party  from  both  regiments,  who  beat  the  Royalists  back  again 
to  Banbury,  and  pursued  them  into  the  town,  where  they  took 
some  horses  and  prisoners ;  the  troops  in  the  Castle  not  ven- 
turing to  come  out.  The  Lord-General  continued  his  march  to 
Chipping  Norton,  and  thence,  on  the  4th  September,  towards 
Stow  on  the  VYold.^  After  various  movements  by  Essex  and  by 
the  forces  of  Charles,  the  battle  of  Newbury  (the  first  so  named) 
was  fought  on  the  20th  September  ;  where  was  slain,  upon  the 
King's  side.  Lord  Falkland,  a  character  adorned  with  almost 
every  virtue,  and  whose  residence  and  burial  at  Great  Tew  con- 
nect his  name  with  our  local  history. 

September  8th.  This  day  a  party  of  horse  sent  out  from  Ban- 
bury by  "  Serjeant  Major  Compton  (brother  to  the  noble  Earle  of 
Northampton),"  took,  near  Towcester,  two  officers  of  the  Earl 
of  Essex  who  were  passing  from  London  towards  his  Excellency.^ 

October.  "Upon  Friday  last  was  a  rendezvous  at  Banbury 
and  the  adjacent  towns  of  foure  regiments  of  the  Kings  horse, 
the    Lord   of   Northamptons   six    troopes,   Colonell    Bellacis   six 

troopes,    the   Lord    Cravens   4   troops,   and    Colonell 

foure  troopes,  and  two  other  troops  not  regimented,  in  all  22 
troopes,  but  few  of  them,  if  any  full ;    to  whom  was  joyned  700 

(3)  May's  Hist.  Pail.,  p.  221.      (4)  May's  Hist.  Tarl.,  pp.  221,  222.      (.5)  Merc.  Aulicus. 


THE  PLAGUE  AT  BANBURY,  1G43.  3r)3 

foote,  clioice  men,  ten  or  more  out  of  every  company  in  and 
about  Oxford,  they  were  300  Red-coats,  and  200  Blue,  and  200 
mixed  coloured  coats,  but  no  Colours  or  Ensignes  amongst  them, 
being  a  commanded  party ;  these  marched  from  Banbury  on 
Saturday  Octob.  14,  to  Daventry,  and  on  the  Lords  day  they 
came  to  Longbuckby  where  they  stood  all  in  one  body,  and  about 
noone  that  day  came  Prince  Rupert  and  the  tiirne-coate  Urry, 
with  about  24  horse-men,  having  lyen  that  night  before  at  the 
Crowne  in  Banbury."'"' 

The  Court  periodical  contains  the  following  piece  of  news  on 
Tuesday,  Oct.  31st.  '*  Master  Wotton  [Puritan]  Minister  of  the 
church  of  Warmington,  about  foure  miles  (it  should  not  be  farre) 
from  Banbury ;  this  Wotton  hath  beene  a  Captaine  of  a  troope 
of  horse  in  Warwick  garrison  above  a  twelve-moneth,  where  he 
hath  done  the  worke  both  in  the  saddle  and  in  the  pulpit  very 
effectually,  and  like  a  brave  zelot  fell  to  practise  so  boysterously, 
that  he  now  lyeth  prisoner  in  Warwick  castle,  where  liis  owne 
brethren  in  the  rebellion  have  laid  him  fast,  for  no  great  fault, 
onely  for  ravisliing  the  lady  Verney's  maid."" 

Under  the  date  of  "Saturday,  Nov.  11  to  Nov.  18,"  it  was 
reported  at  London  that  Banbury  Castle  then  contained  only  a 
very  small  force,  and  that  it  was  thought  it  might  be  taken.^ 

Thursday,  Dec.  28th.  John  Harris,  a  carpenter  of  Adderbury, 
went  into  Adderbury  Church,  and  tore  in  pieces,  first,  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer,  and  then  the  Bible. ^ 

That  the  Plague  raged  in  Banbury  this  year  may  be  inferred 
from  the  number  of  deaths  recorded  in  the  Register;  and  it 
is  so  asserted  by  Anthony  a  Wood.^°  The  number  of  entries 
in  the  Register  of  "  soldiers "  buried  this  year  is  fifty-eight : 
the  following  are  extracts  from  this  record  : — 

Jan.     "  Richard  Jaxson  a  soldiar  that  was  stabdd  &  bviried  23th  day." 

Feb.  "  A  soldier  from  the  castel  that  cam  fro'  Sisciter  buried  22th  day." 
"A  soldiar  that  dyed  in  the  street  neer  to  the  Swan  buried  22th 
day." 

May.    "  Two  soldiars  of  Parliament  army  buried  7th  day." 
"  A  soldiar  of  Captaine  Clarks  buried  8th  day." 
"  Richard  Collins  at  the  Whit  Hart  buried  12th  day." 
"  A  soldiar  buried  from  the  Towne  hall  13th  day." 
"  A  parliament  soldiar  buried  fro  the  hall  25th  day." 

June.  "  A  parliament  soldiar  buried  from  the  Leather  hall  17th  day." 
"  A  parliament  soldiar  from  y<^  Towne  hall  buried  25th  day." 

(0)  True  and  Punctuall  Relation,  Oct.  28.  (7)  Merc.  Aulicus. 

(8)  True  Informer,  No.  9.  (9)  Merc.  Aulicus.  (10)  Bliss'.s  Wood's  Athena3. 

2  Y 


3.)4  THE  YEARS  1643— 164i. 

Aug.  A  soldier  bviried  from  "  the  Georg." 

Sept.  "  Captayne  AVilliam  Dauers  buried  25th  day." 

Dec.  "  Stafford  a  Captaine  buried  19th  day." 


THE  YEAR  1644  ;  TO  THE  BATTLE  OF 
CROPREDY  BRIDGE. 

At  the  end  of  February  1644,  Edward  East,  a  spy  in  tlie 
employ  of  Sir  Samuel  Luke  (governor  of  Newport  Pagnell  for 
the  Parliament),  returned  to  Newport  Pagnell  with  intelligence 
that  there  were  then  at  Banbury  200  horse  and  100  foot ;  and 
that  Colonel  GREEN  was  Governor  there  "  till  y"  younge  L*^  of 
Northampton  is  retorned  from  Oxford."'^ 

Tuesday,  March  oth.  Under  this  date  the  Court  periodical 
states,  that  a  party  of  the  Parliamentarians  "  came  this  weeke 
from  Warwick  commanded  by  Bridges  and  Hawksford,  the  two 
govemours  of  the  castle  and  towne  of  ^Yarwick.  These  two 
rebells  with  120  horse  fell  in  upon  Adderbury  (2  miles  from  Ban- 
bury) before  4  of  the  clocke  on  Sunday  morning,  at  which  tune 
Major  Jackson,  according  to  his  usuall  course  every  morning, 
was  drawing  the  regiment  together,  but  these  rebels  were  upon 
them  before  they  were  in  order,  and  smprized  Sir  Arnold  de  Lisle 
(Lieut.  Col.  of  that  regiment).  Major  Jackson,  and  12  troopers 
with  21  horse.  The  alarme  whereof  was  given  to  Sir  William 
Compton  (brother  to  the  noble  Earle  of  Northampton)  at  Ban- 
bury, by  that  expert  Captaine  Trist  (of  Prince  Charles  his  regi- 
ment) who  rallied  37  of  the  regunent  and  persued  :  Sir  WilUam 
Compton  issuing  out  of  Banbury  with  neare  80  horse  more  :  But 
though  the  rebells  had  conveyed  away  the  prisoners  and  horses 
with  a  partee  before.  Sir  William  Compton  overtooke  about  80 
of  them  going  downe  EdgehUl,  and  in  Radway  field,  charged 
them  3  times,  killed  12,  tooke  some  prisoners,  whereof  one  was 
their  scout-master  (one  Hericke,  an  active  mischievous  pillager) 
together  with  30  horses."^-  The  following  notice  of  this  affair 
occurs  in  the  Letter-Book  of  Sir  Samuel  Luke : — 

"Wednesday  6  March  1643  [4].  Masf  Bridges  haveing  got  intelli- 
gence y*  y'^  Pr.  Regim*  q''tred  at  Adderbury  &  Boddington  [Deddington  ?] 

(11)  Letter-Book  of  Sir  Samuel  Luke,  vol.  1,  among  tlie  Egerton  MSS.  (No.  785)  in  the 
Brit.  Mus. 

(12)  Merc.  Aulicus. 


CROMWELL  AT  BANBURY,  1(J14.  355 

beyond  Bambury  had  a  longing  desire  to  bee  dealing  \vti'  y™  but  having 
not  stren.  of  horse  sufficient  for  y'  purpose,  communicated  to  Coll.  Purefoy 
his  intent,  &  desired  his  assistance,  who  readyly  lent  GO  horse  imd''  y'= 
Command  of  Cap*  Hauckworth,  a  gallant  and  stoute  man,  to  assist  y« 
Major  in  his  designe,  w^''  being  joyned  to  a  p'ty  of  horse  &  Dragoones  of 
his  owne,  upon  Sonday  morning  aboute  breake  of  day  fell  into  y'=  Enemies 
quarters,  where  they  killed  a  Lieu'  and  5  or  6  troopers  more  tooke  Lieu' 
Coir  Delita  a  frenchman,  Serj'  Maj''  Jackson,  one  Cap',  one  Lieu',  one 
Cornet,  3  Quarter  Masters,  about  30  Troopers,  and  neare  80  horse  ;  so 
y'  brave  Regim'  is  now  ruined  &  most  of  y'=  officers  prisoners  in  War- 
wick Castle  y^  prayse  of  all  W^^'  bee  given  to  God  alone."" 

It  appears  that  at  this  time  the  Earl  of  Northampton  was  absent 
from  Banbury,  with  his  regiment,  wateliing  for  a  convoy  of  the 
ParUamentarians  between  Warwick  and  Gloucester."  The  Earl 
of  Manchester  had  appointed  Oliver  Cromwell  with  a  consider- 
able force  to  guard  this  convoy.^^  An  account  between  the  7th 
and  ]  4th  of  March  says,  "  Col.  Cromwell  hath  driven  the  Ban- 
bury Cavaliers  into  the  Castle,  possessed  himself  of  the  town, 
where  he  now  remains  with  a  considerable  number  of  horse  and 
foot,  and  hath  sent  for  some  great  guns  to  Warwick  and  North- 
ampton, resolving  to  enforce  them  to  yield  or  batter  the  Castle 
about  their  ears.""^  Cromwell  did  not,  however,  remain  long  at 
Banbury,  but  was  soon  moving  after  Prince  Rupert.  On  the 
21st  March  it  was  reported  to  Sir  Samuel  Luke  at  Newport 
Pagnell,  that  some  of  the  King's  horse  were  gone  to  quarter  at 
Steeple  Aston  ;  and  that  the  Earl  of  Northampton,  who  went  lately 
out  of  Banbury  with  a  regiment  of  horse,  was  returned  to  Ban- 
bury with  about  twenty :  that  there  were  no  foot  soldiers  in  the 
town  of  Banbury,  and  but  few  in  the  Castle,  "insomuch  that  it 
is  thought  that  a  small  force  would  take  it."" 

On  Thursday  the  18th  April,  a  party  of  about  thirty  or  fifty 
of  the  Parliamentarian  infantry,  being  sent  by  Serjeant-Major 
Whetham,  governor  of  Northampton,  to  collect  money  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Banbury,  took  up  their  quarters  at  Sir  John 
Drayton's  [Drydeii's]  house  at  Canons  Ashby,  six  [ten]  miles 
from  Banbury.  In  the  night,  a  party  of  about  200  foot  and 
twenty  horse  from  Banbury  Castle,'^  (or,  according  to  another 
account,  a  party  of  the  Earl  of  Northampton's  horse  with  eighty 

(13)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  Samuel  Luke,  vol.  1.  (11)  Merc.  Auliciis,  p.  866. 

(15)  Perf.  Diurnal,  March  5tli.  (16)  Merc.  Civicus. 

(17)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  Samuel  Luke,  vol.  1.  (18)  Merc.  Civicus. 

2  y3 


3.)()         COMPTON  WYNYATE  TAKEN  BY 

foot  from  Bauburj/^J  came  into  Canons  x\slibj :  the  Parlia- 
mentarians, lia\ing  intelligence  of  their  approach,  retreated  into 
the  church  for  safety,  where  the  enemy  pursued  them,  and  soon 
effected  an  entrance  by  fastening  a  petard  upon  the  door,  which 
forced  it  open.  Thereupon  the  Parliamentarians  took  refuge  in 
the  steeple,  where  they  maintained  their  position  for  two  hours ; 
but  at  length,  the  enemy  beginning  to  set  fire  to  it,  they  surren- 
dered on  terms,  and  were  all  (except  one,  who  was  left  behind 
wounded)  conveyed  prisoners  to  Banbury.  One  of  the  Royalists 
was  killed  by  a  stone  thrown  from  the  steeple,  and  two  or  three 
others  were  wounded.  The  Royalists  took  thirty  muskets  and 
aboiit  £7  in  money ;  and  put  all  the  prisoners  (except  the  clerk 
of  the  company,  who  commanded  the  party,  and  who  was  car- 
ried into  the  Castle,)  into  a  barn  at  Banbury.  The  next  day  the 
committee  and  Governor  of  Northampton  sent  to  offer  an  ex- 
change of  prisoners ;  which  being  refused,  they,  on  Friday  the 
26th  AprU,  dispatched  five  or  six  troops  of  cavalry  with  fifty 
firelocks  to  Banbury.  These  forces,  being  led  into  the  town  on 
foot,  on  Saturday  morning  released  the  prisoners  in  the  barn, 
and  then  marched  into  the  body  of  the  town ;  where  they  were 
opposed  by  a  party  of  the  enemy,  whom  they  drove  into  the 
Castle,  taking  thirty-two  prisoners.  They  also  rescued  ten  men 
who  had  been  impressed,  and  took  about  forty  horses  and  as  many 
muskets,  with  which  booty  they  returned  to  Northampton,  with 
the  loss  of  only  one  man,  who,  adventuring  too  far,  was  taken 
prisoner  by  the  enemy.-" 

On  the  9th  June,  it  was  reported  from  Buckingham  to  New- 
port Pagnell  that  there  were  at  that  time  none  of  the  King's 
forces  lying  nearer  than  Banbury  ;  where  there  were  about  sixty 
soldiers  in  the  Castle.-'  On  the  12th  it  was  further  reported, 
"  that  Major  Bridges  with  his  forces  from  Warwickshire  and 
Coventry,  having  lain  before  Compton  House  on  Friday  and 
Saturday  last,  on  Sunday  morning  [June  9th]  took  it,  and  in  it 
the  Earl  of  Northampton's  brother.  Captain  Clarke,  Captain  Brad- 
well,  with  about  twelve  ofiicers  more,  and  120  common  soldiers, 
eighty  good  horses,  with  all  their  anus  and  ammunition,  and  sent 
them  to  Warwick.  That  all  the  horse  are  gone  from  Banbury 
to  Oxford,  and  only  a  few  foot  left  to  keep  the  Castle,  and  they 

(19)  More.  Aulicus,  pp.  9-18,  949. 

(20)  Merc.  Civicus,  No.49;  Pcrf.  DiiirnuU,  Xo.  tO;  Buker's  Northiimp. 
(■21)  MS.  Lelter-Boolc  of  Sir  Samuel  Luke,  vol.  1. 


THE  PARLIAMENTARIANS,  1G44.  357 

daily  expect  to  be  besieged  by  the  forces  wliicli  took  Comptoii 
House.""  Vicars  states,  that  Colonel  Purefoy  came  to  this  attack 
ou  Coinpton  with  his  own  Warwick  forces  and  some  strength 
added  from  Coventry  ;  and  that,  besides  120  prisoners,  he  took 
.i'5,000  in  money,  sixty  horses,  400  sheep,  near  100  head  of 
cattle,  and  eighteen  loads  of  other  plunder;  besides  five  or  six 
earthen  pots  of  money  which  were  afterwards  discovered  in  the 
fishpond.-^  Dugdale  says  : — «  The  rebels  with  400  foot  and  300 
horse  forced  Compton  House,  drove  the  park  and  killed  all  the 
deer,  and  defaced  the  monuments  in  ye  Church."-' 

The  Church  at  Compton  Wynyate  seems  to  have  been  little 
more  than  a  religious  appendage  to  the  "great  house:"  it  is  of  the 
same  age,  in  the  latest  style  of  Gothic,  without  any  remarkable 
features,  but  contains  some  fine  monuments  with  their  funeral 
achievements  and  banners.  The  figures  are  much  mutilated,  and 
the  whole  Church  is,  as  well  as  the  house,  in  a  very  desolate 
and  neglected  state. 

The  Parliament  had  equipped  two  strong  armies  in  the  south 
of  England,  wliich,  under  the  Earl  of  Essex  and  Sir  William 
Waller,  moved  in  opposite  directions  for  the  purpose  of  shutting 
up  the  King  in  Oxford.  There  Charles  had  summoned  a  Par- 
liament, which  was  attended  by  a  great  number  of  Peers  and  by 
about  140  members  of  the  House  of  Commons :  his  forces  how- 
ever amounted  to  only  about  10,000  men.  Leaving  a  part  of 
these  at  Oxford,  the  King,  on  the  3rd  June,  dexterously  evaded 
both  the  armies  which  were  sent  against  him,  and  took  his  way 
towards  Worcester;  whither  the  Earl  of  Essex  directed  Waller 
to  follow  him.  The  King,  by  a  series  of  well-executed  ma- 
noeuvres, soon  returned  to  Oxford ;  and,  having  reinforced  his 
army  from  the  troops  he  had  left  there,  marched  out  again  in 
search  of  Waller,  whom  he  had  effectually  separated  from  the 
other  army  of  the  Parliament  at  the  same  time  that  he  had  con- 
centrated his  own  forces. 

Meanwhile  Waller,  having  failed  of  finding  Charles,  had  ap- 
peared before  Worcester;  but,  finding  that  city  well  provided 
for  defence,  he  proceeded  to  Gloucester,  and  thence  to  Shipston 
upon  Stour.     On  the  26th  June  he  had  his  rendezvous  in  Kine- 

(32)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  Samuel  Luke,  vol.  1. 
(2.3)  ViciU-s's  England's  Parliamentary  Chronicle. 

(24)  Dugdale's  Diary.    He  gives  the"  date  June  ^ih  1613,  evidently  a  mistake.     8ec  Ri- 
craft  and  others. 


358  THE  KING  AT  BANBURY:    JUNE  1644. 

ton  field,  where  lie  was  joined  by  fresh  forces  bringing  with  them 
eleven  pieces  of  ordnance.  The  King  now  saw  there  was  a  chance 
of  battle,  and  he  determined  to  offer  it.  He  had  gone  to  Bucking- 
ham on  the  22nd,  and  thence  he  now  marched  with  liis  whole 
army,  consisting  of  5,500  foot  and  4,000  horse,  to  Bracklej,^* 
where  he  is  recorded  to  have  slept  on  the  night  of  the  26th  at 
"  the  College  there. "-"^  On  the  next  day,  being  Thursday  the 
27th  June,  the  King  proceeded  to  Culworth,  seven  miles  from 
Banbury,  where  he  rested  that  night  at  the  house  of  Sir  Samuel 
Danvers."^  Receiving  intelligence  there  that  Waller  was  not  far 
from  Banbury,  the  King  moved  with  his  army,  early  on  the  morn- 
ing of  Friday  the  28th,  towards  Banbury,  and  arrived  about  ten 
o'clock  in  the  forenoon  at  "  Leigh  Grounds,  about  a  mile  on  the 
east  side "  of  the  town,"^  where  he  had  a  rendezvous.  As  the 
King's  march  from  Culworth  towards  Banbury  must  have  been 
either  through  Chacombe  or  along  the  Banbury  Lane,  "  Leigh 
Grounds  "  may  probably  be  identified  as  Bandon  Leys  or  Bandy 
Leys,  a  part  of  the  lofty  Castle  Hill  in  the  parish  of  Chacombe, 
two  miles  and  three  quarters  northeast  from  Banbury,  and  com- 
manding a  full  view  of  the  country  about  Crouch  Hill  and  Han- 
well.  (See  the  Map,  Plate  4.)  The  morning  was  rainy  and 
misty,  which  prevented  the  King's  discovering  Waller  early  in 
the  day :  but  towards  the  afternoon  the  weather  became  bright 
and  fair,  when  the  Parliament's  forces  were  seen  drawn  up  on 
"  Hanwell  warren,"  at  "  about  a  mile  "  [really  three  miles]  distance, 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Cherwell.  Hereupon  the  Royal  army 
was  instantly  ordered  to  advance,  with  the  intention  of  passing 
over  Banbury  bridge  and  tlirough  Banbury  in  order  to  take  pos- 
session of  Crouch  Hill  (see  the  Map,  Plate  25) :  it  presently  ap- 
peared however  that  Sir  William  Waller  had  an  intention  to 
possess  himself  of  that  vantage-ground;  and  thus,  in  the  race 
to  gain  the  summit  of  Crouch  Hill,  were  seen,  advancing  from 
the  east,  Charles,  leading  onward  through  the  town  his  gallant 
army  of  more  than  ten  thousand  men,  and,  from  the  north,  the 
forces   of   Sir  William  Waller.      The  King's  distance  from  the 

(25)  Sir  E.  Walker's  "Happy  Progress,"  pp.  28—30;  compared  with  the  "Exact 
Dyai-ie  "  quoted  hereafter,  pp.  364,  365. 

(26)  Iter  Carolinum. 

(27)  Iter  Carolinum.  The  manor-house  at  Culworth,  long  the  alwile  of  the  Danvers 
family,  stood  near  the  centre  of  the  village.  It  was  lately  in  a  very  dilapidated  state; 
and  has  heen  since  converted  into  a  dwelling-house  quite  destitute  of  architectural  interest, 
the  residence  of  Mr.  Egleston. 

(28)  Sir  E.  Walker's  "  Happy  Progress,"  p.  30. 


SKIRMISH  AT  NEITHORP:    JUNE  1644.  3;')!) 

hill  was  tlie  greatest ;  besides  wliicli,  liis  forces  were  retarded  by 
the  necessity  of  defiling  over  the  bridge  and  through  the  streets 
of  the  town.  Waller  gained  possession  of  the  hill;  whereupon 
the  Kmg's  forces  retired,  and  lay  that  night  in  the  fields  be- 
tween Grimsbury  and  the  Overthorp  and  Middleton  hills,  or 
about  "  half  a  mile  "  on  the  east  of  Banbury."^  The  Cherwell, 
and  the  Castle  of  Banbury,  were  thois  between  the  adverse  forces. 

That  afternoon  and  evening  did  not  pass,  however,  without  a 
skirmish  between  the  outposts  of  the  two  armies.  A  party  of  the 
King's  foot  under  Colonel  Thelwall  had  been  drawn  up  beyond 
Banbury  to  defend  the  western  side  of  the  town  and  the  adjacent 
hamlet  of  Neithorp :  these  were  attacked  by  a  party  of  Waller's 
troops,  who  however  were  repulsed  with  the  loss  on  their  part  of 
a  lieutenant-colonel  and  eight  men  slain,  besides  many  wounded.^" 
The  King  slept  that  night  at  a  "  a  Yeoman's  house  "  at  Grims- 
bury,^^ It  is  traditionally  told  that  his  quarters  were  in  the  old 
manor-house,  a  somewhat  humble  abode  which  was  lately  stand- 
ing on  the  spot  where  Mr.  Fisher  has  erected  his  modern  residence. 

On  the  next  morning  (Saturday  the  29th  Jmie),  the  King, 
concluding  that  he  was  not  hkely  by  any  other  means  to  draw 
Waller  from  his  strong  position,  and  deeming  it  dangerous  to 
attempt  to  force  it,  resolved  to  move  northwards  towards  Da- 
ventry,  and  to  watch  Waller's  motions,  with  the  hope  of  advan- 
tageously gi\TJig  him  battle.  On  commencing  its  march,  the  van 
of  the  Royal  army  was  led  by  Earl  Brainford  (lieutenant-general) 
and  Lord  Wilmot ;  ^"  the  main  body  by  the  King  in  person,  in 
whose  train  the  Prince  was  ;  and  the  infantry  of  the  rear,  con- 
sisting of  one  thousand  men,  were  led  by  Colonel  Thelwall,  and 
accompanied  by  the  Earl  of  Northampton's  and  the  Earl  of 
Cleveland's  brigades  of  horse.  The  army  was  scarcely  thus  in 
motion  before  Sir  William  Waller  drew  off  from  Ins  advanta- 
geous ground,  and  marched  along  the  other  side  of  the  Cher- 
well,  at  some  distance,  taking  up  a  new  position  on  Bourton  hill. 
(See  the  INlap,  Plate  25.)     A  party  of  the  King's  dragoons  was 

(29)  Sir  E.  Walker's  "  Happy  Progress,"  p.  30. 

(30)  Sir  E.  Walker's  "  Happy  Progress,"  p.  30.  Sir  Edward  was  Secretary  at  War  and 
Gaiter  King  at  Arms,  and  accompanied  the  army.  His  work  was  written  by  command  of 
the  King,  and  revised  by  his  Majesty's  own  hand. 

(31)  Iter  Carolinum. 

(32)  Henry  Wilmot,  viscount  Wilmot  of  Ireland,  had  his  residence  at  Adderbury. 
(See  some  notice  of  him  in  p.  302.)  In  this  year  1644  he  was  created  an  English  peer  by 
the  title  of  Baron  Wilmot  of  Addkreirv.'  In  1652  he  was  created  Earl  of  Eochester. 
He  died  at  Dunkirk  in  16.59. 


300  BATTLE  OF 

thereupon  immediately  sent  forward  to  keep  Cropredy  Bridge/^ 
which  formed  a  communication  across  the  Cherwell  between  the 
two  armies.  The  King  sta^'ed  to  dine  beneath  a  large  Ash  tree 
in  the  fields  between  Williamscot  and  Wardington.^"*  Informa- 
tion was  now  received  by  the  King  that  300  Parliamentarian 
horse  had  approached  within  two  miles  of  his  van  for  the  pur- 
pose of  joining  Waller;  in  consequence  of  which  intelligence 
the  van  of  the  King's  horse  were  sent  forward,  and  the  main 
body  had  the  same  orders,  with  the  intent  to  cut  off  this  ad- 
vancing party  before  they  could  effect  their  object.  By  these 
movements,  of  which  no  notice  had  been  given  to  the  rear,  an 
interval  was  occasioned  in  the  King's  line  between  the  main 
body  and  the  rear;  and  Waller,  taking  immediate  advantage  of 
this  oversight,  advanced  with  1,500  horse,  1,000  foot,  and  eleven 
pieces  of  cannon,  to  Cropredy,  and  presently  forced  the  bridge ;  the 
dragoons  who  had  been  placed  to  guard  it  quitting  it  without  offer- 
ing much  resistance.  Waller's  party  advanced  above  half  a  mile 
over  the  bridge,  intending  to  cut  oif  the  King's  rear;  for  which 
purpose  also  Waller  ordered  1,000  horse  to  cross  the  Cherwell  at 
a  ford  a  mile  from  Cropredy  (in  the  direction  towards  Banbury), 
at  a  mill  now  called  Slate  mill,  in  order  to  fall  upon  the  extreme 
rear,  that  so  it  might  be  destroyed  between  two  forces.  "  Timely 
notice  being  given"  (says  Sir  Edward  Walker)  "to  the  Earl  of 
Cleveland,  then  in  the  van  of  that  [rear]  division,  of  the  rebels 
passage  at  Cropredy  (which  was  instantly  confirmed  by  the  chasing 
of  all  our  foot  and  scattered  horse  towards  the  bridge,  which  his 
Majesty  had  lately  passed,^^  by  two  bodies  of  their  horse  where 
they  stood  and  faced  the  Kings  [the  main]  army),  he  presently 
drew  up  liis  brigade  (consisting  of  his  own,  his  son  the  Lord 
Wentworth's,  Colonel  Richard  NeviVs,  Sir  William  Boteler's,  and 
Sir  William  Clerk's  regiments  of  horse,)  to  a  rising  ground  facing 
that  pass ;  where,  understanding  by  Colonel  Nevil  that  he  stood 
too  near  a  hedge  where  the  Rebels  might  place  some  foot,  he 
wheeled  towards  the  right  hand,  and  took  more  ground :    There 

(.3.3)  Sir  E.  Walker's  "  Happy  Progi-ess,"  pp.  30,  31 ;  &c. 

(31)  The  exact  .spot  where  stood  the  celebrated  "  Wardington  Ash"  beneath  whicli  the 
King  dined,  is  by  the  bridle-way  leading  from  Cropredy  Bridge  and  Williamscot  to  War- 
dington, about  seventy  yards  from  the  turapike  road.  Tales  tell  how  in  olden  time  witches 
used  to  dance  round  this  stately  tree.  It  was  gone  to  entire  decay  about  sixty  yeai's  ago ; 
and  subsequently  a  young,  and  now  thriving.  Ash  tree  was  planted  on  the  same  spot.  The 
field  in  which  this  stands  is  called  "  the  Ash  Ground." 

(35)  That  is,  passed  beyond  it,  but  on  the  same  side  of  the  river.  The  King  did  not  pass 
over  Cropredy  bridge. 


CROPREDY  BRIDGE:  JUNE  Kill.  -^('l 

lie  perceived  a  great  body  of  the  Rebels  horse  drawn  up  ready 
to  have  fallen  on  his  rear  ;  whereupon  (not  having  time  to  expect 
either  word  or  orders  from  the  Lord  Wilmot  lieutenant-general 
of  the  horse,)  he  gave  his  own  word  (hand  and  sword)  and,  pre- 
sently advancing,  that  body  of  the  Rebels  ran;  and  upon  that 
chase  one  cornet  and  some  other  prisoners  were  taken.  Upon 
this  alarm,  his  Majesty  made  a  stand,  calling  back  the  van  of 
the  army,  and  drawihg  up  the  rest  in  order  on  the  top  of  a  rising 
ground  beyond^''  the  bridge,  where  he  might  see  the  Rebels  pre- 
paring for  a  second  charge  [upon  the  rear].  Upon  wliich  his 
Majesty  commanded  the  Lord  Bernard  Stuart  to  make  haste  to 
the  assistance  of  the  rear,  and  by  the  way  to  attempt  those  two 
bodies  of  the  Rebels  horse  that  faced  his  Majesty.  His  lordsliip, 
attended  by  above  100  gentlemen  of  the  King's  troop  (winch  is 
ever  fullest  in  time  of  action),  returned  instantly  over  the  bridge,^'' 
and  made  haste  towards  those  two  bodies.  Who  by  this  time, 
seeing  their  fellows  routed  by  the  Earl  of  Cleveland,  were  ad- 
vancing to  charge  him  in  the  flank  as  he  was  following  the  exe- 
cution :  but  upon  the  advance  of  this  troop  turned  their  intended 
charge  into  a  flight,  wliich  no  question  much  facilitated  the  defeat 
of  the  Rebels.  The  Earl  of  Cleveland  after  his  first  encounter 
made  a  little  stand  near  a  great  Ash  (under  which  his  Majesty 
had  not  above  half  an  hour  before  been  invited  to  stay  and  dine)  ; 
there  he  perceived  a  great  body  of  the  Rebels  horse  of  sixteen 
colours,  and  as  many  colours  of  foot  placed  within  hedges,  all 
within  musket  shot  of  him.  This  caused  him  suddenly  to  ad- 
vance, the  Rebels  doing  the  like  ;  and  having  stoutly  stood  out 
their  musket  and  carabine  shot,  he  gave  command  to  charge,  and 
by  his  singular  valour  and  resolution,  seconded  by  the  officers 
of  his  brigade,  he  routed  all  those  horse  and  foot,  and  chased 
them  beyond  their  cannon ;  all  which  (being  eleven  pieces)  were 
then  taken,  and  two  barricades  of  wood  drawn  vn.th  wheels,  in 
each  seven  small  brass  and  leathern  guns,  charged  with  case  shot. 
Most  of  the  cannoneers  were  then  slain,  and  Weymes  general 
of  the  ordnance  to  Sir  William  Waller  taken  prisoner.  *  *  * 
Besides  this  Wejnnes  there  were  then  taken  Lieutenant-colonel 
Baker  (Sir  William  Waller's  own  lieutenant-colonel),  Lieutenant- 

(36)  Beyond  the  bridge.    Explained  by  note  35. 

(37)  This  must  mean  that  he  returned  beyond  the  bridge  (see  the  two  preceding  notes) ; 
unless  it  refers  to  Ayles  bridge  over  the  Cherwell  (between  Wardington  and  Chipping 
Wardon),  which  the  King  might  have  crossed  on  his  intended  route  towards  Daventry. 

2z 


362  BATTLE  OF 

colonel  Bapies,  Captain  Ramsey,  Captain  Hill,  Captain  Perry, 
Captain  Wert,  Cornet  Cawfield  (brother  to  the  Lord  Cawfield), 
with  many  more  lieutenants,  cornets,  ensigns,  and  quarter-masters, 
about  100  common  soldiers,  as  many  more  being  then  slain,  be- 
sides some  foot  colours  and  cornets  taken.  The  pursuit  was  as 
far  as  the  bridge  [of  Cropredy],  over  which  the  Rebels  were  forced 
in  despite  of  their  dragoons  they  had  placed  there  to  make  good 
their  retreat.  Which  being  done  the  Earl  of  Cleveland  returned, 
having  in  this  great  action  lost  two  Colonels,  who  were  persons 
of  singular  merit  and  courage,  and  both  shot  in  this  charge,  Sir 
William  Boteler  falling  first  (after  he  had  by  his  forward  and 
com-ageous  charging  given  ours  the  best  assurance  of  victory), 
and  presently  after  his  friend  and  countryman  [of  Kent]  Sir  Wil- 
liam Clerk,  at  the  head  of  his  regiment,  and  not  above  fourteen 
common  soldiers  more.  In  this  second  charge  the  Lord  Wilmot 
coming  to  join  with  the  Earl  of  Cleveland  received  two  shght 
shots,  the  one  in  his  left  arm,  and  the  other  on  his  belly,  and 
was  taken  prisoner,  but  he  presently  rescued  himself  again.  The 
Lord  Bernard  with  the  King's  troop,  seeing  no  enemy  to  en- 
counter, drew  up  in  a  large  field  opposite  to  the  bridge  where 
they  stood,  the  Rebels  cannon  playing  on  them  from  the  pass, 
until  his  Majesty  and  the  rest  of  his  army  came  by  them,  and 
were  joined  in  a  body  in  the  fields  about  Williscot  [Williamscot.] 

"  Before  this,  the  Earl  of  Northampton,  with  no  less  courage, 
finding  the  Rebels  that  were  come  over  the  pass  below  [Slate  Mill] 
to  follow  him  in  the  rear,  presently  faced  about  with  liis  own,  the 
Lord  Wilmot's,  Percy's,  and  Colonel  Weston's  regiments  of  horse, 
and  forced  the  Rebels  to  a  speedy  flight  over  the  pass,  but  with 
little  loss,  they  being  not  willing  to  abide  a  second  charge."^^ 
Lord  Clarendon  adds  to  this,  that  many  of  Waller's  soldiers, 
when  they  were  got  over  the  river,  continued  their  flight  as  if 
still  pursued,  and  never  again  returned  to  the  army.  The  con- 
tinuator  of  Baker's  Chronicle  says  that  Lord  Wilmot  was  twice 
made  prisoner  during  this  action  ;  but  was  rescued  once  by  Sir 
Frederick  Cornwallis,  and  the  second  time  by  Mr.  Robert  How- 
ard, who  was  knighted  for  the  ser%'ice  of  that  day. 

Upon  this  defeat  Waller  instantly  quitted  Cropredy,  leaving 
some  foot  and  dragoons  to  keep  the  bridge  and  the  ford  below  ; 
and  drew  up  his  army  on  the  high  grounds  near  Bourton,  between 

(38)  Sir  E.  Walker's  "  Happy  Progress,"  pp.  31—33. 


i 


CROPREDY  BRIDGE  :    JUNE  1644.  363 

Cropredy  and  Hanwell,  opposite  to  the  King's  quarters  at  Wil- 
liamscot,  and  in  view  about  a  mile  distant ;  the  Cherwell  and 
some  low  grounds  lying  between  the  armies.  It  was  now  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  the  weather  very  fair  and  warm. 
The  King  resolved  to  make  an  attempt  to  gain  Cropredy  bridge, 
and  also  the  ford  at  Slate  Mill ;  and  sent  parties  to  both  places. 
Those  sent  to  Cropredy  were  kept  off  all  that  day,  by  Waller's 
sending  fresh  reliefs  of  strong  bodies  of  foot:  but  those  sent  to 
the  ford^^  quickly  gained  it  and  the  mill  thereto  adjoining,  killing 
some  of  the  defenders,  and  taking  others  prisoners.  Here  they 
made  good  their  position,  and,  during  both  that  and  the  next  day, 
continued  to  annoy  and  keep  off  Waller's  forces,  expecting  that 
their  comrades  would  master  the  bridge  and  that  then  all  might 
advance  together. 

Towards  the  evening  of  Saturday  (the  day  of  the  battle),  the 
Royal  troops  were  mostly  drawn  below  the  ford,  near  to  the  Cher- 
well  and  facmg  Waller ;  who  ranged  his  foot  on  the  top  of  the 
opposite  hill.  Waller  drew  three  large  bodies  of  his  horse  within 
the  range  of  the  King's  artillery,  which,  being  discharged  amongst 
them,  made  them  retire  in  great  disorder.  The  King  caused  a 
message  of  pardon  to  be  prepared  for  all  Waller's  soldiers  who 
would  lay  down  their  arms  ;  and  Sir  Edward  Walker  was  ap- 
pointed to  publish  it :  but  he  first  sent  a  trumpet  to  desire  a 
safeconduct;  who  returned  with  answer,  about  two  hours  after, 
that  Sir  William  Waller  had  no  power  to  receive  any  message 
without  the  consent  of  Parliament.  "And  in  the  interim,"  says 
Sir  Edward,  "  either  to  shew  his  anger,  or  to  colour  his  loss,  he 
caused  at  least  twenty  great  shot  to  be  made  at  ovuc  army  ;  many 
of  wliich  were  levelled  at  the  place  where  liis  Majesty  stood, 
and  some  of  them  fell  near  him."  The  approach  of  night  hin- 
dered any  further  action :  both  armies  kept  their  ground,  and,  all 
the  next  day  (Sunday),  stood  in  the  same  posture.""  The  King 
slept  on  the  nights  of  Saturday  and  Sunday  at  "  a  very  poor  man's 
house  "'*^  at  Williamscot.  The  humble  dwelling  in  which  Charles 
is  traditionally  stated  to  have  reposed  at  Williamscot  has  been 
but  lately  removed. 

(39)  The  ford  near  Slate  Mill  is  still  used ;  it  is  in  the  bridle-way  leading  from  Bourlon 
to  Williamscot  and  Chacombe.  The  mill  stands  about  sevent.y  yards  above  the  ford,  and 
between  the  two  arc  some  remains  of  a  bridge  which  was  erected  subsequently  to  this  battle. 

(40)  SirE.  Walker's  "  Happy  Progress,"  pp.  33,  31. 

(41)  Iter  Carolinum. 

2  z  3 


'S64  BATTLE  OF 

A  Parliamentarian  account  of  the  battle  of   Cropredy  Bridge 
is  short  but  graphic  : — 

"  Munday  the  24  of  June  we  marched  by  Stow,  and  quartered  beyond 
the  towne  two  miles,  and  the  next  day  to  Shipson  upon  Stower,  neere 
which  some  were  quartered,  and  some  in  the  towne,  there  we  lay  two 
nights,  and  on  Wednesday  we  lay  in  the  fields  ;  on  Thursday  we  marched 
toward  Banburie,  and  lay  at  Hanwel  that  night ;  next  day  being  Friday, 
we  were  commanded  to  be  in  Batalia,  and  marched  out  of  the  pastui'e 
ground  into  the  corne  fields,  where  we  discovered  the  Kings  forces  be- 
yond Banbury  under  Preston  mills,*-  and  they  us  ;   our  horse  and  they 
faced  one  the  other,  the  water  being  betweene  them  and  us,  we  not  wil- 
ling to  venture  betweene  thejn  and  the  Castle,  they  not  daring  to  come 
over  to  us,  there  we  lay  all  night,  but  knew  not  their  minds,  as  they  it 
seemes  did  ovu-s.     For  early  on  Saturday  the  29.  of  June  they  marched 
with  their  whole  body,  but  whether  we   could  not  discover,  the  water 
being  betweene  us  and  them,-  wee  likewise  marched  away,  and  by  some 
scouts  found  out  which  way  they  were  gone,  CoUonel  Wem  commander 
in  chiefe  for  Sir  Williams  owne  brigade  led  the  van,  had  some  certaine 
horse  and  dragoons,  and  spying  a  wing  of  the  enemies  in  sight,  imagining 
the  rest  of  the  body  to  be  gone  before,  marched  over  venterously,  and 
charged  the  enimie,  who  retreated  to  their  maine  body,  our  forces  fol- 
lowing them  were  overmatcht  and  so  lost  some  men  and  some  drakes, 
with  3.  colours,  the  rest  were  forced  to  retreat,  and  came  over  a  bridge 
called  Crapridden  [Cropredy],  crying  the  fields  lost,  the  fields  lost:    but 
by  Gods  providence  and  the  coin-age  of   the  Kentish  regiment  and  the 
citie  hamlets,  we  got  downe  two  drakes  to  the  bridge  and  staved  them 
off  so  bravely,  and  gave  them  so  good  play  all  day,  that  ere  night  they 
could  not  brag  of  their  winnings,  there  we  lay  all  night,  looking  one 
upon  the  other  (when  sleepe  would  give  leave.)     Next  morning  those  that 
had   wearied  themselves,    Saturday,   and  that  night  marched  up  to  our 
body,  where  we  lay  all  Sunday  facing  one  the  other,  but  did  little ;    at 
10.  or  11.  a  clocke  at  night  a  foolish  fellow  of  our  regiment,  shot  off  his 
musket,   (the  watch  being  set)    which  made  an  alarum  in  the  enemies 
quarters,  they  shot  at  our  forlorne  hope,  which  lay  downe  by  their  workes, 
and  wee  shot  at  them,  but  we  were  there  over-cunning  for  them,  for  our 
fire-locks  were  placed  under  a  hedge,  and  light  match  hung  alone  on  pal- 
lisadoes  a  musket  shot  oiF;  before  day  they  discharged  a  peece  of  ord- 
nance,  and  gave  us  an  alarum  likewise,   we  made  our  selves  ready  to 
entertaine  it,  but  heard  no  more  of  them,  for  assoone  as  day  approched 
we  missed  them,  and  they  were  marched  away,  we  marched  down  to 
the  bridge,  and  as  we  marched,  spied  that  side  of  Banbury  next  to  us 
on  fire,  which  the  Castle  had  done  for  giving  some  small  entertainment 
to  our  souldiers,  then  we  marched  over  the  bridge  wherein  our  march 
up  the  lane  to  jMoriton  [Wardington?],  a  mile  off" the  bridge  (which  lane 
the  enemy  enjoyed  before)  we  found  many  dead  corps  lying  naked  and 
unburied,  40  graves  in  the  high-way,  and  many  stately  horses,  and  in  the 
(42)  Probably  about  Huscot  mill,  in  the  diieition  towards  Bandon  Leys. 


CROPREDY  BRIDGE  :    JUNE  1644. 


305 


church  and  church-yard  at  Moriton  [Wardington  ?]  were  many  com- 
manders huried  who  had  beene  slaine  in  the  fight,  one  lord  (as  the 
countrey  men  say)  2  coUonels,  and  other  officers.*^  We  marched 
thence  on  Munday  the  first  of  July,  and  that  night  we  lay  at  a  poore 
village  called  Preston**  which  had  beene  formerly  burnt ;  on  Tuesday 
toward  Torciter  [TowcesterJ,  where  we  met  Major  Browne  and  his 
forces,  who  marched  with  us  (we  lying  Tuesday  and  Wednesday  neere 
Torciter).     On  Thursday  we  marched  toward  Northampton."*^ 

Speed  says  that  Sir  William  Waller,  in  this  battle,  lost  600 
men  killed  and  700  taken  prisoners.'''^  Cropredy  bridge  remains  ; 
but  considerable  repairs  and  alterations,  made  in  1691,  have  taken 
away  somewhat  of  its  primitive  character.  Many  cannon  balls 
have  been  found  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  about  "  Willscot 
[Williamscot]  walk." 

On  the  evening  of  Sunday,  30th  June,  the  King  received  in- 
telligence that  a  fresh  body  of  the  Parliamentarians,  4,500  strong, 
under  the  command  of  Serjeant-Major-General  Brown,'"  had  ap- 
proached Buckingham,  and  was  advancing  towards  the  present 
scene  of  action.  Besides  this  threatening  circumstance,  the  pro- 
visions of  the  King's  army  were  becoming  scanty  in  a  part  of 
the  country  which  was  already  desolated  by  a  two-years'  war. 
Early  therefore  on  the  morning  of  Monday,  the  1st  July,  the 
King  drew  off  his  forces,  in  full  view  of  Waller,  who  made  no 
attempt  to  pursue  him.  Sir  Edward  Walker  says  that,  under  the 
experience  of  their  ill  success,  nearly  a  thousand  of  Waller's 
men  had  run  away  on  the  two  preceding  nights.  Charles  marched 
to  Aynho ;  and  then  crossed  the  Cherwell,  lest  Waller  and  Brown 
might  join  their  forces  in  the  morning,  and  make  it  impossible 
for  him  to  pass  the  river  by  falling  on  his  rear  and  bringing  him 
to  battle  under  disadvantage."^     The  army  rested  at  Deddington 

(43)  I  have  little  doubt  that  Wardington  is  the  village  here  alluded  to,  although  the 
Register  there  contains  only  the  foUowing  entry  respecting  this  Battle  : — "  1644  Junii  30°. 
Buryed  Mr  John  Burrell,  Cornet  to  Colonell  Richard  Neville.  Mr  Burrell  was  slaine  in 
ye  battaile  yesterday  fighting  against  ye  rebels.  Ita  testor  Henr.  Deane,  Capit.  Reg." 
The  words  "  against  ye  rebels  "  have  had  a  pen  drawn  through  them ;  and  another  hand 
has  written  above,  "  against  ye  parliament." 

The  Registers  of  Cropredy  and  MoHington  contain  no  entry  relating  to  this  battle. 
The  Register  of  Chipping  Wardon  mentions  a  captain  and  a  common  soldier  of  the  King's 
army  as  having  been  buried  there  on  the  29th  June,  and  a  common  soldier  of  the  Par- 
liament's army  on  the  1st  July. 

(44)  Qu.— Preston  Capes,  or  Little  Preston? 

(4oj  Exact  Dyarie,  or  Brief  Relation  of  the  Proceedings  of  Sir  William  Wallers  Army, 
by  Richard  Coe  under  Cap.  Gore  of  the  Tower  Hamlets  who  was  present  in  the  whole 
Expedition  ;  1644.    In  my  own  possession. 

(46)  Brief  Descrip.  of   the  Civil  Warr. 

(47)  Brown  had  been  appointed,  on  the  8th  June,  serjeant-major-general  of  all  the  Par- 
liament's forces  employed  for  the  reducing  of  Oxford,  the  town  and  Castle  of  Banbury,  &c. 
— 4to.  Pamphlet  in  /lie  possession  of  the  Hon.  T.  TV.  T.  Fieunes. 

(48)  Sir  E.  Walker's  '•  Happy  Progress,"  pp.  34,  35. 


366  THE  YEAR  1614. 

that  niglit,  the  King  sleeping  at  "  the  Parsonage  house  "  there  ;''^ 
and  thence  proceeded  on  the  next  morning  towards  Evesham/" 
Sir  William  Waller,  after  his  losses  at  the  battle  of  Cropredy 
Bridge,  became  inactive.  Clarendon  says  that  his  defeat  was 
much  greater  than  it  appeared  to  be,  and  that  it  broke  the  heart 
of  his  army. 


THE  GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,  1644. 

The  King's  army  being  now  occupied  at  a  distance  from  Ban- 
bury, and  circumstances  being  adverse  to  the  King's  speedy  re- 
turn into  these  parts,  there  seemed  to  be  a  fair  opportvmity 
for  the  Parliament  to  attempt  to  regain  BANBURY  Castle. 
Heath  and  Dugdale  date  the  commencement  of  the  proceedings 
of  the  Parliament's  forces  against  it  on  the  19th  July:^'  and  the 
Court  newspaper  of  that  period  says, — "the  Rebels  began  with 
the  Dog-Dayes  (July  19)  on  which  day  their  horse  came  to 
Broughton,  Warkeworth,  and  other  places  thereabouts  to  straiten 
the  Castle;  and  there  they  lay  blocking  up  the  Castle  till  the 
Dog-Dayes  ended  (Aug.  27)  on  which  day  Mr.  John  Fines  came 
with  foote  and  canon  into  Banbury."^'-  A  preceding  number  of 
the  same  paper  says  that  Colonel  Jolm  Fiennes  and  his  forces 
sat  down  before  the  town  on  the  24th  August.^^ 

Wednesday,  July  3 1st.  "Yesterday  40  of  those  Rebels  horse 
(commanded  by  one  Captaine  Clark)  drew  up  betwixt  Nethercote 
and  Banbury,  and  faced  the  Towne,  which  caused  Lieutenant 
Middleton  (of  the  Earle  of  Northamptons  regiment)  to  draw  out 
the  like  number ;  who  facing  one  another,  there  presently  grew 
a  challenge  betwixt  the  two  commanders,  that  their  men  should 
stand  at  distance  and  they  two  try  it  out  themselves.  This  being 
accepted,  the  two  commanders  encountered  one  another,  but  nei- 
ther of  their  pistols  taking  fire,  they  fell  instantly  to  the  sword, 
whereat  Lieutenant  Middleton  seemed  the  better  souldier;  which 
Captaine  Clark  perceiving,  he  laboured  to  get  off,  and  therefore 
for  a  farewell  flung  his  pis  toll  at  the  Lieutenant,  and  rode  away  : 
but  the  Lieutenant  pursued,  and  with  his  sword  ran  Clark  into  the 

(40)  Iter  Carollnum.  (50)  Sir  E.  Walker. 

(51)  Heath's  Chron.,  p.  63 ;  Dugdale 's  Short  View. 

(52)  Merc.  Aulieus,  p.  1179.  (53)  Merc.  Aulicus,  p.  1133. 


GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,  1644.  3(37 

backe,  and  had  brought  him  ofif,  but  that  three  of  Clarks  party 
suddenly  came  in  to  his  rescue.  This  wound  was  pretended  by 
Captaiue  Clark  to  be  very  dangerous,  if  not  mortall ;  whereupon 
he  sent  a  triunpet  that  afternoone  to  Banbury,  to  let  them  know 
it  was  altogether  against  his  will  that  his  men  rescued  him ;  af- 
firming, that  he  had  rather  have  dyed  upon  the  place  by  Lieu- 
tenant INIiddletons  hand,  then  thus  to  suffer  in  his  reputation.  So 
'tis  a  dishonour  for  the  Captaine  to  be  rescued,  though  it  were 
none  to  runne  away."'^' 

A  letter  written  by  Sir  Samuel  Luke,  Governor  of  Newport 
Pagnell,  on  the  24th  August,  contains  the  following  information : — 

" which  Regim*  [Col.  Vandvaske's]  brought  severall  peices  of 

Ordnance  to  Aylesbury  which  are  to  bee  conducted  by  Coll.  Purifoy's 
Regim'  to  Banbury  for  y^  seige  there  I  cannot  write  yo"  any  thing  of 
that  place  more  then  yo"  know  before  but  onely  that  on  Thursday  last 
they  made  up  about  80  horse  by  the  helpe  of  the  Townesmens  horses 
which  they  took  from  thence,  &  sallyed  out  upon  our  forces  but  were 
repulst  with  losse  &  shame  leaveing  both  Capt.  Middleton  &  the  Cornet 
dead  upon  the  place  whose  bodyes  Major  Lydcott  carryed  the  same  night 
to  his  quarters,  what  hath  further  beene  done  since  I  heare  not  this  is  all 
for  y<=  present  can  be  co'municated  to  yo"  from 

Yo's  to  serve  yo" 

S.  L."" 

"August  24,  1644." 

A  letter,  dated  from  Banbury  on  the  2nd  September,  and  pub- 
lished in  London  by  authority  on  the  4th,  contains  an  account  of 
the  first  operations  against  Banbury  Castle  as  follows : — 

"Sir, 

"That  I  may  give  you  and  others  satisfaction  touching  the  siege  of 
Banbin-y  Castle,  I  must  tell  you  that  though  we  have  for  about  a  monetlis 
space  straytned  their  quarters,  and  hindred  their  forcing  the  Tax  on  the 
Countrey ;  which  grew  so  heavy  a  pressure  that  they  had  forborn  the 
payment  for  divers  weeks  in  many  towns,  though  threatned  to  be  plun- 
dered of  all  for  their  neglect.  This  Castle  is  of  more  concernement  to 
Oxford  than  any  other,  for  besides  the  provisions  of  victuals  by  droves 
of  Sheep  and  Beast  weekel)',  it  is  vipon  good  ground  aver'd  that  for  a 
long  time  this  garrison  hath  payd  18000  per  weeke  to  Oxford,  divers 
towns  being  taxed  to  more  than  the  yeerely  revenue  of  them;  so  that 
the  taking  of  this  Den  of  Theeves  would  much  conduce  to  the  straitning 
of  Oxen  [Oxford],  and  give  liberty  of  Trade  to  London  from  many  parts. 

"  On  Thursday  Aug.  22.  they  came  out  of  the  Castle  with  about  80 
horse  and  fell  on  a  guard  of  ours  who  retreating  a  mile  to  Workworth  to 
their  body,  as  many  as  took  the  alarm  followed  them,  beat  them  downe 

(54)  Merc.  Aulicus,  pp.  1105,  1106.  (55)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  S.  Luke,  v.  1. 


308  GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,  l(iW. 

the  hill,  killed  their  grand  rob-carrier  Lieutenant  Midleton  by  a  carbine 
shot  thorough  the  braine,  and  tooke  his  Cornet  one  Smith  a  stout  plun- 
derer, slew  two  others,  and  took  two,  and  wounded  4  or  5  desperately, 
and  beate  the  rest  into  the  Castle. 

"  On  Sabbath  day  Aug.  25  two  companies  of  our  foot  that  lay  for  a 
guard  to  the  horse  advanced  into  the  town  of  Banbury  and  tooke  pos- 
session of  the  Church  about  break  of  day,  the  enemy  not  taking  any 
alarm,  untill  some  of  our  souldiers  by  knocking  at  divers  doores  in  the 
towne  to  looke  for  Cavaliers  that  lay  in  houses  neere  the  Castle  awakned 
them.  Our  foot  all  this  while  were  unloding  their  ammunition,  and 
planting  their  Drakes  and  Musketeers  in  the  Church;  and  our  troops 
were  all  entered  the  town,  and  stood  to  assist  the  foot  neere  the  Church, 
if  neede  should  be.  About  an  houre  after  day  the  enemy  came  out  of 
the  Castle  with  about  100  Musketeers;  and  all  the  Horse  they  had;  their 
Musketeers  got  into  gardens  and  houses  many  of  them,  and  shot  at  our 
horse,  and  slew  a  horse  or  two,  which  made  our  horse  to  remove  to  the 
towns  end ;  and  by  this  time  we  had  drawn  out  three  small  parties  of 
foot  to  encounter  theirs,  who  made  divers  waies  to  the  Church;  and 
having  slain  three  of  them  we  did  by  degrees  get  them  into  the  streets, 
and  so  drove  them  into  the  Castle  againe,  but  still  they  came  out  in 
parties,  luitill  about  noone  they  saw  a  supply  comming  toward  us  from 
Northampton,  and  then  they  betooke  themselves  to  their  strength,  and 
never  stirred  out  since. 

"  On  the  same  day  came  two  great  Guns  with  some  more  foot  and 
ammunition  from  Northampton,  and  with  them  Col.  Whetham  the  Go- 
vernour  there,  Commander  in  Chiefe  of  this  service ;  on  Munday  and 
Tuesday  the  enemy  playd  at  us  from  the  Castle  where  ever  we  appeared, 
to  hinder  us  in  our  making  brest-workes  for  our  Ordnance  or  men  :  then 
played  fiercely  at  the  Church,  where  we  had  some  with  long  guns  which 
did  much  annoy  them  in  the  Castle,  and  kild  divers  of  their  cattell :  on 
Wednesday  we  playd  one  of  our  cannons  at  the  wall  and  made  about 
six  shot,  but  they  with  their  cannon  brake  the  carriage  of  our  piece,  so 
that  for  that  night  we  could  do  no  more,  but  first  we  battered  the  wall 
so  on  the  outside  that  we  much  weakned  it,  and  beat  a  hole  foure  or  five 
yards  square.  The  same  day  Wednesday  Aug.  28  there  came  to  our 
assistance  Colonel  Purefoys  regiment  of  horse,  and  Col.  Boswels  ^'^  regi- 
ment of  foot,  and  with  them  three  great  guns,  one  carrying  36  pound 
Bullet,  the  other  two  somewhat  lesse,  3  Morter-pieces  for  Granadoes. 
On  Thursday  Aug.  29  they  playd  with  their  cannon  from  the  Castle  to 
prevent  our  planting  our  great  pieces.  On  Friday  Aug.  30  the  enemy 
fired  divers  houses  [that]  stood  neere  the  Castle,  as  they  had  done  the 
day  before,  the  fire  burning  fiercely  both  the  daies,  about  30  houses  burnt, 
and  the  enemy  still  endeavouring  to  fire  more  ;  ^'  All  this  day  they  playd 

(56)  Godfrey  Bosvile,  the  member  for  Warwick :  he  was  afterwards  one  of  the  Regicides. 
Sir  William  Brereton  was  also  present  at  the  siege. — Noble's  Megickles. 

(57)  The  Court  paper  says ; — "  In  the  late  sieges  of  Basing  and  Banbury,  the  Rebells 
took  the  lead  off  Basing  Church,  fired  Banbury  Steeple,  and  then  gave  it  out  that  the 
garrisons  did  it."  (Mere.  Aulicus.)  The  opposition  paper  says : — "  They  [the  Eoyalists] 
made  a  bonfire  of  Banbury  steeple,  on  purpose  to  welcome  home  His  Majesty  out  of  the 
west."— Merc.  Brilanicus,  20th  Jan.,  1644-5. 


GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,  1644.  369 

fiei-cely  both  with  cannon  and  muskets  from  the  Castle  at  any  house  or 
place  where  they  saw  any  man  appeare,  and  we  likewise  playd  at  them  ; 
we  about  noone  got  our  great  piece  planted,  and  playd  8  or  9  times  that 
afternoone,  and  had  our  cannoneere  slaine  with  a  drake  bullet  at  night, 
and  another  piece  we  plaid  with  at  the  same  time,  but  the  enemy  with 
a  bullet  of  twelve  pound  weight  brake  one  of  the  wheeles,  and  sleightly 
hurt  the  cannoneer.'  The  enemy  made  about  40  cannon-shot  that  day, 
and  some  thousands  of  musket-shot,  yet  killed  but  that  one  man,  and 
hurt  another  in  the  thumbe,  we  not  seasing  to  ply  them  with  small  shot 
as  oft  as  they  appeared,  and  with  cannon  all  the  afternoone  ;  about  noone 
we  plaid  the  great  morter-piece  five  times  with  a  Granado  of  above 
100  pound  waight,  twice  it  fell  amongst  them,  and  tore  up  the  earth  and 
brake  as  we  could  desire  it,  but  what  effect  it  wrought  we  know  not, 
not  having  any  intelligence  from  them.  On  Friday  night  we  wrought 
to  plant  the  rest  of  the  pieces,  the  enemy  preventing  us  the  opportunity 
of  doing  it  by  day ;  We  keepe  them  in  continuaU  worke,  that  so  they 
may  spend  their  ammunition,  which  yet  they  do  freely,  as  if  they  hoped 
we  should  not  lie  there  long,  they  pleasing  themselves  with  Pr.  Ruperts 
comming  to  their  ayd,  I  have  been  the  more  particular,  that  you  may 
know  we  have  need  of  your  prayers,  and  that  God  may  have  the  praises 
in  our  great  preservation,  so  many  shot  being  made  and  so  few  slaine, 
or  hurt,  and  that  we  may  account  it  a  mercy  worth  praising  God  for  if 
ever  we  be  master  of  it,  which  though  we  must  not  looke  for  suddenly, 
yet  we  need  not  doubt  of  if  we  may  have  time  (though  undoubtedly 
there  are  not  many  stronger  holds  in  England,)  our  souldiers,  through 
Gods  mercy,  being  supported  with  courage,  as  ever  I  saw  them  in  any 
service. 

"  Saturday  Aug.  31  we  tooke  two  poor  tatered  rogues  without  hose  or 
shooe  put  over  the  castle-wall  early  in  the  morning  with  intelligence  to 
Pr.  Rupert,  Col.  Greene  the  valiant  Taylor  Governour  of  the  Castle 
having  writ  a  letter  in  a  shred  of  paper  close  written  and  cut  in  the 
middest,  that  if  but  one  of  them  had  been  taken  we  had  not  known 
what  to  have  made  of  it,  but  having  both  the  pieces  I  shall  acquaint 
you  with  the  substance  of  the  letter,  which  was,  that  our  strength  was 
not  above  800  horse  and  700  foot  that  did  beleager  them :  that  we  had 
drayned  three  garrisons  for  them,  and  that  the  towns-men  were  now 
left  to  keepe  our  garrisons,  he  therefore  desired  the  Prince  to  come  with, 
or  send  1500  horse  and  500  dragoones  betweene  Northampton  and  Ban- 
bury, and  bids  them  not  doubt  of  taking  ovir  guns,  and  routing  our  foot, 
and  then  he  might  be  revenged  on  Northampton  for  the  other  designe 
he  missed  on  before.  By  these  two  messengers  being  examined  a  part 
we  finde  that  their  chiefe  cannoneere  was  slaine  on  Friday,  and  another 
of  theirs  wounded  in  the  eye  with  a  musket-bullet,  not  like  to  live  ;  that 
one  of  our  granadoes  did  fire  in  the  castle,  but  did  not  much  hurt. 

"  On  Sabbath  day  Septemb.  1  we  planted  our  three  great  Guns,  having 

(1)  About  this  time,  the  Cannon  are  mentioned  as  being  60  or  42  pounders;  the  Demi- 
cannon  32;  the  Cannon  Petronel  24;  the  Culverin  18;  the  Saker  5  and  5J;  the  Falcon 
3  and  2;  and  the  Falconet  2  and  IJ  pounders. 
3  A 


370  GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,  1644. 

wrought  all  the  night  befoi-e,  we  plaid  two  of  them  all  the  morning  on 
the  meddow-side,  the  third  the  great  Demi-cannon  not  being  ready 
untill  toward  night,  we  shot  thorow  the  Castle  but  made  but  a  small 
breach  yet,  but  such  as  it  was,  and  another  granadoe  firing  in  the  Castle 
made  them  lamentably  skreeke  out,  and  some  women  would  have  come 
forth  but  we  would  not  suffer  them  ;  they  shot  from  the  Castle  fiercely 
at  our  worke,  but  yet  have  done  us  no  hurt,  we  hope  in  time  we  shall 
coole  their  courage,  though  we  heare  the  Gentlemen  and  Officers  have 
taken  the  Sacrament  not  to  give  or  take  quarter,  and  some  bitter  ma- 
lignant Papists  are  there  that  will  doe  their  utmost  to  keepe  it.  The 
good  Lord  give  us  courage,  and  patience  to  waight  his  leasure,  and  be 
content  to  stay  for  it  untill  he  will  give  it  us  in  mercy ;  Which  is  the 
desire  of  yours,  &c. 

"  What's  materiall  you  shall  have  as  I  can  send  it.     Vale." 

"  Banbiu-y,  2.  Septemb.  1644."2 

Colonel  John  Fiennes  arrived  at  Banbury,  to  conduct  the 
siege,  on  the  27th  August ;  bringing  with  him  all  the  disposable 
forces  of  Northamptonshire,  Warwick,  and  Coventry.^  The  Castle 
was  defended  by  Sir  WiLLlAM  COMPTON,  brother  of  the  Earl 
of  Northampton  ;  mider  whom  Lieutenant-Colonel  GREEN  acted 
as  deputy-governor.  "So,"  says  Sir  Edward  Walker,"  Mr. 
Fiennes  had  no  great  reason  to  expect  it  should  be  either  negH- 
gently  or  cowardly  maintained  against  him."*  "  At  Master  Fines 
first  entrance,"  says  the  Court  periodical,  "  he  sent  a  trumpeter 
to  summon  the  garrison  ;  who  brought  an  answer  from  that  gallant 
knight  Sir  William  Compton  (brother  to  the  Earle  of  Northamp- 
ton) that  '  they  kept  the  Castle  for  his  Majestic,  and  as  long  as 
one  man  was  left  alive  in  it,  willed  them  not  to  expect  to  have 
it  delivered.'"^  The  same  periodical  says  (Friday,  August  30th)  : 
— "  When  these  Rebels  made  their  approaches  towards  the  Castle, 
the  brave  Lieutenant  Colonell  beat  them  off  by  sallies  and  ord- 
nance ;  and  hath  burnt  all  those  houses  by  favour  whereof  the 
Rebels  first  made  their  approach  and  batteries,  whereby  he  hath 
now  forced  them  to  a  more  mannerly  distance ;  yet  they  play'd 
all  yesterday  with  2  mortar  pieces,  one  of  9  inches  diameter, 
the  other  6,  and  indeed  they  did  but  play,  for  there  was  no  worke 
done,  sdve  what  the  Castle  did  on  them,  which  was  to  such 
purpose,  that  10  cart  load  of  dead  bodies  were  met  one  way,  5 

(2)  A  Letter:  being  a  full  Relation  of  the  Siege  of  Banbury  Castle  by  that  Valiant  and 
Faithfull  Commander,  Colonell  Wlietham,  Governour  of  Nortliampton,  now  Commander 
in  Chiefe  in  that  Service,  &c.  4to.,  London,  Sept.  4,  1C44  :  published  by  Authority.  In 
the  British  Museum. 

(3)  "  Being  assisted  by  Cromwell." — Sir  E.  Walker's  "  Happy  Progress,"  p.  89. 

(4)  Sir  E .  Walker's  "  Happy  Progress,"  p.  64.  (6)  Merc.  Aulicus,  p.  1179. 


GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,  1644.  371 

cart  load  another  way.""  The  following  reports  also  occur,  from 
the  Parliamentarian  side  : — 

August  24th.  "  The  siege  at  Banbury  doth  still  continue.  We 
have  now  made  our  approaches  near  unto  it :  The  unexpected 
[qu.  expected?]  forces  of  foot  from  Northampton,  and  Major 
General  Browne,  are  now  arrived,  so  that  we  doubt  not  but  to 
give  you  suddenly  a  good  account  of  that  place."' 

Friday,  Aug.  30th.  "Letters  from  Banbury  inform  us,  that 
the  siege  at  Banbury  Castle  continues  still,  and  that  colonell 
Whetham  governour  of  Northampton  hath  brought  thither  a 
party  of  horse  to  joyne  with  the  besiegers.  It  is  also  certifyed 
that  the  enemy  in  the  Castle  are  in  some  scarcity  for  powder, 
and  want  salt,  so  that  the  beleaguers  have  great  hopes  to  gaine 
it  in  a  short  time."^ 

Aug.  31st.  "  From  the  siege  before  Banbury  Castle  we  have 
certaine  intelligence  by  letters,  that  the  besiegers  being  resolved 
to  make  short  worke  on't,  sent  for  two  great  pieces  of  battery 
from  Northampton,  which  two  pieces  and  a  murthering  piece  came 
to  them  on  Thursday  last ;  whereof  they  within  the  Castle  having 
notice,  and  being  now  at  their  ultimum  refugium,  made  a  sally 
forth,  and  began  to  set  fire  to  the  town,  but  the  besiegers  pre- 
vented them,  and  beat  them  into  the  Castle  with  some  losse, 
brought  up  their  pieces  and  begun  their  battery  against  the  Castle, 
which  did  much  terrifie  the  enemy,  and  on  Friday  morning  placed 
their  battery  within  lesse  than  musket-shot  of  the  Castle,  not 
doubting  but  to  give  a  good  account  of  that  service  suddenly, 
having  then  made  a  considerable  breach  in  the  wall."^ 

Friday,  Aug.  30tli,  to  Friday,  Sept.  6th.  "  Banbury  Castle  is 
closely  begirt,  something  there  is  published  concerning  it,  which 
I  have  not  read,  but  by  assured  intelligence  from  my  friend,  that 
came  from  thence  on  Tuesday,  who  assures  me  that  the  Castle 
is  extreamly  battered,  and  cannot  hold  out,  I  expect  (by  his  re- 
lation) a  speedy  deliuery  of  it,  or  that  it  wilbe  taken  by  force,  I 
am  in  hope  the  end  of  my  Dove  may  assure  it  done,  but  that  I 
leave  to  the  dispose  of  all  ruling  providence,  there  are  neer  about 
3500  horse  and  foot  before  the  town,  they  may  be  usefull  else 
where,  yet  it  is  pitty  they  should  leave  unfinisht  what  is  so 
neerly  perfected."'" 

(6)  Merc.  Aulicus,  p.  1141.  (7)  Diary,  or  Exact  Journal,  No.  14. 

(8)  rerfect  Diurnal,  No.  67.  (9)  Perfect  Diurnal,  No.  67. 

(10)  Scottish  Dove  sent  out  and  returning,  No.  47. 

3  A3 


372  GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,  1644. 

Sept.  5th.  A  report  that  the  siege  of  Banbury  is  raised." 
Saturday,  Aug.  31st,  to  Saturday,  Sept.  7th.  "We  cannot  as 
yet  be  ascertained,  that  the  siege  at  Banbury  is  raised,  but  rather 
believe  the  contrary,  for  that  it  was  certainly  informed,  by  those 
who  came  from  the  besiegers  on  Tuesday  night  last,  Septemb.  3 
that  it  was  then  continued,  the  besiegers  are  about  3500  and  there 
are  about  400  in  the  Castle.^- 

Same  date.  "The  siedge  of  Banbury  (as  we  are  informed) 
continues  still  with  great  disadvantage  to  the  besieged,  and  Colonel 
Whetham  Governour  of  Northampton  has  brought  a  party  of 
horse  to  joyne  with  those  forces  that  ly  before  that  place,  so  that 
the  enemy  dare  not  offer  forth  and  are  much  perplexed  for  want 
of  powder,  the  new  disease  is  very  busie  amongst  them  and  many 
have  dyed  lately  with  the  extremity  thereof."'^ 

"Monday  the  9  of  September.  He  [the  Earl  of  Manchester] 
intended  upon  the  earnest  solicitation  of  the  besiegers  of  Banbury 
to  supply  them  with  some  powers,  for  though  they  have  done 
well  against  the  Castle  already,  considering  how  small  a  number 
they  are  before  it,  as  to  draw  dry  the  ditches,  and  beat  down 
some  chimneys,  and  straiten  the  Castle,  yet  can  they  not  proceed 
without  a  greater  number  of  foot,  and  more  plenty  of  some  kind 
of  ammunition  to  a  perfect  siege.  In  the  mean  time  some  of 
the  horse  that  lie  there,  especially  the  Northampton  horse  under 
Major  General  Lidcot,  have  severall  times  visited  neer  Oxford, 
and  at  one  time,  made  the  Governour  and  the  Duke  of  Yorke 
ride  for  it,  and  tooke  the  Dukes  Dwarffe  and  Play  fellow  prisoner, 
and  at  another  time  tooke  the  Lady  Lovelace,  and  her  coach  and 
horses,  but  it  being  against  our  Lawes  to  keepe  Women  prisoners, 
gave  her  leave  to  depart,  and  a  horse  back,  but  brought  away 
coach  and  horses,  at  another  time  they  were  neere  surprising  my 
Lord  of  Dorset,  and  six  or  seven  of  his  Mistresses,  but  a  foolish 
boy  discovered  them,  whereupon  they  horst  and  away,  yet  one 
that  was  not  ready  so  soon  as  the  rest,  was  overtaken,  from  whom 
some  jewels,  and  other  fine  things  were  had."^^ 

Between  the  25th  x\ugust  and  the  20th  September  a  report  was 
made  to   Newport    Pagnell   by  one   of   the   spies   of   Sir   Samuel 
Luke,  as  follows  : — "  Richard  Major  came  this   day  from  about 
Banbury  and  saith  That  they  continue  still  at  the  Leageer  at  Ban- 
ill)  Court  Mercury.  (12)  True  Infoi-mer,  No.  46. 
(13)  Court  Mercurie,  No.  9.                                                    (14)  Parliament  Scout,  No.  64. 


GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,  1(J44.  373 

bury  and  have  placed  their  Ordiuance  at  the  North  Barr  and  on 
Sondaj  last  made  severell  breaches  m  the  Castle  wall  whereof 
one  beate  downe  the  Kitchen  chimney  and  parte  of  the  Kitchen 
and  continue  shootmg  both  day  and  night.  That  the  same  day 
2  Boyes  w'=''  were  sent  out  of  Banbury  were  taken  and  they  con- 
fessed that  they  were  goeing  to  Pr.  Robert :  and  on 
they  tooke  an  old  man  w*^  I'res  [letters].  That  on  Sonday  last 
the  governor  of  Northampton  went  out  w*  a  party  of  horse  to- 
wards Oxford,  where  hee  tooke  a  Coach  and  horses  and  divers 
gentlewoemen  all  w'^''  hee  carryed  to  Northampton."'* 

One  of  the  affairs  alluded  to  above  took  place  on  Sunday  the 
1  st  September,  and  is  thus  mentioned  in  the  Court  periodical : — 
In  the  morning  one  hundred  and  fifty  rebels  came  from  Banbury 
to  Wolvercot,  near  Oxford ;  where  some  of  them,  with  their 
pistols  spanned,  rushed  into  the  church  while  the  preacher  was 
in  the  pulpit,  and  would  by  violence  have  carried  away  a  gen- 
tleman of  quality  who  was  in  the  church,  had  not  he,  too  well 
understanding  the  Rebels'  courage  to  yield  himself  prisoner,  stood 
upon  his  defence,  although  beside  his  own  there  were  but  two 
swords  in  the  church.  This  gentleman,  with  a  few  others,  made 
the  door  good  against  those  without,  and  then  disarmed  as  many 
of  the  enemy  as  were  within.  One  gentleman,  "with  no  other 
weapons  but  a  paire  of  white  gloves,  mastered  two  rebels  at  once, 
till  they  begged  for  quarters  on  their  knees  (the  first  time  they 
ever  kneeled  in  a  chiirch)."  At  last  the  Rebels  fled,  carrying 
with  them  the  Duke  of  York's  dwarf,  who,  had  his  strength 
been  equal  to  his  courage,  had  been  much  too  strong  for  any 
one  of  them.  In  expectation  of  a  better  booty,  they  then  pro- 
ceeded to  Water  Eaton. 

Water  Eaton  was  the  residence  of  Lord  Lovelace,  where  the 
Parhamentarian  party  hoped  to  find  his  lordship  and  to  make 
him  prisoner.  On  their  arrival,  finduig  that  he  was  absent,  they 
seized  his  lady,  forced  her  into  her  carriage,  and  compelled  the 
coachman  to  drive  to  Middleton  Stony,  "  seven  long  miles,  and 
there  turned  her  ladyship  forth  of  her  coach,  which  they  took 
for  a  booty,  leaving  the  noble  lady  to  foot  it  home,"  without  re- 
gard to  her  birth  or  quality.  It  is  suggested  they  did  this  because 
she  was  daixghter  to  the  Earl  of  Cleveland,  who  at  Cropredy,  near 

(15)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  S.  Luke,  vol.  L 


'374  GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,  1644. 

Banbury,  "  so  bruised  Waller's   army"   as   to  make   liim  forsake 
"  Iving-eatchtiiig."^'^ 

\Yednesday,  Sept.  4tli.  "  The  gallant  garrison  bave  beat  the 
Rebels  off  their  batteries  in  the  INIarket  Place,  both  men  and 
batteries  tumbling  downe  together  very  lovingly."" 

Thursday,  Sept.  5th.  "  This  morning  we  were  certified  that 
the  Rebels  planted  without  the  North  Gate  of  the  Towne  neare 
Nethorpe ;  from  whence  they  played  with  their  canon  all  yester- 
day and  Tuesday ;  in  which  time  they  shot  80  granadoes  of 
112'''  weight,  and  160  canon  shot,  the  least  18''',  and  the  biggest 
32"'  bullet,  against  the  West  part  of  the  Castle,  which  cost  the 
Rebels  so  much  ammunition,  that  they  have  beene  silent  ever 
since.  But  the  brave  garrison  liked  not  their  silence,  and  there- 
fore sallyed  out  upon  them,  killed  them  handsomely,  beat  them 
from  their  worke,  (the  worke  itselfe  throwne  downe  to  the  ground) 
brought  17  Rebels  prisoners  into  the  Castle.  Lieutenant  Colo- 
nell  Greene  (Deputy  Govemour  of  the  Castle)  hath  much  in- 
censed the  Rebels,  so  as  this  weeke  they  rayle  at  him  in  print 
(shot  and  powder  is  the  oneley  reason  of  it.)  The  garrison 
souldiers  are  exceeding  hearty,  much  heightned  by  the  exemplary 
carriage  of  that  valiant  young  knight  Sir  William  Compton, 
brother  to  the  Earle  of  Northampton.  The  Rebels  in  print  teU 
us,  that  the  Castle  is  sore  battered  by  their  ordnance ;  but  Master 
John  Fiennes  is  of  another  opinion,  who  lookes  so  full  of  feares 
and  jealousies,  that  he  could  willingly  shed  some  teares,  as  (we 
are  certaine)  he  did,  when  two  yeares  since  he  was  bidden  goe 
out  of  this  Castle."'* 

"Wednesday  the  11.  of  September  We  were  assured  that  500 
dragoons  were  arrived  at  Banbury  from  the  E.  of  Manchester, 
and  now  having  foot  enough,  they  getting  other  things  which  they 
wanted,  they  will  no  doubt  beat  the  Castle  flat,  and  give  them 
no  shelter  but  the  blew  canopy  of  heaven;  these  500  dragoons 
are  commanded  by  that  stout  martyr  Colonel  Lilborne."'^ 

Tuesday,  Sept.  10th.  "  Some  of  his  lordships  [Lord  Kim- 
bolton's]  forces  are  joined  to  the  rebells  before  Banbury,  who  have 
spent  so  much  shot  in  vaine  that  they  have  beene  a  weeke  almost 
silent.  But  now  they  are  raising  a  new  battery  ;  for  Master  John 
Fines  sayes,  '  he  must  needs  take  the  Castle  before  he  come  away, 

(16)  Merc.  Aulicus,  pp.  1143,  1144.  (17)  Merc.  Aulicus.p.  1146. 

(18)  Merc.  Aulicus,  pp.  1146,  1147.  (19)  Pari.  Scout,  No.  64. 


GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,  1644.  375 

because  he  hath  continued  the  siege  contrary  to  order.'  And 
'twere  pittj  but  that  sir  William  Compton  and  lieutenant-colonell 
Greene  would  consider  Master  Fines  his  condition,  the  poore 
gentleman  else  will  shed  some  more  teares  in  Banbury."-" 

Wednesday,  Sept.  11th.  "The  noble  earle  of  Manchester  & 
Colonell  Cromwell  came  to  London  to  have  some  further  orders 
from  the  Parliament,  but  their  forces  march  towards  the  west, 
some  of  them  being  come  as  far  as  Banbury,  they  are  certified 
to  be  7000  horse  and  foot,  and  three  thousand  are  left  before 
Newarke."-^ 

Friday,  Sept.  27th.  "  Some  of  them  "  [the  Earl  of  Manches- 
ter's forces]  came  to  Banbury  "  on  Saturday  was  seavenight  from 
Northampton,  bringing  with  them  a  number  of  colliers  from  Bed- 
worth  to  undermine  the  Castle  ;  who  after  some  dayes  exercise 
under  ground,  at  last  found  many  fine  springs  of  water,  which 
made  these  water-workers  very  impatient,  some  of  them  at  once 
looking  black  and  swearing,  that  the  Commanders  put  trickes 
upon  them."^^ 

Tuesday,  Sept.  17th.  A  part  of  Rupert's  forces  were  lately 
about  Evesham,  and  made  a  show  as  though  they  intended  to  re- 
lieve Banbury  ;  upon  which  Lieut.-Gen.  Cromwell  was  presently 
sent  towards  Banbury  with  2000  horse  to  receive  them  if  they 
should  come  that  way."^ 

"  The  siege  of  Banbury  is  still  continued  with  much  gallantry, 
and  severall  breaches  made,  which  the  besiegers  make  use  of 
to  the  great  terrour  of  the  enemy  shooting  granadoes  into  the 
Castle,  which  doe  great  execution,  a  short  time  will  undoubtedly 
compleat  our  hopes  of  the  surrender  of  that  place. ""^ 

Friday,  Sept.  27th.  It  is  said  in  the  Court  periodical,  that 
Sir  William  Compton's  answer  to  the  summons  which  had  been 
sent  to  him  (see  p.  370),  "  set  the  Rebels  on  worke,  who  made 
severall  batteries  on  three  sides  of  the  Castle,  but  have  been  so 
removed,  and  basted  from  one  side  to  another  by  many  brave 
sallies  out  of  the  garrison,  that  the  Rebels  decreased  apace. 
Then  they  began  to  myne,  and  still  found  the  water  before  they 
looked  or  wished  for  it :  after  that,  they  endeavoured  to  draine 
the  outmost  Mote,  which  in  part  they  have  effected,  but  could  be 
content  to  have  let  it  alone,  so  they  might  recover  such  heaps 

(20)  Merc.  Aulicus,  p.  1158.      (21)  Perf.  Diurnal,  No.  69.     (22)  Merc.  Aulicus,  p.  1179. 
(23)  Perf.  Diurnal,  No.  60.  (24)  Perf.  Diurnal,  No.  60. 


•^7<)  GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,  1644. 

of  their  souldiers  as  were  lost  bj  taking  on  them  to  be  Drainers : 
IVIaster  Fines  sent  another  trumpeter  on  INIonday  was  seavenight 
(Septemb.  16)  to  summon  the  Castle  ;  Sir  William  Compton  told 
the  trumpeter,  that  'he  formerly  answered  them,  and  wondered 
thej  would  send  againe ; '  commanding  the  trumpeter  instantly  to 
be  gone,  or  he  should  have  another  manner  of  answer.  Upon 
receipt  of  this  answer,  the  Rebells  prepared  to  give  a  fierce  assault, 
making  their  batteries  ready  on  all  partes,  which  tooke  up  most 
of  that  weeke ;  but  they  were  much  disturbed  in  their  endeavours 
by  excellent  salhes  from  the  garrison,  especially  on  Friday  night 
last  (Sept.  20)  when  they  beate  the  Rebells  quite  out  of  their 
works  towards  the  bridge,  doing  sufficient  execution  upon  them. 
The  next  two  dayes  (Saturday  and  Sunday  last)  the  Rebells  shot 
excessively,  and  plyed  them  with  great  Granadoes  in  abundance 
of  11 2"^  weight,  which  held  on  all  Sunday  night  till  the  next 
morning.  The  multitude  of  great  shot  made  upon  the  west  wall 
of  the  Out- Ward  of  the  Castle,  had  made  a  breach  on  the  upper 
part  of  it,  neare  30  yeards  in  length  (but  the  inner  side  was  well 
lined  with  earth).  This  gave  them  encouragement  to  storme  it, 
and  about  9  of  the  clocke  that  morning  (Monday  last  Sept.  23) 
they  began  to  fall  on ;  Their  foote  had  beene  so  banged  by  con- 
tinual! sallyes  that  they  were  not  hardy  enough  for  this  service ; 
therefore  they  hii'ed  Troopers  to  lead  them  on  (12  out  of  eacn 
company),  with  their  best  officers.  These  were  to  have  £'300  (as 
was  confest)  for  their  paines.  The  number  of  the  assaylants  was 
about  1000,  they  came  on  with  burdens  of  furrs  on  their  backes, 
which  they  cast  into  the  Mote  the  better  to  passe  the  mud,  and 
so  assaulted  it  in  5  severall  places  at  once ;  the  greatest  number 
were  on  that  side  where  the  breach  was,  on  all  other  partes  they 
brought  ladders,  but  the  courageous  defendants  never  suffered  them 
to  reare  so  much  as  one  ladder,  but  cut  them  off  with  great  and 
small  shot,  which  was  sent  among  them  like  haile.  Those  that 
defended  the  breach,  performed  their  parts  with  as  much  valour 
as  can  be  imagined,  hewing  them  downe  as  fast  as  they  attempted 
entrance.  All  this  whUe  the  Rebells  played  upon  the  upper  part 
of  the  Castle  with  great  shot,  shooting  also  many  granadoes. 
But  at  last  the  Rebells,  seeing  themselves  unable  to  doe  any  thing, 
but  undoe  themselves  utterly,  gave  off,  being  so  sore  beaten,  so 
many  killed  and  wounded,  that  they  were  ready  to  quit  the  siedge. 
Towards  evening  that  day,  they  sent  a  trumpet  to  desire  the  bo- 


GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,  1044.  377 

dies  of  their  dead,  which  was  granted  upon  condition,  that  those 
which  had  fallen  within  pistoU  shot  of  the  Castle,  should  be  stript 
by  those  of  the  garrison,  and  delivered  naked  in  the  Market  place, 
which  was  done  accordmglj.  All  Tuesday  last  they  spent  in 
solemnizing  the  burials  of  their  dead  with  drumms,  trumpets, 
vollies  of  shot,  and  now  and  then  a  Psalme,  wherein  Master 
Fines  was  distinguished  from  the  rest,  as  having  the  most  funerall 
voice  among  them :  they  were  much  broken  as  they  expressed 
at  their  funeralls,  having  lost  so  many  of  their  best  officers. 
Themselves  have  acknowledged  above  300  slaine  and  wounded, 
(the  Castle  lost  but  9  men  in  all.)  Much  good  booty  was  gotten 
by  the  Castle,  above  120  armes,  and  all  their  scaling  ladders, 
which  shall  be  preserved  for  their  sakes  against  a  good  houre. 
Since  this  assault  they  have  shot  many  granadoes  and  other  great 
shot,  the  computation  of  granadoes  of  112^''  weight  is  154.  and 
of  cannon  shot  above  800.  and  have  spent  so  much  shot  and 
ammunition,  that  ever  since  they  have  held  their  peace.  Where- 
fore Lieutenant  Colonel  Green  bestowed  another  sally  upon  them, 
(Wednesday  night  last)  slew  and  wounded  many  of  them  in  their 
workes,  especially  on  the  east  side  of  the  Castle.  All  this  while 
we  see  no  body  takes  any  care  of  Master  Fines,  who  if  they  beate 
him  againe,  is  resolved  to  tell  his  father  of  it.""^ 

The  journals  in  the  interest  of  the  Parliament  are  mostly  silent 
regarding  Banbury  at  this  period.  The  following  however  ap- 
pears : — 

Sept.  27th.  "The  siege  at  Banbury  is  gallantly  maintained, 
our  men  keeping  the  enemy  in  continuall  action  shew  themselves 
experienced  souldiers  both  by  their  assaults  and  batteries  having 
made  so  wide  a  breach  in  the  Castle,  that  at  least  12  men  may 
march  in  a  breast,  which  some  too  venterously  endeavouring  to 
enter  received  some  repulse,  but  made  an  honourable  retreate  to 
their  workes  againe. "^^ 

The  importance  of  Banbury  Castle  to  the  King,  as  being  the 
stronghold  by  which  he  maintained  his  footing  in  the  centre  of 
the  kingdom,  made  its  present  safety  an  object  of  great  concern 
to  the  Royalists.  For  we  find  that,  when  the  King  was  before 
Plymouth  on  the  12th  September,  on  receiving  a  disloyal  answer 
to  his  summons,  a  motive  assigned  for  his  neglecting  to  take  vin- 

(25)  Merc.  Aulicus,  pp.  1179—1181. 

(26)  Perfect  Diurnal,  No.  61. 

3  B 


378  GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,   1644. 

dictive  measures  was  the  recollection  that  Banbury  and   Basing 
were  besieged  and  might  reqiiire  all  his  assistance."^ 

Sir  Edward  \Yalker's  account  of  the  attempt  to  storm  the  Castle 
agrees  with  that  already  given.  Heath  gives  the  following  state- 
ment : — "  Next  to  Dennington  siege,  remarkable  was  that  of  Ban- 
bury, where  Colonel  John  Fiennes  commanded  for  the  Parliament, 
and  where  he  used  batteries,  mines,  and  stormings,  against  the 
Castle,  wherein  Sir  WiUiam  Compton  was  governor  for  the  King ; 
whom  he  summoned  twice,  and  at  last  had  answer  *  that  the  Go- 
vernor wondered  he  would  send  again.'  Then  granadoes  were 
used,  which  made  a  breach,  and  gave  them  encouragement  to 
storm  it  again,  which  was  begim  on  the  23rd  of  September :  but 
they  were  repulsed  with  great  loss,  yet  nevertheless  they  contmued 
their  granadoes  and  battery,  till  the  Earl  of  Northampton  "  came 
to  reheve  the  Castle.-^ 

House  of  Lords,  Sept.  30th.  "  It  is  this  day  Ordered  by 
the  Lords  and  Commons,  &c..  That  Colonel  Fienns,  Colonel 
Boswell,  Colonel  Wetham,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Ferrar,  and  Major 
Lidcutt,  now  employed  in  the  Siege  at  Banbury,  shall  have  power 
to  take,  out  of  all  the  Towns  within  ten  miles  of  Banbury,  pro- 
portionably,  such  number  of  workmen  for  Pioneers  as  they  shall 
think  fit.     This  Order  to  continue  forty  days  and  no  longer."-^ 

Oct.  2nd.  "  Our  forces  were  in  a  good  way  respecting  Den- 
nington castle."  "  The  like  was  also  informed  concerning  Ban- 
bury, but  it  seems  the  besieged  are  not  without  hopes  of  reliefe, 
which  may  be  one  reason  that  such  places  which  are  easily  lost 
are  so  hard  to  regaine."^" 

Oct.  1st.  "There  is  a  great  expectation  that  the  towne  of 
Newcastle  and  the  Castle  of  Banbury  will  be  surrendred  unto 
the  Parliament  within  fifteene  dayes.  It  was  written,  and  dated 
as  on  \A'ednesday  last,  so  that  by  that  reckoning  we  shall  be  able, 
within  a  few  days,  to  give  you  a  good  account  of  that  place. "^' 

The  Perfect  Diurnals,  Nos.  63  and  64,  are  silent  respecting 
Banbury.  Thus  the  siege  went  on  until  the  early  part  of  Octo- 
ber ;  at  which  time  the  King,  having  been  generally  successful 
tlu-oughout  his  campaign  in  the  south  of  England,  thought  it 
necessary  to  look  "to  the  relief  of  Banbury,  Dennington,  and 
Basing  ;    which  were  still  streightly  besieged  and  reduced  to  very   . 

(27)  Sir  E.  Walker's  "  Happy  Progress."  (28)  Heath's  Chron.,  p.  63. 

(29)  Lords'  Journals.  (30)  Perf.  Diurnal,  No.  62.  (31)  London  Post,  No.  7. 


GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,  1644.  379 

great  streights,  especially  Banbury."^-  On  the  15th  October  he 
arrived  at  Salisbury.  The  Parliament  were  at  this  time  straining 
every  nerve  to  repair  their  recent  disasters ;  and  Skipton  was  sent 
with  an  army  towards  Andover,  where  Sir  William  Waller  was 
already  in  position.  Manchester  and  Cromwell  had  been  directed 
to  march  southward  to  the  same  point;  and  thu.s  a  power  was 
brought  together  such  as  had  not  yet  been  formed  under  any  one 
leader  since  the  commencement  of  the  war. 

If  the  King  had  now  acted  on  his  first  determination  to  hasten 
his  journey  towards  Oxfordshire,  Banbury  might  have  been  re- 
lieved without  danger  to  liimself.  But  Charles  was  advised  to 
march  towards  Andover,  with  the  view  of  falling  in  with  Waller 
before  the  forces  of  the  latter  were  strengthened  by  the  arrival 
of  the  other  Parliamentarian  leaders.  On  the  22nd  October  he 
approached  Newbury :  and  there  he  received  the  most  pressing 
importunities  from  Banbury,  which  was  on  the  point  of  surren- 
dering for  want  of  victuals,  the  garrison  having  already  eaten 
most  of  their  horses.  Under  such  pressing  circumstances,  the 
King  directed  the  Earl  of  Northampton  to  take  the  command  of 
three  of  the  best  regiments  of  horse,  namely,  the  Earl's  own 
regiment.  Lord  Wilmot's,  and  the  Earl  of  Brainford's,  and  move 
with  all  speed  to  the  relief  of  Banbury  :  and  letters  were  for- 
warded to  Colonel  Gage,  who  was  in  command  at  Oxford,  direct- 
ing him  to  reinforce  the  Earl  of  Northampton  with  his  troops 
from  that  city.^^  These  steps  were  necessary,  but  they  now  cost 
the  King  the  battle  of  Newbury.  Colonel  Urry,  upon  some 
motive  of  discontent,  quitted  the  service  of  the  King,  and,  join- 
ing with  the  Earl  of  Manchester,  made  the  latter  acquainted  with 
the  King's  position  and  with  the  Earl  of  Northampton's  absence 
on  account  of  relieving  Banbury.  The  battle  was  precipitated, 
and  fought  at  Newbury  on  the  27th  October :  when  the  King, 
greatly  overmatched  by  the  enemy  on  account  of  the  absence  of 
three  of  liis  best  regiments  of  horse,  was  defeated,  and  obliged 
to  retreat  to  Oxford.^^ 

Wednesday,  Oct.  23rd.  '« It  was  this  day  certified  from  our 
army,  that  the  Lord  Generall,  the  Earle  of  Manchester,  and  Sir 
William  Waller  had  sent  to  Major- Generall  Browne  to  Abbing- 
don,  and  to  Colonell  Fines  to  Banbury,  as  also   to  Redding  and 

(33)  Sir  E.  Walker's  "  Happy  Progress,"  p.  105. 

(33)  Sir  E.  Walker's  "  Happy  Progress;"  Clarendon  ;  Heath's  Chron. 

(34)  Gleig's  Life  of  Cromwell  ;  Clarendon. 

3b3 


380  GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,  1644. 

other  places,  to  certifie  to  each  of  them,  that  if  the  King's  forces 
should  sit  before,  or  summon  them,  not  to  be  discouraged,  for 
thej  should  not  be  put  to  it  many  houres,  but  with  all  speed  thej 
would  advance  to  relieve  them."^^ 

Saturday,  Oct.  26th.  "  From  the  siege  of  Banbury  Castle  we 
had  news  this  day  of  an  excellent  piece  of  service  performed  by 
Capt.  Fienns  which  is  thus  related ;  That  a  party  of  the  enemy 
from  Oxford,^^  Wallingford,  and  Bostock  house  were  drawne  out 
on  a  designe  to  relieve  the  Castle,  who  (as  we  heare  are  already 
reduced  to  that  extremity  that  they  eate  horse-flesh.)  That  the 
besiegers  by  their  scouts  having  timely  intelligence  thereof,  Capt. 
Fienns  went  with  a  commanded  party  against  them,  and  set  upon 
the  enemy  with  such  gallantry  that  they  routed  their  whole  party, 
tooke  all  their  bag  and  baggage,  with  the  reliefe  they  had  intended 
for  that  Castle,  followed  the  pursuit  of  them  even  to  the  walls 
of  Oxford,  and  there  gave  them  a  notable  alarum,  killed  divers 
on  the  place,  and  in  the  pursuit ;  took  many  prisoners  and  about 
(30  horse. "^^ 

Meanwhile  the  Earl  of  Northampton  made  all  speed  towards 
Banbury.  On  Thu.rsday,  the  24th  October,  Colonel  Gage  joined 
the  Earl  with  the  Queen's  regiment  of  foot  and  the  Oxford  horse, 
and  they  proceeded  to  Adderbury  (three  miles  from  Banbury),  and 
there  took  quarters  that  night  .^^  Fiennes's  party  had  just  re- 
turned to  Banbury  wearied  with  their  Oxford  excursion.^^  The 
next  morning  early,  the  Earl  of  Northampton  and  Colonel  Gage 
advanced  from  Adderbury,  "and  by  seven  of  the  clock  were 
within  half  a  mile  of  Banbury,  where  they  found  the  Rebels 
horse  (about  800)  drawn  up  in  five  bodies  on  the  south  side  of 
the  town,  near  their  sconce ; ""  they  faced  ours  without  attempting 
any  thing,  until  two  or  three  shot  made  by  two  drakes  brought 
from  Oxford  made  them  stagger^'  and  retreat  somewhat  disor- 
derly towards  Hanwell.  The  Rebels  foot  (about  700)  then  ran 
out  of    Banbury,   having   sent  their    cannon  and    baggage    away 

(35)  Perfect  Occurrences  of  Parliament,  No.  11. 

(36)  This  was  on  Sunday  the  20th  October.  "  Reported  that  about  1200  horse  and  dra- 
goons went  out  from  Oxford  on  Sunday  last  to  Banbury."— ilf.S.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  S. 
Luke,  Oct.  22nd. 

(37)  Perf  Diurnal,  No.  65.  (38)  Sir  E.  Walkers  "  Happy  Progress,"  p.  109. 

(39)  Perfect  Occurrences  of  Parliament,  No.  12. 

(40)  Tradition  refers  to  Farm-field  at  Easington  as  a  place  where  fighting  occurred, 
perhaps  on  this  occasion.  In  1839,  the  iron  axletree  of  a  cannon,  measuring  six  feet  in 
length,  and  weighing  lOOlbs.,  was  dug  up  in  lowering  the  hill  towards  Easington. 

(41)  It  is  said  that  Colonel  Webb  was  sent  with  the  Oxford  horse  to  make  a  circuit 
round  Crouch  Hill  and  charge  the  Parliamentarians  in  flank.— P.  Rushers  Crouch  Hill. 


RAISING  OF  THE  SIEGE,  1644.  381 

the  night  before ;  the  Rebels  then  retiring,  were  pursued  by  the 
Earl  of  Northampton  and  his  horse  (and  in  the  interim  CoUonel 
Gage  with  the  foot  relieved  the  Castle.)  About  a  mile  short  from 
Hauwell  he  overtook  the  Rebels,  and  being  then  joined  with 
Collonel  Webb's  Oxford  horse,  he  charged  and  quickly  routed 
them ;  who  made  their  escape  the  easier,  having  lined  two  hedges 
with  musqiietiers,  which  shot  at  ours  as  we  pursued  their  horse, 
though  in  a  field  near  Hanwell  they  scattered  and  dispersed 
themselves.  Their  General  young  Fiennes  was  with  the  fore- 
most, and  first  got  to  Compton,  thence  to  Warwick,  and  so  to 
Coventry,  before  he  either  slept  or  thought  himself  out  of  danger. 
Their  foot  escaped  through  enclosmres  before  our  foot  came  up. 
In  the  pursuit  we  took  one  field  piece  and  three  waggons  of  arms 
and  ammunition,  and  slew  very  many  between  Hanwell  and  Edge- 
hill.  There  were  then  taken  one  Captain  Unitt,  and  Lieutenant 
Vernon,  with  86  other  prisoners,  four  cornets  of  horse,  and  200 
horses,  six  barrels  of  powder,  and  good  store  of  match.  We 
lost  in  this  memorable  action  onely  Captain  Brown  and  nine 
troopers,  and  some  officers  and  others  were  hurt.*-  Thus  was 
the  siege  raised  from  Banbury,  wliich  had  continued  about  13 
weeks  ;  in  which  time  the  gallant  Sir  William  Compton,  Lieu- 
tenant Collonel  Green,  and  all  both  officers  and  souldiers  behaved 
themselves  so  courageously  that  they  never  admitted  a  parley, 
nor  gave  the  Rebels  the  least  hopes  of  gaining  that  place.  And 
which  is  observable,  it  was  now  relieved  the  very  day  of  the 
month  that  both  town  and  Castle  were  rendred  to  his  Majesty 
two  years  since,  being  the  26th  of  October."'*^  In  the  Castle  there 
were  only  two  horses  remaining ;  all  the  rest  having  been  eaten 
by  the  garrison.'*'' 

From  the  Parliamentarian  side  we  have  the  following  account : — 
Monday,  Oct.  28th.  "  You  shall  have  a'  true  relation  of  the 
raising  of  the  siege  at  Banbury,  being  the  substance  and  truth 
of  the  intelligence  that  is  sent  to  my  lord  Generall  and  his  army. 
"A  strong  partee  of  horse  foot  and  dragoones  commanded  by 
the  Earle  of  Northampton  and  others,  drawn  out  of  the  King's 
army,  and  out  of  Oxford,  were  advance  to  Duddington  four  [six] 

(42)  "  The  Earl  of  Braiiiford  and  Colonel  Web  were  here  wounded,  as  also  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Smith  and  Captain  Boteler  slain."  (Heath's  Chronicle,  p.  63.)  Colonel  P'errer, 
of  the  Parliament's  party,  was  slain. 

(43)  Sir  E.  Walker's  "Happy  Progress,"  pp.  109,  110.  It  was  the  25th  in  one  case, 
and  the  27th  in  the  other,  but  the  chroniclers  are  fond  of  making  dates  correspond. 

(44)  Clarendon,  v.  2,  p.  545. 


382  RAISING  OF  THE  SIEGE,  1644. 

miles  from  Banbiiry  on  Thursday  in  the  aftemoone  when  our 
partee,  that  had  followed  a  partee  of  theirs  to  Oxford,  that  gave 
us  an  alarme  on  Wednesday,  were  scarcely  come  to  their  quar- 
ters. And  though  they  were  much  wet  and  wearied  by  reason  of 
their  long  march  in  pursuite  of  that  partie,  yet  Colonell  Fines 
drew  them  to  Banbury  with  all  speed  lest  they  should  be  fallen 
upon  in  their  quarters,  and  our  foot  surprised.  And  having  sent 
forth  orders  to  that  purpose,  they  called  a  councell  of  war,  where 
after  due  consideration  of  the  enemies  strength,  it  was  concluded 
by  all,  that  the  siege  should  be  raised,  and  the  major  part  that 
they  should  march  to  Warwick  beginning  the  march  by  5  of  the 
clocke  in  the  morning,  accordingly  our  horse  were  drawne  out 
to  face  the  enemie,  who  were  drawn  into  the  field  within  halfe  a 
mile  of  us  as  soone  as  ours,  or  rather  before  us.  In  the  meane 
time  our  carriage  were  marched,  and  presently  after  our  foot  had 
order  to  march  after  them,  which  they  did,  onely  some  of  them 
staled  too  long  in  the  towne,  which  much  endangered  our  being 
engaged  with  the  enemie  before  we  would  have  been,  to  save 
them  from  being  cut  off,  our  horse  retreated  to  the  foot,  and  made 
their  retreat  good  for  a  mile,  and  conceiving  they  had  some  ad- 
vantage of  the  enemie  their  horse  being  somewhat  divided  fell 
upon  them  somewhat  too  hastily,  but  it  pleased  God  so  to  order 
it  that  our  hors  were  routed,  yet  so  many  of  them  ralHed  againe 
when  they  came  to  the  carriages  that  they  were  most  of  them 
saved,  and  brought  to  Warwick,  the  rest  of  the  horse  rallyed 
below  EdgehUl. 

"  By  reason  of  the  flight  of  the  horse,  the  foot  were  left  in 
great  despair,  to  whom  Coll.  Fiennes  went  after  the  horse  were 
gone,  and  by  the  help  of  God  brought  them  all  safe  with  their 
colours  and  drums  in  good  order  to  Warwick,  our  losse  is  small, 
there  is  not  many  horse  missing,  we  have  all  our  foot,  only  some 
of  my  lord  of  Manchesters  who  were  going  to  the  carriages  were 
routed ;  we  lost  one  drake  by  the  breaking  of  the  carriage,  and 
some  ammunition  which  was  stamped  in  the  dirt  by  our  souldiers  ; 
our  mortar  piece  and  other  drakes,  and  the  most  considerable  car- 
riages, were  saved. 

"There  were  3  brigades  of  horse,  besides  a  party,  that  way- 
laid our  march  towards  Northampton,  thinking  we  would  march 
that  way."^ 

(4.5)  Perfect  Occurrences  of  rarliament,  No.  13. 


RAISING  OF  THE  SIEGE,  1644.  383 

"  '  Curia  Belli  tenta  Banburise.         Octobris  Vicessimo  5to. 

'"It  was  ordered  by  tbe  Councell  of  Warre  whose  names  are  sub- 
scribed, that  all  the  Forces  in  and  about  Banbury,  should  march  from 
beleaguering  the  Castle  to  Warwick,  by  5  of  the  clock  in  the  morning, 
the  enemy  being  within  4  miles  of  the  Castle. 

Curia  consisteyite  ex    Coll.  John  Fiennes,  President. 

Lieutenant  Coll.  Torkington  Capt.  Gyfford 

Lieutenant  Coll.  Gray  Capt.  Adams 

Major  Pent  Capt.  Slade 

Major  Lytcot  Capt.  Shilborn 

Major  Temple  Lieut.  Hobson 

Capt.  Edw.  Temple  Lieut.  Miller 

Capt.  Deverell  Lieut.  Beakes 

Capt.  Throgmorton. 

John  Butler,  Cler.  to  the  Councell  of  Warre.'  "" 

"A  Letter  written  to  the  Committee  of  tlie  3  Counties  of  Oxon. 
Bucks,  and  Berks,  from  Major  Litcot  and  Purbeck  Temple  : — 

" '  Most  Honovred, 
It  was  our  unhappinesse  to  have  a  party  of  the  Kings  army,  we 
know  not  how  great,  to  come  so  suddainly  on  us,  that  we  could  by  no 
means  avoid  an  engagement  with  the  enemy,  although  we  endea- 
voured to  draw  off:  our  horse  were  forced  to  fight  before  we  could 
draw  them  or  our  foot  into  any  good  posture.  We  gave  them  at  the 
first  so  round  a  charge,  that  we  routed  and  killed  most  of  their  for- 
lorn hope,  and  had  not  we  for  want  of  a  few  minutes  of  time  been 
disappointed  of  drawing  our  horse  into  a  fit  posture  for  our  purpose,  we 
had  in  all  probability  routed  their  partie.  But  our  end  was  frustated, 
the  rout  falling  out  to  be  ours,  yet  not  with  so  great  disadvantage  as 
may  be  reported,  for  we  slew  more  of  their  men  then  they  of  ours,  most 
of  our  officers  of  horse  endeavoured  by  all  meanes  to  make  our  horse 
face  about,  but  could  by  no  means  possibly  effect  it.  CoU.  John  Fiennes 
we  left  for  lost  among  our  foot,  but  since  we  know  for  certain,  that  our 
foot  by  his  courage  and  industry  are  preserved  with  himselfe.  They 
found  a  way  from  hedge  to  hedge  to  march  to  Compton  hovise,  though 
the  horse  were  gone  to  Warwick.  Since  we  hear  there  was  a  very  great 
party  got  over  the  waters  on  Northamptonshire  side,  besides  another 
considerable  partie  comming  along  from  Adderbuiy,  which  maketh  us 
conclude,  that  the  Kings  Army  is  all  come  to  Oxford.  Coll.  Fiennes 
drew  the  foot  into  an  inclosed  ground,  and  gave  the  enemies  horse  such 
voUies  as  they  pursued  ours,  that  there  fell  very  many  of  them  dead 
and  wounded  in  the  field,  and  the  rest  of  them  left  their  pursuit  of  our 
horse.     So  subsci-ibe 

Your  humble  Servants 

LiDCOT 

PvRBECK  Temple.'"*' 
"  '  Warwick,  Octob.  26.'  " 

(46)  Perfect  Occurrences  of  Parliament,  No.  13.  (47)  Ibid. 


384  THE  YEAR  164*. 

Thus  was  'raised  the  siege  of  Banbury,  which  had  continued, 
according  to  Sir  Edward  Walker,  full  thirteen  weeks,  or  according 
to  the  Mercurius  Auhcus,  Heath,  and  others,  exactly  fourteen 
weeks,  namely  from  the  19th  July  till  the  25th  October.  The 
heroism  of  the  defenders  deserves  to  live  in  history.  It  is  said 
that  the  garrison  countermined  the  enemy  eleven  times ;  and  that 
Sir  William  Compton  never  went  to  bed  during  the  siege.'*^ 

Tuesday,  October  29th.  "  The  Lords  sent  a  message  to  the 
Commons  w^th  a  petition  in  the  behalfe  of  Mistris  Ferrer  late 
wife  of  Colonell  Ferrer  slaine  at  the  releiving  of  Banbury  Castle, 
which  petition  was  referred  to  consideration."^^ 

October  31st.  Letters  from  Sir  Samuel  Luke  to  the  Parlia- 
ment, dated  at  Newport  Pagnell  on  the  30th,  were  received  in 
London,  stating  that  he  had  intelligence  that  the  party  which 
relieved  Banbury  Castle  remained  about  "  Atherbury,  Ayno,  and 
Brackley,"  but  were  preparing  to  remove.^"  These  forces  joined 
the  King,  soon  after,  at  Oxford ;  and  Colonel  Gage  received  from 
the  King  the  honour  of  knighthood.^^ 

Sunday,  November  3rd.  "  It  were  endlesse  to  mention  the 
Rebells  severall  blasphemies  begotten  by  their  Covenant ;  some 
whereof  are  so  bold  and  horrible,  that  they  seem  incredible  though 
confessed  to  be  true  by  the  blaspheamers  themselves  ;  for  instance 
take  one  of  the  Lord  Says  tenants  at  Broughton  neare  Banbury ; 

(48)  Chalmers's  Biog.  There  was  an  inmate  of  Banbury  Castle  during  this  siege  whose 
name  must  be  here  recorded.  Peter  Hausted  was  born  at  Oundle,  educated  in  Queen's 
College,  Cambridge,  entered  into  orders  when  M.  A.,  became  curate  of  Uppingham,  and 
at  length  rector  (as  is  stated)  of  Hadham  in  Hertfordshire.  About  the  time  of  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Civil  War  he  became  chaplain  to  Spencer  Earl  of  Northampton  :  he  received 
the  degree  of  D.  D.  at  Oxford  1st  November  1642,  continued  true  to  the  fortunes  of  the 
noble  house  he  served,  was  in  the  Castle  of  Banbury  during  the  siege  of  1644,  died  therein 
in  1645,  and  was  buried  either  within  the  precincts  of  the  Casfle  or  in  the  Chui-ch  of 
Banbury.  Dr.  Hausted  was  an  ingenious  man  and  a  poet.  He  published: — 1.  "The 
Rival  Friends,  a  Comedy;"  1633:  Acted  before  the  King  and  Queen  at  Cambridge  19th 
March  1631." — 2.  "  Senile  Odium :  Comoedia  Cantabrigise  publice  Academicis  recitata  in 
Coll.  Reginali  ab  ejusdem  Collegii  Juventute;"  1633. — 3.  "Ten  Sermons  preached  upon 
several  Sundays  and  Saints-days;"  1636. — 4.  "Ad  Populum.  A  Lecture  to  the  People, 
with  a  Satyr  against  Separatists;"  Oxf.  1644.  This  last  is  a  poem:  the  title  was  given 
by  the  King,  who,  seeing  it  in  MS.  with  the  title  of  "A  Sermon  to  the  People,"  altered 
the  name ;  being.  Wood  savs,  much  pleased  with  the  piece. — Wood's  Fasti  Oxon. 

(49)  Perf.  Diurnal,  No."66.  (50)  Weekly  Account,  No.  62. 
(51)  Sir  E.  Walker;  Clarendon.     The  following  occurs  in  Sir  John  Dugdale's  Collection 

of  his  Father's  Short  Stories.  "  One  King,  a  bellwether  of  the  rebels  in  King  Charles's 
reign,  and  then  a  preacher  in  Coventry,  one  of  the  forwardest  and  most  factious  cities  in 
England,  being  to  observe  a  Humiliation  Day  ordered  by  the  then  Powers  for  a  defeat  of 
their  forces  under  the  command  of  Colonel  John  Fiennes  at  Banbury,  and  it  happening 
on  that  very  morning  another  account  came  of  the  Earl  of  Essex's  defeat  at  LestithioU  in 
Cornwall,  the  news  thereof  so  discomposed  this  preacher  that  in  his  prayer  he  uttered 
these  expressions : — '  Lord,  we  thine  own  people,  come  here  to  humble  ourselves  for  the 
defeat  of  our  forces  at  Banbury  under  the  command  of  Colonel  John  Fiennes,  whose  brother 
Nathaniel  Fiennes  but  lately  has  shown  himself  a  coward  at  Bristol,  so  we  might  expect 
little  better  by  trusting  him — but  Lord,  which  is  worse  than  both,  thou  hast  even  now  sent 
us  the  news  of  our  aimy's  defeat  at  LestithioU,  in  Cornwall,  and  had  we  heard  it  sooner 
we  would  not  have  been  humbled  at  this  time.'  "  » 


THE  YEAR  l(i44.  385 

who  upon  Mr.  Fienues  late  beating,  complained  in  prayer,  that 
*  all  this  miscbiefe  was  befallen  them  at  Banbury  for  neglecting 
Gods  covenant,'  pressing  it  farther  in  these  very  words,  'We 
know,  O  Lord,  that  Abraham  made  a  covenant,  and  Moses  made 
a  covenant,  and  David  made  a  covenant,  and  our  Saviour  made 
a  covenant,  but  thy  Parliaments  Covenant  is  the  greatest  of  all 
covenants.'  "^ 

Thursday,  November  7th.  It  was  this  day  certified  "  that  the 
enemie  hath  brought  in  very  large  victuall,  and  supplie  into  Ban- 
bury Castle,  which  they  have  robd  and  pillaged  the  countrey 
people  therabouts  of,  and  undone  them,  plundering  many  to  the 
very  walles,  especially  some  honest  people  in  Banbury." - 

Saturday,  November  9th.  The  Parliament  this  week  made  an 
order,  "  That  whereas  a  report  was  made  unto  them  by  the  Com- 
mittee of  both  Kingdoms  for  the  present  advancement  of  some 
monies  for  the  payment  of  Colouell  Fiennes  his  regiment  of 
horse,  who  were  in  the  late  unhappy  service  at  Banbury,  it 
should  be  referred  to  the  Committee  at  Habberdashers  Hall,  for 
advancing  of  a  fortnights  pay  for  the  said  regiment,  which  is 
to  be  employed  upon  another  design  with  all  expedition."  Also 
another  order,  that  it  be  "  referred  to  a  Committee  to  consider  of 
the  miscarriages  of  those  forces  that  were  at  the  besiedging  of 
Banbury,  to  the  end  that  justice  might  be  done  upon  such  as 
were  defective  in  their  duty,  whether  Commanders  of  Horse  or 
Foot."^ 

Tuesday,  November  26th.  A  spy  of  Sir  Samuel  Luke's  reports, 
"  That  on  Wednesday  laste  hee  was  at  Banbury  where  hee  sawe 
100  men  at  least  digging  at  the  workes  and  they  have  made  a 
new  Moate  round  the  Castle  and  they  have  stord  it  w'th  all  manner 
of  provisions,"' 

November  27th.  "  Giles  Robson  "  [a  spy  of  Sir  Samuel  Luke's] 
"  saith  that  there  were  65  prisoners  taken  at  Banbviry  at  the  last 
fight  and  brought  to  Oxford,  and  there  lodged  in  the  Castle  vpon 
boards  having  noe  allowance  for  maintenance  but  were  releeved 
by  Capt  GreenvUe  who  allowed  them  3"^  a  day,  and  they  were  all 
wounded  men  but  three  and  noe  care  taken  for  any  surgions, 
remayning  there  4  dayes,  had  not  Capt.  Greenville  petitioned  in 
their  behalfe.     Last  they  were  obtayned  upon  the  peticon  of  Capt. 

(1)  Merc.  Aiilicus,  p.  1243.  (2)  Perfect  Occun-ences,  No.  13. 

(3)  Merc.  Aulicus,  p.  12-50.  (4)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  S.  Luke,  vol.  1. 

3  c 


38(i  THOMAS  LYDYAT. 

Greeuvile  and  thej   were   so  much  necessitated   that  they   ciyed 
out  for  water  &  could  not  gett  it."'^ 

December  10th.  A  letter  of  this  date  from  that  eminent 
scholar  THOMAS  Lydyat  of  Alkerton,  addressed  to  Sir  WiUiani 
Compton,  states  that  he  had  been,  up  to  that  time,  four  times 
pillaged  by  the  Parhament's  forces  from  Compton  House,  to  the 
value  of  at  least  £70,  and  forced  for  a  quarter  of  a  year  to  bor- 
row a  shirt  to  shift  himself;  that  he  had  been  twice  carried  from 
his  house,  once  to  Wai*wick,  and  once  to  Banbury;  and  that, 
on  the  first  occasion,  he  was  hurried  away  on  a  poor  jade,  infa- 
mously used  by  the  soldiers  at  Warwick,  and  so  sorely  hurt  that 
he  was,  at  the  writing  of  the  said  letter,  "not  throughly  whole," 
and  doubted  he  scarce  ever  should  be.  The  cause  of  all  which 
ill  usage  received  from  the  Parliamentarian  soldiers  was,  that  he 
had  denied  them  money  and  had  defended  his  books  and  papers, 
and  afterwards,  wliile  a  prisoner  in  Warwick  Castle,  had  spoken 
much  for  the  King  and  the  bishops.'' 

(5)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  S.  Luke,  vol.  1. 

(6)  Wood's  Atheuee.  Thomas  Lydyat  was  bom  at  Alkerton  near  Banbury  in  1572. 
He  was  the  son  of  Christopher  Lyd3'at,  lord  of  the  manor  of  Alkerton  ;  and,  "  having 
pregnant  parts  while  a  youth,"  was  elected  to  Wykeham's  school  near  Winchester  at  about 
13  years  of  age;  and  afterwards  probationer-fellow  of  New  College,  Oxford,  in  1591. 
After  he  had  taken  the  degrees  in  arts,  he  studied  astronomy,  mathematics,  the  tongues, 
and  divinity ;  in  the  last  of  which  he  desired  to  improve  himself;  but,  finding  a  defect  in 
his  memory  and  utterance,  he  chose,  in  1603,  to  quit  his  place  in  the  college  (the  statutes 
of  which  obliged  him  to  divinity)  and  live  upon  the  small  patrimony  he  had.  During 
the  seven  years  which  followed,  he  finished  and  published  such  books  as  he  had  begun  in 
college,  including  one  dedicated  to  Prince  Henry,  to  whom  he  was  chronographer  and 
cosmographer.  It  is  said  that  the  Prince  had  so  gi'eat  a  respect  for  Lydyat,  that  "had 
he  lived  he  would  have  done  great  matters  for  him  ;  but,  dying  in  the  flower  of  his  youth, 
the  hopes  of  our  author  were  interred  with  that  Prince  in  his  grave."  Subsequently,  Dr. 
Usher,  afterwards  archbishop  of  Armagh,  found  out  Lydyat  and  took  him  into  Ireland  ; 
where  he  continued  about  two  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time,  the  rectory  of  Alker- 
ton falhng  void,  Lydyat  accepted  it  in  1612.  Being  settled  at  Alkerton,  he  went  over  the 
harmony  of  the  Gospels,  made  thereon  above  six  hundred  sei-mons,  wrote  several  books, 
and  laid  the  foundation  of  others.  All  these  he  would  have  published  had  he  not  been 
unadvisedly  engaged  for  the  debts  of  a  near  relation  ;  which  debts  being  unable  to  pay 
(having  spent  his  small  patrimony  in  printing  his  former  books),  he  remained  in  the  prison 
called  Bocardo  in  Oxford,  and  in  the  King's-Bench  and  elsewhere,  until  Sir  William  Bos- 
well,  Dr.  Robert  Pink,  Dr.  Usher,  and  Archbishop  Laud,  laid  down  the  amount  of  the 
debt  and  released  him.  About  this  time  Lydyat  sent  up  a  petition  to  Charles  the  First, 
wherein,  among  several  things,  he  desired  that  his  Majesty  would  give  him  leave  to 
travel  into  foreign  parts,  as  Turkey,  Ethiopia,  or  the  Abasen  emperor's  country,  to  search 
and  find  copies  especially  of  civil  and  ecclesiastical  histories,  to  be  published  in  print;  or 
whatsoever  copies  might  tend  to  the  propagation  or  increase  of  good  learning :  and  further, 
"  whereas  he  had  lieger-ambassadors  and  agents  with  his  confederates,  emperors,  kings, 
and  princes  of  other  countries,  they  might  in  his  Majesty's  name,  in  behalf  of  Mr.  Lydyat 
and  his  assigns,  move  their  highnesses  to  grant  the  like  privilege  to  him  and  his  assigns," 
&c.  What  the  effect  of  the  petition  was  is  not  known :  however,  says  Anthony  a  Wood, 
"  from  thence  his  noble  intentions  and  public  spirit  may  be  discovered." 

Wood  says  that  Lydyat  was  "  a  person  of  small  stature,  yet  of  great  parts  and  of  a 
public  soul,  and  though  a  poor  and  contemptible  priest  to  look  upon  (for  so  he  was  held 
by  the  vulgar),  yet  he  not  only  puzzled  Christopher  Clavius  and  the  whole  college  of  mathe- 
maticians, but  also  that  great  Goliath  of  literature  Joseph  Scaliger  ;  who,  when  he  was  worsted 
by  our  author's  writings,  (though  he  would  never  acknowledge  it,  howbeit  gi-eat  men,  par- 
ticularly the  famous  Usher,  held  it  for  granted,)  he  betook  himself  unmanly  to  his  tongue, 


THOMAS  LYDYAT.  387 

The  hardslxips  which  were  endured  by  the  garrison  of  Banbury 
and  the  town's-people  during  the  memorable  siege  of  1641,  were 

by  calling  him  iu  a  scornful  manner  a  beggarly,  beardless,  and  gelt  priest."  Fuller  says 
that  Scaliger  was  greatly  ofTended  at  the  opposition  of  Lydyat ;  "  conceiving  himself  such 
a  prince  of  learning,  it  was  high  treason  for  any  to  doubt  of,  much  more  deny,  his  opinion. — 
However  this  great  bugbear  critic,  finding  it  more  easy  to  contemn  the  person  than  con- 
fute the  arguments  of  his  adversary,  slighted  Lydyat  as  inconsiderable,  jeering  him  for  a 
prophet,  who  indeed  somewhat  traded  in  the  apocalyptical  divinity."  Lydyat  was  much 
esteemed  by  learned  men  at  home,  among  whom  Usher,  Sir  Adam  Newton  secretary,  and 
Sir  Thomas  Chaloner  chamberlain  to  Prince  Henry,  Dr.  Bainbridge,  Mr.  Henry  Briggs, 
Dr.  Peter  Turner,  &c.  were  his  gi'eat  acquaintance;  and  also,  says  Wood,  by  "the  vir- 
tuosi beyond  the  seas,  who  were  pleased,  and  that  worthily,  to  rank  him  with  the  Lord 
Bacon  of  Verulam  and  Mr.  Joseph  Mede.  But  when  they  heard  that  our  author  and  the 
said  Mede  were  very  poorly  preferred,  they  answered  that  the  Englishmen  deserved  not 
to  have  such  brave  scholars  among  [them],  since  they  made  no  more  of  them."  Lydyat 
never  attained  higher  church  preferment  than  the  rectory  of  Alkerton. 

"  At  length,"  says  Wood,  "  after  our  author  had  lived  at  Okerton  [Alkerton]  several  years 
very  poor  and  obscurely,  [he]  surrendered  up  his  soul  to  him  that  gave  it,  on  the  third  day 
of  April  in  sixteen  hundred  forty  and  six,  and  was  buried  the  next  day  (being  the  same  day 
on  which  he  had  above  70  years  before  been  baptized)  by  the  bodies  of  his  father  and  mo- 
ther in  the  chancel  of  the  church  at  Okerton,  which  he  before  had  rebuilt."  Over  his 
grave,  near  the  south  window,  not  far  from  the  east  end  of  the  chancel,  the  warden 
and  society  of  New  College  caused  an  inscription  to  be  placed  at  their  charge  in  1669. 
It  merely  informed  the  reader  that  Lydyat  was  "  the  faithful  pastor  of  that  church."  This 
has  been  long  obliterated.  An  honorary  monument  was  however  erected  in  New  College 
cloister :  and  a  still  more  enduring  memento  to  Lydyat  was  furnished  by  Dr.  Johnson,  in 
his  "  Vanity  of  Human  Wishes,"  where,  speaking  of  unfortunate  learned  men,  he  says  : — 

"  There  mark  what  ills  the  scholar's  life  assail, 

Toil,  envy,  want,  the  patron,  and  the  gaol. 

See  nations,  slowly  wise,  and  meanly  just. 

To  buried  merit  raise  the  tardy  bust. 

If  dreams  yet  flatter,  once  again  attend, 

Hear  Lydyat's  life,  and  Galileo's  end." 
Lydyat's  works  are: — 1.  Tractatus  de  variis  Annorum  Formis,  1605; — 2.  Preelectio 
Astronomica  de  Natura  Cceli  &  Conditionibus  Elementorum ; — 3.  Disquisitio  physiologica 
de  Origine  Fontium ; — 4.  Defensio  Tractatus  de  variis  Annorum  Fonnis  contra  Josephi 
Scaligeri  Obtrectationem,  1607 ; — 5.  Examen  Canonum  Chronologiee  Isagogicorum ; — 
6.  Emendatio  Temporum  ab  Initio  Mundi  hue  usque,  Compendio  facta,  contra  Scaligeruni 
&  alios,  1609;— 7.  Explicatio  &  Additamentum  Arguraentorum  in  Libcllo  Emendationis 
Temporum  Compendio  factas,  de  Nativitate  Christi  &  Ministerio  in  Terris,  1613;— 8.  Solis 
&  Lunee  Periodus,  seu  Annus  magnus,  1620 ; — 9.  De  Anni  solans  Mensura  Epistola 
Astronomica,  ad  Hen.  Savilium,  1620; — 10.  Numerus  aureus  melioribus  Lapillis  insignitus, 
factusque  gemmeus ;  e  Thesauro  Anni  magni,  sive  Solis  &  Lunee  Periodi  octodesexcen- 
tcnariae,  &c.,  1621 ; — 11.  Canones  Chronologici,  necnon  Series  summorum  Magistratuum 
&  Triumphorum  Romanorum,  1675  ; — 12.  Letters  to  Dr.  James  Usher  Primate  of  Ireland, 
1686.  "  These,"  says  Wood,  "  I  think  are  all  the  things  that  he  hath  extant.  As  for  those 
many  MSS.  which  he  left  behind  him  at  the  time  of  his  death,  are  mostly  these;" — I.  An- 
notations upon  that  part  of  Mr.  Edw.  Breei-wood's  Treatise  of  the  Sabbath  wherein  he 
denies  the  Christian  Sabbath  on  the  Lord's  Day  or  the  First  day  of  the  Week  to  be  es- 
tablished Jure  Divino,  by  God's  Commandment ; — 2.  Annotations  upon  some  controverted 
Points  of  the  Chronical  Canons ; — 3.  A  few  Annotations  upon  some  Places  or  Passages 
of  the  second  and  third  Chapters  of  the  Book  entit.  Altare  Christianiun ; — 4.  Treatise 
touching  the  setting  up  of  Altars  in  Christian  Churches,  and  bowing  in  Reverence  to  them 
or  Common  Tables,  and  bowing  the  Knee,  or  uncovering  the  Head,  at  the  Name,  or  Naming 
of  Jesus,  occasionally  made  1633 ;  (This  was  written  at  the  desire  of  some  London  min- 
isters ;  and  is  dedicated  to  Archbishop  Laud  in  gratitude  for  his  releasing  him  from  prison. 
In  a  postscript,  Lydyat  endeavours  to  answer  Bishop  Andrews  concerning  bowing  at  the 
name  of  Jesus ;)-— 5.  Answer  to  Mr.  Joseph  Mede's  Treatise  of  the  Name  of  Altar  or 
^vo-Kx,<7%pioJ,  antiently  given  to  the  holy  Table;  Written  iu  1637; — 6.  Answer  to  the 
Defence  of  the  Coal  from  the  Altar; — 7.  Evangeiiura  contractum  ex  quatuor  Evangeliis, 
&c.;  Written  in  Hebrew; — 8.  Annales  Ecclesife  Christi  inchoati  secundum  Methodum 
Baronii;  Latin; — 9.  Chronicon  Regum  Judeeorum  Methodo  magis  perspicua ;  Hebrew; — 
10.  Mesolabum  Geometricum; — 11.  Chronicon  Mundi  emendatum; — 12.  Divina  Spheera 
humanorum  Eventuum;  Dedicated  to  the  King,  1632; — 13.  Problema  Astronomicum 
de  Solis  Eccentricitate  ; — 14.  Diatribfe;  &  Animadversiones  Astronomioaj,  ternse; — 15.  Cir- 
culi  Dimensio  Lydyatea,  Archimedea; — 16.  Marmoreum  Chronicon  Arundelianum,  cum 
Annotationibus,  «fec."    This  last  was  afterwards  printed  in  a  book  entitled  Marmora  Oxo- 

3  c  3 


388  THE  PLAGUE  AT  BANBURY,  1644. 

increased  by  the  prevalence  of  the  Plague,  which  raged  from  March 
until  the  termination  of  the  siege  in  October.  The  following 
particulars  are  contained,  amongst  others,  in  the  Register;  but, 
from  the  circumstance  of  very  few  burials  of  soldiers  being  re- 
corded, it  is  probable  that  the  number  of  deaths  from  Plague 
was  far  greater  than  we  have  any  account  of: — 

Jan.  "  A  soldiar  that  d5'ed  in  the  street  buried  16*  day." 

"  Ward  a  quartermaster  in  Castel  biu-ied  23'ii  day." 

Feb.  "  Knight  a  leiuetenant  at  Castell  buried  2^^  day." 

March.       "  These  supposed  to   dye   of  the   Plague   in  this  month  of 
March 

Richard  Sloath  Heaster  Horsman  Mary  White  Mary  the 
wyiF  and  Ailie  the  daughter  of  Izaac  Walton  Robeart 
Wilkins  Edward  Hill  sonne  to  Edward  Hyll  William  Fyfeild 
Sonne  to  Edward  Fyfeild   nethrup  Elizabeth  Gyll  wyfe  to 

Luke  Gjdl  Nicholas  Cowper  a  soldiar  buried "     [Then 

follows  a  memorandum, — "The  days  of  buriall  uncertain."] 

August.       "  A  soldiar  from  the  Castel  buried  S"'  day." 

"  A  soldiar  slaine  pulling  downe  Humphry  Robbins  house 

buried  8"'  day 

"  A  soldiar  lodged  att  the  George  buried  W^  day 

"  A  solder  of  Liftennant  Middeltons  buried  23'*'  day" 

Sept.  "  James  Hawkins  sonne  to  William  Hawkins  slaine  with  a 

bullet  from  the  Castel  biu-ied  8"»  day  " 

Oct.  "  Captaine   Browne  buried   26'''   day"      Seven  funerals  are 

recorded  this  daj'  (of  which  four  are  of  soldiers)  indepen- 
dently of  any  included  in  the  monthly  burials  from  Plague. 
This  was  the  day  after  the  relieving  of  the  Castle,  in  which 
engagement  Captain  Brown  was  slain. 

Dec.  "  A  soldiar  from  the  Castel  biuied  first  day  " 

"  A  soldiar  of  Capt  Vauhans  buried  22'''  day  " 

The  total  number  of  recorded  deaths  by  Plague  is  as  follows  : — 
March,  10;  April,  34;  May,  24;  June,  22;  July,  29;  August, 
22;  September,  11 ;  October,  7;  November,  2.     Total,  161. 

Nathaniel  Wheatley  had  been  chosen  Mayor  of  Banbury  in 
September  1643,  and  had  his  quietus  granted  by  the  Committee 
of  Revenue  in  1649  ;  whereof  it  is  said  that,  "  By  reasons  of  the 
distraccons  of  the  times  there  were  neither  receipts  nor  disbursm" 
dureinge  the  Maioralty  of  the  said  Mr.  Nathaniel  \Yhately."' 


THE  YEAR  1645. 

On   the    7th   January    1644[5],    Bennett   Burroughs,    a    spy  in 
the  employ  of  Sir  Samuel  Luke,  reported  to  the  latter  at  Newport 

niensia,  published  by  Humphrey  Pride.ius.    All  these  MSS.,  with  others  treating  of  divinity, 
mathematics,  and  astronomy,  amounting  in  the  whole  to  38  at  least,  were  bound  up  in  22 
volumes,  and  preserved  as  rarities  by  Dr.  John  Lamphire,  principal  of  Hart  Hall. — Anl. 
Wnod ;  Fuller's  Worthies,  (f-c. 
(7)  Book  of  Accounts  of  the  Corporation. 


AFFAIR  AT  KILSBY,  1645.  389 

Pagnell  "  that  the  Coll.  Greene  Governor  of  Banbury  Castle  dyed 
the  last  weeke."* 

Saturday,  Jan.  1 8th.  "  The  busie  rebellious  towne  Kilsby 
in  Northamptonshire,  is  at  last  well  instructed  to  future  obedience. 
*  *  *  This  good  towne  not  onely  refused  to  pay  contribu- 
tion to  Banbury,  but  scorned  those  that  did,  and  grew  so  insolent, 
that  a  fortnight  since  they  assaulted  a  party  of  Banbury  horse 
with  muskets  and  weapons,  and  by  advantage  of  the  Church  and 
stone  walls  drove  them  out  of  the  town.  Therefore  Sir  William 
Compton  on  Thursday  was  seavenight  (Jan.  9.)  marcht  thether 
with  400  horse,  and  disposing  a  good  party  to  prevent  their 
running  to  Northampton,  set  a  good  guard  upon  the  Church ; 
the  rebellious  Townesmen  were  soon  alarm'd,  and  zealously  cryed 
out  Arme,  Arme,  some  made  towards  Northampton  and  were 
taken  by  the  party,  others  with  muskets  made  to  the  Church, 
and  were  seized  in  the  church-yard.  Thus  being  all  masterd, 
Sir  William  brought  24  of  them  to  Banbury  (the  very  number 
of  the  old  Banbury  brethren)  togeather  with  200  head  of  cattle, 
and  60  horses  (some  worth  £20  a  horse)  good  store  of  muskets 
and  other  armes,  with  a  great  deale  of  very  good  booty :  the 
woemen  were  keen  and  zealous,  cursing  the  Troopers  in  Scrip- 
ture phrase,  but  the  effect  of  their  curses  you  shall  heare  next 
week."^ 

January  26th.  "  We  told  you  what  curses  the  Sisters  of  Kilsby 
bestowed  on  Banbury  garrison,  for  offering  to  make  their  husbands 
obey  any  besides  their  wives ;  but  these  zealous  women  having 
lived  almost  three  whole  dayes  without  their  husbands,  came  since 
to  Banbury,  and  told  Sir  William  Compton,  that  those  24  men 
(lately  taken  at  Kilsby)  belonged  to  them,  that  the  200  head  of 
cattell  and  60  horses  were  theirs  also,  desiring  he  would  order 
that  the  cattell,  horses,  together  with  the  men  might  be  restor'd 
unto  them  ;  Sir  William  condescended,  on  condition  they  would 
pay  all  the  arreares  of  contribution,  the  horses  taken  to  be  for- 
feited, and  some  of  the  cliiefe  brethren  for  future  bound  to  or- 
derly payments,  and  never  hereafter  beare  armes  against  his 
Majesty.  This  overture  was  refused  by  these  sullen  brethren, 
till  at  last  the  sisterhood  began  to  lecture  them  (for  others  can 
preach  as  well  as  ladies)  and  then  they  submitted ;  so  as  the  ar- 
reares (which  came  to  i,'300)  were  payd ;   the  60  horses  forfeited 

(S)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  S.  Luke,  vol.  1.  (9)  Merciirius  Auliciis,  p.  1348. 


390  ATTACK  ON  COMPTON  HOUSE,  1645. 

to  Banburj,  but  the  meu,  women,  and  cattail,  returned  to  the 
place  from  whence  they  came."^" 

A  Parhamentarian  paper,  referring  to  the  above,  says  :—"  These 
[Sisters  of  Kilsby]  he  challenges  for  bestowing  curses  upon  Ban- 
bury Castle.  I  will  not  believe  it ;  for  it  were  madnesse  to  bestow 
upon  those  that  have  in  such  abundance:  There  they  have  a 
world  of  oaths  and  curses,  the  only  things  they  trade  in;  arrant 
usurers,  and  the  Devill  takes  up  from  them  upon  interest,  and 
returns  above  fifty  in  the  hundred.  Oh,  it  is  a  cursed  den,  or 
else  it  had  been  yeelded  last  summer :  When  all  their  gimpowder 
is  gone,  they  are  able  to  maintain  it  with  bare  oaths  and  curses, 
against  an  army  of  Saints  at  any  time."" 

January  1 7th.     Wormleightou  House  burnt. ^'" 

January  23rd.  "This  day  we  had  more  newes  of  the  enemies 
cruell  plundering,  as  particularly  that  the  Ivings  Banbury  forces 
were  got  into  Northamptonshire,  and  had  plundered  about  Kilsby 
where  they  were  most  inhumane,  drove  away  60  head  of  cattell, 
200  sheep,  and  plundered  the  townsmen  to  their  very  shirts  upon 
the  matter,  for  they  left  them  nothing  that  was  good :  notice 
whereof  being  brought  to  Northampton,  there  was  a  partie  sent 
out  from  thence,  which  fell  upon  them,  and  rescued  a  good  party 
of  the  plunder,  took  some  prisoners,  and  kild  18."'* 

Thursday,  Jan.  23rd.  "The  forces  of  the  enemy  are  not  in 
Buckinghamshu'e,  a  few  only  attending  Banbury ;  well,  Banbury, 
we  will  have  a  better  bout  at  you  this  summer.  They  about 
Banbury  send  for  money,  and  teems  to  convey  carriages  from 
Oxford ;  its  like  to  be  true,  for  they  are  afraid  of  our  new  army, 
and  so  will  be  packing  up  every  day."" 

On  the  night  of  Wednesday,  January  29th,  some  of  the  Royal- 
ist forces  at  Banbury  (stated  in  one  account  to  be  a  regiment  of 
horse  and  eight  score  foot,'^  but  mentioned  in  another  account, 
furnished  to  Sir  Samuel  Luke,  as  being  300  horse  and  foot,^®) 
were  dispatched  to  COMPTON  HOUSE  by  moonlight ;  when  they 
killed  the  sentinels,  and  possessed  themselves  of  the  half-moon, 
stables,  &c.,''  but  were  afterwards  repulsed  with  severe  loss.  The 
following  letter  occurs  from  the  commander  of  the  garrison  at 
Compton : — 

(10)  Mercurius  Aiilicus,  p.  1357.  (11)  Mercurius  Britauicus,  p.  567. 

(12)  Dugdale's  Short  View.  (13)  Perfect  Passages,  No.  14. 

(14)  Parliament  Scout,  No.  81.  (15)  Mercurius  Civicus,  No.  89. 

(16)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  .S.  LuKc,  vol.  1.  (17)  Mercurius  Civicus,  No.  89. 


ATTACK  ON  COMPTON  HOUSE,  1645.  391 

"  Copy  of  Serjeant  (Major)  Fiirefoy's  letter  (ye  brave    Governor  of 
Compton  house  in  Warivicksltire)  to  his  Colonel,  Col.  Purefoy. 
'"Sir, 

This  night,  about  2  of  ye  clock,  about  a  1000  or  1200  horse  &  foot  of 
ye  enemies,  fell  upon  me  at  Compton,  stormed  my  outworks,  gained  my 
stables,  &  cut  down  my  great  drawbridge,  possessed  themselves  of  all 
my  troop  of  horses,  &  took  about  30  of  my  foot  souldiers  in  their  beds, 
who  lay  over  ye  stables,  &  all  this  was  done  almost  before  a  man  could 
think  what  to  do.  We  recieved  this  fierce  alarm,  as  we  had  good  cause, 
&  presently  made  good  ye  new  sconce  before  ye  stone  bridge,  &  beat 
them  out  of  ye  great  court,  there  being  about  200  men  entered,  &  ready 
to  storm  ye  sconce.  But  we  gave  them  so  hot  a  sally,  that  we  forced 
them  to  retreat  back  to  ye  stables,  barns,  &  brewhouse,  where  from  ye 
windows  they  played  very  hot  upon  us,  I  then  commanded  Lieutenant 
Purefoy  &  my  Quarter  Master,  having  no  other  Officers  of  Quality  at 
home,  ye  rest  being  abroad  with  about  300  of  my  best  troopers,  to  sally 
upon  ye  enemy  with  a  party  of  some  40,  &  so  attempt  the  regaining  of 
the  Brewhouse  &  ye  rooms  above,  which  instantly  they  did  with  ye  most 
gallant  resolution  &  courage.  Serjeant  Bird  was  one  that  came  not  short 
in  bravery  of  any.  This  party,  I  say,  fought  thus  with  ye  enemy,  & 
came  to  push  of  pike,  nay,  to  ye  swords  point,  &  laid  about  them  so 
bravely  that  they  forced  ye  enemy  to  fly  from  chamber  to  chamber. 
Whereupon  I  presently  sent  out  my  younger  brother  ye  Ensign,  with  3 
corporals  of  horse,  &  about  40  more  men  to  relieve  ye  first  party  ;  &  I 
assiu-e  you.  Sir,  ye  boy  fought  well,  &  led  on  his  men  most  bravely,  & 
relieved  his  brother,  by  which  means  all  ye  upper  rooms  were  regained. 
And  now  ye  enemy  kept  only  ye  stables  &  ye  barns,  which  they  held 
stoutly,  but  my  resolute  soldiers  did  so  thunder  their  horse  &  reserves 
of  foot,  that  stood  within  pistol  shot,  that  Sir  William  and  Sir  Charles 
Compton,  Avho  were  then  present,  began  to  give  ground,  which  my  soul- 
diers easily  percieving,  some  leapt  out  at  ye  windows  &  so  into  ye  out 
works,  by  which  means  I  recovered  my  out  works  again,  &  made  a  sally 
port,  by  which  ye  enemy  endeavoured  to  retreat  at;  but  finding  they 
were  frustrated  of  their  hopes,  &  that  my  musketeers  did  play  so  hot 
upon  ye  great  drawbi'idge  that  they  could  not  be  relieved :  &  withal  we 
having  beaten  ye  enemy  out  of  their  work,  which  we  stormed  when  you 
took  ye  house,  I  had  time  thereby  to  recover  fully  ye  great  drawbridge, 
&  instantly  got  new  ropes  and  new  locks,  &  drew  it  iip  again  in  spite  of 
them  all.  Now  by  this  means  all  those  whose  names  are  here  with  en- 
closed to  you,  are  all  in  Cob's  pound,  having  no  means  in  ye  world  to 
retreat.  Whereupon  they  fought  desperately  for  ye  space  of  3  hours, 
&  ye  valiant  Comptons  percieving  their  extreme  loss,  attempted  three 
several  times  to  storm  &  regain  my  outworks,  but  all  ye  three  times 
were  beaten  off  with  as  much  resolution  &  gallantry  of  my  souldiers, 
as  could  be  expressed  by  men.  Ye  enemy  within  set  fire  to  all  ye  hay, 
straw,  &  all  ye  combustible  stuff,  to  smother  my  men  out  of  ye  upper 
rooms,  which  did  indeed  much  annoy  them  ;  &  ye  enemy  without  threw 
at  least  an  hundred  hand  grenades  on  ye  houses,  so  as  they  set  them  on 


392  ATTACK  ON  COMPTON  HOUSE,  1645. 

iire  in  3  several  places :  whereupon  Sir  Charles  &  Sir  William,  thinking 
all  their  own,  sent  a  trumpetter  to  parley,  bvit  I  commanded  that  none 
should  parley,  nor  would  I  permit  ye  trumpetter  to  speak  at  all  unto  me ; 
&  fain  he  would  have  said  something  to  my  souldiers,  but  I  commanded 
him  upon  his  hfe  to  be  gone,  &  not  to  return  any  more  upon  his  peril, 
&  we  continued  to  fight  still :  &  ye  aforesaid  fire  did  so  encrease,  that 
I  thought  it  fit  to  ofter  quarter  to  those  that  were  in  ye  stable  for  their 
lives  only  :  but  they  would  not  hear  me.  Upon  which  I  drew  all  my 
men  together  &  fell  violently  upon  them,  in  which  assault  were  slain  & 
taken  prisoners  all  those  whose  names  are  in  ye  ensuing  list.  This  did 
so  disliearten  ye  Comptons  &  all  their  forces,  that  they  presently  drew 
off  all  their  foot,  &  only  faced  me  with  their  horse,  &  sent  another  trum- 
petter to  parley ;  but  I  commanded  to  give  fire  upon  him,  that  he  returned 
with  no  other  answer  but  what  a  musket  could  speak.  And  thus  by 
God's  providence  &  mercy  we  were  clearly  rid  of  them.  Sir,  this  is  as 
true  &  short  a  narration  as  I  can  conveniently  give  you.  I  am,  as  we 
all  are, 

Your  obliged  servants  &  kinsmen 

George  &  William  Purefoy. 

"  '  Compton  Jan.  30.  1644. 

"  '  We  recovered  all  our  men  again  that  ye  enemy  had  taken. 

"  '  A  list  of  ye  Officers  &  souldiers  slain  &  taken  prisoners.  Captains 
3.  Lieutenants  2.  One  Ensign,  One  Quarter  master.  One  Cornet,  5 
Corporals,  3  Serjeants,  Troopers  &  foot  souldiers  about  50  :  besides  6 
cart  loads  of  wounded  men  carried  off,  &  near  upon  40  common  souldiers 
left  dead  behind  them  in  &  about  ye  garrison.  Of  mine  own  men  both 
horse  &  foot  only  One  man  was  desperately  wounded,  &  another  was 
slightly  hurt,  but  no  one  I  say  was  slain ;  A  rare  &  even  wonderful  pro- 
vidence indeed.  We  took  of  ye  enemies  horse  &  foot  arms  &c  150 
muskets,  40  pistols,  &  about  20  hand  grenadoes.'  "'^ 

The  following  letter  is  from  Major  Bridges  : — 

"Sir, 
The  enemy  taking  the  advantage  of  an  halfe-moone  fallen  down  at 
Compton  House,  one  of  our  Garrisons  in  this  county  of  Warwick, 
whereof  Serjeant  Major  Purefoy  is  Governour;  hereupon  Sir  William 
or  Sir  Thomas  Compton  commanded  a  party  from  Banbury  to  fall  upon 
this  Garrison,  to  which  purpose  he  marched  against  it  with  300  horse 
and  160  foot,  and  presently  fell  to  storming  the  said  works,  took  the  out- 
works, possest  themselves  of  the  stables,  tooke  the  horse,  which  were 
nigh  upon  100.  and  set  the  stables  on  fire  in  three  severall  places,  by 
which  means  some  of  them  were  slain,  the  said  houses  falling  upon  them. 
By  this  time  Serjeant  Major  Purefoy  (the  Governour  of  the  place)  had 
drawn  up  his  forces  together,  and  with  valiant  courage  sallied  out  of 
the  house  and  fell  upon  them,  in  short  time  recovered  all  the  horse  except 
10.  or  12.  killed  and  took  almost  80.  wounded  many,  and  put  the  rest  to 
flight,  pursuing  them  victoriously." 

(18)  Copy  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Higgins  of  Compton  House. 


ATTACK  ON  COMPTON  HOUSE,  1G4;5.  S9S 

"  A  List  of  the  Particulars  of  this  Victory  "  is  appended,  as  follows  : — 

"  Lievtenant  Chamberlain  1  Lievtenant  more 

1  Cornet  53  other  OfRcei's  and  Souldiers 

12  other  Officers  and  Troupers  80  Armes 

Some  killed  with  the  Fire  Their  Horse  rescued 

Lievtenant  Clerke  The  Enemy  routed 

Lievtenant  Hervey  Many  wounded. "''' 

The  Mercurius  Civicus  states  that  the  garrison  killed  near 
eighty  of  the  enemy,  and,  on  sallying  out,  took  about  sixty  of 
them :  that  among  the  prisoners  there  were  two  captains  and  three 
lieutenants  (Lieut.  Chamberlaine  "  son  to  Chamberlaine  the  Law- 
yer," Lieut.  Clarke,  and  Lieut.  Harvey :  and  that  the  enemy 
carried  away  eight  cartloads  of  dead  and  wounded  men  into  Ban- 
bury.-"    The  following  account  appeared  in  the  Court  periodical : — 

Saturday,  Feb.  1st.  "The  Rebels  tell  us"  they  "have  taken 
above  100  officers  and  souldiers  from  the  garrison  of  Banbury: 
Indeed  on  Tuesday  last,  his  Majesties  forces  from  Banbury  went 
within  the  out-workes  of  Compton  House,  and  took  44  horse 
out  of  the  stables,  most  of  which  the  Rebels  regaind  with  a  few 
Banbury  men,  surprized  in  their  quarters  coming  home  from 
Compton ;  but  for  those  officers  whom  the  Rebells  mention  in 
print,  they  having  taken  a  Banbury  Quartermaster  with  his  rolle, 
were  thereby  enabled  to  take  so  many  names  prisoners,  the  men 
themselves  being  safe  in  Banbury."-^ 

January  31st.  Bennett  Burroughs,  a  spy  in  the  employ  of 
Sir  Samuel  Luke,  reported  at  Newport  Pagnell  that  he  came  from 
Banbury ;  that  there  were  then  two  troops  of  horse  quartered  in 
the  Town  under  the  command  of  Sir  William  Farmer,  and  about 
300  foot  in  the  Castle  under  Sir  William  Compton  ;  and  a  troop 
at  Adderbury.  That  a  great  part  of  the  wall  of  the  Castle  was 
"  fallen  downe  towards  Grimsbury."-^  From  another  spy  of  Sir 
Samuel  Luke's  we  have  the  following  account : — 

"  Febr.  2.  1644[5].  Edward  Eyston  came  this  day  from  Buckingham 
and  saith  That  the  Horse  w<^''  quartered  at  Adderbui-y  and  Kings  Sutton 
were  all  drawne  away  yesternight  from  thence  to  Ano :  intending  to  for- 
tifie  M''  Cartwright's  howse."  And  saith  That  on  Thursday  night  last 
a  party  from  North'ton  came  and  beate  upp  their  Quarters  at  King's 

(19  Perfect  Passages,  Feb.  3, 1645.  (20)  Merc.  Civicus,  No.  89. 

(21)  Merc.  Aulicus,  p.  1363.  ( 22)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  .Sir  S.  Luke,  vol.  1. 

(23)  The  old  manor-house  at  Aynho  was  then  the  seat  of  John  Cartwright  Esq.  It  was 
biunt  by  the  Roj'alist  troops  later  in  this  year  1645,  and  on  or  near  the  site  was  subsequently 
erected  the  present  mansion  of  W.  R.  Cartwright  Esq. — Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  549. 

3d 


394  THE  YEAR  1645. 

Sutton  and  tooke  about  60  horse  and  8  or  10  troopers  and  retreated  w'l'out 
any  losse.^^ 

The  following  documents  occur  at  this  date  in  the  Letter-Book 
of  Sir  Samuel  Luke  : — 

"To  Capt  Goodman."  "  These  are  to  require  you  to  repah-e  w"'  your 
Troope  to  Ano  on  the  Hill  &  Adderbury  and  there  to  follow  such  direc- 
tions as  you  shall  receive  from  myselfe  or  Capt.  Ennis,  and  in  case  you 
receive  none  to  use  yo''  owne  discretion  eyther  in  advancing  or  retreating 
to  yoiu-  Quarters  being  carefull  of  your  owne  p'servation.  Given  under 
my  hand  the  5th  day  of  Febr.  1644[5]. 

S.  L[uke]." 

"To  Capt  Ennis."  " These  are  to  require  you  to  repaire  w"»  yo' Troope 
to  Ano  on  the  Hill  or  Adderbury  and  to  command  in  cheife  the  party 
from  Newport  Pagnell,  taking  all  opportunityes  both  in  goeing  and  re- 
turning to  molest  the  enemie,  and  in  your  returne  to  be  espetially  careful 
of  securing  y"^  selves.     Hereof  faile  not.     Given  ye  5°  Febr.  1644[5]. 

S.  L[uke]." 

February  9th.  "Edmund  Haydon  came  yesterday  from  Buckingham 
and  saith  that  there  are  twee  troopes  of  horse  quartered  at  Ano  consisting 
of  about  threescore  under  the  com.  of  Major  Compton;  and  they  have 
made  a  draw  bridge  at  the  gate  goeing  into  Mr.  Cartwrights  howse 
where  they  forme  themselves  all  the  night  but  in  the  day  tyme  lye  drink- 
ing in  the  towne  &  may  easily  be  sui-prised.  That  there  is  a  Dutch 
troope  at  Kings  Sutton  about  50  or  60.  and  the  cheife  Officers  lye 
at  Mr.  Kenrickes  house-^  &  the  horse  in  the  ketchen  and  vpon  any 
allarixm  they  betake  themselves  eyther  to  Neale  [Nell]  bridge  or  Twyford 
bridge,  betweene  Kings  Sutton  &  Banbury,  but  most  commonly  to 
Neale  bridge.  That  there  is  another  troop  at  Adderbiuy  about  40  at 
gr  -^ym  Cobbs  howse,-''  &  have  made  some  small  fortifica'cons  about  the 
howse." 

Feb.  11th.  "Bennett  Burroughs  came  this  day  from  Ano  and  saith 
that  all  the  horse  that  were  quartered  there  &  at  Kings  Sutton 
went  away  yesterday  over  the  river  towards  Blox'm  whyther  or  when 
they  returne  hee  knowes  not.  That  there  are  2  troopes  of  horse  in 
Banbury  under  S"^  W™  Compton  &  S""  W""  Farmer  and  about  700  foote 
in  the  Castle.  That  the  Earle  of  North'ton  lyes  at  Adderbury  where  hee 
hath  a  regim'  of  horse  and  about  50  musqueteers  w'^^  lye  in  the  Lo. 
Willraotts  howse^'  and  they  have  pulld  vpp  the  bridge  [Nell  Bridge] 
betweene  Ano  &  Adderbui'y." 

Feb,  16th.  A  spy  reported  that  "those  of  the  Kings  party  that 
quarter  at  Adderbury   Ano   and  the   Townes   adjacent  marcht  out  on 

(24)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  S.  Luke,  vol.  1. 

(25)  Richard  Kenwrick  Esq,  was  lord  of  the  manor  of  King's  Sutton  at  this  period. 
The  manor-house  yet  stands,  on  the  soutli  side  of  the  church-yard.  There  is  a  tradition 
that  Charles  the  First  was  at  one  period  concealed  there. — Baker's  Norihamp.,  pp.  694,  696. 

(26)  The  ancient  mansion  of  the  Cobb  family  at  Adderbury  stood  to  the  southwest  of 
the  Green  there.    It  remained  (in  the  last  stage  of  decay)  until  the  year  1817. 

(27)  East  of  the  Green  of  Adderbury. 


THE  YEAR  1645,  395 

Thursday  night  last  towards  Rugby  and  returned  on  Fryday  night  last 
vv*''  losse  but  the  particulars  hee  knowes  not." 

Feb  18th  to  21st.  "At  Kings  Sutton  there  lye  about  50  Dutch  men 
of  the  King  souldiers  com'anded  by.  the  Lord  Comptons  Major  &  they  dig 
Salt  peeter  they  ly  in  Mr.  Kenricke's  house  &  their  horses  in  the  kitchin 
some  of  the  rescells  are  at  Astrup." 

Same  date.  "  S"^  Charles  Comptons  owne  troope  being  about  60  lye 
at  Ayno  they  fortify  &  have  made  a  draw  bridge  at  the  gate  which  comes 
out  of  the  Cartwrights  house  into  the  towne  when  they  have  an  allarme 
they  retreat  (when  they  dare  not  stay  in  Cartwrights  house)  unto  Neale 
bridge  &  Twyford  bridge." 

Febr.  22nd.  Bennett  Burroughs  reported  "  That  hee  came  yesterday 
from  Banbui-y  and  saith  There  are  3  troopes  of  horse  quarter  in  the 
Towne  and  about  200  foote  in  the  Castle,  wch  they  still  dayly  fortifie 
and  have  made  2  new  bulwarkes  and  2  sally  portes.  That  on  Thursday 
night  there  came  a  troope  of  horse  from  Newarke  and  gave  them  an 
allarme  at  Banbury  they  not  knowing  them  to  bee  the  King's  forces. 
That  they  are  digging  of  Salt  Peter  at  Banbury  and  have  erected  a 
howse  neere  the  Towne  for  the  making  of  Gunpowder.  That  the  Forces 
from  Warwicke  and  Northampton  doe  soe  streighten  them  that  they 
dare  hardly  peepe  out  of  the  Towne  but  they  fall  upon  them.  That  there 
is  a  troope  of  horse  quartered  at  M'  Kenricke's  howse  at  King's  Sutton, 
2  of  the  Princes  Troopes  at  Ano  and  none  at  Adderbury." 

Feb.  25th.  "Roger  Connington  came  yesterday  from  Oxford  and 
saith  the  King  is  there  and  Prince  Charles  and  onely  4  regimentts  of  foote 
and  the  King  and  Queens  life  guard.  All  their  horse  lye  betweene  Oxford 
and  Banbury  and  thereabouts.  That  there  are  2  regiments  of  foote  at 
Woodestocke  aird  some  horse  at  Kidlington  and  the  Townes  adjoyneing. 
That  there  2  troopes  of  horse  quarter  at  Islipp  and  hee  heares  of  a 
great  party  of  horse  consisting  of  about  2000  marcht  from  Banbury  yester- 
day morning  but  whither  hee  knows  not."  *  *  *  "That  hee  came 
this  day  from  Woodstocke  saith  that  there  200  foote  and  more  expected 
this  night  from  Burford.  That  he  heares  that  Prince  Robert  lay  on 
Sunday  night  last  at  Banbury  and  the  last  night  at  Burford  and  is  ex- 
pected this  night  at  Woodstocke." 

Feb.  26th.  A  spy  reported  "That  he  came  this  day  from  Banbury. 
And  saith  that  there  are  about  800  horse  &  foote  lye  in  and  about  Ban- 
bury and  hee  heares  that  S''  John  Wake  &  S""  John  Digby  kept  their 
randevous  on  Sonday  last  at  Cheekham  [Chacombe]  feild  and  afterwards 
marcht  away  w*  2000  horse  towards  Daventry  and  'tis  reported  that 
they  are  since  gone  to  Newarke.  That  on  Sonday  night  they  fell  vpon 
North'ton  forces  betweene  Flower  and  Weeden  and  tooke  23  prisoners 
and  about  60  horses  and  sent  them  to  Banbury  by  some  of  the  E.  of 
North'tons  forces."-* 

(28)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  S.  Luke,  vol.  1. 

3d3 


396  DR.  OLDYS  OF  ADDERBURY  SLAIN,  1645. 

Wednesday,  Feb.  26th.  "Above  400  of  tliem  [the  Parlia- 
mentarians] were  got  together  in  a  bodj  neare  Daventry  in  North- 
amptonshire, and  under  pretence  of  contribution  had  robbed 
many  poore  people,  whereof  the  noble  Earle  of  Northampton  having 
intelligence,  he  sent  300  horse  from  Banbury  (on  Sunday  last, 
Feb.  23)  under  the  command  of  his  two  gallant  brothers  Sir 
Charles  and  Sir  William  Compton,  (Sir  Marmaduke  Langdale 
at  the  same  time  being  on  his  march  into  the  north)  who  when 
they  came  to  Newnham,  discovered  the  Rebels  horse  drawne  up  in 
a  body  on  Borough  hUl  neare  Daventry,  therefore  they  desired 
Sir  Marmaduke  Langdale  to  stay  in  the  vale,  and  not  to  appeare 
till  he  saw  a  necessity  in  the  engagement.  The  Rebels  heariag 
of  their  approach,  sent  away  their  foot  towards  Northampton, 
who  durst  not  march  farther  than  Weedon,  where  they  thrust 
themselves  into  Weedon  church,  their  horse  keeping  still  upon 
Borough  hill,  and  would  not  be  invited  downe  till  Sir  Charles 
Compton  sent  Captain  Colborne  with  30  horse,  which  small  party 
appearing  within  their  reach,  provoked  them  downe;  Captaine 
Colborne  retreating  to  draw  them  yet  nearer ;  but  the  wary  Rebels 
would  not  passe  the  river;  whereupon  Sir  Charles  and  Sir  William 
advanced  with  their  horse.  Sir  Marmaduke  Langdale  also  appearing 
out  of  the  vale;  at  sight  whereof  the  Rebells  hastily  retreated 
towards  W^eedon,  but  were  so  closely  persued  by  these  two  brave 
brothers,  that  ]3  of  them  were  killed  outright  in  a  lane,  a  very 
great  many  wounded  (whereof  140  were  drest  in  Northampton) 
36  taken  prisoners,  and  above  50  horses;  besides  good  store  of 
amies  gathered  up  in  the  chase;  all  which  with  the  prisoners 
were  brought  safe  to  Banbury."-^ 

It  was  about  this  period  that  Dr.  Oldys,  vicar  of  Adderbury, 
was  Mlled  by  the  Parliamentarian  soldiers.  Anthony  a  Wood 
says: — "Will.  Oldis  of  New  Coll.  sometimes  proctor  of  the 
University,  was  actually  created  [D.  D.]  the  same  day  [Jan. 
16th,  1642-3].  He  was  afterwards  slain  by  the  Parliament's 
soldiers,  without  any  provocation  given  on  his  part,  between 
Adderbury  in  Oxfordshire  (of  which  place  he  was  vicar)  and 
the  garrison  of  Oxon,  about  1644."="'  In  the  chancel  of  Ad- 
derbury church  there  is  a  marble  tablet  to  the  memory  of  Dr. 
Oldys  bearing  this  inscription: — 

(29)  Merc.  Aulicus,  pp.  1387,  1388.  (30)  Wood's  Fasti  Oxon. 


THE  YEAR  1645.  397 


p  :  M  :  S : 
GUL:  OLDTs:  s:  t:  p: 

HUJUS    ECCLESI^    VICABIJ, 

QUI,    FLAGRANTE    BELLO    PLDSQUAM    CIVILI, 

hJESM    ET    RELIGIONIS    ET    MAIESTATIS   CAUSiE 

FIDELIS    ET    STRENUUS    ASSERTOR, 

PERUUELLIDM    MILITIBUS,    PROPE    HANC    VILLAM, 

ANNO  SALUT  :  1645,  ;etat  550, 

VULNEEATUS,   OCCUBUIT. 

On  the  4tli  March,  the  following  occurs  from  Serjeant-Major 
Purefoj,  Governor  of  Compton  Wjnjate : — 

"  To  the  Co?istahle  of  Slut  ford  and  the  Inhabitance  there. 

"Vpon  paine  of  plundering,  imprisonment,  and  other  extremities  I 
charge  and  command  that  you  bring  into  my  garrison  at  Compton  all 
my  contribution  due  from  the  22  of  November  to  the  4  of  March, 
at  one  pound  five  shillings  a  weeke,  by  the  7  of  this  instant:  expect  not 
one  houre  longer  time.  At  your  perils.  Given  vmder  my  hand  the  4 
of  March  in  my  Garrison  Compton.     1644[5] 

George  Purefoy."^' 

On  the  6th  March  a  spy  of  Sir  Samuel  Luke's  states,  "  That 
hee  came  yesterday  from  Banbury  and  saith  there  went  2  troopes 
of  the  Earle  of  North'ton's  regiment  out  of  Banbury  on  Tuesday 
last  to  meete  Pr.  Robert  at  Stratford  upon  Avon  whoe  is  expected 
this  night  at  Banbury.  That  the  Earle  of  North'ton  is  in  Banbury 
but  very  few  horse  or  foote  except  those  in  the  Castle.  That 
the  sicknes  is  very  rife  in  Banbury  there  dyeing  3  or  4  dayly,  and 
on  Satturday  &  Sonday  last  there  dyed  2  Capts  of  the  sicknes, 
whoe  were  buryed  on  Monday.^"  That  the  binder  marshall  of 
the  Castle  is  alsoe  dead,  and  the  head  marshall  is  in  prison  at 
Oxford  for  letting  prisoners  escape  out  of  the  Castle  and  they 
say  hee  shall  bee  hanged.  That  they  are  palling  downe  the 
Markett  place  and  other  howses  neere  the  Castle  and  are  dayly 
at  worke  in  making  trenches  and  bulwarks  and  repaireing  the 
breaches  w*'''  were  about  it."^^ 

It  is  also  stated,  that  on  the  "5th  of  March  Banbviry  troopes 
brought  into  Banbury  72  sackes  of  Gloster  Clothes,  w*"^  60  odd 
Troopers  w*  their  horses  &.  armes  belonging  to  Gloster  w"^""  were 
a  convoy  to  them."^"*  The  Perfect  Diurnal  states,  by  letters  from 
Warwick  received  on  the  13th  March,  "that  the  Earle  of  North- 
amptons  regiment  of  horse  from  Banburie  the  last  weeke  surprized 
about  30  horse  laden  most  of  them  with  cloath,  comming  from 

(31)  Merc.  Aiilicus,  p.  1313. 

(32)  In  the  Register  of  Banbury  the  burials  of  Captains  "  Payne  "  and  "  Arnole  "  are 
recorded  on  Monday  the  3rd  March. 

(33)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  S.  Luke,  vol.  1.  (34)  Ibid. 


398  THE  YEAR  1645. 

Gloucester  to  Warwick,  with  a  convoy  of  about  foure  score, 
some  of  the  convoy  were  killed,  about  twenty  taken,  the  rest 
fled,  this  was  done  neare  Tredington."^^  The  account  given  in 
the  INIercurius  Aulicus  is,  that  the  Earl  of  Northampton's  brother, 
Sir  Charles  Compton,  went  with  a  regiment  of  horse  from  Banbury, 
on  Tuesday  the  4th  March,  to  gather  contributions  from  War- 
wickshire, where  he  lay  at  Ilmington.  That  on  the  morning  of 
Thursday  he  fell  in  at  Halford  with  120  of  the  Rebels'  horse, 
coming  to  convoy  near  80  packhorses  laden  with  much  of  the 
Glocester  Rebels'  wealth  going  to  Warwick;  six  or  seven  of 
which  packs  got  over  the  narrow  bridge  at  Halford,  but  72  were 
seized  by  the  Royalists,  and  were  found  to  contain  broad-cloth  of 
20*.  a  yard,  in  which  were  concealed  money,  plate,  fine  linen, 
and  rich  apparel.  In  charging  this  convoy  Sir  Charles's  forces 
killed  12  of  the  Rebels  and  took  near  70  of  them  prisoners,  in- 
cluding one  lieutenant  and  one  comet  with  his  colours,  and  almost 
sLx-score  horses.  Sir  Charles  had  one  man  hurt,  but  not  one 
slain.^° 

The  following  is  the  Postscript  to  a  letter  written  by  Sir 
Samuel  Luke  on  the  9th  March : — 

"  Postscr.  For  the  brave  prize  y"  thought  I  had  in  Horses  y"  are  much 
mistaken  in  it  only  Major  Ennis  gave  Dick  Cockayne  one  of  the  duke 
of  Yorkes  w"^''  is  y«  daintiest  goeing  thing  y'  ever  I  saw,  my  Trmiipiter 
comeing  from  Banbury  abovit  ye  exchange  of  prisoners  assured  me  ye 
E.  of  North'ton  on  Thursday  night  last  brought  into  Banbury  SO  horses 
loaden  w"»  cloath,  60  Troopers  \v"'  their  horses  &  amies  Glostersheire 
cloath  w"'  w"^^  they  intend  to  cloath  their  soldiers.  I  pray  S''  com'aund 
Bynion  to  goe  to  Capt  Abercromys  wife,  &  if  the  newes  bee  true  of  her 
husbands  death  lett  him  desire  her  y'  I  may  have  the  refusal!  of  his 
horse  for  my  mony."^' 

The  following  letter  occurs  from  Sir  Samuel  Luke,  addressed 
to  the  Lord-General: — 

"May  it  please  yo"^  Excell', 
According  to  yo""  comand  I  have  sent  Prince  his  Falconer  &  Hawke 
as  you  may  p'ceive  by  this  inclosed.  The  other  inclosed  newes  I  pray 
God  maye  prove  false  though  I  very  much  feare  it.  I  had  appointed 
a  meeting  on  Tuesday  for  deviding  the  laste  spoile  &;  seeing  justice 
done  on  both  sides,  &  tlien  I  doubt  not  but  we  should  have  resolved 
to  have  fetclit  away  all  the  new  brave  Clothes  from  Banbury  before  the 
soldiers  had  put  them  on  their  backes.  I  shall  still  do  my  endeavour 
though  not  with  so  much  good  assurance  as  I  should  have  done  if  it  had 

(3o)  Teif.  Diuinal,  No.  8i5.  (-36)  Merc.  Aulicus,  p.  1399. 

(37)  MS.  Lctter-Book  of  Sir  S.  Luke,  vol.  1. 


THE  YEAR  1(>45.  399 

])leasecl  God  to  have  spared  that  great  Com'aiuler  his  life.  Thus  liumbly 
craving  p'don  for  this  my  boldnesse  I  humbly  kisse  yo'  Excell'  hands  ever 
remaining 

Yo'  Excel!'  most  humble  servant 

S.  L."3s 
"March  9th  1644[5]  11  oclocke  at  night" 

The  disagreeable  news  referred  to  in  the  above  letter  appears 
to  relate  to  the  sviccess  of  Sir  Marmaduke  Langdale  in  the  north. 
On  Sunday  the  23rd  February,  Sir  Marmaduke  (as  mentioned 
in  p.  396)  had  commenced  his  march  from  Banbury  towards 
Daventry;  near  which  place  some  forces  of  the  Parliament  were 
scattered  by  an  advanced  party  of  the  Royalists,  consisting  of 
the  Banbury  horse,  commanded  by  Sir  William  Compton.  On 
the  following  Tuesday,  Sir  Marmaduke  defeated  the  Parliamenta- 
rians at  Melton  Mowbray;  and,  on  the  1st  March,  gave  a  decisive 
overthrow  to  the  Parliament's  forces  tinder  Lord  Fairfax,  then 
lyiag  before  Pontefract.^^  The  following  letter  from  Sir  Samuel 
Luke  to  the  Lord-General,  and  some  other  notices  concerning 
this  neighbourhood,  occur  at  tlais  period: — 

"May  it  please  your  Ex: 
"The  latest  &  truest  Informa'con  I  have  had  concerneing  S"  Mar. 
Langsdale's  successe  &  march  bee'  yo>"  Ex.  is  pleased  to  com'avmd  an 
account  of  it  in  p'ticuler  y"  shall  rec'  it  herein  Transcribed.  On  Sonday 
night  last  p'te  of  y™  lay  at  Loughborrow,  &  as  I  heare  since  y^  Baggott  & 
Hastings  are  joyned  \v"i  y"",  &  at  Oxford  they  beleeve  y'  before  this  they 
are  joyned  w*"^  Pr.  Rupert.  There  was  much  rejoyceing  &  greate  stoare 
of  Bonefiers  for  ye  good  successe  they  had  ag't  ye  Lo.  Fairfax,  I  cannot 
conceave  y'  they  are  soe  farr  advanced  as  they  imagine,  for  I  have  it  from 
very  good  hand,  y*  there  are  some  of  ye  Earle  of  Northiunberland's 
[Northampton's?]  forces  to  goe  along  w*'^  y™  from  Banbury  w''^  were 
not  stirred  on  Tuesday  morning.  Greate  speech  there  hath  beene  at 
Oxford  of  greate  store  of  Irish  w'=''  should  land  in  Wales  or  thereabouts, 
but  I  beleeve  there  is  noe  such  thing  as  yet,  for  y<=  Earle  of  Antrim  who 
is  to  come  over  w*  y°  waves  the  imploym*  &  rather  chuseth  to  goe  for 
Scotland,  where  I  heare  hee  p'miseth  to  doe  miracles  before  May  day. 
At  Banbury  they  make  greate  p''para'con,  &  have  fetcht  in  greate  stoare 
of  Ladders  all  y*^  Country  round.  The  E.  of  North'ton  is  there  himselfe, 
&  they  say  expects  both  horse  &  Foote  speedily  out  of  y*  West  this  is 
all  at  p'sent  worthy  y<=  com'unicateing  unto  yo"^  Ex.  from 

Yo""  Ex.  most  humble  servant 

S.  L." 
"March  13th  1644  [5]" 

March  11th,     Reported  "  Y'  they  at  Aino  every  night  goe  into  the 
great  house  about  10  of  the  clocke,  but  about  7  are  very  carelesse.     Y'  the 

(38)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  S.  Luke,  vol.  1 .  (39)  Merc.  Aulicus,  pp.  1401—1405. 


400  THE  YEAR  1645. 

Capt  [and]  Liuetenant  arc  seldome  tlieire  and  there  colors  are  at  Bam- 
bury." 

March  l4th.  "  Bennett  Burroughes  came  yesterday  from  Banbury 
and  saith  that  the  Earle  of  North'ton  is  there  w*''  part  of  his  Regiment 
the  remaynder  being  quartered  at  Ano  Doddington  King's  Sutton  and 
Adderbury.  That  there  are  about  200  foote  in  the  Castle  and  there 
are  every  day  neere  300  labourers  digging  and  making  upp  the  workes 
about  it  &  repairing  a  great  breach  in  the  wall  w'^'^  fell  downe  the  other 
day  towards  the  Markett  place.  That  they  have  not  disposed  of  their 
late  prize  nor  as  yett  clothed  any  of  their  soldiers." 

" The   18th   of  this   month  [March]    y^   E.  of  North'ton 

came  w^'^  his  Forces  to  Kingsthrupp  w^^in  a  myle  of  North'ton  from 
whence  he  tooke  sevei-all  prisoners  of  good  accoimt,  &  100  horse  at  least, 
and  drove  y"  to  Banbury,  but  by  ye  way  North'ton  Forces  followed 
y™  &  overtooke  y™,  fought  \v^^  y"°  bravely  routed  each  other,  there  was 
some  3  kil'd  of  each  side  &  seu'all  Prisoners  taken,  both  p'tyes  glory 
of  ye  victory  &  esteeme  it  there  owne,  y'=  truth  is  wee  pillaged  y^  feild 
but  had  2  Capt'  Lydcott  &  Guy  desp'ately  wovinded  if  not  dead." 

"To  Col  Lydcott. 

"s>- 

I  have  rec'd  yo'  I're  [letter]  &  must  obey  all  yo'  com'aunds  noe  wayes 
doubting  of  y<=  like  from  y"  upon  all  occasions,  his  offence  is  y*  hee  was 
goeing  to  Banbury,  &  when  hee  came  hither  hee  said  all  y^  Officers  in 
y<^  Garr.  were  either  fooles  or  knaves.  I  am  confident  hee  better  ac- 
quainted w*  y"  Caviliers  then  w*  y"  for  they  hugg  one  another  like 
bretheren,  yet  y"  must  com'aund  any  thing  from  mee  &  now  may  dis- 
pose of  him  as  y"  please.  I  am  sorry  for  y"  hurt  yo''  Brother  &  y  other 
worthy  Gentl'  of  yo""  p'ty  have  rec'd,  but  am  most  hartily  glad  y*  y"  had 
ye  better  for  it  was  otherwise  rep''sented  to  mee  this  morneing  from  Ban- 
bury where  they  cracke  y'  if  it  had  not  beene  for  some  Foote  of  North'- 
ton, The  Troopers  should  not  have  gone  backe  to  tell  Tales  thus  y" 
may  see  how  apt  o''  enemy  is  to  make  y<=  best  of  his  owne  Therefore 
though  wee  ought  ever  to  value  o''  owne  reputa'con,  yet  as  soldiers  wee 
must  bee  sure  to  deale  w"^  y™  vpon  as  good  advantage  as  wee  can,  for  my 
p'te  noe  man  shall  bee  more  ready  to  serve  y"  then  I,  &  if  y"  have  any 
designe  before  I  have  one,  y"  shall  com'aund  my  Forces  &  when  I  have 
any  I  will  let  y^  know  I  am 

Yo''s  in  all  servicable  respects  com'aundable 

S.  L[uke]."" 

"  March  19th  1644[5]." 

The  Court  newspaper  of  March  19th  states,  that  the  Earl  of 
Northampton  had  so  cooped  Serjeant-Major  Purefoj  up  at  Comp- 
ton,  "that  his  commuigs  abroad  are  more  like  a  theife  then  a 

(40)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  S.  Luke,  vol.  1.  The  Mercurius  Britanicus  of  the  24th 
March  mentions  the  Earl  of  Northampton's  brother  "Charles, the  Boy,"  as  "acting  the 
Knight  of  the  Burning  Pestle  between  Oxford  and  Banbury." 


THE  YEAR  1645.  401 

sonldier,  creeping  sometimes  in  tlie  darke,  where  he  steales  con- 
tribution to  keepe  liimselfe  in  heart  to  pen  blustering  warrants. "^^ 
With  reference  to  the  affair  on  the  18th  near  Northampton  (see 
p.  -100),  the  same  paper  states  tliat  on  that  day  the  Earl  of  North- 
ampton and  his  three  brothers  were  abroad  with  their  horse,  and 
near  Northampton  obtained  a  victory  over  a  body  of  the  enemy. 
It  appears  however  that  the  Banbury  horse  were  in  great  danger. 
The  Earl  of  Northampton  had  his  head-piece  beaten  off;  Sir 
Charles  Compton  escaped  death  only  by  the  pistol  of  his  adversary 
missing  fire  ;  Sir  William  Compton's  horse  was  shot  under  him ; 
and  Sir  Spencer  Compton  was  at  one  time  surrounded  by  eight 
adversaries.  All  the  four  brothers,  however,  escaped  without  per- 
sonal hurt ;  though  it  is  said  they  "  charged  and  rescued  one  ano- 
ther so  often,  that  if  any  of  the  foure  had  beene  absent  some  one 
of  them  might  have  fallen."*^  A  Parliamentarian  account,  given 
soon  after,  says  : — "  In  the  late  fight  between  the  Banbury  and 
Northampton  horse  we  were  overpower 'd,  and  cannot  brag  of  the 
better,  though  we  feare  the  worst;  yet  letters  from  Northampton 
make  the  ballance  equall.  They .  are  very  busie  in  Fortification 
at  Banbury,  as  if  they  meant  to  make  it  impregnable  :  It  is  their 
wisest  course ;  for  if  Oxford  miscarry,  (as  it  may)  then  nothing 
remaines  for  them  but  Banbury  to  hold  life  and  soule  together  in 
the  heart  of  the  kuigdome."^^ 

March  22nd.  A  letter  of  Sir  Samuel  Luke's  states  that  his 
defences  shall  be  hastened,  as  he  finds  that  the  King  has  given 
orders  to  have  all  the  bridges  over  the  Cherwell  made  strong  and 
fit  for  carriages  to  pass  over.^^  Sir  Samuel  Luke's  Letter-Book 
also  contains  the  following  correspondence  and  information  : — 
To  Sir  Samuel  Luke. 

Wee  have  sent  this  Messenger  on  purpose  to  intreate  y"  to  send  ye 
names  of  such  prison''s  as  y"  have  of  horse  &  foote,  y*  belong  to  Banbury 
Garr.  &  ye  Lord  of  North'tons  Regim*,  in  regard  they  will  accept  of 
noe  p'posic'ons  of  exchange  of  o""  prisoners,  w"^  y™,  but  for  such  as 
belong  unto  y"selves,  this  wee  shall  take  as  a  curtesy  from  y"  &  shall  bee 
ready  to  doe  ye  like  for  y"  if  occasion  bee,  &  shall  remaine 
yo''  humble  Servants 

Ed.  Farmar  vie.  com. 
"North'ton  [Northampton]  Ed.  Hartey 

22°  Marcij  1644  [5].''  Jo.  Norton. "^^ 

(41)  Merc.  Aulicus,  p.  1513.  (42)  Merc.  Aulicus,  pp.  1513, 1514. 

(43)  Merc.  Britconicus,  March  24th  to  31st.      (44)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  S.  Luke,  vol.  1. 
(45)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  S.  Luke,  vol.  3. 
3  E 


402  THE  YEAR  1645. 

"  Yf  these  subscribed  Soldiers  of  the  Kings  w'^^  are  nowe  prisoners 
in  Newport  may  bee  sett  at  libertj'e  w'thout  fees  \v"»  free  passe  and  safe 
conduct  to  Banbury  these  prisoners  whoe  are  likewise  hereunder  men- 
coned  belonging  to  North'ton  Garrison  upon  the  same  termes  shall  bee 
released. 

"  Prisoners  at  Newport  Prisoners  at  Banbury 

James  Brookes  John  Wright 

John  Basdell  John  Williams 

George  Servant  to  Capt.  Wootton   Charles  Morgan 

Thomas  Webb  Era'.  Rawlidge 

Richard  Rawson  Tho.  Robbins 

W.   COMPTOX."" 

"24  Martii  1644[o]." 

March  27th.  Reported  by  Bennett  Burroughs  "That  hee  came  this 
day  from  Banbury  and  saith  that  all  the  forces  w'='»  were  formerly  there 
imder  the  Earle  of  North'ton  continue  still  in  their  quarters,  there  being 
a  Troope  of  horse  at  King's  Sutton,  a  Troope  at  Bodycott  another  at 
Adderbury  and  a  Troope  at  Ano  on  the  Hill  consisting  of  about  80  under 
the  command  of  S'"  W"  Compton.  That  the  King  (as  hee  heares)  is  still 
in  Oxford,  and  the  Carts  which  were  warnd  from  Soulderne  and  Eretwell 
are  not  as  yett  gone  in,  but  it  is  dayly  expected  when  his  Majestye  &  his 
forces  shall  march  out  and  it  is  generally  reported  at  Banbury  Bucking- 
ham and  other  places  that  they  intend  to  beseidge  Newport  &  Northamp- 
ton both  together.  And  that  the  Westerne  army  shall  march  for  Lon- 
don."'''' 

To  Sir  Samuel  LuJce. 
"SS 
The  Countesse  of  North'ton  (my  Mother)  desires  yo"^  passe  for  herselfe, 
&  these  subscribed  servants  to  Moulsoe  neare  yo'^  Garr.  whereunto  for  y'' 
p''sent  her  urgencyes  invite  her,  In  yo"'  passe  if  y"  please  to  graunt  her 
a  limitacon  of  6  dayes  &  safe  conduct  to  Banbury  w*  her  retinue,  it  shall 
bee  (if  occasion  offer  it  selfe)  more  then  ye  tye  of  a  retaliac'on  from 

Yo'  Servant 
"  Banbury  Castle  28''  Mar.  1645.  W"  Compton. 

"  Her  Servants 
Tho.  Doughty 
James  Bates 
John  Johnston 
Treforsa  Armston." 

"  To  Sir  William  Cotnpton. 
"  Sr. 
Yours  of  the  28*  of  March  I  received  this  instant  and  that  you  may 
see  how  ready  I  shall  bee  to  begin  any  courtesie  I  have  hasted  away 
yo'^  Messenger  to  lett  you  know  that  at  the  Councell  of  Warr  to  morrowe 
where  the  Committees  will  bee  (whose  approbac'on  I  desire  to  have  in 
acting  any  thing  of  this  nature)  I  shall  p'pounde  your  desires  and  second 

(46)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  S.  Luke,  vol.  3. 

(47)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  S.  Luke,  voL  1. 


THE  YEAR  1645.  403 

them    w^^  the  best   arguments  I  can   and  eyther   returne  the  passe  yee 
desire  or  some  answere  that  will  satisfie  yon  how  much  I  desire  to  bee 

Your  Servaunt 
"March  28.  1645."  S.  L[uke]." 

To  the  Lord-General. 
"  May  it  please  your  Ex. 
This  morning  I  rec"^  these  inclosed  from  Woodstocke  w'''^  concernes 
exchanges,  &  because  there  are  none  of  Abercromys  men  menc'oned 
therein,  I  forbeare  retorne  of  any  answere  till  yo"^  Ex.  pleasure  bee 
further  knowne  I  alsoe  rec'd  this  inclosed  from  S''  W"  Compton  at  Ban- 
bury wherein  I  shall  not  doe  any  thing,  but  by  Com'aund  from  yo''  Ex. 
or  ye  Parliam*  thus  w"'  y«  p'sentac'on  of  my  most  humble  service  to 
yo''  Ex.  I  take  leave  &  rest 

Yo"'  Ex.  most  humble  Servant 

[S.  Luke]." 
"Newport  March  29""  1644[o]." 

To Luke  Esq. 

ugr 

I  beseech  y"  p'cure  an  answere  from  his  Ex.  concerneing  these  in- 
closed, I  am  confident  ye  Trumpiter  y'  "brought  ye  L're  [letter]  from 
gr  YYm  Compton,  came  but  as  a  spie,  w*  a  tricke  to  discover  the  strength 
of  ye  Towne,  I  have  answered  him  accordingly  as  y"  may  see  for  I  in- 
tend to  make  vse  of  this  oppertunity  to  visite  him  twice  or  thi-ice  for 
once,  S"^  if  y"  please  to  gett  yo''  Graunt  for  Grafton  in  a  Lease,  it  will 
certainely  stand  good,  for  all  ye  new  Ordinance,  because  many  wise  men 
of  ye  Howse  have  done  ye  like  as  I  heare,  soe  rests 

Yo''  most  dutiful!  &  obedient  Sonne 

[S.  Luke]."i 

"  Newport  March  29'''  1644[5]." 

March  29th.  A  spy  reported  at  Newport  Pagnell  "  That  hee  came  this 
day  from  Buckingham  and  saith  hee  heares  for  certaine  that  there  are 
noee  Cartes  or  Teames  as  yett  gone  into  Oxford  for  removeing  of  the 
King's  person  &  the  trayne  of  Artillery.  That  all  the  Earle  of  North '- 
ton's  Regiment  q'ter  in  Bodycott  and  Adderbury  and  they  expect  every 
day  when  they  shall  march  westward.  "^ 

To  the  Lord-General. 
"  May  it  please  your  Ex. 
To  rec'  herein  inclosed  ye  Coppy  of  a  L're  from  S''  W""  Brereton  w"'  an 
answere  of  ye  L"^  Gou'nor  of  Bostoll  concerneinge  ye  exchange  of  Pri- 
soners, since  this  came  from  S''  W"'  Brereton,  I  understand,  y*  ye  Scotts 
are  gone  &  all  y'  p'ty  w<^''  was  neare  5000,  on  Friday  last  ye  E.  of  North '- 
ton  com'aunded  all  his  Troopes  w^''  lay  on  this  side  ye  river  Charwell, 
to  retreate  to  ye  other  &  they  report  they  are  to  march  to  Pr.  Rupert, 
I  shall  tomorrow  send  a  Trumpiter  to  Banbiu-y  &  at  his  retorne  yo""  Ex. 

(1)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  S.  Luke,  vol.  3. 

(2)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  S.  Luke,  vol.  1. 

3e3 


404  THE  YEAR  1645. 

shall  know  ye  certainty,  thus  most  humbly  craveing  pardon  for  this  my 
boldnesse  I  most  humbly  kisse  yo"^  Ex^'"  hands  &  rest 

Yo''  Ex  most  humble  Servant 

[S.  Luxe]." 
"  Newport  March  3P*  1G44[5]." 

"  To  Sir  William  Compton 

According  to  my  ingagem*  I  proposed  yo''  desires  to  ye  Com'ttees  who 
would  have  beene  very  ready  in  any  thing  y*  might  pleasure  yo''  p'ticuler 
&  not  pr'judice  ye  Generall,  but  not  knowing  w*  inconueniences  may 
follow  in  giveing  way  to  strangers  to  have  free  egresse  out  of  yo''  Quarters 
into  o's  &  to  continue  such  a  tyme  as  ye  desire,  they  could  in  noe  kind 
give  way  to  it,  but  were  willing  to  joyne  w"^  mee  in  recom'ending  it  to 
his  Ex"^  ye  Earle  of  Essex,  whose  pleasure  soe  soone  as  it  shall  bee 
knowue  heere  it  shall  bee  convayed  to  ye  from 

Yo''s  in  all  seruicable  respects  com'aundable 

S.  L[uke]. 

"Newport  Aprill  1°  16M[5]. 

"  Since  yo""  Trumpiter  goeing  away  yo''"  for  exchange  of  5  Prisoners 
dated  ye  24*  of  March  came  to  my  hands  vizt. 

Jo.  Wright  rS-^  I  James  Brookes 

Jo.  Williams  |  a>         Jo.  Bastell 

Char.  Morgan  •{  Z.'s  >-Geo.  Servant  to  Capt.  Wooton 

Fran.  Raulidge  |  ||  |  Tho.  Webb 

Tho.  Robbins  L-^-S^  Rich.  Rauson. 

"James  Brookes  being  a  L'  I  hope  y"  cannot  thinke  it  fitting  for  an 
answer  &  though  y"  have  noe  soldiers  of  mine  to  exchange  w*''  mee  yet 
yt  y"  may  see  at  what  rate  I  vahie  ye  Lib'ty  or  misery  of  man,  soe  y'  I 
may  have  my  Prisons  cleared  I  shall  exchange  y""  to  ye  last  man  upon 
equall  tearmes  &  therefore  have  sent  y"  a  list  of  all  ye  Prisoners  I  have 
w'''  their  Qualityes." 

fo (Northampton). 

"  Honored  S'' 

Wee  feared  y"  had  com'aund  to  march  on  to  S'"  W'"  Brereton  wherefore 
S''  Samuel  &  o''  Garr.  intended  to  p'secute  this  very  designe  y"  p'pound 
w""  w'  strength  wee  could  make,  o'"  p'posic'on  was  to  meete  at  Brackley 

8  miles  from  Banbury,  in  w'^''  towne  wee  had  intelligence  all  their  horse 
qviartered  during  ye  tyme  of  y'  being  soe  neare  them,  wee  have  sent 
2  spyes  this  morning  to  bring  us  certaine  intelligence,  whether  they 
continue  in  ye  Towne,  or  if  marched  away  whither,  wee  hvimbly  desire 
yo''  assistance  bee'  wee  may  happily  have  a  blow  for  ye  Castle,  wee 
conceave  Friday  morneing  to  bee  ye  best  tyme  to  fall  on,  wherefore  luider 
favour,  wee  conceive  it  best  for  o''  force  &  Newports,  w'^''  will  bee  about 
300  Horse  &  6  or  700  foote  to  bee  att  Brackley  at  nine  at  night  on  thurs- 
day  w'^''  is  Banbury  markett  day,  &  w*  p'ty  y"  please  to  com'aund  w*'' 
Capt.  Butlers  &  Capt.  Clarkes  Troopes  who  are  good  guides  &  yo""  Dra- 
goones  to  bee  att  Helmedon,  att  ye  same  houre  w'^''  is  but  3  miles  distant, 
if  yo''  p'ty  bee  there  first  send  to  us,  if  o'rs  first  we'le  send  to  yo'",  it  was 

9  this  morneing  before  I  rec'd  yo'  L're  else   I  had  answered  it  sooner, 


THE  YEAR  1615.  405 

if  wee  by  intelligence  find  any  reason  why  wee  should  not  randevouz 
at  ye  tyme  &  places  appointed  wee  shall  send  &  wee  intreate  y"  to  do 
ye  like  I  shall  take  all  ye  care  I  can  of  yo'"  horse  p''senting  ye  Com"*^^'^ 
service  &  mine  humbly  to  y"  I  rest 

Yo''  most  humble  Servant 

"  1°  April  1645.  Lydcott. 

"  Postscir.     S'' 

Wee  desire  y"  to  wheele  about  something  in  comeing  to  Helmedon 
fearing  y"  may  come  too  neare  Banbury,  I  humbly  tender  all  to  yo''  better 
considerac'on  only  I  offer  my  poore  mite  I  besech  ye  p''sent  my  humble 
service  to  Col.  Sheffeild  &  ye  rest  of  my  worthy  freinds  wee  shall  bring 
some  small  Petarrs  &  Granadoes  w*''  us." 

To  Major  Enn'is. 
"  Maior  Ennis, 

I  have  rec'd  yo"^  L're  ye  last  night  but  deferred  ye  Answering  of  it  in 
i-egard  I  had  sent  to  Coll.  Lydcott  to  know  his  resolucon  whether  wee 
should  meete  this  night  at  ye  Randevouze  appointed.  INIajor  Gen.  Craford 
&  Col.  Lydcott  entered  Banbury  yesterday  morneinge  w"'  3  or  4000  Horse 
&  foote,  &  there  they  are,  my  L're  hee  sent  to  Col.  Lydcott  from  North '- 
ton  by  his  man,  &  I  not  haveing  any  answere  know  not  what  to  advise 
for  yo'^  advance.  Therefore  I  pray  send  6  Troopers  to  Brackley  or  Ban- 
bury to  see  if  y'^  can  learne  any  thing  from  y""  neither  yo''  Trumpiter 
nor  any  of  my  Scouts  are  retorned,  w"^''  I  expected  ye  last  night,  I  pray 
bee  carefull  of  yo'^  selves  &  keepe  yo''  men  &  horse  in  Lust,  y*  though  wee 
are  frustrated  of  this  designe,  wee  may  not  be  disappointed  of  ye  other, 
Q''  as  securely  as  y"  can  for  it,  for  my  resolucon  is  to  goe  on  w"'  it,  if 
y"  heare  any  thing  of  ye  enemy  or  of  Capt.  Wootton  let  mee  heare  it  from 
y"  &  I  shall  ever  bee 

Yo''  Lo.  friend 

"  Aprill  S*!  1645.     Newport  S.  L[uke]. 

"  You  will  doe  well  to  send  a  p'ty  to  Brackley  to  see  w'  y"  can  discover 
from  thence.     The  Am'unic'on  is  gone." 

To (Northampton). 

"  Noble  S'' 
I  am  sorry  my  urgent  occasions  p''vented  mee  in  sending  y"  an  ac- 
compt  of  o'  late  p'ceedings  as  concerneing  o""  intencons  &  indeavurs  to 
have  fallen  in  upon  my  Lo.  of  North'ton's  horse  Q's  but  wee  were  p''ven- 
ted  by  intelligence  w'=''  they  gayned  from  Daintry  soe  as  wee  fayled 
more  in  ace 'on  then  resoluc'on,  after  30  miles  march  as  wee  made  it,  yet 
wee  tooke  some  of  their  reare  since  wee  Q''  close  to  y""  neare  Banbury, 
&  this  night  have  intercepted  2  L'res  one  of  ye  Lo.  Hattons  ye  other 
from  Secretary  NichoUs,  both  of  greate  consequence,  to  ye  E.  of  North'- 
ton,  w<=''  I  have  sent  inclosed  beseeching  y"  to  poast  them  away  w"'  all 
speed  they  require  greate  hast.     Wee  remaine  S'' 

Yo''  assured  freinds  &  serv** 
Craufurd 
"  Culworth  3°  Apr.  1645."  James  Sheffeild." 


400  THE  YEAR  16i5. 

To  Sir  Samuel  Luke. 
"Noble  Sir, 
"Wee  tliis  night  rec'd  a  desire  from  Col.  Lydcott  \\^^  is  to  i-equest 
y",  y'  yo""  liorse  may  this  Thursday  night  bee  w*"^  him  at  Brackley,  hee 
intends  to  doe  some  what  in  Oxfords'.  j\Iajor  Gen.  Craufurd  did  not  enter 
Banbury,  his  plott  being  discovered  by  a  boy  from  Daventry  y«  Lo. 
North'ton  &  S''  W"  his  brother,  p''sently  horsed  w*  their  Troopes  to 
Oxford  ye  Gen'"all  lyes  still  in  those  p'ts,  wee  are 

Yo''  humble  servants 

Ed.  Farmar,  vie.  Com. 
"North'ton  3d  Apr.  1645."  Ed.  Harty." 

To  Colonel  Lydcot. 

I  have  rec'd  a  L're  from  ye  Com"'^^  of  North'ton  w''''  tells  mee  y''  desire 
to  have  my  Troopes  meete  y"  this  night  at  Brackley  Maior  Gen.  Crau- 
furds  first  designe  concerneing  Banbury  being  discovered,  S""  my  Horse 
&  foote  are  both  out  &  hitherto  I  have  rec'd  noe  foyle  &  should  bee  loath 
ever  to  rec'  any,  whether  it  bee  fitt  now  to  adventure  upon  any  designe 
in  Oxfords,  they  haveing  had  y'=  alarum  soe  long  before  &  being  p'vided 
I  leave  it  to  y"  to  judge,  Neverthelesse  if  y"  thinke  y"  may  doe  any  service, 
if  y"  will  but  write  mee  word  where  yo''  Randevouz  shall  bee,  I  shall  send 
my  horse  thither,  &  y"  shall  be  sure  to  com'aund 

Yo''  assured  Lo.  Freind. 

"March  [April]  3d.  1C4-3."  S.  L[uke]" 

April  5th.  A  letter  of  Sir  Samuel  Luke's,  written  to  request  interest  for 
obtaining  a  Commission,  says: — "The  Troope  hath  beene  mustered  as 
mine  above  7  months  agoe  p'happs  his  Ex.  may  say  y'  I  have  a  Com'ission 
for  a  Troope  of  horse  already  I  confesse  I  had  but  it  was  lost  at  Edghill 
&  it  was  but  for  60  horse  only." 

To  Sir  Samuel  Luke. 
"Ss 
If  y"  please  to  sett  at  Libty  Tho.  Webb.  Rich.  Rawson  &  Jo.  Garmy 
o'^  Souldiers  but  yo''  Prisoners  w^out  fees,  w"'  yo'^  free  passe  &  safe  con- 
duct hither,  I  shall  doe  ye  like  to  Jo.  Wi-ight  Fran.  Rawlidge  &  Tho. 
Robbins  now  prisoners  heere  &  Troopers  belonging  to  North'ton  Garr :  I 
rest 

Yo''  servant 
"Banbury  Castle  Apr.  Sth,  1645."  W'"  Compton." 

''For  Sr.  JVm.  Compton. 
"S' 
Yo''*  by  yo''  Trumpiter  concerneing  ye  exchange  of  3  prisoners  I  rec'd 
ye  last  night,  but  before  it  came  I  was  ingaged  in  a  treaty  upon  an 
exchange  for  all  of  y'",  being  desirous  to  empty  my  prisons,  &  haveing 
com'aund  from  his  Ex.  for  exchangeing  some  of  Abercromys  men,  soc 
y'  till  they  are  at  Lilj'ty  I  cannot  release  any,  but  when  my  list  shall  be 
retorned  to  mee  &  I  know  who  they  will  desire,  for  those  I  sent  to  y""  for, 
all   y"=  rest  y'   remaine   shall   bee  at   yo''   service,   exchangeing  man   for 


THE  YEAR  164.3.  407 

man  &  Quallity  for  Quallity,  I  haveing  noe  more  relac'on  to  one  then 
to  another,  soe  jt  if  yon  send  mee  20,  30,  or  40,  ordinai-y  Troopers  I  shall 
send  y"  as  many  &  those  y"  men'con  in  yo''  L're  sliall  bee  3  of  y™,  or  if 
y"  p'mise  j'e  freeing  of  all  yo'^  Prisoners  y'  belong  to  o''  Army  I  will  send 
y"  as  many  of  myne,  by  a  Trnmpet  first,  who  shall  receive  yo'*.  Concerne- 
ing  yo""  Lady  Mothers  passe,  I  have  not  yet  rec'd  any  Answere  from 
London,  if  I  had,  y"  shonld  not  have  fayled  to  have  rec'd  it  fi"om 

Yo""  servant 
"Newport  Ap-'.  9th  1645."  S.  L[uke]." 

A  letter  written  by  Sir  Samuel  Luke,  dated  Newport,  April  11th,  says: 
— "The  great  misfortune  w'^'»  is  now  fallen  upon  mee  cannot  bee  exprest 
w""  greife  sufficient  since  I  imdertooke  the  imployment  I  never  faild 
in  executing  any  order  from  the  Parliam'  his  Excell'  or  your  selves,  and 
now  to  bee  constraynd  to  doe  it.  How  much  it  troubles  mee  is  beyond 
expression.  What  case  our  Horse  are  in  our  most  faithfull  agent  Mr. 
Love  and  2  of  the  Captaines  of  our  Garrison  Whitbread  and  Oxford 
I  doubt  not  but  before  this  have  given  your  Honors  a  full  accompt,  for 
before  their  comming  vp  I  received  a  L're  from  my  Major  w'^''  by  a 
modest  intimac'on  declared  that  if  I  employed  his  Troope  in  any  service 
hee  doubted  they  would  not  obey  and  therefore  having  notice  sent  mee 
yesterday  of  a  party  w'^'"  were  to  march  out  of  Banbury  to  robb  the 
carryers  upon  the  roade  I  was  forced  to  send  50  firelockes  to  lye  in  the 
woods  for  secure  the  Parliam'*  friends  being  unwilling  to  receive  a  denyall 
from  my  Troopers  and  truely  my  Lords  to  my  knowledge  the  men  want 
bootes  &  clothes  &  the  horse  want  both  saddles  &  shooes  &  my  best 
Troope  wants  all  these  w"^  armes  for  40  men."  [&c.  &c.] 

Yo''  Honors  most  humble  servant 

S.  [Luke]." 
To 

Wee  formerly  moved  j'"  by  o''  L're  for  an  exchange  in  y^  behalfe  of 
Capt.  Eyre  prisoner  at  Banbury  who  for  some  reasons  y"  gave  us,  y°  then 
waved,  wee  considerate  his  condicon  being  confined  to  a  close  chamber 
in  ye  Castle,  wth  3  or  4  more,  &  soe  wanting  ayre  it  may  indanger 
his  life  hee  is  neare  allyed  to  M'"  Holman  a  member  of  this  Com"^''  wee 
therefore  together  w**"  him,  revive  o""  moc'on  to  y"  for  ye  Capt.  y*  y"  will 
please  to  make  a  p'posicon  to  Banbury  for  his  exchange  wee  heare 
there  is  one  Capt  Key  wood  a  man  of  his  Quallity  Prisoner  w**"  y"  &  in 
p'babillity  they  will  accept  of  for  him,  &  ye  rather  if  y"  dare  trust  him  on 
his  parrole  to  mannage  ye  exchange  w'^''  wee  leave  to  yo''  discression 
w'  favour  y"  shew  to  Capt.  Eyre  herein  wee  shall  looke  upon  it  as  done  to 
Yo'  humble  Servants 
Ed.  Farmar,  vie.  Com.  Rich.  Samweli, 

RoL.  S'  John  Ed.  Hartey 

Ed.  Nicholls  Phil.  Holman 

Rob'  Mildmay  Tiio.  Pentlow."'' 

"North'ton  21st  Apr.  1645." 

(3)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  S.  Luke.  vol.  3.  Philip  Holman,  one  of  the  Committee  of 
Northampton  whose  name  appears  in  the  last  document  given  above,  had  been  a  scrivener 


-i08  THE  YEAR  1645. 

"9°  Jiinii  164-5. 
"At  y"^  Com"'^«  of  the  House  of  Com'ons  for  Prisoners. 
"Whereas  there  is  an  exchange  p'posed  by  y'^  Govnior  of  Banbury 
Castle  in  his  Tre  to  y<=  right  Ho'''<=  Sir  Tho.  Fairfax  for  31  Troopers 
prisoners  in  London  belonging  to  y^  Garr.  of  Banbury,  whose  names  are 
cxp'ssed  in  a  list  inclosed  in  y^  s'^  I're  to  bee  released  for  soe  many 
of  Major  Ennis  his  men  now  prisoners  in  Banbury,  These  are  to  certifye 
whome  they  may  concerne  y'  uppon  notice  given  of  y*^  release  of  Major 
Ennis  his  men  this  Com"'^'^  will  forthw*''  discharge  all  y^  s**  Troopers  who 
are  not  otherwise  released  except  GifFord  Bullocke  who  appeares  to  bee 
of  other  quallity,  And  in  y*"  roomes  of  any  of  y"  s'^  Troopers  w*^*^  are 
released  this  Com"'=«  will  discharge  soe  many  of  like  quallity  &  as  neare 
as  maye  bee  such  as  are  of  y''  E.  of  North'ton's  Regim*. 

Rich.  Kxightley."* 

A  Letter  from  Sir  Samuel  Luke,  dated  "  Newport  June  6tli," 
and  addressed  "To  the  Lord  Roberts:  To  liis  Excellency  also," 
has  the  following  Postscript : — "  A  country  neighbour  sent  mee 
word  that  the  King's  Engineers  w"'  100  horse  were  all  yesterday 
upon  Bayards  Greene  and  about  Brackley  veiwuig  the  ground 
w'^''  must  needs  bee  eyther  for  an  intrenehment  or  a  fight.  S"' 
Thom.  Fairfax  his  army  is  the  bravest  that  ever  I  sawe  for  bodyes 
of  men  both  in  number  armes  other  accoutrements  and  pay  for 
the  officers.  I  sawe  very  few  of  them."^  On  Saturday  the  7th 
June,  the  King  is  stated  to  have  been  at  Homeby  house,  his 
army  marching  towards  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax.  On  Monday  the 
9th  the  King  was  at  Banbury,  and  his  forces  about  Brackley 
and  Daventry.®  On  the  14th  June  was  fought  the  battle  of 
Naseby,  in  Northamptonshire,  wliich  was  fatal  to  the  King's  cause. 
"By  one  of  the  clocke  in  the  afternoone,"  says  an  account  written 
the  next  day,  "there  was  not  a  horse  or  man  of  the  Kings  army 
to  be  scene  in  Northamptonshire  but  the  prisoners."^ 

"  To  Major  Ennis. 
"SS 
I  have  sent  y'^  yo»'  Triimpctt  upon  his  Parrole  to  retorne,  who  will  lett 
y"  know  y'  if  y"  can  p'cure  these  Troopers  belonging  to  mee   &  Capt 
Slanej'  who  are  prisoners  in  London  &  subsci'ibed  here  may  bee  enlarged, 

in  London,  and  purchased  the  manor  of  Warkworth  near  Banbury,  and  an  estate  in 
Grimsbury,  of  the  Chetwode  family,  in  1629,  for  i£14,000.  He  died  in  1669.  (Baker's 
Northamp.,  pp.  739 — 741.)  At  a  subsequent  period  Warkworth  fell  to  the  Eyre  family. 
( See  hereafter.) 

(4)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  S.  Luke,  vol.  2. 

(5)  Ibid. 

(6)  Perfect  Diurnal,  No.  98. 

(7)  Exact   and  Perfect  Relation  of  the  Victory  at  Naseby,  4to.,  1615:   in  my  own  pos- 


THE  YEAR  1G45.  409 

I  shall  release  for  y""  (soe  soone  as  they  come  hither)   see  many  of  yo's 
now  Prisoners  w"'  vs.     I  rest 

Yo''  servant 
"Banbury  Castle,  13  Junii  1645  W"  Compton. 

"  Of  my  Troope.  Of  Capt  Slanys  Troope. 

In  Newgate.  In  ClarkemueU. 

GifFord  Bullocke  Ed.  North 

W"King  Tho.  Turney. 

James  Dungon  /h  Neiv  Brideirell 

Rob'  Rose  Jo.  Taylor 

W-"  Arnold  W"  Wis'dome 

Geo.  Sheldon  Jo.  Sparrow 

In  London  House  Ed.  Owen. 

Tho.  Drew  In  Peterhouse 

Jo.  Newham  Ed.  Gierke 

In  Mayden  Lane  Tho.  Danyes 

Ed.  Howell  Ed.  Gwyn" 

Sam.  Cheese 
Rob'  Foster 
Tho.  Walton 
Jo.  Hore 
Ed.  Eliston 

In  Clarkenwell 
Rob*  Blunt 
Jo.  Gaston. 

To  Sir  Saimiel  Luke. 

I  rec'd  yo''s  w*  M"^  Rushworth's  inclosed  and  according  to  yo'  desire 
have  herew"^  sent  y"  a  coppy  of  y*'  L're  together  w"'  a  c''tificate  from 
y*  Com"<='^  w'^'^  I  sent  to  y*^  Gen'"all  concerneing  the  exchange  of  Major 
Ennis  his  men  for  those  men'coned  in  y'^  list  from  Banbury,  soe  soone 
as  I  have  rec'd  notice  from  y"  of  ye  release  of  major  Ennis  his  men 
y*^  Prisoners  in  London  shall  bee  discharged  &  have  passes  to  Banbury. 
Thus  haveing  noe  more  at  present  I  remaine 

Yo""  humble  servant 

"West'  18°  Junii  1645.  Rich.  Knightley. 

"  Poster.  I  have  retorned  y"  M'  Rushworth's  L're  &  have  discharged 
iv  of  y^  Prisoners  in  p'te  &  y^  remainder  when  yo's  are  come."* 

June  20tli  to  27tli.  "The  Earle  of  Northampton,  comming 
from  the  King  to  Banburj,  met  with  a  broken  troope  of  Sir  Samuel 
Lukes,  and  tooke  most  of  them."'' 

"May  it  please  yo>-  Honors, 
Twas  my  hard  misfortune  to  have  my  owne  Troope  beate  upp  on 
Friday  morning  last  at  Honiborne  eyther  in  Worcestershire  or  the 
Borders  of  it.  Twas  one  of  those  troopes  w'^''  by  yo'  Honors  com'and 
was  sent  to  Col.  Massey.  The  Earle  of  North'ton  returneing  to  Banbury 
with  500  horse  well  armed  most  of  them  having  Carobynes  alsoe  tooke 
them  in  his  way.     It  is  thought  hee  is  come  to  fall  upon  his  old  sport 

(8)  MS.  Letter  of  Sir  S.  Lulje,  vol.  2.  (9)  Scottish  Dove. 

3f 


41(1  THE  YEAR  1645. 

of  plundring  for  recruiting  both  of  himself  and  his  .     Oxford,  Wal- 

lingford  and  Borstall  I  heare  are  this  day  all  upon  their  march.  The 
Randevous  was  not  farr  from  Bistor.  They  take  away  every  man  along 
w"*  them  that  is  able  to  pay  any  money  and  leave  not  a  horse  wheresoever 
they  come.  I  have  this  night  sent  out  100  fier  Lockes  to  look  after 
them,  and  have  given  order  to  my  horse  to  morrow  to  follow  them  they 
being  4  miles  behind  the  garrison  and  could  not  bee  ready  sooner.  Thus 
humbly  begging  leave  to  kisse  your  Honors  hands,  I  take  leave  and 
rest 

Yo""  honors  most  humble  serv*, 
"June  22.  1645"  S.  L[uke]." 

"  To  Major  Ennis. 

Yo''  Trumpett  retorned  to  mee  on  Satterday  night  last  by  whom  I 
rec'd  yo""  I're  &  a  note  from  y>=  Com"'^^.  By  yo'^s  I  vnderstand  there 
is  4  of  those  soldiers  I  p'posed  released  who  are  not  as  yet  come  hither, 
for  y™  I  have  sett  at  Libty  4  of  yo's  whose  names  y"  shall  find  subscribed. 
I  have  alsoe  sent  10  more,  for  whom  I  expect  soe  many  of  those  men 
I  sent  in  former  list,  or  their  retorne  w*''in  10  dayes.  The  reason  y'  I 
sent  noe  more  of  yo"'  men  is  I  vnderstand  some  of  o's  are  released 
otherwise,  or  have  taken  vp  amies  for  y^,  if  there  bee  more  then  ten 
of  o''s  in  prison,  if  y"  p'cvire  their  libt'y  I  shall  doe  y"^  like  to  soe  many 
of  yo''s  vpon  y"^  first  notice.  In  y*^  note  from  y^  Com"'^''  they  make  an 
objec'con  ag'  one  Giffbrd  Bollocke  Trooper  vnder  nice  supposing  him 
to  bee  of  greater  quallity  then  indeed  hee  is,  for  I  assure  y"  to  my 
knowledge  hee  neither  hath  beene  before  or  since  his  comeing  to  my 
Troope  more  then  a  Trooper  yet  to  shew  my  willingnesse  to  release  as 
well  yo'^  men  as  mine,  who  suffer  y^  misery  of  imprisonm',  I  have  sent 
yo''  Trumpett  in  Leiw  of  him  who  I  expect  or  yo''  Trumpett  w*in  10  dayes, 

I  rest 

Yo''  servant 
"Banbury  Castle  23°  Junii  1645  W'"  Compton. 

"These  4  are  set  free  /"W"'  Lucus 
for  4  of  o's  already  I  W'"  Tarrall 
released   but  as  yet  |  W""  Musgrave 
not  retorned  V  Jo.  Kettle 

Jo.  Francklin 
Tho.  Melton 
Hen.  Butcher 
W"  Synfeild 
Jo.  Waller 
Tho.  Wray 
W""  Dawborne 
Tho.  Watts 
Tho.  Waddop 
Jo.  Wai-ne 
"For  Ed.  Monmouth  Trumpett— Giff'ord  Bullocke." 

"  To  RicJiard  Knightly  Esq. 
"Noble  Cosin, 
I   have  heretofore  troubled   y"  in   ye   behalfe   of  Maior   Ennis,   now 
I  must  trouble  y"  for  myselfe  &  desire  yo''  favour  to  ye  Ho'^'«  Com"«^  to 


For  these  10  I  expect  10 
of  o''s  now  Prisoners  in 
^London  w"' free  passe  & 
safe  conduct  hither  or 
their  retorne  w*''in  10 
dayes. 


THE  YEAR  1645.  411 

p'pound  some  exchanges  for  my  Troopei's,  who  are  now  prisoners  in 
Banbury  Castle,  being  taken  by  ye  Earle  of  North'ton  &  his  Forces 
on  Friday  morning  last  in  their  Q''"  y<=  p'ticulers  whereof  y"  may  heare 
more  at  large  from  this  bearer  my  Cornett  who  is  my  wife's  Brother's 
Sonne,  &  hath  beene  faithfull  &  dilligent  in  y"  seruice  both  since  hee 
was  w"'  mee  &  whilst  hee  served  under  S"'  Arther  Haselrigg,  his  Father 
a  man  of  good  esteeme  both  in  y'^  citty  &  country  &  well  affected  to 
y'^  cause  haveing  had  2  sonnes  vnder  me  in  service  to  his  greate  cost 
&  charge  hee  is  come  vjipon  his  parrole  for  a  Foote  captaine  who 
was  lately  taken  in  y'=  fight  neare  Nasbey.  I  beseech  y"  further  him 
w'''  y<=  way  in  p'cureing  y^  exchange  &  his  Lib'ty  wherein  y"  will  oblidge 
mee  to  bee 

Yo''  assured  Lo :  Freind  &  Faithful  servant 

S.  L[uke]. 

"June  23th  1645  Newport. 

"If  y^  Com"^^  give  me  Lib'ty  I  shall  p'poimd  to  have  y"  exchanged  & 
shall  forbeare  doeing  it,  till  I  shall  know  their  pleasure."'" 

On  the  23rd  July  was  buried,  at  Banbury,  "Hannah  Roads, 
exeevited"  [probably  as  being  a  spy]  "by  the  soldiars  that  held 
ye  Castel  for  the  King."'^ 

On  the  5th  August,  there  is  mention  of  great  plunder  having 
been  made  by  the  garrison  of  Banbury.^'- 

Saturday,  August  23rd.  "  We  heare  not  of  any  designe  pro- 
secuted against  Banbury:  that  place  scowers  us  still  a  dowzen 
miles  round.  The  countrey  men  have  a  pretty  observation,  which 
is  this:  They  say,  they  pay  contribution  on  both  sides:  when 
Banbury  men  come  to  gather  their  mony,  they  observe  a  time 
when  their  enemies  of  Northampton  are  at  home,  then  come  they 
in,  and  with  a  loud  cry,  say,  where  are  these  Roundheads?  wee'U 
kill  them  all  for  raysing  mony  of  you,  you  shall  pay  to  none 
but  us :  when  Banbury  men  are  gone,  then  comes  the  other  party, 
where  are  the  Cavaliers?  wee'U  kill  them  all,  you  shall  pay  to 
none  but  us,  we  will  protect  you;  but  hardly  in  a  year  doth  the 
one  interrupt  the  others  collections."'^ 

This  year  was  indeed  one  of  great  terror  to  the  inhabitants 
of  the  district.  The  Lords'  Journals  relate  that,  before  September 
1645,  great  part  of  Banbury  had  been  burned  or  pulled  down, 
and  the  ]VIayor  and  most  of  the  Aldermen  and  Burgesses  had 
been  constrained  to  fly  for  their  lives." 

In   the   beginining    of  October   the    complaints    of    plundering 

(10)  MS.  Letter-Book  of  Sir  S.  Luke,  vol.  2.  (11)  Eegister  of  Banbury. 

(12)  Perf.  Diurnal,  No.  106.  (13)  Moderate  Intelligencer,  No.  26. 

(14)  See  Lords'  Journals,  June  IStli  1616,  hereafter. 

3  f3 


412  THE  KING  AT  BANBURY,  1645. 

by  the  garrison  of  Banbury  were  renewed.  About  the  18th  Octo- 
ber, intelligence  was  given  that  Colonel  Rossiter  had  defeated  the 
Banbury  horse  (about  six  troops)  between  Belvoir  and  Newark, 
when  they  were  conducting  the  Princes  Rupert  and  Maiirice  to 
join  the  King  at  Newark.  About  sixty  gentlemen  are  stated 
to  have  been  taken  prisoners. ^^ 

On  the  3rd  November  the  King  quitted  Newark;  on  the  4tli 
he  slept  at  Codsbury;  and  on  Wednesday  the  5th  he  "about 
10  a  clock  in  the  morning  came  to  Banbury,  made  an  halt  and 
dined  there  at  the  Castle,  and  afterward  the  same  Wednesday 
the  5  of  November,  about  5  a  clock  in  the  evening  came  to  Oxford 
to  supper."'*'  The  Mereurius  Britanicus  says: — "It  is  reported 
that  he  got  out  of  Newarke  with  300  horse,  came  Tuesday  night 
last  to  Daventry  (I  wonder  he  would  venture  so  near  Naseby) 
whence  the  Earl  of  Northampton  with  300  more  convoyed  him  to 
Banbury,  from  thence  (they  say)  to  Oxford."'^  Another  newspaper 
says: — "The  King  being  on  Ms  way  to  Banbury,  he  was  saluted 
by  three  hundred  horse  belonging  to  the  Earle  of  Northampton, 
who  attended  his  Majesty  unto  Oxford:  the  King  in  the  way 
was  scene  to  ride  with  some  few  horses  that  kept  him  company, 
and  which  played  now  and  then  and  smiled  before  him,  but  Care 
on  the  same  Horse  sate  heavy  behind  him."'^ 

November  7th.  "  On  Wednesday  last  the  King  came  into 
Oxford  with  a  small  partie,  leaving  the  convoy  that  brought  him 
from  Newark  at  Banbury,  which  afterwards  returned  from  whence 
they  came."'^  This  (Parliamentarian)  account  adds  concerning 
Banbury — "  The  country  would  give  one  halfe  they  have  for 
the  returne  of  their  horse  and  some  additionall  help  to  block  up 
that  Den  of  Theevs,  Oxford  cannot  want  while  Banbury  flou- 
risheth  ;  they  send  daily  store  of  money  and  Cattell  thither." 

December  15th,  &c.  "  The  Commons  had  in  consideration  the 
losses  of  the  Lord  Say,  his  estate  l}ing  about  Oxford  and  Ban- 
bury ;  and  ordered  him  an  allowance  of  £'2000  per  annum  out 
of  the  Court  of  Wards."-" 

Thursday,  Dec.  18th.  It  was  reported  that  1,500  horse  from 
Banbury,  Oxford,  and  other  places,  intended  to  join  with  others 

(15)  Viccarss  Pari.  Chronicle.  (16)  Iter  Carolinum._  (17)  Merc.  Brit,  No.  104. 

(18)  Kingdom's  Weekly  Post,  Nov.  8.  There  is  a  tradition,  that,  on  a  visit  paid  by  the 
King  to  Banbury,  he  noticed  one  of  the  townsmen,  Abram  by  name,  as  his  "  faithful 
Abram."  This  person  is  said  to  have  resided  in  Parson's  Street,  at  a  large  house,  now- 
demolished,  which  stood  on  the  east  side  of  the  Raindeer  Inn. 

(19)  Contin.  of  Spec,  and  Remark.  Passages.  (20)  Merc.  Britanicus,  p.  97.5. 


GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,  1646.  413 

of  Worcester  &c.  to  relieve  West  Chester.  The  Parb'ament's 
forces,  however,  broke  down  the  bridges  at  Stratford  upon  Avon 
&c.,  in  the  road  between  Banbury  and  Worcester,  and  lined  the 
hedges  with  musketeers ;  and  the  Royal  forces  retreated  on  Sun- 
day to  Banbury,  and  marched  the  same  night  towards  Daventry, 
thinking  to  surprise  Northampton."^ 

In  the  Register  of  Banbury,  39  burials  of  Soldiers  are  men- 
tioned during  this  year.  Among  the  entries  are,  Captain  Har- 
rington buried  the  22nd  April ;  "  a  trooper  from  the  Wliit  Lyon  " 
buried  the  24th  April ;  and  "  a  trooper's  wife  from  the  Read  Lyon" 
buried  on  the  3rd  July. 


THE  YEx\R  1646:    SIEGE  OF  BANBURY  BY 
COLONEL  WHALLEY. 

At  the  time  when  the  King's  affairs  began  to  wear  an  unfavour- 
able aspect,  the  Royalist  Cavalry  were  mostly  drawn  from  Ban- 
bury for  other  service  r^  and  as  early  as  January  in  this  year, 
1646,  the  siege  of  Banbury  was  renewed,  under  the  conduct  of 
the  celebrated  regicide.  Colonel  EDWARD  Whalley,  who,  in 
1642,  had  been  a  cornet  in  John  Fiennes's  troop. -^ 

Friday  23rd  January.  "  It  was  this  day  reported  that  Colonell 
\^^haley  hath  entered  Banbury,  and  taken  many  prisoners  and 
some  of  the  Earle  of  Northamptons  best  horse. "-^  Another  ac- 
count says  that  Banbury  was  entered  "  by  Col.  Whaley,  60  horse 
taken,  with  one  colonel,  three  captains,  and  divers  inferior  offi- 
cers.""^ 

Friday,  Feb.  6th.  "  The  besieging  of  Banbury  Castle  will 
now  no  doubt  be  put  forwards  to  purpose,  this  day  wc  under- 
stood that  Colonell  Whaley  with  the  western  horse  had  his  quar- 
teres  in  Banbury  towne,  and  with  the  foot  from  Northampton, 
Warwickshire,  and  the  rest  designed,  besieged  the  Castle,  and  tis 
hoped  will  give  a  good  accompt  of  it  shortly."-'' 

The  famous  Richard  Baxter  was  chaplain  to  Colonel  Whalley 's 
own   regiment :    he   accompanied  the   army,  and   continued  with 

(21)  Perfect  Diurnal,  No.  125.  (22)  Sir  E.  Walker.  (23)  See  p.  305  (note). 

(24)  Cont.  of  Spec,  and  Eemarlv.  Pass.  No.  18. 

(  25)  Merc.  Britan.,  Feb.  2,  to  Feb.  9.  An  account  dated  January  24th,  says  that  some 
carts,  going  to  Northampton,  had  been  sui-prised  by  the  Banbury  horse;  but  that  some 
Parliamentarians  coming  out  of  the  west,  and  quartering  near  Banbury,  redeemed  them. 
— Moderate  Intelligencer,  No.  47. 

(36)  Perf.  Diurnal,  No.  132. 


•414  GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,  1646. 

it  six  weeks  before  Banbury."  The  heroic  Sir  William  Compton 
was  still  in  coromand  of  the  Castle,  in  which  there  was  ample 
store  of  provision.  Sir  Spencer  Compton  was  there  also,  serving 
under  his  brother.     The  following  accounts  occur : — 

Monday  Feb.  9th.  "  We  find  by  letters,  that  the  busines  of 
Banbury  as  to  a  siege  or  blocking  up,  cannot  suddenly  be  pro- 
secuted as  was  desired,  the  whole  numbers  of  men  for  it  not  yet 
come  up,  some  necessaries  of  powder,  match,  &c.  with  an  En- 
gineer, is  sent  from  Northampton.  That  they  may  the  better 
proceed  in  it,  and  have  the  better  accommodations  in  case  any 
disturbance  should  be,  they  have  begun  and  are  going  fast  on  to 
fortifie  a  house  at  Thorp  Mandevil,  three  miles  off  Banbury  to 
the  east.""^ 

Feb.  9th  to  16th.  "The  designe  against  Banbury  sluggs  for 
want  of  supplies  and  necessaries."-^ 

Thursday,  Feb.  10th.  It  is  mentioned  that  a  body  of  troops, 
joining  with  the  horse  of  Banbury  Castle  who  were  at  Oxford 
and  some  horse  from  other  garrisons,  were  drawing  out,  either 
for  purposes  of  plunder,  or  to  act  against  the  brigade  near  Ban- 
bury under  Colonel  Whalley  i^''  and  that  Colonel  Bayre,  governor 
of  Wallingford,  had  sent  to  the  King  £500  to  encourage  that 
attempt.^^ 

Monday,  Feb.  23rd.  "  From  Banbury,  the  letters  dated  Feb. 
20  tell  us,  that  Coll.  Whalley  is  in  a  good  forwardnesse  there, 
and  hath  taken  great  care  to  secure  his  foot,  both  from  sallyes 
from  within,  and  sudden  on-fals  from  without :  the  furthest  works 
we  have  from  the  Castle,  are  not  half  musket-shot  from  the  ene- 
mies ;  and  our  nearest  works  are  within  less  than  pistoU-shot. 
The  Castle  is  very  strong,  and  hath  a  treble  Mote  ;  yet  we  hope 
the  work  will  not  be  so  long  as  some  imagine."  It  is  further 
said  that  Colonel  Whalley  had  sent  out  a  party  against  the  Ox- 
ford horse,  and  dispersed  them  to  their  garrisons.  Their  loss  is 
stated  at  200  or  300  horse;  "but  that,"  the  account  says,  "per- 
haps their  plunder  made  up  before."  "  There  are  500  foot  and 
600  horse  drawn  out  of  Oxford  into  Woodstocke  town  ;  we  know 

(27)  Calamy's  Lite  of  Baxter. 

(28)  Moderate  Intelligencer,  No.  49.  Thoq)  Mandeville  is  situated  6  miles  nearly  NE. 
from  Banbury.  At  this  time  it  belonged  to  Thomas  Kirton,  whose  wife  was  first  cousin 
to  Oliver  Cromwell.  (Baker's  Northamp.,  pp.  719,  720).  The  old  manor-house  has  been 
l(mg  removed,  but  the  entrenchments  formed  about  it  are  yet  traceable. 

(29)  Merc.  Britanicus,  p.  1040.  (30)  Perf.  Diurnal,  No.  133. 
(31)  Contin.  of  Spec,  and  Remark.  Pass. 


GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,  1646.  415 

not  how  to  pi'event  them  for  want  of  foot,  having  not  above  1200 
at  Banburie,  too  few,  and  a  great  many  lesse  than  were  promised 
to  carj  on  the  siege.  *  *  *  We  have  a  party  now  in  Ban- 
bury, and  had  we  a  good  mortar-piece,  should  bid  fair  for  the 
Castle."^^ 

"From  Banbury  Feb.  22  it  is  certified,  that  the  day  before  in 
the  evening,  the  enemy  from  Woodstock  had  an  intent  to  have 
fain  upon  our  horse  quarters  at  Deddiugton,  but  we  (having  in- 
telligence in  time)  prevented  them.  Col.  Whalley  drew  over  a 
passe  to  Aderbury,"  &e.  "  The  mean  while,  the  enemy  sallied 
out  from  the  Castle  and  fired  an  old  house.  The  enemy  keep 
close  in  the  garison,  waiting  for  opportunities  to  sally  out  upon 
ad  vantage.  "^^ 

Monday,  Feb.  23rd.  "  For  the  siege  of  Banbury  the  letters 
speake  thus.  That  the  enemy  are  300  in  the  Castle  and  vic- 
tualled for  a  long  time,  our  forces  against  it  about  3000.  That 
we  have  entred  the  towne,  quarter  in  it,  and  made  our  ap- 
proaches within  lesse  than  pistoll  shot  of  their  workes,  which  are 
very  formidable  and  that  the  enemy  have  made  some  sallies  but 
were  beaten  in  agaiae  with  losse."^^ 

Friday,  Feb.  27th.  "Thursday  next  there  is  a  publique  hu- 
miliation in  the  church  on  Garlike  hill,  for  the  good  successe  of 
oiu-  forces  before  Banbury. "^^ 

Monday,  March  2nd.  "  Col.  Wlialey  at  Banbury :  the  besieging 
Banbury  Castle  goes  well  on,  some  sallies  have  bin  made  by  the 
enemy  and  they  beaten  in  again  with  losse,  upon  the  comming 
up  of  the  peeces  for  battery  there  is  hopes  a  good  account  will 
be  given  thereof."^" 

March  9th  to  16th,  "The  work  at  Banbury  goes  on;  Col. 
Rainsborough  is  assisting  in  it,  and  if  they  be  suddenly  supplyed 
with  necessaries,  it  will  be  over ;  for  they  want  neither  men  nor 
courage. "^^ 

Wednesday,  March  25th.  "  Col.  Whaley  attends  the  siege  at 
Banbury,  the  enemy  hath  made  some  fresh  sallyes  forth,  wliich 
are  rather  as  so  many  warnings  to  us  for  watchfulnesse  than  any 
mischief  they  could  do  its."^^ 

Thursday,  March  26th.     "  Col.  Whaley  goes  on  bravely  before 

(32)  Perfect  Occurrences  of  Parliament.  (33)  Ibid. 

(34)  Perf.  Diurnal,  No.  135.  (35)  Weekly  Account,  No.  10. 

(36)  Perf.  Diurnal,  No.  136.  (37)  Merc.  Britanicus,  p.  1064. 
(.38)  Weekly  Account,  No.  14. 


416  GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,  1646'. 

Banbury,  being  assisted  by  the  governour  of  Northampton,  and 
Cap.  Hooper  the  Engineer,  who  bestirs  himself  notably  well,  having 
finished  his  line  about  the  Castle,  and  about  their  quarters,  so 
as  they  fear  not  any  power  the  King  can  send  to  disturb  them; 
he  is  carrying  four  trenches  both  about,  and  upon  their  works, 
doubts  not  by  them  to  be  within  their  works  within  14  dayes, 
and  yet  hath  neither  mortar-piece,  nor  great  gun,  nor  know  when 
they  shall ;  Put  fair  for  the  strongest  Castle  the  King  hath,  without 
canon  or  mortar-pieces !  Believe  it,  excellent  lads  :  this  growing 
severall  ways  upon  the  besieged,  put  them  to  a  stand,  they  not 
knowing  which  way  to  turn  about.  "^^ 

Friday,  March  27th.  "Why  are  the  enemy  so  stubborne  in 
some  places,  where  they  are  most  privy  to  the  designes  in  hand, 
but  that  something  is  in  it  that  we  know  not  of,  why  should 
Pendennis  be  so  refractory,  why  should  Banbury,  and  all  the  gar- 
risons about  Oxford  be  so  stiff  but  that  something  is  in  brewing. 

"  CoUonel  Whalley  hath  sent  in  a  simimons  into  Banbury  Cas- 
tle of  which  here  foUoweth  the  Copy: 

"  'For  the  Governour  of  Banbury  Castle. 
'"Sir, 
Before  I  attempt  any  thing  upon  yon,  which  may  occasion  the  effusion 
of  Christian  blood,  I  thinke  it  my  duty  (both  to  God  and  the  State 
whose  Servant  I  am)  to  send  yon  a  faire  and  civill  Summons  to  prevent  it, 
and  therefore  demand  of  you  the  Castle  for  the  use  of  the  Parliament: 
For  you  now  to  stand  out  (being  out  of  all  hopes  of  ever  having  Releife) 
it  will  be  but  to  make  yourselves  to  embrew  your  hands  in  your  own 
blood,  and  cause  Repentance  when  it  is  too  late.  I  expect  your  answei", 
and  shall  be  if  you  please, 

Your  friend  to  serve  you, 

Edw.  Whaley.' 
"  '  Banbury  the  IStli  of  march  1615.' 

"Tliis  Summons  being  brought  to  Sir  William  Compton  the 
Governour,  he  read  it,  and  presently  returned  back  this  desperate 
(and  unmamierly)  answer,  to  CoUonel  Whally  who  is  still  before 
it: 

'"Sir, 

I  have  received  (by  your  Drum  you  sent  to  me)  a  letter,  wherein  you 
demand  this  Castle  for  the  use  of  the  Parliament,  to  whom  I  returne 
this  answer;  that  I  shall  never  be  so  false  to  my  King,  as  to  deliver 
up  the   trust  I  have  from  him  to  Rebels:  I  shall  therefore  desire  you 

(39)  Moderate  Intelligencer,  No.  .50.  The  governor  of  Northampton  above  mentioned 
was  Colonel  Whethara,  who  was  also  at  the  siege  of  Banbury  in  164-1.  Captain  Hooper 
was  a  noted  engineer  of  his  time,  and  particularly  celebrated  for  his  services  at  Banbury 
and  at  Raglaud  Castle.  -  Sprigge's  Anglia  Rediviva. 


GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,  1646.  417 

to  forbeare  any  further  frivolous  summons;  for  I  thanke  God,  I  have 
a  loyall  hart,  as  I  shall  make  you  sensible  of  in  defence  of  this  place 
(by  Gods  assistance)  if  you  make  any  further  attempts  upon  it.  All 
the  Officers  and  Souldiers  now  here  with  me,  returne  the  same  resolutions, 
rather  choosing  to  lose  our  lives  in  the  defence  of  this  place,  then  deliver 
it  up  without  his  Majesties  command:  I  rest, 

Yours  in  what  I  may, 

W:  COMPTON.'"" 

"  '  Banbury  Castle  the  18th  of  March  1645.'  " 

April  8th  to  15tli.  "  The  siege  of  Banbury  is  still  held  close, 
the  Governour  Sir  Will.  Compton  is  confident,  and  resolute,  he 
desired  liberty  to  send  to  the  King,  and  to  bee  certified  whether 
his  Majestic  be  so  low  as  Colo.  Whaley  assures  him  he  is,  that 
he  cannot  send  him  any  considerable  reliefe,  but  Colo.  Whaley 
refused  to  suffer  him  to  send  to  the  King,  having  no  such  com- 
mission :  but  certifying  the  desire  of  Sir  WUl.  Compton  leave  is 
given  from  the  Committee  of  both  kingdoms,  to  suffer  him  to 
send  to  certifie  himself  as  aforesaid."''^ 

There  appears  to  be  no  evidence  of  any  considerable  progress 
having  been  made  towards  the  reduction  of  the  Castle.  Many 
attempts  were  made  by  sapping  and  mining;  but  countermines 
were  effected  by  the  ever  vigUant  Sir  William  Compton;  who  also, 
it  is  said,  "by  flinging  down  stones  and  hand-granadoes,  mightily 
annoyed  the  enemy.  "''^ 

Joshua  Sprigge,  a  Puritan  writer,  who  was  born  at  Banbury,  and 
published  his  "Anglia  Rediviva"  in  1G47,  gives  some  account  in 
that  work  of  the  progress  of  this  siege.  He  says: — "The  forces 
imployed  in  the  reducing  of  that  place  were  about  1000  foot,  and 
some  four  troops  of  horse,  all  under  the  command  of  that  approved 
gentleman  Colonel  Whaley:  they  lay  eleven  weeks  before  the 
Castle ;  so  soon  as  they  came  before  it,  they  entrencht  themselves 
by  a  line  drawn  round  the  Towne,'^  for  their  better  security  from 
any  force  without:  which  done,  they  sapt  up  towards  the  Castle, 
ran  over  severall  galleries,  over  the  outmost  Mote,  and  so  wrought 

(40)  Perfect  Occurrences  of  Parliament.  (11)  Scottish  Dove. 

(42)  Heath's  Chron.,  p.  108. 

(43)  There  existed  within  memory  remains  of  a  deep  dry  ditch  nearly  encircling  the 
town :  this  ditch  was  imagined  by  some  people  to  have  been  at  one  time  the  boundary  of 
the  parish,  but  certainly  its  course  did  not  agree  with  the  known  boundary  of  the  parish  at 
any  period.  This  ditch  ran; — 1.  along  the  eastern  side  of  the  lane  leading  by  the  Bear 
Garden  from  the  Blosham  to  the  Broughton  road;— 2.  through  the  closes  northwest 
of  West  Street; — 3.  along  the  east  and  south  sides  of  the  Conduit  close.  The  late  Mr. 
Robert  Gardner  traced  this  ditch,  many  years  ago,  nearly  the  whole  way  from  tlie  Chei-well 
on  the  southeastern  side  of  the  town,  by  south  and  west,  to  the  Cuttle  brook  on  the  northern 
side. 

3  G 


-^IH  GREAT  SIEGE  OF  BANBURY,  l(i46. 

into  the  enemies  works;  tlie  enemy  countermining  tliem,  sprang 
one  mine  upon  them,  but  through  Gods  mercy  did  no  great  hurt ; 
and  also  flinging  downe  stones  upon  them,  and  hand  granadoes 
amongst  them,  rendred  their  duty  very  hard  and  hazardous;  yet 
through  the  goodnesse  of  God,  and  the  courage  of  the  sovildiers, 
we  wrought  so  farre  into  the  enemies  works,  as  put  them  out  of 
all  hopes  of  keeping  the  Castle."^^ 

In  the  House  of  Lords,  on  the  27th  April,  a  Petition  was  read 
from  "  the  Inhabitants  of  the  City  of  Oxon,  Borough  of  Banbury, 
&c.,  'who  have  received  great  losses  sustained  for  adhering  to 
the  Parliament,  and  desire  to  be  recompensed  out  of  the  Earl  of 
North'ton's  Estate,  or  other  Delinquents.'"  This  was  ordered 
to  be  recommended  to  the  House  of  Commons.'*^ 

At  this  date,  the  King  had  resolved  to  join  himself  with  Lord 
Astley,  either  for  the  purpose  of  relieving  Banbury,  or  of  march- 
ing upon  Worcester:  and  Lord  Astley  had  orders  to  march 
to  Stow  on  the  \Yold,  and  thence  to  Chipping  Norton;  where 
the  King,  with  1,500  horse  and  foot  drawn  out  of  Oxford  and 
other  garrisons,  intended  to  meet  him.  Lord  Astley  was,  however, 
defeated  on  his  march  by  Colonel  Brereton,  and  his  own  fugitive 
horse  were  the  bearers  of  the  news  to  Oxford.  "We  lost,"  says 
Sir  Edward  Walker,  "our  last  game,  wliich  fixed  his  Majesty  at 
Oxford.  Nothing  now  but  a  miracle,  or  the  victory  of  his  forces 
in  the  west,  being  able  to  fetch  him  off:  but  as  the  first  is  not 
usual,  so  the  fortune  of  his  western  army  was  no  better  I  am 
sure,  and  not  so  honourable  as  this."'*'  The  King's  affairs  had 
indeed  come  to  a  crisis.  He  quitted  Oxford  on  the  27th  April, 
and  sought  a  refuge  with  the  Scottish  army,  at  Newark,  on  the 
6th  May.  The  disgraceful  conduct  of  the  Scots  towards  the 
Royal  fugitive  is  a  matter  which  does  not  belong  to  our  local 
history.  Meanwhile,  Colonel  Whalley  was  pursuing  his  work 
at  Banbury ;  and  he  (after  fifteen  weeks'  operations)  being  ad- 
vanced close  to  the  woll,"  and  the  King  having  gone  to  yield 
himself  up  to  those  who  proved  to  be  his  vilest  enemies,  further 
resistance  was  useless.  Accordingly,  terms  were  agreed  upon  for 
the  delivery  of  the  Castle,  whose  condition  of  defence  will  how- 
ever appear  from  the  accounts  which  here  follow.  The  very 
honourable  terms   of   capitulation  sufficiently  attest  the   gallantry 

(44)  Anglia  Rediviva,  p.  252.  (4.5)  Lords'  Journals. 

(46)  Sir  E.  Walker's  Historical  Discourses,  pp,  152,  1.5.3.  (47)  Heath's  Chron.,  p  108. 


SURRENDER  OF  THE  CASTLE,  1646.  -119 

of  the  garrison,  and  the  unwillingness  of  Colonel  Whalley  to  risk 
the  chances  of  an  assault. 

House  of  Commons,  May  6tli.  "  Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of 
Lords  and  Commons  for  Advance  of  Monies  at  Haberdasher's  Hall,  do 
forthwith  pay  unto  Richard  Johnson,  the  Trumpeter  that  brought  the 
news  of  the  surrender  of  Banbury  Castle,  Twenty  Pounds  bestowed  upon 
him  for  this  and  other  Services."*^ 

]\Lay  7th  to  14th.  "  The  news  of  Banburys  accord  was  this  day  brought 
for  certain,  with  the  Articles  ;  the  man  that  came  before  to  the  House, 
came  before  the  busines  was  over,  and  so  merited  not."^"  Another  ac- 
count says  that  Sir  Charles  Compton  went  from  Oxford  to  treat  with 
the  General  for  Sir  William  Compton  about  Banbury,  and  agreed  that 
it  should  be  surrendered.^" 

ARTICLES  FOR  THE  SURRENDER  OF  BANBURY  CASTLE. 

"  Articles  agreed  upon  the  6  of  May  1646,  by  Capt.  Gannock  and 
Capt.  Baylie,  deputed  on  the  behalf  of  Sr.  William  Compton  Governour 
of  the  Castle  of  Banbury,  And  Colo.  Whetham,  Colo.  Bridges,  Leif- 
tenant  Colo.  Matthewes,  and  Leifte.  Colo.  Castle,  Commissioners  ap- 
pointed by  Colo.  Whaley,  Commander  in  cheife  of  the  Forces  imployed 
for  the  reduceing  of  the  said  Castle,  touching  the  surrender  thereof 

"  Imprimis,  That  the  Governour  and  Sir  Spencer  Compton  and  the 
Major  with  each  of  them  one  Servant,  and  their  armes,  with  6  of  their 
owne  horses,  shall  have  liberty  to  march  away  to  what  places  they  thinke 
fit,  the  Captaines  each  of  them  his  owne  horse  and  sword  the  rest  of 
the  Officers  with  their  swords,  and  private  Soiddiers  without  armes  in 
like  sort  to  march  away  to  such  places  as  their  Passes  shall  direct. 

"  2  Item,  That  all  Officers  and  Souldiers  of  the  said  Garison  shall 
have  liberty  to  march  away  with  their  wearing  apparell,  and  halfe  their 
monyes,  so  as  they  give  a  true  and  just  accompt  thereof. 

"3  Item,  That  Sir  William  Compton  the  Governour  with  all  the  Offi- 
cers and  Souldiers  shall  have  passes  to  go  to  any  place  in  the  Kingdom 
of  England  or  principalitie  of  Wales  (not  beleagured)  the  city  of  London 
excepted  and  the  said  Colo.  Whalley  shall  endevour  to  procm-e  passes 
to  all  such  persons  of  the  said  Garrison  to  go  beyond  the  seas  as  shall 
desire  the  same. 

"  4  Item,  That  all  Officers  and  Souldiers  of  the  said  Garrison  shall 
have  free  quarter  in  their  march  to  the  severall  places  appointed  by  their 
passes,  so  as  they  remaine  not  above  one  night  in  a  place. 

"5  Item,  That  all  Officers  and  Souldiers  of  the  said  Garrison  may 
freely  passe  to  the  places  appointed  without  any  oath  imposed  upon  them 
by  the  said  Colo.  Whalley  or  any  other. 

"  Item,  That  the  said  Colo.  Whalley  upon  the  surrender  of  the  said 
Castle  shall  take  such  care  for  restitution  of  such  goods  belonging  to  the 

(48)  Commons'  Journals.  (49)  Moderate  Intelligencer. 

(oO)  Banbury  taken  in,  witli  the  Ordnance  :  4to,  1646.     In  Christchurch  Library. 

3g3 


42U  SURRENDER  OF  THE  CASTLE,  1G4C. 

Countries  now  in  the  Scaid  Castle  as  [to]  the  said  Colo.  Whalley  shall  seeme 
just  and  e quail. 

"  Item,  That  the  said  Governour  nor  Officer  or  Souldier  of  the  said 
Garrisson  shall  be  molested  for  any  debt  or  any  act  done  by  any  of  them, 
untill  the  time  limitted  in  their  passes  shall  be  expired. 

"  Item,  That  all  Officers  and  Souldiers  of  the  said  Garrison  being  sick 
or  wounded  together  with  IVP  Woodhall  Chyrurgeon  to  the  said  Castle 
and  his  Mate  shal  have  accommodation  in  the  Town  of  Banbiu-y  or 
noare  thereunto  vmtill  their  recovery,  and  afterwards  shall  have  passes 
granted  as  others  of  their  qualitie  by  vertue  of  these  Articles  and  the 
Chyrurgeon  with  each  of  them  one  case  of  insti-uements  unmolested. 

"  Item,  That  Can-iges  be  provided  by  the  derection  of  the  said  Colo. 
Whalley  for  the  conveihing  of  svich  things  as  are  to  be  carried  away 
by  vertue  of  these  Articles  to  such  i^laces  as  the  said  S''  William  Comp- 
ton  shall  thinke  fit,  the  same  being  not  distant  10  miles  from  Banbury. 

"  Vpon  which  considerations  the  said  Sr.  William  Compton  doth  ingage 
his  honour  to  surrender  the  Castle  of  Banbury  in  the  condition  it  now 
standeth  with  Cannon,  CouUers,  Arms,  and  Ammunition,  and  all  things 
not  conteyned  in  these  Articles,  without  any  embezelment  whatsoever 
to  the  said  Colo.  Whally  for  the  use  of  the  Parliament  on  Friday  morn- 
ing next  being  the  8  of  this  instant  May  by  9  a  clock,  at  which  time 
the  said  Arms  are  to  be  delivered  to  such  persons  as  the  said  Colo. 
Whaley  shall  appoint  in  the  halfe  moon  before  the  Gate  and  Hostages 
are  to  be  sent  out  for  the  performance  hereof.  All  which  was  performed 
accordingly. 

Imprimatur.     Gilb.  Mabbot. 

"  8  May  1646."  Jo.  Rushworth."' 

"  There  were  about  400  men  in  Banbury  Castle.'"'^ 
Monday,  May  lltli.  "We  had  from  Banbury  to  this  effect, 
that  they  in  the  Castle  marched  out  with  great  content :  not  so 
much  as  a  bad  look,  much  lesse  a  word  past  from  each  other, 
they  protesting  they  never  knew  nor  saw  more  fair  dealing ;  500 
musquets  found  in  the  Castle,  many  pikes  and  other  armes,  9 
colours,  10  piece  of  ordnance,  12  barrels  of  powder,  almost  a 
tun  of  match,  good  store  of  bullets  ;  the  Castle  strong  for  of- 
fence and  defence,  200  quarters  of  wheat  and  malt,  many  hogs- 
heads of  beef,  many  thousand  weight  of  bisket,  20  live  cows 
and  oxen,  60  sheep,  and  all  this  preserved :  together  with  good 
store  of  housholdstuffe,  and  to  be  sold  and  disposed  of  to  the 
use  of  the  souldiers,  which  latter  is  a  most  excellent  business, 
and  such  as  we  do  not  remember  to  have  been  before,  and  speaks 
highly  to  the  honour  of   Col.  Whaley,  who  commanded  in  chief, 

(1)  Broadsheet  preserved  in  the  British   Museum,  "Printed  by  T.  B.  for  H.  Tucke  and 
V.  Tyton.  1616." 
('2)  Weekly  Account,  May  12. 


SURRENDER  OF  THE  CASTLE,  1646.  421 

the  Governour  of  Warwick  and  Northampton,  and  those  other 
gentlemen  who  assisted  this  work  ;  among  whom,  we  have  heard 
one  Mr.  Gilford  an  alderman  of  Northampton  deserves  much 
commendation.  Glocester  and  Evesham  foot  have  order  to  march 
to  Worcester,  the  rest  stay  at  Banbury  untill  further  order. 

"Tuesday  was  a  day  of  Thanksgiving  for  many  good  succes- 
ses wliich  we  had  lately."^ 

Joshua  Sprigge  says  that  the  two  Comptons  were  to  have  "  two 
moneths  liberty  to  goe  beyond  sea,"  and  that  the  common  sol- 
diers were  to  march  out  without  their  arms,  to  be  disbanded  a 
mile  from  the  town,  and  "  to  have  free  quarter  martcliing  ten  miles 
a  day."  He  adds  : — "There  were  found  in  the  Castle  eleven 
pieces  of  ordnance,  eleven  barrels  of  powder,  and  foure  hundred 
armes.  This  Castle,  though  old  through  time,  yet  was  recovered 
and  revived  by  art  and  industry  unto  an  incredible  strength, 
much  beyond  many  places  of  greater  name  and  reputation,  & 
often  had  our  forces  bin  defeated  before  it ;  &  but  that  now  was 
Gods  time  and  season  for  the  rendition  of  it,  no  other  successe 
could  have  been  expected  by  these  forces,  the  Castle  standing 
in  its  full  pride  and  strength,  being  well  recovered  of  all  its 
wounds  and  batteries  received  in  former  assaults ;  and  having 
impregnible  works  about  it,  and  great  variety  of  invention  be- 
stowed upon  it."^ 

This  siege  of  Banbury  lasted  fifteen  weeks.  For  the  capture 
of  Banbury  Castle,  which,  notwithstanding  the  cordial  attachment 
of  the  neighbourhood  to  the  cause  of  the  besiegers,  had  thus 
held  out  against  every  force  which  the  Parliament  could  bring 
agamst  it  for  more  than  three  years  and  a  half.  Colonel  Whalley 
received  the  thanks  of  the  House  of  Commons,  and  the  sum  of 
,£100  to  purchase  two  horses. 

House  of  Commons,  May  11th.— "A  letter  from  Banbury  of  9°  Mali 
1646,  fi'om  Colonel  Edward  Whaley,  was  this  day  read ;  relating,  That 
he  is  now  fully  possessed  of  the  stronghold  the  Castle  of  Banbury,  with 
all  the  Arms,  Ammunition,  and  Ordnance ;  and  that  Sir  William  Comp- 
ton  marched  away  the  day  before. 

"  Resolved  &c.  That  the  sum  of  Thirty  Pounds  be  bestowed  upon 
the  Messenger  that  brought  this  Letter:  And  that  the  Committee  of 
Lords  and  Commons  for  advance  of  Monies,  at  Haberdashers  Hall,  do 

(3)  Moderate  Intelligencer,  No.  62. 

(4)  Anglia  Rediviva,  p.  253.  In  the  table  at  the  end  of  his  volume  Sprigge  states  that 
the  number  of  soldiers  slain  in  this  siege  was  eight.  If  this  statement  be  correct,  the  small- 
ness  of  the  number  of  the  slain  must  be  accounted  for  by  there  having  been  little  use 
made  of  artillery,  and  from  no  attempt  having  been  made  to  storm  the  Castle. 


-J22  THE  YEAR  1646. 

pay  the  said  Thirty  Pounds  accordingly.  The  Lords  concurrence  to  be 
desired  herein. 

"  Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Committee  of  the  Three  Coun- 
ties of  Oxon,  Bucks,  and  Berks,  and  to  the  Members  of  this  House 
that  are  of  Northamptonshire  and  Warwickshire,  and  of  Coventry,  to 
confer  with  the  Lord  Say,  and  the  General,  How  the  Castle  of  Banbury 
may  be  made  untenable,  in  such  manner  as  may  be  the  least  Prejudice 
to  the  Inheritance  of  the  Lord  Say,  And  that  if  they  shall  think  fit 
that  the  House  shoidd  be  demolished,  that  then  they  consider  of  satis- 
faction to  be  given  to  the  Lord  Say  for  the  same. 

"Resolved  &c.  That  Fifty  Pounds  be  bestowed  upon  Captain  Hooper, 
the  Engineer  employed  in  the  Taking  of  Banbury  Castle,  as  a  Gratuity; 
And  that  the  Committee  of  Lords  and  Commons  for  Advance  of  Monies, 
sitting  at  Haberdashers  Hall,  do  pay  the  same  accordingly.  The  Lords 
conciu'rence  to  be  desired  herein. 

"Resolved  &c.  That  One  Hundred  Pounds  be  bestowed  upon  Colo- 
nel Edward  Whalley,  who  Commanded  at  the  Seige  at  Banbury,  to 
buy  him  two  Horses;  And  that  the  Committee  of  Lords  and  Commons 
for  advance  of  monies,  sitting  at  Haberdashers  Hall,  do  forthwith  pay 
the  same  accordingly.      The  Lords  concurrence  to  be  desired  herein. 

"Ordered,  That  a  Letter  of  thanks  be  sent  to  Colonel  Whalley,  for  his 
good  and  faithful  Service  against  Banbury  Castle,  and  in  other  services  of 
the  Parliament;  And  Sir  Peter  Wentworth  is  appointed  to  write  this 
Letter."^ 

Saturday,  May  9th.  This  day  there  came  to  the  House  the 
Articles  for  the  surrender  of  Banbury  to  Colonel  Whalley;  and 
it  was  ordered  that  on  Tu.esday  the  12th,  whicli  was  set  apart 
for  thanksgiving,  "thanks  be  likewise  given  to  Almighty  God 
for  his  great  blessing  in  the  surrender  of  the  garrisons  of  Newark 
and  Banbury  Castle.  And  that  the  Lord  Mayor  of  the  city  of 
London  is  desired  to  give  notice  hereof  to  the  severall  ministers 
within  the  respective  limits  and  parishes  where  the  said  day  is 
appointed  to  be  observed  and  kept.  And  it  is  further  ordered 
that  this  great  blessing  of  the  surrender  of  Newark  and  Banbury 
Castle  be  likewise  commemorated  on  Tuesday  the  19  of  this 
instant  May,  in  the  severall  counties,"  &e.'^ 

May  9th.  This  day  a  Paper  was  read  in  the  House  of  Lords, 
coming  from  the  Scots  Commissioners  residing  in  London,  and 
dated  May  8th,  referring  to  reports  which  were  current  of  the 
march  of  5,000  of  the  Parliament's  troops  from  Oxford  to  Ban- 
bury.' 

(6)  Commons'  Journals.  (6)  Weekly  Account. 

(7)  "Upon  their  march"  [the  Commissioners  say]  "towards  Newark,  notwithstanding 
it  is  every  where  known  that  garrison  was  upon  a  Treaty,  and  is  now  to  be  surrendered 
tomorrow  to  the  Commissioners  of  the  Parliament,  and  none  of  the  Scots  forces  to  be 


THE  YEAR  UW.  423 

House  of  Lords,  June  17tli.  "An  Ordinance  concerning  the 
Government  of  the  Town  of  Banbury  by  the  now  Mayor"  was 
read  and  agreed  to,  and  ordered  to  be  commtinicated  to  the  House 
of  Commons  with  a  message  to  desire  then*  concurrence  in  the 
Order.  On  the  following  day  an  answer  was  returned  that  the 
House  of  Commons  agreed  to  the  said  Ordinance,  which  was 
as  follows:— 

"Whereas  the  Borough  and  Town  of  Banbury  hath  been  anciently 
incovpoi-ated,  and  hath  had  divers  privileges  granted  to  it  by  the  Kings 
and  Queens  of  this  Realm,  as  by  divers  Charters  to  them  granted  doth 
appear;  and  whereas  the  Government  there  hath  a  long  time  been  by 
a  Mayor,  Aldermen,  Burgesses,  and  Justices  of  Peace  in  the  said  Town, 
the  Mayor  for  the  time  being  having  been  always  the  chief  officer, 
and  for  the  time  of  his  being  Mayor  having  been  Justice  of  the  Peace 
and  of  the  Quorum,  within  the  said  Town  and  Borough  and  Liberties 
thereof;  and,  by  their  Charter  and  ancient  custom,  the  Mayor  hath 
been  always  from  time  to  time  chosen  out  of  the  Aldermen,  upon  the 
first  Monday  in  September  yearly,  to  take  his  place  and  execute  the 
office  of  Mayor  within  the  said  Borough  and  Town  of  Banbury  and 
Liberties  thereof,  upon  and  from  the  29th  day  of  the  said  September, 
for  one  whole  year  then  next  following:  And  whereas  Aholiab  "West 
gentleman,  being  then  and  yet  one  of  the  Aldermen  of  the  said  Borough, 
was,  upon  the  first  Monday  in  September  164^,  legally  chosen  to  be 
Mayor  for  the  year  then  next  following,  according  to  the  Charter  and 
ancient  custom  of  the  said  Borough  and  Town ;  but,  before  and  upon 
the  first  Monday  in  September  1645,  when  another  Alderman  should 
have  been  chosen  Mayor  in  his  room  for  this  present  year,  the  Town 
and  Borough  of  Banbury  and  Castle  there  were  so  infested  with  bloody 
and  cruel  enemies,  who  burnt  and  pulled  down  a  great  part  of  the  said 
Town,  that  the  Mayor  and  most  of  the  Aldermen  and  Burgesses,  by 
reason  of  their  cruelty,  were  constrained  to  fly  out  of  the  said  Town 
and  Borough,  to  save  their  Lives,  before  the  said  first  Monday  in  Sep- 
tember, 1645,  and  could  not  with  safety  return  thither  again,  till  of  late 
that  the  Town  and  Castle  there  were  reduced  to  the  obedience  of  the 
Parliament,  so  as  no  choice  hath  or  could  be  made,  according  to  the 
Charter  and  ancient  custom  of  the  said  Borough,  of  another  Mayor, 
to  succeed  the  said  Aholiab  West  for  the  present  year. 

"It  is  therefore  Ordered  and  Ordained,  by  the  Lords  and  Commons 
in  this  present  Parliament  assembled.  That  the  said  Aholiab  West  shall  be 
and  continue  Mayor,  and  execute  the  office  and  Authority  of  Mayor, 
within  the  said  Town  and  Borough  of  Banbury,  untill  the  29th  day  of 

placed  therein;  which  being  consiflered,  and  that  there  is  no  force  of  the  enemy's  in  those 
parts,  we  do  earnestly  desire  that  the  Honourable  Houses  will  be  pleased  to"  stop  their 
march,  and  to  prevent  every  thing  which  may  give  just  cause  of  jealousy,  or  any  ways 
weal<en  the  good  con'espondency,  or  lessen  the  confidence,  that  is  between  the  kingdoms." 
The  House  resolved  that  it  should  be  signified  to  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax  "that  this  House 
thinks  fit  that  he  should  not  send  any  forces  to  Newark ;"  and  a  conference  was  desired 
with  the  Commons  for  their  concurrence  herein. — Parliamentary  Hist.  Eng.,  v.  14,  p.  392. 


424  THE  YEAR  1646. 

September  next ;  his  being  not  chosen  upon  the  first  Monday  of  September 
last,  according  to  the  Charter  and  ancient  customs,  or  any  other  act 
or  thing  in  their  Charter,  customs,  or  other  wise,  to  the  contrary  not- 
withstanding."* 

House  of  Lords,  July  15tli.  "A  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants 
of  Banbury  was  read;  complaining,  'That  the  one  half  of  the 
Town  is  burned  down,  and  part  of  the  Church  and  Steeple  pulled 
down;  and  there  being  some  Timber  and  boards  at  one  Mr. 
Powell's  house,  a  Malignant,  near  Oxford,  they  desire  they  may 
have  those  materials  assigned  them,  for  the  Repair  of  their  Church 
and  Town.'  It  is  ordered.  That  this  House  thinks  fit  to  grant 
this  Petition;  and  to  desire  the  concurrence  of  the  House  of 
Commons  therein,  and  that  an  Ordinance  may  be  drawn  up  to 
that  pui'pose."^ 

House  of  Commons,  July  15th.  "The  humble  Petition  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  Banbury  was  read.  And  it  is  thereupon  Ordered, 
that  the  Timber  and  Board  cut  down  by  one  Mr.  Powell,  a  Malig- 
nant, out  of  Forrest  Wood  near  Oxford,  and  sequestered,  being 
not  above  the  value  of  Three  Hundred  Pounds,  be  bestowed 
upon  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Banburj^,  to  be  employed 
for  the  repair  of  the  Church  and  Steeple,  and  rebuilding  of  the 
Vicarage  House  and  Common  Gaol  there:  And  that  such  of 
the  said  Timber  and  Boards  as  shall  remain  of  the  uses  aforesaid, 
shall  be  disposed  by  the  Members  of  both  Houses  which  are  of 
the  Committee  for  Oxfordshire,  to  such  of  the  well  affected  Persons 
of  the  said  Town,  for  the  Rebuilding  of  their  Houses,  as  to  the 
said  Members,  or  major  part  of  them,  shall  seem  meet."^° 

As  regards  the  desolation  of  the  Town,  Joshua  Sprigge,  a 
Puritan  writer  who  was  born  at  Banbury,  says  (in  l(i47): — 
"Banbury,  once  a  great  and  faire  market  towne  before  the  late 
troubles  (but  now  having  scarce  the  one  halfe  standing  to  gaze 
on  the  ruines  of  the  other)  was  ever  till  now  unfortunate  in  all 
meanes  and  endeavours  used  for  its  recovery,  having  laine  under 
the  possession  and  tyranny  of  the  enemy  from  the  begiiming, 
without  almost  any  intermission,  wliich  happened  to  it  partly 
tlu-ongh  the  commodiousnesse  of  its  scituation  for  the  enemie,  as 
lying  but  eighteene  mUes  north  from  Oxford,  and  in  such  a  con- 
venient place  as  gave  it  a  command  mto  divers  other  counties, 
viz.  Northamptonshire,  Warwickshire,  &c.  from  out  of  which  it 

(S)  Lords  Journals,  v.  8.,  pp.  380—384.  (0)  Lords'  Journals,  v.  8,  p.  434. 

(10)  Commons'  Journals,  July  15tli,  1010. 


DESOLATION  OF  THE  TOWN,  16 W.  ^25 

gathered  large  eontributious  for  Oxford;  tlie  sweetnesse  that  the 
enemy  tasted  in  the  fruits  and  effects  they  reaped  by  this  gar- 
rison, made  them,  that  upon  all  our  attempts  to  reduce  it,  they 
still  were  ready  with  great  forces  to  relieve  it.  But  yet  I  cannot 
but  also  look  upon,  and  observe  the  end,  a  speciall  hand  and 
intimation  of  God  against  that  professing  place,  where  in  a  man- 
ner judgment  began,  as  at  the  house  of  God,  and  was  removed 
with  one  of  the  last,  I  pray  God  sanctifie  it  to  them."^'  In  1659, 
Anthony  a  Wood  went  to  Middleton  Cheney  "to  visit  his  cozen 
Joh.  Cave^^  and  those  of  his  family,"  and  came  to  Banbury  on 
the  6th  April.  He  speaks  feelingly  of  the  woful  havock  which 
the  war  had  made.  Of  60  coats  of  arms  which,  before  the  war, 
were  in  the  windows  of  Banbury  Church,  only  12  or  13  were 
remaining:  and  the  monuments  were  greatly  defaced."  A  "Survey 
of  the  possessions  of  Charles  Stuart  late  King  of  England,"  made 
in  1653,  records  many  houses  in  North  Bar  Street,  Caithorp 
Lane,  the  Beast  Market,  and  Mill  Lane,  as  having  been  "des- 
troyed by  fire  in  the  late  \Yarre."^'  The  title-deeds  of  some 
property  situated  in  Bridge  Street  North,  described  in  the  said 
writings  as  the  "Halfe  Moone"  situated  "in  the  Hogmarkett," 
state  that  "in  the  time  of  the  late  Warrs  the  said  messuage  or 
tenement  was  pulled  downe  and  ruined."^^  Several  years  ago, 
a  great  number  of  musket  balls  were  found  lodged  in  the  wainscot 
or  partition  of  a  shop  fronting  the  Market  Place,  situated  at  the 
eastern  end  of  the  Butchers'  Row  (on  the  south  side),  now  oc- 
cupied by  Mr.  Cadbury.'^  In  1835,  several  bullet  holes  and 
a  bullet  were  found  in  the  door  of  the  opposite  corner  house 
of  the  Butchers'  Row,  fronting  the  Market  Place,  now  occupied  by 
Mrs.  Rowell. 

The  depopulated  state  of  the   Town  at  this  period  ma}-  be  ga- 

(11)  Sprigge's  Anglia  Rediviva,  pp.  251,  252.  Banbury  is  elsewhere  described  as  being  the 
))lace  that  had  the  "  ill  hap  to  be  that  where  the  first  blood  was  shed."  Per/.  Diurnal, 
Ao.  47. 

(12)  Rector  of  Middleton  Cheney.  Dr.  Thomas  Yate,  sometime  Principal  of  Brasenose 
College,  was  ejected  from  the  living  of  Middleton  Cheney  in  1646;  which  was  the 
more  to  be  lamented.  Walker  says,  "because  he  had  prepared  stone,  timber,  &c.  to  build 
a  parsonage-house  there;  but  his  successor  [John  Cave]  witli  a  meanness  of  spirit  peculiar  to 
the  party,  sold  them,  and  contented  himself  with  fitting  up  an  old  malthouse.  (Walker's 
Sufferings  of  the  Clergy.)    At  the  Restoration  Dr.  Yate  was  restored  to  his  preferment. 

(13)  Wood's  Life,  prefixed  to  Bliss's  edit,  of  the  Athena;  Oxon.  And  see  p.  158  of 
this  vol.,  7ioic  39. 

(14)  Survey  in  the  Augmentation  Office;  see  hereafter. 

(15)  Writings  of  Mr.  tims's  and  Mr.  Edmunds's  property,  1676  &  1727. 

(16)  A  part  of  this  partition  is  preserved  in  the  kitchen  of  a  house,  the  property  of 
Mr.  Wm.  Butler,  situated  in  West  Bar  Street.  It  appears  to  have  been  completely  drilleci 
by  bullets. 

3  H 


426  SIR  WILLIAM  COMPTON. 

tliered  from  the  Parish  Register.  It  appears  that  immediately 
after  the  close  of  the  war,  namely  in  1647,  the  number  of  bu- 
rials was  only  26;  and  in  1648  only  30!  Camden,  who  wrote 
before  the  Civil  War,  had  said  that  Oxfordshire  was  a  "  rich  and 
fertile  county,  the  lower  parts  are  cultivated  into  pleasant  fields 
and  meadows;  the  hills  are  covered  with  great  store  of  woods." 
Taylor,  the  "Water  Poet,"  writing  in  1636,  said: — "Oxfordshire 
is  scarce  second  to  any  county  in  England  for  plenty  of  corne 
and  pasturage,  wood  and  fruits  of  all  sorts,  that  this  kingdome 
fields."  But  Dr.  Plot,  who  wrote  after  the  Civil  War,  says: — 
"The  hills,  'tis  true,  before  the  late  unhappy  wars,  were  well 
enough  (as  he  [Camden]  says)  beset  with  woods,  where  now 
'tis  so  searcy,  that  'tis  a  common  thing  to  sell  it  by  weight, 
and  not  only  at  Oxford,  but  at  many  other  places  in  the  northern 
parts  of  the  shire;  where  if  brought  to  mercat,  it  is  ordinarily 
sold  for  about  one  sliilling  the  hundred,  but  if  remote  from  a 
great  town,  it  may  be  had  for  seven  pence:  and  thus  it  is  every 
where  but  in  the  Chiltern  country."'^ 

The  history  of  the  Civil  Wars,  as  regards  this  neighbom^hood, 
cannot  be  otherwise  so  well  concluded  as  by  some  brief  notice 
of  Sir  William  Compton,  the  gallant  defender  of  Banbury 
Castle.  He  was  the  third  son  of  Spencer  Compton,  Earl  of 
Northampton,  who  fell  in  1643  at  the  battle  of  Hopton  Heath 
(see  pp.  341,  342).  At  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  he  was  present 
at  the  taking  of  Banbury  in  1642;  where  it  is  said  he  led  on 
his  men  to  three  attacks,  and  had  two  horses  shot  under  him.'^ 
Upon  the  surrender  of  the  place  to  the  King  he  was  appointed 
Lieutenant-Governor  of  the  Castle  under  his  father,  and  he  continued 
in  that  post  under  his  brother  James  Earl  of  Northampton. 
During  the  fourteen-weeks'  siege  which  occurred  in  1644,  he, 
being  then  only  nineteen  years  of  age,  shewed  himself  so  vigilant 
that  he  countermined  the  enemy  eleven  times;  and  for  thirteen 
weeks  it  is  said  he  never  went  to  bed.^^  In  1645  he  was  made 
Governor  of  the  Castle  of  Banbury.  Subsequently,  in  1648,  he 
was  Major-General  of  the  King's  forces  at  Colchester;""  where 
he  was  so  much  taken  notice  of  for  his  admirable  beha\dour  that 
Oliver  Cromwell  called  him  the    "sober   young   man,"    and    the 

(17)  Plot's  Oxfordshire,  p.  51.     There  is  not  any  entry  in  the  Eegister  of  Banbury  from 
16th  Feb.  to  6th  Aug.  1646. 

(18)  Chalmers's  Biog.  (19)  Ibid. 
(20)  Inscription  on  his  monument  at  Compton  Wynyate. 


DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  CASTLE.  ^27 

"godly  Cavalier."-'  In  May  1658,  he,  with  other  Cavaliers, 
was  committed  to  prison  upon  a  charge  of  high  treason  against 
Cromwell.^-  x\t  the  Restoration  he  was  made  one  of  the  Privy 
Council  of  the  King,  and  Master- General  of  the  Ordnance.  He 
died  on  the  18th  October  1663,  in  the  39th  year  of  his  age,  and 
lies  buried  in  the  Church  of  Compton  Wynyate,  where,  on  the 
north  wall,  a  monument  bearing  the  following  inscription  was 
placed  to  his  memory  :— 


HERE    LIETH    THE    BODY   OF    sr   WILLIAM    COMPTON    KN' 

THIRD    SON    TO    THE    RIGHT    HOnWc    SPENCER    EARI.E    OF 

NORTHAMPTON    INGAGED    IN    THE    EIGHTEENTH    YEAR    OF 

HIS    AGE    IN    THE    CIVILL   WARES    FOR    KING    CHARLES    THE 

FIRST    BY   WHO:VI    HEE    WAS    MADE    GOVERNOVR    OF 

BANBVRY    CASTLE    ANNO    1645    AND   IN    THE    YEAR    1648 

MAJOR    GENERALL    OF    HIS    MAties    FORCES    AT    COLCHESTER 

AND   VPON    THE    HAPPY    RESTAVRATION    OF    CHARLES   THE 

SECOND   ADMITTED    ONE    OF   THE    KINGS    MOST    HON^le 

PRIVY'    COVNCEL    &    MASTER    GENERALL   OF    ALL 

HIS    MAJESTYES   ORDINANCE 

HE    MARRYED    THE    RIGHT    HON^le    ELIZABETH    LADY 

ALINTON    WIDDOW    OF    THE    RIGHT    HOxble    WILLIAM 

LORD    ALINTON    OF   HORSHEATH    IN    THE    COVNTY    OF 

CAMBRIDGE    WITH    WHOM    HE    LIVED    TWELVE    YEARES    AND 

DEPARTED    THIS    LIFE    IN    THE    39tll    YEARE    OF    HIS    AGE    THE 

IS'h   OF  OCTOBER  ANNO   DOMINI   1663. 

On  a   small  brass,  inserted  in  the  pavement  beneath,  is   the  fol- 
lowing : — • 

Sr   WILLIAM    COMPTON    KNt   MASTER 

GENERALL    OF   Ye    ORDINANCE    PRIVY    CO'N- 

-SELLER    TO  KING    CHARLES    Y^    2d   AND    S^ 

SONNE    TO    SPENSER    EARLE    OF    XORTHAMP- 

-TON,    LYETH    HERE    INTERRED 

HE    DYED    Y<:    18    OF    OCTOBER    1663    ^TATIS    SVE    38. 

Sir  William's  eldest  brother,  James  Earl  of  NORTHAMPTON, 
died  at  Castle  Ashby  in  Northamptonshire  in  1681,  and  was 
buried  also  at  Compton  Wynyate."^ 


DESTRUCTION  OF  BANBURY  CASTLE. 

An  Order  of  the  House  of  Commons,  made  the  11th  May 
1646,  immediately  after  the  surrender  of  the  Castle  to  the  Par- 
liament, has  been  already  recorded  (pp.  421,  422)  ;  directing  that 
an  enquiry  be  made  as  to  the  way  in  which  the  Castle  might 
be  made  untenable  with  the  least  prejudice  to  the  inheritance  of 
Lord    Saye ;     and    that,    if    it    were    thought   fit   that    the    Castle 

(21)  Chalmers's  Biog.  (23)  Merc.  Politicus,  May  13th  to  20th,  1658. 

(23)  Wood's  Fasti  Oson. 

3  H  3 


^28  DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  CASTLE. 

slionld  be  demolislied,  satisfaction  should  be  given  to  Lord  Saye 
for  the  same.  Subsequently  to  this  date  the  following  records 
occur : — 

House  of  Lords,  Oct.  31st,  1646.  "  Ordered,  That  the  Outworks  of 
Earth  belonging  to  the  Castle  of  Banbury  shall  be  only  slighted ;  but 
none  of  the  AValls  and  the  House  shall  be  demolished,  but  preserved, 
and  left  entire  as  they  now  are,  it  being  the  Inheritance  of  the  Right 
Honourable  the  Lord  Viscount  Say  &  Seale ;  and  that  Major  Adams, 
tlif  Governor  of  the  said  Castle,  shall  carefully  see  that  this  Order  be 
performed  and  obeyed  in  all  points ;  and  that  the  said  Major  Adams, 
when  he  leaves  that  place,  shall  deliver  it  into  the  hands  of  such  as  the 
said  Lord  Viscount  Say  shall  appoint,  for  the  Preservation  of  the  said 
Place."2^ 

House  of  Commons,  March  2nd,  1616  7.  "  Resolved,  &c.  That  the 
Garison  of  Banbiuy  be  disgarisoned,  and  the  Works  about  it  slighted 
and  dismantled." — July  19th,  1647:  "Resolved,  &c.  That  this  House 
doth  agree  with  the  Lords,  That  the  Garison  of  Banbury  be  disgari- 
soned; and  the  new  Works  made  without  the  Walls  be  slighted."'-^ 

In  the  House  of  Commons  on  the  27th  May  1648,  "The 
humble  Petition  of  divers  of  the  \Yell-affected  of  the  County 
of  Oxford,  principally  of  the  Inhabitants  in  and  about  Banbury, 
desiring  the  Dismantling  and  Demolisliing  of  Banbury  Castle," 
was  read.  Whereupon  it  was  Resolved,  "  That  Banbury  Castle 
be  forthwith  demolished;" — "That  it  be  referred  to  the  Gentle- 
men of  the  Three  Counties  of  Oxon,  Warwick,  and  Northamp- 
tonshire, to  contract  with  the  Lord  Say  for  the  said  Castle ;  And 
that  the  sum  that  they  shall  contract  for,  be  reported  to  the  House, 
and  issued  out  of  the  Sequestrations  of  the  said  Counties  of  Oxon, 
Northampton,  and  Warwickshire  :  And  that  the  materials  of  the 
said  Castle  be  bestowed  upon  the  town  of  Banbury,  to  assist 
them  in  the  repair  of  the  ruins  made  in  that  town,  by  the 
enemy,  in  the  late  War."-*^ 

House  of  Commons,  June  14th  1648.  "Mr.  Knightly  reports 
the  business  concerning  Banbury  Castle.  Resolved,  &c. :  That 
this  House  doth  approve  of  the  sum  of  Two  thousand  pounds 
to  be  paid  unto  W"  Lord  Viscount  Say  and  Seale,  for  the  Castle 
of  Banbury,  being  the  Lord  Saie's  inheritance,  and  part  of  his 
possessions :  And  that  Eight  hundred  pounds,  part  of  the  said 
sum  of  Two  thousand  pounds,  be  charged  upon  the  Sequestra- 
tions in  the  County  of  Oxon  ;    the  sum  of  Six  hundred  pounds, 

(21)  Lords"  Journals.  (25)  Commons' .Journals.  (26)  Ibid. 


DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  CASTLE.  42J) 

one  otlier  part  of  the  said  Two  thousand  pounds,  iipon  the  Seques- 
trations in  the  County  of  Northampton  ;  and  Six  hundred  pounds 
more,  the  remainder  of  the  said  sum  of  Two  thousands  pounds, 
upon  the  Sequestrations  of  the  County  of  Warwick :  And  the 
Treasurers  and  Sequestrators  of  the  several  Counties  of  Oxon, 
\^'arwick,  and  Northampton,  respectively,  are  hereby  requii'ed 
and  enjoined  to  pay  the  said  respective  sums  of  Eight  hundred 
pounds.  Six  hundred  pounds,  and  Six  hundred  pounds,  unto  the 
said  Lord  Viscount  Say,  his  assignee  or  assignees ;  And  the 
acquittance  or  acquittances  of  the  said  Lord  Viseomit  Say,  his 
assignee  or  assigns,  shall  be  a  sufficient  warrant  and  discharge 
to  the  several  Sequestrators  and  Treasurers,  in  the  said  several 
Counties  respectively,  for  payment  of  the  said  several  sums  so 
charged,  as  aforesaid :  And  the  Knights  of  the  Sliire  that  serve 
in  Parliament  for  the  several  Counties  of  Oxon,  Northampton, 
and  \^^arwick,  and  the  Burgess  for  Banbury,  respectively,  are 
required  to  take  effectual  course,  that  the  said  several  sums, 
charged  upon  the  Sequestrations  in  the  several  Counties,  may 
he  duly  and  speedily  brought  in,  and  paid  to  the  said  Lord  Vis- 
count Say,  out  of  the  monies  at  present  in  their  hands,  or  such 
as  shall  first  come  unto  their  hands :  x\nd  in  case  any  sum,  above- 
mentioned  to  be  raised  out  of  the  several  Counties  respectively, 
shall  fall  short  in  any  of  those  Counties ;  and  that  a  surplusage 
be  found,  at  the  present,  in  the  hands  of  the  Sequestrators  of 
any  other  of  the  three  Counties,  above  the  sum  that  it 
rated  at ;  that  then  it  shall  be  supplied,  for  the  present,  out  of 
that  County  ;  and  be  repaid  unto  them  again,  so  soon  as  it  can 
be  raised,  out  of  the  Sequestrations  of  that  County,  which,  at 
present,  shall  fall  short  of  the  proportion  set  upon  the  same : 
And  likewise  the  said  Knights  and  Burgesses  shall  take  care  for 
the  orderly  Demolishing  of  the  said  Castle ;  leaving  only  un- 
demolished  a  little  Stable,  and  another  little  Storehouse,  both 
lately  built  for  the  Lord  Say  to  keep  his  Hundred  Courts  in  : 
And  that  the  materials  of  the  said  Castle  be  employed  and  be- 
stowed for  the  use  and  repairs  of  the  town  of  Banbury,  ac- 
cording to  the  intention,  of  the  Houses :  i\.nd,  to  that  end,  to 
appoint  Overseers,  and  to  give  directions  to  them  accordingly."-' 
On  the  16th  June  Mr.  Knightly  carried  this  order  to  the  Lords 
for  their  concurrence,  when  the  same  was  agreed  to.'-* 

(27)  Commons'  Journals.  (28)  Lords'  and  Commons'  Journals. 


430  DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  CASTLE. 

Thus  was  Banbury  Castle  demolished,  "  enviously "  (says 
Heath)  by  the  Parliament  and  "  dishonourably  "  by  Lord  Saye  f^ 
"the  rather  to  be  pitied,  because  of  its  revivisceney,  having  bravely 
and  vigorously  recovered  itself  from  the  decays  of  a  long  an- 
tiquity ;  so  much  art  and  industry  bemg  bestowed  on  it,  that 
neither  the  approaches  of  time,  nor  the  batteries,  fury,  and  vio- 
lence of  the  enemy,  were  to  be  seen  in  any  part  of  it."^° 

The  materials  of  the  Castle  having  been  "  bestowed  for  the  use 
and  repairs  of  the  town  of  Banbury,"  many  buildings  were  con- 
sequently repaired  or  erected.  "  Houses  are  built,"  says  Dr. 
Stukeley  (writing  in  1712),  "by  the  side  of  it,  out  of  its  ruins, 
us  people  now  alive  remember."^' 

In  1652,  the  Court-Leets  and  Three-weeks'  Courts  of  Lord  Saye 
are  mentioned  as  being  held  at  a  house  remaining  in  the  "late 
demolished  Castle  of  Banbury."^-  The  two  buildings  described 
in  the  Parliament's  Journals  in  J  648  as  "  lately  built,"  and  called 
a  "little  Stable"  and  a  "little  Storehouse"  (see  p.  429),  are 
represented  in  the  plan  of  the  Castle  property  made  in  1685  (see 
p.  65)  ;  and  both  remain  at  the  present  time.  One  of  them,  wliich 
was  erected  on  a  small  remaining  portion  of  the  northern  part  of 
the  Castle,  is  often  mentioned  as  "The  Castle"  in  the  Parish 
Registers  from  1672  to  1712.     About  the  year  1718,  Lord  Saye 

(29)  Heath's  Chronicle, p.  108.  Heath  says: — "I  may  not  pass  this  notable  place  [Ban- 
bury] without  another  remark.  When  the  grandees  of  the  faction  in  1648  were  dividing 
the  spoils  of  the  kingdom,  and  loyal  demolitions  (which  made  entire  structures  of  some 
of  their  partisans'  fortunes)  were  conferred  mutually  by  them  (of  which  in  its  place)  and 
several  castles  were  then  ordered  to  be  rased;  A  friend  of  the  Lord  Saye's  (the  proprietor 
of  the  place)  moved  in  the  House  of  Commons,  that  this  Castle  also  might  be  ruined, 
as  having  been  such  a  thorn  to  the  Parliament ;  and  that  the  Lord  Saye's  consent  might  be 
procured  (who  had  all  along  served  them  as  chief  of  their  council  and  cabal,  and  died 
after  the  King's  restitution,  to  say  no  more  of  him,  though  a  gi-and  engine  of  our  troubles) 
two  thousand  pounds  should  be  given  him  in  compensation:  A  member  (that  understood 
his  lordship's  drift,  who  put  in  for  his  share  among  the  commoners,  while  they  were  of  the 
giving  hand,  and  the  Lords  looked  only  on  others'  bounty)  stood  up  and  said,  that  the 
public  had  no  need  of  such  pennyworths  as  to  give  his  lordship  two  thousand  pounds 
for  that  which  cost  him  but  five  hundred;  a  cheaper  time  might  be  expected:  which  his 
lordship  was  forced  to  await,  and  be  content  with  an  under  sale ;  when  it  was  enviously  by 
them,  and  dishonourably  by  him,  laid  in  its  dust.  *  *  *  But  it  seems  the  loyal  genius, 
the  new  Penates,  agreed  not  well  with  their  mansion,  and  so  abandoned  it  to  the  lust 
and  spite  of  a  deforming  reformation.  May  the  present  inhabitants  consider,  and  the 
reader  pardon,  this  digression." 

(30)  Heath's  Chron.,  p.  108.  (31)  Stukeley's  Itin.  Curios.,  p.  48. 
(32)  Survey  in  1652,  quoted  hereafter.     Mr.  Brewer  states  in  his  "Oxfordshire"   that 

J.  Barber,  Esq.  of  Adderbury  has  an  original  charter  of  Charles  the  Second  which  ex- 
onerates the  inhabitants  of  Adderbury  from  dues  exacted  by  the  Mayor  of  Banbury  for 
the  support  of  the  fortifications  there.  This  error  of  Mr.  Brewer's  misled  me  in  1834, 
when  appending  a  note  relating  to  Banbury  Castle  to  a  former  work.  Mr.  Barber  informs 
me  that  the  charter  in  his  possession  was  granted  by  Charles  the  First,  and  contains  an 
exemption  of  the  inhabitants  of  Adderbury  from  wallage  and  tollage  throughout  the 
kingdom.  An  entry  among  the  records  of  the  Corporation  of  Banbury  states  that  the 
tenants  of  the  King's  lauds  in  Bloxham  and  Adderbury  arc  free  from  tollage,  stallage, 
murage,  passage,  fee,  by  an  instrument  dated  23rd  May,  Tlh  Charles  I. 


REMAINS  OF  THE  CASTLE.  431 

is  mentioned  as  lord  of  the  outward  manor  of  Banbury,  and 
as  holding  liis  courts  (namely,  a  Court-Baron  once  in  three 
weeks,  and  Court-Leets  twice  a  year,)  in  "The  Castle. "^^  In 
1743  this  cottage  was  rented  by  the  parish  and  used  as  a  Pest- 
house.  The  other  building,  now  used  as  a  warehouse  and  situa- 
ted in  the  Castle  wliarf,^"*  was  long  used  as  an  airing  house  in 
connection  with  the  Pesthouse.  The  Castle  Cottage  is  now  di- 
vided into  two  tenements  which  are  occupied  by  gardeners ;  and 
the  site  of  the  Castle  itself  is  called  the  Castle  Gardens. 

The  slight  portion  of  the  original  building  of  the  Castle  which 
remains  is  a  part  of  the  back  or  north  wall  of  the  Castle  Cottage, 
being  about  1 9  feet  in  height  and  ten  feet  in  length,  and  covered 
with  luxuriant  ivy  which,  according  to  tradition,  has  spread  its 
mantle  there  from  the  time  of  the  Castle's  proudest  history.  Se- 
veral stone  steps  remain  in  the  upper  part  of  the  staircase.  That 
this  was  the  north  side  of  the  Castle,  is  shewn  by  the  plan  made 
in  1(585  (see  p.  65)  ;  and  evidenced  also  by  tradition  and  by  the 
remembered  situation  of  the  inner  moat.  Tradition  further  points 
to  the  well,  where  the  pump  now  stands  in  the  path  leading  to 
the  cottage,  as  having  been  the  centre  of  the  Castle :  and  this 
agrees  with  the  measurement  given  in  the  plan  of  1685,  which 
marks  the  building  as  having  extended  over  ground  measuring 
three  roods  and  three  perches. 

It  is  yet  possible  to  trace  the  inner  moat  through  the  greater 
part  of  its  course.  Tradition  says  that  the  water  entered  from 
the  part  near  the  Plough  Inn  on  Cornhill;  and  remains  of  a 
watercourse  have  been  found  there.  It  then  flowed  through  the 
Castle  Close,  near  where  the  eastern  end  of  Mr.  Wall's  buildings 
now  stands,  and  where  an  old  ditch  still  supplies  water  to  the 
gardens.  From  this  point  the  face  of  the  ground  and  the  fall 
of  the  water  mark  the  course  of  the  moat  northward,  and  then 
eastward,  as  far  as  the  canal.  Beyond  the  canal,  the  watercourse 
yet  remains  as  it  existed  80  years  ago ;  running  southeastward 
and  nearly  parallel  with  the  canal  for  about  44  yards,  and  then 
turning  off  to  the  Cherwell. 

(33)  Rawlinson's  MSS.,  Topog.  Com.  Oxon. 

(34)  Near  this  building  some  workmen,  in  digging  for  gravel  some  years  ago,  dug  up 
a  great  quantity  of  human  bones.  In  other  parts  about  the  Castle  Gardens,  numerous 
cannon  balls  varying  in  weight  from  one  to  eighteen  pounds,  fragments  of  bomb-shells, 
&c.,  have  been  found.  One  relic  of  the  wars  was  a  human  skull,  with  a  musket  ball 
pierced  by  a  nail  in  it.  Beneath  the  road  leading  to  the  Castle  Cottage  tliere  are  a  great 
many  bones  of  animals. 


4'-i2  REMAINS  OF  THE  CASTLE. 

The  Gatehouse  was  at  the  northeastern  part  of  the  INIarket 
Place."'  In  this  part,  the  Cuttle  Brook  formed  the  outer  moat.  The 
wiitmgs  of  Mr.  Tims's  and  INIr.  Edmunds's  property,  situated  in 
Bridge  Street  North,  describe  the  same  as  "the  Half  Moon" 
(see  p.  425)  ;  being  the  outwork  in  front  of  the  Gatehouse  whei'e 
the  garrison  deposited  their  arms  on  May  8th  1 046. 

The  road  marked  in  the  plan  made  in  1685  as  leading  to  "the 
Casill,"  corresponds  in  direction  and  distance  with  that  which 
now  leads  from  Castle  Street  (where  Back  Lane  crosses  it)  to 
the  Castle  Cottage.  The  fronts  of  the  "houses  and  gardens" 
laid  down  in  the  same  plan  correspond  with  the  present  line  of 
Back  Lane.  The  building  marked  H  (in  the  original  "house 
and  gardens "),  is  the  subsequent  airing  house,  now  the  ware- 
house at  the  Castle  wharf.  The  smaller  building  is  the  Castle 
Cottage.  The  road  leading  across  "  the  hether  Casill  Orchard  "' 
and  along  the  side  of  "  the  Fur  Casill  Orchard "  wholly  existed 
within  memory,  leading  towards  Hardwick ;  and  that  portion  of 
it  which  runs  along  "the  Fur  Casill  Orchard"  is  yet  a  public 
footpath,  running  between  Mr.  Wall's  ropeyard  and  the  brook. 
Back  Lane  is  shewn  in  the  plan,  running  westward  towards 
Neithorp,  above  the  words  "  Banbury  Twone." 

The  almost  levelled  remains  of  a  wide  ditch  and  embankment 
in  the  first  of  the  fields  called  "the  Marches,"  adjoining  the  Southam 
turnpike  road  and  parallel  with  it,  are  probably  a  rehc  of  the  works 
of  the  besiegers  in  the  meadows,  referred  to  in  the  early  part  of 
September  1644  (p.  370 ;  and  see  p.  374,  Sept.  5th). 

The  Castle  property  belonged  to  the  Saye  and  Sele  family  till 
1792,  when  it  was  sold  to  George  Green  and  James  Golby.  In 
1793  Green  sold  his  share  to  James  Golby;  who  devised  the 
whole  to  his  son  and  heir  .James  Wake  Golby,  the  present  pos- 
sessor.^" 


EVENTS  TILL  THE  MURDER  OF  THE  KING. 

Soon  after  the  delivery  of  Banbury   Castle  to  the   Parliament, 
namely  on  the  10th  June  1G46,  the  Parliamentarian  troops  were 

(35)  The  Inquisition  made  in  Edward  the  Sixth's  reign,  and  inserted  in  pp.  217, 218  of  this 
vfiL,  mentions  a  tenement  and  garden  "within  the  Borough  of  Banbury  before  the  gate 
of  the  Castle."     The  Castle  itself  was  not  within  the  Borough  boundarj-. 

The  Gatehouse  is  mentioned  in  James  the  First's  reign  as  being  "six  bays  covered 
with  slate."     See  pp.  64,  2.53. 

(.■^6)  Writings  in  the  possession  of  J.  W.  Golby,  Esq. 


BANBURY  PARTIALLY  REBUILT.         ^'-^'^ 

removed  from  Compton  House.  The  connty  of  Warwick  was, 
by  the  Committee  of  Coventry,  required  to  slight  the  works  at 
Compton.^' 

The  rebuilding  of  the  ruined  parts  of  Banbury  soon  proceeded, 
aided  by  the  grants  made  by  the  Parliament  of  the  materials 
of  the  Castle,  &e.  A  numerous  class  of  buildings  which  are 
now,  or  lately  were,  existing  in  various  parts  of  the  town,  indi- 
cates the  renovation  which  took  place.  These  houses  were  built 
of  the  ferruginous  sandstone  of  the  neighbourhood,  and  with 
square  windows,  and  slated  roofs  of  a  steep  pitch;  many  of  them 
had  several  gables  facing  the  street.  The  Vicarage  House  (Plate 
21),  the  building  on  the  east  side  of  South  Bar  Street  which 
was  used  until  recently  as  the  borough  Workhouse,  and  the 
Gaol  (fronting  the  soiith  side  of  the  Market  Place),  were  ail  erected 
at  this  period.^^  The  front  of  the  Vicarage  House  bears  the 
date  1649. 

House  of  Lords,  Nov.  17th  1647.  An  ordinance  for  aug- 
menting the  Living  of  the  Minister  of  Banbury  was  read  and 
approved  of,  and  ordered  to  be  sent  to  the  House  of  Commons 
for  their  concurrence.  On  the  23rd  the  Commons  agreed  to 
the  same,  only  striking  out  the  names  of  the  feasts  of  the  An- 
nunciation and  St.  Michael,  and  substituting  the  corresponding 
days  of  March  and  September  :^^ — 

"Whereas,  upon  the  humble  Petition  of  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  Bur- 
gesses, and  Inhabitants,  of  Banbury,  in  the  County  of  Oxon,  shewing; 
'that  the  Town  and  Parish  of  Banbury  consists  of  a  great  number  of 
People,  and  the  Maintenance  for  the  Minister  there  is  very  small,  and 
not  above  fifty  pounds  per  annum,  in  the  best  times;  and  now  much 
less,  by  reason  a  great  part  of  the  said  Town  hath  been  burned  and  pulled 
down  in  the  time  of  these  late  Troubles,  and  the  Inhabitants  so  impo- 
verished and  destroyed  in  their  Estates,  that  they  are  not  able,  as 
heretofore  they  have  done,  to  add  any  thing  to  the  Maintenance  of 
their  Minister;'  The  Committee  for  plundered  Ministers  did  in  December 
last  Order,  That  the  yearly  rent  of  Forty-eight  pounds,  reserved  out 
of  the  Impropriate  Rectory  of  Banbury  aforesaid  to  the  Bishop  of  Oxford, 
and  the  yearly  sum  of  Two  pounds  of  the  Rents  reserved  to  the  said 
Bishop  out  of  the  Impropriate  Rectory  of  Croppredy  in  the  said  County, 

(37)  Dngdale's  Diary. 

(38)  The  grant  made  by  the  Parliament  in  1616  (see  p.  424)  was  paitly  for  rebuilding 
the  Gaol  and  the  Vicarage  House.  Nearly  all  the  houses  which  were  recently  stand- 
ing (some  of  which  yet  remain)  on  the  northern  side  of  the  Market  Place  were  erections 
of  this  date.  Many  of  these  houses  were  built  on  piles,  being  on  a  part  of  the  site  of  tlie 
Castle-moat. 

(39)  Lords'  ajid  Commons'  Journals. 

3  I 


434  MAINTENANCE  OF  THE  MINISTER. 

should  be  paid  yearly  for  the  increase  of  the  Maintenance  of  such  Minister 
as  the  Assembly  of  Divines  shall  approve  of,  to  officiate  the  Cure  of 
the  said  Church;  and  whereas  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  Burgesses,  and 
Inhabitants  of  Banbury  aforesaid  have,  by  their  like  humble  Petition, 
humbly  addressed  themselves  to  both  Houses  of  Parliament,  and  desired 
thereby  that  the  said  Fifty  pounds  per  annum  may  be  by  both  Houses 
of  Parliament  settled  and  confirmed,  for  the  further  and  better  Main- 
tenance of  such  Minister  as  shall  from  time  be  legally  settled  amongst 
them,  to  officiate  in  the  said  Parish  Church:  The  Lords  &  Commons 
in  this  present  Parliament  assembled,  taking  into  consideration  the 
heavy  pressures  that  have  lyen  upon  the  said  Town,  and  the  great 
losses  they  have  had,  and  the  reasonableness  of  the  desire  and  humble 
request  of  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  Burgesses,  and  Inhabitants  of  the 
said  Town  and  Parish;  and  withall  considering  how  acceptable  a  Work 
it  is  to  Almighty  God,  to  provide  for  the  complete  Maintenance  of  able 
and  godly  Ministers;  have  thought  fit  to  Order  and  Ordain,  and  do 
hereby  Order,  Ordain,  and  appoint,  That  the  said  yearly  sum  of  Fifty 
pounds,  videlicet.  Forty-eight  pounds  out  of  the  Rents  and  Profits  of 
the  Impropriate  Rectory  of  Banbury,  and  Two  pounds  out  of  the  Rents 
and  Profits  of  the  Impropriate  Rectory  of  Cropreddy  aforesaid,  shall 
be,  for  ever  hereafter,  yearly  paid  to  such  Minister,  for  Increase  of 
his  Maintenance,  as  shall  from  time  to  time  be  legally  settled  and  ap- 
pointed to  officiate  in  the  said  Parish  Church,  and  to  be  paid  by  equal 
portions,  half-yearly,  on  the  2oth  day  of  March,  and  29th  day  of  Sep- 
tember." 

"Ordered,  by  the  Lords  and  Commons  assembled  in  Parliament,  that 
the  Corporation  of  Banbury  shall  have  liberty  to  sell  the  Timber  in  the 
place  where  it  is  by  former  Order  assigned  unto  them  for  repair  of  their 
Town,  and  with  the  proceed  thereof  buy  so  much  Timber  in  some  place 
more  convenient  for  those  purposes;  the  Timber  so  assigned  being  so 
far  remote  and  distant  from  the  Town  of  Banbiu-y,  where  it  is  to  be 
employed,  that  the  Charge  and  Expence  of  Carriage  will  near  amount  to 
the  value  of  the  Timber."'^" 

Ou  the  13tli  September  1648,  it  was  "Ordered"  by  tbe  House 
of   Lords    "that  Doctor   Bennett   give   institution   and   induction 

(40)  Lords'  Journals.  A  MS.  of  about  the  date  1718,  states  that  the  ^'ICAEAGE  of 
Banbury  was  then  of  the  value  of  about  ^'80  per  annum,  and  the  dues  ^£29.  Os.  4d.  The 
living  was  worth  £600  per  annum,  Mrs.  Hunt  having  the  impropriation.  (Rawliuson's 
MSS.,  Topog.  Com.  O-xon.)  At  a  later  period,  the  Neithoi-p  Enclosure  bill  states  the 
Vicar  to  be  entitled  to  all  the  Small  Tithes  (except  of  wool  and  lamb)  arising  upon  and 
out  of  all  the  orchards  and  gardens  and  all  the  open  and  common  fields  in  the  township 
and  liberties  of  Neithorp  (except  three  yard  lands,  being  glebe  land,  belonging  to  the 
impropriator  under  a  lease  from  the  Bishop  of  Oxford):  or  in  lieu  thereof  a  yearly  modus 
of  £5.  14s.  6d.  The  Rector  impropriate  is  stated  to  be  entitled  to  the  said  three  yard  lands; 
to  the  Tithes  of  all  corn  and  grain  within  the  towTiship  ;  to  the  Tithes  of  wool,  lamb,  and 
hay,  or  else  to  a  modus  of  Is.  6d.  for  every  yard  land;  to  Oie  Tithes  of  three  pieces  of 
pasture  called  Stokes's  or  Burford's  Leys;  to  the  Tithe  of  Leader's  Ley;  and  to  the 
Tithes  of  certain  antient  enclosed  pastures  in  the  township  or  liberties  of  Neithrop,  or 
a  modus  in  lieu  thereof;  by  virtue  of  a  lease  from  the  Bishop  of  Oxford. 

There  is  at  present  an  Endowment  of  the  Vicarage  of  43  acres  of  land  at  Shutford,  and 
4ac.  1  ro.  18  p.  of  land  at  Nethercot.     In  1838,  the  total  annual  income  of  the  Vicar  was 


EFFORTS  TO  SAVE  THE  KING.  435 

unto  Sam.  Wells  clerk,  to  tlie  Vicarage  of  Baiiburj,  in  the  County 
of  Oxon,  void  bj  resignation ;  salvo  Jure  cujuscunque :  Granted 
by  tlie  Great  Seal."" 

The  proceedings  which  had  been  taken  with  respect  to  the 
King  were  at  this  time  rapidly  advancing  towards  their  fatal 
termination.  In  January  1647,  John  Crewe  Esq.,  the  same  that 
had  been  member  for  Banbury  in  1628,  and  who  was  now  sitting 
for  Brackley  in  the  Long  Parliament,  had  been  appointed,  with 
five  other  commoners  and  three  peers,  to  receive  the  King  from 
the  Scots  and  convey  him  to  Holdenby.  There  Crewe  was  present 
at,  and  ineffectually  endeavoured  to  prevent,  the  violent  seizure 
of  the  King  by  Joyce."*"  In  September  1648,  Lord  Saye  was 
named  one  of  the  Commissioners  at  the  treaty  of  the  Isle  of  Wight : 
when  the  King's  arguments  upon  several  matters  had  their  weight 
with  his  lordship,  and  on  his  return  to  London  he  sided  with 
that  party  in  the  House  who  voted  that  the  King's  answers  were 
ground  sufficient  to  proceed  on  for  a  peace.'*^  Nathaniel  Fiennes 
supported  the  motion  of  HoUis  to  the  same  effect  in  the  House 
of  Commons,  and  was  himself  imprisoned  shortly  after."*^ 

Against  the  foul  murder  that  was  now  about  to  be  perpetrated 
many  voices  began  to  be  ineffectually  raised.  There  is  preserved 
an  old  quarto  pamphlet,  entitled  "THE  Humble  Advice  and 
Earnest  Desires  of  certain  well-affected  Ministers,  Lecturers  of 
Banbvry  in  the  County  of  Oxon,  and  of  Brackley  in  the  County 
of  Northampton,  To  his  Excellency  Thomas  Lord  Fairfax,  Gene- 
ral of  the  Forces  raised  by  the  Authority  of  Parliament;  and  to 
the  General  Councell  of  Warre:  Presented  January  25,  1649,  by 
two  of  the  Subscribers.     Also,  A  Letter  to  the  Reverend  Ministers 


£.     s.  d. 

Land  at  Shutford,  deducting  land-tax   60    2  8 

Land  at  Nethercot,  deducting  ditto 23    5  4 

Modus  in  lieu  of  small  tithes,  deducting  expense  of  collection  14  13  10 

Proceeds  of  a  private  Subscription  aided  by  the  Governors)  qo    n  0 

of  Queen  Anne's  Bounty,  nearly    J 

Paid  "  To  the  assistant  Preacher  of  Banbury"  by  the  Receiver)  ,  ,  y  , 

of  Her  Majesty's  Land  Revenue  for  the  County  of  Oxford]" 

Surplice  Fees  (averaging) 56    7  0 

£240    6    2 

The  income  is  so  inadequate  that  it  has  for  a  long  time  been  customary  for  the  inhabitants 
to  make  a  half-yearly  subscription  "for  the  afternoon  lecture." 

The  living  is  a  Discharged  Vicarage,  of  which  the  Bishop  of  Oxford  is  the  Patron ;  but 
it  is  a  Peculiar  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  Lincoln  and  not  subject 
to  episcopal  visitation. 

(41)  Lords'  Journals.  (42)  Baker's  Nortbamp. 

(43)  Wood's  AthensB.  (44)  Pari.  Hist.  Eng. 

3i  3 


430  EFFORTS  TO  SAVE  THE 

of  the  Gospel  within  the  Province  of  London,  Dated  the  21  of 
this  instant  January."  Printed  in  London  1649.  The  principal 
person  concerned  in  this  protest  appears  to  have  been  the  Puritan 
INliuister,  SAMUEL  Wells,  who  had  been  lately  inducted  to  the 
Vicarage  of  Banbury  (see  p.  435) ;  but  it  is  also  signed  by  Wilde 
of  Aynho,  Cave  of  Middleton  Cheney,  the  IMinisters  of  Croughton, 
Brackley,  Souldem,  Wigginton,  Tadmarton,  "Lawrence  Marston,'' 
Gretworth,  and  several  others.  The  remonstrance  begins  with 
acknowledging  the  blessing  of  God  in  the  subduing  of  the  common 
enemy:  but  states  the  solemn  oaths  of  allegiance  and  supremacy; 
the  Protestation  and  National  Covenant  taken  by  them  and  by 
so  large  a  part  of  the  kingdom;  and  their  own  "commission 
from  God  to  be  watchmen  and  seers  to  his  people,  to  stand  upon 
our  watch-tower  and  give  warning  either  of  approaching  sin  or 
mine  to  the  nation:"  and  that,  although  they  cannot  in  the  least 
approve  the  profanation  and  abuse  of  the  solemn  Covenant  by 
the  late  unlawful  engagement  from  Scotland,  yet  they  cannot 
but  represent  their  utter  dissent  from  all  proceedings  against  his 
Majesty's  Crown  and  Life  :  That  sacred  Scripture  did  not  warrant 
such  acts  of  subjects  against  their  lawful  Sovereigns;  and  that, 
when  the  ten  tribes  forsook  their  King,  they  also  forsook  their 
God,  and  had  neither  a  good  King,  nor  scarcely  a  good  day,  after- 
wards :  That  the  law  supposed  the  King  could  do  no  wrong,  and  if 
so,  he  could  not  forfeit  Crown  and  Life  to  his  people  :  That  they 
had  solemnly  bound  themselves  by  Oaths  and  Covenant  not 
to  prejudice  the  person  or  diminish  the  just  authority  of  the  King: 
and  that  the  way  of  proceeding  against  his  Majesty  would  tend 
to  the  scandal  of  the  Kmgdom,  and  be  thought  to  verify  the 
aspersions  that  the  design  of  their  late  just  defence  was  the  ruin 
of  his  INIajesty  and  the  subversion  of  regal  government;  and  would 
render  the  professors  of  religion  odious  to  the  common  enemy. 
They  proceed  to  state  further  reasons  for  this  their  protest;  upon 
which  grovmds  they  desire  that  the  secluded  members  should  be 
restored:  that  his  Excellency  might  be  pleased  by  all  lawful  means 
to  endeavour  the  suspending  of  all  proceedings  against  his  Majesty's 
Crown  and  Life,  until  advice  had,  in  point  of  conscience,  with 
the  reverend  Assembly  of  Divines  and  the  Church  of  Scotland 
touching  the  oaths;  and,  in  point  of  prudence,  with  the  king- 
dom of  Scotland  also:  that  his  Excellency  and  the  Council  might 
endeavour  to  establish  a  good  correspondence  between  the  King, 


LIFE  OF  THE  KING.  437 

the  Parliament,  the  City,  the  Army,  and  all  parties,  and  between 
England  and  Scotland:  and  that  in  this  thing  they  were  not  re- 
ceding from  their  first  sound  principles,  upon  which  their  persons, 
prayers,  and  purses,  were  engaged  with  the  Parliament:  and  "we 
doe  therefore  from  our  soul  beseech  and  importune  you,  and  every 
one  of  you,  as  Men,  Gentlemen,  and  Christian  Souldiers."  The 
accompanying  Letter  addressed  to  the  London  Ministers  is 
signed  by  eleven  ministers  from  tliis  neighbourhood,  and  states 
that  they  have  "chosen  and  sent  up  our  brother,  M"'  Samuel 
Welles  minister  of  Banbury,  and  M''  John  Bayly  minister  of 
Frenckford  [Fringford],  to  wait  upon  you  at  London."'*^ 

In  addition  to  this  honourable  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  Min- 
isters of  the  town  and  neighbourhood  of  Banbury  to  save  the 
life  of  the  King,  efforts  were  used  by  another  individual,  who 
was  born  at  Banbury,  and  who  had  now  attained  considerable 
note  among  the  Puritan  party.  This  was  Joshua  Sprigge  (who 
has  been  already  mentioned  in  this  volume),  the  author  of  "An- 
glia  Rediviva."  He  now  printed  "Certain  weighty  Considerations 
humbly  tendered  and  submitted  to  the  consideration  of  such  of 
the  members  of  the  High  Court  of  Justice  for  Trial  of  the  King, 
as  they  shall  be  presented  unto.  There  being  onely  One  hundred 
Copies  appointed  to  be  printed  for  that  purpose.  By  Joshua 
Sprigge."  Lond.  1648,  4to.''*'  Sprigge  here  begs  the  life  of  the 
King.  He  also  preached  at  Whitehall  against  the  King's  exe- 
cution ;"'  which  soon  after  followed,  on  the  30th  January  1649.''^ 

(45)  4to  Tract  among  the  King's  Pamphlets.  The  Ministers  state  also  the  dangerous 
consequences  of  universal  toleration  in  matters  of  religion.  Thomas  Jcanes,  M.  D.,  John 
Fitloe,  and  William  Shaw,  published  a  reply  to  the  foregoing  Pamphlet,  in  a  book  entitled 
— "The  Parliament  justified  in  their  late  proceedings  against  Charles  Stuart.  Or  a  brief 
Discourse  concerning  the  Natm-e  and  Rise  of  Government,  together  with  the  abuse  of  it  in 
Tyranny  and  the  People's  reserve.  To  which  is  added  An  Answer  to  a  certain  Paper 
entit.  The  humble  Advice  to  the  Lecturers  of  Banbury  in  Oxfordshire  and  of  Bracklcy 
in  Northamptonshire."    Lond.  1648,  4:to.— Wood's  Fasti  Oxon. 

(46)  King's  Pamphlets.  -  (47)  Ant.  Wood. 
(48)  Bishop  JuxoN,  who  attended  his  Royal  master  on  the  scaffold,  held  the  rectory  of 

Somerton  near  Banbury.  After  the  execution  of  his  sovereign  this  divine  lived  in  retire- 
ment at  his  manor  of  Little  Compton  near  Chipping  Norton.  At  the  Restoration  he  was 
made  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  he  placed  the  crowu  on  the  head  of  Charles  the 
Second. — Wood's  Athence,  ^^-c. 


438  THE  LEVELLERS,  1649. 


THE  COMMONWEALTH. 


THE  LEVELLERS. 

During  the  extinction  of  the  Monarchial  power,  the  party  called 
Levellers  appeared  in  1647,  and  subsequently  in  1649.  Oliver 
Cromwell,  whose  genius  and  energy  were  rapidly  bearing  him 
along  to  the  summit  of  power,  suppressed  these  insurrections 
for  the  time :  but  still,  with  a  view  to  the  prevention  of  such  like 
discontents  in  the  army,  it  was  thought  necessary  to  remove 
many  of  the  troops  to  a  distance,  and  accordingly  eleven  regi- 
ments were  ordered  into  Ireland.  This  step,  instead  of  allaying 
discontent,  was  the  occasion  of  the  breaking  out  of  a  still  more 
formidable  insurrection  of  the  Levelling  party,  who,  under  a  Cap- 
tain Thompson,  appeared,  to  the  number  of  several  hundred  men, 
at  Banbury.  This  desperado,  Thompson,  is  stated  by  Calamy 
to  have  been  originally  a  corporal  in  Major  Bethel's  troop  in 
Colonel  Whalley's  regiment,  the  same  which  was  present  at  the 
siege  of  Banbury  in  1646,  and  which  is  stated  to  have  contained 
the  most  dangerous  party  of  the  democrats.^  It  is  due,  however, 
to  Colonel  Whalley's  regiment  to  say,  that,  immediately  on  the 
breaking  out  of  the  present  insurrection,  a  declaration  was  made 
by  a  very  large  portion  of  them,  on  the  14th  Way  1649,  and 
signed  by  the  colonel,  the  officers,  and  men,  570  in  number, 
proclaiming  their  allegiance  to  the  Parliament  and  the  authorities, 
and  dissuading  all  from  joining  in  the  insurrection.^ 

The  Levellers  on  tliis  occasion  hoisted  sea-green  colours,  from 
which  circumstance  they  were  called  the  "  Sea-green  Men."  The 
first  mention  that  is  made  of  them  is  in  the  early  part  of  May, 
when  letters  from  the  governor  of  Oxford  and  other  officers  an- 
nounced that  the  insurgents  quartered  about  Derrington  [Dedding- 
ton  ?]  in  parties  of  from  five  to  twenty  in  a  place.     The  newspaper 

(1)  Richard  Baxter  has  been  mentioned  (p.  413)  as  having  been  chaplain  to  this  regiment 
dining  the  siege  in  1616.  "  These  people, "  says  Calamy,  "avoided  Mr.  Baxter  as  much  as 
possible."  "  Thomson,"  he  adds,  "  was  no  gieater  man  than  one  of  the  corporals  of  this 
troop,  the  cornet  and  others  being  worse  than  he."~Calamy's  Life  of  Baxter. 

["i)  Declaration  of  Col.  Whaley's  Regiment;  among  the  King's  Pamphlets. 


THE  LEVELLERS,  IGIO.  439 

in  which  this  information  is  given  adds : — "  Many  of  Col.  Mar- 
tins regiment,  and  of  Col.  Renoldses  are  gone  in  to  them,  and 
divers  of  them  quarter  at  Banbury,  and  others  at  Cirencester, 
where  they  keep  guards,  as  if  they  intended  to  make  it  their  head- 
quarters :  many  goe  privately  out  of  London,  by  2,  3,  6,  at  a 
time,  to  goe  to  them.  They  put  up  declarations  against  the 
Parliament,  Councell  of  State,  and  Army ;  and  cry  out  against 
oppression,  yet  levell  all  upon  free-quarter,  without  any  orders,  but 
amongst  themselves.  *  *  *  The  General,  Lieu.  Gen.  and 
others  are  gone  this  day  with  5  Regiments,  the  Gen.  and  Lieu. 
Gen.  of  Horse,  and  the  Gen.  Col.  Hewsons,  and  Col.  Ewres  of 
foot,  and  other  regiments  are  to  be  a  reserve  if  need  be,  to  re- 
duce the  Levellers,  yet  meanes  is  using  (if  it  be  possible)  to  pre- 
vent the  shedding  of  blood. "^ 

Thursday,  May  10th.  "Letters  from  Oxford,  that  one  Cap. 
Smiths  troop,  being  that  county  troop,  and  one  of  the  great  Level- 
lers thereabouts,  divers  of  the  troop  met  at  Banbury,  and  there 
they  posted  up  their  Declaration,  containing  these  4  heads  :  First, 
they  declare  against  the  present  Parliament,  and  their  proceed- 
ings. And  seeondlj',  against  the  Councell  of  State.  Thirdly 
against  the  generall  Councell  of  the  Army.  Fourthly,  against 
the  proceedings  of  the  late  high  Court  of  Justice.  This  Cap- 
tain Smith  had  received  order  from  the  L.  Generall  for  his  pre- 
sent disbanding  of  all  such  Troopers  as  were  active  and  had 
a  hand  in  this  Declaration  and  other  papers,  and  to  retain  and 
encourage  all  such  as  are  true  to  their  trust,  and  to  the  present 
Government.  The  principall  Ringleader  of  this  party  is  one  Mr. 
Tompson,  formerly  condemned  by  a  councell  of  war,  but  through 
the  compassion  of  the  L.  Generall  was  spared,  his  number  is 
conceived  to  be  few  lesse  then  200,^  and  in  his  march  up  and 
down  he  daily  gains  more  to  him.  On  Wednesday  last  he  came 
to  Coventry,  where  he  found  resistance,  and  the  gates  shut  against 
him.  Finding  no  entrance  there  he  marched  to  Tossiter,  where 
comming  in,  in  the  night  late,  he  seized  upon  Cap.  Farmer  the 
postmaster  there,  who,  after  they  had  carried  him  as  a  prisoner 
up  and  down  with  them,  they  were  content  to  release  him  upon 
his  paroU,  to  come  up  to  London  to  the  Councell  of  State  to 
procure  the  release  of   three  of   their   brethren  who  were  taken 

(3)  Perf.  Occun-ences,  No.  123,  from  Friday  May  4th,  to  May  11th,  1649. 

(4)  Elsewhere  stated  to  be  "400  men."    See  Declaration  of  Cromwell,  &c.,  in  the  King's 
Pamphlets. 


•i-10  THE  LEVELLERS,  1649. 

posting  up  of  tlieii-  papers  about  Banbury ;   if  he  could  not  pro- 
cure tliis,  lie  was  to  return  as  tlieir  prisoner  to  Banbury."^ 

The  same  newspaper  mentions  that  Thomson  had  also  put  out 
a  pamphlet  containing  the  Levellers'  Declaration.  Of  this  pam- 
phlet I  possess  a  copy.  It  is  entitled : — "  Englands  Stan- 
dard Advanced  in  Oxfordshire,  or,  a  Declaration  from 
Mr.  WiL.  Thompson,  and  the  oppressed  People  of  this  Nation, 
now  under  his  conduct  in  the  said  County.  Dated  at  their  Ran- 
dezvouz,  May  6.  1649.  Whereunto  is  added  an  Agreement  of 
the  Free  People  of  England,  as  the  Grounds  of  their  Resolutions. 
Printed  in  the  Yeer,  1649."  The  Declaration  is  thus  subscribed  : 
— "  Signed  by  me  WilKam  Thompson,  at  our  Randezvouz  in 
Oxfordshire,  neer  BANBURY  ;  in  behalf  of  my  self,  and  the  rest 
engaged  with  me.  May  6.  1649."  It  makes  complaint  that  the 
People  have  been  only  served  with  bare  words  and  fair  promising 
papers,  through  the  treachery  of  eminent  persons ;  of  the  vio- 
lation of  solemn  engagements  made  at  New-Market  and  Triplo 
Heaths ;  of  the  dissolving  of  the  Council  of  Agitators  ;  of  the 
blood  shed  in  time  of  peace ;  of  Petitions  for  freedom  having 
been  suppressed  by  force  of  arms  ;  that  the  lawful  trial  by  twelve 
men  of  the  neighbourhood  had  been  subverted  and  denied,  and 
that  "  bloody  and  tyrannical  courts,  called  An  High  Court  of 
Justice  and  the  Councel  of  State "  had  been  erected ;  that  the 
power  of  the  sword  had  been  advanced  and  the  civil  laws  sub- 
verted, leaving  no  \T.sible  authority  but  "  a  factious  Jvmcto 
and  Councel  of  State,  usurping  and  assuming  the  name,  stamp, 
and  authority  of  Parliament,  to  oppress,  torment,  and  vex  the 
People,  whereby  all  the  Uves,  liberties,  and  estates,  are  all  sub- 
dued to  the  wills  of  those  men ;  no  Law,  no  Justice,  no  Right  or 
Freedom,  no  ease  of  Grievances,  no  removal  of  unjust  barbarous 
Taxes,  no  regard  to  the  cryes  and  groans  of  the  poor  to  be  had, 
while  utter  beggery  and  famine  (like  a  mighty  torrent)  hath  broke 
in  upon  us."  Wherefore,  (it  states,)  no  other  means  being  left 
under  heaven,  they  (the  Levellers)  are  enforced  to  betake  them- 
selves to  the  law  of  Nature,  and  are  resolved  as  one  man,  at  the 
hazard  of  their  lives  and  fortunes,  to  endeavour  the  redemption 
of  the  magistracy  from  imder  the  force  of  the  sword,  to  vindi- 
cate the  Petition  of  Right,  to  set  the  imprisoned  free,  to  relieve 
the   poor,   and   settle   the    Commonwealth   upon   the   grounds   of 

(5)  Perf.  Diurnall,  No.  302. 


THE  LEVELLERS,  1649.  441 

common  Right,  Freedom,  and  Safety: — that,  "ehusing  rather 
to  die  for  freedom  than  to  live  as  slaves,"  they  are  gathered  and 
associated  with  their  swords  in  their  hands ;  and  will  have  justice 
for  the  blood  of  Arnold  shot  at  Ware,  and  Lockier  and  others 
murdered  by  martial  law  in  London : — that  at  the  hazard  of 
their  lives  they  will  endeavour  the  deliverance  of  Col.  John  Lil- 
burn,  Walwyn,  Prince,  Overton,  Bray,  and  Sawyer,  unjustly  im- 
prisoned ;  and  that  if  a  hair  of  the  heads  of  these  first  perish, 
they  will,  as  God  shall  enable  them,  avenge  it  seventy  times 
seven  fold  upon  the  heads  of  the  Tyrants  and  their  creatures : — 
that  they  will  not  disband :  but  will  behave  with  soberness  and 
civility  to  the  country ;  will  abuse  no  man,  but  protect  all,  in  all 
places  where  they  come,  from  violence  and  oppression  ;  will  stop 
the  payment  of  all  taxes  whatever;  and,  having  obtained  a  new 
representative  power,  will  then  freely  lay  down  their  arms  and 
return  to  their  habitations : — that  they  own  and  avow  the  late 
proceedings  of  Col.  Scroop's,  Col.  Harrison's,  and  Maj.-Gen.  Skip- 
pon's  regiments,  resolving  as  one  man  to  live  and  die  with  them  : — 
and  they  implore  all  who  have  any  sense  of  the  bonds  and 
miseries  of  the  people,  any  bowels  of  compassion,  any  Piety, 
Justice,  Honour,  Courage,  or  Affection,  any  love  of  Neighbour 
or  of  Country,  to  rise  and  come  in  to  help  a  miserable  nation, 
to  break  the  bands  of  cruelty,  and  set  the  people  free. 

One  of  the  periodicals  of  the  day  gives  the  following  account, 
dated  Friday,  May  11th: — "The  House  this  day  took  into  de- 
bate the  businesse  concerning  M''  Thompson,  and  those  that 
adhere  unto  him  (called  Levellers)  and  that  the  nation  might 
take  notice  of  their  judgments  therein.  They  ordered  and  de- 
clared that  the  said  M'  Thompson,  and  all  that  do  or  shall  ad- 
here unto  him,  and  all  others  that  bear  or  shall  bear  armes 
without  authority  of  Parliament,  are  Rebels  and  Traytors ;  and, 
that  no  man  might  plead  ignorance  herein,  they  ordered  that  a 
Proclamation  should  be  forthwith  drawn  to  this  purpose,  and 
that  it  should  be  proclaimed  throughout  all  the  Nation."  In- 
structions were  forwarded  to  the  Lord  General,  and  prompt  mea- 
sures were  taken  for  the  security  of  London.  The  House  further 
ordered  the  postmaster  of  Towcester  "  that  he  should  not  deliver 
himselfe  up  to  Thompson,  notwithstanding  his  paroU  given  unto 
him."« 

(6)  Perf.  Diumall,  No.  302. 

3k 


442  THE  LEVELLERS,  1649. 

Saturday,  May  12th.  Reported  that  Letters  were  received  from 
Col.  Reynolds's  quarters  at  Banbury.     The  following  is  given  : — 

"  Sir, 

It  hath  pleased  God  to  bring  this  great  Bubble  of  the  Levellers  about 
Banbury  to  a  sudden  breaking,  for  this  day  Col.  Reynolds  commanded 
a  party  of  about  sixty  horse  to  fall  into  their  quarters,  who  by  some 
treachery  in  the  towne  had  intelhgence  wee  were  comming,  drew  into 
a  bodj',  but  held  up  at  a  lanes  end,  by  Lieutenant  Parry  and  Captaine 
Owen,  untill  they  finding  it  difficult  to  force  us  called  out  to  parley, 
Avhich  they  having  no  power  to  do  refused  but  would  forbeare  fighting 
until  the  Colonell  advanced,  upon  whose  comming,  they  were  contented 
to  submit  upon  the  delivery  of  his  two  colours  ;  he  hath  discharged  the 
rest  disperced  them  to  their  severall  homes  and  granted  them  passes, 
but  will  secure  two  or  three  of  the  chiefe  Ringleaders  and  such  as  were 
Officers  in  Commission  in  this  businesse  ;  Corporall  or  Captaine  Thomp- 
son was  the  chiefe,  who  was  forced  to  flie  upon  the  first  approach  of  our 
party:  under  the  town  of  Banbury  a  party  of  Oxfordshire  horse  stood, 
where  Thomson  fled  for  assistance ;  they  marched  with  him  to  fight  us, 
but  being  prevented  they  fled  forwards  towards  Chipping  Norton  through 
Banbury.  They  killed  Captaine  Parry,  and  as  I  am  informed  Thompson 
was  the  man  who  did  it,  it  was  in  the  Colonells  power  to  have  killed 
them  all  upon  the  place  but  he  forbore  but  since  Oxfordshire  hath  begun, 
we  shall  make  an  end.     Sir, 

"Banbury,  May  10.  1649. "  Your  humble  Servant."' 

Another  account  states  that  Thompson,  after  he  had  dismounted 
three  of  his  adversaries,  "got  away  with  some  60  others,  who 
(as  its  said)  went  towards  Col.  Scroops  regiment :  this  party  was 
about  300,  the  residue  either  went  to  the  Col.  or  shrunk  away."^ 
The  desperate  character  of  this  ringleader  of  the  LeveUers  is 
more  fully  developed  in  the  accounts  reported  on  Saturday,  May 
12tli.  "  On  \Yednesday  Coll.  Reynolds  with  3  troops  of  Horse 
that  stucke  to  him,  resolving  to  oppose  the  Levellers,  marched 
towards  Banbury,  and  discovered  a  party  commanded  by  Captain 
Thomson,  marched  up  to  them,  and  the  scouts  hanng  met  and 
parlyed.  Coll.  Reynolds  men  brought  word  to  him,  that  the  Le- 
vellers desired  to  know  a  reason  of  their  approach,  and  what  it 
was  they  desired ;  Col.  Reynolds  sent  word  that  he  demanded 
their  colours,  and  their  leader  to  be  delivered  up  to  him:  This 
begat  a  short  parley,  and  Captaine  Tompson  called  a  Councell ; 
but  the  mean  while,  divers  of  the  souldiers  went  some  one  way, 
and   some    another,    some    with  their   horses  and    some    without : 

(7)  Tcrf.  Diurnall,  No.  302.  (8)  Moderate  Intelligencer,  No.  217. 


THE  LEVELLERS,  1649.  443 

They  were  all  of  horse,  both  one  party,  and  the  other  ;  some 
moved  that  Captaine  Thomson  and  the  colours  might  be  deli- 
vered up,  but  his  Quarter-Master  said  No,  and  that  they  were  all 
equally  ingaged  and  that  as  they  had  jojoied  together,  so  they 
would  all  live  and  dye  together.  But  at  last,  Captaine  Thomson 
was  advised  to  escape  away  if  hee  could,  and  accordingly  hee 
mounted,  and  attempted  to  be  gone  with  his  Lievtenant  and  some 
others ;  but  by  advertizement  from  the  rest,  Coll.  Reynolds  had 
notice  thereof,  and  sent  out  his  Lievtenant,  with  two  more  after 
him,  who  approaching  near  him,  C.  Thomson  wheeled  about  & 
shot  Liev.  Parrey  dead,^  the  other  two  being  some  space  behind, 
they  came  up  to  them,  and  after  a  short  dispute,  one  of  them 
was  wounded  and  the  other  dismounted,  and  Reynolds  [?]  with  the 
rest,  who  are  about  twenty,  are  gone  to  those  that  deserted  Coll. 
Scroope ;  But  in  the  interim,  it  was  agreed  upon  parley,  by  the 
rest  of  Captain  Thomsons  men,  who  were  about  one  hundred 
and  twenty,  that  they  should  deliver  up  their  colours,  and  Cap- 
tain Thomsons  corporall  and  another  to  Colonell  Reynolds,  and 
those  that  would  to  come  in  to  CoUonel  Reynolds,  the  rest  to 
march  away :  And  some  threescore  of  them  being  ill-armed 
went  away,  and  forty  came  in  to  Collonel  Reynolds.  The  co- 
lours were  delivered,  and  Captain  Thomsons  corporall  and  another 
delivered  prisoners,  besides  some  other  j)risoners  that  are  taken. 
But  afterwards  the  Oxford  troop,  commanded  by  Lievtenant  Raw- 
ley,  Captaine  Smiths  Lievtenant,  comming  up  to  joyn  with  Cap- 
taine Thomson  (not  knowing  what  was  done,  nor  of  any  approach 
of  Collonel  Reynolds  against  them,  but  expecting  some  from 
Rutland  and  other  parts  to  have  joyned  with  them).  Coll.  Rey- 
nolds sent  out  Captaine  Everards  troop,  commanded  by  his 
Lievtenant,  who  in  a  parly  with  them,  demanded  whether  they 
marched ;  they  answered,  to  their  friends ;  it  was  asked  who  they 
meant,  it  was  answered  Captain  Thomson :  hereupon  Collonel 
Reynolds  men  charged  them,  and  they  answered  them  again : 
some  were  hm't  on  both  sides,  but  the  Oxford  troop  took  some 
prisoners ;  After  which  another  party  were  sent  after  to  pursue 
them,  and  have  taken  and  dispersed  them."'" 

(9)  "Lieutenant  Parry  lief*  to  Capt:  Eyres  in  the  regiment  of  Colonell  Eeynolds  was 
buryed  ye  lO't  day  [of  May  1649].  He  was  slaine  the  day  before  in  Ast-mead." 
(Register  of  Banbury.)     Ashe  meadow  is  in  AVarkworth  field. 

(10)  Weekly  Intelligencer,  No.  311.  It  is  stated  in  1657  (Feb.  5th)  that  the  witnesses 
concerning  the  design  of  Sindercom  to  take  away  the  life  of  the  Lord  Protector  were  heard 
before  the  grand  Jury  at  Westminster,  and  that  on  Monday  the  9th  February  Sindercom  was 

3  K  3 


444  THE  LEVELLERS,  1649. 

The  other  discontented  regiments  had  been  invited  to  join  with 
Thompson.     Several  accordingly  confederated.     Colonel  Scroop's 
regiment  cast  off   the   authority  of  their   officers,   and  marched 
from   Salisbury   towards   Burford  to  join    with    the    regiments  of 
Harrison,   Ireton,   and  Skippon.      Thither  Thompson  also   went, 
with  his  fugitives  from  Banbury.      On  the    10th,   the  Sea-green 
Men   put  out   another  address,   entitled  "The   Levellers   Remon- 
strance, concerning  the   Parliament   and  Army;    and  their   Pro- 
clamation  to   be   published  throughout   the    counties   of    Oxford, 
Gloucester,  Worcester,  Warwick,  and  Hertfordshire.""     The  ex- 
traordinary activity  and  vigilance  and  the  overreaching  character 
of  Cromwell  were  now  seen.     By  a  march  of  forty  miles  in  one 
day,  he  overtook  Colonel  Scroop's  regiment  at  iVbingdon  before 
the  rendezvous,  and  offered  a  treaty  wherein  satisfaction  should 
be  mutually  given ;  and,  until  this  was  effected,  neither  party  was 
to  come  within  ten  miles  of  the  other.     Upon  such   agreement, 
the   Sea-green  Men,  who  had  increased  their  numbers  to  about 
five  thousand,  lay  in  fancied  security  at  Burford,   and  put  their 
horses  into  the  adjacent  meadows,  thus  giving  Cromwell  ample 
opportunity   to    execute    his   own    designing    measures.       By    his 
direction.  Colonel  Reynolds,  about  12  o'clock  at  night,  fell  upon 
the  Levellers'  quarters  from  one  point;   while  Cromwell  himself, 
at  the  head  of  two  thousand  men,  appeared  on  the  opposite  side. 
The  surprise  was  attended  with   complete  success:  four  himdred 
of  the  insurgents   were    made    prisoners;    nine   hundred    horses 
were  seized.     The  rest  of  the  men,  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
who  escaped,  were  allowed  to  return  to  their  respective  regiments. 
Captain  Thompson  was  once  more   fortunate  in  being   one   who 
effected  his  escape.      A  letter  from  Lord    Fairfax,   addressed   to 
the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons  and  dated  from   Burford, 
May  I4th,  at  midnight,  conveyed  the  intelligence  of  this  victory .^^ 
Three   of  the   Levellers   were   doomed  to   death;    of  whom   the 
chief   was   Cornet  Thompson,  brother  to   the   Captaia.     Letters 
from  Oxford,  dated  May  1 9th,  state  that — "This  day  in  Burford 

brought  to  trial.  This  Sindercom  had  previously  been  a  quarter-master  in  Colonel  Eeynolds's 
regiment  when  it  was  ordered  to  Ireland:  he  engaged  his  troop  in  the  mutiny  which 
occurred,  was  apprehended  near  Banbury,  and  was  one  of  those  who  were  then  reserved 
lor  execution,  but  he  escaped  in  the  night  from  Burford.  (Mercurius  Politicus.)  Sindercom 
was  now  found  guilty  and  was  sentenced  to  death;  but  he  was  found  dead  in  his  bed 
on  the  morning  before  his  intended  execution.  WTiether  he  poisoned  himself  (as  was 
given  out  by  authority),  or  whether  he  was  smothered  by  private  orders  from  Cromwell 
lest  he  should  make  some  discoveries  at  the  gallows  to  the  prejudice  of  the  Protector, 
(See  "  Kilhng  no  Murder,")  remains  a  question.— Par?.  Hist.  Eng. 

(11)  Copy  in  the  Brit.  Mus.  (13)  Perf.  Diurnall,  No.  303. 


THE  LEVELLERS,  1649.  445 

cliurchyard,   Cornet    Thomson   (brother   to   Thomson    the   chief 
leader)  was  brought  to  the  place  of  execution"  and  shot.^^ 

On  the  19th,  news  came  to  London  that  Captain  Thompson 
with  two  troops  of  horse  had  possessed  himself  of  Northamp- 
ton:^'* it  appears  however  from  an  after  account,  that  there  were 
only  twelve  or  fifteen  of  this  party.  On  the  20th  May,  as 
the  General  was  going  to  church  at  Oxford,  a  letter  was  brought 
to  him  from  Colonel  Reynolds,  who  had  been  sent  in  pursuit  of 
Thompson.  The  latter  had  been  overtaken  near  Wellingborough 
and  his  party  surprised.  Thompson  again  effected  his  escape  as 
far  as  a  neighbouring  wood,  which  was  immediately  beset  and 
explored.  His  pursuers  "found  him  wel  mounted,  who  being 
alone,  yet  rid  up  to  our  party,  and  desperately  shot  a  cornet, 
and  wounded  another,  and  retreated  to  his  bush,  receiving  two 
shots;  when  they  began  again  to  draw  near  unto  him,  he  charged 
again  his  pistol,  and  received  another  shot,  and  retreated;  the 
third  time  he  came  up  (for  he  said  he  scorned  to  take  quarter) 
Major  Butlers  corporall  had  Col.  Reynold  his  carbine,  wliich 
being  charged  with  seven  bullets  gave  Thompson  his  deaths 
wound."  ^*  Another  account  says  that  there  were  ten  in  the  party 
which  rode  up  to  Thompson  in  the  wood ;  and  that,  when  the  latter 
fell,  he  was  "exceeding  cut  by  the  souldiers.""'  The  lieuten- 
ant of  the  Oxfordshire  troop  of  the  Levellers  (who  had  seized 
on  the  magazine  at  Northampton)  was  also  captured.'^  Thus  was 
the  insurrection  quelled. 


THE  PROTECTORiVTE. 

In  an  account  prepared  under  an  Act  for  selling  all  the  Fee- 

(13)  Perfect  Diumall,  No.  303.  Six  of  the  principal  Levellers  who  were  suffered  (o 
escape,  afterwards  published  a  Vindication  of  themselves;  in  which  they  state  that — 
"  divers  of  us  had  faire  quarter  promised  us  by  Colonel  Okey,  Major  Barton,  and  the 
rest  of  the  officers  then  with  them,  as  that  not  a  hair  of  our  heads  should  perish,  yet 
did  they  suffer  their  souldiers  to  plunder  us,  strip  us,  and  barbarously  to  use  us,  worse 
then  Cavaliers,  yea  Cromwell  stood  by  to  see  Cornet  Tomson,  Master  Church,  and  Master 
Perkins  murthered,  and  we  were  all  condemned  to  death,  although  Colonel  Okey,  Major 
Barton  and  others  of  the  Grandees  had  ingaged  that  not  a  hair  of  our  heads  should  perish, 
when  tliey  surrendred  themselves  unto  them,  Tompson  being  then  at  the  head  of  a  party 
of  two  troops  of  horse,  and  the  other  with  their  fellow  soukUers  made  good  their  quarters 
while  they  had  the  conditions  promised  them,  and  then  Cromwel  after  this  horrid  murther 
was  committed  upon  the  three  forementioncd,  contrary  to  Okeys,  Bartons  and  others  of 
their  promises  at  their  taking  them,  came  to  us  in  the  church,  and  making  his  old  manner  of 
dissembling  speeches,  told  us  it  was  not  they  that  had  saved  our  lives,  but  providence 
had  so  ordered  it;"  &c. — The  Levellers  (Falsely  so  called)  Vindicated,  S^c,  <f-c,,  hy  a  faithful 
remnant,  late  of  Col.  Scroops,  Commissary  General  Iretons,  and  Col.  Harrisons  regiments, 
that  hath  not  -yet  bowed  their  knee  unto  Baal."     Aug.  1649.     In  my  own  collection. 

(14)  Perf.  Diurnall,  No.  303.  (15)  Perf.  Weekly  Account. 
(16)  Perfect  OceuiTences,  No.  125.                                            (17)  Perf.  Weekly  Account. 


446  THE  PROTECTORATE. 

farm  Rents  &c.  which  were  formerlj  payable  to  the  Crown  (passed 
11th  March  1049-50),  is  entered  the  fee-farm  rent  (namely  i;l2) 
of  two  watermills  with  appurtenances  in  Banbury,  parcel  of  the 
Castle  and  INIanor  of  Banbury,  with  the  meadow  called  the  Hame 
containing  two  acres  ;  described  as  being  granted  in  the  7th  James 
I.  to  Edward  Ferrers  and  Frances  Phelipps  of  London  to  hold 
as  of  the  manor  of  Eastgreenewich.  Then  follows  the  fee-farm 
of  the  Borough  of  Banbury,  as  granted  5th  Charles  I.  to  White 
and  others,  to  hold  as  of  the  manor  of  Eastgreenwich  (described 
in  a  following  deed  of  sale  in  1651).  And  lastly  the  fee-farm 
of  the  Castle  and  Hundred  of  Banbury,  as  granted  in  the  same 
year  to  Lord  Saye  and  Sele  (also  described  in  the  deed  of  sale 
in  1651).'^  Appended  to  tliis  account  is  the  "Memorandum" 
concerning  the  property  belonging  to  the  Chantry  of  the  Blessed 
Mary,  which  has  been  inserted  in  p.  214  of  this  volume. 

A  Particular  for  sale  of  Fee-farm  Rents,  dated  8th  February 
1650  [51],  also  mentions  "Parcel  of  the  lands  and  possessions  pur- 
chased of  John  late  Earl  of  Warwick  and  before  part  of  the  pos- 
sessions of  the  Bishoprick  of  Lincoln ;"  namely,  fee-farm  of  the 
Calves  Close  205. ;  "  and  of  all  that  narrow  close  with  appur- 
tenances there  called  the  Procession  Way  lately  in  the  tenancy  of 
William  Pennard  by  the  year  12s. ;"  of  the  Cowlease  26*.  8c?. ;  of 
the  two  fishpools  with  garden  adjoining  10*.  8c?, ;  another  close 
45. ;  the  Little  Eynsham  £4 ;  the  Great  Eynsham  100s. ;  all 
parcel  of  the  manor  of  Banbury,  granted  4th  Charles  I.  in  fee- 
farm  to  Edward  Litchfeild  and  others  citizens  of  London,  to  hold 
as  of  the  manor  of  Eastgreenwich.'^ 

On  the  10th  September  1650,  an  Indenture,  made  by  virtue 
of  the  Act  for  selling  the  Fee-farm  Rents  belonging  to  the 
Commonwealth  of  England,  disposes  of  the  fee-farm  rent  of 
£6.  13s.  4(7.  to  be  received  under  Queen  Mary's  charter  from  the 
Bailiff  Aldermen  and  Burgesses  of  Banbury  for  privileges  before- 
mentioned,  to  Thomas  Butler  of  Dadington.^"  On  the  17th  June 
1 65 1 ,  a  similar  conveyance,  made  to  Francis  Martyn  of  Ewelme, 
disposes  of  the  Borough  of  Banbury  and  the  rents  of  assise  of  the 
Free  Tenants  and  Tenants  at  will,  amounting  to  £\4.  6s.  Olc?. ; 

(18)  Rolls  of  Fee-farm  Rents  reserved  upon  grants  from  the  Crown,  in  the  Augmentation 
Office.  It  appears  from  the  roll  that  the  Castle  Orchard,  at  the  rent  of  40s.  -n'os  granted 
to  White  and  the  others  with  the  Borough,  in  the  same  words  as  to  Lord  Saye  with  the 
Castle. 

(19)  Particular  in  the  Augmentation  Office. 

(20)  Deed  of  Sale  in  the  Augmentation  Office. 


THE  PROTECTORATE.  447 

also  of  the  tenement  in  the  tenure  of  John  Pitman,  the  tene- 
ment near  the  Shambles  late  in  the  tenure  of  Robert  Edans,  the 
place  or  parcel  of  land  near  the  Bridge  late  in  the  tenure  of 
John  Luter,  and  all  and  singular  houses  and  edifices  belonging 
thereto  late  in  the  tenure  of  John  Wase ;  also  the  close  of  land 
called  Castle  Orchard  within  the  borough  or  lordship  of  Banbury 
late  in  the  tenure  of  William  Viscount  Saj  and  Seale  and  others  ; 
and  the  tenement  and  garden  late  in  the  tenure  of  John  Wase  ; 
the  whole  being  of  the  yearly  rent  or  value  of  £'20.  155.  8|c?., 
and  granted  5th  Charles  I.  to  Wliite  and  others  for  the  yearly 
rent  of  £19.  15s.  8id.  Also  of  the  Castle  of  Banbury,  the  close 
called  the  Stewe  containing  one  rood  of  land,  and  all  profits  and 
emoluments  within  the  limits  and  precincts  of  the  Castle  Walls, 
together  with  certain  ditches  and  banks  without  the  circuit  and 
near  the  Walls  of  the  said  Castle :  the  Hundred  of  Banbury, 
with  the  annual  rents  paid  to  the  said  Hundred  in  certain  vil- 
lages, and  all  Court-Leets,  Views  of  Frankpledge,  &c.  &c.  to 
the  said  Hundred  belonging  (except  all  courts  and  profits  of 
courts  of  the  manor  and  borough  of  Banbury)  :  also  of  the  close 
called  the  Castle  Orchard  ;  the  whole  being  of  the  yearly  rent 
of  £5.  18s.  Od.,  and  granted  5th  Charles  I.  to  William  Viscount 
Saye  for  the  fee-farm  rent  of  £3.  18s.  OdP  Also  of  certain 
lands  in  Banbury  granted  36th  Henry  VHI.  to  Richard  Taverner 
and  others. 

In  July  1653,  a  Survey  was  made  of  Tenements  &c.  in  Ban- 
bury, parcel  of  the  possessions  of  Charles  Stuart  late  King  of 
England,  by  virtue  of   an  Act  for  Sale  &c.     This  survey  enu- 

(21)  la  December  1653,  certain  commissioners  made  a  "  Survey  of  ye  rents  issues  and 
p'ffitts  of  yt  halfe  Hundred  of  Banburie  within  ye  County  of  Oxon  now  enjoy 'd  by  ye  Right 
Honnorble  ye  Lord  Say  or  his  assignes  and  reputed  to  bee  p'cell  of  ye  possessions  of 
Charles  Stuart  late  King."  This  enumerates  rents  commonly  called  Certain  Money, 
Common  Fine  Money,  or  Tything  Silver,  out  of  the  several  townships  and  of  certain 
lands  within  the  said  half  Hundred,  £S.  9s.  4d. : — Court-Leets  and  Three-weeks'  Courts,  and 
fines  &c.  of  the  same;  Waifs,  Estrays,  Deodands,  Goods  of  Felons  and  Fugitives,  Hawking, 
Hunting,  Fowling,  Fishing,  with  the  office  or  offices  of  the  Bailiwick,  and  all  the  profits 
thereunto  belonging  by  serving  of  writs  &c.,  £5.  3s.  4d.  The  said  Courts  are  stated  to 
be  held  at  a  house  remaining  in  the  late  demolished  Castle  of  Banbury.  At  the  Three- 
weeks'  Courts  all  actions  under  40s.  could  be  tried  and  determined.'  The  particulars 
of  the  fore-named  rents  of  the  said  half  Hundred  were,  from  the  township  of  Williamscote 
5s.  per  annum;  Great  and  LittleBorton  10s. ;  Cleydon  7s.  8d. ;  the  township  of  Shuttford  9s. ; 
the  township  of  Neithropp  7s. ;  Calthropp  Is. ;  Prescott  5s. ;  the  township  of  Swakliffe  13s.  4d. ; 
the  manor  of  Wickham  3s.  4d.;  Mr.  Wickham  for  land  tliere  3s.;  and  The  Lea  5s.  To 
the  account  is  appended  the  following  Memorandum : — "  Ye  rents  and  Royalties  belonging 
to  ye  aflbresaid  halfe  Hundred  of  Banbury  are  claymed  in  fee  farme  by  ye  right  Honnorble 
ye  Lord  Say  but  by  what  Grant  wee  know  not  and  therefore  refTerr  ye  said  Lord  to  cleere  his 
Interest  therein  before  ye  Honnorble  ye  Trustees  for  Sale  of  the  afforesaid  p'mises.  Hugh 
Webb :  Will"  Mar :  Richard  Sadler :  Fr.  Coingrave.  P'fected  ye  22tU  day  of  January 
1652." — Among  the  Parliamentary  Surveys  in  the  Augmentation  Office. 


448  THE  PROTECTORATE. 

merates  a  messuage  &e.  in  St.  Joka's  Street  worth  £8  annually; 
a  tenement  there  worth  40*. :  a  tenement  there  455. ;  a  tenement 
there  405.;  a  piece  of  ground  in  North  Bar  Street  where  two 
tenements  stood  which  were  destroyed  by  fire  in  the  late  War, 
20s.  ;  a  tenement  there  20s. ;  a  tenement  there  16s. ;  a  tenement 
there  burned  in  the  late  war  and  partly  rebuilt  16s.;  a  tenement 
there  60s. ;  a  tenement  in  West  alias  Bull  Bar  Street  40s. ;  a 
tenement  there  40s. ;  three  tenements  in  Sheep  Street  £5  ;  a  tene- 
ment there  40s. ;  a  tenement  there  £5 ;  a  ten'  there  30s. ;  a 
tent  there  30s. ;  a  ten'  there  £4.  10s. ;  a  ten'  there  60,?, ;  a 
ten*  there  £4.  10s. ;  a  ten'  there  £6 ;  a  ten*  there  40s. ;  three 
ten"  there  £8 ;  two  shops  in  the  Shambles  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Leather  Hall  60s. ;  a  ten'  in  Church  Lane  40s. ;  a  ten'  in 
Coule  Bar  Street  £4 ;  a  piece  of  waste  ground  in  Colthorpe  Lane 
whereon  a  malt  house  stood  destroyed  by  fire  in  the  late  War 
15s.;  a  ten*  in  the  Beast  Market  70s.;  a  ten'  there  £5;  two 
cottages  there  30s. ;  a  piece  of  ground  there  where  a  malt  house 
stood  also  destroyed  by  fire  in  the  war  12s. ;  a  garden  near  the 
Bridge  1 2s. ;  a  plot  of  ground  where  a  tenement  stood  destroyed 
by  fire  in  the  late  war,  Bridge  Street  being  on  the  south  and 
Mill  Lane  on  the  north,  2s. ;  a  piece  of  waste  ground  where 
stood  another  ten'  destroyed  by  fire  in  the  war,  the  Beast  Mar- 
ket being  south  and  the  Hog  Market  west,  5s.  4d. ;  a  piece  of 
waste  ground  where  two  tenements  stood,  destroyed  as  aforesaid, 
in  the  Beast  Market  3s.  4c?. ;  part  of  a  house  occupied  by  the 
Mayor  20s. ;  a  piece  of  ground  where  a  barn  stood,  destroyed  by 
fire  in  the  late  war,  near  Mill  Lane  6s.  8d. ;  "  and  all  wayes  liber- 
ties priledges  p'fitts  and  advantages  to  the  aforesaid  Tennements 
belonging  and  app'taining."     It  is  added  that: — 

"The  valuac'on  of  ye  forenamed  p'misses  according  to  the  foremen- 
c'oned  p'ticul"  cometh  vnto  p'  ann  "  £90.  13s.  id. 

"  The  forenamed  seu'all  persons  claymeth  the  said  p'mises  in  fee  favnie, 
butt  they  makeing  forth  noe  such  title  to  vs  vpon  Survey  thereof,  by 
reason  whereof  wee  referr  the  same  to  be  cleared  before  ye  Honnor'^''^  the 
Trustees  &c. 

Hugh  Webb 
Will'  Mar. 
"  PTected  y«  22'i'  day  of  August  1653."        Row.  Brasbridge."" 

In  letters  from  Lieut.-Gen.  Fleetwood,  dated  from  Banbury 
on  the  25th  August  1651,  it  is  stated  that  his  forces  were  then 
at  Banbury,  and  that  he  purposed  on  that  day  or    the  next  to 

(32)  Parliamentary  Survey,  in  the  Augmentation  Office. 


NATHANIEL  FIENNES.  449 

move  towards  Worcester,  the  Lord-General  being  then  at  Warwick 
with  the  same  intent.-^  The  fight  at  Worcester,  from  wliich  the 
Second  Charles  was  obliged  to  flee,  occurred  on  the  3rd  September 
following.  One  of  the  prisoners  of  note  who  was  taken  in  the 
flight,  Mr.  Charles  Giffard,  is  said  to  have  made  his  escape  from 
an  inn  at  Banbury  where  he  and  some  of  the  Royalist  party  were 
for  a  time  kept  prisoners."^ 

In  1651,  the  Mayor  of  Banbury  and  fourteen  others  made  a 
loan  (the  sums  put  down  varying  from  five  pounds  to  one  pound 
each  person)  "  towards  the  buying  and  paying  for  a  new  mace 
for  the  said  Burrough  and  repaireing  the  old  mace."  Auditors, 
Bridgemasters,  Constables,  Titliingmen,  Tasters  of  Victuals,  and 
Searchers  and  Sealers  of  Leather,  were  chosen  yearly  on  the 
same  day  and  at  the  same  time  and  place  as  the  Mayor ;  one 
entry  serving  for  all.'-^ 

18th  January,  1655.  "  Whereas  the  Corp'acon  are  indebted  to  M''  Na- 
thaniel Wheatly  the  sume  of  xiiij^'  and  vpwards  w<:''  hath  bine  long 
owinge  to  him  and  layd  out  by  the  appoyntm*  of  the  said  Corp'acon 
To  the  intent  therefore  that  the  said  M''  Nathaniel  Wheatly  may  receyve 
sattisfacc'on  for  the  same  the  sayd  Corp'acon  w*  the  consent  &  good 
likeing  of  the  sayd  M''  Wheatly  have  agreed  that  he  shall  have  to  his 
vse  a  browne  gelding  belonging  to  them  &  forfeited  in  the  tyme  of  the 
Maioralty  of  M'"  W™  AUen  in  full  satisfacc'on  of  his  sayd  debt  and  all 
other  debts  &  accounts  due  to  him  from  them."^" 

Until  nearly  the  close  of  the  year  1 653,  "  intentions  of  mar- 
riage "  are  recorded  in  the  Parish  Register  of  Banbury  as  having 
been  published  on  three  Lord's-days  in  the  Church  :  but  from 
that  date  till  1659,  the  bans  are  mostly  entered  as  having  been 
published  in  the  Market  Place  on  three  market  days.^' 

Nathaniel  Fiennes,  who  sat  in  the  Long  Parliament  as 
the  member  for  Banbury,  was  not  employed  in  any  military  matter 
subsequently  to  the  surrender  of  Bristol  by  him  in  1643.  He 
was  one  of  the  Members  who  were  forcibly  seized  and  ejected 
from  the  House  by  Colonel  Pride  on  the  6th  December  1648. 
He  was  put  under  confinement  with  the  rest,  but  was  soon  re- 
leased by  Hugh  Peters.'^  Subsequently  he  became  a  man  of 
much   account   with  Oliver   Cromwell ;    was   one   of    the  lords- 

(23)  Cromwelliana.  (24)  Baker's  Cliron.;  Clarendon. 

(25)  Book  of  Accounts  of  the  Corporation.  (26)  Ibid. 

(27)  On  the  16th  Oct.  1653,  there  is  an  entry  that  "  William  Higgins  of  the  regiment 
and  troop  of  Major  Gen.  Harison,  and  Sarah  Goodwine  daughter  of  Mr.  Thomas  Goodwine 
of  Nethrop  were  marryed  in  Banbury."     [Signed]  "  Nathaniel  Wheatly  "  [a  Magistrate]. 

(28)  True  and  Full  Relation  of  the  OlBcers  seizing  divers  eminent  Members,  &c,,  4to,  1648. 
In  my  own  collection. 

3l 


•loO  NATHANIEL  FIENNES. 

commissioners  of  the  Great  Seal  and  a  member  of  Cromwell's 
privy  comicil ;  held  the  office  of  lord  privy  seal ;  and  was  a 
member  and  the  Speaker  of  the  "  Other  House,"  the  newly-es- 
tabUshed  mimicry  of  the  former  House  of  Lords. 

After  the  dissolution  of  the  Long  Parliament  in  1653,  Oliver 
Cromwell  nominated  139  persons  as  a  sort  of  Parliament  to  meet 
and  manage  affairs.  In  1654  he  summoned  a  Parliament:  and, 
the  smaller  boroughs  (Banbury  among  the  rest)  being  deprived  of 
representatives,  Nathaniel  Fiennes  was  chosen  for  Oxfordshire. 
Cromwell's  next  and  last  Parliament  was  summoned  in  1656; 
but  Banbury  had  no  summons,  and  Nathaniel  Fiennes  was 
elected  for  the  University  of  Oxford.'-^  On  the  9th  April  1657, 
this  Parliament  appointed  a  committee,  consisting  of  Nathaniel 
Fiennes,  St.  John,  Glynn,  Whitlock,  and  many  others,  to  con- 
fer with  Cromwell  Lord  Protector  respecting  his  taking  the  title 
of  King,  wHch  was  thought  necessary  in  order  more  effectually 
to  check  the  power  of  the  army.  On  the  11th,  Nathaniel  Fiennes 
spoke  twice  before  the  Protector.  "  All  creatures,"  he  told 
Oliver,  "  were  brought  to  Adam  to  give  them  names,  he  gave 
them  according  to  theii-  natures.  And  so  the  Parliament  con- 
siders what  the  thing  is  that  they  were  about  to  advise  your 
lordship  to ;  the  Parliament  find  this  to  be  the  same  government 
as  was  before,  and  if  they  would  have  that,  why  not  their  old 
name  ?  If  the  thing,  why  not  the  title  ?  Truly  it  seems  very 
reasonable  that  names  should  be  proportioned  to  the  thing ;  they 
have  found  divers  reasons  why  the  name  should  be  King,  be- 
cause it  is  a  clear  thing  to  all  the  world,  that  the  people  are  more 
willingly  obedient  to  old  things  and  names  than  to  new."  On 
the  16th  Fiennes  again  made  a  long  speech  before  the  Protector; 
but  Cromwell,  after  considerable  delay,  thought  it  prudent  to 
refuse  the  offered  title.^° 

After  the  death  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  his  son  Richard  Crom- 
well called  a  Parliament  which  met  on  the  27th  January  1658-9. 
The  elective  right  being  now  restored  to  the  smaller  boroughs, 
Nathaniel  Fiennes  junior,  son  of  Lord-Commissioner  Nathaniel 
Fiennes,    was    chosen   for    Banbury.^'     On   the   first   day  of   the 

(29)  Pari.  Hist.  Eng. 

(.30)  Monarchy  Asserted  to  be  the  best,  most  Ancient  and  legall  form  of  Government, 
in  a  conference  had  at  "Whitehall,  with  Oliver,  late  Lord  Protector,  &c. ;  8vo.,  1660.  By 
Nathaniel  Fiennes.  In  1G80  this  work  was  reprinted  under  the  name  of  "Treason's 
Master-Piece."     Copies  in  mv  own  collection. 

(31)  Pari.  Hist.  Eng. 


WILLIAM  LORD  SAYE:— THE  QUAKERS.  -lol 

session,  after  Ricliard  Cromwell  had  opened  tlie  Parliament,  the 
elder  Fiennes  spoke  "in  charge  from  his  Highness,"  and  made 
this  remark  at  the  commencement : — "  IVhat  can  the  man  do  that 
Cometh  after  the  King."  This  speech  was  published  by  order 
of  the  new  Protector.^'-  Richard  was  soon  after  deposed  by  the 
Army.  The  Long  Parliament,  being  restored  by  the  Council  of 
Officers,  imder  the  influence  of  General  Monk  dissolved  itself  on 
the  ]6th  March  1659-00,  and  issued  writs  (in  the  name  of  the 
Keepers  of  the  Liberties  of  England)  for  the  immediate  assem- 
bling of  a  new  Parliament. 

William  Lord  Saye,  after  the  King's  death,  sided  with  the 
Independents ;  but  when  he  was  invited  by  Oliver  Cromwell  to 
partake  of  office  or  honours  under  him,  he  turned  from  Crom- 
well with  abhorrence,  and  retired  to  Lundy  Island,  where  it  is 
said  he  remained,  during  the  Cromwellian  government,  rather 
"as  an  independent  despot  than  as  a  subject."^^  His  lordship 
continued  to  be  a  zealous  religionist ;  and  when  there  were,  as 
Wood  expresses  it,  "  no  Malignant  s  "  to  encounter,  he  "  shewed 
Idmself  an  enemy  to  the  Quakers,  with  whom  he  was  much 
troubled  at  or  near  Broughton."^^  As  the  persecutor  of  this 
rising  sect,  in  and  about  Banbury,  Lord  Saye  is  specially  men- 
tioned in  the  records  of  the  Quakers  themselves. 

Indeed,  the  triumph  of  the  Sects  over  the  Church  had  not  led 
to  any  knowledge  of  the  principles  of  religious  toleration,  or  to 
the  slightest  increase  of  religious  charity.  The  records  of  the 
Quakers  abound  with  evidences  of  this.  In  1654,  x\nne  Aud- 
land,  one  of  their  preachers,  was  sent  to  prison  in  Banbury  upon 
a  charge  of  blasphemy :  of  this  she  was  cleared  on  her  subse- 
quent trial  at  the  sessions ;  but  the  jury  brought  her  in  guilty  of 
a  misdemeanour  in  calling  the  Puritanical  preacher,  Samuel  Wells, 
a  "false  prophet."  In  1655,  among  other  imprisonments  &c. 
of  Quakers,  the  following  are  recorded.  "Sarah  Timms,  in  the 
grave-yard  at  Banbury,  exhorted  the  priest  [Samuel  Wells]  to 
fear  the  Lord :  for  which  christian  exhortation  some  of  her 
hearers  knocked  her  down,  and  struck  her  violently.  The  mayor 
and  magistrates,  who  were  present,  instead  of  restraining  them 
from  offering  such  illegal  abuses,  sent  the  innocent  woman  to 
prison,  where  she  lay  half  a  year.     Also  Jane  Waugh,  for  bear- 

(32)  The  Speech  of  the  Right  Honourable  Nathaniel  Lord  Fiennes,  one  of  the  Lord 
Keepers  of  the  Great  Scale  of  England,  &c.,  Ito.  1619.     In  my  own  collection. 

(33)  Noble's  Memoirs  of  Cromwell.  "  (31)  Wood's  Athenue. 

3l3 


^•■^2  WILLIAM  LORD  SAYE  :— THE  QUAKERS. 

ing  her  testimony  to  the  truth,  and  against  deceit,  in  the  market- 
place at  Banbury,  was  imprisoned  five  weeks  :  as  were  Mary 
Coats  and  Mary  Lamprey,  for  reproving  the  vices  of  the  mayor 
and  magistrates  there  ;  the  former  was  released  the  same  night, 
but  the  other  detained  eighteen  days."^^ 

One  of  Lord  Saye's  pamphlets  against  the  Quakers  is  entitled — 
"  Folly  and  Madness  Made  Manifest ;  or,  Some  things  written 
to  show  how  contrary  to  the  Word  of  God,  and  Practice  of  the 
Saints  in  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  the  Doctrines  and  Prac- 
tices of  the  Quakers  are."  His  lordship  says : — "  Consider,  after 
that  prating  woman  Audler  came  to  Banbury,  what  was  done 
and  practiced,  not  onely  upon  men  and  women,  but  upon  children, 
falling  down  foaming  at  the  mouth.  Quaking,  and  using  unna- 
tural gestures."  The  Quakers  replied  to  these  statements ;  and 
Lord  Saye  re-published  their  reply,  "  that  all  men,"  he  said,  «  may 
see  their  spirit."  The  Quakers'  pamphlet  states  of  Anne  Aud- 
land,  that  many  from  her  preaching  at  Banbury  "knew  the 
power  of  God  manifest,  which  caused  trembling  and  quaking,  of 
which  wee  are  not  ashamed,  though  thou  re\dle  it."  The  con- 
clusion addressed  to  Lord  Saye  is  : — "  Consider,  William,  what 
will  all  the  glory  and  dignity  of  the  world  doe  for  thee,  if  thou 
goe  with  thy  grey  head  laden  with  sin  unto  the  grave."  Lord 
Saye's  answer  to  this  is  entitled — "The  Quakers'  Reply  Mani- 
fested to  be  Railing  ;  or,  a  Pursuance  of  those  by  the  Ught  of 
the  Scriptures,  who  through  their  dark  imaginations  would  evade 
the  Truth."^"  This  is  addressed  to  Bray  D'Oyley  of  Adderbury 
(a  descendant  of  the  ancient  De  OUy  family),  who  gave  to  the 
Quakers  their  present  INIeeting-house  at  Adderbury. 

(3.5)  Besse's  Collection  of  Sufferings  of  the  Quakers,  v.  1,  pp.  563,  56-4. 

(36)  Copies  of  these  pamphlets,  with  many  other  exceedingly  curious  ones  relating  to  the 
early  Quakers,  are  preserved  in  a  collection  of  Anthony  Wood's,  marked  "  Wood  645,"  in 
the  Ashmolean  Library.  The  title  of  one  bulky  tract  is : — "  The  Saints  Testimony  Fin- 
ishing through  Sufferings;  Or,  the  Proceedings  of  the  Court  against  the  Servants  of  Jesus, 
•who  were  called  before  them  to  be  tried  at  the  late  Assizes  (or  Sessions)  held  in  Banbury  in 
the  County  of  Oxon,  the  26  day  of  the  seventh  Moneth  1655.  Also  a  relation  of  Margret 
Vivers  going  to  the  Steeple  House  in  Banbury,  after  the  Assize  (or  Sessions)  aforesaid : 
And  a  Testimony  against  False  Prophets,  and  False  Doctrine ;  with  an  Answer  to  the 
Objection  about  the  woman  forbidden  to  speak  in  the  Church;  And  some  passages  about 
the  Lords  former  sending  of  his  servants  and  Messengers.  And  who  are  no  Jesuits, 
Fugitives,  nor  Vagabonds.  And  the  manner  of  Richard  Farnworth  imprisonment  at  Ban- 
bury, with  a  Short  Examination  and  Answer  And  the  cause  of  his  detainment.  Also  a 
warning  from  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  (in  his  handmaid  Anne  Audland)  to  the  Persecuting 
Priest  and  People,  &;c.  And  a  letter  of  Robert  Rich  to  the  magistrates  of  Banbury,  and 
to  John  Griffith,  Deputy  Recorder,  who  sate  Judge  in  their  Court,  at  the  Assize  (or  Ses- 
sions) as  aforesaid.  Likewise  a  Letter  of  Tho.  Curtis  to  the  professed  Minister  called 
Samuel  Wells  in  Banbury.  And  a  Certificate  wherein  is  manifested  the  diligence  that 
was  used  to  know  the  causes  of  the  Pi-isoners  commitments  that  were  called  to  a  Trial  at 
Banbury,  (.Vnne  Audland,  Jane  Waugh,  Sarah  Tims,  and  Nathaniel  Weston)  as  wel  as 


WILLIAM  LORD  SAYE  :— THE  QUAKERS.  453 

Nathaniel  Weston,  mentioned  in  the  note  (3G)  on  p.  452,  was  a 
Banbury  man  who  had  gone  into  the  Church  while  Samuel  Wells 
was  preacliing.  On  seeing  him,  Wells  gave  over  preaching,  and 
said — "there  was  one,  he  feared,  come  into  the  congregation, 
which  would  breed  a  disturbance ;"  and  he  called  to  some  persons 
to  take  him  out.^'  Farnsworth's  story  is  thus  told  by  Besse : — 
"  Richard  Farnsworth,  walking  with  one  of  his  friends  up  Ban- 
bury street,  met  the  mayor  and  a  justice  of  the  peace  named 
William  Allen  :  the  justice  looking  very  angrily  upon  Richard, 
struck  off  his  hat:"^^  "after  this  the  mayor  and  justice  sent  for 
Richard  and  committed  him  to  prison.  Next  day,  when  their 
pride  and  passion  were  a  little  abated,  they  sent  for  him,  and 
told  him,  if  he  would  pay  the  gaoler's  fees,  and  promise  to  go 
out  of  town  that  night,  he  should  have  his  liberty.  But  he  would 
promise  nothing  ;  knowing  that  they  had  committed  him  illegally. 
Wherefore,  to  cover  their  unlawful  procedure,  they  tendered  him 
the  oath  of  abjuration,  which  his  refusing  to  take  furnished  them 
with  a  pretext  for  his  recommitment  to  prison,  where  he  lay  about 
six  months."^* 

In  1C58,  the  Quaker  records  state,  that  "  Simon  Thompson 
and  Nathaniel  Knowles,  meeting  Wilham  Fines,  otherwise  called 
Lord  Say,  and  not  paying  him  the  customary  ceremony  of  the 
hat,  were  by  him  sent  to  Oxford  gaol,  and  detained  two  months. 
At  the  next  sessions,  he  caused  them  to  be  sent  to  the  house  of 
correction  and  detained  there  near  eight  months,  the  said  Na- 
thaniel Knowles  being  several  times  cruelly  whipped,  and  other- 
wise ill  used."  Also : — "  William  Potter  and  Simon  Thompson, 
for  being  at  a  meeting  at  Broughton,  were  by  the  Lord  Say 
committed  to  Oxford  gaol,  and  there  detained  twenty-five  weeks. 
So  furious  a  zealot  against  the  Quakers  was  this  Ijord  Say,  that 
for  no  other  cause  than  their  being  such,  he  arbitrarily  and  ille- 
gally forced  the  said  Simon  Thompson  and  John  Parsons,  two  of 

Robert  Rich,  who  was  that  day  committed  out  of  the  Court  to  Prison  in  Banbury,  With 
a  paper  relating  the  suflerings  of  the  Innocent."  Lend.  4to,  1655.  It  appears  from  the 
pamphlet  that  at  the  gaol  delivery  at  Banbury,  26th  7th  Mo.  1655,  many  Quakers  came 
from  Bristol,  Gloucestershire,  Berkshire,  &c.,  out  of  sympathy  with  their  brethren.  Robert 
Rich,  above-mentioned,  was  a  citizen  of  London;  he  preached  in  the  Court  at  Banbury, 
and  was  thereupon  committed  to  prison. 

(37)  Saints  Testimony  (see  note  36). 

(38)  Another  account,  contained  in  Wood's  collection,  says  that  Allen  struck  or  plucked 
off  Farnsworth's  hat,  and  "  grinned  at  him,  and  heaved  his  fist  in  his  wrath,  and  could 
scarce  hold  his  hands." 

(39)  Besse's  Suffering's,  v.  1,  pp.  561,  565.  Farnsworth  used  to  preach  through  the  bars 
of  his  prison  to  the  people  in  the  street.  (See  the  Life  of  John  Roberts,  who  came  from 
Cirencester  to  Banbury  on  purpose  to  hear  the  newly-broached  doctrines  of  the  Quakers 
from  Richard  Farnsworth.) 


454  ZEAL  OF  BANBURY. 

his  tenants,  out  of  their  liouses,  had  their  goods  thrown  into  the 
street,  and  obhged  tliem,  their  wives,  and  seven  children,  to  lie 
in  the  streets  three  weeks  in  a  cold  wet  season ;  and  their  goods 
were  much  damnified."''" 


THE  REPUTED  ZEAL  OF  BAXBURY. 

The  people  of  Banbury,  from  the  reign  of  Elizabeth  to  that 
of  Charles  the  Second,  had  such  reputation  for  being  peculiarly 
zealous  in  matters  relating  to  Religion,  as  to  excite  the  frequent 
and  pointed  remarks  not  only  of  wits  and  humorous  writers,  but 
also  of  grave  divines  and  historians. 

When,  in  1608,  Philemon  Holland  was  carrying  through  the 
press  an  edition  of  Camden's  Britannia  in  English,  Camden 
himself  (it  is  asserted)  went  to  the  printing-office  at  the  time 
when  the  sheet  respecting  Banbury  was  going  to  press  ;  and,  find- 
ing that,  to  his  own  observation  that  the  town  was  famous  for 
Cheese,  the  translator  had  added  Cakes  and  Ale,  he  changed  the 
latter  word  into  Zeal,  "  to  the  great  indignation,"  says  Gibson, 
"  of  the  Puritans,  who  abounded  in  the  town."  In  Camden's 
MS.  Supplement  to  the  Britannia,  which  is  preserved  in  the 
Bodleian  Library,  is  this  note  : — "  Put  out  the  word  Zecde  in  Ban- 
bury, where  some  think  it  a  disgrace,  when  as  zeale  with  know- 
ledge is  the  greater  grace  among  good  Christians  :  for  it  was  first 
foysted  in  by  some  compositor  or  pressman ;  neither  is  it  in  my 
Latin  copie,  which  I  desire  the  reader  to  hold  as  authentic." 
"Whoever  put  in  this  unlucky  word,"  says  Gough,  "it  is  cer- 
tainly in  both  editions  of  Holland's  translation,  and  only  caseo 
in  Camden."" 

The  worthy  Fuller  mentions,  among  the  proverbial  expressions 
relating  to  Oxfordshire,  that  of  "  Banbury  Zeale,  Cheese  and 
Cakes."  He  adds : — "  I  admire  to  find  these  joyned  together  in  so 
learned  an  author  as  Mr.  Cambden,  affirming  that  town  fam'd  for 
these  three  things,  Quam  male  conveniunt?  and  though  Zeal  be 
deservedly  put  first,  how  inconsistent  is  it  with  his  gravity  and 
goodness,  to  couple  a  spiritual  grace  with  matters  of  corporeal 
repast :   so  that,  if  spoken  in  earnest,  it  hath  more  of  a  prophane 

(tO)  Besses  Sufferings,  v.  1,  pp.  664,  .565. 

(41)  Gibson's  Camden's  Britannia  ;  Gougb'sdiUo;  Brewer's  Oxf. 


ZEAL  OF  BANBURY.  45') 

than  pious  pen  ;  if  in  jest,  more  of  a  libeller  than  historian." 
Fuller  adds  that  the  word  was  inserted  bj  mistake  in  Holland's 
first  edition  ;  but  sajs  : — "  what  [was]  casual  in  that,  may  be  sus- 
pected wilful  in  the  next  and  last  edition,  anno  1637,  where  the 
error  is  continued  out  of  design  to  nick  the  town  of  Banburj,  as 
reputed  then  a  place  of  precise  people,  and  not  over  conformable 
in  their  carriage.  Sure  I  am  that  Banbury  had  a  gracious, 
learned,  and  painful  minister  [William  Whateley],  and  this  town 
need  not  be  ashamed  of  nor  grieve  at  what  scoffers  say  or  write 
thereof;  only  let  them  adde  knowledge  to  their  Zeal,  and  then 
the  more  of  Zeal  the  better  their  condition."'- 

Whether  Camden  was  or  was  not  the  Jini,  in  1608,  to  throw 
ridicule  on  the  Banbury  Puritans,  I  am  not  aware ;  but  the 
subject  was  quickly  followed  up  by  various  writers  of  a  different 
class.  In  1614,  Ben  Jonson  produced  his  celebrated  comedy 
entitled  "  Bartholomew  Fair  ;"  among  the  Dramatis  Personce  of 
which  the  term  "  Banbury  Man  "  seems  to  be  intentionally  given 
as  an  equivalent  to  "  Puritan."  The  following  passages  occur 
in  this  comedy  : — 

"  Wimc'ife.—ViheYQ  is  she,  stirring  yet? 

Littletvit. — Stirring !  yes,  and  studying  an  old  elder  come  from  Ban- 
bury, a  suitor  that  puts  in  here  at  meal  tide,"  &c. 

Afterwards  Winwife  is  thus  introduced  : — 

"  Winwife. — Alas,  I  am  quite  off  that  scent  now. 

Quarlous. — How  so? 

Winwife. — Put  off  by  a  brother  of  Banbury,  one  that,  they  say,  is 
come  here,  and  governs  all  already. 

Quarlous. — What  do  you  call  him  ?  I  knew  divers  of  those  Banbtmans 
when  I  was  in  Oxford. 

Littleivit. — Rabbi  Busy,  sir  ;  he  is  more  than  an  elder,  he  is  a  prophet, 
sir. 

Quarlous. — O,  I  know  him  !  a  baker,  is  he  not  ? 

Littlewit. — He  urns  a  baker,  sir,  but  he  does  dream  now,  and  see 
visions  ;  he  has  given  over  his  trade. 

Quarloiis. — I  remember  that  too ;  out  of  a  scruple  he  took,  that,  in 
spiced  conscience,  those  Cakes  he  made  were  served  to  bridales,  may- 
poles, morrisses,  and  such  profane  feasts  and  meetings.  His  christen 
name  is  Zeal-of-the-Land. 

Littlewit. — Yes,  sir  ;  Zeal-of-the-Land  Busy. 

Winwife. — How  !  what  a  name's  there  ! 

Littleivit. — O,  they  have  all  such  names,  sir :   l>e  was  witness  for  Win 

f42)  Fuller's  Worthies. 


456  ZEAL  OF  BANBURY. 

here, — they   will   not  be    called  godfathers,— and  named  her  Win-the- 
Fight :  you  thought  her  name  had  been  Winnifred,  did  you  not?"** 

Ben  Jonson  elsewhere,  among  King  James  tlie  First's  "dis- 
likes" of  seeing,  hearing,  &c.,  gives  "the  loud  pure  wives  of 
Banbury  "  as  one  of  the  King's  dislikes  of  hearing.*' 

Richard  Braithwait  published  "  A  Strappado  for  the  Divell  " 
in  1615.  This  contains  a  piece  headed: — "To  all  true-bred 
Northeme  Sparks,  of  the  generous  society  of  the  Cottoneers;" 
in  which  the  writer  saj'S  : — 

"  But  now  for  Bradford  I  must  haste  away. 

Bradford,  if  I  should  rightly  set  it  forth, 

Stile  it  I  might  Banberry  of  the  North, 

And  well  this  title  with  the  towne  agrees, 

Famous  for  twanging  ale,  zeale,  cakes,  and  cheese  : 

But  why  should  I  set  zeale  behinde  their  ale  ? 

Because  zeale  is  for  some,  but  ale  for  all." 

The  same  Braithwait,  in  his  "  Barnabae  Itinerariimi,"  or 
Drunken  Barnaby's  Four  Journeys,  "wittily  and  merrily  com- 
posed "  about  the  year  1616,  celebrates  the  Banbury  Puritan 
in  Latin  and  English  : — 

"  In  progressu  Boreali, 

Ut  processi  ab  Australi, 

Veni  Banbury,  O  prophanum  ! 

Ubi  vidi  Puritanum, 

Felem  facientem  furem. 

Quia  Sabbatho  stravit  murem." 

"  In  my  progresse  travelling  Northward, 
Taking  my  farewell  o'th'  Southward, 
To  Banbury  came  I,  O  prophane  one  ! 
Where  I  saw  a  Puritane-one 
Hanging  of  his  cat  on  Monday 
For  killing  of  a  mouse  on  Sunday."*' 

(43)  It  is  thought  that  Ben  Jonsou  had  an  individual  in  his  eye  when  he  drew  the  cha- 
racter of  Zeal-of-the-Land  Busy.  From  the  success  which  attended  the  play  of  Bartholo- 
mew Fair,  on  account  of  the  ridicule  with  which  it  covered  the  Puritans,  it  is  said  the 
epiphonema  "  O  rare  Ben  Jonson  !"  was  first  given,  and  afterwards  placed  on  the  author's 
tombstone. — Collection  of  Ben  Jonson  s  Plays. 

Grave  historians,  as  well  as  witty  writers,  have  given  countenance  to  an  opinion  that 
the  Puritans  were  in  the  practice  of  giving  eccentric  or  absurd  religious  names  to  their 
children.  I  have  not  found,  however,  in  the  Parish  Register  of  Banbury,  any  such  absurd 
name  whatever.  "  Epiphany,"  a  man's  name,  and  "  Hopestill,"  a  female's,  are  nearly  all 
that  occur  which  even  approach  to  what  is  represented  to  be  the  Puritanic  character. 

(44)  The  Gipsies  Metamorphosed,  a  Masque. 

(45)  The  story  of  the  Puritan  hanging  his  cat  (whether  true  or  invented)  was  first  re- 
lated by  Braithwait  in  a  short  poem  in  the  "  Strappado."  It  probably  alludes  to  a  current 
story,  since  the  inverted  commas  before  the  eighth  line  seem  to  imply  that  the  subject 
was  borrowed.  Braithwait  was  born  about  the  year  1588.  The  first  excursion  related 
in  his  "  Barnaby  "  commences  at  Banbury,  probably  at  the  date  when  he  was  a  student 
at  Oxhrd.^Strappado  for  the  Divell,  1615  ;  HanUngs  edit,  of  Barnaby,  1818. 


ZEAL  OF  BANBURY.  457 

Richard  Corbet,  some  time  Bishop  of  Oxford,  and  afterwards 
of  Norwich,  wrote  his  "  Iter  Boreale "  while  he  was  a  student  at 
Oxford,  before  the  year  1021.  On  the  return  of  the  party  towards 
Oxford  they  are  described  as  arriving  at  Flore  in  Northampton- 
shire ;  and,  four  days  after,  they  get  to  Banbury  on  St.  Bartho- 
lomew's day,  the  24th  August.     He  says  : — 

"  Imagine  here  us  ambling  downe  the  street, 
Circling  in  Flower,  making  both  ends  meet : 
Where  wee  fare  well  fom-e  dayes,  and  did  complain, 
Like  harvest  folkes,  of  weather  and  the  raine  : 
And  on  the  feast  of  Barthol'mew  wee  try 
What  revells  that  Saint  keepes  at  Banbury.^'' 

**  In  th'  name  of  God,  Amen  !  First  to  begin, 

The  Altar  was  translated  to  an  Inne ; 

Wee  lodged  in  a  Chappell  by  the  signe. 

But  in  a  banck'rupt  Taverne  by  the  wine  : 

Besides,  our  horses  usage  makes  us  thinke 

Twas  still  a  Church,  for  they  in  Coffins  drinke  ;" 

As  if  'twere  congruous  that  the  ancients  lye 

Close  by  those  Altars  in  whose  faith  they  dye. 

Now  you  believe  the  Church  hath  good  varietye 

Of  Monuments,  when  Innes  have  such  satiety ; 

But  nothing  lesse  :  ther's  no  inscription  there, 

But  the  Church-wardens  names  of  the  last  yeare  : 

In  stead  of  Saints  in  windowes  and  on  walls. 

Here  bucketts  hang,  and  there  a  Cobweb  fals  : 

Would  you  not  sweare  they  love  antiquity, 

Who  brush  the  quire  for  perpetviity  ? 

Whilst  all  the  other  pavement  and  the  floore 

Are  supplicants  to  the  surveyors  power 

Of  the  high  wayes,  that  he  would  gravell  keepe  ; 

For  else  in  winter  sure  it  will  be  deepe. 

If  not  for  Gods,  for  Mr.  Wheatlyes  sake, 

Levell  the  walkes  ;  suppose  these  pittfalls  make 

Him  spraine  a  Lecture,  or  misplace  a  joynt 

In  his  long  prayer,  or  his  fiveteenth  point : 

Thinke  you  the  Dawes  or  Stares  can  sett  him  right  ? 

Surely  this  sinne  upon  your  heads  must  light. 

And  say.  Beloved,  what  unchristian  charme 

Is  this  ?  you  have  not  left  a  leg  or  arme 

Of  an  Apostle  :  thinke  you,  were  they  whole, 

That  they  would  rise,  at  least  assume  a  soule  ? 

If  not,  'tis  plaine  all  the  Idolatry 

(46)  "  At  the  signe  of  the  Alter-stone."    Edit.  1648. 

(47)  "  Which  serve  for  troughs  in  the  backside."    Edit.  1648. 

3  M 


458  ZEAL  OF  BANBURY. 

Lyes  in  your  folly,  not  th'  imagery. 

Tis  well  the  pinnacles  are  falne  in  twaine  ; 

For  now  the  devill,  should  he  tempt  againe, 

Hath  r.oe  advantage  of  a  place  soe  high  : 

Fooles,  he  can  dash  you  from  your  Gallery, 

Where  all  your  medley  meete  ;  and  doe  compare, 

Not  what  you  learne,  but  who  is  longest  there  ;' 

The  Puritan,  the  Anabaptist,  Brownist, 

Like  a  grand  sallet :  Tinkers,^^  what  a  Towne  is't  ? 

The  Crosses  also,  like  old  stumps  of  Trees, 

Or  stooles  for  horsemen  that  have  feeble  knees, 

Carry  no  heads  above  ground  :  They  which  tell 

Tliat  Christ  hath  nere  descended  into  hell, 

But  to  the  grave,  his  picture  buried  have 

In  a  farre  deeper  dungeon  then  a  grave  : 

That  is,  descended  to  endure  what  paines 

The  Divell  can  think,  or  such  disciples  braines. 

"  No  more  my  greife,  in  such  prophane  abuses 
Good  whipps  make  better  verses  then  the  muses. 
Away,  and  looke  not  back  ;  away,  whilst  yet 
The  Church  is  standing,  whilst  the  benifitt 
Of  seeing  it  remaines  ;  ere  long  you  shall 
Have  that  rac't  downe,  and  call'd  Apocryphal, 
And  in  some  barne  heare  cited  many  an  author, 
Kate  Stubbs,  Anne  Askew,  or  the  Ladyes  daughter ;" 
Which  shall  be  urg'd  for  fathers.     Stopp  Disdaine, 
When  Oxford  once  appeares,  Satyre  refraine. 
Neighboiu-s,  how  hath  our  anger  thus  out  gon's? 
Is  not  St.  Giles's  this,  and  that  St.  Johns  ? 
Wee  are  return'd  ;  but  just  with  soe  much  ore 
As  Rawleigh  from  his  voyage,  andnoe  more.""" 

William  Wliateley  alludes  to  the  jests  made  on  tlie  town,  iu 
his  sermon  on  the  Fire  in  1628.  He  says : — "  I  beseech  jou 
(brethren)   let   there    be   none,    no   not   one    amongst  you,   that 

(48)  In  the  library  of  Earl  Spencer  at  Althorp  there  is  a  newspaper  which  relates  to  Ban- 
bury Tinkers.  It  is  entitled: — "The  English  Post  from  severall  Parts  of  this  Kingdonie, 
Lately  sent  to  London,  viz.  fimn  Truro  July  26.  Exeter,  July  29.  Newcastle,  July  30. 
Yorke,  July  29.  Lancaster,  July  30.  Dorchester,  July  31 .  Banbury,  July  28.  &c.  &c. 
&c.  Printed  in  the  yeare  1641."  4to.  The  Banbury  portion  is  as  follows :—"  Since  the 
memorable  execution  of  the  Tinkers  in  this  towne,  no  severity  of  any  itinerant  Judge 
hath  been  filed  upon  our  records.  Here  is  a  strong  rumor  of  the  charges  and  delinquen- 
cies of  the  Moderators  in  Law,  who  determined  suites  in  the  foure  Westminsters  tearmes  ; 
but  what  satisfaction  any  of  them  hath  made  either  by  defence  or  sufferance,  wee  are 
cleai'ly  ignorant  of.  The  brethren  amongst  us  (so  tearmed  &  covetous  to  be  tearmed  so) 
are  as  ignorant  as  heretofore,  but  more  malepeit.  They  tnist  they  shall  bee  allowed  (not 
a  Church  but)  a  formality  of  discipline  independant  on  any  superiom-,  but  whom  they  shall 
chuse  out  of  their  pack.  Insolent  are  their  presumptions,  and  they  have  an  intollerable 
measure  'of  the  Spirit  amongst  them ;  excuse  them,  'tis  the  evill  .spirit,  which  we  hope 
will  ere  long  by  the  lawfull  exorcisme  of  authority  be  conjured." 

(49)  Gilchrist  thinks  that  this  lady  was  the  same  who  is  sung  in  "  the  Knight  of  the 
Burning  Pestle." 

(50)  Gilchrist's  and  other  editions  of  Corbet's  Poems. 


ZEAL  OF  BANBURY.  459 

out  of  a  malicious  desire  to  scourge  pietie,  so  nicke-naraed,  vpon 
our  sides,  shall  mocke  at  Puritanisme,  vpon  occasion  of  this  liand 
of  God  which  he  hath  stretched  out  against  vs,  whom  the  world 
hath  pleased,  but  falsely,  to  terme  Puritans."' 

John  Taylor,  the  "Water  Poet,"  writing  in  1636,  says: — 
"  Banbury  is  a  goodly  faire  Market  towne,  and  (as  the  learned 
Cambden)  it  is  famous  for  Cakes,  Cheese,  and  Zeale."' 

Sir  WUliam  Davenant,  in  his  comedy  entitled  "The  Wits," 
which  was  published  in  1636,  makes  the  Younger  Palatine  say : — 

"  Here  dwells  a  lady 
That  hath  not  seen  a  street  since  good  King  Hai-ry 
Call'd  her  to  a  mask  :  she  is  more  devout 
Than  a  Weaver  of  Banbury,  that  hopes 
To  intice  Heaven,  by  singing,  to  make  him  lord 
Of  twenty  looms."' 

Joshua  Sprigge,  who  was  born  at  Banbury,  observes  (in  1647) 
respecting  the  desolation  occasioned  there  by  the  Civil  Wars : — 
"I  cannot  but  also  look  upon,  and  observe  the  end,  a  speciall 
hand  and  intimation  of  God  against  that  professing  place,  where 
in  a  manner  judgment  began,  as  at  the  house  of  God,  and  was 
removed  with  one  of  the  last,  I  pray  God  sanctifie  it  to  them."* 

William  Cartwright,  in  his  comedy  entitled  "The  Ordinary," 
which  appeared  in  1651,  makes  one  of  his  characters  (a  gamester) 
say : — 

"I'll  send  some  forty  thousand  unto  Paul's  ; 
Build  a  cathedral  next  in  Banbury ; 
Give  organs  to  each  parish  in  the  kingdom  ; 
And  so  root  ovit  the  unmusical  elect. "^ 

(1)  Sinne  no  more,  1628,  p.  23.  (2)  Scarce  Tract  of  Taylor's. 

(3)  Davenant's  Wits.  Act  1.  Thomas  Jordan,  in  his  Royal  Arbor  of  Loyal  Poesie,  8vo., 
Lond.  1664,  has  a  Litany  in  which  he  prays  for  deliverance 

"  From  Church  land  purchasers,  from  Town  betrayers, 
From  Weaving  preachers  and  extemp're  Prayers." 
The  following  lines,  contained  in  the  same  work  of  Jordan's,  are  perhaps  applied  to  the 
Banbury  Puritans : — 

"  rie  tell  you  how  the  war  began 

The  Holy  ones  assembled 
For  so  they  call'd  their  Party  than 
Whose  Consciences  so  trembled — 

They  pluckt  Communion-tables  down. 

And  broke  our  painted  glasses ; 
They  threw  our  Altars  to  the  groimd. 

And  tumbled  down  the  Crosses. 
They  set  up  Cromwell  and  his  Heir 

The  Lord  and  Lady  Claypole, 
Because  they  hated  Common-Prayer, 

The  Organ  and  the  maypole." 
(1)  Anglia  Pvediviva,  p.  252.  (5)  Cartwright's  Ordinary,  Act  2,  Scene  3. 

3  M  3 


460  ZEAL  OF  BANBURY. 

John  Cleveland,  in  a  poem  printed  in  1656  "in  Defence  of  the 
decent  ornaments  of  Christchurch,  Oxon,  occasioned  by  a  Ban- 
bm-j  brother,  who  call'd  them  Idolatries,"  asks  : — 

"  Shall  we  say 
Banbury  is  turn'd  Rome,  because  we  may 
See  th'  Holy  Lamb  and  Christopher  ?  nay,  more, 
The  Altar  Stone  set  at  the  tavern  doore."^ 

The  chronicler  Heath  mentions  Banbury  as  "  that  once  famous 
place  for  zealotry."  Dr.  Plot  says : — "  It  is  plain  this  town  was 
ever  zealous  in  matters  of  religion."'     The  subject  of  Banbury 

(6)  Cleveland's  Works  ;  Harding's  edit,  of  Braithwait's  Baruaby. 

(7)  Heath's  Chron. ;  Plot's  Oxf.  I  have  a  scarce  old  tract  by  a  quaint  Puritan  writer, 
entitled  "  Rome  for  Good  News,  or  Good  Newes  from  Rome  :  in  a  Dialogue  between  a 
Seminary  Priest  and  a  Supposed  Protestant,  at  large.  An  Exliortation  to  Bishops.  Where- 
unto  is  also  annexed  a  Discourse  between  a  Poor  Man  and  his  Wife."  Lond.,  4to.  It 
contains  several  allusions  to  religious  matters  at  Banbury.  The  author  describes  his 
poverty  as  being  such  that  he  could  leave  his  family  little  more  "  tlian  to  each  child  Adams 
Combe,  I  mean  their  fingers."  He  had  experienced  several  calls  to  the  pulpit,  but  was 
restrained  by  the  importunities  of  his  wife.  The  first  part  of  the  pamphlet,  the  "  Dia- 
logue," is  in  verse ;  in  which,  in  allusion  to  the  measures  taken  by  the  authorities  against 
the  destruction  of  Church  ornaments,  the  Romish  Priest  is  made  to  say  to  the  supposed 
Protestant : — 

"If  Banbury  men  will  do  there  geere 

I  tro  they  have  their  doom, 
Their  orders  are  well  stufte  I  hear, 

With  welcome  news  to  Rome. 
Ye  welcome  news  I  hope  ere  this, 

'Tis  over  all  the  town, 
Your  Churchmen  have  no  thority. 

To  thrust  our  pictures  down. 
Yooi-  homily  saith  they  defile, 

Wherein  it  seems  to  lye, 
This  order  writes  another  Style, 

To  wit  they  beautifie. 
And  so  concludes  that  who  so  doth, 

Them  molish  or  deface. 
Is  justly  censured  as  one. 

That  doth  profane  the  place." 
In  another  part  allusion  is  made  to  three  persons  named  Bales,  Turner,  and  Sharp;  the 
latter  the  Banbury  Churchwarden  who  has  been  already  mentioned  in  p.  167  of  this  vol., 
in  an  extract  taken  from  another  pamphlet  which  was  probably  from  the  pen  of  this  same 
quaint  writer : — 

"  Will  Turner  think  you  turn  his  coate, 

And  say  he  cares  not,  what 
Will  Sharp  of  Banbury  change  his  note. 
And  now  go  sing  a  flat." 
The  "  Discourse  "  which  follows  makes  the  husband  ask  the  wife  : — "  Do  you  think  that 
Jesus  Christ  will  take  the  bawling  squeling  voices  of  singing  men  and  boyes,  together 
with  the  grunting  squeking  noise  of  the  Bishops  Piggs,  I  mean  the  Organs,  and  present 
them  with  reverence,  be  it  spoken:  he  will  assoon  accept  of  a  pair  of  bagg-pipes,  for  its 
all  but  wind-musick."  In  another  place  he  says  to  her : — "  A  Boy  was  seen  to  offer  a 
candle  to  the  picture  of  the  Devil  which  was  drawn  behind  the  door,  one  demanded 
wherefore  he  did  it,  he  answered,  I  do  not  know  what  need  I  may  have  of  him ;  friends, 
if  you  have  need  to  use  him,  he  will  be  very  ready  to  serve  you  without  a  candle,  he  can 
do  his  work  in  the  dark,  for  nothing  but  merely  foi'  your  souls  sake."  The  discourse 
thus  concludes : — "  Wife,  being  time  to  go  to  bed,  we  will  talk  no  more  to  night,  but  leave 
till  another  time,  and  then  we  will  begin  with  Magna  Charta,  and  talk  over  three  or  four 
sheets  more.  Good  Husband  you  take  the  child  and  the  candle,  I'le  take  the  warming- 
pan  and  some  coles,  and  so  to  bed." 

I  have  another  very  scarce  tract,  entitled  "  The  Brownist  Haeresies  Confvted,  their 
knavery  anatomized,  and  their  fleshly  spirits  painted  at  full,  in  a  true  History  of  one 


ZEAL  OF  BANBURY,  461 

Zeal  has  not  been  forgotten  in  later  times.  Addison,  in  1710, 
says: — "That  facetious  divine,  Dr.  Fuller,  speaking  of  the  town 
of  Banbury  near  a  hundred  years  ago,  tells  us  it  was  a  place 
famous  for  cakes  and  zeal,  which  I  find  by  my  glass  is  true  to 
this  day,  as  to  the  latter  part  of  this  description  ;  though  I  must 
confess,  it  is  not  in  the  same  reputation  for  cakes  that  it  was  in 
the  time  of  that  learned  author."^  The  venerated  John  Wesley 
speaks  (Oct.  24th  and  25th,  1784)  of  the  religious  feeling  at 
Banbury.  The  Old  Dissenting  (Presbyterian)  Meeting-house, 
wherein  he  preached,  would  not  nearly  contain  the  congregation 
who  came  to  hear  him  ;  and,  Wesley  says,  "  God  uttered  his  voice, 
yea,  and  that  a  mighty  voice  :  neither  the  sorrow,  nor  the  joy, 
which  was  felt  that  night,  will  quickly  be  forgotten."  On  the 
second  day,  notwithstanding  the  darkness  and  rain,  the  house  was 
filled  both  above  and  below :  and  never,  he  says,  "  did  I  see  a 
people  who  appeared  more  ready  prepared  for  the  Lord."  At 
the  same  date  the  Brackley  people  are  represented  as  imderstand- 
ing  Wesley  no  more  than  if  he  "  had  been  talking  Greek ;"  and 
Towcester  is  recorded  as  a  "poor  dead  "  place.® 

Sir  Walter  Scott  has  made  his  Presbyterian  preacher  at  Wood- 
stock (in  Cromwell's  time)  remind  his  hearers  of  the  superior 
zeal  of   the  people   of   Banbury.^"     The   subject  of  the  Banbury 

Mistris  Sarah  Miller  of  Banbury  in  Oxfordshire.  Wherein  is  contained  the  Preaching 
of  a  Barber,  his  zeale  towards  this  new  Sister,  how  the  spirit  of  the  flesh  moved  him, 
how  shea  granted,  how  she  fell  mad,  and  how  by  the  mercy  of  God  she  was  released  of 
all.  Printed  in  the  yeare  1641."  4to.  The  story  is  briefly  this.  "In  a  town  called 
Banburie,  in  the  Countie  of  Oxford,  a  place  alwaies  too  much  encumbred  with  Brownists 
and  Separatists,  dwelt  a  gentleman  of  a  very  honest  and  upright  heart,  who  had  a  daughter 
about  the  age  of  niueteene,  she  was  witty,  but  withall  proud,  which  the  devil  alwaies 
inveigled  her  with,  that  it  might  prove  a  cloud  to  eclipse  all  her  other  vertues."  The 
young  lady,  disguising  herself,  goes  to  a  meeting  of  the  Brownists  which  was  in  a  large 
barn,  that  "  she  might  behold  and  see  the  manner  of  their  living,  and  how  they  were  affected 
in  their  Religion."  On  her  inquiring  of  a  sister  of  the  Sect  as  to  who  was  the  preacher 
for  the  day,  she  was  told  that  a  very  honest  chimney-sweeper  had  been  appointed  for  that 
purpose,  but  was  dismissed  because  he  went  in  black  like  our  corrupted  Popish  scholars: 
however  they  should  have  a  worthy  man,  because  it  was  Mr.  Bryan's  turn  to  elect  the 
man  for  the  day.  The  preacher  turned  out  to  be  a  Barber ;  and  he,  after  noticing  the 
new  sister  at  the  meeting,  followed  her  away  and  made  love  to  her ;  while  she,  yielding  to 
his  passion,  "  lost  more  than  she  could  ever  gain  again  with  Ganges  riches."  After  keeping 
the  Brownist  company  some  days,  the  young  lady  returned  to  her  father,  in  "  pensive 
soiTow  ;"  but  soon  after  betrayed  symptoms  of  insanity,  and  in  her  madness  "  these  were 
all  her  words, '  I'm  dam'd,  I'm  dam'd.' "  Her  father  hereupon  sent  for  a  friend,  one  Mr. 
GiU  of  Oxford,  a  "  reverend  divine ;"  who  immediately  rode  to  Banbiu-y  and  endeavoured 
to  pacify  the  unhappy  maniac.  She  however  interrupted  the  divine,  calling  for  wine,  and 
declaring  that  what  he  spake  was  false  ;  "  and  having  a  Venice-glasse  in  her  hand  fild 
wth  wine,  shee  threw  it  to  the  ground  with  these  words.  That  it  was  as  impossible  for 
her  to  be  saved,  as  for  that  glasse  to  rebound  into  her  hand  unbroken,  which  contrary  to 
the  expectation  of  all  the  beholders,  the  Glasse  did."  This  encouraged  the  lady  to  tell 
her  father  and  the  divine  her  miserable  tale.  "  Reader,  this  I  have  pubhshd,"  says  the 
writer,  "  that  you  may  read  and  rejoyce  and  take  heed,  and  that  the  Brownist  may  see 
their  divellish  heresies,  and  repent." 

(8)  Tatler,  No.  220.  (9)  John  Wesley's  Journal, 

(10)  Sir  Walter  Scott's  Woodstock. 


462  ZEAL  OF  BANBURY.— WALTER  GOSTELOW: 

Puritan  hanging  his  cat,  as  told  by  Braithwait,  served  for  one 
of  the  caricatures  which  were  published  in  1833  and  1834, 
during  the  Parliamentary  discussions  on  Sir  Andrew  Agnew's  Sab- 
bath bills. 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Walter  Gostelow,  a  religious  enthusiast  of  the  Crom- 
wellian  period,  was  the  son  of  Richard  Gostelow  of  Prescot 
House  near  Cropredy,  and  born  there  about  the  year  1600.  Pres- 
cot House,  Gostelow  says  (writing  in  1655),  had,  withiu  his  me- 
mory, "  groves  and  good  walks  about  it ;  some  religious  house 
I  conceive  it  to  have  been  ;  an  altar  and  chappel  I  have  known 
in  it,  the  parish  is  Croppredy  in  Oxfordshire,  scituate  some  three 
miles  from  Bambury.  My  elder  brother,  bearing  his  [i.  e.  his 
father's]  name,  now  lives  in  it,  but  truly  I  never  knew  my  father 
to  have  any  the  least  repute  to  be  a  prophet.""  Gostelow  was 
a  staunch  Royahst,  and  was  in  the  company  of  Charles  the  First, 
at  Southam,  on  the  day  before  the  battle  of  Edgehill.^'^  He 
published,  in  1654,  "A  Letter  to  the  Lord  Protector  ;"  Lond.,  fol. 
In  1655  came  out  liis  priacipal  work,  entitled  : — "  Charls  Stuart 
and  Oliver  Cromwel  united ;  Or,  Glad  Tidings  of  Peace  to  all 
Christendom ;  To  the  Jews  and  Heathen,  Conversion ;  To  the 
Church  of  Rome,  certain  downfall :  The  Irish  not  to  be  Trans- 
planted. Extraordinarily  declared  by  God  Almighty  to  the  Pub- 
lisher, Walter  Gostelow.  Priuted  for  the  Author;"  8vo.  This 
work  abounds  with  visions  and  absurd  stories.  Gostelow  also 
published  "  The  Coming  of  God  in  Mercy  and  Vengeance,"  Lond., 
8vo.,  1658. 

The  learned  writer  Sir  Edward  Leigh  became  a  resident 
at  Banbury  in  consequence  of  being  a  great  admirer  of  Whate- 
ley's  preaching  ;  but,  W^hateley  dying  in  1639,  Sir  Edward  returned 
to  London.     Some  of  his  children  were  born  at  Banbury.^^ 

Samuel  Newman,  who  was  the  son  of  Richard  Newman,  was 
born  at  Banbmy  (according  to  the  author  of  the  History  of  New 
England)  in  1600,  but  his  baptism  is  recorded  in  the  Register 
on   the  24th   May   1602.      He   was  sent   to  St.    Edmund    Hall, 

(11)  Gostelow's  Charls  Stuart  and  Oliver  Cromwel  united,  pp.  204,  205. 

(12)  The  same  book,  p.  224.  (13)  Wood's  Athenee;  Register  of  Banbury. 


SAMUEL  NEWMAN:— JOHN  LANGLEY.  40.3 

Oxford,  and,  liaving  taken  the  degree  of  B.  A.  on  the  17th  October 
1 020,  soon  afterward  quitted  the  university.  He  became  possessed 
of  a  living  in  Oxfordshire,  but,  being  Puritanically  inclined,  the 
prosecutions  of  the  spiritual  courts  obliged  him  to  make  seven 
removals ;  and,  in  1038,  he  retired  to  New  England  and  became 
a  "congregational  man,"  minister  of  the  church  of  Rehoboth  there. 
It  is  said  that  he  was  zealous  in  the  way  he  professed,  of  a 
heavenly  conversation,  a  lively  preacher,  indefatigable  in  his 
studies,  and  "marvellously  ready  in  the  holy  scriptures."  He 
wrote  the  Concordance  of  the  Bible,  by  S.  N.,  London  1043,  in 
folio.  He  died  in  New  England  on  the  5th  July  1063,  and  was 
buried  at  Rehoboth." 

John  Langley  was  bom  at  Banbury.  He  became  a  com- 
moner of  Magdalen  Hall,  Oxford,  about  the  year  1012;  was 
admitted  B.  A.  on  the  5th  July  1010,  and  M.  A.  on  the  24th 
April  1019  ;  and  some  time  after  was  made  master  of  the  college- 
school  in  Gloucester,  and  a  prebendary  of  Gloucester  Cathedral. 
He  taught  at  Gloucester  about  twenty  years,  and  was  then  elected 
chief  master  of  St.  Paul's  School  in  London  in  1640.  He  was 
learned,  says  Anthony  a  Wood,  "in  the  whole  body  of  learning, 
and  not  only  an  excellent  linguist,  grammarian,  historian,  cos- 
mographer,  and  artist,  but  a  most  judicious  divine,  and  so  great 
an  antiquary,  that  his  delight  and  knowledge  in  antiquities,  es- 
pecially those  of  our  own  nation,  doth  deserve  greater  commen- 
dation than  I  can  now  in  a  few  lines  express.  He  was  beloved 
of  learned  men,  particularly  of  Selden,  and  those  that  adhered 
to  the  Long  Parliament,  but  had  not  much  esteem  from  the  or- 
thodox clergy,  beause  he  was  a  Puritan,  and  afterwards  a  witness 
against  Archb.  Laud  at  his  tryal."  Langley  died,  m  liis  house 
adjoining  to  St.  Paul's  School,  on  the  IStli  September  1057  ;  and 
was  buried  in  Mercers'  Chapel  in  Cheapside  on  the  2 1  st ;  on 
which  occasion  a  sermon  was  preached  by  Dr.  Reynolds,  after- 
wards Bishop  of  Norwich.  He  is  said  to  have  had  "  a  very 
awful  presence  and  speech,  that  struck  a  mighty  respect  and  fear 
in  his  scholars,"  which  however  wore  off  after  they  were  a  little 
used  to  him,  so  that,  tlirough  his  management,  they  both  feared 
him  and  loved  him.  "  He  was  so  fearful  of  any  miscarriage  in 
the  duties  of  his  place,  that  in  a  former  sickness  he  desired,  if  he 

(14)  Register  of  Banbury;  Bliss's  Wood's  Athense,  and  Fasti  Osou ;  Neal's  Hist. 
Puritans. 


464  JOHN  LANGLEY  :— EDWARD  GEE. 

should  then  have  died,  to  have  been  buried  at  the  school  door, 
in  regard  he  had  in  his  ministration  there  come  short  of  the 
duties  which  he  owed  unto  the  school."  He  was  so  much  in 
favour  with  the  Mercers'  Company  that  they  accepted  of  his  re- 
commendation of  his  successor.  When  he  was  buried,  all  the 
scholars  attended  his  funeral,  walking  before  the  corpse  (hung  with 
verses  instead  of  escutcheons)  from  the  school  to  Mercers'  Chapel, 
with  white  gloves  on.^^ 

Edward  Gee,  an  author,  and  noted  Presbyterian,  was  born 
at  Banbury.  The  entry  in  the  Register  which  appears  to  relate 
to  him,  is  as  follows : — "  Edward  son  to  John  Gee  was  bapt  ye 
i  day  "  [of  November  1612].  Anthony  a  Wood  however  con- 
ceives (though  he  pretends  to  no  authority  for  the  statement)  that 
Edward  Gee,  though  born  at  Banbury,  was  the  son  of  an  Ed- 
ward Gee  of  Lancashire,  and  that  his  birth  occurred  in  1613. 
He  was  bred  in  Newton  School  at  Manchester,  became  a  com- 
moner of  Brasenose  College,  Oxford,  in  Michaelmas  Term  1626, 
took  one  degree  in  arts,  and  then  left  the  university  for  a  time. 
At  length,  entering  into  holy  orders,  he  proceeded  master  in 
the  said  faculty  in  1636,  being  about  that  time  chaplain  to 
Dr.  Richard  Parr  (bishop  of  Sodor  and  Man),  and  a  minister 
in  Lancashire.  When  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  he  sided  with 
the  Presbyterians,  took  the  Covenant,  and,  for  his  great  activity, 
was  made  rector  of  the  rich  church  of  Eccleston  before  1648, 
in  the  place  of  Dr.  Parr.  He  was  also,  in  1654,  an  active  as- 
sistant to  the  Commissioners  for  Lancashire  for  the  ejection  of 
[such  as  were  called]  scandalous  and  ignorant  ministers  and 
schoohnasters.  He  died  on  the  26th  May  1660,  and  was  buried 
in  the  Church  of  Eccleston.^'' 

Samuel  Wells,  a  noted  Puritan  divine,  was  by  order  of  the 
House  of  Lords  inducted  to  the  vicarage  of  Banbury  on  the  1 3th 
September  1648  (as  before  recorded  pp.  434,  435)."     He  was  the 

(15)  Wood's  Athense,  and  Fasti  Oxon  ;  Magna  Brit.  Langley  wrote  "  Totius  Rhetoricae 
Adumbratio  in  Usum  Scholae  Paulina,"  Camb.  1644,  Lond.  1650,  &c. ;  and  an  "  Intro- 
duction of  Grammar,"  several  times  printed.  He  also  translated  into  English  the  book 
of  Polidore  Virgil  entitled  "  De  Rerum  Inventorihus."  Laugley  also  made  several  col- 
lections of  histories  and  antiquities  which  he  had  gathered  in  his  travels  through  various 
parts  of  England ;  which,  after  his  death  (it  is  said),  coming  into  the  possession  of  his 
brother  living  near  Banbury,  were  sold,  with  his  collection  of  coins,  for  "  money's  sake." 

(16)  Wood's  Athense.  He  was  the  author  of  "A  Treatise  of  Prayer  and  of  Divine 
Providence,"  1653;  and  "The  Divine  Right  and  Original  of  the  Civil  Magistrate  from 
God,  grounded  on  Rom.  xiii.  1 ;"  1658.  Soon  after,  says  Wood,  there  "  was  another  part 
of  this  put  out,  concerning  the  oath  of  allegiance,  which  I  have  not  yet  seen." 

(17)  The  entry  made  of  his  induction,  in  the  Register  of  Banbury,  is  as  follows:^ 
"  Novemb.'  27o  1648.    Samuel  Welles  Artium  Magister,  qui  vicesimo  tertio  die  Septemb' 


SAMUEL  WELLS. 


465 


son  of  William  Wells  of  St.  Peter's  in  Oxford,  where  he  was  born 
on  the  18th  August  1614.  He  was  brought  up  in  Magdalene  Col- 
lege, and  took  his  master's  degree  in  1636.  In  1637  he  married 
Dorothy  Dojley  of  Aubom  in  Wiltshire.  He  was  ordained 
December  23rd  1638  ;  at  which  time  he  kept  a  school  at  Wands- 
worth. In  1639  he  was  assistant  to  Dr.  Temple  at  Battersea. 
In  1644,  he  left  his  family  in  London  for  security  during  the 
war,  while  he  went  to  serve  as  a  regimental  chaplain  to  Colonel 
Essex.  In  1647  he  held  the  rectory  of  Remenham  in  Berkshire, 
where  his  income  was  about  ci*200  per  annum,  and  there  were 
not  more  than  twenty  families  in  the  parish,  "In  1649,"  says 
Calamy  [but  the  foregoing  extracts  show  that  it  was  in  1648], 
"he  accepted  of  a  call  to  Banbury,  though  the  profit  was  much 
less,  that  he  might  have  an  opportunity  of  doing  good  to  the 
more  souls."  His  honourable  efforts  to  preserve  the  life  of  the 
King  have  been  already  mentioned  (p.  436). 

In  1654,  while  Wells  continued  at  Banbury,  commissioners  were 
appointed,  with  assistants  to  them  chosen  from  the  clergy  of  every 
county,  for  ejecting  such  ministers  and  schoolmasters  as  were 
considered  scandalous,  ignorant,  and  insufficient.  Samuel  Wells 
of  Banbury,  and  John  Taylor  minister  of  Broughton,  together 
with  the  celebrated  John  Owen,  Thomas  Goodwin,  Thank- 
ful Owen  president  of  St.  John's  College,  and  several  others, 
were  appointed  assistant-commissioners  for  the  county  of  Oxford. 
Calamy  says  that  Wells  was  offered  the  presentation  of  Brink- 
worth,  a  rich  parsonage,  but  refused  it,  and  continued  in  Banbury 
till  August  1662 ;  and  then  remitted  an  hundred  pounds  of  what 
was  due  to  him  :  and  when  he  had  done,  he  cheerfully  declared, 
"that  he  had  not  one  carking  thought  about  the  support  of  his 
family,  though  he  had  then  ten  children,  and  his  wife  was  big 
with  another." 

In  1662,  subsequently  to  the  Restoration,  three  months  having 
been  allowed  to  the  then  incumbents  of  livings  for  conformity 
on  Church  matters,  the  nonconforming  ministers  were  ejected 
on  St.  Bartholomew's  day,  and  Wells  was  one  among  the  num- 

1648  iuductus  est  in  realem,  actualem  et  corporalem  possessionem  Vicariae  de  Banbury 
per  Thomam  Lodge  Rectorem  de  Dreyton,  legit  die  p'dicto  triginta  et  novem  Articulos 
Religionis  cum  ratiflcatione ;  nobis  pesentibus 

William  Whately  Maior  William  Hawkins  Da  Eyre 

Nathaniell  Hill  James  West 

John  Webb  William  Pym 

Thomas  Halhed  Rowland  Hawse 

3  N 


466  SAMUEL  WELLS  :— DR.  RICHARD  WHITE: 

ber.  It  appears,  however,  from  an  entry  in  tlie  Register,  that  he 
continued  to  reside  at  Banbury.  But  in  1665,  the  Five-Mile 
Act'^  obliged  him  to  remove  from  Banbury;  and  he  there- 
upon took  up  his  abode  at  Deddington,  from  which  place  he  wrote 
every  week  to  his  friends  at  Banbury.  Afterwards,  when  no 
longer  prohibited,  he  returned  to  Banbury  ;  where  he  purchased 
"  a  pleasant  dwelling,  and  continued  in  it  till  liis  death." 

At  the  date  of  Samuel  Wells's  return  to  Banbury,  RiCHARD 
White,  afterwards  Dr.  White,  was  Vicar  here  ;  and  he  and  Wells, 
says  Calamy,  "  had  a  very  fair  and  friendly  correspondence.  He 
often  heard  Mr.  White,  and  Mr.  White  (though  secretly)  would 
sometimes  hear  him  in  private  ;  and  he  often  used  to  say  to  him, 
'  I  pray  God  bless  your  labours  in  private,  and  mine  in  publick.'  " 
It  is  recorded  that,  one  day,  when  White  was  paying  a  \dsit  to 
Wells,  the  former  made  this  remark  : — "  Mr.  Wells,  I  wonder 
how  you  do  to  live  so  comfortably.  Methinks  you,  with  your 
numerous  family,  live  more  plentifully  on  the  providence  of  God 
than  I  can  with  the  benefits  of  the  parish."  Calamy  says  that 
WeUs  "was  of  a  cheerful  disposition,  and  of  a  large  and  Hberal 
heart  to  all,  but  especially  to  good  uses.  It  was  the  expression 
of  one  that  had  often  heard  him  preach,  that  the  ears  of  his 
auditors  were  chained  to  his  lips."  He  published  one  tract, 
entitled  "  A  Spirituall  Remembrancer,  The  Substance  of  a  Fare- 
well Sermon  at  Banbury,  on  Acts.  xx.  27 ;"  and  also  his  Letters 
to  Ms  Banbury  friends. ^^ 

John  French,  the  son  of  John  French  of  Broughton,  was 
born  at  Broughton  in  1616,  became  a  physician,  and,  through  the 
patronage  of  the  Fiennes  family,  was  appointed  one  of  the  two 
physicians  to  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax's  army.  He  wrote  several 
works,  and  died  in  1657."'* 

Joshua  Sprigge  (several  times  mentioned  in  this  volume 
as  the  author  of  "  Anglia  Rediviva,")  was  born  at  Banbury  in 
1618.  In  April  of  that  year  it  is  recorded  in  the  Register  that 
"Josuah  Sprig  sonn  to  W""  Sprigge  was  baptized  the  19  daye." 
According  to  Anthony  a  Wood,  this  William  Sprigge  had  been 

(18)  This  severe  and  impolitic  Act  exacted  an  oath  from  the  Sequestered  Ministers  that 
it  was  not  lawful,  on  any  pretence,  to  take  arms  against  the  King,  and  that  they  would 
not  at  any  time  endeavour  an  alteration  in  the  government  of  Church  or  State.  Those  who 
refused  the  oath  were  not  permitted  to  come,  except  upon  the  public  road,  within  five  miles 
of  any  city,  coi-poration,  or  place  where  they  had  been  ministers. 

(19)  Bliss's  Wood's  Athenee,  and  Fasti  Oxon  ;  Calamy's  Lives  of  Ejected  Ministers;  Ken- 
net's  Register;  Chalmers's  Biog.  Diet.;  Register  of  Banbury;  Palmer's  Nonconformists' 
Memorial. 

(20)  WooA. 


JOSHUA  SPRIGGE.  467 

at  one  time  a  servant  to  Lord  Saye,  and  afterwards  steward  of 
New  College,  Oxford.  A  William  Sprigge  is  however  mentioned 
in  the  Borough  accounts,  in  1621,  as  being  a  lawyer  at  Banbury. 
The  Puritanical  principles  of  the  father  may  be  guessed  from 
the  Scriptural  names  which  he  gave  to  some  of  his  children, 
namely,  Joshua,  Rebecca,  Hester,  Caleb,  Seth,  Jonathan,  and 
Sarah.  Joshua  Sprigge  mentions  having  seen  the  strange  sights 
(Aurora  Borealis)  in  the  air  over  Banbury  in  1631.  (See  p.  281.) 
He  became  a  commoner  of  New  Inn  in  midsummer  term  1634, 
at  the  age  of  16  years;  but  he  left  it  without  a  degree,  went  into 
Scotland,  and  became  M.  A.  at  Edinburgh,  and  a  preacher.  A 
little  before  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  he  went  to  London,  where 
he  became  preacher  at  St.  Mary's  Church,  Aldermanbury :  he 
afterwards  took  the  Covenant,  was  made  minister  of  St.  Pancras 
Church  in  Soperlane,  and  at  length  became  a  retainer  of  Sir 
Thomas  Fairfax,  general  of  the  Parliament's  army.  In  1648  he 
was  constituted  one  of  the  fellows  of  All  Souls'  College,  Oxford, 
by  the  committee  and  visitors  who  were  appointed  by  Parliament 
to  reform  the  University ;  and  in  the  following  year  he  was  in- 
corporated M.  A.  as  he  had  stood  at  Edinburgh.  Wliile  he 
continued  in  All  Souls'  College,  Wood  says  he  was  "  of  civil  con- 
versation, but  far  gone  in  enthusiasm  ;  and  blamed  much  by  some 
of  the  fellows  then  there,  for  his  zeal  of  having  the  liistory  of 
our  Saviour's  ascension,  curiously  carved  from  stone  over  that 
College  gate,  to  be  defaced,  after  it  had  remained  there  since  the 
foundation  of  that  house."  Sprigge's  efforts,  in  the  beginning 
of  the  year  1649,  to  save  the  life  of  Charles  the  First,  have  been 
mentioned  in  p.  437.  IVIr.  Ashmole  has  left  an  account  concern- 
ing Sprigge's  sermon  at  Whitehall,  that  on  a  fast  there  on  the 
21st  January,  Joshua  Sprigge  preached  from  the  text: — "He 
that  sheds  blood,  by  man  shall  his  blood  be  shed."  Mr.  Foxley 
preached  next,  on  the  same  side  ;  but  when  he  had  done,  Hugh 
Peters  got  up  and  preached  for  "  doing  justice  on  the  King," 
which  was  esteemed  by  the  auditory  there  as  making  amends  for 
the  two  other  sermons. 

Joshua  Sprigge  became  a  noted  Independent;  and  afterwards, 
says  Wood,  was  "a  great  favourer  of  factious  and  blasphemous 
persons,  particularly  that  grand  impostor  James  Naylor  quaker, 
in  whose  behalf  he  did,  in  the  head  of  an  hundred  men,  deliver 
a  petition  in  favour  of  him  to  Oliver  Lord  Protector."  This 
3n  3 


468  JOSHUA  SPRIGGE. 

act  of  Sprigge's  cannot  fairly  merit  censure ;  the  barbarous 
punisbment,  wbicb  was  inflicted  on  the  poor  fanatic  Najlor  by 
the  equally  fanatical  Parliament,  being  enough  to  excite  the 
sympathy  of  any  one  who  was  possessed  of  proper  feelings  of 
humanity.'-'  This  was  in  1656.  After  the  Restoration,  Joshua 
Sprigge  retired  to  an  estate  which  he  had  purchased  at  Cra^^ord 
in  Kent,  and  lived  privately  there,  but  "frequented  conventicles." 
Subsequently  to  the  death  of  James  Lord  Saye  (which  occurred 
in  1673),  he  married  the  widow  of  that  nobleman  (Frances,  the 
daughter  of  Edward  Viscount  Wimbledon),  with  whom  scandal 
had  accused  Sprigge  of  having  familiarity  during  the  life  of  her 
first  husband.  "  But  she  being  a  holy  sister,''  says  ^Yood,  "  and 
[having]  kept,  or  caused  to  be  kept,  conventicles  in  her  house, 
they,  upon  trouble  ensuing,  removed  to  Highgate  near  London, 
where  our  author  Sprigge  died."  His  death  occurred  in  June 
1684  ;  and  his  remains  were  interred  at  Cra^-ford,  in  the  church 
there.  "  About  a  fortnight  after,"  says  Wood,  "  his  beloved  wife 
Frances  dying,  was,  I  presume,  buried  near  him.  So  that  the 
estate  of  him  the  said  Joshua  Sprigge  went  to  his  yoimger  bro- 
ther William."'-^  By  his  last  will,  dated  June  6th  1684,  Joshua 
Sprigge  bequeathed  £500  to  the  Corporation  of  Banbury,  to  build 

(21)  The  Parliament  was  occupied  from  the  6th  December  to  the  17th  of  the  same  in 
considering  of  Naylor's  guilt  and  punishment.  On  the  16th,  on  a  motion  made  that  the 
punishment  should  be  death,  the  said  motion  was  lost  by  a  majority  of  ninety-six  to  eighty- 
two.  The  brutal  punishment  which  was  actually  inflicted  will  be  found  recorded  in  the 
Parliamentary  Hist.  Eng.  (v.  21,  p.  45.)  It  is  recorded  in  the  Quakers'  writings  that 
this  same  Parliament  pennitted  themselves  to  be  addressed  in  a  Petition  which  declared 
that  "  more  than  the  terrors  of  Mount  Sinai  dwelt  on  their  honourable  House."  Such  were 
they  who  punished  Naylor's  blasphemy!—/.  G.  Sevan's  Observations  on  the  Religious 
Peculiarities  of  Friends. 

(22)  Wood's  Athense ;  Register  of  Banbury .  Joshua  Sprigge  was  the  author  of  various 
Sermons,  printed  from  1640  to  1649;  as, — 1.  God  a  Christian's  All,  himself  nothing;  on 
Gen.  V.  24,  printed  1610; — 2.  The  Dying  and  Living  Chiistian,  &c. ;  on  Rom.  xiv.  8; 
Lond.,  8vo.,  1048; — 3.  A  'Testimony  to  approaching  Glory,  in  five  SeiTQons  delivered  at  S. 
Pancrass  Church  in  Soperlane;  sec.  edit.,  Lond.,  1649; — 4.  A  Farther  Testimony,  &c., 
8vo.  In  some  of  these  sermons  there  are  said  to  have  been  "  several  blasphemies."  The 
celebrated  John  Owen  wrote  "  upon  occasion  of  a  late  book  published  by  Mr.  Joshua 
Sprigg,  containing  erroneous  doctrine."  Baxter  mentions  Sprigge  as  the  "chief"  of  Sir 
Harry  Vane's  more  open  disciples,  "  too  well  known  by  a  book  of  his  sermons  :"  and  other 
Puritanical  writers  express  the  same  opinion. 

The  work  by  which  Joshua  Sprigge's  name  is  now  chiefly  known  is  his  "  Anglia  Re- 
DivivA  ;  England's  Recovery  :  Being  the  History  of  the  Motions,  Actions,  and  Successes  of 
the  Army  under  the  conduct  of  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax  Knight,  Capt.-General  of  all  the 
Parliaments  Forces  in  England :"  Lond.,  1647,  folio.  Wood  surmises  that  Nathaniel 
Fiennes  had  some  hand  in  writing  this  work.  Whether  Joshua  Sprigge's  sermon  respect- 
ing the  proceedings  against  the  King  (see  pp.  437,  467)  was  ever  published,  is  not  known. 
Other  works  of  Sprigge's  were, — "  Solace  for  Saints  in  the  Saddest  Times,"  8vo. ;  and — 
"  News  of  a  New  World  from  the  Word  and  Works  of  God  compared  together ;  evi- 
dencing that  the  times  of  the  Man  of  Sin  are  legally  determined,  and  by  the  same  right 
the  days  of  the  Son  of  Man  are  already  commenced ;  with  an  Account  of  the  Times  of 
Gog  and  Magog,  and  of  the  three  last  Vials:"  Lend.,  1676,  8vo.  Besides  these.  Wood 
says,  "he  hath  other  things,  without  doubt,  extant,  but  I  cannot  yet  in  all  my  searches  find 
ihcm  out." — Wood's  Athena. 


WILLIAM  SPRIGGE.  469 

a  Workhouse  and  set  the  poor  to  work  at  Banbury,  "  the  place  of 
his  nativity."-^ 

William  Sprig ge,  the  younger  brother  of  Joshua  Sprigge, 
was  bom  at  Banbury,  and  baptized  there  on  the  9th  July  1033. 
He  was  admitted  B.  A.  at  Oxford  on  the  I2th  October  1652; 
and,  on  the  following  11th  December,  was,  by  the  recommenda- 
tion of  Oliver  Cromwell  (Chancellor  of  the  University)  made  a 
fellow  of  Lincoln  College.  On  the  15th  June  1655,  he  became 
M.  A.  there  ;  and  in  1657  he  was  made  one  of  the  first  fellows 
of  the  College  founded  at  Durham  by  Oliver  Cromwell.  That 
college  being  dissolved  in  1659,  William  Sprigge  retired  to  Lin- 
coln College,  Oxford ;  and,  being  ejected  therefrom  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  by  the  King's  commissioners,  he  settled  for  a  time 
at  Gray's  Inn  (of  which  he  was  then  a  barrister),  and  had  some 
expectations  relating  to  his  profession  from  James  duke  of  York. 
Soon  after,  being  invited  into  Ireland,  he  settled  in  Dublin,  fol- 
lowed his  profession,  married,  and  lived  there  till  his  brother 
Joshua  died  in  1684;  "much  about  which  time,"  says  Anthony 
a  Wood,  "  he  settled  at  Crayford  in  Kent,  where,  I  think,  he  now 
lives.  "^^ 

(23)  Reports  of  the  Commissioners  on  Charities.  In  a  Chancery  suit  in  1706,  it 
was  ordered  that  William  Sprigge  should  pay  to  the  Corporation  of  Banbury  £'1015,  for 
principal  and  interest ;  and  the  Corporation  were  required  to  give  security  that  they  would 
lay  out  the  money  according  to  the  terms  of  Joshua  Sprigge's  will.  The  Corporation 
subsequently  laid  out  (on  account  of  the  Workhouse  which  was  established  in  a  building 
on  the  east  side  of  South  Bar  Street)  i£440.  lis.  8d. ;  and  the  remainder  of  the  money  was 
placed  in  the  hands  of  Lord  Guilford  and  others.  The  amount  of  money  thus  put  into 
Lord  Guilford's  hands  was  increased  by  other  sums  until,  in  1750,  his  Lordship  acknow- 
ledged the  receipt  of  ^£750 ;  the  payment  of  which,  with  interest,  was  secured  on  property 
in  Neithorp  and  Drayton.  The  interest,  £S0  per  year,  is  stated  to  be  paid  to  the  Cham- 
berlain of  the  Coi-poration,  who  repays  ^£26  per  annum  to  the  Poor  Eate,  and  the  remain- 
ing £i  to  a  baker  who  provides  twenty  loaves  on  the  first  Sunday  in  every  month  for 
distribution  by  the  Churchwardens.—  Reports  on  Charities. 

(24)  William  Sprigge  was  the  author  of—"  Philosophical  Essays,  with  brief  Advisos  ;  ac- 
commodated to  the  Capacity  of  the  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  sometime  Students  of  the  English 
Academy  lately  erected  at  London,"  1657: — "Miscellaneous  Discourses:" — "An  Appen- 
dix of  Advice  to  Students :" — "  A  Modest  Plea  for  a  Common-wealth  against  Monarchy  : 
In  which  the  genuine  Nature  and  true  Interest  of  a  Free  State  is  briefly  stated:  Its  Con- 
sistency with  a  National  Clergy,  mercenary  Lawyers,  and  hereditary  Nobility,  examined  ; 
together  with  the  Expediency  of  an  Agrarian,  and  Rotation  of  Officers,  asserted;"  Lond., 
4to.,  1659 :— "  Apology  for  Younger  Brothers,  the  Restitution  of  Gavelkind,  and  Relief  of 
the  Poor ;  with  a  lift  at  Tythes,  and  Reformation  of  the  Laws  and  Universities."  This 
last  was  printed  with  "  A  Modest  Plea,"  and  published  in  August  1659 ;  but  both  being 
full  of  errors,  were  corrected  and  printed  in  8vo.  in  December  following.  They  were 
greedily  bought  up,  says  Anthony  Wood,  "  and  taken  into  the  bauds  of  all  curious  men, 
and  being  by  them  highly  commended,  some  malicious  persons  there  were,  particularly 
Henry  Stubbe  of  Christ  Church,  that  reported,  that  William  Sprigge  was  not  the  author  of 
them,  but  Franc.  Osbourne,  who  died  in  Feb.  1658;  some  of  whose  papers  coming  after 
bis  death  into  the  hands  of  the  said  Sprigge,  his  intimate  acquaintance,  he  published  them 
therefore  as  his.  Yet  all  that  knew  Sprigge  well,  knew  him  to  be  an  ingenious  man,  and 
able  to  write  such  a  book,  as  elsewhere  it  hath  been  told  you."  They  were  answered  in 
a  pamphlet  called  "  A  Modest  Reply,  in  answer  to  the  Modest  Plea  for  an  equal  Common- 
wealth, against  Monarchy,"  1659,  in  three  letters  to  a  worthy  gentleman:  but  Sprigge 
considered    the  letters    as    unworthy    of    a  reply.       He   also   wrote    "  The    Royal    and 


-170  DR.  ROBERT  WILD. 

Robert  Wild,  D.  D.,  a  Puritan  minister,  poet,  and  satirist, 
held  the  living  of  Ajnlio  during  the  CommonweaUh ;  having  been 
intruded  by  the  Parliamentarian  \T.sitors,  and  inducted  22nd  July 
1646,  on  the  presentation  of  John  Cartwright  Esq.  It  is  related 
that  another  divine,  besides  Wild,  preached  as  a  candidate  for 
the  living  of  Ajnho  ;  and  that  Wild,  on  being  asked  whether 
he  or  his  competitor  had  been  successful,  answered : — "  We  have 
divided  it ;  I  have  got  the  Ay,  and  he  the  No."  The  famous 
Baxter,  taking  offence  against  Wild  on  hearing  some  alleged  in- 
stances of  his  injudicious  facetiousness,  took  occasion,  while  on 
his  way  from  Kidderminster  towards  London,  to  stop  at  Aynho 
for  the  purpose  of  reproving  him.  When  Baxter  reached  Aynho, 
Wild  was  gone  to  Church  (it  being  a  fast-day),  and  Baxter  placed 
himself  in  an  obscure  corner  of  the  Church  to  hear  him.  After 
the  service,  Baxter  asked  Wild  to  rebuke  him  for  his  own  unchari- 
tableness  and  folly  in  listening  to  reports  ;  stating  the  object  of 
his  visit,  and  his  conviction  that  he  had  been  misled.  It  is  further 
said,  that  Wild,  on  preaching  before  the  Judges  on  the  4th  March 
1654,  used  such  witty  and  tart  expressions  (reflecting  partly  on 
the  times  and  partly  on  the  persons  present),  that  Dr.  Owen  the 
vice-chancellor  said : — "  he  knew  not  the  man,  but  by  his  preach- 
ing he  guessed  him  to  have  been  begotten  by  Hugh  Peters  in 
his  younger  years."  In  1662,  Wild  was  ejected  for  noncon- 
formity ;  when  he  retired  to  Oundle.  He  died  in  1679.  Anthony 
a  Wood  describes  him  as  a  "  fat,  jolly,  and  boon  Presbyterian ;" 
and  Calamy  owns  that  he  was  a  witty  man,  and  very  pleasant 
in  conversation;  but  adds  that  he  has  ''heard  him  commended 
by  those  that  knew  him,  not  only  for  his  facetiousness,  but  also 
his  strict  temperance  and  sobriety,  and  his  being  very  serious  in 
serious  things."  Wild  was  the  author  of  several  works:  amongst 
them,  "The  Tragedy  of  Christopher  Love  at  Tower  Hill,"  a 
Poem;  and  some  Pieces,  published  with  others  by  John  Wilmot 
Earl  of  Rochester  and  others,  in  a  collection  entitled  "  Rome 
Rhym'd  to  Death."-"' 

Hapjty  Poverty:  Or  a  Meditation  on  the  Felicities  of  an  Innocent  and  Happy  Poverty," 
grounded  on  Matt.  v.  3;  Lond.,  8vo.,  1660.  This  Wixs  by  him  preached  wliile  he  was  at 
Durham.  The  author  is  styled  M.  D.  "  What  else  he  hath  published,"  says  Wood,  since 
his  abode  at  Dublin,  and  aftenvards  at  Crayford,  I  know  not. — Bliss's  Wood's  Athena,  and 
Fasti  0x071 ;  Kennel's  Register. 

(25)  Wood's  AlhenoB,  and  Fasti  Oxon ;  Calamy 's  Ejected  Ministers ;  Baker's  Nortliamp., 
p.  553.     Other  publications  of  Wild's  are  enumerated  by  Mr.  Baker. 


SIR  ANTHONY  COPE  :-RICHARD  ALLESTREE.        HI 


EVENTS  TO  THE  RESTORATION: 
RICHARD  ALLESTREE. 

We  have  heretofore  seen  how  the  counsels  and  secret  move- 
ments which  led  to  the  Great  Rebellion  against  Charles  the  First 
were  carried  on  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  Banbury, 
namely  at  Broughton  and  at  Fawsley.  It  is  remarkable  that 
some  of  the  secret  movements,  and  those  not  the  least  important 
ones,  which  led  to  the  Restoration,  were  also  carried  on  in  the 
same  neighbourhood ;  namely  at  Hanwell  Castle  (the  seat  of 
Sir  Anthony  Cope  bart.),  situated  two  miles  and  a  half  from  Ban- 
bury, and  which  has  been  already  described  in  .p.  191,  and  the 
remains  of  it  engraved  in  Plate  20  of  this  volume. 

Young  Sir  Anthony  Cope,  who  has  been  already  mentioned 
in  p.  288  of  tliis  volume  (note  17),  was  the  son  of  Sir  John 
Cope  bart.  of  Hanwell.  On  the  death  of  his  father  in  1638, 
the  youth,  then  aged  only  six  years,  probably  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  Fanes,"''  who  were  Parliamentarians.  If  however  he  in- 
herited, or,  while  under  the  care  of  these  his  maternal  relatives, 
imbibed  any  feelings  hostile  to  the  Court,  he  appears,  almost  before 
the  time  he  arrived  at  man's  estate,  to  have  cast  them  away 
and  devoted  himself  to  the  cause  of  loyalty.  We  must  here  step 
aside  to  notice  some  occurrences  in  the  life  of  Richard  Alles- 

TREE. 

This  divine,  the  son  of  a  decayed  Derbyshire  gentleman,  was 
born  in  1619 ;  and,  in  1636,  was  placed  as  a  commoner  at  Christ 
Church,  Oxford,  where  he  gained  the  notice  of  Dr.  Fell  by  the 
reputation  which  he  at  once  obtained  for  his  parts  and  industry. 
In  1642,  on  the  issuing  of  the  Commission  of  Array,  AUes- 
tree  was  one  of  the  first  in  the  University  to  enlist  in  the  Royal 
service.  He  continued  a  soldier  until  Sir  John  Byron  qiutted 
Oxford  with  liis  forces,  (see.  p.  306,)  and  then  he  returned  to 
his  studies.  After  Lord  Saye's  entering  Oxford  with  his  troops 
from  Banbury,  AUestree,  having  a  key  to  one  of  Dr.  Fell's  cham- 
bers where  Lord  Saye  had  deposited  all  the  riches  he  had  found 
in  the  deanery,  contrived  to  remove  the  treasure  in  the  night 
to  a  place  of  concealment.      For  this  he  was  arrested,  but  he 

(20)  Sir  Anthony's  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Francis  Fane,  first  Earl  of  Westmor- 
land.    See  p.  288,  note  20. 


472  RICHARD  ALLESTREE. 

was  soon  released  in  consequence  of  Lord  Saye's  troops  being 
called  away  by  the  Earl  of  Essex.  In  the  same  year,  AUestree 
was  in  the  Royal  ranks  at  the  battle  of  Edgehill  on  Sunday 
the  23rd  October.  After  passing  unhurt  through  the  dangers  of 
that  day,  he  was  hastening  towards  Oxford  to  make  preparations 
at  the  Deanery  of  Christ  Church  (which  was  in  part  left  to  his  care 
in  the  absence  of  the  Dean)  for  the  reception  of  the  King ;  when 
he  was  made  prisoner  by  a  party  of  Lord  Saye's  troopers  from 
Broughton  Castle.  However,  on  the  garrison  of  Broughton  sur- 
rendering to  the  King's  forces  on  the  following  Thursday,  AUes- 
tree obtained  his  liberty.  He  afterwards  pursued  his  studies  at 
Oxford ;  but  at  the  same  time  (though  then  M.  A.  and  a  fellow  of 
his  college)  he  was  one  of  the  volunteers  who  served  his  Majesty 
in  the  University  and  its  neighbourhood  without  fee  or  reward. 
In  this  duty  he  was  often  seen  bearing  his  musket  in  one  hand  and 
a  book  in  the  other.  After  the  downfal  of  the  Royal  cause  he 
devoted  himself  to  his  studies,  and  entered  into  holy  orders. 

When  the  Parliamentarian  visitors  came  to  Oxford  in  1648, 
AUestree,  with  hundreds  more  of  the  loyal  collegians,  was  ejected 
from  the  University.  In  1651  he  was  at  the  battle  of  \\oy- 
cester  ;  and,  after  the  escape  of  Charles  the  Second  therefrom, 
he  was  selected  by  the  secret  managers  of  the  King's  affairs  to 
attend  on  the  latter  at  Rouen  in  Normandy,  from  which  place  he 
bore  the  King's  dispatches  to  his  friends  in  England.  Coming 
on  that  errand  to  Oxford,  he  found  there  two  of  his  own  friends 
who,  like  himself,  had  been  banished  the  University,  but  who  had 
again  ventured  there  for  the  purpose  of  secretly  performing  the 
services  of  the  Church  of  England.  AUestree  joined  them  in 
this  work  of  danger ;  and  continued  to  do  so  until  such  time 
(it  is  said)  "  as  S""  Anthony  Cope,  a  loial  young  gentleman  of  con- 
siderable quaUty  and  fortune  in  the  county  of  Oxford,  prevail'd 
upon  him  to  live  in  his  family ;  which  he  did  for  several  years, 
having  liberty  to  go  or  stay  as  liis  occasions  requir'd,  whereby 
he  was  enabled  to  step  aside  without  notice  upon  messages  from 
the  King's  friends ;  which  ser\ace  he  managed  with  great  courage 
and  dexterity."-^ 

The  proceedings  which  were  carried  on  from  Hanwell  were 
conducted  with  the  strictest  privacy.  Indeed,  such  was  Crom- 
well's  vigilance,  that  both  AUestree  and  Sir  Anthony   Cope  had 

(27)  Life  of  AUestree  prefixed  to  tlie  vol.  of  his  Sermons,  Oxford,  fol.,  1684. 


PROCEEDINGS  AT  HANWELL.  473 

good  reason  to  exercise  the  utmost  caution,  lest  the  movements 
of  the  former  should  be  traced.  It  is  however  certain  that  AUes- 
tree  performed  several  difficult  journeys  to  the  King  while  in 
his  exile.-^  The  letters  which  passed  between  Hyde  and  Dr. 
Barwick  repeatedly  mention  AUestree  as  being  the  bearer  of  com- 
munications and  dispatches.  On  one  occasion  Hyde  says : — "  I 
am  much  troubled,  that  the  person  which  it  seems  is  so  well 
instructed  in  all  particulars,  is  not  yet  come  to  us :  I  hope  he 
hath  met  with  no  ill  accident,  but  his  arrival  is  most  impatiently 
longed  for."^^  In  the  winter  preceding  the  King's  Restoration, 
AUestree,  having  been  employed  by  the  bishops  to  go  to  the  King 
(in  order  to  provide  for  the  succession  of  episcopacy  by  filling 
up  the  vacant  sees),  was,  on  his  return  from  Flanders,  taken 
prisoner  at  Dover  by  a  party  of  soldiers  who  waited  for  liim. 
Tliis  was  in  consequence  of  the  spy  who  was  employed  in 
Charles's  court  having  given  notice  of  AUestree's  journey,  with 
a  particular  description  of  his  person  and  habit.  AUestree  how- 
ever contrived  to  secrete  his  letters  from  the  soldiers^  and  to 
shift  them  into  friendly  hands  by  whom  they  were  secured  and 
conveyed  to  their  destination.  He  was  himself  taken  to  London, 
and  examined  by  a  Committee  of  the  Coimcil  of  Safety ;  but 
examinations  and  threats  alike  failed  to  draw  any  thing  from 
him,  and,  in  consequence,  he  was  committed  a  prisoner  to  Lam- 
beth House.  After  a  confinement  of  six  or  eight  weeks'  du- 
ration, AUestree  was  set  at  Hberty ;  partly,  it  is  said,  by  the 
exertions  of  some  of  the  principal  men,  who  saw  that  events 
were  moving  towards  the  Restoration  of  the  King,  and  hoped  to 
obtain  favour  by  his  enlargement.  AUestree  thereupon  returned 
to  HanweU.^'" 

A  marginal  note  to  a  letter  of  Hyde,  dated  from  Brussels 
January  22nd  1659-00,  states  that  the  gentlemen  of  Northampton- 
shire had  been  disposed  to  rise  for  the  King,  but  were  discou- 
raged by  the  "  Rump "  [of  the  Long  ParUament]  possessing  the 
house  and  name   of   Parliament.     "I   should  be   glad,"  says  the 

(28)  Life  of  AUestree.  One  of  the  organs  of  communication  was  a  Mistress  Ann  Booth,  an 
English  woman  resident  at  Dunkirk,  who  seems  to  have  been  a  lodging-house  keeper.  (King 
James  the  Second's  Papers.)  Sir  Anthony  Cope's  brother  John  Cope  was  in  command 
of  a  troop  at  Dunkirk  at  the  time  of  the  Restoration :  he  married  a  Mistress  Ann  Booth, 
who  appears  to  have  been  a  person  of  low  origin,  since  in  the  pedigrees  of  the  Cope 
family  she  is  described  as  being  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Philip  Booth.  Sir  Anthony  in 
his  \\\\\  left  Hanwell  and  his  other  estates  away  from  his  brother's  issue  by  Ann  Booth, 
and  declared  the  issue  of  the  said  Ann  Booth  incapable  of  inheriting  under  his  said  will. 

(29)  Rennet's  Register.  (30)  Life  of  AUestree,  prefixed  to  his  Sermons. 

3o 


474  THE  RESTORATION. 

letter  itself,  "  to  find  that  our  friends  in  Northamptonshire  have 
done  themselves  no  harm  by  their  late  motions,  and  that  as 
many  honest  men  get  into  the  House  upon  the  new  elections  as 
is  possible."^'  In  the  same  month  of  January,  the  gentlemen 
of  Oxfordshire  and  Buckinghamshire  presented  addresses  to  Gen- 
eral Monk  (then  on  his  way  to  Dunstable)  for  the  restitution 
of  the  Members  secluded  in  1648  and  the  filling  up  of  vacan- 
cies, or  for  the  calling  of  a  full  and  free  Parliament.  On  the 
15th  February,  a  "  Declaration  of  the  County  of  Oxon,"  em- 
bodying similar  sentiments,  and  desiring  the  preservation  of  the 
Protestant  religion,  a  succession  of  godly  and  able  ministers,  and 
the  preservation  of  the  Universities,  (signed  by  upwards  of  5,000 
considerable  persons,)  was  presented  to  General  Monk  in  Lon- 
don, by  Lord  Falkland,  Sir  Anthony  Cope,  James  Fiennes,  Sir 
Henry  Jones  (of  Chastleton  probably),  Captain  William  Cope, 
and  Edward  Hungerford.^- 

Monk  having  been  successful  in  his  endeavours  for  the  calling 
of  a  new  Parliament  (which  was  summoned  to  meet  on  the  25th 
April  1660),  Sir  Anthony  Cope  was  chosen  for  Banbury,  and 
James  Fiennes  and  Sir  Thomas  Wennian  for  Oxfordshire.^^  On 
the  28th,  the  gentlemen  of  Oxfordshire  signed  a  Declaration, 
disclaiming  all  revenge  against  their  adversaries,  and  desiring 
peace  for  the  country .^^  Monk  was  immediately  appointed  Gen- 
eral of  all  the  Land  Forces  of  the  Kingdom  ;  and  shortly  after, 
the  Restoration  being  voted  by  the  Parliament,  Charles  the  Se- 
cond took  possession  of  the  throne. 

Sir  Anthony  was  one  of  those  Royalist  gentlemen  who  were 
selected  by  the  King  m  the  same  year,  1660,  to  form  his  intended 
order  of  Knights  of  the  Royal  Oak,  in  honour  of  the  Restora- 
tion :  but  Charles  was  advised  to  lay  aside  his  design  of  founding 
that  order,  lest  such  a  step  should  re-inflame  animosities  wliich 
otherwise  would  slumber  or  die.  In  Le  Neve's  MS.  list  of  the 
order,  it  is  noted  that  Sir  Anthony's  estate  was  £'4,000  per  an- 
num— larger  than  that  of  any  other  intended  knight  of  the  new 
order  who  was  selected  from  Oxfordshire.  His  name  occurs 
hereafter. 

Richard  AUestree  was  made  a  canon  of  Christ  Church  :  he  sub- 

(31)  Rennet's  Register. 

(32)  Broadsheet  in  the  British  Museum.  The  Capt.  William  Cope  here  mentioned 
was  William  Cope  Esq.  of  Icombo  co.  Gloucester,  second  son  of  Richard  Cope  formerly 
of  Calthorp  and  afterwards  of  Ireland.    (See  p.  262.) 

(33)  Pari.  Hist.  Eng.  (34)  Broadsheet  in  the  British  Museum. 


THE  FIENNES  FAMILY.  475 

sequently  preached  frequently  before  the  Kmg  at  Whitehall ;  was 
created  D.  D.  ;  and  was  appointed  one  of  the  lecturers  of  the  city  of 
Oxford,  with  a  view  to  instil  loyal  principles  into  the  citizens.  In 
1 663  he  became  regius  professor  of  divinity  at  Oxford ;  and  two 
years  after  was  made  provost  of  Eton  College,  which  college  he 
raised  to  a  very  liigh  pitch  of  reputation.  This,  says  Anthony 
4  Wood,  "was  all  the  preferment  he  enjoyed,  being  little  enough 
for  such  a  sufferer  as  he  had  been,  and  one  that  had  often  ven- 
tured his  neck  to  do  his  Majesty  service. "^^ 

It  was  a  consequence,  partly  perhaps  of  Lord  Saye's  vote 
in  ]648  on  the  treaty  of  the  Isle  of  Wight  (see  p.  435),  and 
partly  of  his  having  some  concern  in  the  business  with  Monk 
in  the  new  or  convention  Parliament,  that,  after  the  Restoration, 
his  Lordship,  having  sued  out  a  pardon  from  Charles  the  Second, 
was  restored  to  favour,  and  made  lord  privy  seal,  and  lord- 
chamberlain  of  the  household.  Soon  after  this  period.  Lord 
Saye  died  at  Broughton  on  the  I4th  April  1662,  aged  eighty 
years.^*^  He  was  interred  in  the  church  of  Broughton.  Two 
black  slabs  rest  on  a  raised  marble  tomb  in  Broughton  church, 
briefly  inscribed  to  the  memory  of  William  Lord  Saye  and  his 
Lady.  The  inscriptions  are  as  follows : — "  William  Fiennes 
Viscovnt  Say  and  Seale  1662  :" — "  Elizabeth  Viscovntesse  Say 
and  Seale  1648.''     x\round  the  tomb  are  carvings  of  arms. 

James  Fiennes  succeeded  to  his  father's  titles.  Wood  says 
of  James  Fiennes  that  he  had  "  always  been  reputed  an  honest 
cavalier  and  a  quiet  man."  Perhaps  it  was  some  family  con- 
siderations that  led  him  also  to  take  out  a  pardon  in  1660.^' 
He  died  in  1674,  without  issue. 

(3.5)  Life  of  Allestree;  Wood's  Athenee. 

(36)  Lord  Nugent  says  that  "  Lord  Saye  is  generally  described  as  of  a  shrewd  mind,  and  a 
persevering  and  resolute  temper.  It  is  difficult  to  come  to  a  true  conclusion  as  to  the  moral 
character  of  a  man  whose  motives  it  was  the  business  of  the  contending  writers  of  those 
times  to  extol  or  vilify  in  an  almost  equally  exaggerated  measure.  *  *  ♦  Clarendon  admits 
that  he  was  of  '  good  reputation  with  many  who  were  not  discontented.'  May  and  Vic- 
cars  speak  of  his  great  abilities  and  unimpeached  honour,  in  terms  which  shew  that  the 
party  to  which  they  belonged  considered  him  as  one  with  whom  it  might  be  proud  to 
associate  its  own  character  and  that  of  its  cause ;  and  Whiteloclie,  writing  after  the  Res- 
toration, represents  him  as  '  a  person  of  great  parts,  wisdom,  and  integrity,'  imbued  with 
the  loftiest  spirit  of  patriotism. — Nugent's  Memorials  of  Hampden,  v.  2,  pp.  26 — 29. 

Anthony  Wood,  a  prejudiced  writer  of  a  different  class,  says  of  Lord  Saye: — "  At  length 
this  noble  author,  after  he  had  spent  80  years  mostly  in  an  unquiet  and  discontented  con- 
dition, had  been  a  grand  promoter  of  the  rebellion  which  began  in  1643,  and  had,  in  some 
respect,  been  the  promoter  of  the  murder  of  King  Ch.  I.,  did  die  quietly  in  his  bed,  but 
whether  in  conscience,  I  cannot  tell,  on  the  14th  day  of  April  in  sixteen  hundred  sixty  and 
two:  whereupon  his  body  was  buried  in  Broughton  Church  among  the  graves  of  his 
ancestors,  and  had  over  it,  soon  aftei-,  a  rich  and  costly  monument  erected,  more  befitting  a 
hero  than  a  rebel." — Tf^ood's  Alhnicr. 

(37)  Original  insti'imieut  in  the  possession  of  the  Hon.  T.  W.  Twistleton  Fiennes. 

3o3 


476  THE  FIENNES  FAMILY. 

Of  Nathaniel  Fiennes  it  remains  to  record  the  closing 
history.  Lord  Nugent  says,  he  "  enjoyed  favour  under  the  res- 
tored Government  without  any  imputation  of  dishonourable  com- 
pliance with  the  altered  spirit  of  the  times."  He  retired  however 
from  public  life  to  Newton  Toney  near  Salisbury,  where  he  had 
an  estate  that  came  to  him  by  his  second  wife,  who  was  Frances, 
daughter  of  Richard  Whitehead  of  Tuderley  in  Hampshire.  There 
he  continued  in  much  privacy,  and,  Noble  says,  "much  neglected," 
till  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  16th  December  1669.  He 
was  buried  in  the  church  of  Newton  Tonej^,  where  a  monument 
was  erected  to  his  memory  and  that  of  his  two  daughters  (by 
his  second  wife)  who  died  in  the  flower  of  their  age.  His  por- 
trait, and  that  of  his  Lady  (both  by  Sir  Peter  Lely),  are  preserved 
at  Broughton  Castle,  and  the  former  has  been  engraved  in  Lord 
Nugent's  "  Memorials  of  Hampden."  Nathaniel  Fiennes's  son 
William  (by  his  first  wife,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Sir  John 
Eliot,)  succeeded  to  the  viscounty  of  Saye  and  Sele  on  the  death 
of  James  Viscount  Saye  in  1674  without  issue  male  ;  but  the 
barony,  descending  ia  the  female  line,  remained  in  abeyance  be- 
tween the  two  daughters  of  that  nobleman.^^ 

John  Fiennes,  the  third  son  of  William  Viscount  Saye, 
who  has  also  been  repeatedly  mentioned  in  this  volume,  was 
another  of  Oliver  Cromwell's  "Lords;"  "and  though  a  sectary," 
says  Wood,  "  yet  he  was  no  great  stickler,  notwithstanding  guided 
partly  by  Nathaniel,  but  more  by  old  subtilty,  the  father."^*  One 
of  his  sons  succeeded  to  the  viscounty  of  Saye  and  Sele  upon 
the  death  of  the  grandson  of  Nathaniel  Fiennes ;  and  he  also 
leaving  no  issue,  the  title  devolved  on  the  descendant  of  Richard 

(38)  Wood's  Athenffi;  Noble's  Memoirs;  Fiennes'  Pedigree.  Nathaniel  Fiennes  pub- 
lished,— 1.  Several  speeches  in  Parliament,  two  of  which  are — "Speech  containing  un- 
parallel'd  Reasons  for  the  Abolishing  of  Episcopacy,"  1642 ;  and — "  Speech  or  Relation 
made  in  the  House  of  Commons  concerning  the  Surrender  of  the  City  and  Castle  of  Bristol, 
5  Aug.  1643,  with  the  Transcripts  and  Extracts  of  certain  Letters,  wherein  his  Care  for 
the  Preservation  of  the  City  doth  appear."  1643.  This  was  answered  by  William  Prynne 
and  by  Clement  Walker. — 2.  "True  and  exact  Relation  of  both  the  Battels  fought  by 
his  Excellency  Rob.  E.  of  Essex  and  his  Forces  against  the  bloody  Cavaliers.  The  one 
of  the  23d  of  Oct.  last  near  Keynton  below  Edghill  in  Warwicksh.  the  other  at  Worcester, 
by  Col.  Browne,  Capt.  Nath.  and  Joh.  Fiennes  and  Col.  Sandys  and  some  others."  Nor. 
9,  1642. — 3.  Some  pamphlets  relating  to  the  Bristol  affair. — 4.  "  Monarchy  asserted  to  be 
the  best,  most  autient,  and  legal  Form  of  Government,  in  a  Conference  had  at  Whitehall 
with  Oliver  L.  Protector  and  Committee  of  Parliament,  &c.  in  Apr.  1657."  Lond.  1660.— 
5.  "  The  Scots  Desigue  discovered.  Relating  their  dangerous  Attempts  lately  practised 
against  the  English  Nation,  with  the  sad  Consequence  of  the  same.  Wherein  divers 
Matters  of  publick  Concernment  are  disclosed.  And  the  Book  called  Truths  Manifest  is 
made  apparent  to  be  Lyes  manifest.  London,  Printed  and  are  to  be  sold  at  the  Marygokl 
in  S.  Pauls  Church-yard.  1654."  He  was  also  represented  as  having  had  some  share  in 
Sprigge's  Anglia  Rediviva. 

(39)  Wood's  Athena. 


TRADESMEN'S  TOKENS.  477 

Fiennes,  the  fourth  and  youngest  son  of  William  Viscount  Saye  ; 
upon  whose  decease  it  became  extinct.  The  barony,  which  had 
been  in  abeyance,  fell  to  Thomas  Twistleton,  the  descendant  of 
the  eldest  daughter  of  James  the  second  Viscount  Saye.  His 
descendants  have  lately  taken  the  name  of  Fiennes.'"' 

John  Crewe  (also  before  mentioned),  who  is  stated  as  having 
"  by  his  great  prudence  with  no  small  hazard "  contributed  his 
best  endeavours  "in  order  to  his  Majesty's  happy  restoration,"''^ 
was  in  1661  created  Baron  Crewe  of  Steane.  He  died  in  1679, 
and  lies  buried  in  the  church  of  Steane. 

Shortly  before  the  Restoration,  namely,  on  the  30th  March  1 660, 
"  Fulk  Grevill,  being  at  or  neare  Banbury,  of  the  antient  and 
gentile  familie  of  the  Grevills  of  Warwickshire,  was  condemn'd 
at  Oxford  assize,  for  robbing  on  the  high  way,  and  killing,  as 
'twas  said,  a  man."^'- 


TRADESMEN'S  TOKENS. 

During  the  Protectorate  and  the  early  part  of  the  reign  of 
Charles  the  Second,  many  tradesmen,  for  convenience,  made  their 
own  halfpence.  These  were  small  tliin  pieces  made  of  brass  or 
copper.     The  following  relate  to  Banbury  : — 

1.  In  the  centre  of  the  obverse  are  the  letters  ;    inscribed    "in 

BANBERY   1650."      In  the  centre  of  the  reverse  is  a  Unicoi-n,  inscribed 
"at  the  vnicorne."     (See  Plate  26,  fig.  5.) 

2.  On  the  obverse  is  a  fleur-de-lis,  inscribed  "  iames  wagstafe."     On 

the  reverse,  "in  banbvry  1651,"  and  in  the  centre 

I         M. 

3.  On  the  obverse,  the  crest  of  the  Mercers'  Company,  inscribed  "  iohn 
vivERs."     On  the  reverse,  "  of  banbvrye  1652,"  and  in  the  centre 

4.  On  the  obverse,  figures  of  Adam  and  Eve,  the  Tree  and  Serpent; 
inscribed  "manasses  plvmton."     On  the  reverse,   "in  banbvry  1653," 


5.  On  the  obverse,  a  man  dipping  candles ;  inscribed  "  william  man- 
DER."     On  the  reverse,  "  in  banbvry  1656,"  and  in  the  centre 

(40)  Pedigree  of  the  Family.  The  Misses  Trotman,  daughters  of  the  late  Fiennes 
Trotman  Esq.  of  Siston  Court  near  Bristol,  claim  to  be  Ladies  of  the  Hundred  of  Ban- 
bury, as  being  the  representatives  of  the  elder  branch  of  the  Fiennes  family  with  whose 
extinction  in  the  male  line  the  viscounty  also  became  extinct. 

(41)  Kennel's  Register.  (42)  Bhss's  Wood's  Athense. 


478  TRADESMEN'S  TOKENS. 

6.  On  the  obverse,  the  letters       ^       ;     inscribed    "  henry   smith    in." 

H       M 

On  the  reverse,  "  banbvry,  ironmonger,"  and  in  the  centre  "  1656." 

7.  On  the  obverse,  the  crest  of  the  Mercers'  Company,  inscribed  "iohn 
WAGSTAFFE."      On    the    reverse,    "  in    banbvry,"    and    in    the    centre 

\v 

I         A. 

8.  On  the  obverse,  the  arms  of  the  Apothecaries'  Company,  inscribed 
"  beniamen  hibberdine."     On  the  reverse,  "apothecary  in  banbvry," 

and  in  the  centre    ^     ^ 

9.  On  the  obverse,  a  windlass  and  rope,  inscribed  "thomas  pym 
mercer."     On  the  reverse,  "in  banbvry,  1664,"  and  in  the  centre 

10.  On  the  obverse,,  the  crest  of  the  Mercers'  Company,  inscribed 
"  nathaniell  wheatly."     On  the  reverse,  "in  banbvry  1664,"  and  in 

the  centre     ^ 

n     m. 

11.  On  the  obverse,  a  Raindeer,  with  the  letters  t.  s.  below  it,  and  s. 
above  it;  inscription,  "thomas  svtton  at  the."  On  the  reverse, 
"  raindear  in  banbvry,"  and  in  the  centre,  "  his  half  peny  1666."  (See 
Plate  26,  fig.  6.) 

12.  On  the  obverse,  a  sugarloaf ;  inscription,  "  mathew  ansley." 
On  the  reverse,  "  in  banbvry,"  and  in  the  centre  m  a. 

13.  On  the  obverse,  a  fleur-de-lis,  inscribed  "  william  wagstaffe  of." 

On  the  reverse,  "  banbvry.     his  half  peny,"  and  in  the  centre 

14.  On  the  obverse,  a  spread  eagle;  inscribed  "iohn  hall  in."  On 
the  reverse,  "banbvry  1666,"  and  in  the  centre       " 

15.  On  the  obverse,  an  inscription  "iohn  allington  1666;"  and  in  the 
centre  "his  half  peny."  On  the  reverse,  "apothecary  in  banbvry;" 
and  in  the  centre  the  arms  of  the  Apothecaries'  Company,  with  i  a  above. 

16.  On  the  obverse,  Adam  and  Eve,  the  Tree  and  Serpent ;  inscribed 
"NATHANIEL  viVERS."  On  the  revcrsc,  "in  banbvry  1668,"  and  in  the 
centre  "his  half  peny." 

17.  On  the  obverse,  the  arms  of ,  inscribed 

"henry    smith,    ironmongr."      On  the  reverse,   "in    banbvry    1668," 
and  in  the  centre,  "  his  half  peny." 

18.  On  the  obverse,  an  inscription  "mathew  smith  Gardner,"  and  in 

the  centre  "his   halfe  peny  ,,      On  the  reverse,    "in    banbery 

M       M. 

1669,"  and  in  the  centre  Adam  and  Eve,  with  Tree  and  Serpent. 

19.  On  the  obverse,  the  crest  of  the  Mercers'  Company,  inscribed 
"  GEORGE  robins  MERCER."  On  the  rcvcrsc,  "in  banbvry  1669,"  and 
in  the  centre  "  his  half  peny." 

20.  On  the  obverse  the  letters  ^  ;  inscribed  "  his  halfe  penny." 
On  the  reverse,  i^ieces  of  silk  piled  up;  inscribed  "mercer  of  banbary." 

21.  THOMAS     DEIBELL    IN     BANBVRY.  ^ 


TRADESMEN'S  TOKENS.  479 

The  ibllowing  tokens  relate  to  villages  in  the  immediate  vi- 
cinity : — 

1.  On  the  obverse,  a  Crown,  inscribed  "henry  hvnt  in."  On  the  re- 
verse, "  ADDERBERY  1656,"  and  in  the  centre 

2.  On  the  obverse,   the  arms  of  ■ ,   inscribed 

"RICHARD   SHORT  IN   WARDENTO"."     On  the  rcvcrsc,  "in   y<=   covnty   of 
oxoN  MERCER,"  and  in  the  centre,  "  his  half  peny." 

3.  On  the  obverse,  "edmvnd  chandler,"  and  in  the  centi-e  "  his  half 

c 
peny,"     On  the  reverse,  "  in  kings  svtton,"  and  in  the  centre  e     e. 

1666 

4.  On  the  obverse,  "thomas  norris  in,"  and  in  the  centre  "his  half 
peny."  On  the  reverse,  "aynho  vpon  the  hill,"  and  in  the  centre  a 
lion  rampant. 

5.  On  the  obverse,  the  inscription,  "  thomas  nvtt  of  ;"  and  in  the  centre 
T  n.  On  the  reverse,  the  inscription,  "  dadington.  mercer;"  and  in 
the  centre  "1653," 

6.  On  the  obverse,  an  Eagle  and  Child  ;  inscribed  "  ann  makepace  in." 
On  the  reverse,  "  dadington,  mercer,"  and  in  the  centre  a  m. 

7.  On  the  obverse,  the  arms  of  the  Apothecaries'  Company,  inscribed 
"sAMVELL   BELCHER    1668."     On  the  reverse,  "in    dedington,"  and  in 

the  centre  "his  half  peny     ^     ^  ,,43 

(43)  Specimens  in  mv  own  collection,  or  in  those  of  the  Rev.  T.  Symonds,  vicar  of 
Ensham,  Charles  Faulkner  Esq.  of  Adderbury,  and  Mr,  J.  G.  Rusher  of  Banbury ;  or  in 
the  British  Museum. 


480  THE  QUAKERS. 


PERIOD  AFTER  THE  RESTORATION. 


THE  REIGN  OF  CHARLES  THE  SECOND. 

On  the  3rd  September  1660,  a  record  occurs  on  the  journals 
of  the  House  of  Lords,  stating  that  "there  are  very  great  as- 
sembUes  of  Quakers  and  Anabaptists  (conceived  to  be  of  Lam- 
bert's party)  who  meet  frequently  in  very  great  multitudes  in 
the  towns  of  Culworth  and  Eydon  in  Northamptonshire,  and  in 
other  parts  of  that  county,  plotting  and  contriving  against  the 
peace  of  the  Church  and  State,  as  appears  evidently  by  their 
casting  out  and  dispersing  several  scandalous  papers  against  the 
ministers,"  &c  :  orders  were  thereupon  sent  to  the  sheriff  to  pre- 
vent and  suppress  such  meetings.' 

The  precautions  which  were  taken  subsequently  to  the  Resto- 
ration against  any  fresh  attempts  that  might  be  made  on  the  part 
of  the  Sectaries,  fell  heavily  upon  the  Quakers ;  who,  refusing 
to  take  any  oath,  and  therefore  the  oath  of  allegiance,  thus 
lay  open  to  the  charge  of  disloyalty,  and  often  became  subject  to 
legal  proceedings.  In  January  1660[6I],  Edward  Vivers,  John 
Long,  James  Wagstaff,  and  other  Quakers,  were  summoned  by 
the  justices  sitting  at  Banbury,  and,  upon  their  refusing  to  take 
the  oath  of  allegiance,  were  committed  to  Oxford  gaol.  On  the 
11th  of  the  same  month,  twenty-nine  persons  were  apprehended 
at  a  meeting  at  Banbury  (by  the  mayor's  order) ;  and,  because 
they  would  not  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  were  committed  to 
the  gaol  there  .^  Lord  Falkland,  lord-lieutenant  of  the  county 
of  Oxford,  was  at  this  time  taking  active  measures  against  any 
movement  of  the  sectarian  party.  But  in  May  1661,  Charles 
the  Second  issued  a  Proclamation  of  Grace  for  the  enlargement 
of  persons  called  Quakers.^ 

The  first  Parliament  called  by  Charles  the  Second  met  on  the 
8th  May  J  661  :   to   this  Parliament,  Sir  Anthony  Cope  bart.  was 

(1)  Kennet's  Register.  (3)  Basse's  Suiferings  of  the  Quakers,  v.  1,  p.  667. 

(3)  Kingdom's  Intelligencer. 


HOLMAN  OF  WARKWORTH.  481 

chosen  for  Oxfordshire,  and  Sir  John  Holman  knt.  for  Banbury." 
Sir  John  Holman  (who  is  styled  of  Banbury  and  of  Weston 
Favell)  was  the  second  son  of  Phihp  Holman  Esq.,  who  had 
been  a  scrivener  in  London,  but  who,  in  1629,  purchased  the 
estates  of  the  Chetwode  family  at  ^Yarkworth  and  Grimsbury.^ 
The  manor-house  at  Warkworth  is  described  by  Anthony  a  Wood 
as  being  "  a  stately  house,"  partly  built  by  the  Chetwodes,  and 
partly  by  Philip  Holman.  The  building,  which  occupied  three 
sides  of  a  quadrangle,  stood  on  the  eminence  near  the  church, 
which  commands  an  extensive  view  over  the  northern  parts  of 
Oxfordshire.     It  was  entirely  taken  down  in  1806.° 

At  the  time  of  Anthony  a  Wood's  visit  to  Warkworth  (namely 
in  1659)  the  property  belonged  to  George  Holman  (the  eldest 
son  of  Philip  Holman),  who  had  embraced  the  Romish  religion, 
and  appeared  to  be  "a  melancholy  and  begotted  convert."'  This 
George  Holman's  daughter  Mary  married  Thomas  Eyre  Esq.  of 
Hassop  in  Derbyshire,  a  Roman  Catholic  warmly  attached  to 
his  religion,  who,  on  the  death  of  George  Holman's  eldest  son 
in  1740,  became  possessed  of  a  moiety  of  the  estates,  and  after- 
wards purchased  the  remainder.^  Sir  John  Holman,  the  member 
for  Banbury,  was  created  a  baronet  in  1663.  He  was  living  in 
1698,  and  dead  in  1704.« 

The  measures  taken  against  the  Sectaries  were  continued,  and 
with  frequently  the  same  consequences  to  the  Quakers.  The 
following  record  occurs  :^ 

1661.  "Friday^      "  Whitehall     A  letter  from  the  Lords  of  the 

Octob.  11.  Letter  from  Council  to  the  Lord  Viscount  Falkland,  lord 
the  Council  to  Lord  Mientenant  of  the  County  of  Oxford,  upon  in- 
Falkland  on  a  Conven-  formation  that  every  Sunday  there  is  a  numer- 
ticle  at  Banbury.  J  ous    conventicle    of    insolent    Fanaticks,    who 

usually  assemble  in  the  town  of  Banbury,  and 
refuse  to  disperse  themselves ;  but  obstinately  continue  their  meetings : 
Praying  his  lordship  to  be  very  serious  and  circumspect  in  examining  this 
information,  and  to  prevent  and  dissipate  all  conventions  of  Sectaries, 
or  like  dangerous  persons  within  his  jurisdiction,"'" 

On  the  6th  October  1661,  it  is  stated  that  "a  party  of  soldiers 
went  into  a  meeting  at  Banbury,  and  barbarously  abused  the  as- 

(4)  This  Pavliament  continued  for  nearly  eighteen  years,  it  being  dissolved  on  the  24th 
January  1678-9. — New  Pari.  Register. 

(5)  See  p.  407,  note  3.  (6)  Wood's  Life  ;  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  741. 
(7)  Life  of  Wood.  (8)  Baker's  Northamp.,  pp.  740,  741. 
(9)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  741.  (10)  Kennel's  Repster. 

3  p 


-Jbf-i  THE  NONCONFORMISTS. 

semblj,  beating  and  bruising  many  of"  tliem,  and  wounding  one 
in  the  breast  with  a  sword,  dragging  them  by  violence  out  of  the 
house,  and  when  out,  continuing  to  beat  and  abuse  them."" 

On  the  ]6th  July  1662,  Thomas  Robins,  mayor  of  Banbury, 
with  nine  Aklermen,  all  the  six  Capital  Burgesses,  six  of  the  x\s- 
sistants,  and  the  under  officers  of  the  Corporation,  took  the  oaths 
of  allegiance  and  supremacy.'-  On  the  24th  August  following 
(being  St.  Bartholomew's  day)  the  Nonconforming  ministers  were 
ejected  from  their  livings ;    and  amongst  the  rest,  Samuel  Wells 

of  Banbury  (see  p.  465),  Christopher  Xevil  of  Bloxham,  

Coney  of  Broughton,  and  Dr.  Robert  Wild  of  Aynho.  Francis 
Wells,  minister  of  x\dderbury,  was  another ;  but  he  afterwards 
conformed.'^  At  various  dates  from  1663  to  1665,  the  name  of 
Thomas  Mathew,  M.  A.,  occurs  as  Vicar  of  Banbury.''*  In  1665, 
the  measures  taken  under  the  impolitic  Five-Mile  Act  (see  p.  466) 
compelled  Samuel  Wells  to  remove  from  Banbury,  and  he  took 
up  his  residence  at  Deddington.  The  Nonconformists,  soon 
after,  established  a  Meeting-house  at  Milton  (a  small  hamlet  be- 
longing to  Adderbury),  which  was  probably  served  by  Samuel 
W^ells  and  his  fellow  Nonconformists.  In  September  1665,  Ed- 
ward Vivers,  a  Quaker  of  Banbury,  was  committed  to  prison :  he 
was  subsequently  brought  up  at  several  assizes  and  sessions  at 
Oxford ;  and,  though  nothing  appeared  against  him,  was  from 
time  to  time  remanded  to  prison.  At  length  James  Lord  Saye, 
lieutenant  of  the  county  of  Oxford,  ordered  Vivers  to  be  brought 
before  him  at  the  sessions ;  when  the  only  cause  which  was  shewn 
for  his  commitment  was  an  information  that  he  had  built  a  Meet- 
ing-house and  caused  a  burial-ground  to  be  walled  round  (evi- 
dently the  first  ^Meeting-house  and  burial-ground  of  the  Quakers 
in  Banbury)  :'^  wherevipon,  after  an  imprisonment  of  two  years 
and  seven  months'  duration,  he  was  set  at  liberty.'^ 

(11)  Besse's  Sufferings  of  the  Quakers,  v.  1,  pp.  567,  568. 

(12)  Book  of  Accounts  &c.  preserved  by  the  present  Town  Clerk. 

(13)  Palmer's  Nonconformists'  Memorial. 

(14)  Register  of  Banbur3'. 

(15)  The  title-deeds  of  the  Friends'  [Quakers']  Meeting-house  and  Grave-yard  at  Banbury 
commence  from  1664-5.  In  the  Register  of  Banbury  it  is  recorded  that  "  The  wife  of 
Edward  Vivers  was  buried  in  Quaker  yard  "  31st  May  1668. 

(16)  Besse's  Sufferings  of  the  Quakers,  v.  1,  p.  570.  The  imprisoned  Quakers  used 
frequently  to  pass  away  the  houis  of  their  confinement,  and  endeavour  to  obtain  necessary 
support,  by  making  a  kind  of  laces,  which  (from  this  circumstance  of  their  manufacture 
at  this  period  by  the  imprisoned  Friends)  wei-e  known  iu  the  shops,  even  until  recent  times, 
as  "  Quakers'  Laces."  The  late  Mr.  Timothy  Burberow  of  Neithorp  possessed  the  pillow 
which  had  been  used  in  this  manufacture  by  his  grandfather,  Timothy  Burberow  of  Aynho, 
during  a  confinement  of  more  than  two  years'  continuance  in  Nortliampton  gaol.  This  last- 
named  Timothy  Burberow  is  mentioned  in  the  printed  collection  of  the  Quakers'  Suffer- 


DR.  RICHARD  WHITE.  483 

Dr.  Richard  White,  Vicar  of  Bauburj,  has  been  already 
mentioned  in  p.  466.  His  name  occurs  in  connection  with  his 
ministerial  office  at  Banbury  in  1670.''  Wood  says  he  was 
"  sometime  of  the  University  of  Oxon."  In  1675  he  married 
Mary,  eldest  daughter  of  Charles  Fox  Esq.,  of  Chacombe."  In 
1678,  he  is  mentioned  in  the  Quakers'  records  as  being  "priest  of 
Broughton."'^  He  was  afterwards  removed  to  Kidderminster,  where 
he  is  said  to  have  lived  on  most  friendly  terms  with  the  ejected 
nonconformist  Baldwin  (as  he  had  done  with  Samuel  Wells  while 
at  Banbury),  and  he  was  selected  to  preach  the  funeral  sermon 
of  that  divine  in  1693.-» 

February,  1669-70.  "In  this  year  following  the  Towne  was 
visited  with  the  Small  Pox."-' 

Sir  John  Holman  was  again  returned  for  Banbury  to  the 
second,  third,  and  fourth  Parliaments  of  Charles  the  Second, 
namely,  twice  in  1679  and  once  in  1681.-' 

Hoiise  of  Commons,  March  25th,  1681. — "  A  Petition  of  Thomas  Wise 
esquire,  touching  the  Election  for  the  Borousjh  of  Banbury  in  the  County 
of  Oxon,  was  read. 

"  Ordered,  That  the  said  Petition  be  referred  to  the  consideration  of  the 
Committee  of  Elections  and  Privileges;  to  examine  the  matter  thereof; 
and  to  report  the  same,  with  their  Opinion  thereon,  to  the  House.  "-^ 

ings  as  having  been  imprisoned  in  1683  on  a  writ  de  Excommunicato  capiendo,  for  not 
bringing  his  children  to  be  baptized.  In  1685,  his  neighbours  at  Aynho  signed  a  certifi- 
cate on  behalf  of  him  and  two  others;  which  certificate  was  presented  to  the  justices 
assembled  at  the  quai'ter  sessions.  It  stated  that  all  three  of  them  were  imprisoned  "  for 
no  other  cause  but  nonconformity,"  and  that  they  were  "  persons  of  a  peaceable  and  honest 
conversation,  and  not  at  any  time,  as  we  know,  guilty  of  any  dislo3'al  practices  against 
the  government."  On  such  grounds  the  certifiers  humbly  represented  that  they  conceived 
the  prisoners  to  be  pardonable  under  the  King's  warrunt  of  the  18th  April  in  that  year 
for  the  relief  of  those  who  had  testified  their  loyalty  and  aflecfion  to  the  government. 
The  certificate  is  signed  by  the  churchwardens,  overseers,  constable,  and  many  others, 
styling  themselves  "  neighbours  ancient "  of  the  prisoners.  An  accompanying  certificate 
to  the  same  eflt^ct  was  forwarded  by  two  county  magistrates.  The  prisoners  at  Northamp- 
ton joined  in  a  representation  of  their  case  to  the  members  for  the  county,  which  states 
that  nearly  fourscore  Quakers  had  been  in  prison  there  at  one  time,  and  threescore  crowded 
together  during  tlie  last  winter ;  four  having  died  prisoners  during  the  year.  The  repre- 
sentation concludes  thus; — "  We  are  not  willing  to  particularize  our  sufferings,  which  have 
been  long  and  many  ;  rather  desiring  that  the  Lord  may  move  upon  your  hearts  with 
bowels  of  pity  and  compassion,  to  the  easing  of  a  poor  afflicted  people,  who  have  done 
neither  King  nor  nation  any  wrong,  and  who  are  in  sincerity  and  truth, 
Your  Christian  Friends, 
John  Lane 

"  Northampton  Prison,  the  I3th  John  Ashby 

of  the  4th  Month,  1685."  Timothy  Burhorow"  [and  several  others]. 

"  Signed  on  the  behalf  of  ourselves  and  our  fellow  prisoners." 

Towards  the  close  of  this  year  the  Quaker  prisoners  were  set  at  liberty  by  virtue  of  the 
proclamation  of  James  the  Second. — Besse's  Sufferings,  v.  1,  pp.  543 — 651. 

(17)  Register  of  Banbury.  (18)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  591. 

(19)  Besse's  Sutferings  of  the  Quakers,  v.  1,  p.  574. 

(20)  Kennel's  Register ;  Palmer's  Nonconformists'  Memorial,  v.  2,  p.  526. 

(21)  Register  of  Banbury.  (22)  Beatson's  Register  of  Parliament. 
(23)  Commons'  Journals. 

3p3 


484  SIR  ANTHONY  COPE. 

Sir  Anthony  Cope  continued  to  sit  in  Parliament  for  the  county 
of  Oxford  until  his  death.  He  had  been  educated  at  Oriel  Col- 
lege, under  Robert  Saye,  who  afterwards  became  Provost  of  that 
college.  He  married  his  first  cousin,  Mary,  the  daughter  of  But- 
ton Lord  Gerard  of  Gerards  Bromley,  by  Lady  Mary  Fane  (his 
mother's  sister),  daughter  of  Francis  first  Earl  of  Westmorland. 
Sir  Anthony's  children  all  died  before  him,  "  which  loss,"  says 
an  annotator  in  the  Register  of  Hanwell,  "proved  fatal  to  him 
and  his  lady."  Grief  hurried  Sir  Anthony  to  an  early  grave  in 
1675,  at  the  age  of  43  years ;  and  deprived  his  unfortunate  lady 
of  her  reason.     She  died  in  1714.-^ 

There  is  a  circumstantial  account  of  Sir  Anthony's  funeral 
preserved  in  the  Heralds'  College,  which  shews  it  to  have  been 
attended  with  great  pomp  and  ceremony.  Dr.  Allestree  was  one  of 
his  executors.  Sir  Anthony,  by  his  will,  gave  Hanwell  and  his 
other  estates  away  from  his  brother  John  Cope's  children  by  his 
wife,  Ann  Booth,  and  declared  the  issue  of  the  said  Ann  Booth 
to  be  incapable  of  inheriting  under  his  said  will.  By  this  step, 
while  Sir  Anthony's  desire  was  (as  stated  in  the  will)  that  Han- 
well should  ever  continue  in  his  name  and  family,  he  contrived 
to  dissever  it  and  his  other  estates  from  the  family  altogether.-* 
He  was  succeeded  in  the  title  by  his  brother  Sir  John  Cope,  the 
fifth  baronet. 

In  the  35th  Charles  II  (1683),  the  Corporation  of  Banbury 
surrendered  to  the  Crown  their  Charters  granted  by  Queen  Mary 
and  James  the  First ;  and  a  new  Charter  was  granted  by  the 
King,  in  compliance  with  a  petition  of  the  Corporation,  which 
enlarged  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Borough  to  the  Parish,  including 
by  name  the  hamlets  of  Calthorp,  Easington,  Wickham,  Neithorp, 
and  Hardwick  r^  but,  the  surrender  of  the  former  Charters  not 
having  been  enrolled,  the  Corporation  afterwards  resumed  them 
under  the  Proclamation  of  James  the  Second  in  1 688  for  restoring 
surrendered  charters. 

(24)  Information  from  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Cope.  (25)  Ibid. 

(26)  Municipal  Report  in  1833.  The  Book  of  Accounts  &c.  of  the  Corporation  con- 
tains a  list  of  eighteen  persons  who  subscribed  money  for  this  renewal  of  the  Charter  and 
for  the  defence  of  an  action  concerning  the  Poor.  In  1684  and  the  two  following  years, 
a  Mayor  of  the  "  Borough,"  and  a  Justice  of  the  "  Borough  and  Parish,"  were  elected  and 
sworn. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES.  485 


BIOGRxAPHICAL. 

William  Cole  was  born  at  Adderbury,  and  was  the  son 
of  John  Cole  B.  D.,  sometime  fellow  of  New  College,  Oxford, 
and  "minister  of  God's  word  at  Adderbury."  The  son  was 
entered  one  of  the  clerks  of  New  College  in  1642;  and  was 
made,  soon  after,  one  of  the  portionists  of  Merton  College.  In 
1650  he  took  the  degree  of  B.  A.  He  afterwards  lived  at  Putney, 
and  was  considered  the  most  famous  "simpler,"  or  herbalist, 
of  his  time.  He  died  in  1662  (while  secretary  to  Dr.  Duppa 
bishop  of  Winchester),  aged  about  36  years."' 

John  Cole  was  an  elder  son  of  the  aforesaid  John  Cole  of 
Adderbury ;  and  was  born  there  in  or  before  the  year  1 624.  He 
became  probationer-fellow  of  New  College,  Oxford,  in  1643,  and 
taught  the  grammar-school  there  in  the  cloister,  but  was  ejected 
by  the  ParHamentary  ^dsitors  before  he  had  taken  a  degree. 
He  resided  afterwards  at  Wolverhampton,  "  taught  there,  and 
married,  but  not  to  his  content."  He  had  a  principal  share  in 
translating  from  the  French  into  English — "  Hymen's  Prseludia ; 
or  Love's  Master-piece  ;  being  that  so  much  admired  Romance, 
entit.  Cleopatra."'® 

John  Kersey,  a  mathematician  of  much  eminence,  was  bom 
at  Bodicot.  The  entry  concerning  him  in  the  Bodicot  Register 
is : — "  John  the  sonne  of  Anthony  Carsaye  and  Alice  his  wife 
was  baptized  the  23  day  of  November  x\nno  Dom.  ]6I6."  His 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Fenimore."^  John  Kersey  practised 
as  a  teacher  of  the  mathematics  and  a  surveyor  in  London.  He 
published  in  1673,  in  two  folio  volumes,  "  The  Elements  of  Al- 
gebra," which  is  considered  to  be  one  of  the  clearest  and  most 
comprehensive  works  of  the  kind  in  any  language.  Kersey  also 
published  an  improved  edition  of  Wingate's  Arithmetic,  with  an 
Appendix  equal  in  bulk  to  the  original  volume  :  and  "  Diction- 
arium  Anglo- Britannicum,  or  General  English  Dictionary."  He 
died  of   a  consumption,  about  the  year  1677,  in  Chandos  Street 

(27)  Wood's  Athenee  Oxon, ;  Chalmers's  Biog.  Diet.  W.  Cole  was  the  author  of  several 
works.  One  of  them,  published  in  1656,  is  called  "  The  Art  of  Simpling :  or  an  intro- 
duction to  the  Knowledge  of  Gathering  Plants."  With  this  was  printed  ' ■  Perspicillum 
microcosmologicum,  or  a  Prospective  for  the  discovery  of  the  Lesser  World,  wherein  Man 
is  a  Compendium,"  &c.  He  afterwards  published  "Adam  in  Eden:  or,  Nature's  Paradise. 
The  History  of  Plants,  Herbs,  Flowers,  with  their  several  original  names,"  &c.  Lond. 
1657,  fol. 

(28)  Bliss's  Wood's  Athena?.  (29)  Register  of  Bodicot. 


486  BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES. 

near  St.  Martin's  Lane,  Westminster.  A  fine  engraved  portrait 
of  Kersey,  by  Faithorne,  is  prefixed  to  his  Algebra.^" 

George  Ashavell,  a  Royalist  wlio,  during  the  Rebellion, 
several  times  preached  before  the  Kiag  at  Oxford,  and  who  sub- 
sequently was  ejected  from  the  University  by  the  visitors  who 
were  appointed  in  1648,  became  rector  of  Han  well  on  the  death 
of  Dr.  Robert  Harris  in  1658,  on  the  presentation  of  Sir  Anthony 
Cope,  to  whom  he  had  been  chaplain.  Ashwell  is  said  to  have 
been  a  quiet  and  pious  man,  every  way  worthy  of  Ins  function, 
a  sound  logician,  and  well  read  in  the  fathers  and  schoolmen. 
He  was  the  author  of  several  theological  works.  He  died  at 
Hanwell,  after  being  rector  there  thirty-five  years,  on  the  8th 
February  1693 ;  and  was  buried  ui  the  church,  in  the  south  aisle 
of  which  there  is  a  tablet  to  his  memory.^' 

Thomas  Hunt,  Anthony  a  Wood  says,  was  "famous  in  liis 
generation  among  certain  schismatical  persons  for  several  things 
that  he  hath  written  and  published."  He  was  bom  iq  London 
about  the  year  1627,  became  fellow  of  Queen's  College,  Cam- 
bridge, went  to  Gray's  Inn  and  was  made  a  barrister,  and  was 
soon  held  in  repute  for  his  practice.  About  the  year  1660  he 
came  to  reside  at  Banbury,  where  he  followed  liis  profession.  He 
was  by  Charles  the  Second  appointed  to  be  lord-chief-baron  of 
Ireland ;  but  the  patent  was  superseded  while  he  was  on  his  way 
to  Ireland,  at  the  instance,  as  it  appears,  of  the  Duke  of  York, 
to  whom  he  was  not  acceptable.  Upon  the  Duke's  accession  to 
the  throne  as  James  the  Second,  Hunt  retired  iato  Holland ;  and 
afterwards  died  on  his  passage  from  Holland  back  to  England 
in  company  with  the  Prince  of  Orange.  To  the  loss  of  his  office 
Wood  attributes  the  fact  that  Hunt  became  "  one  of  the  worst 
and  most  inveterate  enemies  both  of  church  and  state."  Dryden, 
Roger  L' Estrange,  and  others,  wrote  agamst  liim.^- 

WiLLiAM  Bew,  D.  D.,  who  was  vicar  of  Adderbury  soon 
after  the  Restoration,  had  been,  about  1644,  major  of  a  regiment 
of  horse  under  Charles  the  First.  In  1679  he,  having  proceeded 
in  divinity,   became  Bishop  of   Llandaf,  with  liberty  to  hold  Ad- 

(30)  Wood's  Athcnse ;  Chalmers's  Biog.  Diet. 

(31)  Wood's  Atheuse  ;  Tablet  at  Hanwell;  and  information  from  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Cope. 

(32)  Wood's  Athenae.  Hunt  published — 1.  "Great  and  Weighty  Considerations  relating 
to  the  Duke  of  York,  or  Successor  to  the  Crown,  &c.  considered.  And  an  Answer  to  a 
Letter."  Lond.,  fol.,  1680,  and  8vo.,  1682.— 2.  "An  Argument  for  the  Bishops  Right  in 
judging  in  Capital  Causes  in  Parliament,  &c.  To  which  is  added  A  Postscript  for  recti- 
"fjang  some  Mistakes  in  some  of  the  inferior  Clergy,  mischievous  to  our  Government  and 
Religion."     Lond.,  8vo.,  1682  :  and  some  other  works. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES.  487 

derburj  hi  commendam  with  it.  He  died  in  1705.  His  tomb 
is  beneath  the  east  window  of  the  church  of  Adderbury.^^ 

Sir  William  Scroggs,  lord-chief-justice  of  the  King's  Bencli 
in  the  reign  of  Charles  the  Second,  was  born  at  Deddington  in 
1G23.  He  was  educated  for  the  church,  but  entered  into  the 
Royal  army,  and  afterwards  at  Gray's  Inn,  where  he  was  called 
to  the  bar.  In  1669  he  was  knighted  and  made  serjeant-at-law, 
and  in  1678  chief-justice  of  the  King's  Bench.  He  was  how- 
ever removed  from  this  high  office  in  1681,  on  the  ground  of 
having  acted  with  partiality  in  the  trials  of  those  who  were  ac- 
cused of  having  been  concerned  in  the  "  Popish  Plot."  He  died 
in  1683.^^  Dean  Swift  says: — "I  have  read  somewhere  of  an 
eastern  King,  who  put  a  judge  to  death  for  an  iniquitous  sentence, 
and  ordered  his  hide  to  be  stuffed  into  a  cushion,  and  placed 
upon  the  tribunal,  for  the  son  to  sit  on,  who  was  preferred  to  the 
father's  office.  I  fancy  such  a  memorial  might  not  have  been 
unuseful  to  a  son  of  Sir  WilUam  Scroggs  ;  and  that  both  he  and 
his  successors  would  often  wriggle  in  their  seats,  as  long  as  the 
cushion  lasted."^^ 

John  Knight,  D.  D.,  was  bom  in  1650,  entered  at  New  Inn 
Hall,  Oxford,  and  received  the  degree  of  B.  A.  in  1673,  and  that 
of  M.  A.  in  1675.  Upon  the  removal  of  Richard  White  from 
Banbury  to  Broughton,  Knight  became  Vicar  of  Banbury,  pre- 
viously to  January  1677-8.  Wood  says  that  Knight  was  "  a 
good  scholar,  very  loyal,  and  of  a  good  name  and  esteem  where 
he  lives,  and  might  have  been  Prebendary  of  Lincoln,  wliich  he 
much  deserves,  had  not  Dr.  B.  [Barlow]  bishop  thereof  shew'd  him 
a  dog  trick."  He  continued  vicar  of  Banbury  in  1683.  He 
subsequently  became  D.  D.,  and  rector  of  Broughton,  at  the 
same  time  vacating  Banbury.  He  died  on  the  6th  June  1704 ; 
and  a  grave  in  Broughton  church  contains  his  remains  and  those 
of  his  wife,  who  was  Hannah,  the  daughter  of  Colonel  John 
Fiennes.^" 

John  Wilmot,  Earl  of  Rochester.  Henry  Wilmot,  Baron 
Wilmot  of  Adderbury  and  Earl  of  Rochester,  died  in  1650.  (See 
p.  359.J     His   son  John  Wilmot  succeeded  to  the  titles  and  es- 

(33)  Bliss's  Wood's  Athena3 ;  &c.  (34)  Chalmers's  Biog.  Diet. 

(35)  Drapier's  Letters. 

(36)  Bliss's  Wood's  Fasti  Oxon.;  Register  of  Banbury;  Basse's  Sufferings  of  the 
Quakers,  v.  1,  p.  574 ;  Inscription  at  Broughton.  Knight  was  the  author  of  "  The 
Samaritan  Rebels  perjur'd  by  a  Covenant  of  Association,  in  a  Sermon  at  the  Assizes  held 
at  Northampton,  30  March  1682;"  4to. 


488  BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES. 

tates,  and  resided  at  Adderbury.  He  is  well  known  as  the  pro- 
fligate Earl  of  Rochester.  The  village  clironiclers  of  Adderbury 
relate  many  traditional  tales  of  the  eccentricities  and  libertinisms 
of  this  worthless  personage.  Amongst  others,  it  is  stated  that  it 
was  at  Bodicot  (a  chapelry  to  Adderbury)  that  Rochester  made 
his  extempore  lines  addressed  to  the  psalm-singing  clerk  or  sex- 
ton : — 

"  Sternhold  and  Hopkins  had  great  qualms, 

When  they  translated  David's  Psalms, 
To  make  the  heart  full  glad  : 

But  had  it  been  poor  David's  fate, 

To  hear  thee  sing,  and  them  translate. 

By  Jove,  'twould  have  drove  him  mad." 

The  Earl  died  in  1680,  leaving  a  son  Charles,  the  third  Earl, 
who  however  died  in  his  minority,  and  the  titles  became  extinct.^^ 

Woman  of  Adderbury.  There  is  an  old  4to.  tract,  entitled 
"  Gods  Terrible  Judgement  in  Oxfordshire ;  a  True  Relation  of 
a  Woman  at  Atherbury,  having  used  divers  horrible  Wishes  and 
Imprecations,  was  suddenly  Burnt  of  Ashes  on  one  side  of  her 
Body,  when  there  was  no  Fire  near  her.     1677."^^ 

William  Morrell,  sometime  of  Banbury,  was  a  notorious 
impostor  who  lived  in  the  reign  of  Charles  the  Second  and'  subse- 
quently. The  origin  of  this  person  was  obscure.  His  first  start 
in  the  world  was  as  a  journeyman  shoemaker  at  Worcester. 
He  afterwards  went  abroad ;  and,  when  he  returned  to  England, 
came  to  reside  at  Swalcliffe  (near  Banbury)  ;  where  he  amused 
the  country  people  with  so  many  rhodomontades  of  his  travels, 
that   he   began  to   be   looked   upon   in   the   neighbourhood   as   a 

(37)  The  Earl's  mansion  at  Adderbury  was  afterwards  the  abode  of  the  great  John 
Duke  of  Aegyle  ;  at  which  period  Alexander  Pope  slept  there  on  the  night  of  the  9tli 
July  1739,  in  the  Earl  of  Rochester's  own  bed,  and  left  behind  him  the  following  verses: — 

"  With  no  poetic  ardour  fir'd 

I  press  the  bed  where  Wilmot  lay  ; 
That  here  he  lov'd,  or  here  expir'd, 
Begets  no  numbers  grave  or  gay. 
Beneath  thy  roof,  Argyle,  are  bred 

Such  thoughts  as  prompt  the  brave  to  lie 
Stretch'd  out  in  honour's  nobler  bed, 

Beneath  a  nobler  roof — the  sky : 
Such  flames  as  high  in  patriots  burn. 
Yet  stoop  to  bless  a  child  or  wife ; 
And  such  as  wicked  Kings  may  mourn, 
When  freedom  is  more  dear  than  life." — Pope's  Works. 
Several  years  ago  the  magnificent  mansion   at  Adderbury,  which  had  been  the  abode, 
successively,  of  the  Earls  of  Rochester,  the  Duke  of  Argyle,  and  the  Duke  of  Buccleugh, 
was  reduced  to  the  dimensions  of  a  commodious  modern  mansion,  which  is  now  the  resi- 
dence of  W.  H.  Chamberlin  Esq. 

(38)  Gough's  Topog. ;  Brewers  Oxf. 


WILLIAM  MORRELL.  489 

prodigy.  He  was  at  that  time  a  professor  of  eliirurgery  ;  and, 
receiving  some  notice  from  Captain  Humphrey  Wickham  of 
Swalcliffe,  he  set  up  in  the  profession  at  Banbury,  where  he 
resided  many  years,  and  maintained  his  wife  and  family  in  re- 
spectable circumstances.  About  the  year  1674,  however,  he 
began  to  neglect  his  business,  from  seeking  after  the  society  of 
the  gentlemen  of  the  neighbourhood :  his  trade  thereupon  fell 
off,  and  his  wants  put  him  upon  many  shifts.  At  length,  having 
secured  the  services  of  a  young  countryman  as  a  servant  and 
accomplice,  he  quitted  his  home,  and  went,  first,  to  Brailes  fair ; 
where,  by  personating  a  brother  of  Sir  William  Walters,  he 
cheated  a  countryman  out  of  a  drove  of  cattle.  He  then  pro- 
ceeded through  the  fair,  and  took  notice  of  a  young  village  lass, 
a  mason's  daughter ;  who,  striick  with  his  assumed  name  and 
quality,  permitted  him  to  accompany  her  home,  where  her  father 
made  the  best  provision  for  his  guest.  Morrell  tendered  his  hand 
to  the  maiden ;  and  her  doting  parents  not  only  gave  consent  to 
their  union,  but  borrowed  all  the  money  they  could  for  the  oc- 
casion, and  the  marriage  was  solemnized. 

Morrell,  having  now  his  pockets  full  of  cash,  metamorphosed 
himself  into  a  dashing  gentleman,  and  went  to  Ludlow ;  where 
he  obtained  the  affections  of  the  daughter  of  a  wealthy  trades- 
man, and  married  her.  He  then  went,  with  considerable  spoU, 
to  Bristol,  where  he  assumed  the  character  of  a  salesman  ;  and 
at  Bath  he  obtained  for  a  fourth  wife  the  daughter  of  an  inn- 
keeper who  possessed  some  money.  He  then  bought  a  stately 
gelding,  and  pranced  away  to  Slough,  where  he  appeared  as  a 
merchant,  and  soon  formed  an  intimacy  with  a  country  gentle- 
man who  had  a  very  pretty  daughter  to  whom  he  was  able  to 
give  five  hundred  pounds  for  a  portion.  Morrell's  design  at 
Slough  appears  to  have  been  difficult  of  accomplishment,  since 
it  is  said  he  had  to  cope  with  judgment  in  the  father  of  the  girl, 
wit  and  sense  in  the  lady  herself,  and  some  ingenuity  in  her 
brother.  Every  difficulty,  however,  was  overcome,  and  the  mar- 
riage was  accomplished.  The  whole  party  set  off  for  London 
immediately  after  the  ceremony :  and  Morrell,  first  contriving  to 
raise  a  cry  of  "Thieves"  on  the  road,  gallopped  off  with  the 
property  they  had  taken,  in  order,  as  he  pretended,  to  secure  it 
from  depredation.      The   bride,  her   father,  and   brother,  sought 

3q 


490  WILLIAM  MORRELL. 

through  London  in  vain  to  find  either  the  bridegroom  or  their 
treasure. 

Morrell  now  spent  some  time  in  London,  where  he  pursued 
the  same  sort  of  practices.  It  happened,  however,  after  a  time, 
that  his  third  (or  Ludlow)  wife  came  to  London  in  quest  of  her 
deceiver,  whom  she  imagined  she  might  hear  of  at  Newgate. 
She  took  up  her  abode  at  an  inn  at  Holborn  Bridge,  and  there 
she  fell  into  the  company  of  a  good  motherly  woman  who  was 
just  arrived  from  Oxfordshire.  The  sorrow  marked  in  a  face  so 
young  as  that  of  the  Ludlow  wife,  induced  the  elder  female  to 
ask  the  cause  of  it ;  and,  an  explanation  being  given,  the  matron 
also  disclosed  her  own  sufferings.  It  turned  out  that  both  the 
women  had  been  deceived  by  the  same  person,  and  that  the 
elder  female  was  the  old  Banbury  wife.  The  two  theretipon 
agreed  together ;  and  means  were  used  to  capture  Morrell,  who 
they  soon  found  was  about  to  marry  another  wife.  But  just  be- 
fore this  plan  against  Morrell  was  to  take  effect,  the  Banbury 
wife  went  to  visit  a  relation,  and,  on  the  way,  met  her  hus- 
band. After  some  high  words,  Morrell  succeeded  in  persuading 
his  first  wife  that  his  conduct  was  the  result  of  his  necessities  ; 
and  that,  now  he  had  got  gold,  he  would  be  faithful  to  her. 
The  Banbury  wife  was  thus  induced  to  disconcert  the  scheme 
which  had  been  prepared  with  the  Ludlow  wife  ;  and  sent  for  all 
her  goods  up  from  Banbury  to  London,  where  a  house  was  fur- 
nished with  them.  However,  she  had  not  lived  in  it  three  days 
before  an  errand  was  contrived  to  take  her  from  home ;  and,  on 
her  return  at  night,  she  found  neither  husband  nor  goods  in  the 
house,  and  was  compelled  to  return  to  Banbury  and  live  upon 
the  alms  of  the  parish. 

Another  act  of  villany  was  now  done,  at  Wells,  where  Morrell 
took  the  name  of  a  brother  of  Sir  Charles  Bowyer,  and  mar- 
ried a  boarding-school  miss  who  had  a  portion  of  £180,  of 
which  he  soon  contrived  to  deprive  her.  i\.t  Kidderminster  he 
married  an  innkeeper's  daughter.  In  Holborn  he  courted  a  rich 
vintner's  widow,  by  personating  Sir  Charles  Bowyer  himself,  and 
obtained  £200  from  her.  He  also  forged  a  bill  for  £700,  and 
obtained  the  amount.  England  appeared  now  to  be  dangerous 
ground  for  him,  and  he  went  abroad  as  a  volunteer  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Duke  of  Monmouth.  In  Flanders  he  made  a  long 
campaign,   and  did   not  return  until  his  money  was   gone ;    upon 


WILLIAM  MORRELL.  491 

which  he  sold  his  horses,  came  to  London,  and  married  a  cler- 
gyman's daughter  with  a  portion  of  £500,  by  again  personating 
Sir  Charles  Bowyer. 

But  now  an  adverse  turn  of  fortune  fell  upon  him  ;  for  his 
Ludlow  wife  discovered  him,  and  threw  him  into  Worcester 
gaol.  Thence,  at  the  charge  of  the  London  clergyman  whose 
daughter  he  had  married,  he  was  removed  to  Newgate ;  and, 
six  of  his  wives  appearing  against  him  on  his  trial,  he  pleaded 
Guilty  to  those  six  marriages,  besides  twelve  more.  After  sen- 
tence he  removed  himself  to  the  King's  Bench,  where  he  be- 
haved so  winningly  to  his  keepers  that  he  obtained  some  pri- 
vileges which  enabled  him  to  effect  his  escape.  A  reward  of 
ct'IOO  was  thereupon  set  vipon  his  head,  and  he  was  compelled 
to  resort  to  many  shifts  in  order  to  obtain  small  sums  of  money. 
About  the  year  1687,  he  made  another  attempt  in  his  old  line, 
and  under  the  old  name  of  Sir  Charles  Bowyer  succeeded  in 
taking  to  wife  Nan,  the  cook-maid  at  the  Castle  tavern  in  Fetter 
Lane.  For  this  he  was  tried  and  convicted  as  an  impostor,  and 
was  set  in  the  pillory  before  the  door  of  the  Castle  tavern. 

A  few  days  before  Christmas-day  1691,  Morrell  went  to  one 
Cullen's,  a  baker  in  the  Strand,  to  seek  for  a  lodging.  His  stock 
of  money  was  not  above  two  shillings  ;  but  he  claimed  to  be  a 
person  of  worth  and  honour,  the  before-mentioned  Captain  Hum- 
phrey Wickham  of  Swalcliffe,  whose  name,  it  seems,  was  known 
to  Mrs.  Cullen.  The  family  supplied  his  wants,  and  paid  him 
all  the  respect  due  to  the  character  whom  he  personated.  Fall- 
ing sick  at  Cullen's,  Morrell,  on  the  28th  December,  made  a 
will,  in  which,  in  the  name  of  Humphrey  Wickham  Esq.,  he  be- 
queathed large  property  at  Swalcliffe,  Sulgrave,  Apeltree,  Crop- 
redy,  and  other  places,  together  with  money  in  the  hands  of 
Ambrose  Holbech  Esq.  (of  Mollington  and  Farnborough),  and 
other  sums,  to  divers  persons,  some  of  whom  were  his  pretended 
relations,  friends,  and  servants ;  but  the  family  of  the  CuUens 
were  especially  remembered.  His  design  on  this  occasion  was 
cut  short  by  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  3rd  January 
1691-2,  after  he  had  received  the  Sacrament,  and  pretended 
the  settlement  of  his  conscience,  and  his  peace  with  heaven.  A 
coffin  of  ten-pounds'  value  was  provided  by  Cullen,  the  embalm- 
ers  were  paid,  and  a  sumptuous  funeral  was  prepared.  Cullen 
sent  a  letter  addressed  to  Mr.  William  Wickham  of  GarsLng- 
3q3 


492  WILLIAM  MORRELL. 

ton  in  Oxfordshire  (who  had  been  named  in  the  will  as  one 
of  the  executors),  to  whom  Captain  Wickham's  mansion  at 
Swalcliife  was  bequeathed.  In  answer  to  the  letter,  there  came 
up  to  London  a  gentleman  from  Oxford,  to  say  that  the  Chris- 
tian name  of  Mr.  Wickham  of  Garsington  was  mistaken,  which 
gave  some  alarm  of  an  imposture.  Cullen  also  dispatched  a 
messenger  to  Swalchffe  ;  for,  in  the  mean  time.  Major  Richard- 
son and  Mr.  Compton  had  inspected  the  corpse,  and  pronoun- 
ced that  it  was  not  the  body  of  Humphrey  Wickham,  but  that 
of  the  man  who  had  been  formerly  convicted  of  having  six  wives, 
and  been  more  than  once  a  prisoner  in  Newgate.  The  messenger 
returned  from  Swalcliffe  to  London  on  the  12th  January,  having 
been  received  very  ci\nlly  at  Swalcliffe  by  the  real  Captain  Wick- 
ham. Upon  this  full  proof  of  the  imposture,  the  corpse  was 
taken,  with  no  accompaniment  but  a  watchman  and  a  lantern, 
and  in  a  coffin  of  four-shilhngs'  price,  to  a  nook  in  St.  Clement's 
church-yard.  The  nurse  and  her  assistants  afterwards  testified, 
that  they  once  or  twice  observed  Morrell  laugh  to  himself  on 
his  deathbed,  as  if  from  the  pleasure  he  took  in  cheating  the 
world  he  was  leaving. 

Of  Morrell's  man  Tom  it  is  said,  that  he,  having  learned  some 
of  the  art  of  his  master,  ran  away  with  and  married  an  heiress 
of  £150  per  annum.  For  this  he  was  taken  at  Puttenham,  near 
Godalmiug  :  but  further  particulars  respecting  him  are  not  knowu.^^ 


MONUMENTS    AND   INSCRIPTIONS  IN   THE   FORMER 

CHURCH  OF  BANBURY,  AND  IN  THE 

CHURCH-YARD. 

Bray,  writing  in  1777,  says  that  Alexander,  Bishop  of  Lincoln, 
is  supposed  to  have  been  buried  in  the  chancel  of  Banbury 
Church,  "under  a  tomb  on  which  is  a  mutilated  figure  recum- 
bent."      He   adds : — "  The  remains   of   two   other  figures  in  the 

(39)  "  The  Notorious  Impostor,  or  the  History  of  the  Life  of  William  Morrell,  alias  Bow- 
yer,  sometime  of  Banbury,  chiruigeon.  With  an  authentick  copy  of  his  Will,  taken  out 
of  the  Prerogative  Court";"  &c.,  Lond.,  4to.,  16t>3;  dedicated  to  Capt.  Wickham.— "  The 
Second  Part  of  the  Notorious  Impostor,"  &c.,  Lond.,  4to.,  1692.— "  The  Compleat  Me- 
moirs of  the  Life  of  that  Notorious  Impostor  Will.  Morrell,  alias  Bowyer,  alias  W' ickham, 
&c.  who  died  at  Mr.  Cullen's  the  Bakers  in  the  Strand,  Jan.  3.  1691-2;"  Lond,  8vo., 
1694 ;  dedicated  to  Gabriel  Balam  Esq.  by  Elkanah  Settle  the  Poet.  These  three  scarce 
Tracts  are  in  my  own  collection.  The  reader  must  give  as  much  credit  to  the  story  about 
Morrell  as  he  thinks  it  entitled  to. 


MONUMENTS.  493 

chancel,  said  to  be  those  of  Judge  Chamberlain  and  his  wife, 
shew  the  folly  and  fanaticism  iia  the  last  century."  The  first- 
named  effigy  was  probably  that  which  has  been  mentioned  in  p. 
153,  and  engraved  in  Plate  17,  of  this  volume:  it  certainly  was 
not  erected  over  the  remains  of  Bishop  Alexander,  as  that  pre- 
late was  buried  in  Lincoln  Cathedral. 

There  is  preserved,  in  the  British  Museum,  an  account  of  the 
monuments  and  inscriptions  in  the  church  and  church-yard  of 
Banbury,  taken  on  the  19th  July  1660.     It  is  as  follows : — 

"  Against  the  south  wall  of  the  chancell  an  ancient  raised  mon'  within 
an  arch  of  the  wall,  by  it  two  jjvoporc'ons  of  a  man  &  a  woman  throwne 
clowne  by  the  soldiers  &  broken,  it  is  reported  to  have  belonged  to  one 
y'  was  a  judge  [Chamberlayne].  the  armes  upon  it  are.  On  a  fesse  bet.  3 
birds  3  mullets,  the  supporters  a  cocke  &  a  porcupine,  the  crest  a  demi 
peacock  displayd. 

"Above  the  last  by  the  same  wall  a  great  arched  mon'  the  arch  sup- 
ported by  8  piUars  of  blacke  marble.     Under  the  arch  are  these  armes 
Gu.  an  escotcheon  Ar.  within  an  ovle  of  starres.  Or.  q' 

1.  Gu.  a  chevron  bet.  3  escallops  Or. 

2.  Sa.  6  lyons  rampt.  Or. 

3.  El-,  a  cheife  indented  Gu. 

4.  B.  2  lyons  pass'  Or.  a  label  Ar. 

5.  as  the  first.  Impaling 

Ar.   a  fesse  bet.   3  lyons  heads  couped  Gu.  q' 

1.  B.  a  saltire  Ar.  bet.  4  eagles  displayd  Or. 

2.  Gu.  on  a  bend  Ar.  3  trefoils  v' 

3.  Per  pale  indented  Or.  Ar.  a  chevron  bet.  3  cherubs  heads  Gu. 
On  the  out  side  of  the  arch 

Chamberlaine  alone,  &  Fermor  alone. 

"  On  a  gravestone  on  the  groiuid,  this 

To  the  Memory  of  Mr  Richard  Hill  merchant  who  dyed  the  21  day  of 
October  1658. 

From  rockes  secvu-'d,  from  stormes  and  waves  set  free 

God  brought  me  backe  my  native  soyle  to  see. 

Casting  up  my  accounts,  though  blest  with  gaine 

I  fovmd  the  earths  advantage  all  but  vaine. 

At  last  wain'd  from  below,  I  tooke  advice, 

From  heaven  sought  y*  pearle  of  greatest  price. 

Reader  do  thou  the  like,  learne  to  be  wise. 

To  trade  for  Christ  is  the  best  merchandize. 

"  By  the  side  of  the  south  wall  an  ancient  raised  mon*  sans  inscripc'on 
or  armes. 


494  MONUMENTS. 

"  In  the  body  of  the  chiu'ch,  on  a  gravestone,  this, 

To  the  Memory  of  Mrs  Mary  Walrond  who  dyed  ye  26  of  Aprill 
liioS  in  tlie  12  year  of  her  age. 

Her  thread  was  short  but  finely  spun, 

The  morning  past,  her  day  work's  done. 

A  quick  dispatch,  no  more  to  dye. 

Early  was  grace  &  gloi-y  nigh. 

Thus  hopefull  sprouts  of   |  ^IrtWy  }  "^e 
Ti'ausplanted  are  to  Paradise. 

"  In  a  chappell  on  the  north  side  of  the  church  against  the  east  wall 
a  ttible  of  blacke  marble,  thereon,  this, 

D.     O.     M. 

Here  lieth  y'^  bodyes  of 

John  Knight  (3  times  Bayliee 

of  this  Borovghe)  &  Joane  his  wife 

by  whom  he  had  3  son'es  &  10  davgh- 

ters  whereof  nyne  were  married 

they  sawe  springing  from  their  owne 

loynes  84'  children  which  like  olive 

branches  were  an  ornament  to  their 

Table.     In  their  life  tyme  they  cherished 

the  poore,  and  havinge  beqveathed 

certaine  lands  for  their  perpetvall 

reliefe,  died  fvll  of  dayes,  desired 

loved,  and  bewailed  of  their 

children  freindes  and  neighbovrs 

He    \    ,      1    J  22°  Novcmb.  1587 

She  /   '^^'^"^   1 26°  Dec  1590 

On  a  little  piece  of  marble  underneath,  this 

Graves  are  lodgings  to  the  blest       Every  soule  here  now  shall  take 
Not  of  horrour  but  of  rest  And  from  y'  which  putrifyes 

Cabinets  y*  safely  keep  Shall  immortall  bodyes  rise 

Mortalls  reliks  while  they  sleep       In  this  faith  these  liv'd  &  dyde 
W°  the  ti-ump  shall  all  awake  In  this  hope  they  here  reside. 

"  On  the  same  wall  the  proportion  of  an  old  man  to  the  middle  bet.  2 
pillars  of  blacke  marble  with  a  booke  in  one  hand  &  a  handkercheife''" 
in  ye  other.     Under  him  on  a  table  of  blacke  marble,  this. 

To  the  pious  memory  of  William  Knight,  gent,  some  time  Justice  of 
Peace  and  Quorum  in  this  borough,  who  (having  had  his  education  both 
in  the  University  and  Inns  of  Court)  continued  in  the  love  and  practice 
of  good  studies ;  gave  good  examples  of  morality  and  piety ;  finished  his 

(10)  There  is  an  error  in  this  description:  the  muliUited  eflSgy  of  William  Knight,  taken 
from  the  former  Church,  was,  until  recently,  preserved  in  the  room  which  is  over  the  cler- 
gyman's retiring-room  in  the  present  Church.  It  had  the  representation  of  a  book  in 
one  band  and  a  pencil  in  the  other. 


MONUMENTS.  495 

course  in  the  true  faith ;   and  was  here  laid  up  in  the  hope  of  a  glorious 
resurrection.     20"'  Sept.  1631. 

His  life,  his  breath,  liis  facilities  are  gone, 
Yet  virtue  keeps  him  from  oblivion. 
Those  arts  and  parts  that  beautify'd  his  mind, 
Like  precious  ointment  leave  his  name  behind. 
His  lamp  is  out,  yet  still  his  light  doth  shine  ; 
His  faith  and  works  survive  as  things  divine. 
To  God  he  lives,  though  dead  to  us  he  be  ; 
The  bury'd  seeds  do  spring,  and  so  shall  he  ! 
Died  1631.     ^Etatis  73. 
Chron.      fBeatI   ILLI   InqVIt  spIrltVs   qVI    In   DoMIno   oblerVnt. 
annis       \SenIo  bono  aggregatVs   est  popVLarlbVs   sVIs.*> 

Gen.  XXV.  8. 
Hodie  Mihi,  Cras  Tibi. 
Cerne  Vale. 
Upon  a  wreath  about  him,  this 

jEternum  vivit  post  funera  virtus 
Deteriora  cadunt,  sed  meliora  vigent 
Over  all  his  amies.     Ar.  3  Bends  within  a  border  Gu.     On  a  canton 
sa.  a  spur.  Or. 

"Against  the  east  wall  of  a  chappell  on  the  south  side  of  the  Church, 
this. 

To  the  memory  of  William  Randall  Esq'',  late  inholder  of  Banbury 
deceased  who  was  here  buryed  17  Apr.  1642.  among  other  of  his  works 
y'  follow  him,  he  gave  a  stocke  of  a  100'<^  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  of 
this  burrough. 

"  In  the  middle  of  y'  chappell  a  raised  mon'  of  blacke  marble  the 
amies  pulled  of.     it  is  said  to  belong  to  one  of  the  family  of  the  Cope's. 

"On  banners  hanging  up  on  the  south  side  of  y**  church.  Gu.  3 
chevrons  A.  q  .  .  .  . 

"  In  the  south  windows 

England  Qu.  Or.  Gu.  a  border  Er. 

England  with  a  label  Ar.  Qu.  Or.  Gu. 

Er.  on  a  cheife  B.  3  roses  Or.  Or.  a  cross  ingr.  Sa. 

Or.  a  chevron.  V*  Ar.  a  chevron  Gu. 

Ar.  2 — Gu.  in  cheife  3  torteux 

"  In  the  west  v.indow 

Or.  an  eagle  Sa.  Or.  a  cheife  B.  q'.  Ar.  a  lion  ramp.  Sa. 

(41)  The  Capitals  in  the  first  Latin  line  tell  the  year  of  Knight's  decease;  those  in  tho 
second  line  his  age.  See  a  similar  fancy  in  the  epitaph  of  William  Whateley,  in  p.  272  of 
this  vol. 


496  MONUMENTS. 

"In  the  church  yard 

On  the  side  of  a  great  raised  mon*,  this 

[Namely,  the  inscription  to  William  Whateley  vicar ;  and  following  it, 
the  stone  and  inscription  to  his  widow  Martha  Whateley ;  which  have 
been  given  before  in  pp.  272,  273. 

"  On  a  stone  erect,  this 

To  the  memory  of  M''  William  Whately  late  Alderman  &  once  major 
of  this  Burrough  who  dyed  24  Jan.  16i7. 
On  the  other  side  these  verses 
He  was  like  Enock  in  his  walk        A  foe  to  error  &  false  wayes 
In  zeale  like  Phineas  more  than      A  strict  observer  of  gods  dayes, 

talke  Cast  up  the  account  &  w°  you  have 

Job-like  a  perfect  upright  man  done 

In  mercy  the  Samaritan  Say  we  have  lost  many  in  one. 

"  On  another,  this 

To  the  memory  of  Thomas  Whately  who  departed  this  life  25  July  1659 
Anno  setatis  21. 

On  the  other  side  these  verses 

My  web  though  spun,  my  thread  though  cut  it  bee 

Reader,  twill  lead  to  true  felicity. 

Take  thou  the  end,  loe  here  it  lyeth,  I  dye 

To  warne  thee  of  thine  owne  mortality. 

Farewell  toyes  whereon  my  fond  mind  fed, 

My  joy's  in  heaven,  my  grave's  the  nuptiall  bed. 

*****         Loe  here  I  ly 

Untill  the  dawning  of  eternity. 

"  On  the  side  of  a  raised  monum*,  this 

Here  was  laid  the  body  of  Timothy  Harris  one  of  the  sons  of  Doctor 
Rob'  Harris  who  dyed  11  June  1659. 
by  it  the  amies  with  this  description 

He  hath  exchanged  sin  &  paine 

For  rest  with  Christ,  thus  death  his  gaine. 

Sound  in  the  faith  he  liv'd  &  dyde 

Wee're  blest  who  do  not  turne  aside. 

"  On  a  stone  erect,  this 

To  the  memory  of  Edward  Beale  once  major  of  this  Burrough  who 
departed  this  life  3  day  of  Oct.  1657 

How  great  is  our  losse  but  greater  is  his  gaine 
Hee  lyeth  in  heaven  we  on  earth  remaine 
His  righteousnesse  he  did  wholly  disowne 
(Those  were  his  dying  words)  &  Christ  alone 
Reader  make  hast  see  thou  his  steps  do  trace 
If  ever  you  think  to  see  Jehovas  face 
Who  sings  Hosanna's  in  the  highest  blisse 
We  live  in  hope  while  he  the  spouse  doth  kisse. 


MONUMENTS.  497 

"  On  another,  this 

Here  lyeth  the  body  of  M''  Anne  Slade  wife  of  M'  Will.  Slade  daughter 
of  M''  Nathaniel  Whitley  who  dyed  17  of  Apri.  &  Mary  their  daughter 
10  day  of  the  same  month  in  the  year  of  o''  L'^  Christ  1658. 
Here  with  the  daughter  resteth  the  tender  mother 
Together  laid,  yet  knowne  not  each  of  other 
Sleep  blest  saints  secure  till  the  last  trump  do  blow 
Then  wakeing  rising  know  as  ye  are  knowne.  "^- 

Another  manuscript  in  the  British  Museum  contains  the  fol- 
lowing : — 

"  In  Banbury  Church 

To  the  Memory  of  James  White,  son  of  M''  Ric.  White  of  London, 
who  dyed  Dec.  the  4^  1669  having  almost  finished  the  22<i  year  of  his 
age. 

Brother  yo've  outstript  me,  I  first  born. 
You  first  unto  the  Womb  of  Earth  return. 
But  I  shall  follow  you  ere  long,  &  then 
One  womb  shall  us  enclose  yet  once  agen. 
Which  Womb  shall  open,  that  like  Twins  we  may 
Be  born  on  one,  the  Resurrection  Day. 

Sic  litavit  Frater  ejus  natu  maximus  R.  W. 

"  In  Banbiu-y  Church  Yard 

To  the  Memory  of  Ric.  Richards,  who  by  a  Gangreen  first  lost  a 
Toe,  afterwards  a  Leg,  &  lastly  his  Life  on  the  7*  day  of  April  1656. 

Ah !  cruel  Death,  to  make  3  Meals  of  one  ! 

To  taste,  &  eat,  &  eat  'till  aU  was  gone. 

But  know,  thou  Tyrant !  when  the  Trump  shall  call, 

He'll  find  his  Feet,  &  stand  when  thou  shalt  fall."*^ 

The  flooring  of  the  chancel  of  the  new  Church  is  in  great  part 
made  of  slab-stones  bearing  inscriptions,  which  were  taken  from 
the  former  Church.  The  dates  vary  from  1702  to  1743.  On 
one  stone  is  the  following  inscription  : — 

Daniel  Waldo  Gent ; 
Died  the  29'^'  of  January 
1725  Aged  44 
Full  forty  four  my  glass  hath  run 
And  now  it's  out  good  Lord  I  come 
Receive  my  Soul  for  y'^  sake  of  him 
Who  paid  a  Ransome  for  my  Sin. 

None  of  the  ancient  monuments  have  been  re-erected  in  the 
present  Church,  but  a  few  fragments  of  some  of  them  are  re- 
maining in  the  room  which  is  over  the  clergyman's  retiring-room. 

(42)  Harl.  MSS.,  No.  4170.  (43)  Cole's  MSS.,  v.  30. 

3  R 


498  ASTROP  WELLS. 


ASTROP  WELLS. 


The  small  village  of  Astrop  is  situated  in  Northamptonshire, 
four  miles  southeast  from  Banbury,  and  is  partly  in  the  parish 
of  King's  Sutton  and  partly  in  that  of  Newbottle.  In  that  por- 
tion of  the  village  which  Ues  within  the  parish  of  King's  Sutton 
is  situated  the  Well,  long  ago  considered  Holy,  which  received 
its  name  from  St.  Rumbald.  (See  p.  5L)  In  the  seventeenth 
century,  long  after  the  supposed  sanctity  of  the  waters  came  to 
be  disregarded,  medicinal  virtues  were  believed  to  be  discovered 
therein,  and  the  names  of  two  claimants  are  put  forth  for  the 
honour  of  having  made  the  discovery.  Anthony  a  Wood  records, 
that  Richard  Lower,  afterwards  an  eminent  physician,  going  with 
Dr.  Thomas  Willis  (to  whom  he  was  assistant)  in  April  1664 
to  visit  his  patients  at  Astrop,  made  the  discovery  of  the  virtues 
of  Astrop  waters  while  the  Doctor  was  asleep  as  usual,  or  nearly 
asleep,  on  horseback ;  and  that,  on  Lower's  communicating  the 
discovery  to  Dr.  Willis,  experiments  were  made  which  led  the 
latter  to  recommend  the  waters.  "Soon  after,"  says  he,  "the 
water  was  enclosed  in  a  well,  and  upon  the  said  commendations 
'twas  yearly,  as  to  this  time  it  is,  frequented  by  all  sorts  of  peo- 
ple."^ But  Aubrey  refers  the  discovery  to  Dr.  Willis  him- 
self, at  a  date  seven  years  earlier.  It  is  said  of  the  Doctor, 
that,  on  observing  that  the  stones  in  the  little  rill  were  dis- 
coloured,— "  thought  he,  this  may  be  an  indication  of  iron ; 
he  gets  galls,  and  puts  some  of  the  powder  into  the  water ; 
and  immediately  it  turned  blackish  ;  then  said  he,  '  He  not  send 
my  patients  now  so  far  as  Tunbridge ;'  "  and  so  he  brought  Astrop 
waters  into  notice.'^  In  1668,  there  was  published  "A  Brief 
Account  of  the  Virtues  of  the  Famous  Well  of  Astrop,  not  far 
from  Oxford,  of  late  so  nmch  frequented  by  the  Nobility  and 
Gentry.  By  a  learned  Physician.  Lond.,  4to.""'  In  1685,  the 
Lord  Keeper  Guilford,  during  his  last  illness,  came  from  Lon- 
don to  Wroxton  that  he  might  obtain  the  benefit  of  the   then 

(44)  Wood's  Athenae. 

(45)  Letters  from  the  Bodleian.  If  the  followdng  entry  in  the  Re^ster  of  Banbury 
refers  to  Astrop  (which  perhaps  is  hardly  probable),  the  Well  there  is  of  far  earlier  medi- 
cinal note  than  the  dates  assigned  by  Wood  and  Aubrey.  This  entry  dates  in  November 
1579 : — "  Richard  Halse  of  Saru'  [Salisbury]  in  the  cowntie  of  Wiltsheire  was  biu'ied  the 
24  day  in  comming  from  the  newe  Well." 

(46)  Scarce  Tract  in  my  own  collection. 


ASTROP  WELLS.  499 

famous  Astrop  waters.'''  On  the  23rd  August  1689,  a  letter  from 
Lady  Russell,  the  widow  of  Lord  William  Russell,  addressed 
to  Dr.  Fitzwilliam,  says  : — "  I  knew  not  where  to  find  jou  good 
Doctor  because  your  last  said  you  would  go  to  Lord  Gainsbo- 
rouglis,  &  then  to  Windsor.  Now  I  hear  Lord  Gainsborough 
and  his  lady  are  at  Banbury  waters."^^  In  1694,  Anthony  a  Wood 
says : — "  July  10*.  I  went  to  Astrop  Wells,  took  up  my  lodg- 
ings at  W"  Upton's  at  Kings  Sutton  near  thereunto,  and  con- 
tinued there  till  the  15th  of  Aug.  12*.  for  my  carriage  backwards 
and  forwards,  and  51.  for  my  being  there.  4*.  Qd.  I  gave  for  my 
lodgings  per  week."^^  Morton,  writing  in  1712,  says  that  the 
successes  wliich  attended  the  use  of  these  waters,  "particularly 
upon  the  scurvy,  asthma,  chlorosis,  and  other  like  diseases,"  were 
such  that  in  a  short  time  their  fame  extended  itself  over  the 
kingdom.^"  Dr.  Radcliffe,  of  Oxford,  is  said  to  have  patronised 
Astrop  very  warmly .^^  In  1749,  a  new  well,  called  Sutton  Bog, 
was  opened  at  King's  Sutton,  half  a  mile  from  the  Astrop  well ; 
on  which  occasion  a  breakfast  was  given  with  great  ceremony 
by  Anthony  Keck  Esq.  of  Leicestersliire,  in  gratitude  for  benefits 
he  had  received  at  Astrop.  At  this  period  Astrop  could  boast 
of  its  public  ball  every  Monday,  and  breakfast,  cards,  dancing, 
and  ordinaries  for  ladies  and  gentlemen,  every  Friday  during  the 
season.^'^  In  1754,  the  "Great  Room"  at  Astrop  was  opened 
on  the  15th  July,  in  which  were  to  be  breakfast  every  day,  and 
a  public  breakfast  every  Friday .^^  Bray,  in  1777,  says  the  place 
"is  now  out  of  fashion.  The  lodging-houses  are  miserable. 
Near  the  spring  an  assembly-room  was  built  by  subscription 
some  years  ago,  and  is  still  used  for  that  purpose  in  the  summer 
by  the  neighbouring  gentry.  Dr.  Short  says,  nature  and  art  have 
combined  to  make  this  place  a  paradise  of  pleasure.  I  doubt  it 
will  require  a  warm  imagination  to  discover  in  it  any  resemblance 
to  what  we  suppose  Paradise  to  be."^^  Astrop  has  long  been 
completely  deserted  as  a  place  of  fashionable  resort :  but  the  Well 

(47)  North's  Life  of  the  Lord  Keeper  Guilford.  (48)  Lady  Russell's  Letters. 

(49)  Life  of  Wood,  prefixed  to  Bliss's  Wood's  Athente. 

(50)  Morton's  Northamp.,  p.  28L 

(51)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  703.  But  Granger  states  that  the  waters  weie  decried  by 
Radcliffe;  and  he  gives  as  a  reputed  reason,  that  the  parish  of  King's  Sutton  insisted  upon 
the  Doctor's  maintaining  an  illegitimate  child  which  was  laid  to  him  by  an  infemous 
woman  of  the  place.  Upon  this  occurrence  the  Doctor  is  said  to  have  declared  "  that  he 
would  put  a  toad  into  their  well,"  and  accordingly  he  cried  down  the  waters.  (Granger's 
Biog.  Hist.  Eng.)    I  have  heard  the  same  tale  on  traditionary  evidence. 

(52)  Northampton  Mercury  ;  Baker's  Northamp.,  pp.  703,  704. 

(53)  Oxford  Journal,  1754.  (54)  Bray's  Tour. 

3r3 


500  THE  NORTH  FAMILY:— 

is  preserved,  at  which  there  is  a  stone  seat,  and  a  rural  cottage 
beside  it.*^ 


THE  REIGN  OF  JAMES  THE  SECOND : 
THE  NORTH  FAMILY. 

At  the  election  which  occurred  at  the  commencement  of  James 
the  Second's  reign,  in  1685,  Sir  Dudley  North,  knight,  was  re- 
turned to  ParUament  for  Banbury .^"^ 

Sir  Dudley's  grandfather,  Dudley,  the  third  Baron  NORTH,  is 
recorded  as  having  been  one  of  the  "  finest  gentlemen  "  in  the 
court  of  James  the  First,  or  rather  that  of  Henry  Prince  of 
Wales  his  son.  This  Baron  North  had  a  son  Dudley,  who 
was  the  fourth  Baron  NORTH,  and  was  the  father  of  Charles 
North  (the  fifth  Baron),  Sir  Francis  North  (Lord  Keeper),  Sir 
Dudley  North  (member  for  Banbm-y),  Dr.  John  North  (master 
of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge),  Montagu  North,  Edward  North, 
and  Roger  North  (the  author  of  the  Life  of  the  Lord  Keeper,  &c.). 
Sir  Francis  North  was  born  in  1637  ;  he  attained  succes- 
sively the  offices  of  solicitor-general  (in  1671),  attorney-general 
(in  1673),  lord  chief  justice  of  the  common  pleas  (in  1674-5), 
and  Lord  Keeper  of  the  Great  Seal  in  1682,  with  the  title  of 
Baron  GuiLFORD  in  1683.  He  married,  in  1671-2,  Lady 
Frances  Pope,  daughter  of  Thomas  third  Earl  of  Downe ;  and 

{55)  The  following  is  the  Analysis  of  the  water  of  Astrop  Well : — 

Temp.  50o.  The  water  clear' and  sparkling;  slightly  chalybeate (?).  The  spring  yields 
a  considerable  quantity  of  water,  which  leaves  a  bright  red  sediment  of  Peroxide  Iron  on 
the  stone  channel. 

In  two  quarts — Carbonic  Acid 8.  8  cubic  inches 

Chloride  Sodium 0.     53  gr. 

Sulphate  Lime    1.    2 

Sulphate  Soda 4.    9 

Protoxide  Iron     0.    036 

Carbonate  Lime 5.    6 

Carbonate  Magnesia 1.    5 

(Owing  to  an  accident,  the  two  last  constituents  are  not  to  be  depended  on.) 
The  following  is  the  Analysis  of  the  water  of  Sutton  Bog  Spring  : — 
Temp.  50o.     The  water  is  clear,  and  has  a  brackish  taste.     It  gives  off  a  little  gas  on 
standing,  which  is  Carbonic  Acid. 

In  one  quart — Carbonic  Acid 

Chloride  Sodium 10.    4  gr. 

Sulphate  Soda 20.     9 

Carbonate  Soda' 1.    5 

Carbonate  Lime 0.     6 

Carbonate  Magnesia 0.    6 

Silica  a  trace. 

These  Analyses  are  by  Mr.  Thomas  Beesley. 
(56)  New  Pari.  Reg. 


LORD  KEEPER  GUILFORD  :    SIR  DUDLEY  NORTH.     501 

sister  and  coheiress  of  Thomas,  fourth  and  last  Earl  of  Downe, 
who  died  at  Wroxton,  at  an  early  age,  in  1668.^  From  the 
date  of  the  Lord  Keeper's  marriage  until  the  present  time,  Wrox- 
ton  has  continued  to  be  the  residence  of  the  North  Family. 

The  Lord  Keeper's  younger  brother,  Sir  DUDLEY  NORTH, 
is  described  as  having  been  a  precocious  and  beautiful  child.  He 
was  stolen  by  a  beggar  in  London,  but  was  recovered.  He  after- 
wards had  the  Plague.  At  school  he  proved  "  an  indifferent  scho- 
lar ;"  by  reason  that  he  had  "  too  much  spirit,  which  would  not 
be  suppressed  by  conning  his  book."  He  was  therefore  devoted 
to  a  mercantile  life,  and  bound  to  a  Turkey  merchant.  He  after- 
wards removed  to  Constantinople,  and,  by  his  eminent  abilities 
for  business,  became  entrusted  with  the  chief  management  of  the 
English  factory  there.  After  his  return  to  England,  he  was, 
in  the  reign  of  Charles  the  Second,  made  a  commissioner 
of  Customs,  and  subsequently  a  commissioner  of  the  Trea- 
sury. He  was  again  appointed  a  commissioner  of  the  Customs 
by  James  the  Second ;  and,  it  being  necessary  that  he  should 
sit  in  Parliament,  although,  "as  a  commissioner  of  the  customs, 
he  might  have  been  chosen  at  some  one  of  the  outports,  yet,  to 
make  room  for  another  of  the  King's  friends,  he  chose  to  serve 
for  the  corporation  of  Banbury,  where,  on  account  of  the  young 
Lord  Guilford's  trust  [his  nephew],  he  had  a  sure  interest."  In 
Parliament,  he  was  the  manager  of  all  the  affairs  of  the  Govern- 
ment which  related  to  the  revenue. 

Sir  Dudley,  and  liis  brother,  Roger  North,  during  the  mmority 
of  their  nephew  (the  Lord  Keeper's  heir),  sometimes  spent  their 
summers  at  Wroxton,  where  they  entertained  themselves  with  all 
sorts  of  amusements  and  exercises.  They  formed  a  laboratory, 
in  wliich  they  worked  during  the  mornings,  and  made  them- 
selves as  "  black  as  tinkers ;"  and  on  the  afternoons,  as  a  clean- 
lier exercise,  they  became  in  turn  carpenters,  turners,  planners, 
and  measurers.  Roger  North  says  of  Sir  Dudley  at  this  time : — 
"  here  for  many  afternoons  together  he  hath  sat,  perhaps,  scraping 
a  stick,  or  turning  a  piece  of  wood,  all  the  while  singing  like  a 
cobbler,  incomparably  better  pleased  than  he  had  been  in  all  the 
stages  of  his  life  before.'"'^ 

(1)  There  are  pictures  of  the  two  last  Earla  of  Downe  preserved  at  Ditchley. 

(2)  Roger  North's  Lives  of  the  Lord  Keeper  Guilford  and  Sir  Dudley  North;  Baker's 


Northamp.,  p.  537. 
7rom  the  Life  of  the  LiOrd  Keeper,  ttie  loiiowing  curious  pa 
'  To  shew  that  his  lordship's  court  enemies,  the  Earl  of  Sunderland  in  particular,  were 


From  the  Life  of  the  Lord  Keeper,  the  following  curious  particulars  are  extracted  : — 


502  THE  LORD  KEEPER  GUILFORD. 

The  Lord  Keeper  died  at  Wroxton  on  the  5th  September  1685  : 
his   remains  lie   buried  in   the  church,   with  no  other   memorial 

hard  put  to  it  to  find,  or  invent,  something  to  report,  tending  to  the  dirainution  of  his 
character,  I  shall  give  an  account  of  the  most  impudent  butToon  lye  raised  upon  him,  and, 
with  brazen  affirmations  of  truth  to  it,  dispersed  from  the  court  one  morning,  that  ever 
came  into  fools  head ;  and  Satan  himself  would  not  have  own'd  it  for  his  legitimate  issue. 
It  fell  out  thus:  a  merchant,  of  Sir  Dudley  North's  acquaintance,  had  brought  over  an 
enoi-mous  Rhinoceros,  to  be  sold  to  shew-men  for  profit.  It  is  a  noble  beast,  wonderfully 
arm'd  by  nature  for  offence ;  but  more  for  defence,  being  cover'd  with  impenetrable  shields, 
which  no  weapon  would  make  any  impression  upon ;  and  a  rarity  so  great,  that  few  men, 
in  our  country,  have,  in  their  whole  lives,  opportunity  to  see  so  singular  an  animal.  This 
merchant  told  Sir  Dudley  North,  that  if  he,  with  a  fiiend  or  two,  had  a  mind  to  see  it, 
they  might  take  the  opportunity  at  his  house,  before  it  was  sold.  Hereupon  Sir  Dudley 
North  proposed  to  his  brother,  the  Lord  Keeper,  to  go  with  him  upon  this  expedition ; 
which  he  did,  and  came  away  exceedingly  satisfied  with  the  cuiiosity  he  had  seen.  But 
whether  he  was  dogged,  to  find  out  where  he  and  his  brother  housed  in  the  city,  or  flying 
fame  carried  an  accoimt  of  the  voyage  to  court,  I  know  not ;  but  it  is  certain  that,  the  very 
next  morning,  a  bruit  went  from  thence  all  over  the  town,  and  (as  factious  reports  use  to 
run)  in  a  very  short  time,  viz.  that  his  lordship  rode  upon  the  Rhinoceros ;  than  which  a 
more  infantine  exploit  could  not  have  been  fastened  upon  him.  And  most  people  were 
struck  with  amasement  at  it ;  and  chverse  run  here  and  there  to  find  out  whether  it  was 
true  or  no.  And,  soon  after  dinner,  some  lords  and  others  came  to  his  lordship  to  know 
the  truth  from  himself ;  for  the  setters  of  the  lye  afiirm'd  it  positively,  as  of  their  own  know- 
ledge. That  did  not  give  his  lordship  much  disturbance  ;  for  he  expected  no  better  from 
his  adversaries.  But  that  his  friends,  intelligent  persons,  who  must  know  him  to  be  far 
from  guilty  of  any  childish  levity,  should  believe  it,  was  what  roiled  him  extremely ;  and 
much  more,  when  they  had  the  face  to  come  to  him  to  know  if  it  were  true.  I  never  saw 
him  in  such  a  rage,  and  to  lay  about  him  with  affronts  (which  he  keenly  bestow'd  upon  the 
minor  courtiers  that  came  on  that  errand)  as  then ;  for  he  sent  them  away  with  flea-s  in  their 
ear.  And  he  was  seriously  angry  with  his  own  brother  Sir  Dudley  North,  because  he  did 
not  contradict  the  lye  in  sudden  and  direct  terms  ;  but  laugh'd,  as  taking  the  question  put 
to  him  for  a  banter,  till,  by  iterations,  he  was  brought  to  it.  For  some  lords  came,  and 
because  they  seem'd  to  attribute  somewhat  to  the  avow"d  positiveness  of  the  reporters,  he 
rather  chose  to  send  for  his  brother  to  attest,  than  to  impose  his  bare  denial.  And  so  it 
passed;  and  the  uoble  Earl,  with  Jeffries,  and  others  of  that  crew,  made  merry,  and  never 
blush'd  at  the  lye  of  their  own  making;  but  valued  themselves  upon  it,  as  a  very  good  jest." 
Another  extract  relates  to  the  Lord  Keeper's  last  illness,  at  Wroxton  : — 
"  At  length,  the  doctors  threw  up,  and  said  their  medicaments  had  no  effect,  and  his  blood 
afforded  him  no  kind  of  nourishment ;  and  he  had  no  way  left  but  to  repair  to  his  seat  at 
Wroxton,  which  was  near  to  Astrop  Wells,  and  drink  those  waters,  which  they  hoped  would 
cleanse  his  blood,  and  restore  his  decayed  spirits.  After  this  sentence  pronounced,  we 
straight  packed  up  our  alls,  and  made  as  full  a  family  of  relations  as  we  could  to  divert 
him.  The  family  physician  went  with  us,  and  he  had  his  chests  of  medicines,  as  if  we 
were  going  a  voyage  to  the  Indies.  We,  that  rode  in  the  coach  with  him,  had  a  melan- 
choly journey ;  for  he  was  hopeless  of  life  to  continue  long,  and  of  any  comfort  while  it 
did  continue,  and  declared  expressly  that  this  was  to  be  his  last  journey.  "There  were  pillows, 
and  all  contrivances  that  he  might  be  easy.  He  complained  of  no  inconvenience  in  the 
journey,  by  jogging  and  tossing,  though  he  could  not  but  feel  a  great  deal ;  but  bis  patience 
was  extraordinary ;  and,  as  he  had  resolved  before-hand,  he  made  the  same  stages  he  for- 
merly had  been  used  to.  We  had  a  great  rout  attending,  that  belong  to  the  Seal,  a  six- 
clerk,  under-clerks,  wax-men,  &c.  who  made  a  good  hand  of  it,  being  allowed  travelling 
charges  out  of  the  Hanaper ;  and  yet  ate  and  drank  in  his  lordship's  house.  I  must  own 
that,  bating  his  lordship's  illness,  (which  was  bitterness  with  a  witness)  I  never  was  in  a 
more  agreeable  family.  For  it  was  full  as  a  city,  and  with  persons  of  good  value  and 
conversation ;  all  under  the  authority  of  one  whom  all  revered ;  and,  out  of  decency,  as 
well  as  respect  to  him,  not  the  least  intemperance,  or  disorder  of  any  soi  t,  committed.  And 
what  crowned  all,  was,  first,  the  chief  table  almost  filled  with  thedearest  of  his  lordship's 
relations,  and  the  hopes  that,  sometimes,  were  afforded  us  in  the  country,  of  his  lordship's 
recovery. 

"  The  Gentlemen  of  the  country  were  very  humane  and  obliging ;  for  they  all  came  and 
diued  with  him,  and,  with  deference  to  his  case,  invited  him.  But  his  regimen  permitted 
him  to  go  no  where  ;  nor  did  his  relations  make  many  excursions :  but  some  he  obliged 
them  to,  for  excuse  for  himself,  where  he  had  gieat  respects.  He  took  the  waters  in  bed, 
for  they  did  not  agjce  with  him  up.  *  *  *  Our  course  was,  in  the  morning,  to  attend 
Ids  lordship  in  his  chamber  with  merry  entertainment  while  he  was  drinking  his  waters; 
and  then,  being  up,  we,  that  took  the  post  of  being  his  architects,  fell  to  measuring,  mapping, 
and  debating  about  our  projects  concerning  his  gardens,  buildings,  and  plantations:  and 
I  cannot  pass  by  a  diverting  passage ;  one  Mr.  Barber,  a  neighbour,  observed  how  busy 


KING  JAMES  II.  AT  BANBURY.  503 

than  a  large  slab,  bearing  a  short  mscription,  placed  over  them. 
Sir  Dudley  North  died  in  1691.  His  "Discourses  upon  Trade" 
have  been  lately  reprinted,  and  are  highly  valued. 

The  King  (James  the  Second)  paid  a  visit  to  Banbury  in  1687. 
The  following  entries  referring  to  this  visit  occur  in  the  Re- 
gister of  Wardington : — 

"  An  Account  of  those  that  were  touched  by  King  James  the  Second 
at  Banbury  1687  for  the  distemper  called  ye  Kings  evil. 

"  September  ye  2"'^  Anno  Domini  1087. 

"  A  Certificate  was  then  granted  to  John  Davis  of  Williamscott  for 
Richard  the  son  of  the  aforesaid  John  Davis." 

Same  date.  "  A  Certificate  granted  to  William  Meacock  of  War- 
dington in  behalf  of  James  the  Son  of  the  aforesaid  William  Meacock 

"per  me  Francis  Stanier  Vicar." 

Sept.  2nd,  1687.     "  A  Certificate  was  then  granted  to  Isabell 

of  Williamscott  to  recommend  her  to  his  Majesty's  favour  to  be  touched 
for  the  evil. 

"  by  me  Francis  Stanier  Vicar." 

The  interferences  with  Corporations  which  occurred  during 
Charles  the  Second's  reign  (see  p.  484)  were  among  the  chief 
grievances  of  that  period  ;  and  the  cancelling  of  the  acts  per- 
formed under  them  was  one  of  the  last  means  which  were  re- 
sorted to  by  James  the  Second  in  order  to  preserve  liis  throne. 
Tliis  he  did  by  proclamation,  on  the  17th  October  1688.  The 
Proclamation  recited,  that  several  deeds  of  surrender  wliich  had 
been  lately  made  by  several  Corporations  of  their  charters  and 
franchises,  had  not  been  recorded  ;  and  that  proceedings  and  judg- 
ments on  quo  warrantos  had  not  been  entered  on  record,  but  that 
fresh  Charters  had  been  granted  by  Charles  the  Second  and  the 
then  King.      It   declared  that   all  such  surrenders,   proceedings, 

we  were  ;  and,  coining  near  to  us  where  his  lordship  stood, '  You  may  measure  and  measure,' 
said  he, '  but  my  lord  is  not  such  a  fool  as  to  be  ruled  by  you."  His  lordship,  who  had  scarce 
laughed  since  he  came  down,  could  not  hold  at  that.  *  *  *  i  remember  I  had  laid  out 
the  plantation  of  his  avenue,  which  was  a  wretched  position ;  for  the  entrance  was  at  one 
corner,  and,  not  in  the  streight.  I  had  shaped  a  demilune  before  the  court-gate,  and  at 
the  farther  end,  a  whole  sweep,  with  rows  detached  from  that  to  the  entrance.  He  put  out 
my  whole  sweep,  and  ordered  the  rows  of  trees  to  be  refracted  that  way.  At  which  I  was 
very  angry,  and  declared  that  no  architect  was  ever  so  used  as  I  was.  This  pleased  him 
much;  and  he  very  often  made  a  jest  to  his  company  of  this  rant  of  his  architect.  These 
were  hai-mless  amusements,  and  beneficial  to  him,  as  much  as  any  thing  might  be.  After 
dinner,  the  coaches  were  usually  got  ready,  and,  with  his  nearest  relations,  among  whom  I 
was  always  one,  he  used  to  go  to  Edgehill  to  take  the  air :  but  I  did  not  perceive  any  great 
goust  he  had  in  it :  but  it  was  advised,  and  that  was  enough." 

After  his  lordship's  death,  the  Great  Seal  was  carried,  with  much  formality,  to  the  King 
at  Windsor.  Roger  North  says  it  had  been  usual  with  former  Lord  Keepers  for  writs  to 
bear  test  where  the  Lord  Keeper  resided,  though  the  King  was  not  there  :  but  that  the  Lord 
Keeper  Guilford,  "  thinking  it  a  mere  vanity,"  ordered  none  to  bear  test  apud  TFroxlon,  but 
ap«d  Westmonasterium  only. — Life  of  Lord  Keeper  North,  pp.  264—280. 


504  ANCIENT  INNS  IN  BANBURY. 

and  fresli  charters,  sliould  be  void ;  that  the  former  members  of 
Corporations  should  be  reinstated  ;  and  that  all  those  who  had 
been  placed  in  offices  in  their  stead  should  be  dismissed.  This 
proclamation,  with  the  King's  order  of  Council  and  mandamus 
thereto  annexed,  was,  on  the  2oth  October,  in  open  market,  read 
at  Banbury,  and  affixed  to  one  of  the  posts  of  the  Market-house. 
The  Major,  x\ldermen,  Burgesses,  Assistants,  and  Town  Clerk, 
who  had  been  lately  put  into  office,  being  thus  dismissed,  their 
predecessors,  by  virtue  of  the  Proclamation  and  their  old  Charter, 
met  together  at  the  Town-hall,  and  chose  John  West  the  younger 
Mayor  on  the  same  25th  October.^ 

On  the  following  11th  December,  James  the  Second  abdicated 
the  throne.  During  the  interregnum  wliich  followed,  a  new  Par- 
liament was  called  by  the  Prince  of  Orange,  which  met  on  the 
22nd  January  1688-9.  To  this  Parliament  Sir  Robert  Dash- 
wood,  knt.  and  bart.,  was  returned  for  Banbury  :■*  and  the  voice 
of  the  Parliament,  and  that  of  the  nation,  placed  the  Prince  of 
Orange  and  the  Princess  Mary  on  the  throne  of  England. 

The  Book  of  Accounts  of  the  Corporation  which  is  preserved 
by  the  present  Town  Clerk  contains  an  account  of  licences  to 
sell  wine,  granted  to  certain  Tavern-keepers,  from  1677  to  1688.^ 
The  taverns  enumerated  are  the  "Rain  Deare,"  the  "Three 
Tunns,"  the  "  Vnicorne,"  and  the  "  Read  Lyon."  The  following 
list  of  ancient  inns  in  Banbury,  with  the  earliest  dates  at  which 
they  are  mentioned,  is  made  from  a  great  variety  of  records. 
The  Crown,  1549;  Swan,  1556;  Lyon,  1615;  Alterstone,  1621; 
Red  Lion,  1642;  Whit  Hart,  1643;  Bell,  1644;  George,  1644; 
Bull,  1645;  Whit  Lyon,  1645;  Vnicorne,  1650;  Rain  Dear, 
1666  ;  Three  Tunns,  1677  ;  Plowe,  1678  ;  King  and  Queen  at 
Neithorp,  1704;  Ye  George  without  Oxford  Barr,  1715.  "Ja- 
cob's Well,"  "  St.  Sunday's  House,"  "  the  Salutation,"  and  the 
*'  Holy  Lamb  and  Christopher,"  were,  I  suppose,  inns  also. 


THE  REIGN  OF  WILLL\]M  THE  THIRD. 

To  the  Parliament  which  was  summoned  by  William  and  Mary, 
in   the   2nd  year   of   their   reign   (1689-90),    Sir   Robert    Dash- 

(3)  Book  of  Accounts  of  the  Corporation,  preserved  by  the  present  Town  Clerk. 

(4)  Pari.  Reg. 

(5)  Taylor,  the  Water  Poet,  says,  in  1636,  that  Banbury  "  hath  three  Taverns." 


RIGHT  OF  VOTING.  ^305 

wood,   knt.  and  bart.,   was  again   returned  for   Banbury.''     John 
Hawles  Esq.  petitioned  against  the  return. 

House  of  Commons,  March  31st,  1690.  "  A  Petition  of  Nathanaell 
Wheatly  and  others,  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  others  the  Freemen 
and  Burgesses  of  the  Borough  and  Parish  of  Banbury,  was  read ;  setting 
forth.  That  the  Twenty-fourth  of  February  last,  the  Mayor  gave  notice 
of  the  Election  :  at  which  time  the  Petitioners,  to  the  number  of  One 
hundred  and  Forty,  did  give  their  votes  for  John  Hawles,  Esquire ; 
but  the  Mayor  refused  to  admit  them  ;  whereupon  they  demanded  a 
Poll,  but  was  denied  it.  That  they  then  executed  an  Indenture  of  Re- 
turn of  the  said  John  Hawles;  but  the  Mayor  refused  to  accept  of  it, 
but  made  a  return  of  Sir  Robert  Dashwood  under  the  Common  Seal, 
though  elected  but  by  Ten  of  the  Aldermen  and  Capital  Burgesses  ;  to 
the  great  wrong  of  the  Petitioners,  and  the  Freemen  of  the  said  Borough : 
and  praying  redress  of  the  House  in  the  Premises;  and  that  the  In- 
denture, so  returned  by  the  Mayor,  may  be  taken  off  from  the  Precept, 
and  the  Indenture  executed  by  the  Petitioners  affixed  thereto."  The 
said  Petition  being  referred  to  the  Committee  of  Privileges  and  Elec- 
tions (as  were  also  two  similar  Petitions  presented  in  October  1690  and 
October  1691),  Mr.  Serjeant  Trenchard  at  length  reported  (Dec.  29th 
1691)  "from  the  said  Committee  of  Privileges  and  Elections,  to  whom 
the  matter  touching  the  Election  for  the  Borough  of  Banbury  in  the 
County  of  Oxon  was  referred,  the  Case  as  it  appeared  to  the  Committee  : 
The  which  he  delivered  in  at  the  Clerk's  table,  in  writing  ;  where  the  same 
was  read,  and  is  as  followeth  ; 

"  '  Upon  the  Petition  of  several  Freemen  and  Burgesses  of  the  Borough 
of  Banbury,  complaining  of  an  imdue  return  of  Sir  Rob.  Dashwood, 
Knight  and  Baronet,  to  serve  for  the  said  Borough  ; 

"  '  The  Committee  have  examined  the  merits  of  the  Election. 

'"And  that  the  sole  question  was,  concerning  the  Right  of  Election  : 
For  if  the  Right  was  in  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Capital  Burgesses, 
as  they  are  called,  then  the  Sitting  Member  was  duly  elected ;  if  in  the 
Burgesses  at  large,  John  Hawles  Esquire  was  duly  elected. 

" '  This  question  seemed  to  arise  from  some  doubtful  words  in  the 
Charter,  granted  to  the  said  Borough  1°  Marije ;  and  in  several  Returns 
to  Pai-liament. 

"'The  Charter  takes  notice  of  the  great  service  the  Inhabitants  of 
Banbury  had  done  Queen  Mary  against  the  Rebellion  of  the  Duke  of 
Northumberland;  And  grants.  That  the  Town  of  Banbury  shall  be  a 
free  Borough ;  and  incorporates  them  by  the  name  of  The  Bailiff,  Al- 
dermen, and  Burgesses  of  the  Borough  and  Parish  of  Banbury:  and 
that  they  the  Bailiff,  Twelve  Aldermen,  and  Twelve  Burgesses,  shall  be 
one  Body  Corporate  and  Community:  And  provides  that,  in  case  of 
the  death  or  removal  of  an  Alderman,  one  of  the  Capital  Burgesses 
shall  be  chosen  in  his  room  :  And  that  the  Serjeant  at  Mace  belonging 
to  the  Borough  should  be  chosen  by  the  Bailiff,  Aldermen,  and  Capital 

(6)  Pavl.  Reg. 

3  s 


.''OO  RIGHT  OF  VOTING. 

Burgesses.  And  tlie  Cliarter  names  the  Bailiff,  Twelve  for  Aldermen, 
and  Twelve  for  Capital  Burgesses :  and  in  several  other  places  of  the 
Charter  there  is  mention  made  of  the  Capital  Burgesses.  Then  after- 
wards, the  Profits  of  the  Markets  and  Fairs  is  granted  to  the  Bailiff, 
Aldermen,  &  Burgesses  :  And  the  Privilege  of  sending  one  Burgess  to 
Parliament,  is  granted  to  the  Bailiff,  Aldermen,  and  Burgesses,  and  their 
Successors.  So  that  the  word  Capital  being  left  out  of  the  Grant  of 
sending  a  Burgess  to  Parliament,  made  the  Doubt  upon  the  Charter, 
whether  this  Borough  should  choose  in  their  Corporate  capacity  by  the 
select  number,  or  by  the  Burgesses  at  large. 

"  '  For  the  Petitioners,  were  produced  the  following  returns  ; 
"  *  5.  Eliz. — Bailiff  and  whole  Commimity  elected.     The  return  under 
the  Common  Seal. 

"  '  14.  Eliz. — In  the  same  Form. 

"  '  28.  Eliz. — Bailiff,  Aldermen,  Burgesses,  and  Commonalty  elected. 
The  return  under  the  Common  Seal. 

"'30.  Eliz.  The  Return  imperfect: — Bailiff,  some  Aldermen,  and 
Burgesses  by  name,  and  Commonalty  elected.  The  retiu-ns  under  *  * 
Seal. 

"  '  16.  Car.  I. — Mayor,  Aldermen,  &  Burgesses  of  Banbury  elected. 
The  return  under  Common  Seal. 

"  '  13.  Car.  II. — Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Capital  Burgesses  elected. 
The  retinni  luider  Common  Seal. 

"  '  For  the  Petitioner  was  also  called, 

"  '  John  Austin  :  who  produced  an  Indenture,  with  about  forty  names, 
purporting  an  Election  of  Mr.  Hawles ;    and  said,  It  was  signed  by  the 
several  Persons  whose  names  were  thereto  put :   And  that  they  had  de- 
manded of  the  Mayor  to  be  polled  ;   but  were  refused  by  him  ;   saying. 
The  Precept  was  directed  to  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Capital  Burgesses. 
"  '  The  said  Austin  said  further,  That  some  of  the  Common  Burgesses 
offered  to  vote  for  the  Sitting  Member  ;  but  he  would  not  accept  of  them. 
"  '  For  the  Sitting  Member,  were  produced  the  following  Returns  ; 
"  '  29.  Eliz. — Bailiff,   Aldermen,   and  Burgesses   of  the   Borough   and 
Parish  of  Banbury  elected.     The  return  under  the  Common  Seal. 
"  '  43.  Eliz. — In  the  same  Form. 

"'31.  Car.  II. — Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Capital  Burgesses  elected. 
The  return  under  the  Common  Seal. 

"  '  For  the  Sitting  Member  was  also  called, 

"  '  Samuel  Tateham,  aged  about  Three  score  and  Fourteen  years  :  Who 
said,  He  was  a  Freeman ;  but  had  no  Vote  :  That  he  remembered  the 
Election  of  Nath.  Fynes,  Esquire,  in  the  reign  of  King  Charles  First : 
And  that  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Capital  Burgesses  only  Voted ;  and 
no  other  claimed  a  Vote  :  Neither  did  any  other  Vote  in  the  Election 
of  Sir  John  Holman,  Anno  1661 ;  though  since  they  have  claimed  a  right. 
" '  John  Tims  testified.  That  he  remembered  the  Election  of  Sir  John 
Holman  :  And  that  only  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Capital  Burgesses, 
voted  at  that  Election.' 

''  And  that,  upon  the  whole  matter,  the  Committee  came  to  several 


SIR  ROBERT  DASHWOOD  :    SIR  JOHN  COPE.  507 

Resolutions:  The  which  Mr.  Serjeant  Trenchard  read  in  his  place,  and 
afterwards  delivered  in  at  the  Clerks  table  :  where  the  same  were  read, 
and  are  as  foUoweth  ;  viz. 

"  '  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  Opinion  of  this  Committee,  That  the  Right 
of  Election  of  a  Burgess  to  serve  in  Parliament  for  the  Borough  of  Ban- 
bury is  in  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Capital  Burgesses  of  Banbury  only. 

"  '  Resolved,  That  Sir  Robert  Dashwood,  Knight  and  Baronet,  is  duly 
elected  a  Burgess  to  serve  in  this  present  Parliament  for  the  Borough  of 
Banbury.'  " 

The  said  Resolutions  being  both  read  a  second  time,  the  House  agreed 
to  the  same,  in  the  same  words. ^ 

Sir  Robert  Dashwood  was  the  owner  of  Wickham,  he  having 
married  Penelope,  the  daughter  and  coheiress  of  Sir  Thomas 
Chamberlajne,  who  carried  this  portion  of  the  estates  of  the 
Chamberlayne  family  in  marriage.  Sir  Robert  Dashwood  was 
created  a  baronet  on  the  16th  May  1684.^  He  was  a  third  time 
returned  to  Parhament  for  Banbury,  in  the  7th  \yilham  III. 
(1695.y  He  died  in  July  1734.  One  of  his  descendants  after- 
wards sold  the  property  at  Wickham,  and  the  seat  of  the  family 
is  now  at  Kirtlington.     (See  p.  161.) 

To  the  next  Parliament,  in  the  10th  WiUiam  III.  (1698),  James 
Isaacson  Esq.  was  returned  for  Banbury,  but  was  expelled  the 
House;'"  and  Sir  John  Cope  bart.  was  thereupon  elected." 
Sir  John  was  the  third  (but  second  surviving)  son  of  Sir  John 
Cope  the  third  baronet  (see  p.  288),  and  brother  to  Sir  Anthony 
Cope  the  fourth  baronet.  He  was  born  at  Han  well  in  1634,  was 
educated  at  Queen's  College,  Oxford,  and  afterwards  travelled 
on  the  continent.  At  the  period  of  the  Restoration,  he  was  in 
command  of  a  troop  at  Dunkirk.  He  married  a  Mistress  Ann 
Booth  (see  the  note  28  on  p.  473)  daughter  of  Philip  Booth,  by 
whom  he  had  one  daughter  and  seven  sons.  He  succeeded  his 
brother,  Sir  Anthony,  in  the  baronetcy  in  1675,  and  was  elected 
M.  P.  for  Oxfordshire  in  his  room.  He  resided  for  a  long  period 
at  Chelsea;  and  afterwards  (in  1699)  purchased  Bramshill  Park 
in  Hampshire,  which  has  ever  since  been  the  chief  seat  of  his 

(7)  Commons'  Journals.  (8)  Playfair's  Family  Antiq.  (9)  Pari.  Reg. 

(10)  Pari.  Reg.  I  have  learned  nothing  concerning  Isaacson  except  that  he  is  believed 
to  have  been  a  London  stockbroker.  The  Commons'  Journals  contain  the  following  order, 
dated  Feb.  10th  1698:—"  Ordered,  that  Mr.  Speaker  do  issue  his  Warrant  to  the  Clerk  of 
the  Crown,  to  make  out  a  new  Writ  for  the  electing  a  Burgessto  serve  in  this  present  Par- 
liament for  the  Borough  of  Banbury  in  the  County  of  Oxon,  in  the  room  of  James  Isaac- 
son Esquire,  expelled  this  House." 

(11)  Pari.  Reg. 

3  s  3 


508  SIR  JOHN  COPE  :    CHARLES  NORTH. 

family.'-  In  1679,  Sir  Jolm  Cope  stood  a  contested  election  for 
Oxfordshire.  This  contest  lasted  three  days ;  3,000  votes  were 
polled,  and  Sir  John  Cope,  in  conjunction  with  Sir  Edward  Nor- 
reys,  won  the  election.  In  1680,  Sir  John  was  displaced  by 
another  contest  which  lasted  two  days  :'^  he  was,  however,  subse- 
quently returned  for  Oxfordshire  in  1688-9.  In  1698  (as  above 
stated)  he  was  chosen  member  for  Banbury.  There  are  por- 
traits of  him  and  liis  lady  at  Bramshill.  He  died  on  the  Ilth 
January  1721,  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years,  and  was  buried 
at  Eversley  in  Hampshire.  His  eldest  son  and  heir  succeeded 
to  the  baronetcy,  but  not  to  the  estates  at  Hanwell." 

To  the  Parliament  of  1700-1,  the  Hon.  Charles  North  (second 
son  of  the  deceased  Lord  Keeper  Guilford),  and  John  Dormer 
Esq.,  were  each  returned  for  Banbury,  by  two  contending  Mayors 
of  the  Borough.'*     Mr.  North  was  declared  by  the  House  to  be 

(12)  It  no  where  appears  that  Sir  John  Cope  entered  into  possession  of  his  life-estate  in 
Hanwell  &c.  Sir  Anthony  Cope,  his  elder  brother,  by  his  will  dated  22nd  January  3  674,  be- 
queathed his  own  soul  into  the  hands  of  Almighty  God,  and  his  body  to  be  buried  in  the 
church  of  Hanwell  among  his  ancestors  ;  and,  reciting  that  he  was  then  seised  in  fee  of  the 
manors  of  Hanwell  and  Hardwick,  of  Brewern,  and  of  Shelswell,  with  the  advnwson  of 
the  church  of  Newton,  and  lands  in  the  county  of  Oxford,  and  estates  in  the  counties  of 
Derby,  Nottingham,  and  Lincoln,  &c.,  he  gave  all  the  said  estates  to  his  brother  John  Cope 
for  the  term  of  bis  natural  life ;  and,  on  the  determination  of  such  estate,  to  the  eldest 
son  of  his  said  brother  by  any  other  wife  except  Ann  Booth  his  then  wife  (whose  issue  Sir 
Anthony  made  incapable  of  inheriting  under  his  said  will),  and  to  the  first  and  oUier  sons 
respectively  of  such  eldest  son:  and,  on  failure  of  such  issue  male,  to  the  second,  third,  or 
other  son  or  sons  of  his  brother  John  Cope  by  such  wife  other  than  Ann  Booth,  and  their 
issue  male  in  like  manner  respectively.  And  on  failure  of  such  sons  of  his  bi'other  as 
abovesaid,  then  to  his  trustees.  Sir  Francis  Fane,  knight  of  the  bath.  Sir  Henry  Chamber- 
layne  bart.,  and  Dr.  Allestree,  provost  of  Eton  College,  for  the  term  of  five  hundred  years, 
in  order  to  raise  portions  for  the  daughter  or  daughters  of  his  said  brother  by  any  wife 
except  Ann  Booth  his  then  wife ;  each  such  portion  not  however  to  exceed  three  thousand 
pounds:  and  each  such  son  of  his  brother  as  abovesaid  to  have  power  to  charge  jointures 
for  their  wives  on  the  said  estates,  or  to  raise  portions  for  their  daughters,  or  to  settle  their 
younger  sons  ;  such  portions  for  daughters  not  to  exceed  three  thousand  pounds  each,  or  for 
such  younger  sons  not  to  exceed  two  hundred  pounds  per  annum.  And  on  failure  of  such 
sons  of  his  brother  John  Cope,  or  on  the  determination  of  such  estate.  Sir  Anthony  gave 
all  his  estates  as  aforesaid  to  the  sons  of  his  late  uncle  Jonathan  Cope  of  Ranton  Abbey 
in  Staffordshire,  (the  youngest  son  of  Sir  William  Cope  the  second  baronet,)  and  their 
issue  male,  successively ;  or,  on  failure  of  such  issue  male,  to  his  trustees  before-named 
for  a  term  of  five  hundred  years  in  order  to  raise  portions  for  their  daughters.  And  on 
the  determination  of  such  term,  then  to  the  right  heirs  of  his  great-grandfather,  Sir  An- 
thony Cope,  knt.  and  bart. 

It  appears  that  Hanwell  continued  to  be  the  residence  of  the  Hon.  Lady  Cope,  the  widow 
of  Sir  Anthony,  until  her  death  in  1714.  Grief  for  the  loss  of  her  husband  and  children 
seems  to  have  deprived  this  lady  of  her  reason ;  and,  from  an  expression  in  the  Register  of 
Hanwell,  it  would  appear  that  the  Hon.  W.  Spencer,  her  brother-in-law,  was  appointed 
her  committee  under  a  commission  of  hiusLcy .—Information  from  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Cope. 

(13)  Life  of  Anthony  Wood,  prefixed  to  Bliss's  Wood's  Athenis. 

(14)  As  Sir  John  Cope  never  had  a  second  wife,  of  course  the  estates  at  Hanwell  &c. 
passed  away  from  his  children,  under  the  will  of  Sir  Anthony  Cope  (see  note  12).  Sir  John 
Cope's  sixth  son,  William  Cope,  who  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  Coldstream  Guards,  was 
miirdered  in  the  Tovi'er  of  London  on  the  7th  June  1706,  by  one  Mawgridge,  who  was 
afterwards  hanged  for  the  crime  at  Tyburn. — Keelijng's  Reports'. 

(15)  British  Pari.  Reg.  On  the  13th  March  1700-1,  Sir  Rowland  Gwyn  reported  to  the 
House,  from  the  Committee  of  Elections,  the  matter  concerning  the  double  return  for  Ban- 
bury, and  the  resolution  of  the  Committee  thereupon.  It  appeared  that,  for  about  two 
years  last  past,  there  had  been  two  contending  Mayors  in  Banbury ;    and  the  question  for 


PLOWDEN  OF  ASTON-LE-WALLS.  -'^09 

duly  elected.  He  was  again  returned  for  Banbury,  to  the  next 
Parliament,  in  the  same  year  (14th  William  III.) ;  and  also 
to  the  several  Parliaments  chosen  in  the  1st,  4th,  7th,  and  9th 
years  of  Queen  Anne.^"  He  died  in  1714,  aged  thirty-seven 
years. 

William  Plowden  Esq.,  of  Aston-le- Walls,  (who  had  been  a 
Colonel  in  James  the  Second's  Guards,)  being  a  Roman  Catholic, 
and  having  resided  for  a  short  period  at  St.  Germains  at  the  court 
of  the  abdicated  King,  was  greatly  suspected  by  the  Whigs  of 
the  neighbourhood  of  Banbury ;  and  particularly  by  Colonel 
Montagu,  who  resided  at  the  manor-house  of  the  Saltonstall 
family  at  Chipping  Wardon.  Mr.  Plowden  not  having  taken  the 
oath  of  allegiance  to  William  the  Tliird,  his  six  coach-horses 
were  (by  virtue  of  an  act  passed  against  nonjurors,)  seized  on 
entering  Banbury,  and  impounded  by  a  magistrate,  they  being 
of  above  the  value  of  five  pounds  each.  Mr.  Plowden  thereupon 
quitted  the  neighbourhood  in  disgust :  but  the  estate  at  Aston- 
le- Walls  has  continued  in  the  hands  of  his  descendants.'' 


THE  REIGN  OF  QUEEN  ANNE. 

Francis  Bugg,  once  a  Quaker,  but  afterwards  a  violent  oppo- 
nent of  Quakerism,  came  to  Banbury  in  1702  for  the  purpose  of 
disputing  with  the  members  of  the  sect,  and  made  his  address 
in  the  Church,  where  his  opponents  did  not  appear.  Richard 
Vivers,  however,  a  preacher  among  the  Quakers,  circulated  some 
written  remarks  on  Bugg's  challenge,  which  called  forth,  in  1703, 
a  reply  from  the  pen  of  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Loveling,  Vicar  of 
Banbury.      A   controversy   of   six  or  seven  years'    continuance, 

the  decision  of  tlie  House  was,  which  of  the  two  was  the  proper  Officer  to  make  the  return. 
The  counsel  for  Mr.  Dormer  argued  that  tlie  Mayor  must  be  chosen  by  the  major  part  of 
the  whole  Corporation,  which  was  not  the  case  with  the  Mayor  who  was  first  chosen  after 
the  death  of  Mr.  Thorp  in  February  1698;  many  being  absent:  but  that  the  other  Mayor, 
who  made  the  return  on  behalf  of  Mr.  Dormer,  was  subsequently  chosen  by  a  majority  of 
the  whole  body.  The  Committee  decided  against  Mr.  Dormer,  and  that  Mr.  North  was 
duly  elected.  The  question  being  put,  "  That  the  House  do  agree  with  the  Committee," 
the  House  divided, — Yeas  211,  Noes  111;  and  the  Clerk  of  the  Crown  was  thereupon 
ordered  to  amend  the  return,  by  taking  off  the  return  of  John  Dormer  Esq. — Commons' 
Journals. 

(16)  New  Pari.  Reg.  1727. 

(17)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  470.  From  Col.  Plowden's  presumed  attachment  to  the 
Countess  of  Sunderland  originated  the  song  of  Plowden  of  Plowden  Hall,  by  Wycherley 
the  comic  Poet. 


.'>10       BENJAMIN  LOVELING  :— BLUE-COAT  CHARITY. 

carried  on  between  several  writers  on  both  sides  of  tlie  question, 
was  tlie  result. ^^ 

Benjamin  Loveling  was  educated  at  Clare  Hall,  Cambridge, 
wliere  lie  took  the  degree  of  M.  A.  in  1697.^^  His  son  Benjamin, 
who  was  bom  at  Banbury,  was  matriculated  of  Trinity  College, 
Oxford,  July  13th  1728,  aged  seventeen  years.-"  In  1717,  the 
elder  Benjamin  Loveling  is  mentioned  as  "late  minister"  of  Ban- 
bury."^ He  appears  to  have  subsequently  held  the  vicarage  of 
Lambourn  in  Berkshire  ." 

The  Blue-Coat  School  of  Banbury  was  established,  by 
subscription,  in  1705,  when  rules  for  its  regulation  were  adopted 
at  a  meeting  of  the  subscribers.''^     This  school  was  shortly  after- 

(ISj  Among  the  publications  sent  forth  by  the  respective  parties  were  the  following: — 
Bugg's  "  Quakerism  Drooping,"  8vo.,  1709 : — Vivers's  Letter : — Loveling's  "  Spirit  of  Qua- 
kerism Rebuked,"  12mo.,  1703: — Vivers's  "Vicar  of  Banbury  Corrected:" — Loveling's 
"Quakerism  a  Complication  of  Heresie,  Schism,"  &c.,  12mo.,  1703: — Vivers's  "Vicar  of 
Banbury  further  Corrected:" — Loveling's  "Plain  Deahng  of  the  Quakers,"  &c  :— Vivers's 
"  Further  Correction  of  the  Vicar  of  Banbury :" — Edward  Cockson's  (Rector  of  Westcot 
Barton)  "Quakers'  Pedigree  Traced,"  8vo.,  1703 :— Cockson's  "Rigid  Quakers  Cruel  Per- 
secutors," 8vo.,  1705  : — Richard  Claridge's  "  Melius  Inquirendum,"  Svo.,  1706,  containing 
296  pages :— Cockson's  "  Quakers  no  Protestant  Dissenters,"  Svo. : — Cockson's  "  Quakerism 
Dissected  and  Laid  Open,"  Svo,  1708: — John  Whiting's  "Rector  Corrected,"  Svo. : — 
Cockson's  "  Serpent's  Head  Broken,"  Svo.,  1708  : — "Whiting's  "  Christ  Owned  as  he  is  both 
God  and  Man,"  Svo.  (Scarce  Pamphlets  in  my  own  collection).  I  do  not  know  whether 
the  controversy  terminated  here. 

The  above-named  Richard  Claridge  was  born  at  Farnborough  in  1649.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  Balliol  College,  Oxford ;  he  subsequently  supplied  the  cure  at  Wardington ;  and, 
in  1672,  he  was  ordained  priest.  In  1673  he  was  inducted  to  the  rectory  of  Peopleton  in 
Worcestershire,  where  he  continued  rector  nineteen  years.  He  then  became  a  Baptist, 
and  quitted  Peopleton  in  1691.  In  1697  he  joined  the  Quakers,  and  became  a  noted 
preacher  and  writer  amongst  that  society.    He  died  in  1723. — Besses  Life  of  Claridge. 

(19)  Cambridge  Graduates. 

(20)  Record  in  the  Office  of  the  Registrar  of  the  University  of  Oxford. 

(21)  Register  of  Banbury. 

(22)  Steele's  Collection  for  Oxfordshire,  in  the  Bodleian  Library.  Besides  his  writings 
against  the  Quakers,  Loveling  published:— "  A  Sermon  at  Banbury  Dec.  3,  1702,  on  the 
Thanksgiving,"  4to : — "  Safe  Directions  for  a  General  Thanksgiving  :  a  Sermon  preached  at 
Banbury,"  7th  Sept.,  dedicated  to  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Capital  Burgesses:  Lond., 
4to.,  1704: — and  "The  Authority  of  Christian  Princes,  and  of  Bishops  and  Pastors,  in 
Ecclesiastical  Matters,  not  inconsistent  with  the  true  Nature  of  Christ's  Kingdom,"  a  Ser- 
mon preached  at  Banbury  June  16tli  1717,  occasioned  by  a  Sermon  of  the  Bishop  of 
Bangor :  Lond.,  Svo. 

(23)  The  Trustees  of  the  Charity  were  to  be  nine  in  number,  namely,  the  Minister  (if  a 
subscriber)  and  eight  others  to  be  chosen  from  among  the  subscribers.  The  future  trustees,  the 
Master  and  Mistress  of  the  Schools,  and  the  Children  who  were  to  be  educated  and  clothed 
there,  were  to  be  chosen  by  the  majority  of  the  trustees;  who  were  also  to  have  the  disposal 
of  the  surplus  money  (if  any),  for  placing  out  some  of  the  children  as  apprentices  or  servants. 
The  salary  of  the  Master  was  to  be  £25,  and  that  of  the  Mistress  i.'12.  10s.,  per  annum, 
to  commence  from  Lady-day  1706.  The  Master  was  to  be  a  member  of  the  Church  of 
England,  of  sober  life  and  conversation,  one  who  frequented  the  holy  communion,  who  had 
good  government  of  himself  and  his  passions,  who  was  of  meek  temper  and  humble  be- 
haviour, who  should  understand  well  the  grounds  and  principles  of  the  Christian  religion, 
who  could  write  a  good  hand,  and  understood  arithmetic.  He  was  to  be  approved  by  the 
minister  (if  a  subscriber) ;  to  attend  the  School  at  certain  hours ;  to  teach  the  children 
the  prin(^iples  of  religion  as  laid  down  in  the  Church  Catei;hism  ;  and  to  bring  the  children 
regularly  to  church  on  Sundays  and  holydays,  and  on  weekdays  when  there  should  be 
prayers.  The  holydays  of  the  scholars  to  be  at  the  three  usual  times  in  the  year,  namely, 
at  Christmas,  Easter,  "and  Whitsuntide.  The  Master  was  not  to  teach  any  other  children, 
and  was  not  to  receive  money  from  the  friends  of  any  of  the  scholars ;  to  enter  the  accounts 
of  the  charity  in  a  book,  which  book  should  be  kept  by  the  minister  to  be  perused  by  the 


NONCONFORMIST  CONGREGATION.  511 

wards  endowed  with  property,  left  by  the  Norths,  the  Metcalfes, 
and  others,  (which  is  particularized  in  the  report  of  the  commis- 
sioners on  Charities  in  1824  and  182o,)-'*  and  which  at  present 
produces  £75  per  annum.  Up  to  the  year  1714,  twenty-six  chil- 
dren had  been  sent  out  from  this  school  as  apprentices."^  Until 
the  year  1817,  the  children  were  instructed  in  the  rooms  over 
the  Borough  Gaol,  an  entrance  to  which  was  made  from  the 
Market  Place  f"*^  but  in  1817  National  Schools  for  boys  and  girls 
were  estabUshed  at  Banbury,  and  the  Blue-Coat  children  have 
since  been  educated  in  those  establishments,  the  Trustees  of  the 
Blue-Coat  charity  paying  ci'30  per  annum  to  the  funds  of  the 
National  Schools  for  the  privilege. 

In  1705,  Toby  Chauney  Esq.,  of  Edgcot,  was  a  petitioner 
against  the  return  of  the  Hon.  Charles  North  as  member  for  Ban- 
bury.^' This  Toby  Chauney  was,  I  believe,  the  son  of  that  Toby 
Chauney  Esq.  of  Edgcot  who  has  been  already  noticed  in  p.  309. 
He  was  sheriff  of  the  county  of  Northampton  in  1668,  and  died 
in  1724-5.-8 

In  1709,  Stephen  Davies  was  ordained  to  the  office  of  Minister 
of  the  Presbyterian  or  old  Nonconformist  congregation  at  Banbury, 
by  the  following  : — 

"  Whereas  Mr.  Stephen  Davies  hath  applied  himself  unto  us,  Ministers 
of  the  Gospell  whose  Names  are  underwritten,  desireing  to  be  Ordained 
a  Minister  according  to  the  rule  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  And  haveing 
given  Satisfactory  proof  of  his  good  Learning,  Soundnesse  of  Judge- 
ment, and  Sobriety  of  Conversation,  We  proceeded  by  Prayer  and  Im- 
position of  hands  Solemnly  to  sett  him  apart  to  that  Sacred  Office  on 
Wednesday  the  third  day  of  August  in  the  Year  of  our  Lord  One  thou- 
sand Seven  hundred  and  Nine  at  the  Towne  of  Banbury  in  Oxfordshire, 
By  Virtue  whereof  We  declare  him  to  be  a  Sufficiently  Authorized  Min- 

subs(;i-ibers  or  others ;  and  also  to  teach  the  gh-ls  to  write.  The  Mistress  was  to  be  qualified 
as  the  master,  writing  and  arithmetic  alone  excepted ;  to  observe  the  same  methods  as  the 
master;  and  to  teach  the  girls  to  Imit,  sew,  mark,  and  spin.  The  Master,  Mistress,  and 
children,  to  be  liable  to  be  removed  for  misbehaviour,  of  -which  the  majority  of  the  trustees 
were  to  be  the  sole  judges.  Each  boy  was  to  have  "  a  coat,  breeches,  cap,  two  bands,  two 
shirts,  two  pair  of  stockings,  two  pair  of  shoes,  and  one  pair  of  shoe-buckles."  Each  girl 
to  have  "  two  caps,  two  whiskes,  one  gown,  one  petticoat,  two  shifts,  two  pair  of  stockings, 
one  pair  of  knit  gloves,  two  pair  of  shoes,  one  pair  of  buckles."  The  number  of  boys 
not  to  exceed  thirty,  nor  that  of  girls  twenty,  during  the  first  year. 

(24)  Reports  on  the  Charities  of  the  District  surrounding  Banbury,  as  reprinted  by  Mr. 
Rusher  of  Banbury  in  1826. 

(25)  Magna  Britannia. 

(26)  An  engi-aving  of  the  entii-e  building,  frequently  to  be  met  with  at  the  print-shops,  is 
erroneously  lettered  as  representing  the  former  "  Grammar  School "  of  Banbury. 

(27)  Pari.  Register. 

(28)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  494.  This  Toby  Chauney  had,  however,  a  son  Toby 
Chauney,  who  was  born  in  1673-4,  and  was  returned  for  Banbury  in  1730.  Perhaps  he  was 
the  petitioner  in  1705. 


512  DR.  SACHEVERELL. 

ister  of  Christ,  In  Witnesse  Whereof  we  have  hereunto  Subscribed  our 

Names  the  day  and  year  above  written. 

William  Tong 
John  Troughton 
John  Letherland 
John  Iremonger."^" 

There  are  two  scarce  and  curioTis  pamphlets  in  existence,  re- 
lating to  the  visit  of  Dr.  Sacheverell  to  Banbury  (for  it  seems 
that  this  high-chnrch  Champion  was  ardently  supported  by  the 
people  of  the  town).  The  trial  of  this  divine,  by  impeachment, 
before  the  House  of  Lords,  terminated  on  the  23rd  March,  9th 
Anne  (1709-10).  One  of  these  Pamphlets  is  entitled — "The 
Banb — Y  Apes  :  or  The  Monkeys  Chattering  to  the  Magpye. 
In  a  Letter  to  a  Friend  in  London."^"  The  title-page  is  orna- 
mented with  some  very  curious  wood-cuts  representing  Apes 
appointing  a  Mayor  (who  has  the  appearance  of  a  wolf),  and 
Monkeys  holding  converse  with  a  Magpie  ;  and  on  the  back  of 
the  title  is  a  large  wood-cut,  representiug  the  procession  which 
accompanied  the  Doctor  into  Banbury  on  the  3rd  June,  among 
the  personages  of  which  the  Mayor  of  Banbury  (as  a  wolf),  and 
the  Aldermen  (as  apes),  are  conspicuous  figures.  Dr.  Sache- 
verell himself  appears  on  horseback,  followed  by  a  crowd  of  peo- 
ple strewing  branches,  or  bearing  crosses  and  rosaries.  The 
accompanying  letter-press  describes  this  procession  as  being  closed 
by  twenty-four  Tinkers  beating  on  their  kettles,  and  a  "vast 
mob,  hollowing,  hooping,  and  playing  the  devil."  On  the  next 
morning,  Sacheverell  is  mentioned  as  having  departed  for  War- 
wick. The  other  Tract,  which  is  extremely  scarce,  is  entitled — 
"  An  Appeal  from  the  City  to  the  Country  for  the  Preservation 
of  Her  Majesty's  Person,  Liberty,  Property,  and  the  Protestant 
Religion  &c.  Occasionally  written  upon  the  late  impudent  Af- 
fronts offer'd  to  Her  Majesty's  Royal  Crown  and  Dignity  by  the 
People  of  Banbury  and  Warwick."     Lond.,  8vo.,  1710.^^ 

(29)  Original  document  in  the  possession  of  the  Rev.  C.  B.  Hubbard,  minister  of  tlie 
present  congregation  at  the  Old  Dissenting  Meeting-house.  I  have  not  been  able  to  learn 
at  what  date  this  Meeting-house  was  first  opened. 

(30)  "  The  Third  Edition,  corrected.  London,  Printed,  and  are  to  be  sold,  By  R.  Maw- 
son,  at  the  Bible  and  Star  over  against  St.  Magdalen's  Church,  near  London  Bridge."  8vo., 
"  price  Id."  (Copy  in  my  own  collection.)  Also  "  The  Fourth  Edition,  corrected."  (Copy 
in  the  possession  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bliss.)  Mr.  Reader,  the  historian  of  Coventry,  informs 
me  iliat  a  small  bundle  of  this  Tract  was  found  in  a  mansion  at  Coventry,  formerly  be- 
longing to  the  Hopkins  family,  more  than  thirty  years  ago.  "  As  the  Coventry  Corpo- 
ration," Mr.  Reader  says,  "  were  all  Dissenters,  and  the  Hopkinses  were  intimately  connected 
with  them,  it  is  possible  that  tliis  Tract  was  written  by  one  of  the  family." 

(31)  Copy  in  the  possession  of  W.  Staunton  Esq.  of  Longbridge  House  near  Warwick. 


SIR  JONATHAN  COPE:— THE  NONJURORS.  ^''l"? 

To  tlie  Parliament  chosen  12tli  Anne  (1713),  JONATHAN  CoPE 
Esq.  was  chosen  for  Bauburj.  He  was  the  grandson  of  Jona- 
than Cope  Esq.  of  Ranton  Abbey  in  Staffordslm-e  (who  has  been 
mentioned  in  p.  261,  note  45),  was  born  in  1690,  and  was  created 
a  baronet  (bemg  styled  of  Brewern  Abbey  in  Oxfordshire)  by  pa- 
tent dated  1st  March  1714.  Sir  Jonathan  was  again  returned  to 
Parliament  for  Banbury  in  the  1st  George  I.  (1714-15),  He  died 
at  Orton  Longville  in  Huntingdonshire  in  1765,  aged  seventy- 
five  years,  and  was  buried  at  Hanwell,  where  a  marble  tablet  re- 
mains to  his  memory.  Sir  Jonathan  was  the  first  of  the  Copes 
of  Ranton  who  inherited  Hanwell,  which  he  did  under  the  will 
of  Sir  Anthony  Cope  (see  p.  508,  notes  12  and  14).^^ 


THE  REIGN  OF  GEORGE  THE  FIRST. 

There  are  many  entries  in  the  Register  of  Banbury  respecting 
soldiers  who  were  quartered  here  from  March  1714  to  October 
1716,  the  date  being  that  of  the  Earl  of  Mar's  rebellion.  Per- 
haps the  near  vicinity  of  the  Holmans'  and  Colonel  Plowden's 
property  to  Banbury,  and  the  fact  of  there  being  a  strong  non- 
juring  party  at  Banbury  (which  is  evidenced  by  the  contentions 
that  existed  in  the  Corporation  and  by  the  reception  which  was 
given  to  Dr.  Sacheverell),  may  have  been  the  reasons  of  these  pre- 
cautions being  taken.  In  1718  and  the  following  year,  the  Small 
Pox  raged  at  Banbury.  In  1717  the  deaths  had  been  but  62  ; 
whereas  in  1718  they  were  124,  and,  in  the  following  year,  113. 
The  deaths  recorded  as  occurring  from  tliis  Pestilence,  in  these 
two  years,  are  forty-seven  and  seventj'-two.  William  Asplin  is 
mentioned  as  being  Vicar  of  Banbury  in  1717  and  1723.^^ 

The  Charter  granted  by  James  the  First  to  the  Corporation  of 

(32)  Pari.  Reg. ;  Inscription  at  Hanwell ;  and  Information  from  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Cope. 
By  his  lady,  Mary,  the  daughter  of  Sir  Rohert  Jenkinson  of  Walcot  in  Oxfordshire,  bart., 
Sir  Jonathan  Cope  was  progenitor  of  the  baronets  of  the  Brewern  line,  which  family 
became  extinct  in  the  male  line,  and  the  title  expired  on  the  death  of  his  grandson.  Sir 
Jonathan  Cope,  the  fourth  baronet,  at  Great  Malvern  in  1821. 

(.33)  Register  of  Banbury.  The  parish  book  of  this  period  contains  the  following  entry  in 
1723  :— 

"  June  ye  1st.    The  Charges  of  James  Crooks  funaral  ^        ^       ^^_ 

a  suto  of  head  cloths  &  Jasey    00  :  01  :  06 

paid  Richard  Padd  for  a  Cofen 00  :  06  :  06 

branns 00  :  00  :  01 

The  Grave   00  :  03  :  02 

Beere    00  :  01  :  06 

Use  of  ye  black  Cloth    00  :  01  :  06_ 

paid  Mr.  Newman  for  Crook    00  :  03  :  00 " 

3  T 


514  FORFEITURE  OF  THE  CHARTER 

Banbury  was  forfeited  iu  the  3rd  year  of  this  reign  (1717),  in 
consequence  (as  it  appears)  of  the  contentions  which  took  place 
between  the  noujuring  party  and  the  supporters  of  the  Hanoverian 
dynasty.  iVniong  the  cases  of  controverted  elections,  it  is  re- 
corded that,  "in  the  3rd  year  of  George  the  First,  an  informa- 
tion, in  the  nature  of  quo  warranto,  was  exhibited  against  one 
Mr.  Painton,  Recorder  of  Banbury,  for  exercising  that  office, 
when  the  Corporation,  having  slipt  the  charter-day  for  the  elec- 
tion of  their  Mayor,  that  integral  part  was  gone.  The  court  of 
King's  Bench  held  that  Painton  was  not  legal  Recorder,  although 
he  had  been  chosen  when  the  Corporation  was  full,  because  it 
was  now  dissolved.  The  parties  acquiesced  in  this  decision,  and 
applied  for  a  new  charter."^'*     A  copy  of  their  Petition  follows : — 

"  To  the  King's  Most  Excellent  Majesty. 

"  The   humble  Peticion   of   your  Majestys  most  Dutyfull   and  Loyall 
Subjects  the  Late  Mayor,  Divers  of  the  Alldermen,  Capital!  Burgesses, 
Assistences,  Freemen,  and  others  of  the  most  substantial!  Inliabitance  of 
your  Majestys  aincent  town  of  Banbury  in  the  county  of  Oxford 
"Sheweth 

"That  by  a  Charter  granted  in  the  Gt'i  year  of  King  James  ye  1*1", 
the  saide  Town  was  Incorperated  by  tlie  name  of  tlie  Mayor  Alldermen 
and  Burgeses  of  tlie  Burrow  of  Banbury  in  tlie  county  of  Oxford  ;  and 
for  ye  better  Government  tliereof  to  consist  of  a  Mayor ;  (witli  him) 
12  Alldermen,  6  Capita!  Burgeses,  and  30  Assistences;  and  that  the 
mayor  for  the  time  being  should  be  cliosen  out  of  the  alldermen  upon 
ye  1"*  munday  of  September  yearly,  by  tlie  Mayor,  Alldermen,  Capital! 
Burgeses,  or  tlie  major  part  of  them,  to  be  then  assembled  in  tlie  hall  of 
the  said  town  ;  and  sowrn  upon  micklemas  day  then  next  ensueing  and 
to  continue  in  liis  office  from  thence  for  j  year  ;  witli  a  power  for  the 
saide  Corperation  to  make  By  Laws  as  is  usuall  in  tliose  cases. 

"That  by  a  By  Law  made  in  ye  9"'  year  of  the  saide  K.  James  ye  1"', 
and  confirmed  by  the  then  Justices  of  the  Assise  for  that  county,  it  was 
ordained  that  for  the  Election  of  a  mayor  for  tlie  sd  town,  the  mayor, 
senior  and  junier  alldermen,  senier  and  junier  capital!  burgeses,  sliould 
at  all  times  coming  seperate  themselves  from  tlie  rest  of  tlie  assembly 
into  another  room,  and  by  tlie  moste  of  there  voices  should  agree  upon 
one  of  the  Alldermen  to  stand  for  Mayor  for  the  year  ensueing ;  and  if 
he  sliould  be  disliked  by  the  Assembly,  the  5  in  like  maner  to  nominate 
another;  and  so  continuing  the  same  course,  till  one  should  be  agreed 
to  stand ;  which  being  done,  tlie  like  courses  to  be  taken  for  the  naming 
another  Allderman,  to  stand  with  ye  other  elected  allderman ;  one  of  the 
whicli  slial!  be  elected  Mayor  for  the  year  ensueing,  from  micklemas 
tlicn  next,  by  ye  majority  of  the  electors  tlien  assembled. 

(31)  Douglas's  Cases,  &c. 


OF  KING  JAMES  THE  FIRST.  515 

"That  upon  ye  l""  miinday  in  September  last  ye  mayor  and  about  39 
others  assembled  in  ye  hall  of  ye  sd  town  to  chuse  a  mayor  for  this 
present  year ;  when  ye  5  according  to  ye  saide  By  Law  withdrew  and 
brought  in  M''  John  Alliuton  one  of  ye  Alldermen  of  ye  saide  town  to 
stand  for  the  saide  office;  who  being  rejected  (though  by  a  very  small 
majority)  the  saide  5  persons  to  prevent  any  differance  if  possible  went 
out  a  2^  3<*  and  4*1^  time  and  brought  in  att  each  time  one  of  ye  other 
Alldermen  to  stand  for  ye  saide  office ;  who  waire  all  likewise  rejected ; 
upon  which  ye  5  going  out  ye  5'i>  time,  brought  in  agane  ye  saide  M' 
Allinton  ;  and  then  declared  that  in  regarde  to  there  othes  there  majesty 
the  peace  the  Peace  and  saefty  of  the  town,  the  should  not  nominate 
any  other  of  the  alldermen  to  stand  for  the  saide  ofice  butt  those  the 
had  done  (or  to  that  effect)  and  your  Peticioners  do  now  most  humbly 
beg  leave  to  lay  before  your  Majesty  that  the  severall  alldermen  so  put 
in  nomination  ware  persons  very  fitt  for  ye  saide  ofice ;  and  of  un- 
questionable duty  and  loyallty  to  your  Majesty. 

"  Whereas  the  person  for  home  the  utmost  endevors  were  used  to  have 
elected  mayor  for  the  saide  town,  was  a  person  who  had  behaved  him- 
selfe  with  greate  Indecency  and  disrespect  towards  your  majesty  and 
goverment. 

"  That  the  Mayor,  in  order  to  quiet  matters,  and  that  some  expediment 
for  that  purpose  might  have  been  thought  of  and  proposed  by  the 
assembled,  adjorned  them  for  some  time  that  day ;  But  upon  there  Re- 
sembling, found  eurything  in  the  same  confusion  it  had  beene  which  so 
continued  till  12  o'clock  that  night;  when  ye  assembly  brake  up  whith 
out  proceeding  to  any  election,  eathcr  acording  to  ye  saide  Charter  or 
By  Law. 

"  That  in  regarde  by  the  said  Charter  the  laste  mayors  office  abso- 
lutly  determind  upon  Micklemas  day  last,  no  assembly  can  be  now 
held  or  mayor  chosen  for  the  said  town  (as  your  Peticioners  are  advised) 
without  a  new  charter,  or  your  Majestys  gracious  authority  for  that  pur- 
pose ;  and  that  if  the  office  of  mayor  shall  be  agane  made  to  continue 
only  for  one  year,  and  his  election  left  under  ye  government  of  ye  saide 
By  Law,  (without  explanation  thereof)  your  Peticioners  cannot  but  ap- 
prehend ye  saide  towne  will  be  soon  brought  in  the  like  confusion  it  is 
now  in. 

"  Your  peticioners  therefore  most  humbly  beseech  your  Majesty,  that 
you  would  be  gratiously  pleased  to  take  there  case  into  youre  wise  con- 
sideration ;  and  grant  to  ye  saide  town  a  new  charter  for  restoring  and 
confirming  to  them  there  aincent  rights  and  privilidges,  so  far  as  they 
may  consist  with  your  Majestys  pleasure ;  and  for  the  quiet  and  better 
goverment  of  the  said  town,  and  preventing  all  persons  that  may  be  dis- 
affected to  your  majesty  or  your  succetion  in  ye  royall  family  from 
being  chosen  into  such  office,  that  for  ye  future  ye  mayor  for  ye  time 
being  may  continue  for  a  year  and  from  thence  till  another  fit  person 
shall  be  elected  and  sworne  into  that  office ;  and  that  the  persons  who 
are  to  nominate  ye  candidates  upone  such  election  may  not  be  oblidged 
to  nominate  more  then  4  of  the  then  alldermen  for  that  purpose,  unles 
3x3 


51G  CHARTER  OF  GEORGE  THE  FIRST. 

two  partes  in  three  att  the  least  of  the  electors  then  present  shall  request 
the  same ;  and  that  youre  Majesty  would  be  gratiously  pleased  to  apoint 
ye  respective  Persons  who  shall  first  be  in  there  severall  offices  and 
places,  for  ye  goverment  of  ye  said  town,  by  vertue  of  such  new  Char- 
ter ;  and  to  grant  such  farther  and  other  franchyes,  libertys,  and  privi- 
lidges  to  the  said  town  as  your  majesty  in  your  royal  bounty  and  goodness 
shall  thinke  meet. 

"  And  your  Pet"  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray."^^ 

On  this  Petition  of  the  inhabitants,  George  the  First  granted 
a  new  charter  to  the  Borough,  July   16th  in  the  4th  of  his  reign 

(1718). 

ABSTRACT  OF  THE  CHARTER  OF  GEORGE  THE  FIRST. 

1.  The  Burgesses  and  Freemen  and  their  successors  to  be  a  corporate 
and  political  body  by  the  name  of  the  Mayor  Aldermen  and  Burgesses 
of  the  Borough  of  Banbury  in  the  county  of  Oxford. 

2.  Power  to  hold,  grant,  and  demise  lands,  &c.,  and  to  sue  and  be  sued. 

3.  To  have  a  Common  Seal. 

4.  Limits  of  the  Borough  to  be  as  before. 

5.  Power  to  perambulate. 

6.  Twelve  of  the  Burgesses  of  the  Borough  to  be  Aldermen. 

7.  One  of  the  Aldermen  to  be  Mayor. 

8.  One  good  and  discreet  man,  skilled  in  the  laws,  to  be  Recorder. 

9.  Six  of  the  Burgesses  of  the  Borough  to  be  Capital  Burgesses. 

10.  One  Chamberlain  to  be  appointed. 

11.  The  Common  Council  to  consist  of  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and 
Capital  Burgesses. 

12.  Thirty  good  and  discreet  men  to  be  Assistants,  who,  with  the 
officers  above  enumerated,  shall  from  time  to  time  be  assistant  and  helping 
to  the  Mayor. 

13.  Power  to  the  Common  Council  to  make  By-Laws ;  but  such  By- 
Laws  must  be  reasonable,  and  not  contrary  to  the  laws  of  the  realm. 
Trangressors  against  such  By-Laws  to  be  punished  by  fines  and  amerce- 
ments. 

14.  Francis  Goodwin  of  the  aforesaid  Borough,  gentleman,  to  be  the 
first  Mayor. 

15.  George  Wheate  Esq.  to  be  the  first  Recorder. 

IG.  George  Wheate  Esq.,  John  AUington,  Thomas  Owen,  Thomas 
Ward,  Francis  Goodwin,  Fulke  Rainbow,  Thomas  Mander,  John  Welch- 
man,  John  Kenning,  Robert  Greenhill,  John  Potter,  and  Anthony  Haines, 
to  be  Aldermen. 

17.  Richard  Hawten,  Blagrave  Gregory,  Philip  Penny,  Thomas  Stokes, 
John  Welch,  and  James  West,  to  be  Capital  Burgesses.  The  Aldermen 
and  Biu'gesses  to  be  removable  for  bad  behaviour. 

18.  Trevor  Viscount  Hillsborough,  Sir  Rushout  Cullen  bart..  Sir  Tho- 
mas Wheate  bart.,  Sir  Adolphus  Oughton  knt.,  Francis  Rock  Esq., 
Alexander  Denton  Esq.,  Fiennes  Twistleton  Esq,,  Charles  Crispe  Esq., 
Thomas  Wheate  Esq.,  Charles  How  Esq.,  Ambrose  Holbech  Esq.,  Toby 
Chauncy  Esq.,  John  Blencowe  Esq.,  Thomas  Blencowe  Esq.,  Nathaniel 
Humi)hrys  Esq.,  Thomas  Whorwood  Esq.,  Edmund  Denton  Esq.,  John 
Hodges  Esq.,  Richard  Thompson  Esq.,  John  Moreton  gent.,  William 
Goodwin  gent.,  Sanderson  Miller  gent.,  Joseph  Meddams  gent.,  William 
Busby  gent.,   John   Miller  gent.,   John   Newman  gent.,   John   Burrows 

(.35)  Copy  of  the  Petition  in  the  Town  Clerk's  OfEce. 


CHARTER  OF  GEORGE  THE  FIRST.  517 

gent.,  Robert  Gascoigne  gent.,  Thomas  Bradford  gent.,  and  John  Style 
gent.,  to  be  Assistants.     Removable  for  miscondiict. 

19.  Manner  of  electing  the  Mayor  by  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  Capital 
Burgesses,  Chamberlain,  and  Assistants.  The  Mayor  to  continue  in  office 
for  one  year  and  until  his  successor  be  sworn. 

20.  Election  of  a  new  Mayor  on  the  death  or  amotion  of  the  former 
one.  In  case  a  Mayor  deceased  shall  have  appointed  no  deputy,  the 
senior  Alderman  next  after  the  Recorder  shall  have  power  to  act. 

21.  Vacancies  among  the  Aldermen,  Capital  Burgesses,  and  Assis- 
tances, to  be  filled  up  by  the  Common  Council,  namely,  of  Aldermen 
from  the  Capital  Burgesses ;  of  Capital  Burgesses  from  the  Assistants ; 
and  of  Assistants  from  the  "good  and  discreet  men  inhabiting  the  said 
Borough  or  elsewhei'e." 

22.  Penalties  on  refusing  to  serve  in  any  office,  namely,  reasonable 
fines,  to  be  determined  by  the  Council.     Not  to  exceed  £5. 

23.  One  great  man  who  may  and  shall  be  a  Baron  of  this  kingdom  of 
Great  Britain  or  at  the  least  a  knight  to  be  High  Steward  of  the  Borough. 
Francis  Earl  of  Godolphin  appointed  High  Steward  by  the  charter. 

24.  The  Council  to  elect  the  future  High  Stewards  and  Recorders.  The 
Recorder  to  be  ex  officio  senior  Alderman. 

25.  The  Chamberlain  to  be  chosen  by  the  Council  from  the  Aldermen. 
His  duty  to  receive  the  revenues  and  keep  the  accoimts  and  records. 

26.  If  the  Mayor  be  sick  or  for  some  reasonable  cause  absent,  the  senior 
Alderman  next  after  the  Recorder  to  be  his  deputy. 

27.  A  Deputy  Recorder  (being  a  good  and  discreet  man  learned  in  the 
laws)  may  be  appointed  by  the  Recorder,  with  the  assent  and  consent  of 
the  Mayor  and  Aldermen. 

28.  Grant  of  emoluments  and  privileges,  as  before,  on  payment  of  yearly 
rent  to  the  Crown. 

29.  Freedom  from  vexatious  proceedings  at  law. 

30.  Charter  to  be  construed  favourably  to  the  Corporation. 

31.  A  Court  of  Record  to  be  held  every  Monday,  before  the  Mayor 
or  his  deputy,  one  other  Alderman,  the  Recorder  or  his  deputy,  and  two 
Capital  Burgesses,  or  any  three  of  them  whereof  the  Mayor  or  his  deputy 
must  be  one.  For  all  kind  of  pleas  &c.  wherein  the  debt  or  damage  does 
not  exceed  £40. 

32.  The  Mayor  in  full  court  shall  have  power  to  appoint  the  Attorneys 
of  the  Court  of  Record. 

33.  Two  Serjeants  at  Mace  to  be  appointed  by  the  Council,  to  serve  in 
the  Court,  to  execute  processes,  &c.,  and  to  carry  gold  or  silver  maces 
before  the  Mayor  or  his  deputy. 

34.  Power  to  have  a  Gaol,  whereof  the  Mayor  shall  be  keeper. 

35.  Right  of  levying  fines,  and  payment  thereon  to  the  Crown. 

36.  Waifs  &c.  to  belong  to  the  Corporation 

37.  The  Mayor,  Aldermen,  Burgesses,  and  Freemen,  not  liable  to  serve 
on  juries  out  of  the  Borough. 

38.  Sir  Rushout  Cullen  bart.,  Sir  Thos.  Wheate  bart..  Sir  John  Cope 
knt.,  Fiennes  Twistleton  esq.,  and  Ambrose  Holbech  esq.,  to  be  Magis- 
trates of  the  Borough  ;  as  also  the  Mayor  and  Recorder,  and  three  of  the 
Aldermen  to  be  elected  by  the  Coimcil. 

39.  Power  to  try  for  felony,  witchcraft,  incantation,  sorcery,  magick, 
trespasses,  forestalling,  regrating,  ingrocsing,  and  extortion;  "  and  also 
concerning  all  and  singular  crimes  and  offences  concerning  which  the 
Justices  of  our  peace  may  lawfully  inquire." 

40.  "  And  that  the  said  Mayor  Aldermen  and  Burgesses  of  the  afore- 
said Borough  and  their  successors  may  and  shall  have  authority  and  for 
the  future  shall  be  able  to  erect  a  Gallows  within  the  aforesaid  Borough 
the  precincts  limits  and  liberties  of  the  same  there  to  sentence  and  to  hang 
Felons  Murderers  and  other  Malefactors  within  the  aforesaid  Borough 
according  to  the  laws  of  this  our  kingdom." 


.'j18  charter  of  GEORGE  THE  FIRST. 

41.  The  Mayor  to  have  power  of  execution  and  return  of  all  Writs. 

42.  Power  to  name  a  Coroner. 

43.  Tlie  Mayor  to  be  Clerk  of  the  Market. 

44.  The  Borough  exempt  from  intrusion  of  the  Sheriff",  &c. 

45.  A  Wool  Market  to  be  held  on  Thursdays  for  the  buying  and  selling 
of  Wool,  Woollen  Yarn,  and  Foraginis.  The  object,  as  in  the  charter 
of  James  the  First,  being  to  set  the  poor  to  work,  and  the  toUs  &c.  to  go 
towards  the  expenses  of  the  Borough  and  the  maintenance  of  the  poor. 
A  court  of  Pie  Powder,  &c. 

46.  Power  to  hold  two  Fairs,  namely,  one  on  the  eve,  the  feast,  and  the 
day  following  the  feast  of  the  Annunciation  of  Saint  Mary  the  Virgin  ; 
and  the  other  on  the  first  Thursday  which  shall  happen  next  before  the 
feast  of  St.  Nicholas  the  bishop  and  on  the  eve  and  morrow  of  the  said 
day ;  together  with  a  coiu't  of  Pie  Powder. 

47.  Power  to  hold  a  Horse  Market  on  Thursdays,  with  a  court  of  Pie 
Powder. 

48.  The  Mayor  and  Justices  shall  have  power  for  the  "  punishment  and 
correction  of  all  and  singular  drunkards  and  of  all  and  singvdar  harlots 
prostitutes  and  others  whomsoever  living  lasciviously  and  incontinently 
and  also  of  all  and  singular  on  any  occasion  unbecomingly  or  maliciously 
communicating  or  wickedly  scolding  who  usually  or  in  English  are  called 
Scolds  Brawlers  or  Quarrellers." 

49.  Power  to  have  and  purchase  lands. 

50.  Power  to  elect  the  Town  Clerk  of  the  aforesaid  Borough. 

51.  Charter  to  be  construed  favourably  to  the  Corporation. 

52.  Date — "The  sixteenth  day  of  July  in  the  Fourth  Year  of  our 
reign — By  Writ  of  Privy  Seal 

CoCKS." 

"  Let  there  be  paid  for  a  Fine  in  the  Hanaper 

Ten  Marks  sterling    £6.  13s.  'id. 

[The  Seal]  Parker  C."^^ 

To  the  Parliament  of  the  8th  George  I.  (1722),  Monnoux 
Cope  Esq.  was  returned  for  Banburj.^'  Sir  William  Codrington 
bart.  petitioned  against  the  return,  but  withdrew  his  petition.^* 
Monnoux  Cope  was  the  son  of  Sir  Jolm  Cope  the  sixth  baronet, 
and  the  grandson  of  tlie  before-named  Sir  John  Cope  (see  p.  507) 
the  fifth  baronet.  He  succeeded  to  the  baronetcy  on  the  death 
of  his  father  in  1749,  and  died  in  1763,  aged  sixty-seven  years.^^ 

(36)  Copy  in  the  Town  Clerk's  Office.  (37)  Pari.  Reg. 

(38)  The  Petition  of  Sir  William  Codrington  bavt.  was  read  in  the  House  of  Commons 
on  the  2oth  Oct.  1722:  it  stated  that  bribery  and  other  indirect  practices  had  been  made 
use  of  in  opposition  to  the  Petitioner's  interest;  and  that,  notwithstanding  the  Petitioner 
bad  a  majority  of  legal  votes,  Mr.  Cope  had  procured  himself  to  be  returned.  On  the 
following  15th  January,  Sir  W.  Codrington  had  liberty  given  him  by  tlie  House  to  withdraw 
his  Petition. — Common's  Journals. 

(39)  Near  the  close  of  the  reign  of  George  the  First  appeared  Dean  Swift's  celebrated 
Travels  of  Lemuel  Gulliver,  the  ancestors  of  which  imaginary  character  are  represented 
by  the  Dean  as  having  had  their  residence  at  Banbury  ;  and  he  mentions  their  tombs  as 
being  in  the  church-yard.  It  is  traditionally  stated  that  the  Dean,  being  at  Banbury  while 
his  work  was  composing,  but  before  he  had  fixed  on  a  name  for  his  hero,  saw  that  of 
"Gulliver"  on  a  tombstone  in  the  church-yard,  and  forthwith  fixed  upon  it.  The  name 
of  Gulliver  often  occurs  in  the  Register  and  other  records  of  the  period. 


EARL  OF  GUILFORD:— EARL  OF  BANBURY.  .'>iy 


THE  REIGN  OF  GEORGE  THE  SECOND. 

In  tlie  earlj  part  of  the  reign  of  George  tlie  Second  (namely 
in  1730)  the  View  of  Banbury  which  has  been  engraved  on  p.  \50 
of  this  voh  was  taken.'"' 

To  the  first  Parliament  of  George  the  Second,  1727,  the  Hon. 
Francis  North  was  returned  for  Banbury.'"  He  was  the  son  of 
Francis  the  second  Baron  Guilford,  and  the  grandson  of  the 
Lord  Keeper  Guilford,  and  was  born  in  1704.  On  the  death  of 
his  father  in  1729  he  succeeded  to  the  title  of  Baron  Guilford, 
and  thus  vacated  his  seat  for  Banbury.  In  1734  he  succeeded 
to  the  title  of  Baron  North  of  Kirtling,  on  the  death  of  William, 
the  sixth  Baron  North,  who  was  the  son  of  Charles  the  fifth  Baron 
North,  elder  brother  of  the  Lord  Keeper  Guilford.  In  1752  he 
was  created  Earl  of  Guilford.     He  died  in  1190.^" 

After  his  accession  to  the  peerage  in  1729,  a  new  writ  for 
Banbury  was  ordered,  Jan.  1 3th  1730,  when  Toby  Chauncy 
Esq.  of  Edgcot  was  chosen  representative  of  Banbury.'^  This 
Toby  Chauncy  was  the  son  of  the  Toby  Chauncy  who  is  men- 
tioned in  p.  511  :  he  was  born  in  1673-4,  and  was  recorder  of 
Banbury  and  of  Daventry.  He  died  in  March  1 733  ;''^  and,  a 
new  writ  being  ordered  on  the  2nd  April  in  that  year,  WilKam 
KnoUys  Esq.,  called  Viscount  Wallingford,  was  chosen."^  Vis- 
count Wallingford  was  the  son  of  Charles  Knollys,  claimant  of  the 
Earldom  of  Banbury  (see  p.  267),  whose  claim  to  the  title  was 
disallowed  by  the  House  of  Peers.'^^  He  was  a  major  in  the  Horse 
Guards.     Viscount    Wallingford  was    again   chosen   for  Banbury 

(40)  The  principal  localities  shewn  by  it  are  these: — On  the  left  hand  side,  the  windmill 
marks  the  site  of  Windmill  Bank  (see  p.  16,  note  35);  the  buildings  close  on  the  right  of 
it  are  Easington  ;  a  building  a  little  further  on  the  right,  but  lower  down,  is  the  remaining 
part  of  St.  John's  Hospital;  the  high  conical  hill  is  Crouch  Hill  (see  p.  9) ;  near  the  tower 
of  the  Church,  and  on  the  left  of  it,  is  seen  the  West  Bar  or  Gate  called  Sugarford  Bar 
(see  p.  207);  on  the  right  of  the  Church  is  seen  St.  Stephen's  Well,  marked  "A  Well" 
(see  p.  97) ;  on  the  right  of  the  well  is  Neithorp  ;  below  a  portion  of  Neithorp  is  seen  the 
North  Bar  or  Gate  of  the  town  (see  p.  208).  On  the  left  hand  side  of  the  sketch  are  also 
seen  the  Gallows,  and  the  boundary-post  upon  the  Bridge.  The  conspicuous  building 
nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  picture  is  the  old  Town  Hall.  The  buildings  on  the  right  hand 
side  of  the  sketch  are  a  portion  of  Grimsbury. 

(41)  Bealson's  Reg.  of  Parliament. 

(42)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  527.  (43)  Beatson's  Reg.  Pari. 
(44)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  494.  (45)  Beatson's  Reg.  Pari. 
(46)  In  Trin.  Term,  6th  Will.  &  Mary  (1692),  Charles  Knollys,  the  said  claimant  as  Earl 

of  Banbury,  was  indicted  at  Hick's  Hall,  by  the  name  of  Charles  Knollys  Esq.,  for  the 
murder  ofCharles  Lawson  Esq.  (his  brother-in-law),  whom  he  had  slain  in  a  duel.  The 
trial  was  removed  into  the  King  and  Queen's  Bench  by  certiorari,  and  the  defendant 
pleaded  that  he  ought  not  to  answer  to  the  indictment,  because  he  was  Earl  of  Banbury, 
entitled  to  be  tried  by  his  peers,  though  now  indicted  only  as  Charles  Knollys.    The  at- 


.'>20  FREDERICK  LORD  NORTH. 

in  1734.  He  died  in  1740;  and,  a  new  writ  being  ordered,  the 
Hon.  William  Moore  was  chosen  for  Banbury.  The  Parliament 
being  dissolved  in  1741,  the  Hon.  WiUiam  Moore  was  again  re- 
turned. He  died  in  1746.  A  new  writ  was  ordered  on  the  18th 
November,  when  John  Willes  Esq.  was  chosen.  In  1747,  the 
Parliament  was  dissolved,  and  John  Willes  Esq.  was  again  cho- 
sen.'*' This  John  Willes  was  filacer  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  and  was  the  son  of  Sir  John  Willes  of  Astrop,  who  was 
appointed  lord  chief  justice  of  the  Common  Pleas  in  1737,  and 
who  died  in  1761.     John  Willes  died  ut  Astrop  in  1784."^ 

To  the  last  Parliament  of  George  the  Second,  in  1754,  Fre- 
derick Lord  North,  son  of  Francis  first  Earl  of  Guilford  (see 
p.  ^lO),  was  returned  for  Banbury  ;  and  was  rechosen,  on  his 
elevation  to  office  as  a  lord  of  the  Treasury,  in  1759.^^  He  was 
afterwards  the  Premier. 

A  visitation  of  the  Small  Pox  occurred  at  Banbury  in  December 
1731,  and  continued  till  October  1733.  The  number  of  deaths 
from  Small  Pox,  as  entered  in  the  Register,  is  ninety-four,  of  which 
number  eighty  deaths  occurred  in  1733.  Joseph  Gerard  is  men- 
tioned as  Vicar  of  Banbury  in  1734,  and  John  Wardle  in  1739.^° 

In  1730,  Frederick  Prince  of  Wales  and  his  Princess  paid  a 
visit  to  Lord  North  and  Guilford,  at  Wroxton.  The  following 
inscription,  on  the  obelisk  at  Wroxton,  records  that  it  was  by  the 
Prince's  command  that  the  said  obelisk  was  erected : — 

FEEDEEICl-S 

WALLI.E    PRINCEPS 

OPTIMUS    MUNIFICENTISSIMLTS 

SERVO    SUO 

torney-gencral  replied,  that  the  defendant,  by  the  name  of  Charles  Earl  of  Banbury,  had 
petitioned  the  Lords  spiritual  and  temporal  to  be  tried  by  his  peers,  but  the  Lords  decided 
that  the  said  Charles  had  not  any  right  or  title  to  the  Earldom  of  Banbury.  The  Court 
however  decided  that  the  defendant  was  a  Peer,  and  ought  to  have  been  indicted  as 
Charles  Earl  of  Banbury;  and  therefore  that  the  indictment  had  a  misnomer  and  ought 
to  be  abated.     (Skinner's  Reports.) 

In  1760,  five  sons  of  the  then  Earl  of  Banbury  are  mentioned  as  having  been,  within  a 
few  months,  foremost  in  action  for  the  service  of  their  country;  one  wounded  at  Carrick- 
fergus,  one  at  Guadaloupe,  one  killed  in  an  engagement  with  two  French  frigates,  and  the 
fourth  and  fifth  wounded  at  Minden.  William  Knollys,  Earl  of  Banbury,  died  at  Burford 
in  1776;  and  Thomas  Woods  Knollys,  Earl  of  Banbury,  died  at  Winchester  in  1793.  The 
last  of  these  is  mentioned  as  a  respectable  magistrate  and  country  gentleman;  but  his  estates 
were  too  small  to  permit  him  a  town  residence  or  to  give  him  the  state  of  a  nobleman. 
{Dodsley's  Ann.  Registers.)  In  1813  the  claim  to  the  Earldom  of  Banbury  was  revived 
by  Lieut-Gen.  William  Knollys;  but  the  House  of  Lords  resolved,  on  the  9th  March, 
"  That  the  Petitioner  had  not  made  good  his  claim  to  the  Earldom  of  Banbury." — Brewers 
Oxf. 

(47)  Whitworth's  Succession  of  Parliaments ;  Pari.  Register ;  Beatson's  Reg.  of  Pari. 

(48)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  695.  (49)  Beatson's  Reg.  Pari. 
(50)  Register  of  Banbury.     The  following  entry  occurs  in  the  Register  in  August  1740  : — 

"  William  Jackman  Barber  kill'd  himself  by  walking  to  Dadicgton  for  a  wager  burd  19th." 


EXECUTION  OF  PARR.  r»21 


FRANCISCO 

DOMINO    NORTH    ET    GUILFORD 

WEOXTONIiE    UOSPITIO    EXCEPTIIS 

IN 

AMOENITATIS   INCREMENTUM 


MENSE    SEPTEMBR    MDCCXXXIX 

The  Corporation  of  Banbury  presented  an  address  to  the  Prince, 
on  his  coming  into  the  town. 

In  the  month  of  March  1746-7,  the  following  record  occurs 
in  the  Register  of  Banbury: — "  Lydia  Wild  VVid''  &  Relict  of 
Will"'  Wild  Sen--  Slatter  was  Murdered  the  7"'  and  Buried  the 
ll""  Day."  A  brief  account  of  this  murder  was  given  in  the 
"Oxford  Fljing  Weekly  Journal,"  dated  March  14th  1746-7  ;«> 
and  is  as  follows  : — "  We  hear  from  Banbury,  that  last  Sunday 
morning  Widow  Wilde  of  that  place  was  found  barbarously 
murdered  in  her  own  kitchen  ;  there  were  several  wounds  upon 
her  head,  one  of  which  is  very  large  and  appears  to  have  been 
done  with  a  hammer,  and  her  throat  was  cut  almost  from  ear  to 
ear.  An  Irish  fellow,  a  shag  weaver,  is  strongly  suspected,  his 
shoes  being  found  in  his  lodgings  bloody  half  way  up  the  heels, 
and  much  blood  sprinkled  on  the  upper  leather.  He  plundered 
the  house  of  about  £20."  The  name  of  this  murderer  was  Parr: 
he  was  tried  at  Banbury,  was  convicted,  and  hanged  in  the  Horse 
Fair,  opposite  the  scene  of  his  crime.  He  was  afterwards  gib- 
beted, on  the  spot  which  (from  the  circumstance)  has  been  since 
called  "  Parr's  Piece,"  on  the  south  side  of  the  way  leading  from 
Easington  farm-house  towards  Broad  Street."^ 

(51)  This  is  one  of  the  early  numbers  (the  28tb)  of  that  Paper,  and  was  "  printed  by  R. 
Walljer  and  W.  Jackson,  price  2d."  Mr.  Richard  Heber's  collection  of  the  Oxford  Jour- 
nals, which  is  preserved  in  the  British  Museum,  commences  with  No.  1  (not  of  this,  but) 
of  a  later  series  of  the  Oxford  Journal;  the  first  number  being  dated  May  5th  1753.  For 
a  considerable  period,  this  new  series  of  the  Oxford  Journal  was  almost  exclusively  de- 
voted to  the  great  Oxfordshire  election  contest  which  occurred  in  1754. 

(52)  The  house  in  which  this  murder  was  committed  was  the  second  in  the  Horse  Fair, 
reckoning  from  West  Bar  Street.  In  a  town  where  the  extraordinary  power  existed  of 
jurisdiction  over  life  and  death,  but  where,  from  the  limited  numbers  of  the  population, 
capital  crimes  were  very  rarely  committed,  such  an  event  as  the  above  became  a  thing  of 
note.  It  is  said  that  Parr's  body  fell  from  the  gibbet  on  which  it  had  been  suspended,  and 
that  some  chimneysweepers  thereupon  made  a  procession  with  the  body  through  the  town. 
A  tradesman,  named  John  Baxter,  who  was  then  the  chief  wit  of  the  place,  wrote  the  fol- 
lowing lines,  on  the  occasion  of  this  gibbeting,  addressed  to  the  farmer  who  resided  at 
Easington : — 

"  Rejoice  and  sing,  old  Farmer  Wells, 
Proclaim  your  joy  with  ring  of  bells. 

For  now  Old  Parr's  your  neighbour ; 
And  if  the  ti-ee  had  been  made  like  a  T, 
It  would  have  serv'd  both  him  and  thee. 

And  sav'd  Jack  Ketch  some  labour." 
Terror  is  excited,  after  a  lapse  of  nearly  one  hundred  years,  by  the  relation  which  is  yet 

3  u 


522  ELECTION  FOR  THE  COUNTY,  1754. 

In  April  1754,  there  occurred  a  contested  election  for  the  county 
of  Oxford,  the  preparations  for  which  had  occasioned  great  ex- 
citement ever  since  the  year  1752.  The  distinctions  of  party 
which  were  aroused  in  the  county  on  tliis  occasion  were  "The 
Old  Interest "  (Tory)  and  "  The  New  Interest "  (Whig),  many 
of  the  leading  nobility  and  gentry  claiming  the  latter  appellation. 
On  the  28th  January  1754  a  riot  took  place,  respecting  this 
election,  in  the  streets  of  Banbury .^^  The  poll  was  taken  at  Ox- 
ford on  the  17th,  18th,  19th,  20th,  22nd,  and  23rd  April.^* 

A  visitation  of  the  Small  Pox  occurred  at  Banbury  in  1760. 
For  some  years  before  this  date,  the  average  number  of  deaths 
in  each  year  was  about  60  :  in  this  year  1760  they  were  163.'^^ 
Owing  to  the  fear  which  was  excited  in  the  neighbourhood  with 
regard  to  this  pestilence,  the  market  which  should  have  been  held 
at  Banbury  was  for  a  time  kept  at  Weeping  Cross,  in  the  way  to 
Adderbury.^® 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Edward  Welshman,  Archdeacon  of  Cardigan,  was  the  son 
of  John  Welshman  of  Banbury,  and  was  baptized  on  the  21st 
August  1664.^^  He  became  a  commoner  of  Magdalen  Hall, 
Oxford,  in  midsummer  term  1679 ;  and  was  admitted  B.  A.  on 
the   24th   April   1683,  probationer  fellow   of  Merton   College  in 

given  to  children  of  the  execution  of  this  murderer  at  Banbury.  The  room  where  he  was 
confined  is  a  threatened  black-hole  for  youthful  criminals ;  and  Parr's  fetters  are  yet  pre- 
served for  the  inspection  of  the  curious.  No  execution  has  occuired  at  Banbury  since  this 
date.  It  is  said  that,  some  years  before,  some  Tinkers  were  hanged  in  the  Goose  Leys, 
adjoining  the  Bridge.  Tradition  adds  that  these  Tinkers  had  a  dog,  whose  appeals  on  be- 
half of  his  masters  excited  the  spectators  to  hang  him  up  in  a  noose  by  the  side  of  those 
whom  he  had  faithfully  served.  It  is  also  stated  by  tradition  that  a  Woman  was  burned  in 
Broad  Street,  about  the  same  period,  for  the  murder  of  her  husband. 

Goose  Leys  was  at  this  period  called  "  Gallows  Leys ;"  and  the  situation  of  the  Gallows 
there,  in  1730,  is  shewn  in  the  engraving  given  on  p.  1-50. 

(.53)  Old  Interest  Fury,  8vo.,  1754  (a  scarce  Tract  in  my  own  collection). 

(54)  At  the  close,  the  numbers  were  declared  to  be : — for  Lord  Viscount  Wenman  (Old 
Interest)  2,033;  Sir  James  Dashwood  bart.  (Old  Interest)  2014;  Lord  Viscount  Parker 
(New  Interest)  1919;  Sir  Edward  Turner  bart.  (New  Interest)  1890.  (Poll  Book,  1754, 
Jackson's  edit.)  On  a  scrutiny,  however,  the  majority  for  the  successful  candidates  appeared 
so  small,  that  the  sheriff  made  a  double  return ;  and,  the  decision  thus  resting  with  the 
House  of  Commons,  the  House  decided,  April  23rd  1755,  that  the  New  Interest  candidates, 
Lord  Parker  and  Sir  E.  Turner,  were  duly  elected.  This  election  is  said  to  have  cost  each 
of  the  candidates  £40,000. — Dunkin's  History  of  the  Hundreds  of  Bullington  and  Plough- 
ley,  V.  \,pp.  55,  56. 

(55)  Register  of  Banbury. 

(56)  Information  from  Mr.  John  Wilson  of  Bodicot.  In  1730,  Mr.  Richard  Wise,  of  a 
Bodicot  family,  but  then  residing  in  London,  put  up  a  dial  on  the  mutilated  pedestal  of 
Weeping  Cross,  with  this  inscription  upon  it: — "  Given  by  Mr.  Richard  Wise,  Clockmaker 
in  London,  Anno  Domini  1730." 

(57)  Register  of  Banbury. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES.  523 

1684,  and  M.  A.  on  the  19th  June  1688.  He  took  holy  orders, 
and  was  presented  to  the  rectory  of  Lapworth,  with  which  living 
he  also  held  the  rectory  of  SoHhnll  and  the  archdeaconry  of 
Cardigan.     He  died  in  1739.^ 

William  Berriman,  D.  D.,  a  celebrated  divine,  was  bom 
in  London  in  1688.  He  received  his  grammatical  education  partly 
at  Banbury,  and  partly  at  Merchant  Tailors'  school  in  London, 
whence  he  removed  to  Oxford.     He  died  in  1750.- 

Benjamin  Kidd,  a  resident  at  Banbury,  was  an  eminent 
preacher  among  the  Friends  or  Quakers.  He  died  in  1751,  and 
was  buried  in  the  grave-yard  adjoining  the  present  Meeting-house 
of  the  Friends  in  Banbury,  towards  the  erection  of  which  new 
building  (in  1750)  he  largely  contributed.^  Two  Sermons  and  a 
Prayer  of  Benjamin  Kidd's  were  published  in  1766.'' 

William  Oldys,  a  biographer  and  historical  writer,  was  the 
natural  son  of  Dr.  Oldys  the  chancellor  of  Lincoln,  and  was 
born  at  Adderbury.  He  held  the  office  of  Norroy  king  at  arms ; 
and  was  employed  to  superintend  the  publication  of  the  Harleian 
Miscellany.  He  was  the  author  of  several  works,  and  died  at  an 
advanced  age  in  1761. 

Philip  Thicknesse,  an  eccentric  traveller  and  writer,  was 
born  at  Farthingho  in  1719,  and  was  the  son  of  the  then  rector 
of  Fartliingho,  the  Rev.  John  Thicknesse.  He  received  Ixis  edu- 
cation, first  at  Aynho  school,  and  subsequently  at  Westminster. 
His  "  Year's  Journey  through  France  and  Spain "  was  published 

(1)  Welshman  was  author  of: — 1.  A  Defence  of  the  Church  of  England  from  the  charge 
of  Schism  and  Heresy,  as  laid  against  it  by  the  Vindicator  of  the  depriv'd  Bishops  [Henry 
Dodwell],  Lond.,  4to.,  1692:— 2.  The  Husbandman's  Manual,  directing  him  how  to  im- 
prove the  several  Actions  of  his  Calling,  and  the  most  usual  occurrences  of  his  life,  to  the 
Glory  of  God  and  Benefit  of  his  Soul ;  Lond.,  8vo.,  1695  :— 3.  Dr.  Clarke's  Scripture 
Doctrine  of  the  Trinity  examined;  8vo.,  1714: — 4.  A  Conference  with  an  Arian,  8vo., 
1721 :— 5.  An  Exposition  of  the  Thirty-nine  Articles,  8vo. :— 6.  An  edition  of  Novatian's 
works,  1724: — 7.  Some  Sermons.  (Wood's  Athense;  Chalmers's  Biog.  Diet.)  One  of 
Welshman's  sons  afterwards  kept  an  inn  at  Stratford  upon  Avon.  In  the  "  Spiritual 
Quixote  "  it  is  said  : — "  Whilst  the  coachman  stopped  [at  Stratford]  to  water  his  horses, 
my  landlord,  out  of  civility,  came  to  pay  his  compliments  to  Dr.  Greville,  who  knew  the 
man  to  be  a  son  of  the  learned  Dr.  Welchman,  well  known  for  his  illustration  of  the 
thirty-nine  articles  :  which  piece  of  history,  as  he  had  not  much  (literary)  merit  of  his  own 
to  boast  of,  mine  host  never  failed  to  acquaint  his  customers  with.  '  Gentlemen,'  he  would 
say, '  you  have  doubtless  heard  of  my  father ;  he  mack  the  thirty-nine  Articles.' " 

(2)  Berriman  published  an  answer  to  Whiston,  on  the  Trinity,  which  introduced  him  to 
the  notice  of  Dr.  Robinson,  bishop  of  London,  who  made  him  his  chaplain,  and  in  1722 
gave  him  the  living  of  St.  Andrew  Undershaft.  He  also  published  an  Historical  account  of 
the  Controversies  concerning  the  Doctrine  of  the  Trinity,  in  Eight  Sermons,  at  the  Moyer 
Lecture,  8vo.,  172-5:— and  Sermon's  at  Boyle's  Lecture,  2  vols.  8vo.,on  the  Gradual  Reve- 
lation of  the  Gospel  from  Man's  Apostacy.  In  1751,  forty  of  his  Sermons  were  published, 
in  2  vols.  8vo.,  by  his  brother,  John  Berriman  :  these  were  entitled  "  Christian  Doctrines 
and  Duties  Explained  and  Recommended." — Chalmers's  Biog.  Diet. ;  Berriman  s  Sermons. 

(3)  Piety  Promoted.  (4)  A  Scarce  Tract  in  my  own  collection. 

3  u  3 


524  BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES. 

in  1777:  lie  was  well  known  as  the  writer  of  several  other  popular 
works  .^ 

Mansell  Sansbury  was  a  noted  highwayman  who  lived  at 
Banbury  in  the  reign  of  George  the  Second.  His  residence  was 
at  the  corner-house  between  the  north  side  of  the  Market  Place 
and  Parson's  Street,  which  is  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Edward  Ben- 
nett. After  many  hairbreadth  escapes  from  justice,  he  was  at 
length  taken,  on  a  Banbury  market-day,  asleep  in  a  corn-field  near 
Bodicot  :  it  is  popularly  stated  that  his  faithful  horse  made  several 
unsuccessful  efforts  to  awaken  him  on  the  approach  of  his  pursuers. 
He  was  executed  at  Aylesbury. 

John  Baxter,  a  goldsmith  of  Banbury  (who  has  been  already 
mentioned  in  p.  521,  note  52,  of  this  vol.),  was  the  chief  wit  of 
the  place  during  the  latter  part  of  the  reign  of  George  the  Se- 
cond and  the  beginning  of  that  of  George  the  Third.  Many  of 
his  jocular  rhymes  are  well  remembered  at  the  present  time ; 
but  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  some  of  them  do  not  deserve  re- 
petition. Baxter  wrote  his  own  epitaph,  which,  after  his  death, 
and  with  the  blanks  for  the  date,  &c.  filled  up,  was  cut  on  a  stone 
wliich  is  yet  preserved  in  the  room  above  the  clergyman's  retiring- 
room  in  Banbury  Church  :  the  epitaph  is  as  follows  : — 

In  Memory  of 

John  Baxter 

Goldsmith 

who  died  Feby  14«^  1772 

aged  61  Years. 

Those  that  from  sin  are  free 

Here  cast  a  stone 

When  of  his  faults  you've  thought 

Think  of  your  own. 

His  sins  all  ceas'd 

When  he  resigned  his  breath 

And  if  you  know  them  shun  them 

Think  of  death.« 

George  Hampton,  M.  A.,  fifty-seven  years  minister  to  the 
Presbyterian  congregation  at  Banbury,  was  born  at  Wrexham  in 

(5)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  626. 

(6)  One  of  Baxter's  songs,  which  is  sung  and  appreciated  even  at  the  present  day,  is  en- 
titled "The  Jew's  Interlude,  or  Hob  in  the  Well,  as  it  was  acted  in  Red-Lion  Street, 
Banbury."  The  story  is  that  of  a  Jew  who  fell  into  "Jacob's  Well,"  a  deep  and  very 
large  well  which  existed  behind  the  inn  called  also  "  The  Jacob's  Well."  This  inn  (as  I 
find  since  p.  504,  where  it  is  alluded  to,  was  printed  off)  stood  where  Messrs.  Cobbs'  bank- 
ing-house now  stands  in  the  High  Street;  and  there  was  a  passage  through  the  premises 
for  the  public  to  go  through  to  fetch  water.      The  well,  which  was  probably  considered 


BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES.  525 

1616  or  1617,  and  there  received  his  grammar  learning.  He 
was  sent  to  Glasgow  in  1734;  and,  continuing  there  four  years, 
studied  ethics  under  Dr.  Hutcheson,  and  diligently  attended 
the  lectures  of  the  professors.  In  1739  he  succeeded  Mr.  Davies 
as  minister  to  the  Presbyterian  congregation  at  Banbury.  He 
was  a  diligent  student  and  a  learned  man  ;  and  it  is  said  he  had 
proposals  made  to  him  to  enter  the  Church,  but  that  he  could  not 

Holy  in  former  times,  yet  remains,  covered  over,  in  the  garden  behind  Messrs.  Cobbs'  bank- 
ing-house.    Baxter's  song  is  as  follows : — 

AiE,  Derry  doivii. 
"  The  Farce  here  related  is  certainly  true. 
The  principal  Actor  therein  was  a  Jew : 
Who  (would  you  believe  it  ?)  did  certainly  fly 
In  a  wonderful  manner  !  though  not  very  high, 

For  'twas  down,  down,  down  in  the  Well. 
"  'Twas  Winter,  I've  oftentimes  heard  it  reveal'd  ; 
The  cold  piercing  winds  had  the  water  congeal'd : 
A  transparent  circle  is  form'd  round  the  Well 
From  the  drippings  of  buckets  which  often  there  fell, 

Derry  down,  down,  down  round  the  Well. 
"  The  Jew  wanted  water,  nor  could  do  without ; 
To  the  Well  he  repaired  without  fear  or  doubt ; 
When  Oh  !  sad  disaster !  he  slipp'd  off  the  ice. 
And  do^vn  to  the  bottom  he  flew  in  a  trice, 

Derry  down,  down,  down  in  the  Well. 
"  To  find  a  way  up  again  puzzled  his  brain. 
He  hooted  and  hallo'd  a  long  while  in  vain  ; 
Till,  at  length  being  missed,  the  Hebrews  him  seek. 
And,  by  chance  going  near  the  Well,  just  heard  him  squeak, 

Derry  down,  down,  down  in  the  Well. 
"  '  Ah  !  wat  boo  do  down  dere  ?'  his  friend  Levi  cries, 
'  Me  fall  from  de  top,  from  de  ice,'  he  replies  : 
'  Oh !  holy  man  Moses  !  wat  miracle  dis, 
To  fall  down  so  high,  and  get  nutting  amiss, 

Derry  down,  down,  down  in  the  Well. 
"  '  Me'll  let  down  de  bucket,  hold  fast  by  de  chain. 
And  me  will  endeavour  to  draw  up  again  :' 
He  mounts  in  a  twink,  better  pleas'd,  I  am  told. 
Than  if  they  had  sent  him  a  purseful  of  gold, 

Derry  down,  down,  down  in  the  Well. 
"  His  hands  were  quite  numb'd  (being  long  in  the  cold). 
And  when  almost  drawn  up  he  no  longer  could  hold, 
But,  spite  of  endeavours,  he  loosen'd  the  chain. 
And  down  he  went  souse  to  the  bottom  again  ! 

Derry  down,  down,  down  in  the  Well. 
"  Friend  Levi  now  calls  to  him  : — '  Mind  wat  me  say, 
Put  both  arms  quite  round  de  chain,  hold  fast  dat  way, 
Don't  trust  to  hoor  hands,  dea'U  deceive  as  before. 
And  den  if  boo  fall  hoo  will  never  rise  more,' 

Derry  down,  down,  down  in  the  Well. 
"  'Tis  done  as  he  order'd  ;  now  see  him  arise. 
Very  cold,  dropping  wet,  many  tears  in  his  eyes 
For  fear  he  again  to  the  bottom  should  go, 
And  never  return  from  the  regions  below. 

Deny  down,  down,  down  in  the  Well. 
"  But  safely  he  landed,  unhurt  it  is  said. 
Unless  being  cold ;  so  they  put  him  to  bed  ; 
And  himself  the  next  morning  could  pleasantly  tell 
How  nimble  he  flew  from  the  top  of  the  Well, 

Derry  down,  down,  down  in  the  Well." 

Copy  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  John  Cheney. 


526  BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES. 

subscribe  to  the  Articles.  Mr.  Hampton  was  greatly  esteemed  by 
his  neighbours  in  Banbury ;  and  so  much  respected  by  the  epis- 
copal clergy,  that  three  of  them  attended  his  funeral,  and  were 
present  at  the  service  wliich  took  place  after  it  in  his  own  meet- 
ing-house. It  is  to  be  attributed  to  liis  amiable  and  conciliating 
conduct,  that  the  members  of  the  Established  Church  met  for 
divine  service  in  his  meeting-house,  for  several  years,  while  the 
Church  of  Banbury  was  being  rebuilt.  Mr.  Hampton  died  on  the 
22ud  September  1796,  aged  80  years  ;  and  liis  remains  were  in- 
terred in  Banbury  church-yard.^ 

William  White,  a  native  of  Shutford,  published,  in  1771, 
a  "  Guide  to  the  Management  of  Bees,"  in  8vo.  In  1766  he 
received  a  premium  from  the  Society  of  Arts. 

The  Rev.  Matthew  Lamb,  D.  D.,  was  of  Queen's  College, 
Oxford,  and  is  mentioned  as  Vicar  of  Banbury  in  1758.  He 
was  a  capital  burgess  of  the  Borough  in  1764,  and  in  1770  he 
was  elected  an  alderman.  He  resigned  the  vicarage  of  Banbury, 
and  had,  in  1773,  the  rectory  of  Chipping  Wardon,  where  he  died 
in  1797.3 

Thomas  Wagstaffe,  a  writer  among  the  Friends  or  Qua- 
kers, was  born  at  Banbury  in  1724,  and  for  some  tune  carried 
on  the  trade  of  a  watchmaker  in  London.  When  he  was  ad- 
vanced in  life,  he  retired  to  Chipping  Norton,  where  he  died  in 
1802.  He  was  the  author  of  the  Eighth  and  Nmth  Parts  of 
"  Piety  Promoted,  or  Brief  Memorials  of  the  Quakers."^ 

The  far-famed  "  Shepherd  of  Banbury,"  is  only  an  apo- 
cryphal personage.  In  1744  there  was  published, — "The  Shep- 
herd of  Banbury's  Rules  to  judge  of  the  Changes  of  the  Weather, 
grounded  on  Forty  Years'  Experience.  To  which  is  added,  A 
Rational  Account  of  the  Causes  of  such  Alterations,  the  Nature 
of  Wind,  Rain,  Snow,  &c.  on  the  Principles  of  the  Newtonian 
Philosophy.  By  John  Claridge.  London :  printed  for  W.  Bick- 
erton,  in  the  Temple  Exchange,  Fleet  Street,  MDCCXLTV.  Price 
Is."  The  work  attracted  a  large  share  of  public  attention,  and 
deserved  it.  A  second  edition  appeared  in  1748.  In  1770  there 
appeared, — '<x\n   Essay   on   the    Weather,   with  Remarks  on   the 

(7)  Protestant  Dissenters'  Magazine,  1796.  Mr.  Hampton  published  two  pamphlets  in 
defence  of  the  doctrine  of  the  Atonement ;  the  first  in  answer  to  Dr.  Taylor,  in  8vo. ;  the 
second  an  Answer  to  Dr.  Priestley,  in  8vo.,  1785. 

(8)  Records  of  the  Corporation  of  Banbury;  Register  of  Banbury;  Baker's  Northamp., 
p.  .529. 

(0)  J.  G.  Sevan's  "  Piety  Promoted. " 


THE  PREMIER,  LORD  NORTH.  527 

Shepherd  of  Banbury's  Rules,  &c.  By  John  Mills  Esq.  F.  R.  S." 
Mr.  Mills  observes : — "  Who  the  Shepherd  of  Banbury  was,  we 
know  not ;  nor  indeed  have  we  any  proof  that  the  rules  called 
his  were  penned  by  a  real  Shepherd  :  both  these  points  are  how- 
ever immaterial ;  their  truth  is  their  best  voucher."  It  is  stated 
in  Kippis's  "  Biographia  Britannica,"  that  the  real  author  was  Dr. 
John  Campbell,  a  Scotchman.  The  work  was  long  a  favourite 
vdth  the  common  people,  and  has  been  freqiiently  reprinted. 


THE  REIGN  OF  GEORGE  THE  THIRD. 

Frederick  Lord  North  was  thirteen  times  returned  to  Par- 
liament for  Banbury.  The  first  occasion  was  in  1754  (as  before 
stated,  p.  520),  when  his  age  was  twenty-two  years.  Being  ap- 
pointed a  commissioner  of  the  Treasury  in  1759,  a  new  writ  was 
ordered  on  the  29th  May,  and  his  Lordship  was  re-elected.  His 
third  return  for  Banbury  was  in  the  1st  George  III.  (1761.) 

In  1766  he  was  appointed  joint  paymaster-general  of  the  land 
forces,  and  re-chosen  for  Banbury  on  a  writ  ordered  November 
11th.  In  1767,  on  his  becoming  chancellor  and  under-treasurer 
of  the  Exchequer,  a  fresh  writ  was  moved  on  the  23rd  November, 
and  he  was  re-elected.  His  sixth  return  for  Banbury  was  at  the 
general  election  in  1768.  He  was  made  first  lord  of  the  Trea- 
sury in  February  1770:  a  writ  was  moved,  and  he  was  again 
elected.  His  lordship's  eighth  return  was  at  the  general  election 
in  1774.  He  was  appointed  lord- warden  of  the  Cinque  Ports, 
and  re-elected  on  a  writ  ordered  June  5th  1778.  His  tenth  re- 
turn was  at  the  general  election  in  1780.  He  became  secretary 
of  state  in  1783,  and  was  re-elected  on  a  writ  ordered  April  2nd. 
His  lordship's  twelfth  return  for  Banbury  was  at  the  general 
election  in  1784;  on  which  occasion  he  was  opposed  by  Mr. 
Lloyd,  though  without  any  chance  of  his  lordship's  ejection. 
Lord  North's  thirteenth  return  was  at  the  general  election  in  1790. 
His  lordship's  father,  who  had  been  created  Earl  of  Guilford, 
dying  on  the  4th  August  1790  (before  the  Parliament  met).  Lord 
North  succeeded  to  the  family  titles,  and  vacated  his  seat  for 
Banbury. 

Lord  North  was  Premier  minister  of  Great  Britain  during  the 
American  War,  until  1782.     He  was  made  a  knight  of  the  garter 


528     LORD  NORTH  :— GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

in  1772,  and  was  chosen  Chancellor  of  the  University  of  Oxford 
in  the  same  year.  He  was  for  some  years  totally  blind.  His 
lordship  held  the  title  of  Earl  of  Guilford  only  a  short  time,  as 
he  died  on  the  5th  August  1792.^° 

It  is  a  curious  circumstance,  with  reference  to  Lord  North's 
being  Prime-Minister  of  Great  Britain  during  the  American  War, 
that  his  lordship  held  Chipping  AVardon  (six  miles  from  Banbury) 
by  descent,  in  the  female  line,  from  the  Saltonstalls  of  Chipping 
Wardon;  and  that  the  direct  male  ancestry  of  General  Wash- 
ington resided  at  Sulgrave,  almost  immediately  contiguous  to 
Chipping  Wardon." 

In  1785,  a  great  fire  occurred  at  King's  Sutton  on  the  15th 
July,  and  in  three  hours  destroyed  about  forty  houses. '- 

A  gang  of  housebreakers  and  highwaymen,  known  as  the  "  CUL- 
WORTH  Gang,"  were  the  terror  of  Northamptonshire,  Oxford- 
shire, and  the  neighbouring  counties,  for  nearly  twenty  years,  at 
this  period.  The  gang  consisted  of  about  fifteen  individuals,  who 
chiefly  resided  at  Culworth  and  the  adjacent  villages.  The  fol- 
lowing were  the  most  prominent  persons  : — John  Smith,  a  labourer 
of  Culworth,  a  man  advanced  in  life,  but  of  great  bodily  strength 
and  daring  energy  of  character : — his  two  sons,  John  Smith,  and 
William  Smith  : — William  Abbott,  the  parish  clerk  of  Sulgrave, 
a  shoemaker  by  trade,  who  is  said  to  have  always  carried  pistols 
when  performing  his  sacred  office  in  the  church  : — William  Bowers 
of  Culworth : — and  Richard  Law,  WilUam  Pettipher,  William 
Terrill,  Thomas  Malsbury,  and  Richard  Tack,  all  of  the  same 
village.  The  six  last  are  all  designated  as  labourers,  except  Law, 
who  was  a  carpenter.  There  were  other  persons  connected  with 
the  gang,  and  who  occasionally  aided  them  in  their  dangerous 
pursuits.  One  of  these  was  named  Gilkes  :  he  was  the  son  of 
respectable  parents  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  it  is  supposed  that 
his  motive  for  joining  the  gang  was  the  excitement  and  romance 
which  attended  their  excursions. 

From  death,  and  other  causes,  the  numbers  of  the  gang  fell 

(10)  Beatson's  Register  of  Pari. ;  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  527. 

(11)  Robert  and  Lawrence  Washington  sold  the  manor  of  Sulgrave  in  1610.  This  Law- 
rence Washington's  son,  John  Washington,  emigiated  to  America  about  1657,  and  was  the 
great-grandfather  of  the  American  patriot.     (Baker's  Northamp.,  pp.  513,  514.) 

The  family  of  Dr.  Franklin  were  connected  with  Banbury.  The  Doctor's  uncle,  John 
Franklin,  was  in  trade  there  as  a  dyer:  and  to  him  the  Doctor's  father  was  apprenticed. 
Dr.  Franklin's  gi-andfather  retired  to  Banbury  in  his  old  age,  and  died  and  was  buried 
there.     In  1758,  the  Doctor  paid  a  visit  there  to  his  grandfather's  gi-ave.— ie^ers  of  Franklin. 

(12)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  696. 


THE  CULWORTH  GANG.  .'529 

off,  and  the  principal  actors  consisted  of  the  individuals  above 
named.  To  many,  their  pursuits  must  have  been  well  known, 
but  none  durst  come  forward  to  give  testimony  against  them. 
After  a  while,  however,  Law  and  Pettipher  went  into  a  public 
house  in  Towcester,  purposing  to  stay  the  night  there,  each 
bearing  with  him  a  bag  supposed  to  contain  fighting  cocks. 
When  they  retired  to  bed,  the  landlord  from  curiosity  opened 
one  of  the  bags,  and  found  therein  two  smock-frocks  and  a  couple 
of  masks  ;  and  having  heard  of  the  numerous  robberies  which 
had  been  committed  in  the  neighbouring  district  by  persons  who 
were  disguised  in  smock-frocks  and  masks,  he  sent  for  a  constable. 
It  was,  however,  agreed  to  take  no  further  steps  immediately.  In 
a  few  days  a  report  was  spread  that  the  house  of  a  person  named 
Mayho,  near  Blakesley,  had  been  broken  open  in  the  night,  and 
all  the  valuables  thereia  taken  away,  by  some  robbers  who  were 
dressed  in  smock-frocks  and  had  their  faces  blackened.  The  land- 
lord and  constable  then  gave  information,  and  Law  and  Pettipher 
were  committed  to  prison. 

For  some  time  the  prisoners  denied  having  been  guilty  of  the 
robbery  at  Mayho's  ;  but,  being  strongly  pressed,  and  tliinking 
that  the  connexion  of  the  gang  was  broken,  they  impeached  Bow- 
ers (one  of  their  number,  who  had  planned  the  robbery)  and  the 
rest  of  their  confederates,  who  were  immediately  apprehended, 
except  Tack,  who  had  absconded.  On  searching  their  houses, 
a  great  quantity  of  stolen  goods  was  found ;  and  many  also  were 
found  in  Sulgrave  Church,  where  they  had  been  secreted  by  Ab- 
bott. A  catalogue  of  the  articles  found  was  made  by  the  Rev. 
Michael  O'Clare,  wHch  catalogue  was  advertised ;  and  Law,  Pet- 
tipher, the  elder  Smith,  Bowers,  Abbott,  Terrill,  and  the  two 
yoimg  Smiths,  were  committed  to  take  their  trial  at  the  North- 
amptonshire summer  assizes  in  1787,  upon  various  charges.  With 
the  exception  of  Terrill  and  the  young  Smiths,  the  prisoners 
were  all  convicted  and  sentenced  to  death ;  and  the  sentence  was 
carried  into  execution  upon  the  elder  Smith,  Bowers,  Law,  and 
Pettipher,  on  the  3rd  August  1787.  Abbott  was  transported  for 
life.  After  condemnation  the  criminals  made  a  confession  of 
forty-seven  robberies  committed  by  them.  The  elder  Smith,  be- 
fore Ms  execution  at  Northampton,  wrote  a  letter  to  his  wife, 
expressing  his  feelings  on  his  approaching  death,  and  adding  m 
a  postscript: — "Desire  my  son  John  to  marry  Elizabeth  Beere, 
3x 


530  THE  CULWORTH  GANG. 

and  beg  of  him  to  be  good  to  her  and  the  child,  and  take  warn- 
ing by  me  that  they  may  live  in  comfort.  I  desire  you  will  take 
care  of  these  lines,  and  cause  them  to  be  read  to  my  children  every 
Sabbath-day  ;  and  I  hope  that  God  will  give  them  grace  to  take 
warning — it  is  the  prayer  of  a  dying  father." 

About  two  years  after  these  executions,  John  Smith  the  younger 
was  apprehended  for  a  highway  robbery  committed  near  Gaydon 
Inn,  and  executed  for  the  offence  at  Warwick.  EHzabeth  Beere 
(above  alluded  to)  was  a  young  woman  who  resided  at  Claydon : 
she  was  deeply  attached  to  young  John  Smith,  was  present  at 
his  execution,  had  the  body  delivered  to  her,  and  with  a  donkey 
and  a  pair  of  panniers  conveyed  it  to  Culworth  for  interment, 
leaving  Warwick  at  night-fall. 

One  most  painful  incident  is  connected  with  the  history  of  the 
Culworth  Gang.  At  the  Northampton  spring  assizes  in  1785, 
James  Tarry,  labourer,  of  Chipping  Wardon,  was  tried  for  a 
highway  robbery  committed  near  that  village,  and  was  convicted 
and  executed.  To  the  last  moment  Tarry  persisted  in  denying 
his  guilt.  After  the  conviction  of  Law  and  Pettipher  in  1787, 
those  criminals  solemnly  declared  that  the  elder  and  the  younger 
John  Smith  committed  the  robbery  for  which  Tarry  suffered. 
Old  Smith  was  closely  pressed  to  reveal  the  fact,  but  all  to  no 
purpose.  Afterwards,  tipon  the  trial  of  young  Smith  at  War- 
wick, the  same  Judge  who  had  tried  Tarry  presided.  There 
being  some  discrepancy  in  the  evidence  as  to  Smith's  identity, 
and  the  Judge  commenting  upon  that  evidence  in  a  way  which 
the  prisoner  considered  unfavourable  to  himself,  the  latter  inter- 
rupted his  Lordship  by  telling  him  to  beware,  for  that  he  had 
once  sentenced  an  innocent  man  to  execution.  Young  Smith 
was  executed;  but  the  Judge  ordered  an  inquiry  to  be  made 
respecting  the  observations  which  had  fallen  from  him.  Before 
his  execution.  Smith  made  a  full  confession  of  the  robbery  for 
wliieh  Tarry  had  suffered,  and  entirely  exculpated  Tarry  from  any 
participation  therein. ^^ 

Of  the  rest  of  the  gang.  Tack  absconded,  and  was  never  more 
heard  of.     INIalsbury  Uved  for  some  years  after  at  Culworth,  and 

(13)  The  following  entries  occur  in  the  Eegister  of  Chipping  Wardon  : — "  1785,  Burials." 
"July  25,  James  Tairy  labourer:"  [this  is  in  the  hand-writing  of  the  Parish  Clerk.] 
"  Executed  at  Northampton,  pauper :"  [this  is  in  the  hand-wi-iting  of  the  Curate,  Mr.  Aspiu- 
walL]  "  He  was  innocent  of  the  crime  for  which  he  suffered."  [This  last  is  in  the  hand- 
writing of  Dr.  Hobart,  the  subsequent  Rector  of  Chipping  Wardon,  now  Deau  of  Windsor.] 


MODERN  COINAGE,  BANBURY.  531 

died  tliere.  William  Smith  became  an  industrious  steady  labourer. 
The  individual  mentioned  as  having  joined  the  gang  from  some- 
what different  motives  to  the  rest,  thought  it  prudent,  on  the 
apprehension  of  his  comrades,  to  leave  the  country  ;  and  he  went 
to  the  Indies,  where  it  is  said  he  amassed  considerable  wealth. 
After  many  years  spent  there,  he  yearned  for  his  native  land,  and 
took  his  passage  homeward,  but  died  shortly  after  he  came 
on  shore.  All  inqmries  respecting  property  left  behind  him  proved 
unavailing." 

In  the  reign  of  George  the  Third,  an  ancient  practice  of  trades- 
men making  their  own  copper  money  was  revived,  in  a  style 
vastly  superior  to  that  of  any  former  copper  coinage  :  many  of 
this  series  form  a  beautiful  part  of  the  collections  of  the  curious. 
One  of  the  series  is  a  halfpenny,  of  the  size  of  the  English 
copper  coinage,  bearing  on  the  obverse  a  head,  inscribed  "  W" 

RUSHER     HATTER     BOOKSEL"'    &     STATIONER     BANBURY."      On 

the  reverse  are  the  Banbury  arms  (the  Sun  in  Glory),  with  the 
motto  "  DEUS  EST  NOBIS  SOL  ET  SCUTUM."  On  the  rim  is 
inscribed — "PAYABLE    AT    BANBURY    OXFORD    OR   READING."^* 

On  the  22nd  October  1789,  two  celebrated  pugilists,  named 
Johnson  and  Perrins,  fought  at  Banbury,  on  a  forty-foot  turf  stage 
which  was  erected  on  the  Leys.  The  fight  lasted  an  hour  and  a 
qviarter,  when  the  skill  and  activity  of  Johnson,  who  was  a  "  little 
man,"  prevailed  over  the  great  bulk  and  strength  of  Perrins. 
The  event  was  recorded  by  two  copper  pennies  (of  the  full  size) 
struck  for  the  purpose.  One  bears  on  the  obverse  the  head  of 
the  victor,  inscribed  "  THOMAS  JOHNSON  ;"  and  on  the  reverse, 
an  inscription,  "SCIENCE  AND  INTREPIDITY.  1789,"  and,  in 
the  centre,  "  BELLA !  HORRIDA  BELLA !"  The  other  penny  has, 
on  the  obverse,  the  head  of  the  vanquished,  inscribed  "  ISAAC 
PERRINS  ;"  and  on  the  reverse,  the  inscription  "  STRENGTH  AND 
MAGNANIMITY.     1789,"  and,  in  the  centre,  "  BELLA  !    HORRIDA 


BELLA 


1"16 


The  Rev.  Edward  Tatham  (subsequently  the  Rev.  Dr.  Tatham, 
rector  of  Liucohi  College,  Oxford)  was  curate  of  Banbury  in  1780, 
and  published,  in  that  year,  from  Banbury,  "Twelve  Discourses 
Introductory  to  the  study  of  Divinity."  8vo. 

(14)  Information  from  James  Beesley  Esq.,  who,  in  1837  and  1838,  furnished  a  more 
detailed  account  of  this  gang  to  the  "  Banbury  Mechanics'  Institute  MS.  Magazine." 

(15)  Specimen  in  my  own  collection.  (16)  Specimens  in  my  own  collection. 

3x3 


532  DEMOLITION  OF  THE  CHURCH. 


DEMOLITION  OF  THE  ANCIENT  CHURCH 
OF  BANBURY. 

By  an  Act  of  Parliament  obtained  in  the  30th  George  III., 
the  ancient  Church  of  Banbury  was  taken  down  in  1790.  In 
1686,  Dr.  Fell,  bishop  of  Oxford,  had  given  a  sum  of  money 
for  the  repair  of  the  Church;  which  Church,  it  is  said,  "being 
in  its  structure  the  largest  in  Oxfordshire,  and  much  oiit  of  repair, 
would  otherwise  have  fallen  down."''  An  inscription,  which  is 
preserved  in  the  clergyman's  retiring-room  in  the  present  Church, 
says  that  the  sum  given  by  Dr.  Fell  was  £400,  and  that  it  was 
expended  about  the  year  1700.  Notwithstanding  these  repairs, 
the  dilapidated  state  of  the  Church  was  the  cause  assigned  for 
its  destruction;  with  what  grounds  of  truth  will  be  seen  by  the 
evidences  which  follow  : — ■ 

At  a  vestry  held  in  1760,  "  to  consult  about  what  is  proper  to  be  done 
to  that  shatter 'd  west  side  of  the  Tower,"  it  was  agreed  that  the  loose 
stones  should  be  taken  out,  and  the  parts  repaired  and  cramped. 

At  a  vestry  in  1762,  "  to  consult  about  a  staircase  being  erected  from 
the  Belfree  to  the  Chime  floor,"  the  same  was  agreed  on. 

Such  were  the  whole  of  the  repairs  and  alterations  considered  necessary 
from  1760  to  1772.  In  the  latter  year,  a  vestry  was  called  "to  consult 
what  method  to  take  to  secure  the  pillars  next  adjoining  to  the  Tower  of 
the  said  Church;"  when  it  was  agreed  that  a  surveyor's  opinion  should 
be  taken.     The  entry  in  the  Parish  Book  is  however  crossed. 

On  the  13th  January  1773,  "It  being  apprehended  by  divers  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  parish  of  Banbury  in  the  county  of  Oxford  that  the 
present  state  of  the  Church  is  dangerous,"  a  vestry  was  held,  at  which 
it  was  ordered  that  the  churchwardens  should  immediately  employ  an 
able  and  experienced  Surveyor  to  "search  and  see  the  want  of  repara- 
tions in  the  said  Church." 

On  the  12th  April  1773,  at  a  vestry,  it  was  the  opinion  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants that  there  should  be  a  Surveyor  sent  for  from  London  to  survey  the 
Church  and  to  give  his  opinion  concerning  its  state. 

On  the  28th  July  1773,  a  vestry  was  holden  to  receive  "the  opinion 
of  the  Surveyors  Mr.  Samuel  Dowbiggin  &  Mr.  Richard  Buddie  of  Lon- 
don who  made  a  survey  of  the  said  Church  on  the  19th  &  20th  instant." 

"  A  Coppy  of  the  Surveyors  Opinion  is  as  follows. 
"  Gent' 

"We  have  carefully  survey'd  the  Parish  Church  belonging  to  Banbury 
and  find  the  Tower  to  be  verry  substantial  and  FIT  TO  STAND  FOR 
AGES.     The  Chancel  and  that  part  of  the  Church  north  and  south  of 

(17)  Willis's  Cathedrals. 


DEMOLITION  OF  THE  CHURCH.  533 

the  Tower  is  in  very  good  condition  and  will  stand  extremely  well  with 
a  small  repair.  All  that  part  of  the  Church  west  of  the  Tower  stands  in 
a  very  dangerous  condition  and  in  our  opinion  should  be  taken  down 
and  rebuilt,  the  old  one  not  being  fit  to  stand. 

"  Sm-vey'd  by  us  1773,  July  Saml.  Dowbiggin 

19th  and  20th."  Richard  Buddle." 

After  this,  nothing  appears  to  have  been  done  towards  the  destruction 
of  the  Church  for  eleven  years.  On  the  21th  August  1784,  at  a  vestry 
held  "for  the  purpose  of  taking  into  consideration  whether  a  Surveyor 
shall  be  had  from  Lincoln  to  look  into  the  state  of  the  repairs  of  the 
Church,"  eighteen  persons  put  down  their  names  to  a  resolution  that  they 
"  deemed  the  attendance  of  such  Surve3^or  unnecessary." 

On  the  7th  September  1784,  "at  a  vestry  held  for  taking  into  con- 
sideration Mr.  Dalton  the  Surveyor's  opinion  concerning  ye  repairing 
the  Church,"  it  was  decreed  that  "  The  north  west  pillar  of  the  Tower  be 
repaired  or  taken  down  &  rebuilt  under  the  inspection  of  Mr.  Dalton 
according  to  his  judgement,  and  that  Mr.  Dalton  be  requested  to  attend 
the  repairs  or  taking  down  &  rebuilding  the  same  and  that  the  Arches 
on  the  south  side  be  filled  up  according  to  his  directions." 

Oct.  18th,  1784.  "It  is"  [the  word  "unanimously"  is  here  crossed] 
"agreed  that  Mr.  Wrighton  do  immediately  take  down  the  north  west 
pillar  and  rebuild  up  the  same  according  to  the  directions  left  by  Mr. 
Dalton,  the  principal  props  according  to  Mr.  Dalton's  directions  having 
[been]  already  set  by  Mr.  Pain." 

Dec.  27th.  1784.  A  vestry  was  held  "  to  consult  about  sending  for  Mr. 
Dalton  to  inspect  the  work  done  by  Mr.  Paine  and  to  take  a  further  sur- 
vey of  the  Church."     Agreed  to. 

Jan.  14th,  1785.  "  At  a  vestry  held  for  taking  into  consideration  Mr. 
Dalton's  opinion  concerning  the  further  repairs  of  the  Church  it  was 
decreed  that  this  vestry  is  adjourned  tiU  3  o'clock  this  afternoon. 

"  Mr.  Dalton  having  surveyed  the  Church  and  given  it  as  his  opinion 
that  the  Church  IS  AS  SAFE  AS  ST.  PAULS  CHURCH  IN  LON- 
DON, we  whose  names  are  hereunder  written  do  agree  to  the  said  re- 
port." This  is  signed  by  Mr.  Dalton,  and  by  the  following  inhabitants  : — 
John  Clarke,  John  Pain  mayor,  William  Pratt  churchwarden,  George 
Green,  Thomas  Cobb,  Oliver  Aplin,  John  Newman,  William  White, 
Joseph  Hawtyn,  Robert  Taylor,  John  Roberts,  James  Golby,  William 
Wilson,  William  Taylor,  George  Ashness,  Samuel  Clarson,  John  Gunn, 
Samuel  HiU,  Andrew  Joad,  William  Welch,  Thomas  Sansbury,  George 
Claridge,  Robert  Osborn,  Joseph  Bull. 

November  20th  and  21st,  1789.  A  vestry  held  "  to  take  into  consider- 
ation the  state  of  the  Church,  and  Mr.  Dalton's  opinion  respecting  the 
same  ;"  at  which  "  the  report  of  Messrs.  Dalton  and  Burton  "  was  ordered 
to  be  inserted  in  the  book,  "and  that  the  consideration  of  the  same  be 
adjourned  until  this  day  week." 

"  Copy  of  Messrs.  Dalton  and  Burton's  opinion. 
"  We  the  underwritten,  having  surveyed  the  Church  of  the  town  of 
Banbury,  are  of  opinion  that  the  roof  over  the  south  aisle  is  in  a  very 


534  DEMOLITION  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

ruinous  &  unsafe  state,  for  the  security  of  which  it  will  be  requisite  to 
take  off  the  said  roof,  and  reinstate  it  with  additional  timbers,  inde- 
pendent of  the  wall  over  the  pillars  of  the  aisle.  Also  that  the  said  wall 
be  secured  by  braces  over  the  middle  aisle,  with  effectual  buttments  to 
prevent  the  building  falling  over  to  the  northward.  Further  that  as  the 
Tower  continues  to  press  downward  &  injure  the  adjacent  piers  or  pil- 
lars, it  will  be  essentially  requisite  that  the  upper  part  of  the  said  Tower 
should  be  taken  down,  to  the  level  of  the  other  roofs,  And  that  a  Tower 
(which  may  be  hereafter  adapted  to  a  new  Church)  should  be  erected 
at  the  west  end  of  the  present  building,  and  the  arch  next  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  Tower  be  shoared  up  &  the  defective  pillar  be  taken 
down  and  rebuilt.  The  expence  of  these  repairs  &  additional  buildings  on 
the  nearest  judgment  we  can  form,  in  the  short  time  allowed,  we  esti- 
mate at  £2100.  But  even  then,  we  cannot  assure  ourselves  that  the 
building  will  not  continue  to  want  a  material  annual  repair,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  general  decay  of  the  structure  arising  from  its  age  and 
imperfect  construction  originally. 

"  We  are  further  of  opinion,  that  should  it  be  determined,  in  preference 
of  the  repairing  of  the  present  Church,  to  erect  a  new  one ;  that  a  plain 
substantial  building  may  be  compleatly  formed  &  finished  for  a  sum  not 
exceeding  £4400  &  the  old  Materials,  which  may  be  capable  of  accom- 
modating the  Parishioners  in  a  commodious  way,  and  relieve  them  from 
those  apprehensions  which  they  will  continue  subjected  to,  so  long  as 
the  present  building  exists.     Signed 

James  Dalton 

"21  Nov.  1789."  James  Burton." 

At  a  vestry  held  on  the  28th  November  1789,  "  it  was  the  unanimous 
opinion  of  this  vestry  that  the  said  Church  should  be  re-surveyed,  and 
that  the  architect  for  rebuilding  the  Cathedral  Church  of  Hereford  be 
requested  to  make  such  re-survey  provided  the  Bishop  of  Hereford  on 
application  being  made  to  him  by  Mr.  Bignell  for  that  purpose  reports 
him  a  proper  person." 

March  10th,  1790.  A  vestry  held  to  take  into  consideration  Mr. 
Wyatt's  report ;  and  an  order  made  that  advertisements  be  issued  "  de- 
siring any  person  or  persons  to  deliver  in  a  plan  &  estimate  for  taking 
down  and  rebuilding  the  Church  &  Tower  of  Banbury  so  that  the  Church 
shall  be  capable  of  containing  three  thousand  persons,  &  the  work  com- 
pleted in  an  handsome  and  most  substantial  manner."  Mostly  signed 
by  the  same  persons  as  before. 

March  17th,  1790.  "It  was  ordered  that  the  order  concerning  ad- 
vertisements" be  rescinded;  and  "that  a  Bill  be  presented  to  the  Hon- 
ourable the  House  of  Commons  for  taking  down  and  rebuilding  the 
parish  Church  and  Tower  of  Banbury  in  pursuance  of  the  Petition 
already  presented — and  that  this  meeting  be  adjoui-ned  until  Saturday 
morning  next."  A  protest  against  this  is  signed  by  William  Shirley, 
Samuel  Grimbly,  and  William  Sanders. 

March  20th,  1790.  At  the  adjourned  vestry  it  was  ordered  "  That  Mr. 
Cockerill  be  appointed  to  make  a  survey  of  the  state  of  the  buildings  of 


DEMOLITION  OF  THE  CHURCH.  535 

tlie  Church,  Tower,  &  Chancel  of  the  parish  of  Banbury,  distinguishing 
the  state  of  each  building ;  and  that  he  report  the  same  at  a  vestry ; 
and  that  he  shall  confer  with  Mr.  Wyatt  in  case  he  shall  think  it  ne- 
cessary." 

The  vestry  which  was  held  to  receive  Mr.  Cockerill's  report  Avas  ad- 
journed to  April  12tli.  His  report  is  not  entered.  The  following  minute 
is  however  recorded  : — 

"  It  is  the  opinion  of  this  vestry  that  the  Church  and  Tower  be  taken 
down  &  rebuilt  and  that  Mr.  Bignell  do  apply  to  Parliament  for  the  pur- 
pose of  getting  leave  to  take  down  &  rebuild  the  same.  [Signed]  John 
Pain  mayor,  Richard  Bignell,  Joseph  Wells,  Robert  Taylor,  Richard 
Harberd,  Richard  Davis,  John  Lamb  vicar,  Joseph  Snow,  Richard 
Chapman,  John  Newman,  W.  Pargeter  M.  D.,  Oliver  Aplin,  William 
Walford,  John  Callow,  William  Pratt,  Samuel  Clarson.''^^ 

May  21th,  1790.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Corporation  held  by  legal  sum- 
mons, to  consider  whether  the  seal  of  the  Corporation  shall  be  affixed  to 
the  Act  for  taking  down  the  Church  &c.,  in  order  "  to  testify  the  consent 
of  the  Corporation  to  the  said  Act  passing  into  a  law;"  present — Alder- 
men, John  Pain  mayor.  Rev.  Matthew  Lamb  D.  D.,  Christopher  Aplin, 
Rev.  George  Lamb,  Rev.  Robert  Spillman  ; — Burgesses,  Samuel  Clarson 
junr.,  Charles  Wyatt,  Richard  Chapman,  and  John  Callow. 

"  Noes  ol    '^^^  ^^^^  ^^  directed  to  be  affixed."" 

It  thus  appears  that,  for  a  series  of  years,  surveyors  were  sent 
for,  from  London,  Lincoln,  and  other  places :  and  their  reports 
were,  that,  with  the  exception  of  some  minor  repairs  being  need- 
ful, Banbury  Church  was  "fit  to  stand  for  Ages,"  and  "as  safe 
as  St.  Paul's  Church  in  London."  At  length,  two  adventurous 
surveyors  (one  of  whom  was  somehow  induced  to  recant  his 
former  written  opinion)  gave  in  a  report  calculated  to  support 
the  desire  of  the  inhabitants  to  take  down  the  Church  and  to 
erect  a  new  building. 

There  appear  to  have  been,  however,  in  Banbury  or  its  neigh- 
bourhood, some  few  honourable  exceptions  from  the  list  of  those 
persons  who  joined  in  tliis  work  of  destruction.  In  the  Gentle- 
man's Magazine  for  July  1 790,  there  is  a  notice  of  a  letter  received 
from  a  correspondent  who  signs  himself  "  Veritas,"  with  an  edi- 
torial comment  that — "  He  dates  from  Banbury,  and  adds,  '  The 
fine  old  Church  here  is  now  shut  up,  and  devoted  to  destruction ! 
Pubhc  service  has  been  long  stopped,  and  all  the  pews,  &e.  taken 
out.  Should  we  live  to  see  the  foundation  of  a  new  one  laid, 
we  may  weep  like  the  old  Jews,  when  they  recollected  the  glory 

(18)  All  the  foregoing  are  from  the  Parish  Vesti'y  Book. 

(19)  From  the  records  of  the  Corporation,  in  the  possession  of  the  present  Town  Clerk. 


536  DEMOLITION  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

of  their  former  Temple ;  for  never  shall  we  see  another  building 
here  equal  to  this  beautiful  old  remain  of  antiquity.'  "  A  letter 
inserted  ia  a  subsequent  number  of  the  same  Magaziae,  and  dated 
August  24th,  1790  (bearing  the  signature  "J.  Henn"),  says: — 
"  The  fate  of  Banbury  Church  I  lament  with  Veritas.  I  have 
examined  the  interior  parts  thereof,  but  find  it  barren  of  antique 
vestigia ;  the  noble  shell  is  its  only  boast :  although,  perhaps,  now 
the  pews  are  taken  away,  something  might  be  discovered." 

A  subsequent  letter  subscribed  "  J.  Henn,"  and  dated  from 
"  Aldridge  "  (perhaps  the  name  and  residence  are  both  fictitious) 
on  the  10th  September,  says : — "  A  gentleman  farmer  writes  to 
me  thus  :  '  I  was  the  other  day  at  Banbury : — they  have  gutted 
their  noble  old  church  of  all  the  pews,  &c.,  &c.,  and  the  labourers 
are  now  pulling  up  the  pavement ; — a  most  sad  spectacle !  to 
see  skulls,  legs,  arms,  and  other  bones  of  the  defenceless  dead, 
lie  about  as  though  it  was  a  bone-house  or  a  dogkennel.'  " 

In  the  same  Magazine  the  following  account  is  given  of  the 
progress  of  this  work  of  destruction.  "  On  Sunday  morning, 
Dec.  12,  1790,  the  inhabitants  of  Banbury  were  alarmed  by  the 
sudden  falling  in  of  the  principal  aile  of  the  Church,  for  the 
taking  down  and  rebuilding  of  which  an  Act  had  passed  in  the 
last  Parliament.  Providentially  several  persons  had  just  left  the 
church ;  and,  had  it  not  fallen,  it  was  intended  that  the  workmen 
should  have  begun  taking  it  down  on  the  morrow,  in  which  case 
many  lives  would  probably  have  been  lost.  The  crash  was  heard 
near  two  miles  from  the  spot.  On  the  following  day,  the  Tower 
hkewise  fell.  The  arches  on  which  it  stood  first  gave  way,  which 
occasioned  the  chasm  from  the  bottom  to  the  top,  and  instantly 
the  whole  tower  became  cracked  and  shivered  in  a  variety  of 
directions,  admitting  the  fight  through  each,  but  yet  preserving  a 
perpendicular  fall,  even  in  its  pinnacles. "■" 

The  following  account  of  the  destruction  of  the  Church  has 
been  communicated  to  the  Author  by  various  eyewitnesses. 
When  the  work  of  demohtion  was  begun,  it  was  soon  found  that 
a  harder  task  than  usual  had  been  assigned  to  the  workmen. 
The  lead  was,  however,  stripped  from  the  roof,  and  the  rain  was 
let  in  upon  the  walls  which  stood  as  firmly  as  they  had  done  for 
centuries.  The  noble  tower  stood  nearly  in  the  centre  of  the 
building,  supported  on  its  old  Norman  pillars  and  arches.     Tim- 

(20)  Gentleman's  Magazine,  1790. 


DEMOLITION  OF  THE  CHURCH.  ^"^37 

ber  and  wedges  were  applied  beneath  it,  to  give  it  temporary  sup- 
port ;  and  then  the  pillars  were  partially  knocked  away ;  fire  was 
applied,  for  twenty-four  hours,  to  consume  the  timbers  which  had 
been  substituted,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  the  noble  pile 
fell  down,   burying  the  parts  beneath  it  amid  its  ruins  ! 

But,  even  after  tliis  execrable  work  had  been  so  far  accom- 
plished, much  of  the  building  remained  to  be  destroyed.  Those 
parts,  of  the  walls  wliich  had  fallen  lay  on  the  ground  in  masses, 
so  well  had  the  stones  been  cemented  and  cramped  together ; 
and  much  of  the  exterior  of  the  edifice  was  yet  standing.  To 
the  head  of  the  great  western  window  of  the  nave  a  team  of  ten 
horses  was  fastened  ;  and,  in  their  efforts  to  remove  it,  the  spring 
was  so  great  that  several  of  the  horses  were  lifted  from  the 
ground.  Other  parts  of  the  building  were  destroyed  by  gunpow- 
der :  and  at  length,  by  such  means  as  these,  and  to  the  lasting 
disgrace  of  the  Town,  the  venerable  Church  was  at  length  made 
a  heap  of  ruins.'^^ 

Banbury  Cross  was  destroyed  during  the  fever  of  Puritanism, 
because  it  was  considered  to  be  a  relic  of  Popery.  Banbury 
Castle  was  taken  down,  from  a  fear  that  such  a  stronghold  might 
be  again  used  to  the  injury  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town.-^  It 
remained  to  complete  the  destruction  of  all  the  noble  buildiBgs 
of  antiquity  in  Banbury  by  this  last  and  far  greatest  act  of  van- 
dalism. Let  us  again  quote  Bishop  Corbet,  writing  as  early  as 
the  year  1621.  After  lamenting  the  spoUations  which  had  been 
caused  by  fanaticism  in  Banbury,  he  says : — 

"  Away,  and  looke  not  back  ;  away,  whilst  yet 
The  Church  is  standing,  whilst  the  benefitt 
Of  seeing  it  remaines  ;  ere  long  you  shall 
Have  that  rac't  downe,  and  call'd  Apocryphal." 

The  materials  of  the  fabric  were  regarded  with  so  little  rever- 
ence that  monumental  stones  are  now  to  be  seen  in  the  pavements 
of  private  houses,  and  in  some  instances  have  been  used  for  stiles 
in  the  fields.  A  weaver's  loom  warranted  to  be  made  of  the  well- 
seasoned  oak  of  the  Old  Church  is  preferred  to  any  other.  The 
Act  provided,  in  only  an  evasive  manner,  for  the  preservation  of 
the  monuments :    they  were  to  be   restored  in  the   new  Church 

(21)  Information  from  the  late  Mr.  Robert  Gardner  of  Banbury,  T.  Tims  Esq.  of  Ban- 
bury, Mr.  John  Wilson  of  Bodicot,  and  otbeis. 

(22)  See  further  information,  relating  to  the  destruction  of  the  Castle,  than  has  been  pre- 
viously given  in  this  vol.,  in  the  Addenda. 

3  Y 


538  ORGAN  AND  BELLS. 

at  the  expense  of  persons  requesting  the  same  ;  and,  as  all  the 
monuments  which  possessed  any  interest  were  erected  to  the  me- 
mory of  persons  who  had  no  representatives  in  1790,  not  one 
of  them  was  re-erected. 

The  Organ  which  stood  in  the  old  Church  has  been  re- 
erected  in  the  present  one.  It  was  purchased  in  1765,  the  expense 
being  partly  defrayed  by  subscriptions  amounting  to  £390.  16*. 
The  Organ  has  seventeen  stops ;  nine  in  the  principal  organ,  three 
in  the  chou*  organ,  and  five  in  the  swell. 

The  Altar  piece  is  also  preserved  in  the  present  Church.  It  is 
in  the  style  of  Ludovico  Caracci,  and  represents  a  Dead  Christ, 
with  attendant  figures.     It  measures  five  feet  by  four  feet. 

In  the  Tower  there  was  a  peal  of  six  Bells,  which  was 
increased,  in  the  new  Church,  to  eight.  The  inscriptions  on  the 
eight  bells  were  as  follows  : — 

1st  Bell.  "  lliis  Bell  was  given  by  Frederick  Earl  of  Guilford  to  the 
Borough  of  Banbvu-y.     John  Brian,  Hertford,  fecit,  1820." 

2nd  Bell.  "John  Briant,  Hertford,  fecit,  1820.  John  Pain,  James 
Hill,  Thomas  Nasby,  C.  Wardens," 

3rd  Bell.  "  George  Lucas,  James  Lane,  Samuell  Gardner,  Church- 
wardens.    Matthew  Baglcy  made  mee  1753.     I.  H." 

4th  Bell.  "  Div.  et  feliciter  vivat  Carolvs  Secvndvs  Rex  sic  precor  et 
opto.     H.  Bagley.  1664."23 

5th  Bell.  "  John  Pain,  John  Fry,  John  Pearson,  Churchwardens. 
Matthew  Bagley  made  mee  1779." 

6th  Bell.     "  Henry  Bagley  made  me  1669." 

7th  Bell.  "  Bee  it  knowne  to  all  that  doe  mee  see  Bagley  of  Chacomb^* 
made  mee  1664." 

Stli  Bell.  "  I  ring  to  Sermon  with  a  Ivsty  boome  that  all  may  come  and 
non  may  stay  at  home.  Philip  Stjde  gent.  John  West  Thomas  Abraham 
Ivner  and  Thomas  Svtton  Churchwardens.  166?."  With  the  Royal 
Arms. 

The  new  Church  of  Banbury  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the 
former  one,  and  opened  for  divine  service  on  the  5th  September 
1797.     The  building  will  be  described  hereafter. 

(23)  This  Bell  was  lately  cracked,  and  has  been  sent  away  to  be  re-cast. 

(24)  Most  of  the  Bells  "in  this  neighbourhood  were  cast  at  Chacombe,  by  the  Bagley 
family;  the  principal  of  wliom,  Henry  Bagley,  who  died  in  1684,  lies  buried  in  Cha- 
combe church-yard.  The  foundery  stood  in  what  is  now  the  Malthouse  garden  :  no  vestige 
of  it  remains,  but  a  flourishing  beech  tree  marks  the  spot  where  it  stood.  Tradition  says 
that  the  descendant  of  Henry  Bagley  left  Chacombe  in  consequence  of  the  loss  occa- 
sioned by  tlie  bursting  of  his  mould  while  casting  a  bell.  He,  it  appears,  went  to  Wool- 
wich, and  tliere  lost  his  life  while  proving  a  piece  of  ordnance. 

When  Mr.  Briant  of  Hertford  re-cast  the  fifth  bell  at  Chacombe,  he  sought  out  the  stone 
which  marked  the  spot  of  Henry  Bagley  s  grave,  and  had  it  cleaned  and  re-cut,  with  this 
addition: — "To  the  Memory  of  an  ingenious  Bell  Founder  this  stone  was  repaired." — 
Information  from  Mr.  Matthew  Jessop  of  Banbury. 


HOLBECH  OF  FARNBOROUGH.  <'>39 


THE  REIGN  OF   GEORGE  THE  THIRD  CONTINUED. 

To  the  Parliament  of  1790,  Frederick  Lord  North  had  been 
returned  for  Banburj,  as  before  stated  (p.  527) ;  but  his  father, 
the  Earl  of  Guilford,  dying  in  that  year,  he  succeeded  to  the  title, 
and,  a  new  writ  being  ordered  on  the  12th  December,  his  lord- 
ship's eldest  son,  George  Augustus  Lord  North,  was  elected.  This 
nobleman  was  born  in  1757.  On  the  death  of  his  father  in  1792, 
he  succeeded  to  the  titles  and  estates ;  and,  his  seat  for  Banbury 
being  vacated,  his  youngest  brother,  the  Hon.  Frederick  North, 
was  elected.  Mr.  Frederick  North  being  appointed  a  comptroller 
of  the  Customs,  another  writ  was  issued  February  27th  1794, 
and  William  Holbech  Esq.  of  Farnborough  was  chosen  member 
for  Banbury.  At  this  election,  Mr.  Adam  (who  was,  either  then 
or  subsequently,  solicitor-general  to  the  Queen)  was  a  candidate 
on  the  Guilford  interest ;  but,  some  disturbance  being  apprehended, 
he  retired,  and  Mr.  Holbech  was  elected  without  further  opposi- 
tion. Mr.  Holbech  was  descended  from  the  ancient  family  of 
Holbech,  of  Holbech  in  Lincolnshire  :  his  great-uncle  was  that 
Ambi-ose  Holbech  Esq.  (of  Mollingtou)  who  has  been  mentioned 
in  p.  516;  and  his  great-grandfather  was  that  Ambrose  Holbech 
Esq.  (of  Mollington,  Farnborough,  and  Radston)  who  has  been 
mentioned  in  p.  491.^^  The  Parliament  to  which  Mr.  Holbech 
was  returned  was  dissolved  in  1796.     He  died  in  1812. 

To  the  Parliament  of  1796,  Dudley  North  Esq.,  a  distant  re- 
lative of  the  Earl  of  Guilford,  was  returned  for  Banbury.  This 
Parliament  sat  until  1802.  Mr.  North  was  also  returned  to  the 
next  Parliament,  which  sat  till  1806.'® 

In  the  autumn  of  1800,  serious  riots  took  place  at  Banbury 
on  account  of  the  high  price  of  bread. 

George  Augustus,  Earl  of  Guilford,  died  in  1802,  without  svir- 
viving  issue  male :  whereupon  the  barony  of  North  of  Kirtling 
fell  into  abeyance  between  his  three  daughters  and  coheiresses.-'' 
His  lordship  was  succeeded  in  his  other  titles  by  his  next  brother, 

(35)  Baiter's  Northarap.,p.  674.  (26)  Beatson's  Reg.  of  Parliament. 

(27)  Lady  Maria,  daughter  of  George  Augustus  third  Eurl  of  Guilford  by  his  first 
wife  Maria  daughter  of  George  third  Earl  of  Buckinghamshire,  was  horn  in  1793,  married 
(in  1818)  John  Crichton  second  (present)  Marquis  of  Bute,  and  died  in  1841.  Lady  Susan, 
second  daughter  of  the  said  third  Earl  of  Guilford,  by  his  second  wife  Susan  daughter  and 
coheiress  of  Thomas  Coutts  Esq.,  was  born  in  1797,  and  married  (Nov.  18th  1835)  Lieut.- 
Col.  John  Sidney  Doyle,  (second  son  of  Lieut-General  Sir  Charles  Doyle,  G.  C.  B.,)  who 

3  Y  3  t 


540  FESTIVITIES  AT  WROXTON. 

the  Hon.  Francis  North,  fourth  Earl  of  Guilford,  who  was  born 
in  1761,  and  enjoyed  the  titles  nearly  fifteen  years."^  Wliile  this 
noble  personage  continued  a  resident  at  Wroxton,  that  place  was 
the  scene  of  great  mirth  and  festivity.  George  Prince  of  Wales, 
afterwards  King  George  the  Fourth,  paid  visits  to  the  Earl  at 
Wroxton  in  1805,  in  1806,  and  again  in  1808.  The  obelisk  at 
Wroxton  bears  the  following  inscription  with  reference  to  the  first 
of  these  visits  : — 

GEORGIUS 

WALLI.E    PRINCEPS 

FREDERICI    NEPOS 

AVI    VIRTITIBUS    ORNATUS 

HOSPITIUM 

SIBI 

A    FRANCISCO    COMITE    DE    GUILFORD 

FRANCISCI    NEPOTE 

WROXTONIiE    RENOVATUM 

HUIC    OBELISCO 

INSCRIBI    VOLUIT 

MENSE    JUXII 

MDCCCV 

On  the  second  occasion  of  the  Prince's  visit  to  Wroxton,  in 
1806,  his  Royal  Highness  was  accompanied  by  the  Duke  of  Cla- 
rence, afterwards  King  WilUam  the  Fourth.  On  the  29th  August, 
the  Corporation  of  Banbury  unanimously  resolved  that  the  freedom 
of  the  Borough  of  Banbury  should  be  offered  to  the  two  Princes. 
On  the  third  occasion  of  a  visit  to  Wroxton  by  the  Prince  of 
Wales,  the  freedom  of  the  Borough  was  offered  to  the  Duke  of 
Sussex,  who  accompanied  the  Prince  on  that  visit.  The  Prince 
himself  received,  at  Wroxton,  an  address  from  the  Corporation 
of  Banbury,  and  delivered  an  answer  thereto ;  of  which  answer 
the  following  is  a  verbatim  et  literatim  copy,  made  from  the  origi- 
nal paper  handed  by  the  Prince  to  the  Corporation  and  preserved 
in  the  Town  Clerk's  office  : — 

"  To  the  Lord  High  Steward  The  Mayor,  Sf  Capitel  Burgesses  of  the 
Borough  of  Banbury 
"My  Lord 
"  It  is  with  heartfelt  pleasure  I  receive  this  Testimony  of  your  Regard 
&  Attachment,  &  which  is  rendered  more  valuable  to  me  by  being  coupled 
with  such  expressions  of  respect  for  my  Family  and  for  my  Person 

"I  lament  that  the  Indisposition  of  my  Brother  The  Duke  of  Sussex 

subsequently  (Aug.  24th  1838)  took  the  name  and  arms  of  North.  After  the  decease  of  the 
Marchioness  of  Bute  and  the  Lady  Georgina  North  (her  youngest  sister),  Lady  Susan,  in 
1841,  succeeded  to  the  Barony  of  North  of  Kirtling.  Her  ladyship  has  issue  by  her  hus- 
band Lieut.-Col.  North,  a  son,  the  Hon.  William  Henry  John  North,  born  Oct.  5th  1836: 
King  William  the  Fourth  and  Queen  Adelaide  were  his  sponsors.  Lady  Georgina,  third 
daughter  of  the  said  Earl  of  Guilford,  was  born  in  1798,  and  died  unmarried  on  the  25th 
Aug.  1835. 
(28)  Baker's  Northamp.,  p.  527. 


THE  NORTH  FAMILY.  541 

prevents  His  personally  expressing  His  thanks  for  your  Attention  towards 
Him,  &  I  avail  Myself  of  this  Occasion  to  Assnre  you  of  the  Pride  we 
both  feel  in  having  our  Names  enroll'd  amongst  the  Burgesses  of  your 
Ancient  &  Respectable  Borough 

"  It  is  an  additional  gratification  to  me  to  receive  this  Proof  of  your 
Attachment  within  the  Walls  of  this  venerable  Abbey;  than  the  Noble 
&  Generous  Proprietor  of  which,  none  can  more  highly  value  the  Honor 
&  Interests  of  our  Country  &  of  your  Borough  in  particular,  nor  more 
truly  possess  my  most  affectionate  Regards — " 

"  Wroxton  Abbey  September  22nd  1808." 

Francis,  fourth  Earl  of  Guilford,  died  at  Pisa  in  Italy  in  1817, 
and  was  buried  at  Wroxton.  He  was  a  patron  of  the  stage, 
and  was  the  author  of  "Kentish  Barons,"  a  play,  8vo.  1791. 
His  younger  brother,  the  Hon.  Frederick  North,  third  son  of 
Frederick  the  second  Earl  of  Guilford,  (and  who  had  represented 
Banbury  in  1792,  see  p.  539,)  succeeded  to  the  titles.  This 
nobleman  was  born  in  1766.  He  was  chancellor  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Corfu  in  the  Ionian  Isles,  where,  and  in  Ceylon,  of  which 
he  was  Governour,  much  of  his  life  was  spent.  He  was  also 
the  collector  of  a  noble  library,  which  was  almost  destroyed, 
during  his  absence  from  England,  by  a  calamitous  fire  which 
occurred  in  Conduit  Street,  London,  in  July  1809.-^  The  Earl 
died  in  1827,  and  was  buried  at  Wroxton.  On  his  decease, 
the  earldom  of  Guilford  went  to  another  grandson  of  Francis 
the  first  Earl  (father  of  the  Premier),  and  the  son  of  Brownlow 
North,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  who  was  unconnected  with 
Wroxton  or  with  this  neighbourhood. 

At  the  general  election  which  occurred  in  1806,  William  Praed 
jun.  Esq.,  a  gentleman  residing  in  Buckinghamshire,  was  returned 
for   Banbury,  in   opposition  to   Mr.    Dudley    North.^"      The  new 

(29)  An  account  of  this  calamitous  fire  occurs  in  the  Edinburgh  Annual  Register  for 
1809  (v.  2,  p.  183).  Mr.  Windham,  the  celebrated  statesman,  in  his  endeavours  to  save 
a  portion  of  the  noble  library  of  Mr.  Frederick  North,  received  an  injury  which  occa- 
sioned his  death  in  1810. 

(30)  The  Poll,  taken  on  the  1st  November  1806,  was  as  follows:— 

Fur  William  Praed  Esq.  For  Dudley  North  Esq. 

Alderman  Richard  Chapman,  Mayor  Alderman  Lord  Glenbervie* 

AldeiTQan  John  Pain  Alderman  Charles  W3'att 

Alderman  William  Juddsenr.  Alderman  William  Walford 

Alderman  the  Rev.  John  Lamb  D.  D.*  Alderman  John  West 

Alderman  James  Barnes  Capital  Burgess  Thomas  Coutts* 

Alderman  William  Judd  junr.  Capital  Burgess  Rev.  Edw.  Gibbs  Walford 

Alderman  Joseph  Pain 
Capital  Burgess  James  Lush 
Capital  Burgess  Robert  Brayne 
Capital  Burgess  Rev.  Richard  Pain* 

Alderman  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  H.  L.  Hobart*  [now  Dean  of  Windsor]  and  Capital 
Burgess  John  Callow  did  not  vote.  (Copy  of  the  Return  &c.,  in  the  possession  of  the 
Town  Clerk.)  Those  members  of  the  Corporation  whose  names  are  marked  thus  {*)  were 
not  resident  within  the  Borough. 


542  THE  HON.  F.  S.  N.  DOUGLAS, 

Parliament  being  dissolved  in  a  few  months,  the  contest  was  re- 
newed in  1807  ;  when,  Mr.  Praed  and  Mr.  North  having  an  equal 
number  of  votes,  a  double  return  was  made.  This  return  was, 
bj  the  House  of  Commons,  ordered'  to  be  amended,  and  a  fresh 
election  occurred  on  the  16th  February  1808,  when  Dudley  North 
Esq.,  the  unsuccessful  candidate  in  1806,  was  chosen.^^  This 
Parliament  sat  till  1812. 

On  Good  Friday  (12th  April)  1811,  a  great  Fire  occurred  at 
Warkworth,  which  destroyed  nearly  the  whole  of  the  village. 

At  the  general  election  in  1812,  Dudley  North  Esq.  retired 
from  the  representation  of  Banbury  to  make  way  for  the  intro- 
duction to  the  House  of  Commons  of  a  young  and  talented 
member  of  the  family  of  North,  the  Hon.  Frederick  Sylvester 
North  Douglas.  This  gentleman  was  son  of  the  Scottish  peer 
Lord  Glenbervie,^^  by  his  lady,  Katharine,  the  eldest  daughter  of 
Lord  North  the  Premier.  IMr.  Frederick  IDoviglas  was  bom  in 
1791  :  he  received  his  education  at  Clxrist  Church,  Oxford,  and 
obtained  University  honours.  He  afterwards  spent  some  time  in 
foreign  travel ;  and  published — "  An  Essay  on  certain  points  of 
resemblance  between  the  Ancient  and  Modern  Greeks,"  8vo., 
which  reached  a  third  edition  in  1813.  The  Parliament  was  dis- 
solved in  1818,  and  Mr.  Douglas  was  re-chosen;  but  he  died 
in  the  following  year.  The  esteem  in  which  Mr.  Douglas  was 
held  in  the  town,  and  (besides  many  other  deeds  of  benevolence) 
the  support  which  he  had  given  to  the  establishment  of  the  Na- 
tional Schools^^  at  Banbury,   induced  the  inhabitants  to  erect  a 

(31)  The  Poll  was  as  follows  :— 

For  Dudley  North  Esq.  For  William  Praed  Esq. 

Alderman  Charles  Wyatt,  Mayor  Alderman  Richard  Chapman 

Alderman  the  Rev.  John  Lamh  D.D.*  Alderman  William  Judd  senr. 

Alderman  William  Walford  Alderman  James  Barnes. 

Capital  Burgess  John  Callow 

Capital  Burgess  Thomas  Coutts* 

Alderman  the  Rev.  H.  L.  Hobart,*  Alderman  John  West,  and  Capital  Burgess  the  Rev. 
E.  G.  Walford,  tendered  their  votes  for  Mr.  North  :  Alderman  William  Judd  junr.. 
Capital  Burgess  James  Lush,  and  Capital  Burgess  Robert  Brayne,  tendered  their  votes 
for  Mr.  Praed :  but  all  these  votes  were  rejected  by  the  Mayor.  Alderman  Lord  Glenber- 
vie,*  Alderman  John  Pain,  and  Alderman  Joseph  iPain,  did  not  vote.  (Copy  of  the  Return, 
&c.,  in  the  Town  Clerk's  Office.)  Those  members  of  the  Corporation  whose  names  are 
marked  thus  (*)  were  not  resident  within  the  Borough. 

(32)  Lord  Glenhervie  was  the  well-known  law  reporter,  Sylvester  Douglas.  His  lord- 
ship was  Recorder  of  Banbury.  Pie  was  the  author  of  a  poetical  version  (with  an  intro- 
duction and  notes)  of  thetirst  canto  of  Forteguerri's  "Ricciardetto." 

(33)  The  National  Schools,  for  Boys  and  Girls,  were  established  in  1817 ;  when  it  was 
agreed  that  the  Trustees  of  the  Blue-Coat  charity  should  pay  ^£'30  per  annum  towards  this 
institution,  in  consideration  whereof  the  Blue-Coat  children  were  to  receive  instruction 
in  the  National  Schools.  In  1824  there  were  eighteen  boys  and  sixteen  girls  clothed  under 
the  Blue-Coat  charity.  In  1838  the  whole  number  of  children  educated  in  the  National 
Schools  was  340.  The  building  was  erected  by  public  subscription,  by  which  means  also 
the  schools  are  now  supported. 

Some  successful  efforts  were  made  a  few  years  ago  to  render  these  schools  more  effectual 


M.  P.  FOR  BANBURY.  543 

marble  tablet  to  his  memory,  iu  the  boys'  school-room,  bearing  the 
following  inscription  : — 

"  To  the  Memory 

Of  the  Honorable 

Frederick  Sylvester  North  Douglas 

Member  of  Parliament  for  the  Borough  of  Banbury 

And  President  of  the 

Banbury  National  School  Society, 

Of  wbose  philanthrophic  and  zealous  exertions 

In  promoting  the  first  Establishment 

And  subsequent  Prosperity 

Of  this  Institution 

This  Tablet  is  designed  as  a  Record. 

1820  " 

On  the  death  of  Mr.  Douglas,  the  Hon.  Heneage  Legge  was 
chosen  for  Banbury.  This  gentleman  was  the  third  son  of  George 
third  Earl  of  Dartmouth,^^  and  was  born  in  1788. 

The  Rev.  John  Lamb,  who  was  Vicar  of  Banbury  in  1783, 
was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Matthew  Lamb  before  mentioned 
(p.  526).  He  received  his  education  at  Queen's  College,  Oxford. 
In  1794  he  was  chosen  a  capital  burgess  of  the  Borough  of  Ban- 
bury ;  and  in  1798  he  was  elected  an  alderman.  In  that  year 
he  is  styled  D.  D.  He  was  also  rector  of  Charwelton.  In  1815 
he  was  instituted  to  the  rectory  of  Chipping  Wardon,  and  resigned 
the  vicarage  of  Banbury,  to  which  the  Rev.  Thomas  William 
Lancaster,  M.  A.,  the  present  Vicar,  was  inducted  ia  the  same 
year.^^     Dr.  John  Lamb  died  in  1831. 

William  Lisle  Bowles,  the  poet,  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Wil- 

as  Sunday  Schools.  There  was  an  endowment  of  i200  by  the  Eev.  Sir  John  Knightley 
bart.,  of  Fawsley  Park,  given  in  1802;  the  interest  to  be  applied  towards  supporting  a 
Sunday  School  at  Banbury,  under  the  care  of  the  minister,  churchwardens,  and  overseers. 
The  money  was  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  three  per  cent  Consols;  and  the  dividends  are 
now  applied  towards  the  support  of  the  National  Schools,  of  which  establishment  a  Sunday 
School  foi-ms  a  part.  Under  the  recent  more  effective  system  of  Sunday  education,  the 
number  of  children  attending  this  department  of  the  schools  (in  1838)  was  .322. 

(34)  William  the  second  Earl  of  Dartmouth  was  the  son  of  George  Viscount  Lewisham 
(son  and  heir  of  William  the  first  Earl  of  Dartmouth),  whose  lady,  after  his  decease,  became 
the  second  wife  of  Francis  tlie  first  Earl  of  Guilford  and  had  issue  Brownlow  North,  D.  D., 
Bishop  of  Winchester,  half-brnther  to  the  Ministei  Lord  North. 

(35)  Mr.  Lancaster  has  published: — 1.  The  Harmony  of  the  Law  and  Gospel  with 
regard  to  the  doctrine  of  a  Future  State.  Oxford,  8vo  ,  1825:— 2.  The  Alliance  of  Educa- 
tion and  Civil  Government:  With  Strictures  on  the  University  of  London.  London,  4to., 
1828  : — 3.  A  Treatise  on  Confirmation,  with  Pastoral  Discourses  applicable  to  confirmed 
Persons.  London,  12mo.,  1830:— 4.  The  Popular  Evidence  of  Christianity,  Eight  Dis- 
courses preached  at  the  Bampton  Lecture.  Oxford,  8vo. ,  1831 :— 5.  The  Nicomachean  Ethics 
of  Aristotle,  Edited  and  Illustrated.  Oxford,  8vo.,  1834:— 6.  Christian  and  Civil  Liberty, 
an  Assize  Sei-mon  at  Oxford,  8vo.,  1835  : — 7.  Strictures  on  a  Late  Publication  of  Dr.  Hamp- 
den. London,  8vo.,  1838  (2ud  edition,  enlarged):— 8.  An  Earnest  and  Resolute  Protestation 
against  a  certain  inductive  method  of  Theologizing,  which  has  been  recently  propounded  by 
the  King's  Professor  of  Divinity  in  Oxford,  &c.     London,  8vo.,  1839. 


544  BANBURY  PEDESTRIAN. 

liam  Thomas  Bowles  vicar  of  King's  Sutton,  and  was  born  at 
King's  Sutton  in  1762.2« 

In  1816,  Thomas  Collej,  a  baker  by  trade,  residing  in  Bridge 
Street,  Banbury,  undertook  for  a  wager  to  walk  1020  miles  in 
twenty  successive  days.  The  task  was  commenced  on  the  20th 
March,  in  a  field  adjoining  the  Bloxham  road,  where  INIr.  Brown- 
sill's  residence  now  stands  ;  and  was  completed  before  seven  o'clock 
in  the  evening  of  the  twentieth  day.^'  CoUey  died  not  long  after 
from  the  effects  of  his  exertions. 


THE  REIGN  OF  GEORGE  THE  FOURTH. 

At  the  general  election  in  1820,  the  Hon.  Heneage  Legge  was 
re-elected ;  on  which  occasion  a  riot  occurred  at  the  hustings,  and 
the  Corporation  were  for  some  time  unable  to  make  their  exit 
from  the  Town  Hall,  on  account  of  the  violence  of  the  popu- 
lace. In  1826,  Mr.  Legge  was  appointed  a  commissioner  of 
Customs,  and  vacated  his  seat :  whereupon  his  younger  brother, 
the  Hon.  Arthur  Charles  Legge,  was  elected.  The  Parhament 
was  dissolved  in  the  same  year,  and  Mr.  Arthur  Legge  was  again 
chosen.^^ 

A  visitation  of  the  Small  Pox  occurred  in  1827,  from  June  to 
September.  Seventy-three  persons  died  of  the  disease,  of  wliich 
number  of  deaths  forty-four  were  in  the  month  of  July.^^ 


THE  REIGN  OF  WILLIAM  THE  FOURTH. 

To   the  Parliament   of    1830,   Henry   Villiers   Stuart   Esq.,   a 
gentleman  residing  in  the  county  of  Waterford,  in  Ireland,  was 

(36)  Eater's  Northamp.,  pp.  699,  702. 

(37)  This  Pedestrian  was  thirty-nine  years  of  age,  5ft.  SJin.  in  height,  and  weighed 
lOst.  51bs.     Tlie  distances  daily  performed  by  him  were  as  follows : — 

1st  day 53  miles        11th  day 52  miles 


2nd   . 

47 

12th 

....  52 

3rd    . 

41 

13th 

....  47i 

4th     . 

52 

14th 

....  53A 

5th    . 

52 

15th 

....  53 

6th 

51 

53 

16th 

..   53 

7th     . 

17th 

....   51 

8th    . 

53 

18th 

....   51 

9th    . 

54f 

19th 

....   53* 

10th    . 

66 

20th 

....   41i 

Total  1021  miles. 

(38)  In 

1827 

Mr. 

Arthur 

Lee;e« 

manied  Lady  Anne  Holroyd 

daughter 

of  the  Earl  and 

Countess  of  Sheffiek 

,  and  grandd 

lughter 

of  the  Minister  Lord  North. 

She  died  in  1829. 

(39)  Register 

of  Banbury. 

THE  REFORM  BILL.  545 

elected  by  the  Corporation  ;  this  being  the  last  time  on  which 
that  body  exercised  freely  the  elective  privilege.  Mr.  Stuart  was 
connected  by  family  ties  with  John  Crichton  second  Marquis  of 
Bute  ;■"•  who,  having  married  Maria,  eldest  daughter  of  George 
Augustus  third  Earl  of  Guilford,  became,  after  the  death  of 
Frederick  the  fifth  Earl  in  1827,  the  representative  of  the  inter- 
est of  the  North  family,  and  was  chosen  high  steward  of  Ban- 
bury. This  Parliament  was  dissolved  in  1831,  in  consequence 
of  the  Reform  Bill  having  been  defeated  in  committee  ;  and  the 
new  election  came  on  at  Banbury,  on  the  2nd  May  in  that  year, 
under  those  circumstances  of  intense  excitement  which  pre- 
vailed throughout  the  kingdom.  Col.  the  Hon.  Henry  Hely  Hut- 
chinson, of  Weston  by  Wedon  in  Northamptonshire,  (who  had 
married  Harriet  the  widow  of  the  Hon.  F.  S.  N.  Douglas,)  was 
the  candidate  in  Lord  Bute's  interest,  and  was  supported  by  the 
good  wishes  of  a  considerable  majority  of  the  eighteen  electors, 
the  old  Aldermen  and  Capital  Burgesses.  A  minority  of'  the 
Corporation  agreed,  however,  to  put  forward  John  Easthope  Esq.,"^ 
a  gentleman  connected  with  the  Stock  Exchange,  as  a  candidate 
who  gave  his  decided  support  to  the  Reform  Bill,  and  had  the 
good  wishes  of  the  great  body  of  the  inhabitants.  The  greater 
part  of  Col.  Hutchinson's  supporters  being  induced  to  keep  away 
from  the  poll  through  fear  of  violence,  the  result  proved  to  be 
as  follows : — 

For  Mr.  Easthope.  For  Col.  Hutchinson. 

Thomas  Brayne,  Mayor,  Rev.  E.  G.  Walford,  Alderman,* 

William  Judd,  Alderman,  Lieut.  Col.  Miller,  Capital  Burgess.**- 

Robert  Brayne,  Alderman, 
John  Salmon,  Alderman,* 
Richard  Griffin,  Alderman, 
Richard  Edmunds,  Capital  Bur- 
gess. 

In  May  1832,  the  inhabitants  of  Banbury  petitioned  the  House 
of  Commons  to  exercise  its  control  over  the  supplies  imtil  the 
Reform  Bill  should  be  passed.  The  Reform  Bill  and  its  accom- 
panying Boundary  Bill  passed  the  legislature  in  1832 ;  and  the 
right  of  voting  for  the  member  for  Banbury  was  extended  from 
the  twelve  Aldermen  and  six  Capital  Burgesses  of  the  Borough 

(40)  Mr.  Stuart  is  first  cousin  to  the  Marquis  of  Bute,  and  is  the  son  of  Lord  Henry- 
Stuart  by  Lady  Gertrude  Villiers,  daughter  and  sole  heiress  of  George  last  Earl  of  Gran- 
dison.    He  is  now  Baron  Stuart  de  Decies. 

(41)  Now  Sir  John  Easthope  Bart.  (42)  Those  marked  thus  (*)  were  non-resident. 

3  z 


54G  THE  REFORM  BILL.— ELECTIONS. 

to  all  the  teu-poimd  householders  of  "the  Parish,"  the  hamlets 
of  Neithorp,  Calthorp,  Wickham,  Hardwick,  Easington,  Grims- 
hury,  and  Nethercot,  being  of  course  included.  The  number  of 
Electors  registered  in  the  first  year  was  329.  A  grand  Reform 
Celebration  took  place  at  Banbury  on  the  13th  July.  This  was 
chiefly  a  procession  of  the  Trades  &c.  (which  extended  nearly 
half  a  mile  in  length.)  Public  sports  and  an  illumination  closed 
the  day. 

The  Parliament  which  had  passed  the  Reform  Bill  was  dis- 
solved in  December  following ;  and  Henry  John  Pye  Esq.  (a 
gentleman  residing  at  Chacombe  Priory),  and  Henry  William 
Tancred  Esq.  King's  counsel,  (a  younger  son  of  the  late  Sir 
Thomas  Tancred  bart.  and  brother  to  the  present  baronet  of  that 
name,)  were  both  candidates  for  Banbury  ;  but  the  former  retired 
before  the  day  of  election,  and  Mr.  Tancred  was  returned  with- 
out further  opposition.  At  the  next  election,  which  occurred  on 
Sir  Robert  Peel's  dissolving  the  Parliament  in  1835,  Mr.  Tancred 
was  opposed  by  Edward  Lloyd  Williams  Esq.  (a  provincial  bar- 
rister going  the  midland  circuit.)  The  votes  were — for  Tancred 
203,  for  Williams  43. 

Two  of  the  commissioners  appointed  by  the  Crown  to  inquire 
into  the  state  of  the  old  municipal  Corporations  sat  at  Banbury 
in  1833,  but  their  Report  was  not  published  until  1835.  The 
following  is  an  abstract : — 

1.  Local  Limits. 

2.  The  Charters  are  enumerated. 

3.  The  title  and  numbers  of  the  Body  Corporate. 

4.  Enumeration  of  the  Officers. 

5.  The  High  Steward.  He  had  no  salary,  and  no  acknowleged  pri- 
vileges or  emoluments. 

6.  The  Mayor.  His  election.  He  was  chief  magistrate,  and  pre- 
sided at  the  Sessions  and  in  the  Court  of  Record.  He  had  no  salary, 
hut  was  allowed  £21  from  the  coi'porate  funds  towards  the  expenses  of 
the  Mayoralty. 

7.  The  Aldermen.     They  had  no  emoluments. 

8.  The  Justices. 

9.  The  Recorder.  He  had  no  salary.  The  duties  of  the  office  ap- 
peared to  be  performed  by  deputy. 

10.  The  Deputy  Recorder.  He  was,  in  pi-actice,  the  only  efficient 
judicial  officer.  He  had  no  salary  from  the  corporate  funds ;  but  a  fee 
of  ten  guineas  had  been  usually  paid  to  him  by  the  town  clerk  for  holding 
the  sessions,  which  sum  was  charged,  together  with  the  amount  of  the 
corporation  dinners,  to  the  high  steward  and  patron  of  the  borough. 


MUNICIPAL  AFFAIRS.  547 

11.  Capital  Burgesses  and  Assistants.     They  had  no  salaries. 

12.  The  Chamberlain.     He  had  no  salary  or  emoluments. 

13.  Town  Clerk  and  Coroner.  The  same  person  appeared  to  have 
usually  held  both  offices.  The  Town  Clerk  had  a  salary  of  £25,  and  the 
usual  professional  charges  for  business  done  by  him  for  the  Corporation  ; 
a  fee  of  £l.  Is.  upon  the  admission  of  each  new  member  of  the  Corpo- 
ration ;  fees  at  the  general  and  petty  sessions,  amounting  to  about  £40 
a  year ;  and  fees  in  the  court  of  record.  He  was  also  allowed  to  receive 
the  tolls  in  the  Horse  market,  amounting  to  about  £3  a  year.  The  Co- 
roner had  a  fee  of  £l  on  each  inquest,  and  2s.  6d.  for  a  certificate  of 
burial. 

14.  The  Serjeants  at  Mace.  They  had  each  £5.  45.  a  year,  and  occa- 
sional small  fees. 

15.  The  Crier.     He  had  £2  per  annum. 

16.  All  the  officers  removable  for  misbehaviour,  by  the  will  of  the  com- 
mon council  approved  by  the  mayor. 

17.  Common  Council  (namely,  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Capital  Bur- 
gesses) the  ruling  body. 

18.  Residence  of  officers  not  required. 

19.  Fines  on  refusal  to  take  office.  In  modern  times  these  had  seldom 
been  enforced. 

20.  There  were  no  Freemen  excepting  the  members  of  the  Corporation, 
and  no  exclusive  privileges  of  Trade  within  the  borough.  As  Freemen, 
the  corporators  were  exempted  from  serving  on  juries  out  of  the  Bo- 
rough ;  but  they  had  no  other  privilege.  On  taking  up  his  freedom  each 
person  paid  £5.  14s.  to  the  corporate  fund,  and  £l.  Is.  to  the  Town  Clerk. 

21.  The  Courts.  Capital  offences  were  then  transmitted  for  trial  to 
the  County  assizes  ;  but  a  coiu-t  of  criminal  judicature,  according  to  the 
Charter,  was  holden  twice  a  year.  In  the  course  of  the  last  seven  years 
there  had  been  eighty-eight  trials,  of  which  sixty-nine  were  for  felonies, 
and  nineteen  for  misdemeanours. 

22.  Costs  of  prosecutions  and  maintenance  of  prisoners,  and  the  other 
expenses  incidental  to  a  criminal  jurisdiction,  were  defrayed  out  of  the 
poor  rates.  For  the  two  last  years  the  amount  thus  paid  was  £355.  9s.  l^d. 
and  £286.  15s.  5d. 

23.  Com-t  of  Record  for  all  kinds  of  actions,  provided  the  amount  to 
be  recovered  did  not  exceed  £40.  The  process  was  by  summons  and 
capias,  and  the  proceedings  were  generally  as  at  common  law.  This  court 
had  fallen  into  disuse,  but  was  revived  about  six  mouths  before,  by  the 
advice  and  assistance  of  the  deputy  recorder,  Mr.  Serjeant  Talfourd. 
About  thirty  plaints  had  been  entered  since  its  revival. 

24.  Court  Leet.  Held  every  year  by  the  Corporation,  as  lords  of  the 
manor. 

25.  Courts  of  Pie  Powder.     These  had  not  been  held  within  memory. 

26.  Juries. 

27.  Notice  of  a  complaint  made  to  the  commissioners,  that  the  Mayor 
had  altered  the  grand  jury  panel  for  party  purposes.      This  complaint 

.3  z3 


548  MUNICIPAL  AFFAIRS. 

arose  out  of  tlie  election  contest  in  1832.     It  appeared  that  the  Mayor  had 
not  so  acted. 

28.  PoHce.  There  was  one  street-keeper  by  day  ;  and  four  watchmen 
in  summer  and  six  in  winter  by  night.  These  were  under  the  direction 
of  the  Paving  Commissioners.  One  high  constable  and  four  petty  con- 
stables were  appointed  by  the  Corporation.  There  were  thirty-eight  pub- 
lic houses  and  five  beer  shops. 

29.  Gaol.  This  was  an  insufficient  building,  affording  no  facilities  for 
classification.     A  treadmill  had  lately  been  erected. 

30.  The  Property  held  by  the  Corporation  in  their  own  right  consisted 
of  four  tenements  within  the  borough,  let  for  £24.  175.  a  year.  The  chief- 
rents  and  rents  for  encroachment  on  the  waste,  about  £28  a  year.  Stall- 
age and  Piccage  £32  a  year.  Tolls  of  the  Cattle  market  £36,  and  tolls 
of  the  Sheep  market  £12,  a  year;  from  which  was  to  be  deducted 
£18.  05.  4:d.  annually  paid  in  fee  farm  rent  to  the  assignees  of  the  Crown  ; 
leaving  the  net  produce  of  the  tolls  £29.  19s.  8d.  Sundry  Fines  and 
payments  about  £lO.  14s.  Od.  a  year.  The  whole  net  income  was  less 
than  £125  per  annum. 

31.  The  Expenditure.  Allowance  to  the  Mayor  £21.  Town  Clerk's 
salary  £25.  Town  Clerk's  professional  bill  £7.  8s.  Id.  Court  Leet  ex- 
penses £12. 15s.  6d.  Wages  of  the  Serjeants  at  mace  and  cryer  £12.  8s.  Od. 
Expenses  of  Corporation  meetings  £lO.  2s.  2d.  Subscription  to  National 
School  £4.  Cakes  for  the  Judges  at  the  Oxford  Assizes  £2.  3s.  6d.  Re- 
pairs, stationery,  and  small  expenses,  about  £16. 

32.  The  Corporation  had  no  Church  Patronage. 

33.  Local  Acts.  Church-Building  Act  (30th  George  III.  c.  72),  and 
Paving-and-Lighting  Act  (6th  George  IV.  c.  130). 

34.  Working  of  the  Corporate  institution.    Reported  to  be  unfavourable. 

35.  The  Town  was  in  a  flourishing  and  improving  state. 

By  the  Municipal  Act  which  followed  in  1835,  the  members  of 
the  old  Corporation  were  removed  from  office,  and,  on  the  26th 
December,  twelve  new  Councillors  were  chosen  by  the  inhabitant 
householders,  all  of  them  being  opponents  of  the  former  system. 
On  the  3 1st,  four  of  these  were  elected  Aldermen.  On  the  1st  Jan- 
uary 1836,  Thomas  Tims  Esq.,  one  of  the  new  Aldermen,  was  by 
the  Council  elected  Mayor  of  the  Borough ;  and,  on  the  8th,  four 
additional  Councillors  were  elected  by  the  householders,  to  make  up 
the  complement  of  sixteen  members  of  the  Council.  The  new 
Corporation  adopted  the  former  Seal  of  the  Borough.'^  The 
power,  which  had  so  long  existed  under  the  Charter,   of   trying, 

(13)  The  gowns  which  had  been  hitherto  worn  by  the  Corporation,  and  the  usual  atten- 
dance at  the  Church  on  Sunday  mornings,  were  dispensed  with.  The  ancient  maces,  which 
were  of  silver  gilt,  had  been  previously  disposed  of  by  the  old  Corporation  and  the  pro- 
ceeds applied  towards  the  liquidation  of  their  debt. 

The  High  Steward  was  not  removed  from  office  by  the  Municipal  Act,  but  the  new 
Council,  soon  after,  abolished  the  office. 


QUARTER  SESSIONS  :-COURT  OF  RECORD. 


549 


THE  TOWN  SEAL 


within  the  Borough,  all  murders,  fe- 
lonies, and  misdemeanours,  was  for  a 
time  destroyed  by  the  new  Municipal 
Act :  but,  under  another  provision  of 
that  Act,  the  Crown  soon  after,  on 
the  petition  of  the  Council,  granted  a 
Court  of  Quarter  Sessions.  The 
Grant  is  under  the  Great  Seal;  and 
assigns  the  Recorder  for  the  time 
being,  as  Justice  of  the  Crown,  to  in- 
quire upon  the  oath  of  good  and  law- 
ful men  of  the  Borough  of  all  and  all  manner  of  felonies  and  mis- 
demeanours and  of  all  and  singular  other  crimes  and  offences  of 
which  Justices  of  the  peace  may  lawfully  inquire.  And  there 
is  a  proviso  that  if  a  case  of  difficulty  shall  arise  before  the 
Recorder,  then  judgment  shall  in  no  wise  be  given  thereon  be- 
fore him  "  unless  in  the  presence  of  one  of  our  Justices  of  the 
one  or  other  Bench  or  of  one  of  our  Justices  appointed  to  hold 
the  Assizes  in  the  County  of  Oxford."^' 

The  Court  of  Record  under  the  Charter  had  jurisdiction  in  all 
actions,  real,  personal,  or  mixed,  where  the  debt  or  damages 
sought  to  be  recovered  did  not  exceed  £40.  Its  utUity  was  for 
a  time  completely  destroyed  by  the  framing  of  a  clause  ia  the 
Municipal  Act,  which  rendered  it  impossible  to  say  who  should 
be  the  Judge  or  Judges  of  the  Court.  In  the  next  Session  of 
Parliament  an  Act  was  passed,  constituting  the  Recorder,  or  a 
Barrister  of  five  years  standing  appointed  by  him,  the  sole  Judge 
of  the  Court.  This  in  no  way  mended  the  matter,  inasmuch  as 
the  Recorder  came  four  times  a  year  only  ;  and  the  Court  con- 
sequently could  be  held  but  four  times  a  year,  instead  of  every 
Monday  as  prescribed  by  the  Charter.  But  by  a  subsequent  Act 
(1st.  Vict.,  Cap.  78)  the  Recorder  was  empowered  to  appoint  a 
barrister  or  attorney  of  five  years  standing  as  his  deputy,  before 
whom  all  proceedings  might  be  had  except  trials  of  issues. 

(44)  The  Commission  does  not  mention  murders  and  manslaughters  by  express  name, 
but  only  felonies  generally ;  but  by  these  general  words  the  Court  has  power  to  hear  and 
determine  murder  and  manslaughter.  It  has  however  been  the  practice  for  nearly  a  cen- 
tury past  to  try  only  larcenies  and  misdemeanours  at  Quarter  Sessions.  Felonies  of  a  higher 
nature,  technically  classed  as  "  Capital  offences,"  are  usually  remitted  for  trial  at  the  Assizes 
at  Oxford.  The  court  of  Quarter  Sessions  is  also  a  court  of  Appeal  against  the  acts  of 
Justices  in  petty  sessions.      Under  the  charter,  the  Magistrates   were  appointetl  by  the 


550  THE  REIGN  OF  VICTORIA. 


THE  REIGN  OF  VICTORIA. 

At  tlie  election  on  the  accession  of  Queen  Victoria,  in  1837, 
the  candidates  for  Banbury  were  Mr.  Tanered  (the  former  mem- 
ber), and  Mr.  Henry  Tawney,  banker,  an  inhabitant  of  Banbury, 
who  started  on  the  Conservative  interest.  The  numbers  were — 
for  Tanered  181,  for  Tawney  75. 

On  the  day  of  Her  Majesty's  coronation,  the  28th  June  1838, 
a  procession  of  the  Trades  &e.,  similar  to  that  wliich  has  been 
mentioned  (p.  546)  on  the  passing  of  the  Reform  Bill,  was  held 
in  commemoration  of  the  event.  At  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
a  great  dinner  was  provided,  and  served  in  the  Horse  Fair,  for 
all  the  working  classes  and  poor  who  chose  to  partake  of  it. 
The  first  course  served  consisted  of  17001b  of  plumpudding : 
the  next  was  180  dishes  of  rumps,  ribs,  loins,  rounds,  rands,  and 
briskets  of  beef,  weighing  in  all  3050tb  ;  with  1596K)  of  bread, 
and  forty-five  kilderkins  of  ale.  The  tables  were  forty-five  in 
number,  eighty  seats  being  appropriated  to  each.  To  each  table 
were  appointed  a  superintendent,  four  carvers  (chiefly  tradesmen 
of  the  town),  and  four  or  more  waiters  (chiefly  youths  from  the 
different  shops).  The  guests  and  waiters  amounted  to  about 
4000  persons,  exclusive  of  thousands  of  spectators.  After  din- 
ner, old  English  sports  were  practised.  Cake  and  tea  were  served 
to  865  Sunday-School  children,  and  dancing  terminated  the  pro- 
ceedings.     The  day  passed  without  the  slightest  disorder.^^ 

Corporation,  out  of  their  ovra  body,  without  any  interference  on  the  part  of  the  Crown. 

They  now  hold  the  Commission  of  the  Crown,  in  the  same  manner  as  County  Magistrates. 
Before  the  passing  of  the  Municipal  Act,  the  inhabitants  of  Banbury  were  not  considered 

liable  to  serve  as  jurors  beyond  the  limits  of  the  Borough  :  they  are,  however,  now  required 

to  serve  on  juries  at  the  county  assizes. 
(45)  The  expenses  incurred  by  the  Committee  of  Management  were  as  follows  :— 

£    s.    d. 

SiWOffi  Beef 78    2    9 

l/OOlfe  Pudding 42  10     0 

lo96tb  Bread 12    9    4 

612  Gallons  of  Ale 14    2    0 

Mustard  (Salt  gratis)  0  10    0 

Tables,  use  of,  and  fixing  20    0    0 

Broken  Ware 1  18    2 

Two  Bands,  and  Ale  for  them 10  16    0 

Printing    9    4     7 

Hall-keepers  (on  account  of  Committee  meetings,)  and  Crier  ..318 

^■322  14     4 
Casli  subscribed  more  than  required  £2.  9s.  8il.    The  expenses  of  the  procession  antl 
sports  were  provided  for  by  a  junior  committee,  who  made  a  collection,  and  had  the  man- 
agement of  those  parts.    The  cake  and  tea  for  the  children  were  provided  by  another  com- 
mittee, from  the  proceeds  of  a  third  subscription. 


THE  REIGN  OF  VICTORIA.  551 

On  a  dissolution  of  Parliament  occurring  in  1841,  the  candi- 
dates for  Banbury  were,  Mr.  Tancred,  the  former  member ;  Mr. 
Henry  Vincent,  a  printer  from  Bath,  who  had  obtained  much 
note  for  his  eloquent  advocacy  of  ultra- Reform  or  "Chartist" 
principles  ;  and  Mr.  Hugh  Holbech,  eldest  surviving  son  of  Wil- 
liam Holbech  Esq.  of  Farnborough,  and  grandson  of  that  Wil- 
liam Holbech  Esq.  who  represented  Banbury  in  1794  (see  p.  539). 
Mr.  Holbech  was  a  candidate  on  Conservative  principles.  The 
numbers  polled  were — for  Tancred  124 ;  for  Holbech  100  ;  for 
Vincent  51. 


552  THE  TOWN  OF  BANBURY;    &c. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  TOWN ;    &c. 


The  Town  of  Banbury  is  situated  in  a  deep  valley  of  the 
table  land  of  the  northern  part  of  Oxfordshire,  and  on  the  wes- 
tern bank  of  the  river  Cherwell.  This  river,  says  Camden 
(writing  more  than  two  centuries  ago),  "  for  many  miles  after  it 
has  left  Banbury,  sees  nothing  but  well  cultivated  fields,  and  most 
delightful  meadows."^  Indeed,  a  more  thoroughly  English  land- 
scape, or  a  spot  more  rich  in  arable  and  pasture  land  thickly  over- 
spread with  trees,  watered  by  many  streams,  and  ornamented  at 
short  intervals  with  village  spires  and  towers,  can  perhaps  hardly 
be  found  elsewhere.  The  rich  red  land  of  Oxfordsliire,  which 
comprises  79,635  acres,  is  situated  wholly  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  county,  about  Banbury,  and  it  far  exceeds  the  rest  of  the 
county  in  fertility.  Arthur  Young  says,  in  1813: — "The  soil 
in  the  more  northern  part  of  the  county  is  the  rich  red  loam 
and  sandy  on  a  red  gritstone  rock.  *  *  *  The  soil  uncom- 
monly good ;  and  lets  in  general,  tithe  free,  at  40s.  per  acre. 
There  are  some  exceptions ;  but  a  finer  district  of  soil  is  not 
often  to  be  met  with,  whether  in  grass  or  arable.  *  *  *  This 
red  district,  in  respect  of  soil,  may  be  considered  as  the  glory  of 
the  county.  It  is  deep,  sound,  friable,  yet  capable  of  tenacity  ; 
and  adapted  to  every  plant  that  can  be  trusted  to  it  by  the  indus- 
try of  the  cultivators."^ 

The  Town  was  long  proverbial  alike  for  its  trade  and  its  dirt. 
Its  trade  arises  almost  entirely  from  its  being  the  centre  of  a 
great  agricultural  district,  but  partly  also  from  its  being  the  prin- 
cipal seat  of  some  manufactures  which  are  carried  on  in  the  town 
and  its  densely-populated  neighbourhood.  The  character  of  the 
town  for  dirt  (which  is  recorded  even  from  the  times  of  Corbet 
and  Stukeley)  arose  partly  from  the  busy  traffic  which  was 
carried  on;    but  principally  from  the  soil  being  better  adapted  to 

(1)  Camden's  Britannia. 

(2)  View  of  Ihe  Agriculture  of  Oxfordshire,  drawn  up  for  the  Consideration  of  the  Board 
of  Agriculture,  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Board. 


THE  TOWN  OF  BANBURY.  553 

agriculture  than  for  the  formation  of  excellent  roads. ^  In  draw- 
ing a  picture  of  the  town  itself,  there  is  no  need  to  recur  to  times 
so  long  gone  hy  as  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  when  the  re- 
gulations made  by  the  Corporation  so  graphically  tell  the  con- 
dition of  the  streets.  (See  pp.  231—233:  also  p.  209.)  Within 
the  present  century,  there  were  cartruts  traversing  all  the  prin- 
cipal streets  more  than  nine  inches  deep,  and  in  wet  weather 
floating  masses  of  mud  covered  the  whole  surface.''  The  partial 
erection  of  the  new  Church,  towards  the  close  of  the  last  century, 
gave  origin  to  a  common  rhyme,  how — 

"  Dirty  Banbury's  proud  people 
Built  a  Church  without  a  Steeple." 

This  character  has,  however,  given  way  before  the  spirit  of  mo- 
dem improvement.  The  carriage  roads  have  been  perfected  by 
the  use  of  durable  materials  brought  by  canal  from  the  borders 
of  Leicestershire :  and,  in  1825,  a  local  Pa ving-and- Lighting 
Act  (6th  Geo.  IV.  cap.  130)  was  obtained,  the  provisions  of 
which,  carried  into  effect  by  forty  Commissioners  chosen  by  the 
inhabitants,  soon  removed  all  the  characteristic  traces  of  the 
once  "dirty"  Banbury.  Gas-works  were  erected  in  1833;  an 
efficient  day-and-night  Police  was  established  in  1836 ;  and,  at 
the  present  time,  (with  exception  as  regards  the  condition  of  the 
Town  Hall  and  the  Gaol),  the  Town  may  be  fairly  stated  to  rival 
any  other  place  of  the  same  population  in  the  kingdom. 

Under  the  pro%dsions  of  the  Act  (30tli  Geo.  HI.  cap.  72)  for 
taking  down  and  rebuilding  the  Church,  Chancel,  &e.  of  Banbury, 
the  former  noble  structure  was  taken  down  in  1790  (see  pp.  532 — 
538),  and  the  present  CHURCH  subsequently  erected.  This  was 
opened  for  divine  service  on  the  5th  September  1797,  on  wliich 
occasion  Dr.  Crotch  (the  present  Professor  of  Music  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Oxford)  presided  at  the  organ,  and  the  choristers  from 
Magdalene   College,    Oxford,   attended.      But   although  the  parts 

(3)  "  By  your  good  leave,  sir,"  says  Isaac  Walton's  "  Viator,"  "  large  measure  of  foul 
way  is  not  altogether  so  acceptable."  "  True,  sir,"  replies  Piscator,  "  but  the  foul  way  serves 
to  justify  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  according  to  the  proverb,  '  There  is  good  land  where  there 
is  foul  way ;'  and  is  of  good  use  to  inform  you  of  the  riches  of  the  country  you  are  come 
into,  and  of  its  continual  travel  and  traffic." 

Arthur  Young  says,  in  1813 : — "  I  remember  the  roads  of  Oxfordshire  forty  years  ago, 
when  they  were  in  a  condition  formidable  to  the  bones  of  all  who  travelled  on  wheels.  *  * 
At  that  period  the  cross  roads  were  impassable  but  with  real  danger." 

(4)  Some  of  the  carriage  roads,  within  memory,  were  what  are  called  "  hollow  ways,"  being 
many  feet  below  the  footpaths.  There  were  stepping-stones  across  some  of  the  principal 
streets.  Dung-heaps  and  ash-heaps,  old  elder  hedges,  and  standing  pools  of  water,  were 
suffered  to  remain. 

4  A 


554  THE  NEW  CHURCH  OF  BANBURY. 

used  for  divine  service  were  thus  completed,  so  heavy  was  the 
expense,"  that  the  Tower  and  Portico  were  not  finished  until  the 
early  part  of  the  year  1822.  The  edifice  was  designed  by  Mr. 
Robert  Cockerill ;  it  is  built  in  the  Roman  style  of  architecture, 
and  is  ninety  feet  square  witliin,  exclusive  of  the  Chancel.  On 
every  side  is  a  spacious  gallery  sixteen  feet  in  breadth.  These 
galleries,  as  well  as  the  roof,  are  supported  by  twelve  circular 
columns,  eight  of  which,  placed  in  an  octagon,  carry  the  dome- 
shaped  roof  of  the  centre ;  the  other  four  complete  the  square 
which  carries  the  gallery  and  upholds  the  other  parts  of  the  roof 
The  whole  interior  (with  the  exception  of  the  parts  beneath  the 
galleries,  w^liich  are  allotted  to  the  poor  and  the  children  of  the 
schools)  is  pewed  with  Norway  oak ;  and  it  is  capable  of  accom- 
modating a  congregation  of  at  least  2,300  persons,  including  500 
free  sittings  and  160  sittings  for  the  school-children.  The  Tower, 
which  is  over  the  western  entrance,  rises  to  the  height  of  133 
feet,  and  contains  a  quarter-clock  with  chimes,  and  a  peal  of  eight 
bells.  The  Chancel  measures  28  feet  3  inches  by  26  feet  10 
inches,'^  and  contains  the  Altar-piece  which  was  preserved  from 
the  former  Church.^  The  whole  Church  has  been  Hghted  with 
Gas  in  the  present  year  1841. 

(5)  The  expense  of  the  erection  of  the  New  Church  probably  cannot  be  told ;  but,  owing 
to  the  insufficiency  of  the  rates  which  it  is  in  the  power  of  the  Commissioners  to  levy 
under  the  Act  to  pay  off  the  debt  incurred,  the  single  item  of  interest  has  amounted  to  an 
immense  sum.  The  following  estimate  of  expenditure  was  made  in  1824,  by  a  committee 
who  were  adverse  to  the  Churchwardens  of  that  period  : — 

£  s.  d. 

"  Sale  of  Church  estates 2,0G5  8  0 

Old  materials    1,500  0  0 

Pews 4,000  0  0 

First  Subscription    2,000  0  0 

Second  ditto 800  0  0 

Money  borrowed 6,000  0  0 

Money  raised  by  rate 18,150  0  0 

^34,515  8  0 
It  was  stated  that  this  estimate  underrated  the  amount  of  money  boiTowed  by  ifl,500. 
The  account  was  probably  an  exaggerated  one :  but  certain  it  is  that,  fourteen  years  later 
(namely,  in  1838),  the  Church  debt  still  remaining  on  bonds  amounted  to  £5,900,  besides 
other  debts  amounting  to  £-450.  The  annual  rate  levied  under  the  Act  amounts  to  £553 
3s. ;  and  is  likely  long  to  continue  a  burden  on  the  descendants  of  those  who  permitted 
the  spoliation  of  the  Ancient  Chui-ch.  The  actual  charge  for  the  building  itself  has  been 
estimated  at  £10,495. 18s.  7d. 

(6)  The  Chancel  of  the  fonner  Church  belonged  to  the  impropriator,  the  Bishop  of  Ox- 
ford, and  his  lessee  or  lessees.  It  was,  by  the  Act  obtained  in  1790,  directed  that  the 
Chancel  should  be  taken  down  at  the  expense  of  the  Church  Trustees ;  and  that  the  new 
Chancel,  to  be  erected  by  them,  should  be  vested  in  the  Bishop  and  his  lessees,  but  that  he 
and  they,  who  had  been  hitherto  charged  with  the  repairs  of  the  Chancel,  should  be  free 
from  the  same  in  future. 

(7)  In  one  of  the  Churchwardens'  Books  of  accounts,  commencing  in  1754,  is  the  fol- 
lowing entry  relating  to  the  Communion  Plate,  said  to  be  taken  "  from  the  old  Book  :  "-— 

"1.  Two  silver  Flagons  upon  each  of  which  are  engrav'd  these  letters  I.  H.  S.  with 
the  proper  Glory  around  'em,  and  beneath  Banbury,  with  the  date  of  the  year  1723  under 
which  is  added.  The  Gift  of  Mon"  Cope  Esqr;  At  the  bottom  of  each  of  these  Flagons  is 


THE  NEW  CHURCH  OF  BANBURY.        555 

The  exterior  of  the  Church,  from  its  huge  cubical  form,  topped 
by  a  slated  roof  which  falls  off  from  the  centre  to  each  of  the 
four  sides,  is  exceedingly  gloomy  and  inelegant.  A  writer  in  the 
Gentleman's  Magazine,  dated  August  1800,  complains  that  the 
new  Church  is  "  more  like  a  gaol  than  a  Cliristian  temple."  Mr. 
J.  H.  Parker^  says  in  1840: — "The  new  Church  of  Banbury  is 
altogether  the  most  despicable  building  that  bears  the  honoured 
name  of  a  Church  in  this  or  any  other  country :  it  is  a  hideous 
square  mass  of  stone,  without  form  or  proportion,  or  a  siagle 
redeeming  feature  ;  its  interior  would  make  a  handsome  playhouse. 
Thousands  of  pounds  have  been  squandered  in  ornamenting  this 
place.  Such  a  building  might  have  been  well-enough  adapted 
for  the  exhibitions  of  gladiators  or  of  wild  beasts  in  ancient 
Rome,  but  is  totally  unfit  for  a  Christian  Church,  and  so  long  as 
it  stands  it  will  be  a  perpetual  shame  and  disgrace  to  the  town 
which  allowed  their  fine  old  Church  to  be  destroyed." 

The  Chancel  contains  two  monuments  :  one,  on  the  south  side  and 
near  the  eastern  corner,  bears  this  inscription  on  a  large  block  of 
granite  upon  which  is  a  figure  of  Faith  carved  in  white  marble  : — 

To  the  Memory 

of 

Ann  Dolly 

Daughter  of  Paynton  Pigott  esquire 

and  wife  of 

Bernard  Brocas  of  Wokefield  and 

Beaurepaire  in  the  counties  of 

Berks  and  Hants  esquire 

Deceased 

November  xxviii  mdcccxxiv 

Aged  XXI  Years. 

also  inscrib'd  an  acct  of  their  weight  signifying  their  ounces:  viz.  the  one  48,  upon  the 
other  49. 

"  Also  Four  silver  Cups  (to  one  whereof  there  is  a  cover)  and  a  silver  Patten  or  Salver. 
The  Clip  with  the  Cover  had  tliis  Inscription,  Hie  Calix  est  Novum  Testamentum  in  san- 
guine meo,  and  was  dated  1575.  The  Cover  also  had  the  same  date,  both  together  weighing 
13  ounces. 

"  2.  A  cup  of  the  like  fashion  with  the  former  weighing  10  ounces,  and  inscrib'd  Ban* 
bury  Communion  Cup. 

"3.  Two  Cups  with  this  Inscription,  Banbury  Comvnion  Cvpe,  each  weighing  12  ounces. 

"4.  The  silver  Patten  or  Salver  weighing  10  ounces  15  penny  weight  &;  i  upon  which 
are  engraved  these  letters  I.  H.  S.  with  the  proper  Glory  around  "em." 

After  this  there  follows,  in  a  modern  hand,  an  entry  of  four  silver  salvers  which  were  pre- 
sented to  the  Church  by  Mary  Longe  in  1827. 

The  two  flagons,  the  four  cups  (for  only  four  are  intended  in  the  above  account),  the  old 
salver,  and  the  four  new  salvers,  are  all  yet  preserved.  The  old  Cup,  which  bears  the  date 
of  1575,  is  in  excellent  preservation.    Around  this  cup  is  engraved  : — 

HIC    CALIX   EST    NOWM    TESTAMENTVM   IN    SANGVINE    MEO 

(8)  Secretary  of  the  Oxford  Society  for  promoting  the  Study  of  Gothic  Architecture :  in 
a  letter  to  myself. 

4  A3 


556  THE  NEW  CHURCH  OF  BANBURY. 

Near  the  western  end  of  the  Chancel,  also  on  the  south  side,  is 
the  other  monument,  whereon  is  inscribed,  on  white  marble,  as 
follows  : — 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Francis  Pigott  Impropriator  of  Banbury, 
In  the  Commission  of  the  Peace  for  the 
County  of  Oxford,  and  Barrister  at  Law : 
Third  son  of  John  Pigott  of  Windsor, 
By  Isabella,  heiress  of  Thomas  Gillery, 
A  colonel  in  the  army  of  King  William  ; 

Ob*  Oct.  1790  JEt.  57. 
Also  of  His  Wife  Dolly,  only  surviving 
Child  and  Heiress  of  Richard  Paynton, 
Rector  Impropriate  of  this  Chuvch  ; 
Ob«  Jan.  1814  iEt.  71. 
They  lived  in  the  practice  of  Christian  virtues, 
They  died  in  the  faith  of  Gospel  promises. 
And  to  the  memory  of 
Eliza  Mary  second  daughter  of  Paynton 
only  son  of  the  above  Francis  and  Dolly, 
Ob'  Nov.  1821  ^t.  17. 
Call'd  at  an  early  age  to  meet  her  God, 
Most  lovely,  pious,  dutiful,  and  good : 
Her  life  the  answer  gave  to  "  Follow  Thee  ;'" 
"  O  Lord,  I'm  ready  ;"  set  my  s^nrit  free, 
Bright  on  my  soul  Thy  heav'nly  joys  now  shine. 
Death  brings  no  fears,  for  faith  hath  made  me  thine. 

Above  is  a  figure  of  Faith  carved  in  white  marble,  with  a  book,  in- 
scribed— "God  is  Love.  Cast  all  your  care  upon  him;  for  he  careth 
for  you."  Below  the  inscription  is  placed  another  book,  inscribed — 
"  Search  the  Scriptures ;  they  are  they  which  testify  of  Me.  He  that 
believeth  on  Me,  hath  everlasting  life :  and  I  will  raise  him  up  at  the 
last  day."  On  the  backs  of  two  books  which  support  the  whole  are  in- 
scribed— 

"  The  Old  Law  "  "  The  New  Life." 

The  first  Meeting-house  of  Dissenters  which  was  erected  in 
Banbury  was  the  former  one  belonging  to  the  Society  of  Friends, 
or  Quakers,  and  was  situated  in  the  Horse  Fair,  where  their 
present  Meeting-house  stands.  It  appears  to  have  been  erected 
in  1664-5  (see  p.  482,  note  15).  The  present  building  was 
erected  in  1750.  Adjoining  to  this  building  there  is  a  Women's 
Meeting-house,  devoted  to  those  occasions  when  the  female  por- 
tion of  the  Society  transact  their  separate  business :  this  was 
erected  at  an  earlier  date  than  the  present  Men's  Meeting-house. 


DISSENTERS.  557 

There  is  a  burial-ground  attached.  Banbury  is  the  central  meet- 
ing of  a  district  known  to  the  Society  of  Friends  as  "  Banbury 
Monthly  Meeting ;"  and  which  includes  the  Meetings  at  Adder- 
bury,  Sibford,  and  Hooknorton,  and  retains  Meeting-houses,  now 
almost  disused,  at  South  Newington,  Shutford,  and  Barton.^ 

Next  in  antiquity  among  the  Meeting-houses  of  the  Dissenters 
in  Banbury,  is  that  of  the  English  Presbyterians,  situate  in 
the  Horse  Fair.  This  was  probably  erected  ui  the  reign  of 
Charles  the  Second;  but  I  find  no  notice  respecting  it  until  1709, 
when  Stephen  Davies  was  ordained  the  minister  (see.  p.  511). 
Durmg  the  subsequent  ministry  of  the  Rev.  George  Hampton, 
tliis  building  was  offered  to,  and  used  by,  the  Church  congrega- 
tion from  1790  to  1797,  wliile  the  parish  Church  was  being  re- 
built.    There  is  a  considerable  endowment  to  this  Meeting-house. 

The  Meeting-house  of  the  Independents,  which  is  situated  in 
Church  Lane,  was  erected  about  the  year  1790.  This  was  for  a 
time  supplied  by  Lady  Huntingdon's  ministers,  and  the  services 
of  the  Church  of  England  were  used  there.  There  is  an  in- 
come for  the  preacher  at  this  Meeting-house,  which  was  left  by 
Mr.  Hughes  of  Oxford.  The  Independents  have  also  a  Meeting- 
house at  Adderbury. 

The  first  Meeting-house  of  the  Wesleyan  METHODISTS  at 
Banbury  stood  adjoining  South  Bar  Street,  near  the  top  of  Cal- 
thorp  Lane ;  but  a  new  and  spacious  Meeting-house  of  this  So- 
ciety was  erected  in  Church  Lane  about  thirty  years  ago.  Ban- 
bury is  the  centre  of  a  district  known  among  the  Wesleyans  as 
the  "Banbury  District,"  which  includes  thirty-two  adjacent  vil- 
lages in  aU  of  which  they  have  Meeting-houses. 

A  Roman  Catholic  place  of  worship  was  commenced  at  Ban- 
bury, in  South  Bar  Street,  in  1835,  and  completed  in  1838 :  it 
was  dedicated  to  St.  Jolm,  and  thence  called  The  "  CATHOLIC 
Church  of  St.  John."  The  building  is  an  incongruous  mix- 
ture of  several  of  the  fine  styles  of  English  architecture :  biit  so 
superiorly  adapted  is  the  English  Style  for  ecclesiastical  purposes 

(9)  The  Monthly  Meeting  possesses  an  estate  at  North  Newington  (held  by  trustees),  which 
was  left  by  John  Grafton  in  173-5  for  the  support  of  poor  members  "  frequenting  the 
monthly  meeting  of  Banbury  aforesaid  called  the  Quakers'  Monthly  Meeting."  This  estate 
is  let  for  £50  per  annum.  In  1803,  William  Osman  bequeathed  ^£'100  to  the  Monthly 
Meeting  of  Banbury;  which  was  expended,  together  with  a  similar  sum  of  £100  left  for 
the  use  of  poor  Friends,  in  improving  the  estate  at  North  Newington.  The  trustees  of  the 
said  estate  dispose  of  the  rent  (after  paying  the  Monthly  Meeting  interest  for  the  ^£200)  in 
gratuities  to  Friends  in  low  circumstances.  Mary  Gauthem  also  left  £30  for  the  benefit  of 
poor  Friends. 


558  DISSENTERS. 

that  the  building,  as  a  whole,  has  a  pleasing  appearance.  It  has 
a  battlemented  tower  about  102  feet  in  height,  which  (although 
disfigured  by  immense  pinnacles  which  are  altogether  contrary  to 
the  original  design  given  by  Mr.  Deriek)  is  a  conspicuous  and 
beautiful  object  in  the  landscape.  There  are  burial-vaults  be- 
neath the  building,  and  a  Priest's  residence  is  attached.  Before 
the  erection  of  this  edifice,  the  Roman  Catholic  congregation 
used  to  worship  at  a  small  buUding  erected  for  them  at  Wark- 
worth  in  1806  by  the  late  Earl  of  Newbxirgh  (Francis  Eyre  Esq., 
who  sold  Warkworth  in  1805,  and  claimed  to  be  Earl  of  New- 
bui'gh  in  Scotland  on  the  decease  of  Anthony  James  the  fourth 
Earl  in  1814).  After  the  erection  of  the  present  building  at  Ban- 
bury, the  bodies  which  had  been  interred  at  Warkworth  were 
removed  into  the  vaults  at  Banbury. 

There  are  two  other  Meetuig-houses  in  Banbury  (both  erected 
witbin  a  few  years  past)  for  Calvinistic  Dissenters ;  one  is 
situated  in  West  Street,  the  other  on  the  east  side  of  South  Bar 
Street.  A  small  Meetuig-house  for  Primitive  Methodists  was 
lately  erected  in  Broad  Street. 

A  spacious  and  handsome  Meeting-house  for  PARTICULAR 
Baptists  has  been  lately  erected  in  Bridge  Street  South,  on  the 
site  of  the  ancient  Altarstone  Inn  (see  pp.  23 — 25),  which  pre- 
mises were  purchased,  and  the  house  taken  down,  to  make  room 
for  this  new  erection,  in  the  present  year  1841.  There  are  vaults 
and  a  burial-ground  attached.  The  Particular  Baptists  have 
Meetuig-houses  also  in  tliis  neighbourhood  at  Middleton  Cheney 
and  at  Bodicot.  The  building  first  erected  for  this  service  at 
Middleton  (and  which  dates  from  about  the  year  1740)  has  been 
for  many  years  disused,  and  a  new  building  was  raised,  on  an 
adjacent  spot,  in  1806.  Adjoining  to  this  are  a  house  and 
garden  which  are  appropriated  to  the  officiating  minister.  The 
Baptists'  Meeting-house  at  Bodicot  is  a  handsome  and  siibstantial 
building  ;  the  front  wall  is  of  ashlar  stone,  part  of  the  materials 
of  the  destroyed  mansion  of  the  Cobb  family  at  Adderbury  (see 
p.  394,  note  26).  The  buUding  was  commenced  in  1817,  and 
opened  for  divine  worship  April  25th  1818.^° 

There  are  numerous  Charitable  institutions  within  the  parish 
of    Banbury,   which    are   supported  by    voluntary    contributions. 

(10)  By  the  late  Rev.  William  Shenstone  of  London,  who  preached  from  Ecclesiastes 
iii.  6, — "  A  time  to  gather  stones." — Information  from  Mr.  John  Wilson  of  Bodicot. 


PUBLIC  INSTITUTIONS.  559 

The  "  Old  Charitable  Society  "  for  the  relief  of  indigent  towns- 
men was  established  in  1782 ;  the  contributions  for  the  year 
1832  amounted  to  £112.  4*.  lid.  The  "Charitable  Society  for 
Visiting  and  Relieving  the  Sick  and  Distressed  Poor  at  their  own 
Habitations"  was  established  about  the  year  1820;  this,  in  1832, 
raised  subscriptions  to  the  amount  of  ;£'177.  3s.  9d.  The 
"  Clothing  Fund "  derives  support  from  free  contributions :  and 
those  poor  persons  who  are  recommended  by  contributors  pay 
to  the  fund  small  weekly  sums  in  summer,  and  the  amomit, 
increased  by  the  interest  and  the  free  subscriptions,  is  returned 
in  clothing  at  the  approach  of  winter. 

The  National  Schools  for  boys  and  girls,  situated  in  Neithorp 
township,  without  North  Bar,  were  established  in  1817  (see  pp. 
511,  542):  about  340  children  receive  their  education  there. 
The  British  Schools  for  boys  and  girls,  situated  in  Crouch  Street, 
were  erected  in  1839,  and  afford  instruction  to  nearly  300  chil- 
dren. The  Infant  School,  situate  in  Church  Passage,  was  erected 
in   1835,  and  affords  education  to  nearly  250  infant  children. 

The  Banbury  Savings'  Bank  was  established  in  1817.  In  1832  it 
had  deposits  from  1609  persons,  to  the  amount  of  £48,963.  14s.  2d. 
In  1840  the  number  of  Depositors  was  2656  (in  addition  to  107 
Charitable  and  Friendly  Societies),  and  the  amount  of  deposits 
was  £82,761.  5s.  Id. 

The  shops  of  Banbury  are  numerous  and  good;  the  streets 
are  wide  and  airy,  and  the  supply  of  water  generally  plentiful. 
The  Oxford  Canal  (which  was  cut  in  consequence  of  an  Act 
obtained  for  the  purpose  in  1768-9)  passes  close  to  the  town,  and 
affords  communication  by  water  with  all  parts  of  the  kingdom. 
There  are  three  wharfs,  and  also  a  dock  for  building  and  repairing 
barges- 

The  Manufactures  carried  on  in  Banbury  are  mentioned  hereafter. 

The  Market,  which  was  "very  celebrate"  in  the  time  of  Le- 
land,  is  held  on  Thursday,  and  is  numerously  attended  by  dealers 
as  well  as  by  the  agriculturists  &c.  of  the  neighbourhood.  Some 
of  the  villages  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Town  contain  nearly 
1,500  inhabitants  each;  and  so  thickly  are  the  hamlets  and  vil- 
lages scattered  around,  that  there  were,  in  1831,  nearly  forty-four 
thousand  persons  residing  within  eight  miles  of  Banbury.  The 
Population  returns  in  1841,  for  the  district  comprised  within  the 
Banbury  "  Poor-Law  Union,"  are  given  hereafter. 


560  FAIRS,  POOR  RATES,  &c. 

The  times  for  holding  the  Fairs  were  mostly  changed  in  1836/^ 
when  the  collection  of  the  tolls  was  discontinued  and  the  Fairs 
became  in  practice  toll  free.     The  following  times  were  adopted : — 

1.  The  First  Thursday  after  Old  Twelfth  day,  and  three  preceding 
days  (the  great  Horse  Fair). 

2.  The  Third  Thursday  in  February. 

3.  The  Third  Thursday  in  March  (and  for  hiring  servants). 

4.  The  Third  Thursday  in  April. 

5.  Holy  Thursday  (a  great  holiday  Fair). 

6.  The  Third  Thursday  in  June. 

7.  The  Third  Thursday  in  July  (and  for  Wool). 

8.  The  Third  Thursday  in  August. 

9.  The  Third  Thursday  in  September. 

10.  The  First  Thursday  after  Old  Michaelmas  day  (great  hiring  Fair).'^ 

11.  The  Third  Thursday  after  Old  Michaelmas  day. 

12.  The  Third  Thursday  in  November. 

13.  The  Second  Thursday  before  Christmas  day  (fat  cattle  fair). 

The  benefits  derived  from  the  busy  trade  of  Banbury  are  greatly 
neutralized  by  the  heavy  Poor  rate  and  other  local  taxations. 
The  Poor  rate  alone  within  the  Borough  (which  in  1831  con- 
tained a  population  of  3737  persons)  amounted  in  1833  to 
^'3513.  Us.  6d.,  and  in  the  following  year  to  £3763.  13s.  lOd. 
In  1838,  however,  the  operations  of  the  New  Poor  Law  had  re- 
duced the  expenditure  to  £2507.  11*.  5id.,  including  the  new 
Municipal  charges.'^ 

(11)  In  1698,  the  Fairs  which  continued  to  be  kept  up  were,  on  the  first  Thursday  in 
Lent,  Holy  Thursday,  the  Feast  of  Corpus  Christi,  Lammas  day,  and  the  Thursday  after 
Twelfth  day.  (Ogilby's  Britannia.)  The  last-named  Fair  commenced  in  practice  on  the 
Monday  previous,  and  continued  four  days.  About  the  year  1718  two  other  Fairs  arc 
mentioned  as  existing,  namely,  those  on  St.  Luke's  day  and  the  Thursday  after  Michael- 
mas day.  (Rawlinson's  MS.  Topog.  Com.  Oxon.)  In  1797,  Fairs  were  also  held  (omit- 
ting that  on  the  feast  of  Corpus  Christi)  on  the  second  Thursday  before  Easter,-  Trinity 
Thursday,  and  the  second  Thursday  before  Christmas.  (Rusher's  Banbury  Lists.)  Sub- 
sequently two  "  Great  Markets  "  were  held  on  the  second  'Thursday  in  July  and  the  second 
Thursday  in  September. 

(12)  The  fair  at  Michaelmas  derives  some  importance  from  being  one  at  which,  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  of  the  neighbourhood,  male  and  female  servants  attend  for  the  purpose 
of  being  hired.  Dr.  Plot,  writing  in  1677,  says: — "  About  Banbury  and  Bloxham,  it  has 
always  been  the  custom,  at  set  times  of  year,  for  young  people  to  meet  to  be  hired  as  ser- 
vants ;  which  meeting  at  Banbury  they  call  the  Mop,  at  Bloxham  the  Statute,  where  they 
all  sort  themselves,  and  carry  their  badges  according  as  they  are  qualified ;  the  carters 
standing  in  one  place  with  their  whips,  and  the  shepherds  in  another  with  their  crooks." 
The  fair  on  Old  St.  Luke's  day,  occurring  soon  after  the  great  Michaelmas  or  hiring  fair, 
was  called  "  Runaway  Fair,"  from  its  being  attended  by  servants  who  had  left  their  first  situ- 
ations. 

Several  of  the  fairs  are  very  large  Cattle  Fairs.  It  is  stated  that  there  were  4,600  sheep, 
1,220  cows,  300  pigs,  and  200  horses,  brought  to  the  Michaelmas  fair  in  1832;  and  upwards 
of  1,600  head  of  cattle  and  3,000  sheep  to  the  Michaelmas  fair  in  1834. — Oxford  Journals. 

(13)  Grimsbury  and  Nethercot  contribute  to  the  rates  of  Warkworth,  except  in  ecclesias- 
tical matters.  Ncithoii?  and  its  associated  hamlets  have  their  own  rates,  separate  from  those 
of  the  town,  except  in  Church  matters. 


POPULATION. 


561 


The  acreage  of  tlie  Parish  is  nearly  as  follows : — '' 

Acres.  Acres. 

Banbury  Borough 105     Hardwick     446 

Neithorp 1129     Easington     455 

Calthorp   179     Grhnsbury    613 

Wickham      834     Nethercot     468 

Total  4229 

The  parts  forming  the  Town  of  Banburj,  or  those  on  which 
continuous  buildings  occur,  maj  now  be  said  to  consist  of  Ban- 
bury Borough  ;^^  Neithorp  Village ;  Calthorp  Lane ;  the  new 
buildings  situated  iu  Calthorp  or  Neithorp  hamlets  near  the  Ox- 
ford entrance  to  the  Borough ;  the  modern  and  most  populous 
part  of  Grimsburj,  called  Waterloo  ;  and  Cherwells  and  a  few 
other  houses  which  are  in  Nethercot  hamlet.  These  parts  com- 
prise nearly  the  whole  number  of  houses  in  the  entire  parish. 
The  length  of  the  parish  is  four  miles  and  a  quarter  from  north 
to  south,  and  its  breadth  nearly  three  miles  from  west  to  east. 


Population,  June  7th,  1841. 


Banbury  

The  Gaol 

1. 

3 
e5 

720 

38 

3 

1792 
6 

1944 

4 

3736 
10 

Total 

720 

38 

3 

1798 

1948 

3746 

Neithorp   and    the    other    Ox-? 

fordshire  hamlets    \ 

The  Union  Workhouse     

Total 

593 

13 

15 

1429 
80 

1421 

77 

2850 
157 

593 

13 

15 

1509 

1498 

3007 
613 

Grimsbury  and  Nethercot 

Grand  Total    .... 

118 

5 

0 

314 

299 

1431 

56 

IS 

3621 

3745 

7366 

(14)  Roughly  calculated  from  the  Ordnance  Map  of  the  Borough.  The  Banbury  Magis- 
trates have  jurisdiction  within  the  Borough  only ;  the  other  members  of  the  Parish  being 
respectively  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Magistrates  of  Oxfordshire  and  Northamptonshire. 

(1.5)  The  circumstance  of  there  being  no  land,  unbuilt  upon,  within  the  Borough,  has 
given  rise  to  the  enigma  that  "  All  the  Crows  that  fly  over  Banbury  fields  are  White." 

(16)  Returns,  not  yet  published,  made  to  the  Commissioners  of  the  Census  in  1841. 


4b 


562 


POPULATION. 
Population,  May  30th,  1831." 


X 

1 
ft, 

1 

1 

1 

742 
469 
106 

788 
499 
104 

1805 
1104 
247 

1932 
1065 
269 

3737 

2169 

516 

Total 

1317 

1391 

3156 

3266 

6422 

At  this  date  (1831),  the  number  of  families  chiefly  employed 
in  Agriculture  were,  in  Banbury  30,  and  in  Neithorp  102;  the 
number  of  families  employed  ui  Trade,  Manufactures,  or  Handi- 
craft, were,  in  Banbury  486,  and  in  Neithorp  224.  The  Males 
of  the  age  of  twenty  years  and  upwards  were,  in  Banbury  932, 
and  in  Neithorp  543. 

Changes  in  Ten  Years,  1831  to  1841. 

D.  Decrease.  I.  Increase. 


Banbvu-y 

1 

S 

1 

D   7 

I  405 
I   67 

I   16 
I  433 
I   30 

I    9 

I  838 
I   97 

Total  

I  465 

I  479 

I  944 

Population,  May  28th,  1821. 


Banbuvv  

a 

1 

1 

"3 

i 

1 

702 

324 

82 

748 

408 

93 

1618 
931 
219 

1778 
920 
207 

3396 
1851 
426 

Total 

1108 

1249 

2768 

2905 

5673 

Increase  in  Ten  Years,  1821  to  1831. 


Banbury 

i 

o 

.2 

1 

i 

1 

40 
145 
22 

40 
91 
11 

187 
173 

28 

154 
145 
62 

341 

318 

90 

Grinisbury  &c   

Total 

209 

142 

388 

361 

749 

(17)  Population  Returns,  183L 


POPULATION. 


563 


Population  in  1801  and  181J 


Banbury  Borough   

1801 

1811 

2755 

2841 

Estimated  Population  at  Former  Periods.^^ 

Banbury  Borough 

1547 

1628 

1000 

1600 

Number  of  Baptisms,  Burials,  and  Marriages, 
WITHIN  THE  Parish,  in  Various  Years.^^ 


1560 

38 

Baptisms 

31 

Burials 

31  Marriages 
12     

1570 

46 

39 

1580 

58 

49 

19     

1590 

61 

52 

19     

1600 

SO 

42 

28     

1610 

81 

68 

19     

1620 

96 

54 

17     

1630 

72 

54 

23     

1640 

102 

79 

19     

( 

'After  the   depo-'^ 

1650^ 

pulation    of   the  > 
.Town  by  War      J 

54 

50 



12     

1660 

67 

59 

20     

1670 

69 

111 

19     

1680 

76 

47 

3     

1690 

59 

53 

5      

1700 

58 

80 

0      

11      

33      

1710 

59 

.... 

1720 

75 

61 

1730 

57 

94 

30      

1740 

66 

68 

24      

1750 

78 

60 



30     

jyg„fSmall     Pox     oc-\ 
\curred  this  year  J 

83 

163 

18      

1770 

86 

86 

44     

1780 

107 

112 

22     

1790 

101 

• 

91 

29     

1800 

106 

104 

29     

1810 

100 

124 

60     

1820 

164 

125 

35     

1830 

200 

104 

46     

1840 

263 

Births  . . . 

152 

Deaths 

64     

(18)  See  pp.  210,  277. 

(19)  The  Baptisms  at  the  Dissenters'  Meeting-houses,  and  the  Births,  Burials,  and  Mar- 
riages of  the  Society  of  Friends,  are  not  in  every  instance  included  in  this  table,  except  in 
the  last  year,  1840. 


4b3 


564  POPULATION. 

Population  of  the  district  comprised  within  the 
Banbury  Poor  Law  Union,  June  7th,  1841. 


1 . — Northern  Division  of  Banbury  Hundred,  Oxfordshire. 


'} 


1 

1792 
6 

i 

1944 
4 

1 
3736 
10 

1429 

1421 

2850 

80 
9 

285 

77 

6 

262 

157 
15 

547 

313 

280 

593 

175 
10 

162 
9 

337 
19 

439 

426 

865 

172 
161 

166 
155 

338 
316 

Banbury  Borough 

The  Gaol  there 

Neithorp,  Calthoi-p,  Wickham,  Hardwick,  and" 
Easington — Township  in  the  parish  of  Ban- 
bury   

The  Union  Workhouse  there 

Clattercot — Extraparochial    

Cropredy-" — Parish     

Great  Boin-ton  and  Little  Bourton — Township") 

in  the  Parish  of  Cropredy / 

Clay  don — Chapelry  in  the  Parish  of  Cropredy. . 

Prescot — Township  in  the  Parish  of  Cropredy . . 

Wardington  with  Williamscot — Chapelry ;  and  \ 

Coton — Hamlet;   in  the  Parish  of  Cropredy  ( 

SwALCLiFFE-^ — Parish      

Epwell — Chapelry  in  the  Parish  of  Swalcliffe    . . 

Shutford   East — Chapelry    in    the    Parish   of\  |g         |g        gj 

Swalcliffe     / 

Shutford   West — Township  in   the  Parish   of\        gjg       202       418 

Swalcliffe    / 

N.  B.  The  Parish  of  Charlbury  and  its  Hamlets  of  Fawler  and  Fin- 
stock,  comprising  the  Southern  Division  of  the  Hundred  of  Banbury, 
are  not  included  within  the  Banbury  Union. 

2. — Bloxham  Hundred,  Oxfordshire. 

Adderbury  East — Parish 532      518     1050 

Adderbury  West— Township  in  the  Parish  of\       214      228      442 

Adderbury  East    J 

Barford  St.  John — Chapelry  in  the  Parish  of)  -g        g^      jge 

Adderbury  East    J 

Bodicot — Chapelry  in  the  Parish   of  Adder- \       gg^      Qg4      ^709 

bury  East    /  " 

Milton — Township  in  the  Parish  of  Adder-1  gj         .^^       jgg 

bury  East    / 

Alkerton— Parish 

Bloxham — Parish    

Milcombe — Chapelry  in  the  Parish  of  Bloxham 

Broughton — Parish    

North   Newington — Township  in   the  Parish)        215      233      448 

of  Broughton    / 

Cropredy,  part  of,  namely: — That  portion   ofS 

Mollington  Chapelry  which  is  in  the  County  V       146      137      283 

of  Oxford  J 

Drayton— Parish     Ill         95      206 

Hanwell— Parish    157       140       297 


99 

91 

190 

624 

695 

1319 

115 

109 

224 

83 

98 

181 

HORLEY     ^  r 

with       >  Associated  Parishes    < 

Hornton  j  2_ 


212      213       425 

305       287       592 


(20)  Some  members  of  the  Parish  of  Cropredy  are  in  Bloxham  Hundred,  Oxfordshire, 
ud  in  Kineton  Hundred,  Warwickshire:   see  following. 

(21)  Some  members  of  the  Parish  of  Swalcliffe  are  in  Bloxham  Hundred  :  see  following. 


POPULATION.  565 


(^Bloxham  Hundred,  continued.) 


421       398      819 


SwALCLiFFE,  part  of,  namely  : — 

^Townships,  forming  together'V 
Sibford  Ferris,  I  the    District   of   Sibford,    in  I        141       146      287 
Sibford  Gower'^  which  a  District  Church  was  {        259       275       534 

Uvectedin  1840 ) 

Tadmarton— Parish    203      201       404 

WiGGiNTON— Parish     189       180       369 

Wroxton — Parish,  with  \ 

Balscot — Chapelry  in  the  Parish  of  Wroxton  J 

3. — Part  of  Wootton  Hundred,  Oxfordshire. 

Barford  St.  Michael— Parish   178       192      370 

South  Newington— Parish 213       221       434 

4. — Part  of  Chadlington  Hundred,  Oxfordshire. 

HooKNORTON— Parish 697       725     1422 

The  Lunatic  Asylum  there    51        52       103 

5. — Part  of  Sutton  Hundred,  Northamptonshire. 

Chacombe— Parish   243      245      488 

MiDDLETON  Cheney— Parish 679       731     1410 

Warkworth — Parish ;  together  with  "v 

^"™j^^J"^'yl  Hamlets  in  the  Parish  of  Ban- I       333      322      655 

Nethercot  j^''''^    J 

6. — Part  of  TVardon  Hundred,  Northamptonshire. 

Aston-le-Walls — Parish 

Appletree — Township  in  the  Parish  of  Aston- 1 

le-Walls / 

BoDDiNGTON,  LowER — Parish   

Boddington,  Upper — Township  in  the  Parish") 

of  Lower  Boddington / 

ChippingWardon — Parish     

7. — Part  of  the  Burton  Basset  Bivision  of  Kineton  Hundred, 
Warwickshire. 

Avon  Dasset — Parish    

Farnborough — Parish    

Cropredy,  part  of,  namely  : — That  portion  of 
Mollington  Chapelry  which  is  in  the  County) 

of  Warwick   / 

Ratley — Parish        

Shotswell — Parish 

Warmington — Parish     

8. — Part  of  the  Kineton  Bivision  of  Kineton  Hundred, 
Warwickshire. 

Radway— Parish 187      187      374 

9. — Part  of  the  Upper  Bivision  of  Tewkesbury  Hundred, 

Gloucestershire.^'^ 

Shenington— Parish  221       242       463 


86 

74 

160 

52 

40 

92 

152 

172 

324 

184 

167 

351 

286 
eton 

259   545 
Hundred, 

141 

169 

146 

198 

287 
367 

56 

46 

102 

204 
177 
262 

193 

189 
234 

397 
366 
496 

(22)  The  distance  from  Banbury  Church  to  the  nearest  portion  of  the  neighbouring 
Counties  is  as  follows  : — 

County  of  Northampton    0  miles  3  furlongs 

County  of  Warwick    2  7 

An  isolated  portion  of  the  County  of  Gloucester    4  6 


566 


MANUFACTURES  OF  BANBURY. 
TOTAL. 


Houses 

Persons 

Inhabited 
5935 

Uninhabited 
265 

Building 
36 

Males         Females     1    Total 
14214             14317        \    28.331 

MANUFACTURES. 


The  manufacture  of  PLUSHES,  and  of  Girth  and  other  WEB- 
BING, is  carried  on  to  a  considerable  extent  in  Banbury,  and  much 
Plush  is  exported.  From  the  population  returns  of  1831,  it  appears 
that  125  men  were  at  that  date  employed  in  Plush  and  Girth 
making  in  Banbury ;  but  the  Banbury  masters  then  really  em- 
ployed about  550  men  in  the  town  and  the  adjacent  villages, 
besides  numerous  women  and  children  who  were  engaged  in  some 
parts  of  the  manufacture. 

Sir  William  Davenant,  in  1636,  mentions  the — 
"  Weaver  of  Banbury,  that  hopes 
To  intice  Heaven,  by  singing,  to  make  him  lord 
Of  twenty  looms.  "^^ 

Mr.  Phihp  Rusher,  in  1789,  says  of  Banbury: — 

"  Here  flourish  manufactories  and  arts, 

And  nimi'rous  workmen  ply  their  useful  parts  ; 

Swift  fly  the  pointed  shuttles  through  the  looms, 

And  moving  beams  reverb'rate  round  the  rooms. 

Qiuck  Industry,  with  busy  air  and  face. 

Presides  o'er  all,  and  moves  from  place  to  place. "^* 

It  has  been  commonly  supposed  that  the  manufactures  of  Ban- 
bury have  declined;  and  this  belief  has  been  countenanced  by 
the  Report  of  the  Commissioners  on  Municipal  Corporations  made 
in  1835.  But,  judging  from  the  comparative  number  of  persons 
who  are  described  as  Jersey  Combers  or  Jersey  Weavers,  Worsted, 
Silk,  Linen,  or  Garter  Weavers,  or  Stocking  Makers,  in  the  Parish 
Register  in  the  reign  of  George  the  First  (when  all  the  callings 
are  entered  with  the  other  items),  there  could  have  been,  at  that 
date,  no  such  extensive  share  of  manufactures  carried  on  here  as 
to  warrant  the  belief  of  a  subsequent  decline.^^ 

(23)  The  Wits,  a  Comedy.  (24)  Crouch  Hill,  a  Poem. 

(25)  I  have  lately  heard  it  stated  that  as  many  Weavers  are  now  employed  in  Banbury 
as  ever  there  were ;  but  that  the  spinning  of  the  yam,  which  was  formerly  performed  by 
women,  is  now  done  by  machinery  at  a  distance.  Probably  it  is  the  rapid  increase  of 
manufactures  in  other  places,  and  not  any  actual  decrease  of  them  in  Banbury,  that  has 
given  origin  to  the  belief  of  their  decline. 


MANUFACTURES  OF  BANBURY.         567 

In  ]838  (December  21st),  a  Report  from  the  Secretary  of  the 
Assistant  Hand-Loom  Weavers'  Commissioners  was  made  to  Par- 
liament respecting  Banbury.  From  this  it  appears  that,  at  that 
date,  the  manufacture  of  Plushes  and  other  very  heavy  fabrics  of 
worsted  and  cotton,  variously  intermingled,  cliiefly  for  exporta- 
tion, was  in  the  hands  of  the  three  different  firms  of  Gillett, 
Harris,  and  Baughen,  and  employed  430  looms.  These  firms 
were  stated  to  be  the  only  Plush  manufacturers  in  England  making 
rough  articles  for  clothing,  excepting  one  house  at  Manchester 
which  made  a  few  sealiotts  for  waistcoating  and  caps.  All  the 
articles  produced  at  Banbury  in  the  Plush  trade  were  in  the  style 
of  velvets,  and  were  made  in  looms  of  the  oldest  construction, 
with  the  shuttles  passed  by  hand.  Coarse  wires,  inserted  be- 
tween the  warp  threads  in  weaving,  form  the  pile,  the  threads 
across  the  wires  being  cut  with  a  lance  to  form  the  pile  of  those 
which  are  strictly  Plushes ;  while  other  articles,  variously  desig- 
nated, have  a  curly  surface  formed  by  simply  withdrawing  the 
wires  without  cutting  the  threads  which  cross  them.  Many  of 
these  fabrics  go  through  the  hands  of  merchants  to  Portugal, 
Spain,  Italy,  and  the  south  of  Europe  generally.  "  A  man,"  says 
one  of  the  accounts  reported,  "ought  to  make  a  piece  of  from 
forty-two  to  forty-four  yards  of  livery  plush  in  a  month,  for  which 
he  would  receive  about  £3." 

The  Report  further  states  that  the  manufacture  of  Webs,  or 
Girthing,  and  Horse-cloths,  had  been  carried  on  in  Banbury  by 
the  family  of  Messrs.  Cobb  for  about  140  years.  The  manu- 
factured articles  are  supplied  to  Birmingham,  Walsall,  Glasgow, 
Bristol,  &c.,  whence  they  find  their  way  into  general  consumption. 
The  number  of  persons  employed  in  1838  in  weaving  and  wind- 
ing was  about  forty.  The  weavers  were  chiefly  men  and  boys, 
but  there  were  five  girls  weaving  light  articles  ;  the  looms  being 
all  smgle-hand,  and  making  only  one  breadth  at  a  time.  All 
winding,  warping,  and  filling  of  quills,  were  done  by  hands  ex- 
pressly employed  by  the  master.  The  men  had  merely  to  put 
in  their  warps,  and  shoot  down  the  weft.  The  average  weekly 
earnings  of  the  boys  winding  were  then  1*.  lO^c?.,  and  the  average 
weekly  earnings  of  the  weavers  by  piece-work  were  lis.  O^d. ; 
they  worked,  on  an  average,  9^  hours  per  day  for  six  days  in  the 
week. 

The  oft-recorded  fame  of  the  town  for  Cheese   (see  pp.  454 — 


568  BANBURY  CHEESE  AND  CAKES. 

459)  has  departed  from  it,  and  the  knowledge  of  the  manufacture 
of  the  real  "  BANBURY  Cheese"  is  perhaps  now  unknown.'® 
The  first  mention  of  this  article  occurs  in  the  Corporation  ac- 
counts in  1556,  when  eight  shillings  were  paid  "  for  vj  copuU 
of  Ches  J*  wer  sennt  to  London  "  (see  p.  225).  Camden  is  the 
first  writer  who  speaks  of  it,  when  (in  1586)  he  says — the 
town  is  "  at  present  most  famous  for  making  good  Cheese."" 
Burton,  in  his  Anatomy  of  Melancholy,  says  (in  1651): — "of 
all  cheeses,  I  take  that  kind  which  we  call  Banbury  Cheese  to 
be  the  best."  Dr.  Plot  mentions  the  Banbury  Cheese.  FuUer 
places,  in  his  list  of  proverbial  expressions  relating  to  this  county, 
"Banbui-y  Zeale,  Cheese,  and  Cakes."  In  Chamberlayne's  An- 
gliee  Notitia,  printed  in  1700,  "the  rich  and  fine  town  of  Ban- 
bury "  is  mentioned  as  celebrated  for  Cheese.  In  the  Tour 
commenced  by  De  Foe,  and  continued  by  Richardson  and  others, 
it  is  said  that  Banbury  "  has  a  considerable  trade,  especially  in 
Cheese,  as  aU  the  country  round  is  a  rich  feeding  meadow  ground." 
A  very  rich  kind  of  Cheese  is  yet  made  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Banbury,  at  a  late  season  of  the  year,  on  some  very  rich  pasture 
land ;  and  this  may  possibly  be  the  kind  for  which  the  town  was 
formerly  so  highly  celebrated.  It  is  almost  white,  about  one  inch 
in  thickness,  and  resembles  in  appearance  the  soft  cream-cheese 
which  is  made  ia  many  parts ;  but  it  is  of  far  more  delicious  taste, 
and  bears  the  high  price  of  Is.  6d.  per  pound  when  new,  or  about 
Is.  9d.  when  ripe.  It  is  generally  called  in  the  neighbourhood 
"latter-made  cheese,"-^  as  it  can  only  be  made  after  Michaelmas. 
A  considerable  quantity  of  this  Cheese  is  yet  sent  to  distant  parts, 
each  cheese  packed  in  its  separate  basket. 

But  if  the  fame  of  Banbury  Cheese  has  so  nearly  departed, 
that  of  Banbury  Cakes,  recorded  from  the  days  of  Philemon 
Holland  and  Ben  Jonson  (in  1608  and  1614, — see  pp.  454,  455), 
has  continued  tiU  the  present  time.  Mr.  Samuel  Beesley,  the 
proprietor  of  the  cake  shop  which  in  the  last  century  was  con- 
ducted by  the  White  family,-^  sold,  in  1840,  no  fewer  than  139,500 

(26)  Shakspeaie  makes  one  of  FalstafTs  companions  compai-e  Master  Slender  to  "  a  Ban- 
bury Cheese."  The  commentators  on  the  text  say  that  this  comparison  is  made  ou  ac- 
count of  the  Cheese  being  "  all  paring." 

(27)  Camden's  Britannia,  1st  edit. 

(28)  Perhaps  "  lattermath  cheese  "  would  be  the  more  correct  appellation,  as  being  from  the 
rich  aftermath. 

(29)  The  White  family  were  famous  in  Banbury  as  Cake  Makers,  and  the  name  is  still 
kept  up  at  their  former  establishment  in  Parson's  Street  (now  conducted  by  Mr.  S.  Beesley), 
which  is  considered  the  "  Original  Cake  Shop."    Of  "  Old  Jarvis  White"  it  is  said,  that  he 


BANBURY  CAKES. 


569 


OHIGINAL  CAKE  SHOP,  PARSON'S   STREET. 

of  the  two-penny  Cakes.  The  sale  has  mereased  by  at  least  a 
fourth  during  the  present  year  (1841),  and,  in  the  month  of  August, 
Mr.  Beesley  sold,  on  an  average,  5,400  weekly.  Some  of  the 
Cakes  have  been  sent  by  him,  at  various  times,  to  America, 
and  one  package  to  Australia.  The  proprietor  of  one  of  the 
other  establishments  in  Banbury  forwarded,  in  1838,  a  large  quan- 
tity to  India. 

There  is  a  very  considerable  manufacture  of  AGRICULTURAL 
Implements  carried  on  at  Banbury.  Among  those  which  were 
exhibited  and  which  drew  much  approval  at  the  late  meeting  of 
the  Banbury  Agricultural  Association  held  at  Banbury  on  the 
21st  September  1841,  or  previously  at  the  great  meeting  of  the 
Royal  English  Agricultural  Society  held  at  lAverpool  on  the  21st 
July,  were  various  patent  turnip-cutting  machines,  a  patent  land- 
presser  or  roll  made  on  the  lever  principle,  a  patent  drill  on  the 
same  principle,  a  steer  drill,  a  cake-crusher,  and  a  hand  thrashing 
machine,  all  by  Banbury  inventors. 

spent  most  of  his  time  hanging  over  the  hatch  of  his  shop  door,  while  his  wife,  "  Betty  Wliite," 
was  industriously  engaged  in  keeping  up  the  fame  of  the  Cakes.  Betty  White  was  jealous 
of  her  credit  in  other  respects,  and  used  to  say, — "  My  name  is  '  quiet  Betty,'  I  never  med- 
dles nor  makes  with  nobody;  no  mealman  never  calls  upon  me  twice:"  she  was  querulous, 
and  often  complained  of  the  hardness  of  the  times  and  the  increasing  price  of  the  articles 
she  used  in  the  Cakes :  "  Only  think,"  she  used  to  say,  when  customers  remarked  that  the 
Cakes  were  smaller,  "  there's  currans,  they  be  double  the  price  th'  used  to  be,  and  then 
there's  butter  an'  sugar,  why  they  be  double  the  price  ih'  was  formerly."     On  customers 


4c 


570  MANUFACTURES. 

Rhubarb  is  cultivated  and  prepared  in  considerable  quantity 
in  tlie  neigliboTirhood  of  Banbury,  for  medicinal  purposes. 

At  Middleton  Cbeney  and  Cliacombe  there  is  a  considerable 
manufacture  of  tbe  finest  kind  of  Silk  Stockings.  William 
Horton  Esq.,  the  inventor  of  the  elastic  knotted  hose,  resided  in 
liis  younger  years  at  Cliacombe,  and  worked  there  as  a  frame- 
smith. 

complaining  of  the  size  of  the  halfpenny  Cakes,  she  would  say, "  G help  y',  I  'oonder 

how  much  butter  and  sugar  y'  could  buy  for  a  ha'penny." 

Jarvis  White  was  a  profane,  as  well  as  an  idle,  man,  but  he  would  speak  a  word  in 
favour  of  his  wife's  Cakes ;  and,  to  show  how  light  they  were,  he  tried  to  make  people  be- 
lieve that  a  sparrow  came  one  day  into  the  shop  and  flew  off  with  a  cake  in  its  mouth. 

When  it  was  wet  on  a  Fair  day,  he  used  to  say,  "  If  the  D has  a  black  cloud,  he's  sure 

to  blow  it  up  at  Banbury  Fair." — Information  from  the  late  Mr.  James  Lush,  Mr.  Robert 
Gardner,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Padhury. 

It  is  probable  that  the  Banbury  Cakes  of  the  present  day  are  made  pretty  nearly  the  same 
as  those  of  the  time  of  Holland  and  Ben  Jonson.  The  present  Mr.  Dumbleton  (who  was 
born  in  1755)  remembers  this  sort  of  Cakes  as  being  considered  an  antiquated  produc- 
tion in  the  days  of  his  youth  ;  and  he  states  that  his  father,  who  was  born  in  the  year  1700, 
spoke  of  them  in  the  same  way.  The  importation  to  this  country  of  those  small  grapes 
which  are  the  "  currants  "  of  commerce,  and  which  are  used  in  the  manufacture  of  Ban- 
bury Cakes,  was  much  earlier  than  this  period.  Ben  Jonson  (in  his  "  Bartholomew  Fair  ") 
writes  of  the  Banbury  Puritan,  a  baker  and  cake-maker,  as  having  "  undone  a  grocer  here, 
in  Newgate  market,  that  broke  with  him,  trusted  him  with  currants,  as  arrant  a  zeal  as  he." 

The  Cakes  are  of  an  oval,  but  rather  diamond-shaped,  figure  :  the  outside  is  formed 
of  rich  paste,  and  tlie  interior  consists  of  fruit,  &c.,  resembling  the  contents  of  a  mince  pie. 


BETTY  WHITE. 
in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Wm.  Brain. 


BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD.       .^71 


THE  BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD 
OF  BANBURY, 

WITH    A   SKETCH    OF   THE    GEOLOGY.^" 


The  Plants  growing  wild  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Banbury  were 
collected  some  years  ago  by  George  Gulliver  Esq.,  and  by  the  au- 
thor of  the  "  History  of  Banbury ;"  and  more  lately  have  been 
again  examined  by  the  present  writer,  and  partially  by  others: 
but  nothing  had  been  published  relating  to  their  habitats  until  the 
appearance  of  Mr.  Gulliver's  "  Catalogue  "  a  few  months  since.^^ 
The  "  Flora  of  Oxfordshire  "  of  Mr.  Walker,  and  other  botanical 
works,  make  little  or  no  mention  of  this  neighbourhood.  Mr. 
Gulliver's  catalogue  contains  408  species  of  Flowering  Plants 
arranged  upon  the  Linnsean  System,  and  a  considerable  number 
of  Acrogens,  chiefly  minute  Fungi,  Lichens,  and  Mosses. 

The  following  List  of  Plants  is  intended  to  apply  generally  to  a 
circuit  of  about  three  miles  round  the  Town:  Tadmarton  Heath, 
however,  a  spot  frequently  mentioned,  and  a  further  examination 
of  which  would,  I  doubt  not,  reward  the  observer,  is  five  miles 
distant ;  and  in  the  eases  of  very  rare  plants,  still  greater  latitude 
has  been  allowed. 

The  soil  of  the  neighbourhood,  although  generally  very  fertile, 
is  but  little  diversified ;  no  very  considerable  elevations  occur ; 
the  improved  drainage  has  destroyed  the  bogs  ;  and  woods,  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  plantations,  are  wanting:  all  these  tend 
to  diminish  the  number  of  indigenous  species ;  nevertheless  the 
list  here  given  will,  I  believe,  be  found  to  bear  comparison  with 
those  of  most  other  districts.  It  contains  521  species  of  Flower- 
ing Plants,  including  a  few  doubtful  ones  introduced  on  the  au- 
thority of  Mr.   Gulliver.       Of  the  Acrogens,  notwithstanding  the 

(30)  Furnished  for  this  work  by  Mr.  Thomas  Bcesley. 

(31)  A  Catalogue  of  Plants  collected  in  the  Neighbourliood  of  Banbury.  By  George 
Gulliver,  F.  R.  S.,  F.  Z.  S.,  Assistant  Surgeon  to  the  Royal  Regiment  of  Horse  Guards. 

4  c3 


572      GEOLOGY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

advantage  taken  of  tlie  valuable  Catalogue  of  those  plants  by  Mr. 
Gulliver,  I  fear  the  list  will  be  found  deficient,  as  I  have  myself 
paid  but  little  attention  to  this  branch  of  Botany.^'  In  the  present 
state  of  our  knowledge  of  these  plants,  this  deficiency  is  perhaps 
not  much  to  be  regretted ;  particularly  as  Fungi,  in  which  it 
probably  occurs  to  the  greatest  extent,  appear  to  be  less  restricted 
by  local  causes.  Partly  for  this  reason,  the  habitats  of  these  plants 
have  generally  been  omitted. 

As  some  connexion  undoubtedly  exists  between  the  vegetation 
and  the  geological  or  mineral  character  of  a  district,  it  will  be 
proper  to  premise  a  few  remarks  on  the 

GEOLOGY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

The  town  and  neighbourhood  of  Banbury  are  situated  for  the 
most  part  on  the  Inferior  Oolite,  the  ferruginous  sandstone  of 
which  is  very  apparent  in  the  buildings  of  the  town.  On  the 
east,  along  the  vale  of  the  Cherwell,  a  narrow  arm  of  Lias  oc- 
cupies the  surface,  extending  two  or  three  miles  to  the  south  of 
the  town.  From  this  formation  is  quarried  the  Limestone  locally 
known  as  "  Banbury  Marble,"  equivalent  to  the  "  Cottam  Mar- 
ble"  of  stone-masons.  A  blue  marly  sandstone  containing  a 
considerable  quantity  of  mica  is  quarried  for  flagstones  near 
New  Land  from  the  Inferior  Oolite.  About  a  mile  to  the  west 
of  the  town,  on  the  top  of  the  low  hill  rising  above  Neithorp, 
called  Constitution  Hill,  and  immediately  on  the  east  of  Withy- 
comb  farm-house,  a  subsided  mass  of  Great  Oolite  of  a  few  acres 
in  extent  occurs,  the  strata  of  which  are  considerably  inchned 
and  plainly  identified  by  their  characteristic  fossils ;  and  are 
evidently  the  remains  of  a  formation  once  continuous  over  tliis 
neighbourhood,  which  has  been  swept  away  by  diluvial  agency .^^ 
Abundant  traces  of  watery  action  are  exhibited  in  the  fields  be- 
yond this  mass,  called  Bretch,  a  stony  spot  full  of  hills  and  hol- 
lows, and  containing  the  Cave  already  alluded  to  in  the  History 
of  Banbury  (p.  296,  note  40)  which  is  undoubtedly  the  effect  of 
this  action.  No  alluvial  deposits  of  consequence  occur  in  this 
neighbourhood. 

(32)  I  am  greatly  indebted  to  Mr.  Baxter,  Curator  of  the  Botanic  Garden,  Oxford,  for 
his  kind  assistance  in  some  doubtful  cases. 

(33)  This  mass  may  be  readily  examined  in  a  pit  for  digging  Limestone  at  the  top  of 
Constitution  Hill. 


GEOLOGY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD.  .'>73 

A  series  of  fossil  vertebrae  were  discovered  a  few  years  since  in 
the  marly  sandstone  of  Warkwortli,  a  stone  identical  in  charac- 
ter and  position  with  that  quarried  near  New  Land.  They  proba- 
bly belonged  to  some  large  marine  lacerta,  but  were  dispersed  soon 
after  discovery,  and  have  not  since  been  heard  of.  Fragments 
of  the  claws  of  marine  crustacese,  of  the  crab  or  lobster  families, 
also  occur.^"*  Fossil  trees  are  not  uncommon.  The  other  fossils 
are  in  no  way  remarkable  as  peculiar  to  the  beds  of  this  district. 

Deep  wells  sunk  into  the  Lias  in  the  lower  part  of  the  town 
generally  afford  an  alkaline  water.  The  following  analysis  of  the 
water  at  Mr.  Sedgley's,  High  Street,  may  be  taken  as  an  exam- 
ple : — 

In  64  ounces 

Carbonic  Acid    1.  5  cub.  in. 

Hydrosulphuvic  Acid   a  trace 

Carbonate  Soda 8.  6  grains 

Sulphate  Soda    10.  9 

Chloride  Sodium    9.  5 

Carbonate  Lime     0.  7 

29.  7 
With  regard  to  the  geological  stations  of  the  plants  enumerated 
in  the  following  list,  the  greater  part  are  situated  on  the  "  Red 
land "  of  the  Inferior  Oolite.  At  Andrews'  Pits,  Crouch  Hill, 
Bretch,  North  Newmgton,  Wroxton  Mill,  King's  or  Balscot  Mill, 
Shutford  Lane,  Drayton,  and  Hanwell,  a  stony  soil,  chiefly  on 
the  upper  beds  of  the  Inferior  Oolite,  occurs.  The  INIill  meadow 
at  Banbury,  most  of  the  stations  by  the  Cherwell  and  Canal,  and 
at  Grimsbury,  are  on  the  Lias  :  whilst  the  more  distant  places, 
as  Great  Tew,  Chipping  Norton,  and  Deddington,  are  mostly  on 
the  Great  Oolite.  I  know  of  no  plant  pecuUar  to  the  subsided 
mass  of  the  latter  formation  on  Constitution  Hill.  Tadmarton, 
Hooknorton,  or  Wigginton  Heath  is  occupied  by  the  sands  of 
the  Inferior  OoUte.  A  glance  at  the  ordnance  map  will  show 
the  situations  of  most  of  the  places  named. 

I  know  of  no  correct  series  of  meteorological  observations  made 
at  Banbury  from  which  the  Temperature,  Pressure,  &c.  can  be  de- 
duced. The  mean  temperature  of  Springs  is  51" ;  and  probably 
that  of  the  Air  differs  but  little  from  this. 

(34)  Conybeare  and  Phillips's  Geology  of  England  and  Wales.  Mr.  Conybeare  resided 
some  time  in  this  neighbourhood. 


574       BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

A  List  of  Plants  collected  in  the  Neighbourhood  of  Banbury. 

[In  the  arrangement  and  nomenclature  of  the  Flowering  Plants,  Dr. 
Lindley's  "  Synopsis  of  the  British  Flora,"  2nd  edition,  with  some  slight 
alterations  in  the  Natural  Orders  sanctioned  by  that  Botanist  in  his  later 
works,  has  been  followed.  The  Flowerless  Plants  have  been  named  and 
arranged  by  Sir  William  Hooker's  "  British  Flora." 

Of  the  abbreviations  used  in  the  list,  [G]  signifies  that  the  plant  was 
discovered  at  the  station  to  which  it  is  annexed  by  Mr.  Gulliver;  [A.  B.] 
by  Mr.  Alfred  Beesley ;  and  [T.  B.]  by  the  Compiler.  In  cases  where 
a  plant  has  been  discovered  at  other  stations,  or  has  been  noticed  at  the 
same  place  by  different  persons,  no  reference  has  generally  been  given.] 

VASCULARES,  OR  FLOWERING  PLANTS. 

EXOGENS,   OR   DICOTYLEDONS. 

Order.     Ranunculacece. 

Clematis  Vitalba.     Honesty.     Wkkham  tollgate.     Rare. 
This  is  ihe  only  station  in  the  neighbourhood  I  am  acquainted  with.    Beyond  Deddington, 
on  the  road  to  Oxford,  it  becomes  very  common ;   but  nearly  ceases  before  reaching 
Oxford.     As  that  tract  of  country  coincides,  I  believe,  with  the  limestones  of  the  Lower 
Oolite  system,  it  would  appear  to  be  chiefly  confined  to  a  limestone  soil,  at  least  in  this 
district. 
Thalictrum  flavum.     Meadow  Rue.     Brook  sides.  Mill  meadoiv. 
Adonis  autumnalis.     Pheasant's  eye.     Lane  between  Broughton  and  Blox- 

ham.     Very  rare. 
Anemone  nemorosa.     Wood  Anemone.     Broughton.     Wroxton.    Rare. 
Ranunculus  Flammula.      Lesser  Spearwort.     Watery  places.     Hanwell. 

Beyond  North  Neivington.     Not  common. 
R.  Ficaria.     Pilewort.     Pastures. 
R.  auricomus.     Goldilocks.     Hedges.     Not  common. 
R.  sceleratus.      Watery  jilaces.     Not  common. 
R.  bulbosus.     Buttercups.     Golden  Knobs.     Meadows. 
R.  Philonotis  ( — hirsutus  Cwr^^s.)  Hairy  Crowfoot.  Moistmeadows.  [A.B.J 
R.  repens.     Creeping  Crowfoot.     Pastures  and  road  sides. 
R.  acris.     Upright  Buttercups.     Pastures. 
R.  arvensis.     Corn  Crowfoot.     Corn-fields. 
R.  aquatilis.     Water  Crowfoot.     Ditches  and  ponds. 
R.  pantothrix    ( — circinatus    Sihthorp).       Ditches    and   ponds,    with    the 

above. 
Caltha  palustris.     ISIarsh  Marigold.     Marshy  places. 

Helleborus  viridis.     Green  Hellebore.    Hanivell  Plantation.    [G.]     Rad- 
ivay  Wood.     [A.  B.]      Very  rare. 

Air.  Gulliver's  station  can  hardly  be  considered  a  wild  one,  as  the  place  appears  to  have 
been  originally  planted  as  a  garden,  and  still  contains  Hellehorus  hijemalis  and  other 
garden  plants.     The  same  remark  applies  to  Pulmonaria  officinalis,  Galanihus  nivalis, 
and  Narcissus  Pseudo-narcissus. 
Aquilegia  vulgaris.     Colinnbines.     Near  Chipping  Norton. 
Delphinium  Consolida.     Larkspur.     Near  Deddington  Papermill.     [G.] 
This  and  the  following  are  no  doubt  outcasts  from  gardens. 


BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD.  -^to 

Aconitum  vulgare  ( — Napellus  Smith).     Monk's-hood.     Near  Dedd'nigton 
Paper  mill.     [G.] 

Order.     JBerberacece. 
Berberis  vulgaris.     Barberry.     Hedges.     Wickham.    Rare. 

Order.     Nyniphceacece . 
Nymplisea  alba.      White    Water   Lily.      Cherwell    near    King's  Sutton. 

Not  common. 
Nuphar  lutea.     Yellow  Water  Lily.     Cherwell.     Common. 

Order.     Papaveracece. 
Papaver   dubivim.      Smooth-headed  Poppy.       Fields  8fc.   in   sandy  soil. 

Bretch.     Not  common. 
P.  Rhaeas.     Common  Poppy.     Cultivated  Fields.     Very  common. 
Chelidonium  niajiis.     Greater  Celandine.     Waste  ground.     Road  sides. 

Order.     Fumariacece. 
Fumaria  officinalis.     Fumitory.     Corn-fields. 

Order.     Brassicacem  or  Cruciferce. 

Nasturtium  officinale.     Water  Cress.    Ditches. 

N.  sylvestre.     Canal  side,  third  March,  near  the  Bridge.     [G.]     Rare. 
N.  terrestre.     Ditch  and  Canal  sides. 
N.  amphibium.     Water  Radish.     Canal  sides. 
Barbarea  vulgaris.     Winter  Cress.     Yellow  Rocket.    Ditch  sides. 
Arabis  thaliana.     Wall  Cress.     On  ivalls  at  Aynho.     [G.]     Rare. 
Cardamine  hirsuta.     Near  Grimshury,  plentiful.     [G.]      Wall  at  William- 
scot.     Near  Tadmarton  Heath. 
C.  pratensis.     Lady's  Smock.     Moist  meadows. 
C.  amara.      Bitter  Cress.      Grimshury  Mill  meadow.     Cherwell  towards 

King's  Sutton. 
Erophila  vulgaris.     (Draba  verna  Linn.)     Whitlow  Grass.     Walls. 
Cochlearia  Armoracia.     Horseradish.     Cherwell  toivards  King's  Sutton. 
Hesperis    matronalis.      Dames'    Violet.      Beyond    Overthorp.       [A.  B.] 

Near  Adderhury.     [G.]     Very  rare. 
Sisymbriiun  officinale.     Hedge  Mustard.     Road  sides. 
S.  Soijhia.       FHxweed.       North    Newington.       [A.  B.]       In     Banbury 

Church-yard.     [G.]     Not  now  to  he  found  at  either  place. 
Alliaria  officinahs.      (Erysimum   AUiaria  Linn.)      Jack  by  the  Hedge. 

Hedges. 
Erysimum  cheiranthoides.     Treacle  Mustard.      Cherwell  towards  King's 

Sutton.     Very  rare. 
Coronopus  Ruellii.     (Cochlearia  Coronopus  Linn.)     Swine's  Cress,     Road 

sides. 
Capsella  Bursa   Pastoris.      (Thlaspi  Bursa   Pastoris  Linn.)      Shepherd's 

Purse.     Road  sides.     Walls. 


576  BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

Lepidium  campestre.  (Thlaspi  campestre  Linn.)  Mithridate  Pepper- 
wort.     Near  Shiitford.     [A.  B.]      Very  rare. 

Isatis  tinctoria.  Wild  Woad.  Fields  between  Broughton  and  North 
Newington.     [G.] 

Brassica  Napus.     Rape.     Ciiltivatedjields  and  icaste  ground. 

B.  Rapa.     Turnip.     Cultivated fieldx  and  waste  ground. 

B.  campestris.  Wild  Navew.  Between  Cropredy  and  MoUington.  [Rev. 
Dr.  Goodenough.]      Very  rare. 

Sinapis  arvensis.     Charlock.     Corn-fields.     Very  common. 

Carrichtera  Vellse.  (Vella  annua  Z?««.)  Neithorp.  Not  uncommon.  [G.] 
There  is  probabl}'  some  mistake  with  regard  to  this  plant.  It  was  once  found  in  Ray's 
time  on  Salisbury  Plain.     I  have  never  met  with  it. 

Order.      Violacem. 

Viola  hirta.     Hairy  Violet.     Crouch  Lane.     Bretch. 

V.  odorata.     Sweet  Violet.     Hedge  hanks. 

The  white  variety  of  Viola  odorata  is  very  uncommon  near  Banbury ;  towards  Broughton 
it  becomes  common  ;  and  near  Shipston-on-Stour  I  have  observed  it  much  more  plenti- 
ful than  the  blue  variety. 

V.  canina.     Dog's  Violet.     Hedge  hanks.     Very  common. 

V.  tricolor.     Wild  Pansy.     Corn-fields. 

V.  tricolor,  var.  )3  ( — arvensis  Sihth.)     Corn-fields.     Common. 

Order.     Cisiacece. 

Helianthemum  vulgare.  (Cistus  Helianthemum  Linn.)  Rock  Rose. 
Bretch. 

Order.     Polygalacecv. 
Polygala  vulgaris.      Milkwort.      Hanwell.      North   Newington.      Bather 


Order.     Malvacece. 
Malva  sylvestris.     Common  Mallow.      JFay  sides. 
M.  rotundifolia.      Way  sides. 
M.  moscliata.     Musk  Mallow.     Borders  of  fields.     Frequent. 

Order.     Hypericacece. 
Hypericum  calycinum.     Coppice  on  the  south  of  Shutford  Lane,  hut  hardly 

irild. 
H.  quadrangulum.     St.  Peter's  Wort.     Watery  places. 
H.  perforatum.     St.  John's  Wort.     Roadsides. 
H.  dubium.      Oxford  Road.     Andrews'  Pits.      Near   Adderhury.      In   a 

plantation  near  Wroxton  Mill.     Shutford  Lane. 

This  plant,  not  included  in  Walker's  Flora  of  Oxfordshire,  is  probably  often  passed  by  as 
H.  perforatum.     It  is  not  very  uiifrequent  here. 
H.  humifusum.     Wroxton  Heath.     [G.]     Rare. 
H.  hirsutum.     Near  Drayton.     Near  Hamvell.     Not  common. 
H.  pulchrum.     Hanwell  Heath.     [T.  B.]     Rare. 


BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD.  ^^77 

Order.     Cmyophyllacece. 
Silene  inflata.     Bladdei-  Campion.     Hedges. 

Lychnis  Flos  Cuculi.     Ragged  Robin.    Moist  meadows  and  ditches. 
L.  sylvestris  ( — ^dioica  rubra  Smith).     Red  Campion. 
Rare  near  Banbury,  but  frequent  about  Drayton  and  Wroxton.    At  North  Ncwington  a 
variety  with  flesh-coloured  petals,  but  with  the  other  characters  of  L.  sylvestris  very 
distinct,  is  common. 

L.  dioica  ( — dioica  alba  Smith).     White  Campion.     Hedges.     Common. 

Agrostemma  Githago.     Corn  Cockle.     Corn-fields. 

Spergnla  arvensis.     Spurrey.     Near  Adderhury.     [G.]     Rare. 

Sagina  procumbens.     Pearlwort.     Gravel  walks.     Walls. 

Arenaria  trinervis.     Plantain-leaved  Sandwort.     Frequent. 

A.  serpyllifolia.     Thyme-leaved  Sandwort.     Walls. 

A.  tenuifolia.     Bretch.     [G.]     Not  found  in  1841. 

Cerastium  aquaticum.     Ditches. 

C.  vulgatum.     Mouse-ear  Chickweed.     Every-ivhere. 

C.  viscosimi.     Every-where. 

C.  arvense.     Pest-house  field.    Bretch.     [T.  B.]     Rare. 

Larbraea  aquatica.      (Stellaria  uliginosa  Sm.)      Watery  j^laces.      [T.  B.] 

Frequent. 
Stellaria  media.     Chickweed.     Every-where. 
S.  Holostea.     Great  Stitchwort.     Drayton  Lane.     Rare. 
S.  graminea.     Lesser  Stitchwort.     Common. 

Order.      Linacece. 

Linum  usitatissimum.     Common  Flax.     Hooknorton.    Rare. 
L.  catharticum.     Purging  Flax.     Crouch  Lane.     Bretch. 

Order.     Tiliacece. 
Tilia  intermedia  (— europaea  Linn.)     Lime-tree.    Planted  on  the   Green 
and  in  the  Church-yard. 

Order.     Aceracece. 

Acer  Pseudo-platanus.     Sycamore.    Hedges. 
A.  campestre.     Maple.    Hedges. 

Order.     Geraniacece. 
Geranium  pratense.      Great   Crane's-bill.      Rather  moist  places.      Mill 

meadow.     Not  uncommon. 
G.  Robertianum.     Herb  Robert.     Hedges. 

G.  lucidum.     Opposite  Bodicot  Road.     Farnhorough  Road.    Rare. 
G.  molle.     Hedges  and  dry  pastures. 
G.  dissectum.     Hedge  hanks. 
Erodium    cicutarium.      Stork's-bill.      Walls.      Broughton.     North  New- 

ington. 


4d 


578  BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

Order.     Oxalidacece. 
Oxalis  Acetosella.     Wood  Sorrel.     Wroxton.     Beyond  Chacombe.     Hook- 
norton. 

Order.     Crassulacece . 

Sedum  acre.     Biting  Stonecrop.     Walls  a7id  roofs. 

S.  album.     White  Stonecrop.     Wall  at  Warkivorth.     [T.  B.J     Rare. 

S.  reflexum.     Walls  and  roofs.     New  Land.     North  Neivington  Paper- 

7nill. 
Sempervivum  tectorum.     Houseleek.      Walls  and  roofs. 

Order.     Saxifragace<x. 

Parnassia  palustris.     Grass  of  Parnassus.     Bog  south  of  Shiitford  Bridge, 

tvith  Menyanthes  trifoliata.     [T.  B.]     Very  rare. 

This,  the  only  station  of  this  very  elegant  plant  known  in  the  neighbourhood,  will  pro- 
bably from  its  situation  escape  draining,  which  destroys  so  many  of  our  bog  plants. 
Leiogyne  granulata.      (Saxifraga  granulata  Linn.)     Meadow   Saxifrage. 

Pest-house  field.     Bretch. 
Saxifraga  tridactylites.     Rue-leaved  Whitlow-grass.      Walls. 

Order.     Lythracea;. 
Lythrum  Salicaria.     Purple  Loose-strife.     Brooks. 

Order.     Rliamnacece. 
Rhamnus  catharticus.     Buckthorn.     Hedges.     Common. 

Order.     Celastracece. 
Euonymus  europaeus.       Spindle-tree.       Chacomhe.       [Mr.    M.    Jessop.] 
Rare. 

Order.     Fabacece  or  Leguminosoe. 

Ulex  europaeus.     Furze.     Common. 

Genista    tinctoria.       Dyers'    Green-weed.       Beyond  North    Neivington. 

Near  Hornton.     Rare. 
Cytisus  scoparius.      (Spartium   scoparium   Linn.)      Broom.      Tadmarton 

Heath. 
Anthyllis  vulneraria.     Kidney   Vetch.      Bretch.     Shutford  Lane.     Near 

Horley.    Rare, 
Ononis  arvensis.     Hairy  Rest-harrow.     Common. 
O.  antiquorum   ( — spinosa  Linn.)      Thorny   Rest-harrow.      Combe  Hill 

near  Adderbury.     [A.  B.]     Rare. 
Astragalus    glycyphyllos.      Wild    Liquorice.       Andreivs    Pits.       Bretch. 

[A.  B.]     Hamvell  foot-road..    [Miss  Padbury.] 
Not  to  be  found  there  now. 
Melilotus  officinalis.     Melilot.     Hedges. 

M.  leucantha.     White  Melilot.     Farm  Field,  1838.     Very  rare. 
Trifolium  repens.     Dutch  Clover.     Pastures. 


BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD.  579 

Trifolium  pratense.     Purple  Clover.     Pastures. 

T.  arvense.     Hare's-foot  Trefoil.      Walls  at  Shenington.     [G.]     Rare. 

T.  scabnim.     Bretch.     [T.  B.]     Bare. 

T.  procumbens.     Hop  Trefoil.     Gravelly  fields.     Bretch. 

Lotus  corniculatus.     Bird's-foot  Trefoil.     Banks  and  pastures. 

L.  major.     Wet  places.     Hanwell.     [T.  B.] 

Medicago  sativa.     Lucerne.     Grhnshury.     Rare. 

M.  lupulina.     Black  Nonesuch.     Pastures. 

Ervum  tetraspermum.     Smooth  Tare.     Waste  and  cultivated  ground. 

E.  liirsutum.     Rough  Tare.      Waste  and  cultivated  ground. 

Vicia  cracca.     Tufted  Vetch.     Moist  hedges. 

V.  sativa.     Common  Vetch.     Cultivated  ground. 

V.  sepium.     Bush  Vetch.     Bushes. 

Lathyrus  pratensis.     Everlasting  Tare.     Hedges. 

L.  Nissolia.     Crimson  Grass  Vetch.     In  a  corn-field  bettveen  Skutford  and 

Bourton.     [G.]     Very  rare. 
Orobus    tuberosus.      Black    Bitter    Vetch.      Beyond  North  *Neivington. 

[A.  B.]     Rare. 
Ornithopus  perpusillus.     Bird's  Foot.    Tadmarton  Heath.    [T.  B.]     Rare. 
Onobrychis  sativa.     (Hedysarum  Onobrychis  Linn.)     Saintfoin.     Bretch. 

Order.      Rosacece. 
Spiraea  Filipendula.     Dropwort.     Bretch.     Tadmarton  Heath. 
S.  Ulmaria.     Meadow  Sweet.     Queen  of  the  Meadows.     Watery  places. 
Prunus  spinosa.     Sloe.     Blackthorn.     Hedges. 
Rubus  id^us.     Raspberry.     North  Neivington.    Hanwell.    Near  Wroxton 

mill. 
R.  cfesius.     Dewberry.    Hedges  and  thickets.     Not  common. 
R.  fruticosus.     Common  Bramble.     Hedges.     Very  common. 
R.  diversifolius  ( — glandulosus  Sm.)     In  a  hedge  near  the  Bear  Garden, 

note  cut  down.     [T.  B.] 
R.  vulgaris  ( — corylifolius  Sm.)     Hedges.     Very  common. 

Several  other  forms  of  15iambles  are  common,  but  the  characters  are  so  indistinct  that  I 
cannot  decide  upon  the  species. 

Fragaria  vesca.     Wood  Strawberry.     New  Land.    Not  common. 

Potentilla  fruticosa.      Shrubby   Cinquefoil.     Fomid  near  Great   Tew  by 

Mr.  James  Rusher. 

I  have  seen  the  specimen,  and  am  informed  that  it  was  apparently  wild. 
P.  anserina.     Silverweed.     Road  sides.     Very  common. 
P.  reptans.     Creeping  Cinquefoil.      Waste  ground. 
P.  Fragaria.     Wild  Strawberry.     Shady  banks. 
P.  Tormentilla.       (Tormentilla    officinalis    Sm.)       Tormentil.       Bretch. 

Hanwell.     Tadmarton  Heath. 
P.  nemoralis.      (Tormentilla  reptans  Linn.)      Hooknorton  Heath.      Wig- 

ginion  Heath.     [G.] 

Hardly  distinct  from  P.  reptans.    The  number  of  the  petals  is  not  constant. 
Geum  urbanum.     Avens.     Hedges. 
Agrimonia  Eupatoria.     Agrimony.     Road  sides. 
Rosa  rubiginosa.     Sweetbriar.     Crouch  Lane.     [A.  B.]     Rare. 
4d3 


580       BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

Rosa  canina.     Dog  Rose.     Hedges.     Common. 
R.  arvensis.     Hedges. 

Not  common  near  Banbury,  but  in  a  mile  or  two  from  it  in  several  directions  becomes 
verj'  frequent ;  sometimes  more  so  than  R.  canina. 
Alchemilla  vulgaris.     Lady's  Mantle.     Behind  Keeper's  Lodge,  Wroxton. 

Between  Shutford  and  Balscot.    Near  Wroxton  Mill.    Rare. 
A,  arvensis.     Parsley  Piert.     Walls  and  corn-fields.     [T.  B.]     Not  cam- 

mon. 
Sanguisorba  officinalis.     Great  Burnet.      Pastures.     Hanivell.     Between 

Williamscoi  and  Cropredy. 
Poterium  Sanguisorba.     Salad  Burnet.     Gravelly  fields.    Bretch. 
Crataegus    oxyacantha.     (Mespilus   oxyacantha  Sm.)     May.     Hawthorn. 

Hedges. 
C.  oxyacantha  var.  j8.  eriocarpa.     Hedges.     [G.] 
Pyrus  Malus.     Crab-tree.     Hedges. 
P.  aucuparia.     (Sorbus  aucuparia  Linn.)     Plantations.     Not  wild. 

Order.     Grossulacece. 
Ribes  rubrum.     Red  Currants.     North  side  of  Drayton  Lane.     [G.J 
R.  Grossularia.     Gooseberry.     Broughton  Road.     [T.  B.] 

Order.     Onogracece. — Div.     (Enotherece. 

Epilobium  hirsutum.     Codlings  and  Cream.     Ditches. 

E.  parviflorum.     Ditches. 

E.  montanum.     Dry  ditches. 

E.  tetragonum.     Between  Hiiscot  and  WiUiamscot.     [T.  B.] 

E.  palustre.     Near  Huscot.     [T.  B.]     Frequent. 

Order.     OnogracecB.' — Div.     Circcee<^. 
Circsea  lutetiana.     Enchanters'  Nightshade.     Wroxton. 

Order.     Cercodiacece. 

Myriophyllum   spicatum.      Water   Milfoil.      Pond  at  Bronghton.      [G.] 

Rare. 
M.  verticilktum.       Mill   meadow.      Brook    in    Grimshury    Wharf  close. 

[T.  B.] 
Hippuris  vulgaris.      Mare's-tail.      Near  Drayton.      [G.]      King's  Mill. 

Rare. 

Order.     Araliacece. 
Hedera  Helix.     Ivy.     Trees  and  walls. 

Order.     Apiacece  or  Umbelliferce . 
Daucus  Carota.     Wild  Carrot.     Bird's  Nest.     Road  sides. 
Torilis  Anthriscus.     Hedges. 

T.  infesta.      On  a  tvall  in  Back  Lane.      Bretch.      Corn-fields  at  North 
Newington     [T.  B.] 


BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD.       581 

Torilis  nodosa.     Knotted  Hen 's-foot.     Dry  gravelly  places.     Drctch. 

Pastinaca  sativa.     Wild  Pavsnep.     Hedges. 

Hei-acleum  Spliondylium.     Hogweed.     Hedges  and  pastures. 

Angelica  sylvestris.     Wild  Angelica.     Watery  places. 

Silaus  pratensis.    (Cnidium  Silaus  .y^rrair.)     Pepper  Saxifrage.     Pastures. 

^thusa  Cynapium.     Fool's  Parsley.     Cultivated  ground. 

^nanthe  fistulosa.     Water  Dropwort.     Ditches.     Austin's  meadow. 

Conopodium  ilexuosum.  (Bunium  flexuosum  With.)  Pig-nut.  Pas- 
tures and  groves. 

Pimpinella  saxifraga.     Burnet  Saxifrage.     Oxford  Road.     Dretch. 

Slum  angustifolium.     Narrow-leaved  Water  Parsnep.     Ditches. 

Helosciadium  nodiflorum.  (Sium  nodifloruni  Linn.)  Ditches.  Very 
common. 

Sison  Amomuni.     Honewort.     Broughton  Road.     Shutford  Lane. 

iEgopodium  Podagraria.     Gout  Weed.     Jump-about.     Road  sides. 

Anthriscus  vulgaris.  Beaked  Parsley.  On  a  wall  in  New  Land.  [G.] 
Very  rare. 

A.  sjdvestris.     (Chisrophyllum  sylvestre  Linn.)     Kecks.     Hedges. 

ChaeroiDliyllum  temulum.  (Myrrliis  temula  «S'^jreH</.)  Rough  Cow-parsley. 
Hedges. 

Conium  maculatum.  Hemlock.  Hedges.  Rather  plentiful  in  some  sea- 
sons. 

Sanicula  europeea.  Wood  Sanicle.  Drayton  iMue.  Wroxton.  Wickhum 
coppice. 

Order.     Galiacece  or  Stellatce. 

Galium  crviciatum.     Crosswort.     Hedges. 

G.  palustre.     Watery  places. 

G.  saxatile.     Hanwell  Heath.     Tadmarton  Heath. 

G.  idiginosum.     Broughton.     [T.  B.] 

G.  verum.     Ladies'  Bed-straw.     Banks  and  hedges. 

G.  Mollugo.     Hedge  Bed-straw.     Grimshury.     [G.]     Broughton.     Crop- 

redy  Bridge.     Not  common. 
G.  Aparine.     Goose-grass.     Hedges. 
Asperula  odorata.     Woodruff.     Edgehill. 
Slierardia  arvensis.     Spurwort.     Dry  fields.     Pest-house  field. 

Order.     Caprifoliacece. 

Caprifolium  Periclymenum.  (Lonicera  Periclymenum  Linn.)  Wood- 
bine.    Hedges  and  thickets. 

Viburnum  Lantana.     Wayfaring  Tree.     Hedges. 

V.  Opulus.     Guelder  Rose.     Hardivick  Road.     Hcmwell foot-road. 

Sambucus  Ebulus.  Banewort.  Plentiful  in  hedges  a  little  on  this  side 
DufiiV s  farm  on  the  road  to  Hanwell. 

S.  nigra.     Elder.     Hedges. 

Order.     Cornacece. 
Cornus  sanguinea.     Dogwood.    Hedges. 


582       BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

Order.     Lorantliacece. 
Viscum  album.     Misseltoe.     Wroxton  ParJc.     Rare. 

Order.     Campmiulacece. 
Prismatocarpus  hybridus.      (Campanula  hybrida  Linn.)      Codded   Corn 

Violet.     Corn-field  beyond  Neithorp.     Constitution  Hill.     North  New- 

ington.     Hanwell. 
Campanula  rotundifolia.     Heath  Bell.     Gravelly  fields,  and  hedges. 
C.  latifolia.      Giant  Bell-flower.      Near  Middleton.      [Mr.   M.   Jessop.] 

Rare. 
C.  rapunculoides.     Adderhury,   road  side.      [Mrs.  Roundell  in  Walker's 

Flora  of  Oxfordshire.] 

C.  TracheUwn,  which  occurs  on  the  road  side  between  Adderbury  and  Deddington,  was 
probably  mistaken  for  this  species. 
C.  Trachelium.    Canterbury  Bells.     Near  Adderhury.    Radway.     Rare. 
C.  glomerata.     Clustered  Bell-flower.     Andrews'  Pits.     Bretch. 

Order.      Valerianacece. 
Valerianella  olitoria.     (Fedia   olitoria   J'ahl.)     Corn   Salad.     Adderhury. 

Drayton.     Rare. 
Valeriana  dioica.    Drayton  Lane.    Hamvell  Oak  jAantation.    Not  common. 
V.  ofticinalis.     Valerian.     Watery  j)laces.     Common. 

Order.     Dipsacece. 

Dipsacus  sylvestris.     Wild  Teasel.     Roadsides. 
Scabiosa  succisa.     Devil's-bit  Scabious.     Bretch. 
S.  columbaria.     Bretch. 

Knautia  arvensis.     (Scabiosa  arvensis  Linn.)    Field  Scabious.    Cultioated 
fields. 

Order.     AsteracecB  or  Compositce. 
Eupatorium    cannabinum.        Hemp    Agrimony.      Ditches.        Wiclcham. 

Bodicot. 
Pulicaria  dysenterica.     (Inula  dysenterica  Linn.)      Flea-bane.     Watery 

j)laces. 
Gnapbalium  rectum.     Tadmarton  Heath.     [A.  B.]     Rare. 
G.  uliginosum.      Waste  Ground.     Frequent. 
Filago     germanica.        (Gnaphalium     germanicum     Huds.)        Cudweed. 

Crouch  Lane. 
Senecio  vulgaris.     Groundsel.     Cultivated  ground. 
S.  tenuifolius.     Beyond  North  Newingtoti. 
S.  Jacobsea.     Ragwort.     Frequent.     Broughton  Road. 
S.  aquaticus.     Watery  places. 

S.  sylvaticus.     Upland  Groundsel.     Crouch  Hill.     Springe  Hill.     Rare. 
Tussilago  Fai-fara.     Coltsfoot.     Road  sides. 
T.  Petasites.     Butterbur.      Watery  places, 
Bellis  perennis.     Daisy.     Pastures. 


BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD.  •''SS 

Chrysanthemum  Leucanthemum.     Ox-eye.     Pastures. 

C.  Parthenimn.      (Pyrethrum   Parthenium  Sm.)      Feverfew.      Frequent. 

Banhury  Bridge.     Oxford  Road. 
C.  inodormii.     (Pyrethrum  inodorum  .ym.)     Mayweed.     Roadsides. 
C.  segetum.     Corn  Marigold.     Corn-fields. 

Matricaria  Chamomilla.     Wild  Camomile.     Cultivated  and  waste  ground. 
Artemisia  Absinthium.     Wormwood.     Warhworth  Road.     [T.  B.]     Rare. 
A.  vulgaris.     Mugwort.     Hedges. 

Tanacetum  vulgare.      Tansy.      Tadmarton  Heath,  on  the  road  to  Mil- 
combe.     [T.  B.]     Rare. 
Maruta  fcetida.      (Anthemis   cotula    Linn.)      Stinking   Mather.      Waste 

ground. 
Anthemis  arvensis.     Corn  Camomile.     Wickham  Lane.     [T.  B.]     Rare. 
Achilkea  Ptarmica.     Sneezewort.     Watery  places. 
A.  Millefolium.     Yarrow.     Milfoil.     Road  sides  and  pastures. 
Bidens  tripartita.     Bur-Marigold.     Watery  places. 
Onopordum  Acanthium.     Cotton  Thistle.     Bretch.     [T.  B.]     Rare. 
Cnicus  lanceolatus.     Spear  Thistle.     Waste  ground. 
C.  palustris.     Marsh  Thistle.      Watery  places. 
C.  arvensis.     Way  Thistle.     Pastures. 

C.  eriophorus.     Woolly-headed  Thistle.     Bretch.     Not  common. 
C.  acaulis.     Dwarf  Thistle.     Bretch.     Beyond  Neithorp. 
Lappa  glabra.     (Arctium  Lappa  Linn.)     Burdock.     Waste  ground. 
L.  tomentosa.     (Arctium  HarAana.  Willd.)     Waste  ground. 
Serratula  tinctoria.     Saw-wort.     Beyond  North  Newington.     [A.  B.] 
Centaurea  nigra.     Knapweed.     Road  sides. 
C.  Cyanus.     Blue  Bottle.     Corn-fields. 
C.  Scabiosa.     Greater  Knapweed.     Road  sides. 
Carduus  nutans.     Musk  Thistle.     Gravelly  ground. 
C.  acanthoides.     Thistle  upon  Thistle.     Hedges. 
Sonchus  palustris.    Marsh  Sowthistle.    Canal  side.    Rather  commo7i.    [G.] 

I  have  not  met  with  it. 
S.  arvensis.     Corn  Sowthistle.     Corn-fields. 
S.  oleraceus.     Sowthistle.     Cultivated  ground. 
Lapsana  communis.     Nipplewort.     Hedges. 
Leontodon  Taraxacum.     Dandelion.     Pastures. 
Crepis  tectorum.     Succoi-y  Hawkweed.     Road  sides. 
Helminthia  echioides.     (Picris  echioides  Linn.)     Ox-tongue.     Brought  on 

Road.     Huscot  Road.     Rare. 
Picris  hieracioides,       Hawkweed   Ox-tongue.       Between  Banbury    and 

Broughton.     [T.  B.]     Rare. 
Hieracium  Pilosella.    Mouse-ear  Hawkweed.    Gravelly  pastures.    Bretch. 

Wroxton. 
Achyrophorus  radicatus.     (Hypochasris  radicata  Linn.)     Cat's-ear.     Pas- 

tures. 
Tragapogon  pratensis.      Goat's-beard.      Frequent.      Farm  Field.      [G.] 

Oxford  Road.     Not  common  now. 
Apargia  hispida.     Road  sides. 


584  BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

Oporina  autumnalis.     (Apargia  autumnalis  Willd.)     Hawk-bit.    Pastures. 
Cichorium   Intybus.      Succory.      Tivyford  Lane.      Rare  near  Banbury. 
Common  beyond  Adderbury. 

Order.     Boraginacece. 
Echium  vulgare.     Viper's  Bugloss.    Bretch. 
Piilmonaria  officinalis.     Lungwort.     Hanw ell  Plantation. 

See  Hellelorus  viridis  (p.  574). 
Lithospermum  officinale.     Gromwell.     Bloxham  Road.    Drayton  Lane. 
L.  arvense.     Bastard  Alkanet.     Cultivated  ground. 

Symphytum  officinale.   Comfrey.  Banks  and  ditches,  near  Adderbury.  [G.] 
Borago  officinalis.     Borage.     Oxford  road.     [T.  B.] 

Plentiful  two  or  three  years  ago,  but  now  almost  extinct.    It  probably  escaped  from  some 
garden. 
Anchusa   sempervirens.      Evergreen   Alkanet.      Beyond   Andrews'  Pits. 

[A.  B.]     Very  rare. 
Myosotis  imhistris.     Forget-me-not.     Watery  places. 
M.  cgespitosa.     Hanwell.     [T.  B.] 

M.  intermedia  ZzrtA-.    Dry  shady  places.     [T.  B.]     Common. 
M.  arvensis  ^o^7«.     Scorpion-grass.     Cultivated  ground. 
M.  versicolor.     Near  Adderbury.     [G.] 
Cynoglossum  officinale.     Hound's-tongue.     Bloxham  Road.     Cobb's  j)lan- 

tation.    Extinct  now. 

Order.     Convolvulacece. 

Convolvulus  arvensis.     Bindweed.     Cultivated  ground. 
Calystegia  sepium.     (Convolvulus  sepium  Linn.)     Great  Bindweed.     Cul- 
tivated ground,  and  hedges. 

Order.     Cuscutacece. 
Cuscuta  europsea.     Greater  Dodder.     Hardwick  Hill,  1837-8.     Very  rare. 
C.  Epithymum.     Lesser  Dodder.     Found  by  Mr.   Gulliver  in  a  bean  field 
near  Wardington.     Not  in  his  "  Catalogue."     Very  rare. 

The  specimen  and  information  I  received  from  Mr.  A.  Beesley. 

Order.     Cucurbilacece. 

Bryonia  dioica.     Bryony.     S^ntal  Farm.    Hedges  near  Canal.    Not  com- 
mon. 

Order.     Plantaginacece. 

Plantago  major.     Way-bread.     Roadsides.    Pastures. 
The  variety  called  "  Eose  Plantain"  has  been  found  in  a  very  perfect  state  in  a  cora-field 
near  Horley  by  Miss  Padbury. 

P.  media.     Hoary  Plantain.     Gravelly  ground. 
P.  lanceolata.     Rib-grass.     Road  sides. 

Order.     Oleacece. 
Ligustrum  vulgare.     Privet.     Hedges. 
Fraxinus  excelsior.     Ash-tree.     Hedges. 


BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD.       585 

Order.     Ericacece. 
Calluna  vulgaris.     (Erica  vulgaris  Zmw.)     Ling.     Tadmarton  Heath. 

Order.     Apocynacece. 

Vinca  major.     Periwinkle.     Thickets,  groves,  and  damp  places,  at  Wrox- 
ton.     [G.]     Not  wild. 

Order.     Gentianaceoe. 
Erythrsea  Centaurium.     Centaury.     Beyond  North  Newington.    Rare. 
Menyanthes  trifoliata.      Buckbean.      By  the   "Jack  brook,"  Broughton 

Park.     Damp  meadows  near  King's  Mill.     Very  plentiful  in  a  hog  to 

the  south  of  Shutford  Bridge. 

Order.     Sulanacece. 
Hyoscyamus  niger.     Henbane.     Waste  ground.     Frequent. 
Verbascum  Thapsus.     Mullein.     Adam's  Flannel.     Waste  ground.     Fre- 
quent. 
Solanum  Dulcamara.     Woody  Nightshade.     Hedges. 
S.  nigrum.     Common  Nightshade.     A  weed  in  gardens.     Not  common. 

Order.     Primulacece. 
Primula  vulgaris.     Primrose.     Br  etch.     Crouch  Hill.     Wroxton. 
P.  veris.     Cowslip.     Gravelly  pastures. 

Lysimachia  nemorum.     Wood  Loosestrife.     Near  Chipping  Norton. 
L.  Nummularia.     Moneywort.     Brook  and  ditch  sides. 
Anagallis  arvensis.     Red  Pimpernel.     Corn-fields. 

Order.     Leniibulacece. 

Pinguicula  vulgaris.      Butterwort.      Canal  side,   towards  King's  Sutton. 
[A.  B.]     Brackley.     Very  rare. 
A  plant  called  Butterwort  by  the  villagers  is  said  by  them  to  grow  in  Hanwell  Plantation. 

Order.     Scrophulariacece. 

Veronica  serpyllifolia.     Paul's  Betony.     Meadows. 
V.  Beccabunga.     Brooklime.     Ditches. 
v.  Anagallis.     Ditches. 

V.  officinalis.    Common  Speedwell.    Hanwell.    Tadmarton  Heath.    [T.  B.] 
V.  Chamsedrys.     Germander  Speedwell.     Shady  places. 
V.  agrestis.     Chickweed  Speedwell.     Cultivated  ground.     Common. 
V.  arvensis.     Wall  Speedwell.     Dry  ground,  and  walls.     Common. 
V.  hederifolia.     Cultivated  ground.     Common. 
V.  polita.     Cultivated  ground.     Common. 
Rhinanthus  Crista  galli.     Yellow  Rattle.     Pastures. 
Pedicularis  palustris.     Marsh  Lousewort.     Broughton. 
P.  sylvatica.     Lousewort.     Red  Rattle.     Hanwell. 
Bartsia  Odontites.     Red  Painted-cup.     Corn-fields. 
4  E 


586       BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

Euphrasia  officinalis.     Eyebright.     Gravelly  ground.     Bretch. 
Linaria  Cynibalaria.     Creeping  Toad-flax.      Wroxton 
L.  spuria.     Corn-field  just  above  Broughton  FulUng-mill.     Rare. 
L.  vulgaris.     Common  Toad-flax.     Borders  of  fields. 

L.  minor.      Least  Toad-flax.      Corn-field  just  above  Broughton  Fulling- 
mill.     [T.  B.]     Rare. 
Digitalis  purpurea.     Foxglove.     N'ear  N'ill  Farm.     Epicell  Heath.     Rare. 
Scrophularia  nodosa.     Not  common.     Hanwell  Oah  i^lantation.     [T.  B.] 
S.  aquatica.     Water  Betony.     Ditches. 

Order.      Verhenacece. 
Verbena  officinalis.     Vervain.     Shutford.     Hooknorton.     [G.] 

Order.     Lamiacece  or  Lahiatce. 
Ajuga  reptans.     Bugle,    Damp  places. 
Lycopus  europseus.     Gipsywort.      Watery  places. 
Mentha  aquatica.     Water  Mint.     Watery  places. 

Mentha  hirsida  is  now  considered  to  belong  to  tliis  species. 
M.  arvensis.     Corn  Mint.     Gravelly  corn-fields. 
Thymus  Serpyllum.     Thyme.     Stony  banks. 

Tlie  variety  Ijnowu  by  the  name  of  Lemou  Thyme  is  very  frequent. 
Origanum  vulgare.     Marjoram.     Bloxham  Road. 
Melissa  Acinos.     (Thymus  Acinos  Linn.)     Basil  Thyme.     Broughton  and 

North  Neivington.     Rare. 
M.  Calamintha.       (Thymus    Calamintha    Scop.)       Calamint.       Bloxham 

Road.    In  the  lane  leading  from  Broughton  tollgate  to  the  Castle.     Rare. 
M.  Clinopodium.     (Clinopodiimi  vulgare  i/w«.)     Wild  Basil.     Roadsides. 
Nepeta  Cataria.     Catmint.     Bloxham  Road.     [T.  B.]     Rare. 
N.  Glechoma.     (Glechoma  hederacea  Linn.)     Ground-ivy.     Hedges. 
Galeopsis  Ladanum.     Corn-fields.    Farm  Field.    North  Newington. 
G.  Tetrahit.     Hemp  Nettle.     Corn-fields.     Both  red  and  ivhite  varieties 

common. 
Lamium  vuigatum  var.  )3.   ( — album  Linn.)     White  Dead-nettle.     J'ery 

common. 
L.  purpureum.     Red  Dead-nettle.     Cultivated  ground. 
L.  amplexicaule.     Great  Henbit.     Cultivated  ground. 

L.  Galeobdolon.     (Galeobdolon   luteum   Huds.)     Weasel-snout.      Brack- 
ley  Road.     [G.]     Radivay  Wood. 
Stachys  sylvatica.     Woundwort.     Hedges. 
S.  palustris.     Wet  places. 
S.  germanica.     First  March.     [G.] 

There  is  evidently  some  error.    A  wet  clayey  meadow  is  a  very  improbable  station  for 
such  a  plant.     It  certainly  is  not  now  to  be  found  in  this  neighbourhood. 
S.  arvensis.     Sandy  corn-fields.     [T.  B.]     Frequent. 
S.  Betonica.     Betony.     Hanioell.     Beyond  North  Newington. 
Ballota  nigra.     Black  Horehound.     Road  sides. 
Marrubium  vulgare.     White    Horehound.     Just  out  of  Banbury  on  the 

Broughton  road,  about  1828.     [T.  B.]      Very  rare. 


BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD.       587 

Scutellaria  galericulata.     Skiill-cap.     Watery  places. 
Prunella  vulgaris.     Self-heal.     Pastures. 

Order.      Thymelacece . 
Daphne  Laureola.     Spurge-laurel.     Wickham.     [A.  B.]     Rare. 

Order.     Polygonacece. 
Rumex  obtusifolius.     Dock.     Waste  ground. 
R.  crispus.      Waste  and  cultivated  ground. 
R.  glomeratus  (— acutus  Linn.)     Road  sides. 

R.  Hydrolapathum.     Water  Dock.     Cherivell  near  the  bridge.     Rare. 
R.  Acetosa.     Sorrel.     Pastures. 
R.  Acetosella.     Sheeps'  Sorrel.     Dry  pasttcres. 
Polygonum  amphibium.     Water  Arsmart.     Ponds. 
P.  Persicaria.     Spotted  Persicaria.     Ditch  banks  and  rubbish. 
P.  lapathifolium.      Waste  and  cultivated  ground. 
P.  Hydropiper.     Water  Pepper.     River  and  ditch  sides. 
P.  Bistorta.      Great  Bistort.      Snake-weed.     Pool-yard  at  Hooknorton. 

Very  rare. 
P.  aviculare.     Knot-grass.     Road  sides. 
P.  Fagopyrum.     Buckwheat.     Cultivatedfields. 
P.  Convolvulus.     Black  Bindweed.     Corn-fields. 

Order.     Chenopodiacece,. 
Chenopodium  Bonus  Henricus.      Good  King  Henry.      Broughton.     Not 

common. 
C.  urbicum.     Ditch  sides. 
C.  rubrum.     Cultivated  ground. 
C.  murale.     Rubbish.     [A.  B.] 
C.  album.     Goosefoot.     Cultivated  ground. 
C.  hybridum.     On  a  heap  of  rubbish.     [T.  B.]     Rare. 
C.  acutifolium.     Garden  ground.     [T.  B.]     Not  common. 
Atriplex  patula.     Spreading  Orache.     Waste  ground.     [T.  B.]     Not  coin- 

mon. 
A.  angustifolia.     Waste  ground. 

Order.      Urticacece. 
Parietaria  officinalis.    Pellitory  of  the  Wall.    Wroxton.    Chacombe  Church. 
Urtica  urens.     Small  Stinging  Nettle.     Road  sides.     Rubbish. 
U.  dioica.     Great  Stinging  Nettle.     Hedges. 
Humulus  Lupulus.     Hop.     Hedges.     Not  common. 

Order.     Resedacece. 
Reseda  Luteola.     Dyers'  Weed.     Road  sides. 

Order.     Euplwrbiacece. 

Euphorbia  Helioscopia.     Wartwort.     Cultivated  ground, 
4e3 


588       BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

Euphorbia  exigua.     Dwarf  Spurge.     Corn-fields. 

E.  Peplus.     Petty  Spurge.     Cultivated  ground. 

Mercurialis  perennis.     Dogs'  Mercury.     Broughton.     Wroxton. 

Buxus  sempervirens.     Box-tree.      Wroxton.     Probably  not  indigenous. 

Order.      Ulmacece. 
Ulmus  campestris.     Elm.     Hedges  and  plantations. 
U.  montana.     Witch  Ehn.     Plantatio7is. 

Order.     Betulacece. 

Betula  alba.     Birch.     Hedges. 

Alnus  glutinosa.     Alder.     Brook  sides. 

Order.     Salicacecs. 
Salix  alba.     Caeiailean  WiUow. 
S.  amygdalina  var.  a. 
S.  purpurea  var.  y.  ( — Helix  Linn.) 
S.  rubra  var.  o. 

S.  rubra  var.  /3.  (— Forbiana  E.  B.) 
S.  viminalis.     Osier. 
S.  stipularis. 

S.  cinerea  var.  )3.  ( — aquatica  Sm.)     Water  Sallow. 
S.  caprea  var.  /3  ( — sphacelata  Sm.) 
Populus  tremula.     Aspen.     Hedges. 
P.  alba.     Abele-tree.     Hedges. 
P.  nigra.     Poplar.     Hedges. 

Order.     Corylacece. 

Fagus  sylvatica.     Beech.     Plantations. 

Castanea  vesca.     (Fagus  Castanea  Z?««.)    Chesnut.     Wroxton.    Not  ivild. 

Quercus  Robur.     English  Oak.     Hedges  and  plantations. 

Q.  sessiliflora.     Plantations. 

Corylus  Avellana.     Hazel.    Hedges. 

Carpinus  Betulus.     Hornbeam.     Hedges  and  pla7itations.     Not  tvild. 

Order.      Taxacece. 
Taxus  baccata.     Yew.     Church-yards,  8fc.     Not  wild. 

Order.     Callitrichacece . 
Callitriche  verna.     Starwort.    Ditches  and  pools. 


END0GEN8,    OR   MONOCOTYLEDONS. 

Order.     AracecB. 
Arum  maculatum.     Lords  and  Ladies.     Groves  and  under  hedges. 


BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD.  «^80 

Order.      TyphacecB. 
Typha  latifolia.     Reed-mace.     Thenford.     Cropredy.     Not  cortimon. 
T.  angustifolia.     Lesser  Reed-mace.      Wormleighton  Reservoir.     [A.  B.] 

Rare. 
Sparganiimi  ramosum.     Branched  Bur-reed.     Brooks  and  Canal. 
S.  simplex.     Bur-reed.     Brooks  and  Canal.    Not  common. 

Order.     Naiadacece  or  Fluviales. 
Potamogeton  densus.    Frog  Lettuce.     Broughton  ^^  Jack  Brook."    [T.  B.] 
P.  pectinatus.     Fennel-leaved  Pondweed.     Canal. 
P.  pusillus.     River  in  Mill  meadow.     [T.  B.]     Rare. 
P.  crispus.     Curled  Pondweed.     Canal.     Ditches. 
P.  Proteus  var.  j8  heteroiAyllus.     River  in  Mill  meadozv.     [T.  B.] 
P.  natans.     Floating  Pondweed.     Rivers  and  brooks. 
P.  perfoliatus.     Canal. 

Order.  Pistiacece. 
Lemna  minor.  Duckmeat.  Ditches  a7id  pools. 
L.  gibba.     Ditch  beyond  Mill  meadow.     [T.  B.]     Rare. 

Order.     Juncaginacece. 

Triglochin  palustre.  Arrow-grass,  In  a  meadow  near  the  Canal,  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  toivards  King's  Sutton.  A  boggy  field  near  Hanwell. 
Plentiful  in  a  meadow  south  of  Shutford  Bridge. 

Order.     AlismacecB. 
Alisma  Plantago.     Water  Plantain.     Brooks  and  ditches. 
Sagittaria  sagittifolia.     Arrow-head.     Brooks  and  Canal. 

Order.  Iridacece. 
Iris  Pseud-acorus.     Water  Flag.     Brooks  and  Canal. 

Order.     Orchidacece. 

Listera  ovata.  (Ophrys  ovata  Liim.)  Twayblade.  Hamvell  Oak  plan- 
tation.    Near  Chacombe.    Rare. 

Epipactis  latifolia.  (Serapias  latifolia  Linn.)  Helleborine.  Hanwell 
Oak  plantation.     [T.  B.]     Rare. 

Orchis  Morio.    Hamvell.     Behind  Keeper's  lodge,  Wroxton. 

O.  mascula.     Plantations.     Broughton.     Hanwell. 

O.  ustulata.     Near  Chipping  Norton. 

O.  latifolia.  Moist  meadows.  Betiveen  Bodicot  and  the  Canal.  Near 
Bodicot  Mill.    Broughton. 

O.  maculata.     Spot-leaved  Baldary.     Moist  meadows  and  plantations. 

Anacamptis  pyramidalis.  (Orchis  pyramidalis  Linn.)  In  a  plantation, 
and  near  the  "  Wood,"  Broughton  Park. 

Gymnadenia  conopsea.  (Orchis  conopsea  Linn.)  Aromatic  Orchis. 
Cottisford  Heath.     [G.] 


590       BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

Platanthera  bifolia.  (Orchis  bifolia  Linn.)  Butterfly  Orchis.  Coppice, 
Broiighton.     [A.  B.]     Very  rare. 

Order.     Melantliacece. 
Colchicum   autumnale.     Meadow-saffron.     Deepslade  and   Claydon  Hill 
near  North  Newington. 

Order.     Amaryllidacece . 

Galanthus  nivalis.     Snowdrop.     Hanwell  Plantation.     [G.] 

See  Hellehonis  viridis  (p.  574). 
Narcissus  Pseudo-narcissus.     Daffodil.     Hanwell  Plantation,     [G.] 

See  Helkborus  viridis  (p.  574). 

Order.     Liliacea^. 
Ornithogalum  umbellatum.      Star   of  Bethlehem.      Near  Bodicot  Mill. 

Astrop.     Rare. 
Hyacinthus   non   scriptus.     (Scilla  nutans   Sm.)     Harebells.     Gatridges. 

Broiighton.     Hanivell. 
Ruscus  aculeatus.     Butchers'  Broom.     Wall  Close,  West  Street. 

Some  years  since,  probably  escaped  from  a  garden. 
Paris  quadrifolia.     Herb  Paris.     True  Love,     Hoohnorton. 

Order.     Dioscoreaceoe . 
Tamus  communis.     Black  Bryony.     Hedges. 

Order.     Butomacece. 
Butomus  umbellatus.     Flowering  Rush.     Cher  well  and  Canal.     Frequent. 

Order.     Juncacece. 
Juncus  glaucus.     Hard  Rush.     Wet  places. 
J.  conglomeratus.     Common  Rush.     Wet  places, 
J.  effusus.     Soft  Rush.      Wet  places. 
J.  compressus.     Marches.     [T.  B.] 

J.  bufonius.     Toad  Rush.     Frequent  in  trenches,  and  wet  meadows. 
J.  acutiflorus.     Wet  places. 
J.  lainpocarpus.     Canal  side.     Third  March. 
Luzula  campestris.     Field  Rush.     Pastures. 

Order.     Cyperacece. 

Heliocharis  palustris.     Wet  meadows.    First  March. 

Scirpus  lacustris.     Bulrush.     Cherwell. 

S.  sylvaticus.  Wood  Club-rush.  Canal.  Hanwell.  [T.  B.]  Not  un- 
co tmn  on. 

Eriophorum  angustifolium.  Cotton-grass.  Brook  side,  near  Drayton 
Lane.     [G.]     Near  Bracldey.    Rare. 

Carex  remota.    Ditch  sides.    Frequent. 

C.  muricata.     Ca?ial. 


BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD.       591 

Carex  vulpina.     Canal. 

C.  paniculata.     Bog  between  Drayton  and  Wroxton.    Pool  near  Drayton. 

[G.]     Rare. 
C.  pilulifera.     Tadmarton  Heath.     [T.  B.]     Rare. 
C.  acuta.     Wet  nieadoivs.     Side  of  Canal,  second  March.     [G.] 
C.  paludosa.     Wet  meadotvs.    Marches. 
C.  riparia.     Great  Sedge.     Canal. 

C.  Ifevigata.     First  March,  near  the  path.     [G.]     Rare. 
C.  hirta.     Wet  meadows.     Canal  side. 

Order.     Graminacece. 
Lolium  perenne.     Common  Darnel.     Pastures. 
Nardus  stricta.     Mat-grass.     Furze  ground,  near  Hanivell.     [G.] 
Hordeum  murinum.       Wall   Barley.       Way   Bennett.       Walls.       Waste 

ground. 
H.  pratense.     Pastures. 

Brachypodinm  sylvaticum.     (Festiica  sylvatica  Huds.)     Hedges. 
Agropyrum  repens.     (Triticum  repens  Linn.)     Conch-grass.      Waste  and 

cultivated  ground. 
Alopecurus  pratensis.     Fox-tail-grass.     Pastures. 
A.  agrestis.     Pasticres. 
A.  geniculatns.     Wet  jmstures. 
Plialaris  canariensis.     Canary-grass.     Neithorp, 
Phlemn  pratense.     Cat's-tail-grass.     Pastures. 
Digraphis  anmdinacea.     (Plialaris  arundinacea  Linn.)     Ditches. 
Agrostis  vulgaris.     Bent-grass.     Dry  pastures  and  road  sides. 

A.  alba.     Fiorin-grass.      Wet  pastures. 

Arrhenatherum    avenaceum.        (Avena   elatior    Linn.)       Oat-like-grass. 

Pastures, 
Holcus  lanatus.     Soft-grass.     Pastures. 
H.  mollis.     The  Causeway.     [G.]     Rare. 

Antlioxanthum  odoratum.     Sweet-scented  Vernal-grass.     Pastures. 
Cynosurus  cristatus.     Dog's-tail-gi*ass.     Pastures. 

Catabrosa  aquatica.     (Aira  aquatica  im«.)     Water  Hair-grass.    Hanivell. 
Aira  caryophyllea.     Near  Wroxton  Mill.     [G.] 
Trisetum  flavescens.     Yellow  Oat-grass.     Pastures. 
Deschampsia  csespitosa.     (Aira  ceespitosa  Linn.)     Ditches. 
Arundo  Phragmites.     Common  Reed.     Cherwell. 
Avena  fatua.     Wild  Oats.     Corn-fields. 
Dactylis  glomerata.     Cock's-foot-grass.     Pastures. 
Bromus  secalinus.     Rye  Brome-grass.     Corn-fields.     Not  common. 

B.  mollis.     Brome-grass.     Pastures. 

B.  asper  ( — hirsutus  Curt.)      Wet  hedges. 
Bromus  sterilis.     Road  sides. 

Schedonorus  pratensis.     (Festuca  pratensis  Huds.)     Fescue-grass.     Pas- 
tures 
S.  loliaceus.     (F.  loliacea  Huds.)     Spiked  Fescue-grass.     Pastures. 
Festuca  ovina.     Sheep's  Fescue-grass.     Bretch.     Hanwell. 


592  BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

Festuca  duriuscula.     Meadows.     Wroxton.     [G.] 

Glycei-ia   fluitans.      (Poa  fluitans   Scop.)      Manna-grass.      Ditches    and 

Canal. 
Briza  media.     Quaking-grass.     Pastures. 
Sclerochloa  rigida.     (Poa  rigida  Linn.)      Walls.     Neiv  Land. 
Hydrocliloa  aquatica.      (Poa  aquatica  Linn.)      Ditches.      The  Marches. 

Canal  side. 
Poa  trivialis.    Pastures. 
P.  pratensis.     Meadow-grass.     Pastures. 
P.  annua.     Every-ivhere. 


FLOWERLESS  PLANTS. 

CELLULARES,   ACROGENS,   OR   ACOTVLEDONS. 

Order.     Polypodiacece. 

Polypodium  vidgare.     Polypody  of  the  wall.     Walls. 

P.  vulgare,  var.  4.     Not  uncommon.     [G.] 

Aspidium  Filix-mas.     Common  Fern.    Ditches. 

A.  aculeatum.     Hardwick  Hill.    Hanwell. 

A.  lobatum.     Hardwick  Hill.     [G.] 

Asplenium  Adiantum-nigrum.     On  a  wall  at  Farnhorough.     [G.]     Rare. 

A.  Trichomanes.     On  Drayton  Church.     Rare. 

Scolopendrium  vulgare.     Hart's-tongue.     Cascade,  Wroxton.     Old  wells. 

Pteris  aquilina.     Brake.     Hanwell. 

Order.     Ophioc/lossacece. 
Ophioglossum   vulgatum.       Adder's-tongue.       Hanwell   Oak   plantation. 
Wroxton.     Near  King's  Mill.     Rare. 

,  Order.     Equisetacece. 

Equisetum  arvense.     Corn  Horse-tail.     Cultivated  fields. 
E.  fluviatile.     Great  Water  Horse-tail.     Wroxto7i.    Hanivell. 
E.  limosum.     Between  Grimshury  and  Hardwick.     Broughton. 
E.  palustre.     Marsh  Horse-tail.     Ditches. 

Order.     MuscacecB. 

[The  following  species  are  from  Mr.  Gulliver's  Catalogue ;  no  other  person  having  paiil 
much  attention  to  the  Mosses  of  this  neighhourhood.] 

Phascum  muticum. 

Gymnostomum  ovatum. 

G.  truncatulum. 

G.  pyriforme. 

Encalypta  vulgaris. 

Grimmia  apocarpa. 

G.  pulvinata. 


BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD.       593 

Dicranum  biyoides. 

D.  scoparium. 

Tortilla  rigida.     Common  about  Banbury.     [G.] 

T.  muralis. 

T.  ruralis. 

T.  subulata. 

T.  iinguicidata. 

Polytrichum  undulatum. 

Funaria  hygrometrica. 

Orthotrichum  anomaliim. 

O.  affine. 

O.  striatum. 

O.  crispum. 

Bryum  argenteum. 

B.  csespititium. 

B.  ligiilatum. 

Daltonia  heteromalla.     (Neckera  heteromalla  Hedw.) 

Fontinalis  antipyretica. 

Hypnum  complanatum. 

H.  serpens. 

H.  sericeum. 

H.  alopeciiruin. 

H.  prEelongum. 

H.  rutabulum. 

H.  cuspidatum. 

H.  triqiietrum. 

H.  squarrosum. 

H.  moUusciim. 

Order.     Marchantiacece. 
Marchantia  polymorpha.     Liverwort.     Shady  garden  walks. 
M.  hemisphaerica.     Near  Hanwell.    Near  Middleton  Cheney.     [T.  B.] 

Order.     JungermanniacecB. 

Jungermannia  complanata.     Frequent.     On  the  trunk  of  a  tree,  Oxford 

Road,  close  to  the  first  turn  to  Bodicot. 
J.  polyanthos.     Bog  to  the  south  of  Shutford  Bridge.     [T.  B.] 
J.  bidentata.     Wet  shady  places. 
J.  platyphylla.     Wroxton.    Frequent. 
J.  dilatata.     On  trees.    Bloxham  Road.     Crouch  Hill. 

Order.  Lichenacece. 
[Chiefly  from  Mr.  Gulliver's  Catalogue.] 
Calicium  hyperellum. 

C.  cur  turn. 
C.  debile. 

C.  sphserocephalum. 

4f 


594       BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

Arthonia  Swartziana. 

A.  astroidea  Ach. 

Opegrapha  atra. 

O.  vulgata. 

O.  betulina.     (Grapliis  betuligna  Ach.) 

O.  varia. 

O.  elegaiis.     (Graphis  elegans  Ach.) 

O.  scripta.     (Grapliis  scripta  &  serpentina  Ach.) 

Verrucaria  nitida.     [A.  B.] 

v.  cinerea  ( — stigmalella  Ach.) 

V.  epidermidis. 

V.  rupestris  ( — Schraderi  Ach.) 

V.  nigrescens.     (Pyrenula  nigrescens  Ach.) 

Endocarpon  miniatnm. 

Pertusaria  communis.     (Porina  pertusa  Ach.) 

Thelotrema  lepadinum. 

Lepraria  viridis  ( — botryoides  Ach.) 

L.  flava. 

L.  nigra. 

Spiloma  gregarium  ( — tumididum  Acli.) 

Variolaria  faginea  ( — amara  Ach.) 

V.  discoidea  ( — amara,  c.  discoidea  Ach.) 

Urceolaria  scruposa. 

U.  calcarea  ( — HofFmanni  Ach.) 

U.  cinerea. 

Lecidea  confluens. 

L.  parasema. 

L.  albo-atra. 

L.  incana. 

L.  vernalis  ( — luteola  Ach.) 

L.  nlmicola  ( — luteo-alba  Ach.) 

Lecanora  atra. 

L.  glaucoma.     [A.  B.] 

L.  subfusca. 

L.  ferruginea  ( — csesio-rufa  Ach.) 

L.  cerina. 

L.  Parella. 

L.  Parella  var.  /8.  pallescens  Ach. 

L.  vitellina. 

Squamaria  candelaria.     (Lecanora  candelaria  Ach.) 

S.  murorum.     (Lecanora  murorum  Ach.) 

Placodium  canescens.     (Lecidea  canescens  Ach.) 

P.  microphyllum.     (Lecidea  microphylla  Ach.) 

Parmelia  caperata. 

P.  saxatilis. 

P.  perlata. 

P.  olivacea. 

P.  pulverulenta. 


BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD.  oOf) 

Parmelia  pityrea. 

P.  stellaris. 

P.  parietina. 

Collema  nigrum. 

C.  cristatum  (— crispum  Ach.) 

C.  nigrescens. 

Peltidea  canina. 

Borrera  ciliaris. 

B.  tenella. 

B,  flavicans.     [A.  B.] 
Evernia  prunastri. 
Ramalina  fraxinea. 
R.  fastigiata. 

R.  farinacea. 

R.  poUinaria. 

Usnea  plicata. 

Isidium  lutescens. 

Cladonia  rangiferina.     (Cenomyce  rangiferina  Acli.) 

C.  furcata. 

Scyphophorus  pyxidatus.     (Cenomyce  pyxidata  Ach.) 
Lichen  rupicola  Sibth.     [A.  B.] 

Order.     Algacece. — Div.  Inarticulatce . 
Vaucheria  dichotoma. 
V.  csespitosa. 

Order.     Algacece. — Div.  Confervoidece. 
Conferva  bombycina. 
C.  floccosa. 
C.  rivularis. 
C.  fracta. 
Lyngbya  muralis. 
Chroolepus  aureus.     (Conferva  aurea  Z)i/Zzt;.)     [G.] 

Order.     Algacece. — Div.  Gluiocladece. 
Drapai-naldia  glomerata. 
Palmella  cruenta.     T'ery  commo7i. 
Nostoc  commune,     lery  conunon. 

Order.     Fungacece. 

[Chiefly  from  Mr.  Gulliver's  Catalogue.  Those  species,  mostly  larger  Fungi,  not  included 
in  that  work,  which  have  fallen  under  my  own  observation,  have  been  marked  by  an 
asterisk.  The  genus  Erineum  has  been  omitted  as  nothing  more  than  a  disease  of  the 
tissue  of  plants.] 

*Agaricus  rubescens. 

*A.  procerus. 

*A.  melleus. 

*A.  personatus. 

4f3 


596       BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

*Agariciis  emeticus. 

*A.  vellereus. 

*A.  infundibiiliformis. 

*A.  conicus. 

*A.  coccineus. 

*A.  oreades.     Fairy-ring  Mushroom.     Champignon. 

*A.  involutus. 

*A.  Georgii.     White-caps. 

*A.  campestris.     Mushroom. 

*A.  semiglobatus. 

*A.  fascicularis. 

*A.  stercorarius. 

*A.  semiovatus. 

*A.  fimiputris. 

*A.  disseminatus. 

*A.  comatus. 

*A.  cinereus. 

*A.  plicatilis. 

*A.  ephemerus. 

*Merulius  lachrymans.     Dry-rot. 

*D3edalea  biennis. 

*D.  quercina. 

*D.  unicolor. 

*Polyporus  versicolor. 

*Boletus  luteus. 

*B.  hiridus. 

*B.  scaber. 

Hydnum  auriscalpivim. 

*Phlebia  mesenterica. 

Thelephora  c^rulea.     (Dematium  violaceum  Hooker). 

Himantia  Candida  Pers. 

*Clavaria  pratensis. 

*C.  corniculata. 

*C.  cristata. 

*C.  vei-micularis. 

Calocera  cornea.     (Clavaria  cornea  Pers.) 

*Morchella  esculenta.     Morell.     Thorp  Mandeville.     [Mr.  M 

*Peziza  granulata. 

*P.  stercorea. 

P.  virginea. 

P.  calycina  ( — pulchella  Pers.) 

P.  villosa  ( — sessilis  Soiv.) 

P.  cinerea. 

Cenangium  quercinum.     (Hysterium  quercinum  Pers.) 

Stictis  radiata. 

Exidia  glandulosa.     (Tremella  sjiiciilosa /*c'>-5.)     Witches'  Butter. 

Dacrymyces  stillatus.     (Tremella  deliquescens  Bull.) 

Sclerotium  dui'um. 


BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD.       597 

Sclerotium  populneum. 

*Tuber  cibai-ium.     Truffle.     Brackley. 

Nidularia  striata.     (Cyathus  striatus  Pers.) 

Sphseria  polymorpha. 

S.  Hypoxylon. 

S.  fusca. 

S.  deusta. 

S.  undulata. 

S.  Stigma. 

S.  Stigma  var.  decorticata. 

S.  disciformis. 

S.  aspera  ( — erecta  Purt.) 

S.  flavo-virens. 

S.  irregularis. 

S.  quercina. 

S.  Prunastri. 

S.  nivea. 

S.  cinnabarina  ( — decoloraus  Pers.) 

S.  coccinea. 

S.  Labunii. 

S.  ceuthocarpa.     (Xyloma  populinum  Pers.) 

S.  byssiseda  ( — mammosa  Purt.) 

S.  sanguinea. 

S.  Bombarda. 

S.  spermoides. 

S.  corticis. 

S.  inquinans. 

S.  Taxi. 

S.  acuta. 

S.  Doliolum. 

S.  herbarum. 

S.  herbarum  var.  7.  tecta. 

S.  Craterium  ( — punctiformis  var.  j8.  Hederae  Grev.) 

S.  iEgopodii. 

Ceuthospora  Lauri.     (Sphseria  Lauri  Sow.) 

Phoma  salignum.     (Xyloma  salignum  Pers.) 

Dothidea  ribesia.     (Sphseria  ribesia  Pers.) 

*D.  Aiigelicce  Fries  Syst.  Mycol. 

Rhytisma  sahcinum.     (Xyloma  salicinum  Pers.) 

R.  acerinum.     (Xyloma  acerinum  Pers.) 

Phacidium  Patella.     (Sphseria  Patella  Pers.) 

P.  coronatum. 

P.  dentatum.     (Sphseria  punctiformis  var.  y.  ambigua  Pers.) 

Hysterium  pulicare. 

H.  lineare  ( — angustatvun  Purt.) 

H.  Fraxini. 

H.  rugosum.     (Opegrapha  macularis  AcJi.) 

H.  conigenum. 


598  BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

Hysterium  Rubi. 

H.  ciilmigenum  (— gramineum  Grev.) 

Xyloma  stellare  Pers. 

X.  Ulmi  Pers. 

X.  Aquifolii  Pers. 

*Lycoperdon  giganteum. 

*L.  gemmatum  var.  e.  fiirfuraceum. 

*L.  gemmatum  var.  |.  papillatum. 

Craterium  leucocephalum.     (Arcyria  leucocephala  Hoffm.) 

Stemonitis  fusca  ( — fascicvilata  Grev.) 

Arcyria  punicea. 

Trichia  turbinata  ( — ovata  Pers.) 

Racodiuni  cellare. 

*Erysipbe  communis. 

*Mucor  mucedo.     Common  Mould. 

*Eurotium  herbariorum. 

Dematium  ciliare  Pers. 

♦Cladosporium  herbarum. 

♦Aspergillus  candidus.     White  Mould. 

*A.  glaucus.     Blue  Mould. 

♦Penicillium  crustaceum. 

*Oidium  erysiphoides. 

Tubercularia  vulgaris  ( — confluens) . 

Fusarium  tremelloides.     (Tremella  Urticas  Pers.) 

Aregma  bulbosum.     (Puccinia  mucronata  var.  ;8.  Rubi  Pers.) 

A.  mucronatura.     (Puccinia  mucronata  var.  a.  Rosae  Pers.) 

Puccinia  Graminis.     Mildew. 

P.  Polygonorum.     ( — Polygoni  amphibii  Pers.) 

P.  Mentha?. 

P.  tumida. 

P.  Jigopodii. 

P.  Anemones, 

*P.  Epilobii.     Mill  meadow. 

*P.  pulverulenta.     Mill  meadow. 

P.  Prunorum.     ( — Pruni  spinosse  Pers.) 

*P.  Ulmarise. 

jEcidium  Ari. 

JE.  rubellum  ( — Rumicis  Pers.) 

M.  Primulse  ? 

JE.  compositarum  ( — Tussilaginis  Pers. ) 

JE.  Ranunculacearum  ( — Ficarix  Pnrt.) 

JE.  leucospermum  ( — Anemones  Pers.) 

JE.  Berberidis. 

JE.  Viola?. 

JE.  Epilobii. 

JE.  Grossularise. 

JE.  crassum  ( — Rhamni  Part.) 

JE,  laceratum  ( — Oxyacanthae  Pers,) 


BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD.       599 

iEcidium  Urticre  (— AsperifoliEe). 

Uredo  segetum.     Smut. 

*U.  Caries.     Bvmt. 

U.  linearis. 

*U.  Rubigo.     Rust. 

U.  oblongata. 

U.  Scillarum.     (Puccinia  Scillarum  Baxt.) 

U.  Polygonorum. 

U.  Rhinanthacearum. 

U.  Labiatarum  ( — Menthse  Purt.) 

U.  compransor  ( — Sonchi  Pers. — Tussilaginis  Pers.) 

U.  suaveolens. 

U.  Senecionis  ( — farinosa  var.  /3.  Senecionis  Pers.) 

U.  pustulata. 

U.  Rosc^. 

U.  efFusa. 

*U.  Ruborum. 

*U.  Potentillarum.     On  SpircEa  Ulmaria. 
The  plant  on  Spiraa  Ulmaria  is  referred  by  Dr.  Greville  to  U.  effiisa,  and  Mr.  Gulliver 
in  his  catalogue  adopts  the  same  opinion.    All  that  I  have  seen,  however,  certainly 
belong  to  U.  Potentillarum;  an  opinion  in  which  I  am  supported  by  the  high  authority 
of  Mr.  Baxter,  of  Oxford,  to  whom  I  submitted  specimens  for  examination. 

U.  apiculosa  ( — Rumicum  Dec. — Cichoracearum  Dec.) 

I  have  met  with  a  plant  on  Lapsana  communis,  which  Mr.  Baxter  considers  a  variety  of 
this,  and  which  differs  in  having  chiefly  globose  sporidia,  and  in  being  destitute  of 
peduncle.  This  is  probably  the  same  as  the  one  doubtfully  referred  to  U.  Cichoracearum 
by  Mr.  Gulliver. 

U.  Leguminosarum.     ( — Viciae  Fabse  Pers.) 

U.  confluens. 

U.  Candida  ( — Thlaspi  Sow.) 

U.  Lini. 

U.  Euphorbias. 

U.  cylindrica  ( — populina  Pers.) 

U.  Saliceti  (—Vitelline  Dec.) 

U.  Caprearum  ( — farinosa  Pers.) 

U.  Anemones. 

U. (?)  Infesting  the  fructification  of  Rtimex  Acetosella. 

U. (?)   On  the  leaves  of  Valeriana  officinalis. 


Add  to  the  foregoing  List,  p.  588,  after  the  Order  Corylt 


acecB. 


Order.     Pinacece  or  Coniferce. 
Juniperus  communis.     Junipex--tree.     Heyford  Leys.     [A.  B.] 


000  QUADRUPEDS  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 


THE  VERTEBRATE  ANIMALS  OF  THE 
NEIGHBOURHOOD  OF  BANBURY. 


[In  the  arrangement  and  nomenclature  of  the  Vertebrate  Animals 
found  in  this  neighbourhood,  I  have  followed  the  "  Manual  of  British 
Vertebrate  Animals  "  by  the  Rev.  L.  Jenyns.  I  have  to  acknowledge 
material  assistance  afforded  me  in  forming  the  following  List  by  Mr. 
James  Loftus,  fomnerly  of  Banbury,  and  now  of  Newington,  Surrey ;  Mr. 
M.  Jessop  and  Mr.  T.  Abbott  of  Banbury ;  and  Mr.  J.  Busby  of  North 
Newington.  In  those  cases  where  an  animal  has  been  noticed  by  only 
one  authority,  I  have  placed  initials;  [L.]  signifying  Mr.  Loftus;  [J.]  Mr. 
Jessop;  [A.]  Mr.  Abbott;  [B.]  Mr.  Busby;  and  [A.  B.]  the  Author  of 
the  present  Work.] 


CLASS.      MAMMALIA. 

Order.     Ferae. 

Meles  Taxus.     Badger. 

Mustela  Foina.     Marten.     Rare. 

M.  Putorius.     Polecat.     Fitchet. 

M.  vulgaris.     Weasel. 

M.  Erminea.     Stoat.     Ermine. 

Lutra  vulgaris.     Otter. 

Canis  Vulpes.     Fox. 

Two  varieties,  known  as  the  Greyhound  Fos  and  the  Terrier  Fox. 
Felis  Catus.     Wild  Cat.     [J.] 

This  old  inhabitant  of  Whittlebury  Forest  is  rare  in  this  locality. 
Talpa  Europa?a.     Mole.     Want. 

The  white  variety  has  been  met  with :  also  a  beautiful  buff  Mole  at  Chacombe.    [J.] 
Sorex  Araneus.     Common  Shrew.     Hardy  Mouse. 
Frequently  found  dead  in  August. 
S.  fodiens.     Water  Shrew.     Rare. 
Erinaceus  Europseus.     Hedgehog. 

Order.     Primates. 
Vespertilio  Noctula.     Noctule.     Great  Bat.     [L.] 
V.  Pipistrellus.     Common  Bat.     Pipistrelle. 
V.  auritus.     Greater  Long-eared  Bat. 


BIRDS  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD.  ^501 

Order.     Glires. 
Sciurus  vulgaris.     Squirrel. 
Myoxus  avellanarivis.     Dormouse.     [J.]     Rare. 
Mus  sylvaticus.     Field  Mouse. 
M.  messorius.     Hai-vest  Mouse.     Common. 
M.  musculus.     House  Mouse. 

M.  musculus.    White  variety.    [J.] 
M,  Rattus.     Black  Rat.     Rare. 
M.  decumanus.     Brown  Rat.     Common  Rat. 
M.  decumanus.     White  variety  found  at  Broughton   [B.],  and  at  Banbury  [Mr.  J. 
Hill]. 

Arvicola  amphibia.     Water  Campagnol.     Water  Rat. 

A.  agrestis.      Field  Campagnol.      Short-tailed  Mouse.      Meadow  Mouse. 

Rare.     [A.  B.] 
Lepus  timidus.      Hare. 
L.  Cuniculus.     Rabbit. 


CLASS.      AVES. 

Order.      Raptores. 
Falco  Subbuteo.     Hobby.     A  summer  visitant.     Rare. 
F.  Tinnunculus.     Kestrel. 
Accipiter  fringillarius.     Sparrow-Hawk. 
Milvus  Ictinus.     Kite. 

Rare.     Much  more  common  a  few  years  ago. 
Buteo  vulgaris.     Buzzard.     [J.]     Rare. 
B.  cyaneus.     Common  Harrier.     Hen-Harrier. 
Otus  Brachyotus.     Short-eared  Owl.     Miyratory. 
Strix  flammea.     White  Owl.     Barn  Owl.     Screech  Owl. 
Syrnium  Aluco.     Tawny  Owl.     Brown  Owl.     Ivy  Owl. 

Order.     Incessores. 

Lanius  rufus.     Wood-Chat.     Rare.     [L.] 
Not  found  now. 

L.  Colliu-io.       Red-backed   Shrike.      Butcher    Bird.      Migratory.       [J.] 
Very  rare. 

Muscicapa  grisola.     Spotted  Flycatcher.     Migratory. 

Turdus  viscivorus.     Missel-Thrush.     Fen  Thrush.     Norway  Thrush. 

T.  pilaris.     Fieldfare.     Felt.     Migratory. 

T.  musicus.     Song  Thrush. 

T.  iliacus.     Redwing.     Migratory.     Common. 

T.  Merula.     Blackbird. 

T.  Merula.    White  variety.     [A.] 

Accentor  modularis.     Hedge  Sparrow.     Hedge  Accentor.     Hedge  War- 
bler. 

Sylvia  Rubecula.     Robin-Redbreast. 
4  G 


<302  BIRDS  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

Sylvia  Phoenicurus.     Redstart.     Redtail.     Migratory. 

S.  Phragmitis.     Reed  Sparrow.     Sedge  Warbler.    Migratory. 

S.  Luscinia.     Nightingale.     Migratory. 

S.  Atricapilla.     Black-cap  Warbler.     Migratory. 

S.  cinerea.     White-throat.     Migratory. 

S.  Curruca.     Lesser  White-throat.     [L.]     Migratory. 

S.  sibilatrix.     Wood  Wren.     [L.] 

S.  Hippolais.     ChifF-chafF.     Cuckoo's  Mate.     [B.]     Migratory. 

Reguhis  aurocapillus.     Golden-crested  Wren.     Golden-crested  Regulus. 

Motacilla  alba.     Pied  Wagtail.     Water  Wagtail. 

M.  Boarula.     Gra}^  Wagtail.     Migratory. 

M.  flava.     Yellow  Wagtail.     Migratory. 

Anthus  pratensis.     Titlark.     Meadow  Pipit. 

A.  arboreus.     Tree  Lark.     Tree  Pipit.     Migratory. 

Saxicola  O^nanthe.     Wheat-Ear.     Migratory.     [L.] 

Not  found  now. 
S.  Rubetra.     Furze-Chat.     Whin-Chat.     Hay-Chat.     Migratory. 
S.  Rubicola.     Stone-Chat.     [L.] 
Parus  major.     Great  Titmouse.     [L.] 
P.  cseruleus.     Tomtit.     Blue  Titmouse. 
P.  palustris.     Marsh  Titmouse.     [L.] 
P.  ater.     Cole  Titmouse.     Not  common. 
P.  caudatus.     Bombarrel.     Long-tailed  Titmouse. 
Calamophilus  biarmicus.     Bearded  Titmouse.     [L.] 
Alauda  arveiisis.     Sky-Lark. 

A.  arvensis.    White  varietj'. 
A.  arborea.     Wood-Lark. 
Emberiza  Miliaria.     Common  Bunting. 
E.  Schceniculus.     Reed  Bunting.     [L.] 

E.  Citrinella.     Yellow-hammer.     Yellow  Bunting. 
Fringilla  Coelebs.     Chaffinch.     Pea-finch. 

F.  domestica.     House  Sparrow. 

F.  montana.     Tree  Sparrow.     Rare. 

F.  Coccothraustes.    Grosbeak.    An  occasional  visitant  in  the  ivinter.    Rare, 

F.Chloris.     Greenfinch.     Green  Gi'osbeak. 

F.  Carduelis.     Goldfinch. 

F.  Linaria.     Lesser  Redpole. 

F.  cannabina.     Common  Linnet.     Hedge  Linnet.     Furze  Linnet. 

F.  Montium.     Mountain  Linnet. 

Pyrrhula  vulgaris.     Bullfinch. 

Loxia  curvirostra.     Cross-Bill.     An  occasional  visitant.     Rare. 

Sturnus  vulgaris.     Starling. 

S.  vulgaris.    White  variety.     [A.] 
Corvus  Corax.     Raven. 
C.  Corone.     Carrion  Crow.     Gor-Crow. 
C.  frugilegus.     Rook. 

C.  frugilegus.    White  variety.     [A.] 
C.  Monedula.     Jackdaw. 


BIRDS  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD.  (J03 

Corvus  Pica.     Magpie. 
Gan-ulus  glandarius.     Jay. 
Picns  viridis.     Green  Woodpecker.     Hickle. 
P.  major.     Great  Spotted  Woodpecker.     [L.] 
Not  found  recently. 
Certhia  familiaris.     Creeper.     Tree-creeper. 
Troglodytes  Eiu-op«us.     Common  Wren. 
Sitta  Europcea.     Nuthatch. 
Cucidus  canorus.     Cuckoo.     Migratory. 
Alcedo  Ispida.     King-Fisher. 

Hirundo  rustica.     Chimney  Swallow.     Migratory. 
H.  urbica.     House  Martin.     Migratory. 

H.  riparia.     Sand  Martin.     Bank  Martin.     Migratory.     Rare. 
Cypselus  Apus.     Swift.     Migratory. 

Caprimulgus  Europasus.      Night-Jar.      Moth-Hawk.      Goatsucker.      Mi- 
gratory.    Rare. 

Order.     Rasores. 

Columha  Palumbus.     Ring-Dove.     Wood- Pigeon. 

C.  ffinas.     Stock-Dove. 

C.  Livia.     Rock-Dove.     Rock-Pigeon.     An  occasional  visitant.     [B.] 

C.  Turtur.     Turtle-Dove.     Migratory. 

Phasianus  Colchicus.     Pheasant. 

Perdix  cinerea.     Partridge. 

P.  Coturnix.     Quail.     [B.]     Migratory. 

Order.     Grallatores. 

Charadrius  pluvialis.     Golden  Plover.     [A.]     Migratory.     Rare. 

Vanellus  cristatus.     Crested  Lapwing.     Pee-wit. 

Ardea  cinerea.     Heron.     Hern. 

A.  stellaris.     Bittern.     Very  rare. 

A.  Nycticorax.     Night-Heron.     [L.]     Rare. 

Numenius  arquata.     Curlew.     [A.]     An  occasional  visitant.     Very  rare. 

Totanus  Glareola.     Wood  Sandpiper.     [A.]     An  occasional  visitant. 

Scolopax  Rusticola.     Woodcock.     Migratory. 

S.  Gallinago.     Snipe.     Migratory. 

S.  Gallinula.     Jack  Snipe.     Migratory. 

Tringa  minuta.     Little  Stint.     [Mr.  Godfrey.] 

Rallus  aquaticus.     Water-Rail.     Water-hen. 

Crex  pratensis.     Corn-Crake.     Corn-Drake.     Land-Rail.     Migratory. 

Gallinula  chloropus.     GaUinule.     Moor-hen. 

Fuhca  atra.     Coot.     Bald  Coot. 

Order.     Natatores. 

Anser  ferus.     Wild  Goose.     Migratory. 
A.  Segetum.     Bean  Goose.     Migratory. 

4  g3 


604  REPTILES  &c.  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

Anas  Boschas.     Mallard.     Wild-Duck. 

A.  Crecca.     Teal. 

Mareca  Penelope.     Wigeon.     Migratory. 

Podiceps  rubricollis.     Red-necked  Grebe.     [A.]     An  occasional  visitant. 

Very  rare. 
P.  minor.     Dab-chick.     Little  Grebe.     Didabber. 
Larus  canus.     Common  Gull.     Sea  Crow.     An  occasional  visitant. 
L.  argentatus.     Herring  Gull.     [A.]     A71  occasional  visitant. 
L.  fuscus.     Lesser  Black-backed  Gull.     [A.]     An  occasional  visitant. 

CLASS.      REPTILIA. 

Order.     Sauria. 
Lacerta  agilis.     Common  Lizard. 

Order.      Ophidia. 
Anguis  fragilis.     Blind-Worm.     Common  Slow- Worm. 
Natrix  torquata.     Ringed  Snake.     Common  Snake. 
Vipera  communis.     Viper.     Rare. 

CLASS.      AMPHIBIA. 

Order.     Caducibranchia, 

Rana  temporaria.     Common  Frog. 

Bufo  vulgaris.     Common  Toad. 

Triton  palustris.     Warty  Eft.     Great  Water-Newt. 

T.  punctatus.     Common  Eft. 


CLASS.      PISCES. 

Order.     Acanthopterygii. 
Perca  fluviatilis.     Common  Perch. 
P.  Cernua.     Ruffe. 

Cottus  Gobio.     Bull-head.     Miller's  Thimib. 
Gasterosteus  aculeatus.     Three-spined  Stickleback. 

The  variety  locally  called  the  Eedthroat  is  common. 
G.  aculeatus  var.  5.  ( — Brachycentrus  Cuv.)     Short-spined  Stickleback. 
G.  Pungitius.     Ten-spined  Stickleback.     Jack  Bannell. 

Order.     Malacopteryyii. 

Cyprinvis  Carpio.     Carp. 
C.  Gobio.     Gudgeon. 
C.  Tinea.     Tench. 


FISHES  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD.  605 

Cyprinus  Rutilus.     Roach. 

C.  Leiiciscus.     Dace. 

C.  Cephaliis.     Chub. 

C.  Erythrophthalmus.     Rudd.     Red-Eye.     Finscale.     In  the  Cherwell. 

C.  Phoximis.     Minnow.     Formerly  very  common.     Now  rare. 

Cobitis  barbatula.     Bearded  Loach.     Now  rare. 

Esox  Lucius.     Pike.     Jack. 

Sahno  Fario.     Common  Trout.     In  the  River  Sivere. 

Anguilla  acutirostris.     Sharp-nosed  Eel.     Silver  Eel. 

A.  latirostris.     Broad-nosed  Eel.     Grig. 

Order.     Cyclostomi. 

Petromyzon  fluviatilis.      River  Lamprey.     In  the  River  Swale,  beyond 
Broughton. 


CRUSTACEANS. 


Astacus  fluviatilis.  Crawfish. 
Daphnia  Pulex.  Water  Flea. 
Cyclops  vulgaris. 


ADDENDA. 


BRITISH  PERIOD. 

P.  4.  The  Dobuni.  Banbury.  A  writer  in  the  Gentle- 
mans  Magazine  for  January  1841,  in  a  review  of  tlie  first  portion 
of  this  work,  says  : — "  The  Greek  writers  call  the  Dobum  ^o^owoi 
and  BoJoi/.ot ;  we  are  bewildered  in  the  choice  of  etymologies  which 
are  offered  for  this  word,  and  would  suggest  that  it  is  derived  from 
bod,  domus — and  dunum,  collis,  two  Celtic  terms,  which,  when 
combined  in  the  plural,  would  imply  the  dwellings  among  the 
hills — a  conjecture  fully  justified  by  the  numerous  earthworks 
which  crown  the  eminences  about  Banbury.  We  are  little  satis- 
fied with  the  derivatives  which  have  been  suggested  for  Banbury 
itself  We  suspect  that  something  of  the  old  title  of  the  district 
lurks  in  the  word,  and  that  of  Bodunbyrig — Saxonice — for  the 
town  of  the  Dobuni,  or  BoJo^vo*,  a  very  easy  metonjony  may  have 
formed  Banbury." 

P.  7.  ROLLRICH  Stones.  The  same  writer  in  the  Gentle- 
man a  Magazine  says  : — "  The  Rollrich  stones,  seated  on  a  chain 
of  hills  near  Banbury,  are  a  fine  example  of  that  primitive  style 
of  temple  building,  used  by  the  Celtic  tribes,  of  which  Stonehenge, 
as  we  have  elsewhere  observed,  presents  but  a  more  finished  spe- 
cimen. Dr.  Stukeley  derives  the  name  from  Rhol  drwyg,  the 
wheel  or  circle  of  the  Druids,  or  from  Roilig,  in  the  old  Irish, 
the  church  of  the  Druids.  Is  it  not,  as  we  have  considered 
Banbury  to  be,  a  term  compounded  by  the  Saxons  in  reference  to 
the  ancient  appropriation  of  the  structure  ?  and  does  not  Rollrich 
imply,  Rhol,  the  circle  or  circular  temple,  Ric,  of  the  region  or 
kingdom  ?    it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  a  detached  rude  obeliscal 


ADDENDA.  607 

stone  is  called  the  King  Stone  to  this  day.  This  stone  was  surely 
the  altar;  the  five  stones,  called  the  Five  Knights,  a  sepulchral 
cromlech.  For  just  as  we  bury  near  our  churches,  these  sacred 
inclosures  were  chosen  by  the  earliest  worshippers  as  a  proper 
locality  near  which  to  inter  their  dead.  The  sixth  chapter  of 
the  first  book  of  Samuel  affords  us  a  striking  example  of  a  single 
stone  forming  a  marked  place  for  sacrifice :  '  and  the  cart  came 
into  the  field  of  Joshua  the  Bethshemite,  and  stood  where  there 
was  a  great  stone,  and  they  clave  the  wood  of  the  cart,  and  offered 
the  kine,  a  burnt-offering  to  the  Lord.'  " 

P.  15.  Banbury  Lane.  This  ancient  Trackway  seems  to 
have  been  a  connecting  way  between  all  the  military  works  in 
this  part  of  the  country,  and  particularly  as  regards  the  British 
encampments.  Benaventa  (Borough  Hill,  see  p.  25)  would  ap- 
pear to  have  been  the  point  d'  appui  of  the  chain  of  Forts  which 
grasped  at  the  line  of  country  between  the  Severn,  the  Avon, 
and  the  Nen.  It  seems  probable  that  Ostorius  (p.  22)  iatended, 
and  had  commenced,  including  the  Welland  in  the  defence ;  as 
there  is  a  Roman  encampment  at  Guilsborough,  between  Market 
Harborough  and  Benaventa,  and  Tumuli  also  existed  in'  that 
neighbourhood,  proving  the  connection  with  the  grand  chain.  At 
West  Haddon  a  tumulus,  called  "  Ostor  Hill,"  was  removed  some 
years  since,  which  was  generally  believed  to  have  been  the  sepul- 
chre of  Ostorius.^ 

P.  19.  Madmarston  Camp,  &c.  In  1841,  another  cist- 
vaen,  formed  of  white  flag  stones,  was  found  in  Blackland ;  it 
contained  a  human  skeleton  lying  at  full  length  and  with  the 
face  downwards.  A  silver  coin  of  Trajan,  some  of  the  small 
brass  coins  of  Gallienus,  Claudius  Gothicus,  Quintillus,  &c.,  and 
many  other  coins,  were  also  found  in  Blakeland. 

Pp.  19,  27,  33.  The  Black  Land  of  the  Ancient  Sites. 
A  writer  in  the  Oxford  Herald  of  the  26th  December  1840,  refer- 
ring to  the  account  given  in  these  pages  of  ancient  sites  where  a 
black  soU  occurs,  says : — "  We  have  the  best  authority  for  saying 
that  all  these  are  undoubtedly  the  sites  of  British  villages  and 
towns,  taken  possession  of  by  the  Romans,  Saxons,  and  Danes 
in  succession,  and  often  burnt  and  rebuilt  on  the  same  spots,  in 
consequence  of  the  fertihty  of  the  adjacent  coimtry." 

(1)  Bridges'  Northamp.,  p.  599;  .and  infoniiation  and  MS.  map  furnished  by  E.  Pretty 
Esq. 


008  ADDENDA. 

P.  28.  Brinavis,  In  1841,  a  Saxon  coin  of  silver  was  dis- 
covered at  Black  Grounds.  It  is  now  in  tlie  possession  of  tlie 
Rev.  E.  G.  Walford,  and  appears  to  be  one  of  those  coined  by 
the  Abbot  of  St  Edmund's  Bury  (Ruding,  vol.  III.,  p.  125). 
The  legend  on  the  obverse  is  SC  EANI,  for  Seti  Edmundi :  that 
on  the  reverse  can  only  be  supplied  by  conjecture,  as  it  is  be- 
lieved to  be  a  unique  one,  and  the  name  of  any  such  moneyer 
as  the  one  recorded  is  not  known.  It  is  probably  alefre,  or 
something  of  the  kind. 

Between  Arbury  Banks  and  Wallow  Bank  there  is  an  embank- 
ment, running  north  and  south,  not  given  in  the  plan  on  p.  27. 
The  field  in  which  this  is  situated  bears  the  appellation  of  the 
"  Bear-baiting  Ground."  This  embankment  is  of  considerable 
length,  but  its  height  has  been  greatly  reduced  by  the  continual 
operations  of  the  plough. 

P.  38.  The  Portway.  The  writer  (before  alluded  to)  in 
the  Oxford  Herald  of  December  26th  1840,  after  mentioning  the 
course  of  the  Portway  given  in  the  text,  as  far  as  Port  Meadow 
at  Oxford,  says: — "Thence  we  should  have  little  difficulty  in 
continuing  it  across  Godstow  bridge,  through  Wytham  and 
Cunmer,  and  so  on  into  various  parts  of  Berkshire." 


TUMULI. 

P.  14.  A  Tumulus,  which  is  very  conspicuous,  but  of  the 
existence  of  which  I  was  not  aware  until  after  p.  14  was  printed, 
occurs  on  the  north  side  of  the  lane  leading  from  Bloxham  to 
Milton,  three  miles  and  a  half  S.  by  W.  from  Banbury.  This 
Tumulus  is  called  Round  Hill,  and  is  perhaps  a  funeral  Bar- 
row, as  its  site  does  not  command  an  extensive  prospect.  It  is 
now  about  twelve  feet  in  height,  of  an  oval  form,  and  measures 
twenty-four  yards  in  length. 

P.  27,  note  14.  In  the  large  map  given  in  Bridges'  North- 
amptonshire, Tumuli  are  marked  on  the  course  of  the  ancient  way 
leading  from  Daventry  to  Chipping  Wardon; — 1st.  at  Daventry 
town's-end ; — 2nd.  one  mile  north  of  Badby  ; — 3rd.  near  Charwel- 
ton  ; — 4th.  southwest  of  Arbury  Banks. 

Pp.  32,  33.  The  Tumuli  called  the  Two  Lows,  situated 
near    Buston   farm-house,   are   not   placed   correctly   in   the  Map 


ADDENDA.  609 

(Plate  4).  Instead  of  their  direction  being  east  and  west,  they 
lie  N.N.W.  and  S.S.E. ;  and  tliej  are  by  the  east  side  of  the 
ancient  way  leading  from  Warkworth  and  Middleton  to  Astrop, 
which  road  in  this  part  is  probably  a  remain  of  the  Portway. 


ROMAN  PERIOD. 

P.  24.  Altarstone  Inn  at  Banbury.  This  house,  as  it 
remained  to  our  own  times,  was  wholly  removed  in  1841,  and 
the  new  Meeting-house  of  the  Baptists  (see  p.  558)  was  erected 
on  the  site.  Several  coins  were  found,  but  none  of  earlier  date 
than  the  reign  of  Edward  the  Third,  nor  any  other  important  relics 
of  antiquity. 

P.  25.  Castrensian  Amphitheatre  at  Banbury.  The 
writer  in  the  Gentleman  s  Magazine  before  alluded  to  (p.  606), 
says : — "  This  important  vestige  surely  marks  the  place  as  a  Roman 
station  of  consequence,  for  their  castrensian  arense  always  indicate 
the  presence  of  a  garrison :  witness  the  amphitheatres  at  Rich- 
borough,  Silchester  and  Dorchester,  &c. ;  why,  then,  may  we  ask, 
is  the  assertion  of  Stukeley,  that  it  was  the  Branavis  or  Brinavis 
of  Richard  of  Cirencester,  so  summarily  dismissed  as  an  error  ? 
(p.  63,)  for  we  are  told  at  p.  1  that  Bajnanbyng  was  one  of  its 
Saxon  names ;  and,  as  to  discrepancy  of  distance,  all  antiquaries 
know  how  very  elastic  and  conforming  the  miles  of  a  Roman 
Itinerary  are  generally  considered,  accommodating  themselves  with 
the  easy  retraction  or  extension  of  a  piece  of  caoutchouc  to  the 
hypothesis  of  the  topographer, — but  here  is  an  amphitheatre,  and 
a  real  coincidence  of  name,  defeated  by  written  numbers  of  ad- 
measurement, not  much  to  be  depended  on." 

P.  41.  In  Bloxham  parish,  on  the  north  side  of  the  road 
which  branches  off  from  the  turnpike  road,  westward,  towards 
Milcombe,  and  four  miles  southwest  from  Banbury,  some  Roman 
remains  were  discovered  in  the  present  year,  1841.  These  con- 
sisted of  fragments  of  pottery,  and  some  copper  coins  of  Tetricus 
and  Constantine  jimior.'^  One  foot  below  the  surface  of  the  soil 
was  also  found,  in  the  same  place,  the  crown  of  an  arched  brick 
flue  or  oven,  eight  feet  six  inches  in  length.  On  this  structure 
being  cleared  out,  it  was  found  to  measure  two  feet  seven  inches 

(2)  The  relics  were  carefully  collected  and  shewn  to  me  by  Mr.  W.  Bezly  of  Bloxham. 

4  h 


610 


ADDENDA. 


ill  depth,  and  three  feet  in  breadth  at  the  southern  end  and  one 
foot  eleven  inches  at  the  northern  end. 

P.  45.  At  Adderbury,  three  miles  and  a  quarter  S.S.E.  from 
Banburj,  Roman  coins  have  been  occasionally  found.  One  of 
the  small  brass  of  Constantine  the  Great  was  found  at  a  con- 
siderable depth  below  the  soil  when  the  church-yard  was  enlarged 
in  1840. 


RELIGIOUS  HOUSES  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 


Pp.  76 — 78.  Hospital  of  St. 
John,  Banbury.  The  Seal  of  the 
Hospital,  as  appended  to  a  lease  which 
is  preserved  in  the  Augmentation  Of- 
fice, Westminster,  is  here  given.  It 
bears  the  patriarchal  cross,  fitchie  in 
foot.  The  inscription  is — "SIGILLV' 
HOSPITA'    SCI    lOHIS    DE    BANNEB." 


SEAL  OF  ST,  JOHN'S  HOSPITAL. 


P.  78.  Hospital  of  St.  Leonard.  We  find  a  Hospital, 
situated  in  Northamptonshire  and  dedicated  to  St.  Leonard,  re- 
corded in  Speed's  Catalogue  of  Religious  Houses  ;  the  value  of 
which  is  stated  at  ci'lO,^  but  the  site  is  not  given.  This  Hospital 
is  not  mentioned  in  the  Valor  Ecclesiasticus.  It  is  very  probable 
that  Speed's  account  refers  to  the  Hospital  of  St.  Leonard,  situate 
within  the  parish  of  Banbury,  but  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
bridge  and  in  the  county  of  Northampton. 

P.  86.  Chacombe  Priory.  The  stoup  which  was  placed 
within  the  chapel  of  this  Priory  yet  remains.  The  burial  place 
was  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Priory,  now  the  kitchen  garden. 
A  stone  coffin   was  dug  up  there  about  fifty  years  ago. 


(3)  Speed's  History  of  Great  Britaine,  1627^  p.  816. 


ADDENDA.  611 

P.  203.  Clattercot  Priory.  There  is  preserved  in  the 
Augmentation  Office  a  Deed  of  Exchange,  dated  4th  July,  38th 
Henry  VIII.,  whereby  Sir  William  Petre  conveys  back  again  to 
the  Crown  the  site  and  demesne  lands  of  the  Priory  of  Clatter- 
cot  ;  and  also  Particulars,  made  on  the  1st  October  in  the  same 
year,  for  a  Grant  of  the  said  estates  to  the  new  Cathedral  Church 
of  Oxford.  In  the  2nd  Elizabeth,  Clattercot  was  granted  to 
Thomas  Lee  and  Mary  his  wife. 

A  portion  of  the  cellars  of  the  ancient  Priory  yet  remains,  and 
a  burial  place  is  adjoining. 


CHURCHES  &c.  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

P.  109.  Adderbury  Church.  The  arms  of  William  of 
Wykeham  are  also  carved  in  the  roof  of  the  Chancel,  beneath 
wliich  are  several  corbel  heads  (as  of  Edward  III.,  Richard  II., 
and  WilUam  of  Wykeham,)  and  emblematic  figures.  The  Rere- 
dos  or  altar-screen  is  the  original  one  restored  by  Mr.  Buckler. 
In  the  restoration  of  this  Chancel,  New  College  expended  nearly 
£700.  The  tracery  of  the  windows  in  the  body  of  the  Church 
was  taken  out  in  1788,  not  for  the  reason  assigned  in  p.  110, 
but  from  a  notion  that  more  light  was  required.  In  the  altera-, 
tions  made  subsequently  within  the  Church  (in  1831),  including 
the  restoration  of  the  floor  and  the  new  pewing,  ,£1016  were  ex- 
pended, which  sum  was  partly  raised  by  the  parish  and  partly 
by  subscription.  The  new  Font,  by  Plowman,  was  given  by  the 
Rev.  W.  C.  Risley,  now  Vicar  of  Deddington.  A  piscina  is  re- 
maining at  the  east  end  of  the  south  transept,  and  another  at  the 
south  end  of  the  south  transept.  There  is  a  fine  stone  monu- 
ment, to  the  memory  of  individuals  of  the  Bustard  family,  bearing 
the  dates  1517,  1534,  and  1568.  The  Chancel  has  an  inclination 
from  the  nave  of  about  three  degrees  towards  the  north  (similar 
to  that  of  Hornton  Church  as  mentioned  in  p.  126). 

P.  110.  Adderbury  Cross  stood  on  "the  high  Greene" 
there,  in  the  midst  of  the  embankment  mentioned  in  p.  69  as  the 
probable  site  of  a  Norman  castle.  The  ancient  accounts  kept 
by  the  churchwardens  of  Adderbury  mention  repairs  of  this 
Cross  in  1618  and  1623.^ 

(4)  Information  from  J.  Barber  Esq.  of  Adderbury. 

4  h3 


612  ADDENDA. 

P.  114.  King's  Sutton  Church.  In  the  terrific  thunder 
storm  which  occurred  on  the  morning  of  Sunday,  January  3rd, 
1841,  the  south  porch  and  the  eastern  spire-window  of  this 
Church  were  struck  by  the  lightning ;  but  no  material  damage  was 
done  be^-ond  the  tearing  out  of  a  considerable  portion  of  the  mul- 
lion  of  the  window,  above  and  below  the  transom. 

P.  115.  BODICOT  Cross.  This  stood  on  the  open  space  to 
the  north  of  the  present  Plough  public-house.  'It  had  an  octagon- 
shaped  basement  course  about  three  feet  ten  inches  deep,  then  a 
smaller  one  of  two  feet  deep,  then  a  freestone  block  about  four  feet 
square  and  four  feet  deep,  in  which  was  bedded  a  mutilated 
freestone  pedestal.^ 

P.  115.  Weeping  Cross.  A  writer  in  the  Gentleman's 
Magazine  (Aug.  1841),  mentions  those  "rare  monuments"  deno- 
minated "Weeping  Crosses,  on  account  of  such  Crosses  having 
been  especially  adapted  to  the  exercise  of  public  penance  by  that 
abject  class  of  penitents  mentioned  in  ancient  ecclesiastical  can- 
ons as  movirners,  kneelers,  and  weepers,  and  who,  covered  with 
sackcloth  and  ashes,  were  enjoined  to  perform  penance  in  the 
open  air."  K  different  derivation  of  the  name  of  Weeping  Cross 
near  Banbury  has  been  given  in  the  note  (6)  on  p.  2  of  this  vol. 

Pp.  118,  119.  Hanwell  Church.  In  the  present  year, 
1841,  the  rector,  in  removing  the  coats  of  whitewash  from  the 
wall  above  the  Altar,  brought  to  view  a  series  of  paintings  ex- 
tending the  whole  breadth  of  the  Chancel.  These  consisted  of 
figures  of  saints  &c. ;  but  the  plastering  was  in  so  bad  a  state 
that  it  was  impossible  to  preserve  more  than  one  of  them. 

Pp.  120 — 122.  Warkworth  Church.  In  the  present  year, 
1841,  this  Church  has  been  subjected  to  repairs;  and  also  to 
what  some  persons  consider  improvement,  that  is  to  say,  it  has 
been  fitted  up  with  new  deal  painted  seats,  of  which  those  in  the 
nave  are  pews,  or  sleeping-boxes.  To  effect  this  change,  the 
fine  ancient  open  carved  seats  have  been  removed :  a  few  of  the 
ends  have  been  replaced  in  the  side  seats,  but  all  the  backs, 
with  their  inscriptions,  and  the  other  beautiful  carvings,  have 
been  taken  away,  and  the  parts  wliich  escaped  mutilation  are  now 
Ipng  on  the  premises  of  a  builder.  The  tiles  also,  for  the  pre- 
servation of  which  I  had  put  in  a  plea  (see  p.  122),  have  been 
sold    to   adorn    a   summer-house :    and   all   the    brasses    of    this 

(o)  Information  from  Mr.  John  Wilson  of  Bodicot. 


ADDENDA.  613 

Church,  excepting  two,  were  thrown  away  unheeded,  and  might 
have  been  purchased  of  the  workmen  for  a  pot  of  beer,  until 
Mr.  Danbj,  the  builder,  greatly  to  his  credit,  buried  them  for 
security  beneath  a  large  flag-stone  in  the  nave  of  the  Church. 
Such  an  instance  of  vandalism  as  that  effected  at  Warkworth  in 
1841  has  not  taken  place  in  this  neighbourhood  since  the  des- 
truction of  Banbury  Church  in  1790. 

P.  122.  Wroxton  Church.  In  the  text  it  is  stated,  in- 
correctly, that  the  original  character  of  this  Church  was  studied 
when  the  present  Tower  was  erected.  In  the  place  of  Gothic 
buttresses  to  the  Tower,  each  angle  has  two  sets  of  fluted  pilas- 
ters of  three  stages.  Some  of  the  windows  are  ogee-shaped,  and 
do  not  correspond  with  those  of  the  body  of  the  Church. 

P.  128.  Cropredy  Cross,  of  which  the  base  and  a  portion 
of  the  pedestal  yet  remain,  stood  in  a  meadow  on  the  northwest 
side  of  the  village. 

P.  131.  Chipping  Wardon  Church.  The  present  rector, 
the  Rev.  E.  G.  Walford,  writes  to  me  thus  : — "  The  Locker  on  the 
north  side  of  the  altar  was  discovered  and  opened  by  myself.  The 
door  is  single  and  not  double.  It  was  originally  the  centre  of  a 
former  pulpit,  and  made  under  my  direction,  and  there  placed ; 
as  well  as  the  semicircular  credence  table,  which  I  use  to  place 
my  registers  upon  when  making  entries." 

P.  140.  Shutford  Church.  This  Church  (or  Chapel  under 
Swalcliffe)  has  been  repaired  and  renovated  in  the  present  year, 
1841,  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  E.  Payne,  vicar  of  Swal- 
cliffe. The  north  wall  of  the  aisle,  the  east  wall  of  the  chancel, 
and  parts  of  the  wall  of  the  transept,  have  been  rebuilt ;  the 
aisle  and  transept  have  been  newly  roofed ;  one  large  window, 
which  had  been  stopped  up,  has  been  opened ;  and  other  muti- 
lated windows  have  been  restored  to  their  original  dimensions 
and  character.  Internally,  the  Roodloft-screen  has  been  repaired  ; 
an  altar  of  artificial  stone,  richly  designed,  has  been  placed  in  the 
chancel ;  the  church  has  been  re-paved  and  re-pewed ;  the  Nor- 
man arches  and  pillars  have  been  relieved  of  their  load  of  white- 
wash ;  and  new  doors  have  been  put  up,  with  other  improvements. 
Pp.  153,  497.  Banbury  Church.  Some  Remains  of  this 
Church  are  engraved  in  the  tail-piece  given  on  the  last  page  of  this 
volume.  I  rejoice  in  being  able  to  giv^e  "  a  local  habitation  and  a 
name "  to  Mr.  "  J.  Henn,"  whose  protests  against  the  destruction 


614  ADDENDA. 

of  this  Church  are  recorded  in  p.  536  of  this  volume.  Mr.  Heim 
was  assistant  teacher  at  Sulgrave  school  in  1790,  and,  subsequently 
in  the  same  year,  removed  to  Aldridge  in  Staffordshire. 

On  the  back  of  an  old  grave-stone  in  the  Church-yard  of  Ban- 
bury was  the  following  : — 

"  Of  Death  and  Judgment 

Heaven  and  Hell 
Who  often  thinks 

Must  needs  live  well." 

On  another,  this  : — 

"  Since  then,  that  Judgement  is  before  us; 
»  Let  us  seriously  Believe  it,  daily  Expect  it, 

Let  no  Profit  tempt  us,  no  Pleasure  entice  us, 
No  Power  embolden  us,  no  Privacy  encourage  us, 

To  do  that  which  we  cannot  Account  for 
At  the  great  Tribunal  of  this  Impartial  Judge. "'^ 


ADDENDA— CONTINUED. 

P.  170.  In  1361,  on  the  death  of  the  Prioress  of  the  Priory 
for  Benedictine  Nuns  at  Catesby  in  Northamptonshire,  the  new 
election  of  a  Prioress  by  the  nuns  being  defective  in  form,  the 
bishop  made  choice  of  Johanna  Fabian  of  Bannebury  to  the  of- 
fice, and  admitted  her  on  the  21st  x'Xugust.  This  Prioress  died  in 
1370.^ 

Pp.  184,  185.  Concerning  the  Bolt-head  engraved  in  Plate 
12  (fig.  3)  an  eminent  antiquary  writes  thus : — "  I  think  you  are 
quite  right  in  attributing  it  to  the  latter  period,"  [the  battle  in 
1469],  "for  I  have  various  weapons  made  to  throw  out  addi- 
tional spikes,  of  the  close  of  the  loth  century,  though  none 
exactly  like  that  in  your  possession.  I  imagine  it  to  have  been 
the  head  of  a  bolt  for  a  Cross-bow  and  to  have  been  formed  on 
an  Asiatic  principle."  The  bolt-head  is  now,  by  the  kindness  of 
Mr.  Walford,  in  my  own  possession. 

P.  189.  Dan  VERS  OF  Calthorp.  Tlie  pedigree  from  the 
Harl.  ]MS.  5812,  gives  only  the  second  family  of  John  Danvers. 

(6)  Information  from  Mr.  John  Wilson  of  Bodicot. 

In  note  7  on  p.  55  i  of  this  vol.  there  is  an  account  of  the  Communion  Plate  belonging 
to  Banbury  Church.  In  the  present  year,  1811,  the  Rev.  T.  Mardon,  curate  of  Banbury, 
has  presented  to  the  Church  a  cloth  of  crimson  velvet,  fringed  and  adorned  with  gold,  for 
the  communion  table. 

(7)  Baker's  Northamp,,  p.  280. 


ADDENDA.  615 

He  had  another  family  by  a  former  wife,  Alice,  daughter  and 
heiress  of  William  Verney  of  Byfield ;  the  eldest  of  whom,  Sir 
Robert  Danvers  of  Ipwell  co.  Oxou,  purchased  Cvilworth  and 
Sulgrave,  was  King's  Serjeant  (22nd  Hen.  VI.),  justice  of  the 
Common  Pleas  (28th  Hen.  VI.),  and  died  in  1467. 

John  Danvers's  eldest  son  by  his  second  wife  was  Sir  Thomas 

Danvers  of  Banbury,  who  married  Sibilla,  daughter  of 

Fowler  of  Buckingham  and  sister  of  Richard  Fowler  chancel- 
lor of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  and  died  without  issue.  Sir  Wil- 
liam Danvers,  lord  chief  justice  of  the  Common  Pleas  in  the  3rd 
Hen.  VII.,  was  the  second  son  of  John  Danvers  by  his  second 
wife.^ 

P.  194,  line  5.  Sir  Anthony  Cope  was  the  farmer  of  the 
manors  of  Grimsbury  and  Hardwick  in  1534.     See  pp.  200 — 202. 

P.  241.  Sir  Anthony  Cope.  The  Puritans.  From  a 
letter  written  by  Sir  Francis  Knollys  to  the  Lord  Treasurer  (Lord 
Burleigh),  Strype  quotes  that  he  (Sir  Francis  Knollys)  subjoined 
— "that  he  had  here"  [at  the  Oxford  summer  Assizes,  July  1589,] 
"  also  found  two  sorts  of  subjects  of  clergy  men  and  of  lay 
men.  The  one  sort  of  clergy  and  lay  were  those  that  sought  to 
maintain  the  jurisdiction  of  my  lord  Archbishop"  [Whitgift],  "&c. 
The  which  two  sorts  of  men,  as  he  wrote,  he  could  not  better 
describe  to  his  Lordship,  than  by  the  persons  of  two  gentlemen 
(concerned  in  the  present  assizes),  dwelling  in  Banbury,  and  near 
the  town ;  differing  much  in  manner  and  behaviour.  The  one  of 
which  persons  was  Mr.  Davers "  [Danvers  of  Calthorp  and  Up- 
ton, see  p.  189],  "then  sheriff  of  that  shire  ;^  the  other,  Mr.  Cope, 
a  more  faithful  and  virtuous  gentleman,  in  his  opinion.  The  for- 
mer, viz.  the  High  Sheriff,  he  might  signify,  he  said,  and  figure  to 
be  the  persons  that  leaned  passionately  to  the  strict  observance 
of  the  ceremonies  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer;  and  that  no 
ceremony  thereof  should  be  allowed  to  be  omitted  at  any  time, 
nor  for  any  cause,  without  punishment :  and  that  Mr.  Cope,  neigh- 
bour to  the  other,  might  signify  and  figure  to  be  the  persons  that 
did  passionately  lean  to  the  strict  observation  of  the  dutiful  main- 
tenance of  her  Majesty's  supreme  government,  and  of  her  honour 
and  safety  thereunto  belonging."  Strype  adds  : — "  There  was  a 
disturbance  made  at  Banbury  not  long  before  ;   upon  occasion  of 

(8)  Baiter's  Northamp.,  p.  605. 

(9)  John  Danvers  Esq.  is  recorded  as  sheriff  of  Oxfordshire  in  the  30th  Eliz.  (1587-8). 


016  ADDENDA. 

some  difference  arising  between  the  Lord  Norris,  lord  lieutenant 
of  the  County,  and  the  said  High  Sheriff:  and  the  two  chief 
contenders  were  the  said  Sheriff  and  the  other  gentleman,  a  fa- 
vourer of  Puritanism.  The  matter  came  before  the  Justices  of 
Assize ;  who  very  well  Uked  of  the  virtu.ous  behaviour  of  Mr. 
Cope,  and  very  much  misliked  the  contentious  beha\iour  of  Mr. 
Davers.  Insomuch  that  he  was  fain  to  acknowledge  his  disorder 
undutifully  used  towards  the  said  Lord  ;  and  promised  that  hence- 
forth he  would  obediently  acknowledge  and  observe  his  duty."^" 

P.  246.  The  Grant  of  the  32nd  Eliz.  (1590)  mentions  "the 
yearly  rent  of  twenty-six  shillings  and  eight  pence  annually  pro- 
ceeding or  payable  from  or  for  the  Farm  Rent  of  the  Portion  of 
the  late  Abbot  and  Convent  called  the  Monastery  of  Eynsham 
aforesaid  and  annually  proceeding  or  renewing  within  the  ^'illage 
and  fields  of  Hardwike  in  the  parish  of  Banbury e." 

P.  26].  Respecting  the  Royal  Progresses,  &c.,  of  the  reigns 
of  James  the  First  and  Charles  the  First  the  following  entries 
occur  among  the  accounts  of  the  Churchwardens  of  Adderbury  : — 

"1619. — Paid  for  ringing  friday  &  Saturday  when  the  King)  ,^      „j 

was  at  Broughton / 

"  1622. — To  Ringers  when  the  King  came  by  5s.  Od. 

"  1625. — Paid  to  the  Ringers  when  the  King  &  Prince  came  )  „      a  j 

through  the  Town /  '^*-  *''• 

Paid  for  ringing  when  King  Charles  was  proclaimed os.  Od. 

"  1635. — Paid  for  ringing  when  the  Queen  came  by  our  Town""  10s.  3d. 

P.  267.  Earldom  of  Banbury.  The  following  is  an  ex- 
tract from  the  Edinburgh  Review,  No.  97,  March  1827  : — 

"  Immediately  after  the  death  of  Lord  Banbury,  Lady  Banbury  proved 
his  will,  and  on  the  same  day  she  married  Lord  Vaux.  Her  son  Edward 
died  under  age.  Nicholas  appears  to  have  been  treated  by  Lord  Vaux 
as  his  son,  and  to  have  kept  the  name  of  Vaux  for  some  years.  The 
first  evidence  we  have  of  his  assuming  the  title  of  Lord  Banbury  is  an 
indenture  dated  the  19th  of  October  1646,  by  which  Lord  Vaux  coven- 
anted to  levy  a  fine  of  liarrowden,  to  the  vise  of  himself  and  Lady 
Banbury,  for  their  lives,  with  remainder  '  to  the  use  of  the  Right  Honour- 
able Nicholas,  now  Earl  of  Banbury,  sonne  of  the  said  Countess  of  Ban- 
bury, heretofore  called  Nicholas  Vaux,  or  by  whichsoever  of  the  said 
names  or  descriptions  the  said  Nicholas  be,  or  hath  been,  called,  reputed, 
or  known.' 

"  In  the  year  1660,  Nicholas  took  his  seat  as  a  peer  ;  and  on  the  13th  of 
July  in  the  same  year,  the  House  was  moved,  '  that  there  being  a  person 
who  now  sits  in  the  House  that  is  not  a  peer,  who,  as  is  conceived,  has 

(10)  Strype's  Life  of  Archbishop  Whitgift.    Oxford,  1822,  vol.  1,  p.  604. 

(11)  Information  from  J.  Barber  Esq.  of  Adderbury. 


ADDENDA.  617 

no  right  to  the  Earldom  of  Banbury,  it  is  ordered  that  this  business  shall 
be  heard  at  the  bar  by  council,  on  Monday  come  next  se'nnight.' 

On  the  6th  of  June  1661,  Nicholas  presented  his  petition,  which  was 
refen-ed  to  the  Committee  of  Privileges.  Witnesses  were  examined, 
who  proved  the  fact  of  his  being  born  in  wedlock,  in  circumstances  of 
undeniable  access ;  and,  the  Attorney-General  having  confessed  the  law 
clear,  the  committee  came  to  the  resolution  '  to  report  the  matter  of  fact — 
that  according  to  the  law  of  the  land  he  is  legitimate.'  And  it  was  en- 
tered on  the  Journals,  that  '  the  report  made  to  the  House  the  1st  of  July 
1661,  that  the  opinion  of  the  committee  is,  that  Nicholas,  Earl  of  Ban- 
bury, is  a  legitimate  person.'  The  House,  however,  seems  to  have  been 
dissatisfied  with  this  resolution,  for  we  find  it  referred  back  to  the  com- 
mittee on  the  10th  of  July.  What  proceedings  then  took  place  does  not 
appear ;  but  on  the  15th  July,  we  find  the  following  entry  upon  the 
Journals  :  '  To  report  that  the  Earl  of  Banbury,  in  the  eye  of  the  law, 
is  legally  the  son  of  the  Earl  of  Banbury,  and  therefore  the  committee 
think  it  to  be  fit  that  the  House  should  advise  the  King  to  send  the  Earl 
of  Banbury  a  writ  to  come  to  Parliament.' 

Notwithstanding  this  resolution  of  the  committee,  no  writ'  was  sent  to 
Nicholas;  and  so  strong  was  the  feeUng  of  the  House  against  his  legi- 
timacy, that  on  the  9th  of  December  following,  a  Bill  was  read  for  the 
first  time,  '  declaring  Nicholas,  Earl  of  Banbury,  to  be  illegitimate.' 
This  Bill  was  not  proceeded  with,  and  can  only  be  regarded  as  an 
attempt  of  the  House  to  express  their  conviction,  that  he  was  not 
entitled  to  the  rights  which  the  strict  construction  of  the  law  compelled 
them  to  grant  to  him.  In  1669,  Nicholas  presented  another  petition, 
praying  for  his  writ  of  summons,  but  no  farther  proceedings  followed 
during  his  life.  In  1685,  Charles,  his  son,  presented  a  petition  claiming 
to  be  Earl  of  Banbury ;  but  before  the  house  came  to  any  decision,  Par- 
liament was  prorogued.  In  1692,  the  same  Charles,  having  murdered 
his  brother-in-law,"  [see  p.  519,  note  46,]  "was  indicted  by  the  name  of 
Charles  Knollys.  Esq.  Thereupon  he  presented  a  petition  claiming  to 
be  Earl  of  Banbury,  and  praying  to  be  tried  by  his  peers.  The  House 
took  the  claim  into  consideration,  and  resolved  that  he  had  no  right  to 
the  Earldom.  The  Court  of  King's  Bench,  however,  refused  to  receive 
this  resolution,  holding  that  it  was  not  a  legal  judgment,  destructive  of 
the  defendant's  right,  and  therefore  could  not  be  used  as  a  replication  by 
the  Attorney-General,  and  so  quashed  the  indictment.  In  the  years  1697, 
1711,  and  1727,  Charles  Knollys  presented  successive  petitions  claiming 
the  Earldom.  On  all  those  occasions  the  House  appear  to  have  delib- 
erated upon  the  claim,  but  without  coming  to  any  resolution  on  its  merits." 


PERIOD  OF  THE  CIVIL  WARS. 

P.  305.    Erection  of  the  Standard.     Historians  differ 
as  to  the  date  of  tlie  erection  of  the  Standard.      Dugdale  says 
4  I 


618  ADDENDA. 

the  King  erected  it  at  Nottingham  on  Friday  August  12th. ; 
Clarendon,  on  Thursday  August  25th.  A  tract  preserved  among 
the  King's  Pamphlets  is  entitled — "  The  Kings  Majesties  Alarum 
to  open  Warre,  declared  by  his  setting  up  his  Standard  at  Duns- 
more  Heath  "  [Warwickshire],  "  Monday,  August  22,  1642." 

P.  322.  Battle  of  Edgehill.  A  number  of  houses,  form- 
ing a  considerable  hamlet,  called  Westcot,  within  the  parish  of 
Tysoe,  formerly  stood  at  the  foot  of  Edgehill,  at  the  part  between 
the  Sun-Rising  and  the  Round  House.  One  enclosed  ground, 
which  yet  retains  extensive  traces  of  foundations,  bears  the  name 
of  the  "  Town  Ground."  On  the  brow  of  the  hill  above  (where 
cannon  balls  have  been  frequently  found),  the  underground  portion 
of  a  desolated  cottage  was  cleared  out  in  the  present  year,  1841. 
Possibly  the  hamlet  of  Westcot  was  destroyed  at  the  battle  of 
Edgehill. 

Sir  Samuel  Luke  was  in  the  Parliamentarian  ranks  at  the 
Battle  of  Edgehill.  In  a  letter  written  April  5th  1645  (an  extract 
of  which  is  given  in  p.  406),  Sir  Samuel  says  : — "  P'happs  his 
Ex.  may  say  y*  I  have  a  Com'ission  for  a  Troope  of  horse  already 
I  confesse  I  had  but  it  was  lost  at  Edghill." 

P.  330.  On  the  5th  November  1642,  the  King,  at  Reading, 
affixed  the  signmanual  to  the  following  letter  of  protection  of  the 
person  and  property  of  Sir  THOMAS  PoPE  of  Wroxton.  The 
document  was  first  discovered  on  the  20th  July  1841,  enclosed 
within  a  piece  of  sheet  iron  which  was  concealed  behind  the 
panelling  below  the  great  staircase  at  Wroxton : — ^'' 

"  Charles  R., 

Whereas  Wee  haue  received  good  evidence  &  assurance  of  the  good 
AfFeccons  of  S''  Thomas  Pope  kn',  to  o""  person  &  service  Our  Will  & 
Com'and  therefore  is,  That  none  whatsoever  either  Horse  or  Foote  in  or 
belonging  to  o''  Army  presume  to  iniure,  molest,  or  damnific  the  said 
S''  Thomas  Pope,  His  House,  Family  &  Goods  at  Roxton  in  o""  County 
of  Oxon,  or  elsewhere,  or  any  thing  to  him,  or  them  belonging.  Where- 
of as  Wee  require  an  exact  obseruance  Soe  shall  Wee  cause  exemplary 
Justice  to  passe  vpon  such  as  shall  attempt  the  contrary  directly  or  in- 
directly in  any  kind.  Given  vnder  o''  Signe  manuall  at  o'  Court  at  Read- 
ing the  5th  day  of  Nouember  1642. 

"  To  y<=  Lieuten*  G'rall,  Serieant  Maiors,  Co- 
lonels, Captaines,  Com'anders  &  all  other  the 
Officers  &  Sould"  in  or  belonging  to  o'"  Army, 
or  any  part  thereof." 

(12)  Information  from  Lieut. -Col.  North. 


ADDENDA.  C19 

Pp.  334—339.  Apparitions  at  Edgehill.  Mr.  Brewer 
(the  Historian  of  Oxfordshire  and  Warwickshire),  in  a  letter  to 
Mr.  Reader  (the  Historian  of  Coventry),  some  years  ago,  says  : — 
"  It  will  be  recollected  that  the  Parhamentarian  leaders  did  not 
omit  to  take  advantage  of  the  popular  inclination  for  prophecies, 
prodigies,  and  intelligence  from  the  stars.  Thus  the  Hcence 
granted  for  making  almanacks  to  Booker,  a  presumed  diviner  or 
astrologer  of  that  time  (which  hcence  is  preserved  ui  Rushworth), 
is  specitically  granted  for  'Mathematics,  xAlmanacks,  and  Prog- 
nostications.' Of  course  a  licensed  prognosticator  of  this  descrip- 
tion would  never  run  the  hazard  of  anticipating  any  thing  not 
likely  to  be  agreeable  to  those  under  whom  he  exercised  his  art."^^ 

Many  marvellous  and  fanciful  tales  of  this  kind  have  been 
related.  Mr.  Reader  (in  addition  to  the  foregoing  extract)  has  sup- 
phed  me  with  the  following,  copied  some  years  ago  from  a  Co- 
ventry newspaper: — "Dec.  20,  1755. — Between  eight  and  nine 
o'clock  at  night,  a  phenomenon  in  the  air  was  observed  over  Co- 
ventry :  large  blazes  of  apparent  fire  broke  out  in  several  places 
together,  and  afterwards  seemingly  an  army  of  men,  which  se- 
parated and  engaged,  moving  about  and  meeting  each  other  with 
great  swiftness  and  fury  ;  they  disappeared  tliree  several  times, 
and  appeared  again  each  time  at  a  small  distance  from  where 
they  vanished,  and  the  figure  of  a  man  was  seen  to  stand  alone 
in  full  proportion,  holding  a  drawn  sword  in  his  hand.  It  con- 
tinued about  three  quarters  of  an  hoiar,  and  went  off  with  a 
very  sulphureous  smell."  "Several  old  people  of  Coventry,"  adds 
Mr.  Reader,  "  assured  me  positively,  that  they  saw  it  on  the  night 
in  question,  and  that  it  created  great  consternation." 

P.  365.  A  painting  of  the  Fight  at  Cropredy  Bridge,  by  A. 
Cowper,  R.  A.,  was  among  those  shewn  in  the  annual  exhibition 
of  the  Royal  Academy  in  1841. 

Cropredy  Bridge  underwent  considerable  repairs  about  the  year 
1780,  at  which  date  the  present  west  arch  was  erected. 

P.  383.  Raising  of  the  Siege  of  Banbury,  25th  Oc- 
tober, 1644.  It  being  proposed,  in  the  following  year,  to  give 
Major  Temple,  Major  to  Col.  Fiennes,  the  Governorship  of  New- 
port Pagnell,  a  number  of  charges  "  concerneing  y^  carriage  of  ye 
said  Maior,  dureing  his  being  in  Col.  Fiennes  Regim',"  were 
brought  against  him  by  the  undersigned  officers,  June  12th  1645, 

(13)  Information  from  W.  Reader  Esq. 

4  I  3 


620  ADDENDA. 

at  the  request  of   Lieut.-Col.  Cockayne  ;    of  wliicli  charges  the 
following  are  extracts  : — 

"  That  when  y**  enemy  was  upon  their  march  for  the  releife  of  Banbury, 
Major  Temple  in  a  terrible  fright  all  besputtered  w""  dirt  came  rideing 
from  his  Q""^  at  Bloxom,  &  brought  Col.  Fiennes  (then  co'maundeing  the 
forces  there  in  cheife)  a  false  allarum  affirming  y'  y«  enemy  was  in  his 
Qrs.  ^  yt  ]-ig  }ia(i  turned  all  his  owne  best  rideing  horses  loose  &  was 
necessitated  to  hide  himselfe  in  a  woodpile,  for  y*  div'se  of  his  men  were 
taken  Prisoners,  &  this  he  affirmed  w"^  soe  much  confidence,  y'  there 
was  an  order  p'sently  graunted  for  y^  drawing  away  y'^  Dragoones  from 
Aderbury  Bridge  w'^'^  was  there  appointed  for  y<=  securem'  of  y'  passage, 
for  had  y«  Enemy  beene  come  to  Bloxam  being  betwixt  y™  &  y"^  Leagure, 
ye  guard  being  thus  drawne  of  gave  opp'tunity  to  y"=  enemy  not  long  after 
to  passe  over  y*'  said  Aderbury  Bridge  w'^'^  in  all  p'babillity  had  beene 
p'vented  had  not  y'  guard  beene  so  taken  ofT." 

"  That  when  the  Con'l  of  Warr  had  ordered  a  retreate  of  y  Forces  to 
Warwicke  &  not  to  engage  w"^  y'=  enemy  The  managem*  of  ye  Horse 
being  entrusted  to  Col.  Lydcobb,  inajor  Temple  gave  order  to  y'  division 
hee  was  entrusted  w"»  all  (ag*  order)  to  charge  y^  enemy  being  very  neare 
y™  &  himselfe  contrary  to  his  trust  left  y™  p'tending  hee  went  to  fetch 
upp  Foot  w^h  he  had  noe  order  to  doe  by  w'=''  meanes  tis  very  p'bable  was 
y"=  cause  y'  devision  faced  abovit,  seeing  their  major  y*  had  talked  soe 
much  soe  vnworthily  at  y'^  p'sent  left  y™." 
"  Signed 

Jo.  Unite  |     (,       ,,^g     j,^    ^^^^    j^^^^ 

Jo.  Hunt  ^Fiennis  his  RegimV 

Iho.  Broens     j  '^ 

"  North' ton  June  I2'th  1645." 

P.  396.  In  Walker's  "  Sufferings  of  the  Clergy  "  the  following 
is  recorded  respecting  Dr.  Oldys  : — 

"  He  had  been  Fellow  of  New  College  in  Oxford,  and  Proctor  of  that 
University.  In  the  year  1612,  he  was  created  D.  D.  among  many  other 
suffering  Loyalists  :  and  about  the  year  1644  was  barbarously  murthered 
by  a  party  of  the  Parliament  soldiers,  in  the  following  manner ;  having 
by  his  great  loyalty  and  affection  to  the  Royal  cause  render'd  himself 
very  obnoxious  to  the  Rebels,  it  was  not  any  longer  safe  for  him  to  stay 
at  home  ;  &  therefore  he  was  forced  to  betake  himself  to  the  neighbour- 
ing Town  of  Banbury,  V!^  was  at  that  time  a  Garrison  for  the  King ; 
&  some  time  after  he  had  fled  thither,  intending  his  son  for  Winchester 
School,  (or  as  others  say  for  the  University  of  Oxford)  he  sent  word  to 
his  wife,  that  on  such  a  day,  (w''  he  named)  he  would  go  part  of  the  way 
with  them.  A  neighbour  of  his  happening  to  know  of  this,  sent  word 
of  it  to  some  of  the  Parliament  soldiers,  who  accordingly  waited  at  a 
Ijlace  where  he  was  to  pass  by,  for  his  coming.  He  perceiving  that  there 
were  soldiers  there,  &  finding  himself  in  danger,  sent  his  wife  &  son 
before,  telling  his  wife  that  if  they  were  of  the  King's  party,  she  should 
hold  up  her  hand,   &  he  would  come  on ;    if  not,  she  should  pass  on 


ADDENDA.  62] 

without  any  further  notice.  She  going  on,  without  holding  up  her  hand, 
he  knew  they  were  Parliamentarians,  &  therefore  rid  back  as  fast  as  he 
could :  they  perceiving  this,  followed  him  as  fast  as  they  could.  He 
being  to  pass  by  his  own  house,  when  his  horse  came  to  his  house,  he 
could  not  by  any  means  he  could  use  get  his  horse  forward,  which  gave 
them  time  to  overtake  him ;  which,  as  soon  as  they  had  done,  one  of 
them  discharged  a  pistol  at  him,  and  shot  him  dead.  Some  of  the  parish 
have  since  affirmed,  that  the  person  who  had  given  notice  to  the  party 
of  the  Doctor's  journey  fell  down  dead  upon  that  very  spot  of  ground 
where  the  Doctor  fell  when  he  was  shot.  He  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 
Francis  Wells.  I  have  heard  that  he  scatter'd  his  money  along  the 
high-way,  &  by  that  artifice  delayed  all  of  them  but  one  who  thirsted 
more  for  blood  than  plunder.  And  'tis  said,  the  villain  had  been  sup- 
ported foi-merly  by  the  Doctor's  charity,  and  that  his  very  comrades 
abhorred  the  baseness  of  this  action." 

P.  428.  After  the  record  of  the  House  of  Commons,  dated 
27th  May  1648,  respecting  the  destruction  of  Banbury  Castle, 
the  two  following  letters  should  have  been  inserted  : — • 

From  Lord  Viscount  Saye  and  Sele  to  Mr.  Sivynfen}^ 
"Sir, 
I  have  sent  you  a  narrative  of  the  former  proceedings  about  the  Castle 
of  Banbury  (my  house)  uppon  [an  order]  from  the  House  of  Com'ons : 
with  what  I  [required]  upon  this  present  [vote,]  w'^'^  I  cannot  thinke  was 
otherwayse  intended  by  the  House,  but  in  case  the  Gentlemen  should 
give  me  satisfaction  for  that  w*^"*  is  myne  inheritance.  The  Gentlemen 
have  spoken  with  me,  and  Sir  Knightley  will  report  this  to  the  House, 
which  have  given  him  a  I'tre  in  writinge,  and  the  order  mentioned, 
■ivcii  will  prove  what  is  layd  downe,  I  have  given  him  a  I'tre.  Excuse  me 
for  putting  you  to  this  troble,  I  assure  myselfe  the  Housse  will  not  wrong 
me,  if  rightly  informed,  w<=^  that  they  may  be,  I  desyre  your  favour  with 
some  other  of  my  frendes,  whom  I  have  acquaynted  hearwith,  agaynst 
the  tyme  that  the  report  comes  in  to  the  House,  if  these  be  not  [liked] 
w"=''  when  the  Countrye  wear  to  pay  themselves  (nowe  it  comes  out  the 
Delinquents  estates)  yet  they  gave  me  thankes  for  condiscending  unto  : 
[I  wish  to]  be  lett  alone,  to  injoye  myne  owne,  and  I  am  satisfyed. 
S''  I  shall  remayne, 

Your  affectionate  Frende  to  serve  you, 
^'May  29,  1648."  W.  Say  &  Seale." 

"  For  my  worthy  frendee  Mr.  Swynfen,  att  his  lodgings  in  St.  Anne's" 
lane,  in  Westminster." 

From  the  Corporation  of  Banbury  to  l?'\  the  Corporation  of  Coventry.^^ 
"  Welbeloved  Neighbours, 
Wee  fynd  by  so  sad  experience,  that  the  Castle  of  Banbury  hath  not 

(14)  Some  pai-ts  of  the  letter  which  are  illegible  are  endeavoured  to  be  supplied  within 
brackets. 

(15)  Copies  of  this  and  the  foregoing  document  were  furnished  to  rac  by  \\  m.  Reader 


C22  ADDENDA. 

only  been  the  occasion  of  much  ruine  and  misery  to  the  said  towne,  but 
alsoe  of  much  feai-es  and  expence  to  the  Parts  adjacent,  all  which  sor- 
rowes  are  like  to  retourne  by  the  increase  of  these  unnaturall  warrs, 
should  the  same  be  continued  a  Garrison,  For  preventing  of  w'^''  Wee, 
the  Maior,  Aldermen,  and  Burgesses  of  Banbury,  with  some  others  of 
the  Corporation,  haveing  with  much  cost  and  difficulty  petic'oned  the 
Parliament,  and  obtained  liberty  to  demolish  the  same,  doe  make  it  our 
earnest  request  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  Towne,  to  lend  us  their  assis- 
tance for  the  more  speedy  effecting  thereof,  without  which  the  guift  will 
become  fruitlesse,  which  otherwise  might  be  of  much  benefitt.  And  to 
stirr  you  upp  to  soe  good  a  worke,  know  that  besides  your  owne  safty, 
which  wee  hope  wilbee  therby  obtayned,  that  the  materialls  are  given 
to  re-edify  the  Church,  the  Vicarage-house,  and  the  houses  of  the  poorer 
sort  of  inhabitants,  that  have  been  spoyld  by  the  said  Castle,  and  con- 
sidering the  tyme  of  harvest  is  approaching,  wherby  men's  labours  wil- 
bee necessaryly  required  at  home,  that  if  it  shall  please  you  to  assist  us 
with  such  a  sum'e  of  mony,  that  wee  hope  will  be  chearfuUy  collected 
among  you,  for  a  work  soe  much  conduceing  to  the  peace  and  quiet  of 
these  Parts  it  wilbee  altogeather  as  advantagious  and  kindly  accepted  by 
yo''  thankfuU 

Freinds  and  Neighbours, 
Nathaniell  Hill,  maior,  Tno.  West, 

William  Allen,  Richard  Halhed, 

Nathaniell  Whately,  William  Whately, 

Organ  Unsolls,  Thomas  Halhed." 

John  Webb, 

P.  476.  Nathaniel  Fiennes.  On  tlie  northeast  wall  of 
the  nave  of  tlie  Church  of  Newton  Toney,  Wilts,  is  the  monu- 
ment erected  to  the  memory  of  Nathaniel  Fiennes  and  his  two 
daughters  ;  being  a  large  oblong  slab  of  black  marble,  on  which, 
beneath  the  arms,  is  carved  the  inscription  given  below.  Two  flat 
stones  on  the  floor  of  the  chancel  also  bear  arms  and  inscriptions, 
now  much  obliterated,  but  evidently  in  memory  of  unmarried 
daughters  of  Nathaniel  Fiennes,  in  all  probability  the  same  that 
are  mentioned  on  his  own  monument : — " 

In  memory  of  the  Honourable 

Nathaniell  Fiennes  Second 

Sonne  of  William  Lord  Viscount 

Say  &  Seale,  who  departed 

This  Life  the  16">  day  of  December 

1669  in  the  62  yeare  of  his  age 

Esq.  It  is  probable  that  the  Letter  of  the  Banbury  Corporation  was  addressed  to  the  Co- 
ventry Corporation,  but  Mr.  Reader,  who  obtained  the  originals  from  a  gentleman  of  Coven- 
try, while  making  the  collections  for  his  History  of  Coventry,  was  not  able  to  ascertain  the 
fact  with  certainty.  The  Coventry  records  however  state  that  "  Banbury  was  relieved  by 
collection." 
(16)  Information  from  the  Rev.  Hugh  Price,  Rector  of  Newton  Toney. 


ADDENDA.  623 

And 

Of  his  two  eldest  Daughters 

Frances  &  Elizabeth  by  Frances 

His  wife  Daughter  of  Richard 

Whithed  of  Tuderly  in  y"  County  of 

Southt""  Esq"^  who  both  died  in 

The  flower  of  their  age. 

Here  lyes  also  the  Hon^'*'  Frances 

Fiennes  who  died  the  7"^  Ocf  1691 

In  the  70"»  year  of  her  age  leaving 

Only  two  Daughters 

Mary  &  Cecilia.     Cecilia 

Born  June  y^^  7"^  1662  died  lO'i'  April  1741  at  Hackney. 


THE  QUAKERS,  AND  SAMUEL  WELLS. 

P.  45  L  The  following  particulars  occur  respecting  Anne  Aud- 
land,  who  appears  to  have  been  the  foundress  of  the  Quakers' 
Society  in  Banbury  and  its  neighbourhood  : — 

She  was  a  native  of  Kendal,  and  was,  in  the  beginning  of  the  year 
1652,  one  of  the  early  converts  of  George  Fox.  It  was  in  the  winter 
of  1654-5  that  she  came  to  Banbury.  She  is  described  as  being  of 
"  comely  personage."  On  her  committal  by  the  magistrates,  two  per- 
sons in  Banbury  offered  bail  for  her  appearance  at  the  Sessions,  where- 
upon, she  being  set  at  liberty  for  a  time,  held  "several  meetings,"  it 
is  said,  "  with  the  people  in  the  town ;  and  her  two  bonds-men,  and 
several  hundreds  more,  came  to  be  convinced  of  truth,  and  turned  to 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  being  the  frviits  of  that  effectual  powerful  min- 
istry God  had  called  her  to  bear,  so  that  many  were  added  to  the 
Church,  and  a  large  meeting  of  Friends  there  was  in  that  town,  and 
several  other  meetings  in  the  country  adjacent  were  settled."  On  her 
subsequent  conviction  for  a  misdemeanour,  it  is  said— "the  prison 
where  Anne  was  sent  to  was  a  close  nasty  place,  several  steps  below 
ground,  on  the  side  whereof  was  a  sort  of  common  shore,  that  received 
much  of  the  mud  in  the  town,  that  at  times  did  stink  sorely ;  besides, 
frogs  and  toads  did  crawl  in  their  room,  and  no  place  for  fire  ;  yet  she 
was  in  great  content,  because  it  was  God's  cause."  Anne  Audland  was 
subsequently  the  wife  of  Thomas  Camm,  of  Camms  Gill.'' 

P.  465.  A  letter,  of  whicli  the  following  is  a  copy,  (and  which 
has  been  referred  to  in  p.  452,  note  30,)  occurs  in  1655,  ad- 
dressed by  one  of  the  early  Quakers  to  Samuel  Wells  : — 

(17)  Tomkins's  Piety  Promoted,  the  Third  Part.  pp.  198—205. 


624  ADDENDA. 

*'  A  Copie  of  a  Letter  sent  from  Thomas  Curtis,  who  hadheen  a  Captain 
in  the  Parliaments  Army,  to  Samuell  Wells,  professed  Minister  of  the 
Town  of  Banhury,  and  sent  to  him  into  the  Court  or  Sessions,  then  holden 
in  Banhury,  the  27  day  of  the  1^  Month,  1655. 
"  Friend, 

I  am  not  a  stranger  to  thy  former  conversation,  and  now  am  witness 
of  thy  unjust  actions,  thy  deeds  make  manifest  of  what  Generation  thou 
art,  and  on  what  foundation  thou  standest.  Call  to  mind  thy  former 
Prayers,  when  we  were  in  the  Army,  driven  from  our  Homes,  persecuted 
by  Cavaliers,  put  to  fight  for  our  Freedoms  and  our  Religion,  as  then 
thou  told'st  us  of;  is  it  all  come  to  this  ?  Hast  thou  forgotten  thy  Vowes, 
Protestations  and  Promises  then  made  in  thy  Prayers,  How  that  if  God 
would  deliver  us,  how  we  would  walk  in  newness  of  life,  and  now  the 
Lord  hath  delivered,  how  art  thou  turned  persecutor  of  the  righteous 
seed  of  God?  Call  to  mind  how  thou  wouldst  cry  out  against  Parents 
that  did  not  breed  up  their  Children  in  wisdom  and  soberness :  Now 
thou  hast  gotten  a  great  living,  and  no  place  that  ever  I  came  in  (as  I  can 
remember)  so  vile  as  this  Town  (of  Banbury)  under  thy  teaching ;  Oh 
see  the  fruits  of  thy  ministry !  children  scoffing,  haling,  stoning,  and  evill 
speaking,  and  their  Parents  looking  on,  and  countenancing  them,  laugh- 
ing at  them  so  doing :  it  is  a  sad  sight  to  see  such  a  reformation,  and  will 
not  the  Lord  visit  for  these  things  ?  what  may  we  look  at,  but  that  it  is 
like  people  like  priest?  Call  to  mind  thy  persecuting  of  the  innocent, 
and  causing  the  peace  to  be  broken  by  thy  own  self,  and  casting  it  on 
the  innocent,  making  them  to  suffer  for  it ;  Canst  thou  behold  these  things 
and  not  blush?  How  durst  thou  call  thy  selfe  a  minister  of  Christ  and 
persecute  ?  Was  ever  any  of  the  true  Prophets,  Apostles,  or  Jesus  Christ 
a  persecutor?  Did  ever  they,  when  one  came  into  their  meeting,  and 
stand  silent  there,  call  to  the  magistrate  to  take  him  away,  and  put  him 
in  prison,  and  say  they  could  not  go  on  in  their  prayer,  and  then  after  a 
long  imprisonment,  see  him  arraigned  at  the  Bar  for  breaking  the  peace, 
whenas  thou  was  the  cause  ?  Was  it  not  thy  selfe  that  caused  the  people 
to  be  breakers  of  the  peace,  and  then  make  the  innocent  suffer  for  it? 
Is  this  according  to  Scripture  ?  Did  the  Lord  send  his  Prophets  to  cry 
against  them  that  made  men  offenders  for  a  word,  &  set  snares  for  them 
that  reproved  in  the  gate  ?  And  canst  thou  escape,  who  makest  a  man 
an  offender  before  he  spake  a  word  ?  The  just  God  wil  surely  finde  thee 
out  &  al  Deceivers  ;  For  wo  to  them  saith  the  Lord  God,  that  hath  caused 
my  people  to  err  &  daub  with  untempred  Morter,  and  cry  peace  to  them 
to  whom  God  hath  not  spoken  peace  ;  And  so  strengthen  the  hands  of 
the  wicked ;  just  as  it  was  with  the  false  Prophets  so  is  it  now.  The  Pro- 
phets prophesie  false  things,  the  Priests  bear  rule  by  their  means,  and 
the  people  love  to  have  it  so.  But  read  thy  portion ;  what  will  thou  do 
in  the  end  thereof?  See  again  thy  subtill  dealing  with  Anne  Audland, 
that  when  all  the  persecution  that  wit  could  invent  to  take  away  her  life 
for  blasphemy,  would  not  reach,  but  she  was  acquitted  by  the  Jury, 
there  must  be  brought  her  calling  thee  false  Prophet,  and  this  must  be 
called  scandall,  when  by  the  Scripture  it  is  soon  proved,  and  to  thy  shame 


ADDENDA.  625 

remember  I  know  thee  Scandalous  :  How  often  hast  thou  sate  night  after 
night  at  Cards,  and  sometimes  whole  nights  playing  (and  sometimes  com- 
pelling me  to  play  with  thee)  for  mony,  then  wast  thou  called  of  the  world 
a  Minister  and  now  art  thou  turned  persecutor!  in  the  close,  see  thy 
unjust  dealing,  when  thou  hast  gotten  what  the  uttermost  will  of  man 
can  do,  then  thovi  in  thy  deceit  puttest  off  thy  hat,  and  desirest  that  she 
may  have  as  much  favour  as  the  Law  wil  afford  her  (thou  art  content 
to  commit  thy  cause  to  God  :)  O  cruel  deceit  to  cover  withall !  But  thy 
covering  is  too  narrow,  it  wil  not  hide  thee.  Friend,  to  the  pure  Light 
of  God  in  thy  conscience  do  I  speak,  and  that  witness  in  thee  knows 
these  things  to  be  true,  and  that  an  account  thou  must  give  to  the  great 
God  of  all  these  things ;  in  love  to  thee  do  I  write,  that  thou  maist  be 
warned  and  repentance  witness,  lest  the  indignation  of  the  Lord  be 
poured  out  upon  thee  :  I  have  not  much  more  to  say  at  present,  but  de- 
sire the  Lord  that  he  will  open  thine  eyes,  that  thou  maist  see  the  evill 
of  thy  heart  and  live  ;  which  is  the  desire  of  him,  how  ever  thou  esteem- 
est,  is  a  lover  of  thy  eternall  peace,  and  one  that  suffers  with  the  righteous 
seed,  called  of  the  World. 

Tho.  Curtis."'^ 
"  The  27th  day  of  the  7th  Month  1655." 


ADDENDA— CONTINUED. 
P.  479.    Tradesmen's  Tokens.    Add : — 

No.  8.  On  the  obverse,  "iohn  iagoe  rvddell,"  and  in  the  centre 
"his  half  peny."  On  the  reverse,  the  Rose  and  Crown,  with  the 
letters  1. 1.  R. ;  inscribed  "  tysoe  Warwick  shire." 

The  arms  of  the  Token,  No.  17,  on  p.  478,  are  those  of  the 
Ironmongers'  Company. 

The  arms  of  the  Token,  No.  2,  on  p.  479,  are  those  of  the 
Grocers'  Company. 

P.  498.     The  long  lane  which  runs  direct  from  Banbury  Bridge 

(17)  From  "  The  Saints  Testimony  Finishing  through  Sufferings."  (See  p.  4-53,  note  36.) 
The  imprisonment  of  Richard  Farnsworth,  another  of  the  early  Quakers  who  has  been 
mentioned  in  pp.  452  (note  36),  453,  took  place  on  the  30th  of  the  same  month.  The  fol- 
lowing particulars  appear  respecting  him : — "  And  the  Mayor  and  .Justices  (so  called)  being 
set,  and  R.  F.  brought  before  them,  according  to  their  command ;  Aholiab  West,  called 
Mayor,  he  asked  (R.  F.)  his  name,  and  where  he  lived  ;  to  the  which  he  answered  very 
mildly,  and  said.  That  as  he  stood  in  relation  to  God,  in  whom  his  -soul  lived,  and  as  were  a 
witness  of  the  immortall  seed,  in  the  Regeneration  born  of  the  Spirit,  and  begotten  by  the 
eternal  Word,  which  endureth  for  ever,  I.  Pet.  i.  22,  23:  he  said  in  that  relation  as  he 
there  stood,  he  had  a  new  name  given  him  of  God,  which  no  man  knows  but  he  that  hath 
it,  Rev.  ii.  17.  And  as  he  was  in  relation  to  man,  he  had  a  name  given  him  by  man,  to 
be  known  by  to  man,  according  to  the  account  of  the  world,  called  in  the  outward  by  the 
name,  Richard  Farnsworth.  Then  the  Mayor  asked  him  again  where  he  lived ;  to  the 
which  he  answered  and  said.  In  the  first  place  in  God  (and  as  the  Apostle,  as  wel  as  the 
Poet  hath  said)  in  whom  we  live,  move,  and  have  our  being,  &c.  (Acts.  xvii.  28  )  Then 
said  the  Mayor,  But  have  you  not  a  being  in  the  world?  I  answer,  said  he.  That  resi- 
dence is  being,  my  being  is  with  the  Lord  ;  but  an  outward  residence,  or  being  I  have,  said 
he,  at  a  place  called  Tickhill  in  Yorkshire."— Sa»i<s'  Testimony,  pp.  23,  23. 
4  K 


C26  ADDENDA. 

towards  ASTROP  is  called  "  The  Causeway,"  and  lias  been  a  paved 
footpath  beyond  memory. 

P.  504.  Three  Tuns  Inn,  Banbury  : — An  inscription  of  the 
reign  of  James  the  Second,  painted  over  the  doorway  of  one  of 
the  upper  rooms  of  tliis  Inn,  and  lately  brought  to  light,  was : — 

"The  Fathers  Dyneing  Roome     *     *     *     ember 
Y*  2  YE  Kings     *     *     *     1687." 

P.  553.  Opening  of  the  New  Church.  The  sermon 
on  the  opening  of  this  Church  was  preached  by  the  Hon.  and 
Rev.  Thomas  Twistleton,  afterwards  D.  D.  and  Archdeacon  of 
Colombo,  who  took  his  text  from  I.  John,  iv.  20. 


BOTANY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD.'^ 

[The  following  additions  to  the  Botany  of  the'  Neighbourhood  have, 
with  two  or  three  exceptions,  been  observed  by  myself  since  the 
printing  of  the  List  at  pp.  574—599.     T.  B.] 

Order.     Brassicacece  or  Cruciferce. 

Cardamine  sylvatica  Link. 
The  Cardamine  hirsuta  from  near  Tadmarton  Heath  (see  p.  575)  proves  on  re-exami- 
nation to  be  this  plant.    It  grew  near  a  hedge. 

Order.     Rosacece. 

Riibus  Kohleri. 
R.  rhamnifolius 
Rosa  sepinm.     Heyford  Leys.     [Mr.  Baxter.]     Very  rare. 

Order.     Salicaceo}. 
Salix  caprea,  var.  o.     Common. 

Order.      Polypodiacece. 
Asplenium   lanceolatum.      On    Adderhury   Church.      [Hooker's    Britisli 
Flora.] 

I  have  caiefully  examined  the  walls  of  the  church,  but  have  not  been  able  to  find  this 
plant. 

Order.     Lichenacece. 

Leparia  alba. 
iPlacodium  microphyllum,  mentioned  in  p.  594,  is  not  the  right  synonym  of  the  ordinary 
form  of  Lfcklea  microphi/lla  Ach.] 

(18)  By  Mr.  T.  Beesley. 


ADDENDA.  627 

Order.     Algacece. —  Div.  Confervoidece. 
Oscillatoria  autumnalis. 

Order.     FungacecB. 
Agaricus  cristatus. 
A.  multiformis. 
A.  quietus. 
A.  dealbatus. 
A.  virgineus. 
A.  psittacinus. 
A.  laccatus. 
A.  radicatus. 
A.  purus. 
A.  galericulatus. 
A.  corticola. 
A.  Fibula. 

A.  fragrans.     Second  Plantation,  Oxford  Road. 
A.  squarrosus. 
A.  fastibilis. 
A.  geophyllus. 
A.  sei-uginosus. 
A.  gracilis. 
A.  micaceus. 
Meruliiis  corium. 
Polyporus  hispidus. 
Boletus  Grevillii. 
Thelephora  birsuta. 

T.  sanguinolenta.     Second  Playitation,  Oxford  Road. 
T.  incarnata. 

Helvella  crispa.     Plantations,  Oxford  Road. 
Peziza  aurantia. 
P.  cbrysocoma. 
Sphseria  episphseria. 

This  appears  to  be  iucluded  in  S.  sanguinea  by  Mr.  Gulliver. 
S.  verruciformis. 
Trichia  chrysosperma. 
Chsetomium  elatum. 
Botrytis  parasitica. 
Sporendonema  muscse. 
Aregma  gracile.     On  Raspberry  leaves. 
iEcidium  cancellatum.     On  Pear  leaves 

iXyloma  Ulmi  of  Purlon  (wrongly  marked  Pers.  in  the  List,  p.  598)  is  Dothidea  Ulmi.'J 

[After  Xyloma  Aquifolii,  p.  598,  for  Pers.  read  Dec] 


4k3 


REMAKS  OF  THE   FOEilER  CHUECH  OP  BANBURY. 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


Abberbur,  William  dc  (prior  of 
Wrox  ton.     82 

Abbot,  William.     528 

Abbott,  Mr.  T.     COO 

Abercromby,  Capt.     398 

Aberow,  John.     212,  213 

Abraham,  Thomas  junr.     538 

Abram  (of  Banbury).     412 

Adam,  Mr.     539 

Adams,  Capt.     383 

Adams,  Major.     428 

Addj-ngton,  Nicholas.     176 

Adigheriis,  Hugolin  de.     165 

Agard',  Ralph.     213 

Agilbert  (Bishop).     51 

Agnew,  Sir  Andrew.     462 

Agricola.     23 

Alexander  Severus.     35 

Alexander  (Bishop).     63,  67,  68,  492 

Aleyn,  Richard.     200 

Alfelm  (Bishop).     57 

Alfred.     53 

Allectus.     34 

Allen,  William.  269,  282,  449,  453, 
622 

Allestree,  Dr.  Richard.  471,  484, 
508 

Allibond,  Peter.     26 1 

Allington,  John.     478,  515,  516 

Alnewick  (Bishop).     173 

Alsop,  William.     254 

Ambrosius  Aurelianus.     47 

Andrews,  Francis.     282 

Annesley,  Andrew.     266,  282 

Ansley,  Mathew.     478 

Anste,  Henry  (prior  of  Chacombe). 
86 

Antoninus  Pius.     23,  28,  34,  45 

Antrim,  Earl  of.     399 

Apew,  John.     328 

Aplin,  Christopher.     535 

Aplin,  Oliver.     533,  535  _ 

Appleby,  Adam  de  (prior  of  Cha- 
combe).    85 

Appowell,  Agnes.     213 

Appulby.  Robert.     174,  176 

Arden,  Sir  Giles.     173 

Arden,  Robert  de.     105,  106,  107 

Arden,  Margaret.     173 

Ardern,  Roger  de.     106 

Ardern,  Sir  Thomas  de.     106 

Arderne,  Ralph  de.     106 


Arderne,  Lady  Eustathia  de.     106 

Argyle,  John,  Duke  of.     488 

Armston,  Treforsa.     402 

Arnold,  William.     409 

Arnold.     441 

Arnole,  Captain.     397 

Arran,  Countess  of.     251 

Arscot,  John.     213 

Arthur.     47 

Arundel,  Earl  of.     68 

Ashby,  John.     483 

Ashness,  George.     533 

Ashwell,  George.     486 

Asplin,  Rev.  W.  (vicar  of  Banbury.) 

513 
Asthropp,  John  de.     166 
Astley,  Sir  Jacob.     315,  321 
Astley,  Lord.     418 
Aston',  Thomas  de.     77 
Atchason,  Jas.     304 
Atkins,  Robert.     58 
Atkinson,  Henry.     305 
Atneston,  John  (vicar  of  Banbury). 

172 
Atrebati,  William.     90 
Atwater,    William    (Bishop).     197 
Aubigny,  Lord.     321 
Audely,  Nicholas  de.     89 
Audland,  Anne.     451,  623 
Audley  [Dudley],  Oliver  Esq.     183 
Augustin  Lidensis.     188 
Augustine  the  Monk.     46,  50 
Aulus  Plautius.     21,  46 
Aurelius.     33,  34,  45 
Austin,  Captain.     300 
Austin,  John.     255,  506 
Awod,  Jhon.     225 
Awsten,  John.     254,  282 
Awstin,  Nicholas.     257 
Ayleseworth,  John.     176 
Aysshewell,  Thomas.     176 

Bacseg.     53 

Baggot,  commander.     399 

Bagley,  Henry.     538 

Bagley,  Matthew.     538 

Bainbridge,  Dr.     387 

Bainbrigg,  Mr.     239 

Baker,  J.  L.  Esq.     22 

Baker,  Lieut.-Col.     361 

Baker,  Geo.  Esq.     28,  30,  31,  34,  37 

Baker,  Miss.     31 


G30 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


Balam,  Gabriel.     492 

Baldreby,  John  (Bishop).     [See  Dal- 

derby.J 
Baldwin,  Rev.     483 
Balfore,  Sir  William.     313,  318,  325 
Ballard,  Colonel.     313,  316 
Ballard,  Rev.  J.     45 
Balle,  William.     95 
Balstone,  Jo.     328 
Banbury,  John.     83,  92 
Banbury,  Thomas.     195 
Banbury,  Countess  of.     267,  616 
Banbury,   Earls  of.     [See  Knollys.] 
Banbridge,  Ralph.     213 
Bancroft,  Archbishop.     286 
Bannebir,  John  de.     91 
Bannebir,  Walter  de.     91 
Bannebir,  William  de.     91 
Bannebur,  Thomas  de.     92 
Bannebury,  John  de.     92 
Barber,  J.  Esq.     430,  611,  616 
Barber,  Mr.     502 
Bardolph,  Edmund.     170 
Bardunvill,  Fulk  de.     89 
Barett,  William.     89 
Barington,  William.     213 
Barkham,  Colonel.     317 
Barkley,  Colonel.     317 
Barlow  (Bishop).     286 
Barnes,  James.     541,  542 
Barnsley,  John.     212,  220 
Barnsley,  William.     212,  217,  220 
Barnsley,  Mr.     227 
Barons,  Thomas.     200,  204 
Barro,  Sir  Theobald  de.     99 
Barrowes  Nicolas.     2.55 
Barton,  Major.     445 
Bartram,  Mr.     226 
Barwick,  Dr,     473 
Basdell,  John.     402 
Basiate,  AVilliam.     95 
Basset,  Bussy.     304 
Basset,  Gilbert.     68 
Basset,  John.     169 
Basset,  Philip.     93 
Basset,  Robert.     166 
Basset,  Thomas.     88 
Bastell,  Jo.     404 
Bates,  James.     402 
Bates.     460 
Bath,  Earl  of.     296 
Baughen,  Mr.     567 
Bavenser,  Stephen  de.     170 
Bawdwyn,  William.     213 
Baxter,  John.     521,  524 
Baxter,    Rev.    Richard.      322,    342, 

413,  438,  470 
Baxter,  Mr.  (Oxford.)     572 
Baylbye,  William.     212 
Bayley,  William.     217 


Baylie,  Captain.     419 

Bayly,  Rev.  John.     437 

Baynes,  Lieut.-Col.     362 

Bayre,  Colonel.     414 

Beakes,  Lieut.     383 

Beale,  Edward.     496 

Beassyngton,  Sir  William.     199 

Beauchamp,  Guy  de.  Earl  of  War- 
wick.    103 

Beaufort  (Bishop  and  Cardinal). 
172,  173 

Beck,  Thomas  le  (Bishop).     167 

Becket,  Thomas  a.     70 

Bedford,  Jasper,  Duke  of.     188 

Bedford,  Earl  of.     295 

Beere,  Elizabeth.     529 

Beesley,  Mr.  James.     531 

Beesley,  Mr.  S.  568 

Beesley,  Mr.  T.     19,  500,  571,  626 

Belcher,  Samuel.     479 

Belet,  Michael.     79,  93,  101 

Bellacis,  Colonel.     352 

Benedict,  XI.  (Pope.)     164 

Benet,  John.     169 

Benett,  Richard.     224 

Bennett,  Dr.     434 

Bentley,  Edward.     220,  255 

Bentlye,  Robert.     255 

Beornwulph.     53 

Bercher,  Robert  le.     95 

Berford,  Ralph  de  (rector  of  Brough- 
ton).     102 

Bericus.     21 

Bernard,  Lord.     362 

Bernard  (vicar  of  Bloxham).     81 

Bernred.     52 

Berriman,  William  D.  D.     523 

Berston,  William.     176 

Berthim  (Bishop).     52 

Berthwulph.     53 

Besenton,  Ralph  de.     89 

Bethel,  Major.     438 

Betun,  Advocate  of.     71 

Betun,  Baldwin  de.     90,  101 

Bevercote,  William  de.     105 

Bew  (Bishop),  vicar  of  Adderbury. 
486 

Bezly,  Mr.  W.     609 

Bignell,  R.  Esq.     154,  534,  5-33 

Bikenton,  John  de.    95 

Bingham,  William.     198 

Binsley,  WilUam.     230 

Bird,  Serjeant.     391 

Birinus  (Bishop  and  Saint).     5i,  52 

Bishopsden,  Lady  Philippa.     116 

Blank,  Thomas.     204 

Blencowe,  John  Esq.     516 

Blencowe,  J.  J.  Esq.     133 

Blencowe,  Thomas  Esq.     204,  516 

Blesenfis,  William  (Bishop).     88 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


631 


Blincoe,  John.     255 

Bliss,  Rev.  Dr.     157,  512 

Blithefeld,  Richard  de.     167 

Bio,  William  de  (Bishop).     88 

Bloet,  Robert  (Bishop).     02,  92,  1G8 

Blowe,  Robert.     304 

Bloxani,  M.  H.  Esq.     7,  20 

Bloxam,  Thomas.     176 

Bloxham,  Alexander  de.     169 

Bloxham,  Walter  de.     169 

Blunt,  Geo.     328 

Blunt,  Robert.     -109 

Blythe,  John.     213 

Boclaund',  Alan  de.     88 

Bombyn,  Paul.     190 

Booth,  Mrs.  Anne.     473,  484 

Bosse,  William.     212 

Bosvile  [Boswell],  Col.     368,  378 

Bosworth,  Eustace.     212,  220 

Bosworth,  Sir  WilHam.     386 

Boteler,  Captain.     381 

Boteler,  Sir  William.     360,  362 

Boteller,  John  le.     104,  168 

Boteller,  Sir  Thomas.     92 

Boulton,  M.  R.  Eso.     41 

Bowers,  William.     249,  528 

Bowes,  William.     213 

Bowles,  Rev.  W.  Lisle.     543 

Bowles,  Rev.  William  Thomas.    5 14 

Bowman,  Letice.     2i3 

Bowton,  Ellen.     225 

Brackele,  Thomas  (prior  of  Cha- 
combe).     86 

Braddenham,  William  (prior  of 
Wroxton).     83 

Brademar,  Richard  de.     91 

Bradford,  Ahce.     213 

Bradford,  Thomas  gent.     517 

Bradley,  Henry,     213 

Bradwell,  Captain.     3-56 

Brainford,  Earl  of.     359,  379,  381 

Braithwait,  Richard.     456 

Brampston  (Chief  Justice).     296 

Brancestre,  John.     171,  188 

Brancestr',  Richard  de  (vicar  of 
Banbury).     99 

Brasbridge,  Alice.     241 

Brasbridge,  Row.     448 

Brasbridge,  Thomas  (vicar  of  Ban- 
bury).    25,  205,  241,  283 

Brasbridge,  William.     241 

Erasing  [Brasington],  Wm.    21 1,  214 

Bratford,  Alyce.     213 

Braunch,  Lewes.    280 

Bray.     441 

Brayne,  Robert.     541,  542,  545 

Brayne,  Thomas.     545 

Breaute,  Breauton,  [Broughton,] 
Falkes,  John,  and  Nicholas  de. 
[See  Broughton]. 


Breerwood,  Edward.     387 
Brenwold,  St.     46 
Brereton,  Owen  Esq.     230 
Brereton,    Sir    William.      312,    368, 

403,  404,  418 
Brewer,  Mr.     619 
Brewer,  William  (Bishop).     108 
Briant,  John.     538 
Brickwood,  Elizabeth.     213 
Bridges  (Bishop).     284 
Bridges,  Jo.     328 

Bridges,  Major.     354,  356,  392,  419 
Briggs,  Henry.     387 
Brightwell,  Edward.     213,  220 
Brinckenill,  Roger.     213 
Bristol,  Bishop  of.     296 
Bristol,  Earl  of.     296 
Britain,  Earl  of.     67 
Brocas,  Ann  Dolly.     555 
Brockhull,  Henry.     246 
Brocton,  Ralph  de.     101 
Broke,  Sir  Thoi.ias  (rector  of  Brough- 
ton).    173 
Brook,    Lord.      293,    295,    296,   298, 

304,  30.5,  308,   313,  316,  320,  341, 

342,  343 
Brookes,  James.     402,  404 
Broughton,  Falkes  de.     100,  101 
Broughton,  John  de.     82,    100,   101, 

102 
Broughton,  Nicholas  de.     101 
Broughton,  Thomas  de.     102 
Broughton,  Sir  William.     173 
Broun,  William.     201,  204 
Browne,  John.     213 
Browne,  Captain.     381,  388 
Browne,   Major-general.      365,  371, 

379 
Browne,  Colonel.     307 
Browning,  Margery.     122 
Bruchton,  Sir  John  de.     101 
Brule,  William.     189 
Bryan,  Mr.     461 
Bryghtwell,  Edward.     212,  217,  248, 

249,  250 
Brynknell,  Thomas  D.  D.     195,   197 
Buccleugh,  Duke  of.     488 
Buckingham,  John  (Bishop).      170, 

171 
Buckland,  Dr.     20 
Buckler,  Mr.     109,159,611 
Buddicom,  Rev.  R.  J.     124 
Buddie,  Mr.  Richard.    532 
Bugg,  Francis.     509 
Bugslock,  William.     305 
Builli,  John  de.     94 
Bull,  Joseph.     533 
Bull,  Rowland.     255,  258 
Bull,  Thomas.     245 
Bullen,  Catharine.     266 


C32 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


BuUocke,  GifFoid.     408,  409,  410 
Burberow,  Timothy.     482 
Burcester,  Walter  de.     104 
Burgherst,    Henry    (Bishop).      10<5, 

106,  1(32,  163,  168 
Burgh,  Christopher.     304 
Burgh,  Sir  Thomas  of.     1 84 
Burleigh,  Cecil  Lord.     218,  230,  242, 

2.53,  615 
Burncestr,  Prior  of.     97 
Burne,  Philip  de.     94 
Burrell,  John  (Cornet).     365 
Burrhed.     53 
Burroughs,  Bennett.     388,  393,  394, 

400,  402 
Burrows,  John  gent.     516 
Burton,  James.     533 
Burton,  John.     568 
Burwash  (Bishop).    [See  Burgherst]. 
Busby,  Mr.  J.     600 
Busby,  William  gent.     516 
Butcher,  Henry.     410 
Butcherfield,  John.     304 
Bute,  Marquis  of.     539,  545 
Butelir,  Peter  le.     81 
Butlei-,  Captain.     404 
Butler,  John.     383 
Butler,  Jo.     328 
Butler,  Major.     445 
Butler,  Thomas.     220,  446 
Byron,  Sir  John.     305,  307,  471 
Byron,  Lord.     314 
Byron,  Sir  Nicholas.     309,  321,  327 
Byron,  Sir  Thomas.     333 
Bysshopp,  Thomas.     213 
Cade,  Jack.     175 
Caesar,  Julius.     20 
Caesar,  Sir  Julius.     260 
Caius  and  Lucius.     23 
Callcott,  Walter.     249,  250 
Callow,  John.     535,  541,  542 
Calverley,  Agnes.     79 
Calverley,  George.     79,  194 
Camden,  Mr.     454 
Camm,  Thos.     623 
Campbell,  Dr.     527 
Camsewell,  Michael.     217 
.  Camvil,  Richard.     >iS 
Capella,  Henry  de.     101 
Caprone,  William.     176,  199 
Carausius.     23,  28,  34,  35 
Carleton,  Sir  Dudley.     261,  262 
Carlisle,  Bishop  of.     296 
Carmichaell,  Jo.     305 
Carnarvon,  Lord.     315 
Carpendr,  Jhon.     225 
Carsaye,  Anthony.     485 
Carter,  Thomas.     220 
Cartwright,  John  Esq.     393,  470 
Cartwright,  Dr.  Nicholas.     204 


Cartwright,  Richard  Esq.     104,  26  4 

Cartwright,  William.     459 

Cartwright,  W.  R.  Esq.     37,  393 

Carwardine,  Edw.     304 

Case,  Hen.     328 

Cataractacus.     21 

Catterall,  Robert.     213 

Caumont,  M.  de.     108 

Cave,  John  (rector  of  Middleton 
Cheney).     425,  436 

Cawfield,  Cornet.     362 

Ceawlin.     48 

Cecil,  Sir  Richard.     240 

Cenulf  (Bishop).     54 

Cenwalch.     51 

Ceolwulph.     53 

Cerdic.     47 

Cerney,  Nicholas  de  (prior  of  Wrox- 
ton).     82 

Cestreton,  Robert  de.     95 

Chaderton,  Dr.     268 

Chaloner,  Sir  Thomas.     387 

Chamberlain,  Mr.     261,  262 

Chamberlayne,  Edward  Esq.  211, 
213 

Chamberlayne,  Sir  Henry.     508 

Chamberlayne,  Captain  James.     350 

Chamberlayne,  Lieutenant.     393 

Chamberlayne,  Thomas  Esq.  248, 
255,  256.  [See  Sir  T.  Chamber- 
layne.] 

Chamberlayne,  Sir  Thomas  (Judge). 
154,  349,  493,  507 

Chamberlin,  W.  H.  Esq.     488 

Chambers,  Calcott.     250,  255,  280 

Chambers  (secretary  to  Essex).     319 

Champernown,  Henry.     240 

Chandler,  Edmund.     479 

Chapleyn,  Sir  Alexander.     199 

Chapman,  Richard.     53.3,  541,  542 

Charles  I.  309,  313,  327,  348,  358, 
394,  412 

Charles,  Prince  of  Wales.  (Charles 
IL)     322,  348 

Chaucube,  Robert  de.     94 

Cliaucumbe,  Hugh  de.     85 

Chauncy,  WiUiam.     309 

Chauncy,  Toby  Esq.     309 

Chauncy,  Toby  Esq.     511,516 

Chauncy,  Toby  Esq.     519 

Chaundos,  Lord.     227 

Chaworth,  Sir  George.     261 

Chaworth,  Elizabeth.     261 

Chedsey.     204 

Chedworth,  John  (Bishop).     175,  187 

Cheese,  Sam.     409 

Cheney,  Mr.  John.     525 

Chesny,  Robert  (Bishop).     70 

Chesterton,  Robert  de.     169 

Chetwode.  Sir  John.     122 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


Chetwode,    Richard   Esq.     247    248. 

[See  Chetwode,  Sir  Richard.] 
Chetwode,  Sir  Richard.     256 
Chokes,  Ansebn  de.     71 
Cholmley,  Sir  Henry.     313,  316 
Churcli,  Master.     445 
Cioches,  Gunfrid  de.     61 
Clapham,  John  Esq.     182,  184 
Clare,  John  de.     106 
Clarell,  Richard  Esq.     ISO 
Claridge,  George.     533 
Claridge,  John.     526 
Claridge,  Richard.     510 
Clark,  Rev.  Samuel.     322 
Clarke,  John.     533 
Clarke,  Mr.  (of  Croughton.)     306 
Clarke,  Richard.     212,  214 
Clarke,  Captain.     353,  356,  366,  104 
Clarkson,  Anthony.     79 
Clarson,  Samuel.     533,  535 
Clarson,  Samuel  junr.     535 
Claudius  Caesar.     21,  22 
Claudius  Gothicus.     28,  34,  35,  607 
Claveringham,  John.     104 
Clavius,  Christopher.     386 
Cleaver,  Robert  (rector  of  Drayton), 

284,  285,  286,  287,  290 
Clement  VI.     (Pope.)     164 
Clerk,  Sir  William.     360,  362 

Clerke,  Ed.     409 

Clerke,  Lieutenant.     393 

Clerke,  Richard.     213 

Clerke,  Sir  William.     211 

Cleveland,  Earl  of.     359,  360,  373 

Cleveland,  John.     342,  460 

Cleves,  Anne  of.     309 

Cnute.     58 

Coats,  Mary.     452 

Cobb,  George  Esq.     273 

Cobb,  Messrs.     567 

Cobb,  Thomas  Esq.     78,  533 

Cobb,  Thomas  Esq.     154 

Cobb,  T.  R.  Esq.     154 

Cobb,  Sir  William.     329,  394 

Cockayne,  Dick.     398 

Cockayne,  Lieut.-Col.  620 

Cockerill,  Mr.  Robert.     112,  534,  554 

Cockson,  Rev.  Edward.     510 

Codrington,  Sir  William.     518 

Coe,  Richard.     365 

Cogibundus.     22 

Cogidunus.     22 

Coingrave,  Fr.     447 

Cok',  Anthony.     211 

Colborne,  Captain.     396 

Cole,  John.     485 

Cole,  William.     485 

Colingham,  William  de  (prior  of  Cha- 
combe).     85 

Colles,  Humfrey.     248 

4  L 


Colleshall,      Elias      de     (rector     of 

Broughton).     102 
CoUey,  Thomas.     544 
Collins,  Richard.     353 
Compton,  Agnes.     213 
Compton,  Sir  Charles.     391,  396,  398, 

400,  401,  419 
Compton,  James,  Lord.    [See  North- 
ampton, Earl  of.] 
Compton,  James,  Earl  of  Northamp- 
ton.    [See  Northampton,  Earl  of.] 
Compton,  Major.     352 
Compton,  Spencer,  Earl  of  Northamp- 
ton.    [See  Northampton,  Earl  of.] 
Compton,  Sir  Spencer.     401,  414,  419 
Compton,  Sir  William.     205 
Compton,  Sir  William  (Governor  of 
Banbury  Castle).      327,   354,    370, 
374,   375,    381,  384,  386,   389,  391, 
393,   396,  401,  402,  406,  410,  414, 
416,  426 
Conant,  Mr.     216 

Coney,  Rev. (Broughton).     482 

Connington,  Roger.     395 
Constable,  Sir  WiUiam.     313 
Constance,  Walter  de  (Bishop).     71 
Constans.     19,  28,  31,  32,  35,  42 
Constantino  the  Great.     19,   23,  28, 

32,  34,  610 
Constantino  junior.     19,  28,   32,  34, 

35,  42, 609 
Constantius.     28,  34,  35,  42 
Conybeare,  Rev.  W.  D.     573 
Conyers,  James.     183 
Conyers,  Sir  John.     178,  184 
Cooke,  Anthony.     214 
Cooke,  Sir  Anthony.     219 
Cope,   Sir  Anthony.     194,   199,  200, 

201,  202,  203,  212,  219,  615 
Cope,    Sir   Anthony.      79,  118,   230, 
236,   238,   244.   248,   249,   251,   252, 
253,  256,  260,  272,   283,  285,  286, 
287,  290,615 
Cope,  Sir  Anthony.      288,  471,  474, 

480,  484,  486,  508 
Cope,   Edward   Esq.      79,   204,   222, 

226,  285 
Cope,  Jane.     193 
Cope,  John  Esq.     190 
Cope,  Sir  John.     264 
Cope,  Sir  John  (of  Hanwell).     288, 

471 
Cope,  Sir  John  (of  Hanwell).     473, 

484,  507,  517 
Cope,  Sir  John  (of  Bramshill).     97, 

193 
Cope,  Jonathan  Esq.     261,  508 
Cope,  Sir  Jonathan.     513 
Cope,   Lady  Anne   (wife  of  the  se- 
cond Sir  Anthony).     285,  290 


(>34 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


Cope,   Lady  Elizabeth  (wife  of   Sir 

William).     285 
Cope,  Lady    Elizabeth    (wife  of  Sir 

John).     288,  301 
Cope,  Hon.  Lady  (wife  of  the  third 

Sir  Anthony).     508 
Cope,  Sir  Monnoux.     518,  554 
Cope,  Richard  Esq.     79,  255,  262 
Cope,  Stephen  Esq.     79,  193,  219 
Cope,  William  (cofferer).     156,  190, 

191,  192,  206 
Cope,  Sir  William.     261,  285 
Cope,  Capt.  William.     474 
Cope,  William.     508 
Cope,    Rev.    W.    H.     191,    484,    486, 

508,  513 
Corbet,  Richard   (Bishop).     24,  156, 

157,  160,  262,  270,  457,  537 

Corby, .     304 

Cornhull,  W.  de.     88 
Cormvallis,  Sir  Frederick.     362 
Corwall,  William.     246 
Cotton,  Agnes.     213 
Coumartin,  William.     76 
Courtney,  Richard.     172 
Courtor  (or  Contour).     183 
Coutts,  Thomas  Esq.     539,  541,  542 
Coventry  and   Lichfield,  Bishop  of. 

296 
Coventrye,  John.     212,  213. 
Cowly,  George.     227 
Cowper,  A.,  R.  A.     619 
Cowper,  Nicholas.     388 
Craven,  Lord.     352 
Craven,  Sir  William.     99 
Crawford,  Major- General.     405,  406 
Crawly  (Justice).     296 
Crewe,  John    Esq.    (Baron   Crewe.) 

280,331,435,477 
Crewe,  Sir  Thomas.     255,  281 
Crispe,  Charles  Esq.     516 
Crispus.     28 
Croker,  John.     305 
Cromwell,  Earl  of  Essex.     309 
Cromwell,  Oliver.     318,  355,  370,  375, 

379,  414,   426,    427,  438,    444,   449, 

462,  467,  469,  472 
Cromwell,  Richard.     450 
Crook,  James.     513 
Cropperi,   Simon    de    (Constable    of 

Banbury).     91,94 
Crotch,  Dr.     553 
Cruttenden,  Bevill.     328 
Cullen,  Sir  Rushout.     516,517 
Cumb  Martin,  William  de.     77 
Cunobelin.     21 

Curtis,  Thomas.     452,  624,  625 
Cuthred.     52 
Cuthwulph.     49 
Cutts,  Robert.     189 


Cwichelm.     50 
Cygoin',  Engel'  de.     101 
Cynegil.     50 
Cynric.     47 
Cynwulph.     52 

Dagley,  Mr.  W.  T.     34 

Dalbier,  General.     320,  325 

Dalderby,  John  (Bishop).     99,  104 

Dalton,  Mr.     238 

Dalton,  Mr.  James.     533 

Daniel,  Major.     346 

Dan  vers,  George.     189 

Danvers,  John.     175,  176,  188,614 

Danvers,  John.     189 

Danvers,  John.     615 

Danvers,  Richard.     172  188 

Danvers,  Sir  Robert.     615 

D'Anvers,  Roland.     188 

Danvers,  Sir  Samuel.     358 

Danvers,  Sir  Thomas.     615 

Danvers,  Sir  William.     189,  615 

Danvers,  William.     189 

Danyes,  Tho.     409 

Darbe,  Sir.     199 

Darcy,  Sir  Arthur.     219 

Dartmouth,  George  Earl  of.     543 

Dartmouth,  William  first  Earl  of.  543 

Dartmouth,  William  second  Earl  of. 
543 

Dashwood,  Sir  Henry.     78 

Dashwood,  Sir  James.     522 

Dashwood,  Sir  Robert.    350,  50 ),  507 

Dauers,  Captain  William.     354 

Daunt,  William.     213 

Davenant,  Sir  William.     459,  56G 

Davies,  Stephen.    511 

Davis,  John.     503 

Davis,  Richard.     535 

Davy,  Hugh.     213 

Davye,  William.     212,  213 

Davys,  Jhon.     224 

Dawborne,  Wm.     410 

Dawkyns,  Robert.     213 

Daylesford,  William  de  (prior  of 
AVroxton).     82 

Dean,  Richard  de  (prior  of  Wrox- 
ton).     82 

Deane,  Captain  Henry.     3()5 

Debett,  Thomas.     213 

De  Foe.     568 

Deibell,  Thomas.     478 

Deiklies,  Sir  John.     351 

Densey,  Thomas.     204 

Denton,  Alexander  Esq.     516 

Denton,  Edmund  Esq.     516 

Denton,  John.     223 

Denton,  Thomas  Esq.     222,  223 

Denton,   Esq.      223,  225,  226, 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


635 


Denton,  Master.     226,  227 

De  Oily.     [See  D'Oyley.] 

Derby,  Earl  of.     194 

Derick,  Mr.  108,  109,  112,  114,  121, 
122,  124,  125,  126,  129,  134,  137, 
139,  141,  142,  144,558 

Deverell,  Captain.     383 

Devill,  Richard.     265 

Devon,  Earl  of.     280 

Deystere,  Thomas.     169 

Digby,  Sir  John.     395 

Digby,  Lord.     315 

Diocletian.     23 

Diva,  Guy  de.     88 

Dix,  Humphrey.     304 

Dix,  Thomas.     245 

Dixe,  John.     254 

Dod,  John  (rector  of  Hanwell). 
24.3,  258,  272,  283,  286,  287 

Dodinge,  Miles.     247 

Domitian.     23,  35,  45 

Douanverdh,  St.     46 

Done,  Harry,  ap  Pikton.     183 

Done,  John,  of  Kidwelly.     183 

Donewale,  Hugh  de.     169 

Done  wale,  Richard  de.     169 

Dormer,  John  Esq.     508 

Dorset,  Lord.     372 

Doughty,  Tho.     402 

Douglas,  Hon.  Frederick  Sylvester 
North.     542 

Dowbiggin,  Mr.  Samuel.     532 

Downe,  Thomas  second  Earl  of.    333 

Downe,  Thomas  third  Earl  of.     500 

Downing,  Edmvuid.     247 

D'Oyley,  Bray.     452 

D'Oyley,  Dorothy.     465 

D'Oylev,  John  Esq.     211 

D'Oyley,  John  Esq.     285,  329 

D'Oyley,  Nigel.     61 

D'Oyley,  Robert.     59,  61,  189 

D'Oyley,  Robert.     68 

Drew,  Tho.     409 

Drope,  Thomas.     248,  255,  258 

Drous,  Robert  de.     101 

Dryden,  Sir  Erasmus.     261 

Dryden,  John.     264,  486 

Dryden,  Sir  John.     355 

Dudely,  John.     201 

Dudley,  Agnes.     212,  213 

Dudley,  Captain.     336,  339 

Dudley,  John.     183 

Dudley,  John,  Duke  of  Northum- 
berland. [See  Northumberland, 
Duke  of.] 

Dudley,  Oliver  Esq.     183 

Dudley,  "William.     212,  213,  221,  224 

Dugdale,  Sir  William.     154,  303,  348 

Duke  of  York's  Dwarf.  (Qu.  Geof- 
frey Hudson  ?)  372,  373 

4  L  3 


Dumbleton,  Mr.     570 

Duncan,  Mr.     41 

Dungon,  James.     409 

Dunsmore,  Lord.     302 

Durnal,  Henry.     100 

Duston,  AVilliam  de.     94 

Dutton,  Phil.     328 

Dutton,  Lord  Gerard.     484 

Dutton,  Sir  Thomas.     350 

Dyngley,  Doctor  (vicar  of  Banbury). 

198 
Dyx,  Joyce.     245 
Dyx,  Ralph.     255 
Dyx,  Thomas.     245. 

Eadbarbury,    William   de    (prior   of 

Wroxton).     82 
Eadwold  (Priest).     51 
Ealheard  (Bishop).     54 
East,  Edward.     354 
Easthope,  Sir  John.     545 
Lata  (Bishop).     52 
Edans,  Robert.     447 
Edden,  Henry.     176 
Edens,  Nicodemus.     248,  252,  255 
Edon,  Edward.     255 
Edons,  Mr.     265,  266 
Edmund  Ironside.     58 
Edmunds,  Richard.     425,  432,  545 
Ednoth  (Bishop).     57,  58 
Ednoth  junior  (Bishop).     58 
Edrall,  James.     212 
Edric.     58 

Edward  the  Elder.     54 
Edward  the  Confessor.     58 
Edward  III.     165 
Edwin  Earl  of  Mercia.     58,  59,  61 
Edyall,  James.     212 
Egbert.     53 
Egleston,  Mr.     358 
Ekelfeld,  Bartyl.     231 
Eleutherius  (Bishop).     52 
Elfric.     .57 
Eliot,  Sir  John.     477 
Eliston,  Ed.     409 
Elizabeth,  Lady  (lady  of  Banbury), 

212,  215 
Elizabeth  (Princess).     219 
Ellit,  Robert.     337 
ElsefFeld,  Robert  de.     100 
Eh'enston,  Captain.     280 
Emson,  Sir  Richard.     189 
Emson,  Thomas  Esq.     189 
Englefield,  Sir  Francis.     191 
Ennis,  Captain.     394 
Ennis,  Colonet.     315 
Ennis,  Major.    398,  405,  408,  409,  410 
Escwin  (Bishop).     57 
Essex,    Colonel   Charles.      313,    316 

318,  321 


mii 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


Essex,  Colonel.    465 

Essex,  Robert  Earl  of.     246 

Essex,  Earl  of.  295,  305,  308,  320, 
325,  329,  348,  351,  3.57,  38  i,  404 

Essex,  Sir  William.     321 

Esteby,  John  (vicar  of  Banbury). 
173, 176, 187, 199 

Ethebald.     52 

Ethelred.     52,  53,  58 

Ethehvold.     54 

Ethelwulph.     53 

Ethric  (Bishop).     58 

Eton,  Richard.     175 

Eton,  Richard.     176 

Eugene  III.  (Pope.)     68,  70 

Everad  (or  Eneand),  John.     183 

Everard,  Captain.     443 

Everdon,  Richard  de  (rector  of 
Broughton).     101 

Ewres,  Colonel.     439 

Exon  (Bishop  of).     296 

Eyre,  Captain.     407 

Eyre,  Da.     465 

Eyre,  Francis  Esq.     247 

Eyre,  Francis  Esq.  (Earl  of  New- 
burgh.)     558 

Eyre,  Thomas  Esq.     481 

Eyston,  Edward.     393 

Fabian,  Johanna.     614 

Fabian,  Philip.     166 

Fairfax,  Francis.     328 

Fairfax,  Sir  Thomas  (Lord  Fairfax). 
408,  423,  435,  444 

Fairfax,  Sir  William.     313,  316 

Fairefeld,  Richard.     220 

Falkes,  John.     100 

Falkesius.     100 

Falkland,  Lord.     315,  352 

Falkland,  Lord.     474,480,481 

Fane,  Sir  Francis.     508 

Fane,  Lady  Mary.     484 

Faningho,  Robert  (prior  of  Wrox- 
ton).     82 

Farmar,  Ed.     401,  406,  407 

Farmer,  Captain.     439 

Fames,  Joseph.     304 

Farnsworth,  Richard.     452,  625 

Faulkner,  Charles  Esq.     479 

Fausta.     28 

Faustina  junior.     45 

Faustina  senior.     45 

Fearfelld,  Rychard.     225 

Fell,  Dr.  (Bishop.)     158,  471,  532 

Feny^.     }  C^ee  Fiennes.] 

Ferneall,  John  (prior  of  Chacombe). 

86 
Ferrer,  Colonel.     378,  381,  384 
Ferrer,  Mrs.     384 


Ferrers,  Edward.     446 

Ferris.     [See  Fiennes.] 

Fetj^place,  Edward.     247 

Frederick,  Sir  Charles.     348 

Fidoe,  John.     437 

Fielding,  Col.  Richard.     313 

Fielding,  Lord.     315 

Fiennes,  Captain.     380 

Fiennes,  Cecilia.     623 

Fiennes,  Ehzabeth.     623 

Fiennes,  Frances  (wife  of  Nathaniel 

Fiennes).     476,  623 
Fiennes,  Frances.     623 
Fiennes,  Francis.     304 
Fiennes,  Henry.     305 
Fiennes  (Fenys),  James   de.      [See 

Saye  and  Sele,  James,  Lord.] 
Fiennes,    James.       [See    Saye    and 

Sele,  James,  Viscount.] 
Fiennes,  Col.   John.      300,  301,  304, 
307,   308,  328,   349,  366,   370,   374, 
377,   378,  381,   382,   383,  384,   385, 
477,487,619 
Fiennes,  Master.     226,  230,  349 
Fiennes,  Mary.     623 
Fiennes,  Hon.  Nathaniel.     283,  292, 
295,   296,    304,  307,   308,  318,   324, 
328,   329,    349,   384,   435,  449,   468, 
477, 506,  622 
Fiennes,  Nathaniel  junior.     450    - 
Fiennes,   Sir   Richard.       [See   Saye 

and  Sele,  Richard,  Lord.] 
Fiennes,    Hon.    T.   W.    Twistleton. 

237,  282,  330,  365,  476 
Fiennes,   William.      [See  Saye  and 

Sele,  William  Viscount.] 
Fines.     [See  Fiennes.] 
Fisher,  E.  L.  Esq.     238,  359 
Fisher,  Mr.  (vicar  of  Kineton.)     321 
Fitzcount,  Brien.     68 
Fitzhugh,  Henry.     178 
Fitz  Richard,  Roger.     90 
Fitz  Robert,  John,  Lord  of  Claver- 

ing.     88 
Flecher,  William.     201 
Fleetwood,  Lieut.-Gen.     448 
Fleming,  Richard  (Bishop).     173 
Floyd,  David.     258 
Floyd,  Walter.     255 
Fludd,  Thomas.     246 
Forest,  John.     172,  174,  175 
Fort,  Thomas.     188 
Fortescue,  Sir  Faithful.     315,  328 
Foster,  Robert.     409 
Foster,  Thomas.     255,  258 
Fountain,  Ornall.     328 
Fowler  of  Buckingham.     615 
Fowler,  Richard.     615 
Fox,  Charles  Esq.     483 
Fox,  Mr.     226 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


637 


Fox,  Michael.     120,  203 
Fox,  Michael  Esq.     32() 
Foxlev,  Mr.     467 
Franchishe,  John.     251 
Francillon,  Mr.     322 
Franckhn,  Jo.     410 
Franklin,  Dr.     528 
FrankUn,  John.     528 
Frederick  Prince  of  Wales.     520 
French,  John.     46() 
Frogmarton,  Mr.  Jhon.     225 
Fry, John.     538 
Furnival,  Gerard  de.     91 
Fyfeild,  William.     388 
Fynes.     [See  Fiennes.] 
Fysher,  Mr.     222,  224 

Gage,  Sir  Henry.     379.  380,  384 

Gainsborough,  Lord,     499 

Gale,  Mr.     17 

Gallienus.     28, 607 

Gannock,  Captain.     419 

Gardner,  Robert.     417,  537,  570 

Gardner,  Samuell.     538 

Garner,  Thomas.     255,  258 

Garney,  Jo.     406 

Garway,  Thomas.     255,  258 

Gascoigne,  Robert,  gent.     517 

Gaston,  Jo.     409 

Gastrell,  Peregrine.     282 

Gaunt,  John  de.     172 

Gauthern,  Mary.     557 

Gaveston,  Piers  de.     103 

Gazey,  Mr.  John.     153 

Gee,  Edward.     464 

Gee,  John.     464 

Gell,  Sir  John.     341,  342. 

George  IV.     540 

Gerard,  John.     79,  83 

Gerard,  Joseph  (vicar  of  Banbury). 
520 

Gerrard,  Colonel.     321 

GifFard,  Mr.  Charles.     449 

Giffard,  Walter  (Earl  of  Bucking- 
ham).    60 

Gilford,  Mr.     421 

Gill,  John.     246 

Gill,  Mr.     461 

Gillett,  Mr.     567 

Gittings, .     304 

Gledston,  Sir  Roger  de.     102 

Glenbervie,  Lord.     541,  542 

Glover,  Edmund.      212,  220 

Glynn.     450 

Godefrey,  Robert.     96 

Godesthough  [Godstow],  Abbess  of. 
101 

Godfrey,  Mr.     603 

Godolphin,  Francis  Earl  of.     517 

Godrick,  Richard.     213 


Golbee,  John.     302 
Golby,  James.     432,  533 
Golby,  J.  W.  Esq.     187,  432 

Goldsborough,  .     328 

Golledge,  Thomas.     304 

Goodman,  Captain.     394 

Goodwin,  Francis,  gent.     516 

Goodwin,  Dr.  Thomas.     289 

Goodwin,  lliomas.     449,  465 

Goodwin,  William,  gent.     516 

Goring,  Lord.     315 

Gostelow,  Richard.     462 

Gostelow,  Walter.     129,462 

Goughe,  John.     246 

Grafton,  John.     557 

Grandison,  George  Earl  of.     545 

Grantham,  Colonel.     317,  320 

Gratian.     28 

Gravesend,  Richard  de  (Bishop).     93 

Gray,  Lieut.-Col.     383 

Gray,  Lord.     352 

Gray,  Lady  Elizabeth.     178 

Gray,  Lady  Jane.     218 

Greathead,  Robert  (Bishop).     81,  92, 

108 
Green,    Colonel   (Deputy    Governor 

of  Banbury  Castle).     354,  369,  370, 

374,  375,  377,  381,  389 
Green,  George.     432,  533 
Greenhill  Robert.     516 
Greenvile,  Captain.     385 
Greenwood,  Rev.  Mr.     45 
Gregory,  Blagrave.     516 
Grene,   John    (prior  of  Clattercot). 

Grevile,  Sir  Edward.     293 

Grevile,  Edward.     236 

Grevile,  Sir  Fulke.     293 

Grevile,  Fulke._    477 

Grevile,  Ludovick.     117,  174 

Grevile,  Ludovick.     235 

Grevile,  William,     117,  174 

Greviles.     44 

Grey,  William  (Bishop).     173 

Griffin,  Richard.     255 

Griffin,  Richard.     545 

Griffith,  John.     452 

Grimbly,  Samuel.     24,  534 

Grimes,  James.     328 

Grostete,  Robert  (Bishop).  [See 
Greathead.] 

Grove,  Thomas  de  la  (prior  of  Wrox- 
ton).     82 

Gubin',  Thomas.     95 

Guilford,  Earls  of.  123.  [And  see 
North.] 

Guilford,  Barons.  ^  [See  North.] 

Gullivei-,  George  Esq.     571 

Gunn,  John.     533 

Gunthorp,  John.     187,  188 


638 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


Giinvj'le,  John  (vicar  of  Banbury). 

105 
Guy,  Captain.     400 
Gwyn,  Ed.     409 
Gwyn,  Sir  Rowland.     508 
Gybbes,  Richard.     217 
GyfFord,  Captain.     383 
Gylborne,  Nicholas,     246 
Gyll,  Edward.     255 
Gyll,  EHzabeth.     388 
Gyll,  John.     255,  256 
Gyll,  Luke.     388 
Gyll,  Peter.     218,  222,  225,  227 
Gyll,  William.     217 
Gyllot,  William.     100 
Gynwel,  John  (Bishop).     105,  168 
Gyseleh'^m,  William  de.     96 
Gyves,  John.     212,213 

Hadley,  Humfrey.     245 

Hadrian      23,  33,  45 

Haie,  Guy  de  la.     90 

Haines,  Anthony.     516 

Haines,  John.     280 

Hakelinton,  David.     90 

Hall,  Thomas.     203 

Halfden.     53 

Halhed,  Henry.     212,  249,  275 

Halhed,  John.     255 

Halhed,  Richard.     622 

Halhed,  Thomas,  elder  and  younger. 

253,  255,  282,  465,  622 
Hall,  Anthony.     281 
Hall,  John.     478 
Hall,  Thomas.     219 

Hall, .     283 

Hall  of  Bodicot.  160 
Halse,  Richard.  498 
Hampden,  John.     293,  294,  295,  296, 

304,   305,   306,   308,   313,   317,    320, 

325,  340,  342 
Hampton,  George,  M.  A.     524,  557 
Hampton,  Thomas.     176,  199 
Hamsterley,  Ralph.     187 
Hancoke,  William.     232 
Handes,  William.     83. 
Hannam,  Jam.     304 
Harbage,  Mr.  John.     10 
Harbarde,  William.     183 
Harberd,  Richard.     535 
Harcourt,  Sir  Robert.     191 
Hardy,  Robert.     199 
Harleston,  Mr.     239 
Harold.     58 
Harpom,  Richard.     176 
Harreyes,  William.     175 
Harrington,  Captain.     413 
Harris,  John.     353 
Harris,  Rev.  Malachi,  D.  D.     79 
Harris,  Mr.     567 


411 
,     399 


355 


354 


Harris,  Dr.  Robert  (rector  of  Han- 
well).  79,  240,  241,  245,  269,  270, 
284,  285,  301,  333,  496 

Harris,  Timothy.     496 

Harrison,  Colonel.     441 

Harrison,  Jam.     328 

Harrison.  Rev.  Mr.     12 

Harrow,  Cha.     328 

Harvey,  Dr.  William.     322 

Harter,  John.     212 

Hartey,  Ed.     401,  406,  407 

Hartlet,  John.     212,  217,  220 

Hartlett.     226,  331 

Hartridge  Geo.     328 

Haselrigg,  Sir  Arthur. 

Hastings  (Commander^ 

Hatton,  Lord.     405 

Hauckworth,  Captain. 

Hausted,  Peter.  384 

Havres,  Robert.     252 

Hawse,  Rowland.     465 

Hawkins,  James,     388 

Hawkins,  William.     465 

Hawksford  (Governor). 

Hawles,  John  Esq.     505 

Hawntye,  James  de.     81 

Hawtayne,  Henry.     251,  255 

Hawten,  Richard.     516 

Hawtyn,  Joseph.     533 

Haydon,  Edmund.     394 

Haynes,  Tho.     304 

Hazulford,  John  (rector  of  Brough- 
ton).     173 

Hedda  (Bishop).     52 

Hekelfeld,  Bartholomew.     212 

Henn,  J.     536,  613 

Henrietta  Maria  (Queen  of  Charles 
I).     348 

Henry  (Bishop).     168 

Henry  VI IL     205 

Henry,  Prince  (Henry  II).     68 

Henry,  Prince.     386 

Herast,  Lord  of.     185 

Herbert,  Sir  Richard.     179 

Hercye,  John  Esq.     251,  253 

Herd,  John.     201 

Herdson,  Henry.     213 

Hericke, (scout-master).     354 

Herreys,  Thomas.     176 

Hervey,  Lieutenant.     393 

Hewson,  Colonel.     439 

Hibberdine,  Benjamin.     478 

Higebrigbt  (Bishop).     53 

Higgins,  William.     449 

Higham,  Sir  John.     239 

Hill,  Captain.     362 

Hill,  Edward.     388 

Hill,  Epiphany.     280,  282 

Hill,  Nathaniel.     282,  465,  622 

Hill,  Dr.  Othowell.     268 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


G39 


Hill,  Richard.     281,  493 
Hill,  Samuel.     533 

Hill, .     283 

Hilliard,  Robert.     178 
Hillsborough,  Viscount.     516 

Hoare,  ■ .     304 

Hobart,  Hon.  and  Rev.  H.  L.     530, 

541,  542 
Hobson,  Lieutenant.     383 
Hodges,  John  Esq.     516 
Holbech,  Ambrose  Esq.     491 
Holbech,  Ambrose  Esq.     516,  517 
Holbech,  Henry  (Bishop).     214 
Holbech,  Hugh  Esq.     551 
Holbech,  William  Esq.     539 
Holbech,  William  Esq.     551 
Holland,  Lord.     295 
Holland,  Philemon.     454,  568 
Hollawey,  Thomas.     255 
Hollead,  Henry.     280 
HoUed,  Mary.     297 
Holled,  Tho.     297 
Holies,  Denzil,  Lord.     304,  313,  316, 

318,  320,  323 
Holloway,  Thomas.     258 
Holman,  George.     481 
Holman,  Sir  John.     481,  483,  506 
Holman,  Philip.     79,  407,  481 
Holmans.     513 
Hooper,  Captain.     416,  422 
Honorius  (Pope).     51 
Honorius  IL  (Pope.)     63 
Hopcraft,  John.     249 
Hopkins,  Bernard.     212,  224,  226 
Hopton,  Sir  Owen.     264 
Hore,  Jo.     409 
Horn,  David.     277 
Hornesley,  Robert.     220 
Horsman,  Hester.     388 
Horton,  Thomas.     248 
Horton,  William.     570 
Horwood,  Robert.     248 
Houghton,  Ralph  (vicar  of  Banbury). 

245,  246 
House,  Thomas.     217 
How,  Charles  Esq.     516 
Howard,  Robert.     362 
Howard,  Wil.     301 
Howell,  Ed.     409 
Howes,    John    (vicar   of   Banbvu-y). 

282,  296 
Hudson,    GeofFery.      [See    Duke   of 

York's  Dwarf.] 
Hubbard,  Rev.  C.  B.     512 
Hugh  de  Barentin.     89 
Hugh    of     Grenoble    (Bishop     and 

Saint).     71,  79 
Hugh  (prior  of  Wroxton).     81 
Hughes,  Mr.     557 
Hughes,  Rev.  R.  E.     143 


Hugoline  Filius  PauH.  _     \ 

Hugolin  son  of  Paul  de  Adigheriis./ 

165,  168 
Humphrey,  Dr.  Laurence.     244 
Humphry s,  Nathaniel.     516 
Hungerford,  Sir  Anthony.     227 
Hungerford,  Henry.     474 
Hunks,  Colonel.     343 
Hunt,  Mr.  George.     268 
Hunt,  Henry.     479 
Hunt,  John.     268 
Hunt,  Martha.     268 
Hunt,  Thomas.     486 
Hunt,  Mrs.     434 

Hutchinson,  Lieut.-Col.  Geo.     304 
Hutchinson,    Col.    Hon.    H.    Hely. 

545 
Hycrith,  Saint.     46 
Hyde,  Chancellor.     473 
Hyggs,  Thomas.     213 
Hylle,  William.     233 

Idiall,  John.     213 

Idyall,  James.     212 

Ingfelld,  Sir  Francis.     227 

Ingham,  Oliver  de.     107 

Innocent  II.  (Pope.)     66,  68 

Innocent  IV.  (Pope.)     93 

Insula,  Brien  de.     [See  L'isle,  Brien 

de.]_ 
Iporegia,  George  de.     106 
Iremonger,  John.     512 
Ireton,  Colonel.     444 
Isaac  the  Jew.     101 
Isaacson,  James  Esq.     507 

Jackman,  William.     520 

Jackson,  Major.     354 

Jackson,  Roger.     221,  233 

James  I.     240,  261,  262 

James  II.     503 

Jankin,   Davy   ap,   of   Lymmeryke. 
183 

Jaxson,  Richard.     353 

Jeanes,  Thomas,  M.  D.     437 

Jeffery,  son  of  Henry  II.  and  Rosa- 
mond.    (Bishop.)     71 

Jenkinson,  Sir  Robert.     513 

Jersey,  Earl  of.     145 

Jessop,  Clarke.     24 

Jessop,  Mr.  Matthew.     326,  538,  582, 
596,  600 

Jewitt,  Mr.  O.  151 

Joad,  Andrew.     533 

John.     335 

John,  Juan  ap.     183 

Johnson,  John.     213 

Johnson,  Richard.     419 
Johnson,  Dr.  Samiiel.     387 
Johnson,  Thomas.     531 


640 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


Johnston,  John.     402 

Jones,  Sir  Henry.     474 

Jones,  Rev.  J.     183 

Jones,  Richard.     225 

Jonson,  Ben.     455,  568 

Joynar,  William.     225 

Judd,  William  senior.     207,  541,  542, 

545 
Jndd,  William  junior.     541,  542 
.Julian.     44 
Juvenal.     40 
Juxon  (Bishop).     437 

Kaysthorp,  Alexander  de  (prior  of 
Chacombe).     85 

Keck,  Anthony  Esq.     499 

Keelinge,  Edward.     254 

Kegworth,  Henry  de  (prior  of  Cha- 
combe).    86,  104 

Kelly,  Jo.     304 

Kemeswell,  Mr.     222,  224,  225,  226 

Kenning,  John.     516 

Kenric.     48 

Kenwricke,  Richard  Esq.     394 

Kerel,  Thomas.     101 

Kersey,  John.     485 

Kettle,  Jo.     410 

Keylwey,  Robert.     212,  215 

Keywood,  Captain.     407 

Kidd,  Benjamin.     523 

Killesby,  William  de.     168 

Kimbolton,  Lord.     316,  374 

King,  William.     409 

Kinge,  John.     176 

Kinge,  Robert.     265 

Kirby,  Mr.  Alderman,     251 

Kirkeby,  John  de  (vicar  of  Ban- 
bury).    99,  105 

Kirke,  Col.  Lewis.     336,  339 

Kirton,  Thomas.     414 

Knight,  Elizabeth.     245 

Knight,  Jhone.     277 

Knight,  Johan.     249 

Knight,  John.     99,  249,  277,  494 

Knight,  John,  D.  D.  (vicar  of  Ban- 
bury.)    487 

Knight,  Lieutenant.     388 

Knight,  Matthew.     249 

Knight,  Mr.     281 

Knight,  William.  254,  255,  256,  258, 
265,  280,  494 

Knightley,  Rev.  Sir  John.     543 

Kniglitley,  Sir  Richard.     295 

Knightley,  Richard  Esq.,  the  elder. 
284,  295 

Knightley,  Richard  Esq.,  the 
younger.  295,  296,  408,  409,  410, 
428 

Knightley,  Robert.     328 

Knightley,  Sir.     621 


Knollys,  Charles.     267,  519,  617 

Knollys,  Sir  Francis.  239,  243,  266, 
615 

Knollys,  Nicholas.     267,  616 

Knollys,  Thomas  Wood.     520 

Knollys,  William,  Baron  Knollys  of 
Greys,  Viscount  Wallingford,  and 
Earl  of  Banbury.  255,  256,  266, 
282,  616 

Knollys,  WiUiam,  M.  P.  (called  Vis- 
count Wallingford.)     519 

Knollys,  Lieut.-Gen.  William.     520 

Knowles,  Nathaniel.     453 

Kussere,  Matill'  de.     94 

Kynton,  John.     217 

Laharn,  Tho.     328 

Lamb,  Rev.  George.     535 

Lamb.  Rev.  J.,  D.  D.  (vicar  of  Ban- 
bury.)    28,  535,  541,  542,  543 

Lamb,  Rev.  Matthew,  D.  D.  (vicar 
of  Banbury.)     526,  535 

Lamphire,  Dr.  John.     388 

Lamprey,  Mary.     452 

Lancaster,  Thomas  Earl  of. 

Lancaster,  Mr.  (Puritan.) 

Lancaster,    Rev.     Thomas 
(vicar  of  Banbury).     543 

Lane,  James.     538 

Lane,  John.     483 

Langdale,  Sir  Marmaduke. 

Langford, .     304 

Langley,  Christopher. 

Langley,  John.     463 

Latimer,  Sir  Thomas. 

Latimer,  Sir  Thomas. 

Latimer  (Bishop).     '^04 

Laud  (Archbishop).     386,  463 

Laurence  de  St.  Amano.     89 

Laurenc',  Gilbert.    95 

Laurence,  Roger.     95 

Law,  Richard.     528 

Lawson,  Captain.     350 

Lawson,  Charles  Esq.     519 

Ledet,  Wischard.     91 

Lee,  Ben.     304 

Lee,  Thomas.     611 

Legge,  Hon.  Arthur  Charles.     544 

Legge,  Hon.  Heneage.     543,  544 

Leigh,  Sir  Edward.  269,  270,  273 
290,  462 

Leman,  Rev.  T.     33 

Leon,  Eustace  de.     101 

Leonard,  Rev.  R.  W.     37 

L 'Estrange,  Roger.     486 

Letherland,  John.     512 

Lewelin.     93 

Lewes,  Owen  ap.     245 

Lewkenor,  Mr.     239 

Lexington,  Henry  (Bishop).     93 


101,103 

285,  287 
William 


396,  399 


268 


91 
171 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


641 


Licinius.     23,  28,  34 
Lidcoat,  Rich.     328 
Lidcot,  General.     372 
Lilborne,  Colonel.     374,  441 
Lindsey,  Earl  of.     314,  313,  319,  321, 

324 
Lindsey,  Earl  of.     326 
Ling,  Van.     263 
L;isle,  Brien  de.     89,  90 
Lisle,  Sir  Aniold  de.     354 
Lisle,  Sir  George.     31-5 
Litclifeild,  Edward.     44(5 
Litcot,  Major.     378,  383 
Lloyd,  Walter.     304 

Lockiei", .     441 

Lodge,  Thomas.     46.5 

Loftus,  Mr.  James.     600 

Loggins,  Mr.     34 

London,  Robert  de.     88 

Longe,  John.     213,  217,  223,  225,  480 

Longe,  Mary.     555 

Longe,  Mast'.    233 

Longe,  Matthew.     254 

Longe,  Thomas.     233 

Longe,  William.     233,  2.34 

Longland,  John  (Bishop).     197,  204, 

253 
Longspear,  Stephen.    93 
Lorde,  John.     220 
Love,  Mr.     407 
Lovelace,  Lord.     373 
Lovelace,  Lady.     372 
Leveling,    Rev.   Benjamin   (vicar  of 

Banbury).     509 
Lovell,  Hen.     328 
Lovell,  Mr.     274 
Lovett,  John.     222 
Lovytt,  Mr.     22.5,  226,  230 
Lower,  Dr.  Richard.     498 
Lnke,    Sir   Samuel.      334,  353,  367, 

372,  380,  384,  385,  388,  390,  393, 

394,   397,   398,  399,  401,  401,  407, 

408,  409,  618 
Lucus,  William.     410 
Luce,  Mr.     226 
Lucilla.     23,  32,  43 
Lumley,  Marniaduke  (Bishop).     174 
Lunsford,  Colonel.     302,  321 
Lush,  James.     341,  .542,  370 
Luter,  John.     212,  220,  447 
Luther,  John.     212 
Lutts,  Jhon.     224 
Lyndraper,  John.     166,  169 
Lyons,   Sir  John  de.      79,   m,    121, 

168,  178 
Lytton,  Sir  Rowland.     210 
Lydcott,  Captain.     400 
Lydcott,  Colonel,     400,  405,  406,  620 
Lydcott,  Major.     367 
Lydyat,  Christopher.     386 

4m 


Lydyat,  Thomas.     144,  386 

Mabbot,  Gilb.     420 

Magnentius.     28,  34 

Major,  Richard.     372 

Major,  Theodore.     254 

Makepace,  Ann.     479 

Malet,  William,  Baron  of  Curi.     88 

Mallory,  William  Esq.     183 

Malsbury,  Thomas.     528 

Malten,  Geo.    ,305 

Man,  Edward.     2.55 

Manchester,  Earl  of.     351,  3.53,  372, 

374,  373,  379 
Mander,  Thomas.     316 
Mander,  William.     477 
Mandeville,  Lord.     313,  316 
Mandevill,  Richard  de.     97 
Manne,  William.     218 
Mar,  Earl  of.     513 
Mar,  William.     447,  448 
Marche,  Edward,     213,  223 
Mar  don.  Rev.  T.     614 
Marmion,  Shakerley.     264 
Marrow,  Geo.     -304 
Marshall,  Rev.  E.     8 
Marshall,  Samuel.     334,  337 
Marten,  William.     213 
Martin,  Colonel.     439 
Martin,  Captain.     346 
Martyn,  Francis.     446 
Martyr,  Peter.     204 
Mary.     218 
Mason,  Thomas.     176 
Massey,  Colonel.     409 
Mathew,   Thomas,  M.   A.   (vicar  of 

Banbury.)     482 
Matthews,  Lieut-Col.     419 
Maud  (Empress).     68 
Mauduit,  John.     101 
Mauduit,  Robert.     88,  101 
Maunder,  William.     265,  266 
Maurice,  Prince.     412 
Maximian.     19,  28 
Maximin.     44 
Maynard,  John.     212,  213 
Meacock,  William.     303 
Meddams,  Joseph.     316 
Mede,  Dr.  Joseph.     387 
Meek,  Edmund.     235 
Meek,  Edward.     238 
Meldrum,  Sir  John.     313,  318 
Melton,  Tho.     410 
Melvin,  Captain.     346 
Merrick,  Richard.     247 
Metcalfe,  Henry.     251 
Metcalfe,  Mary.     197,  250 
Metcalfe,  Mrs.     44 
Metcalfe,  Thomas.     2-50 
Mey,  Richard.     166,  169 


642 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


Middleton,  Captain.     367 

Middleton,  Colonel.     352 

Middleton,  Lieutenant.    366,  368,  388 

Middleton,  Ralpli  de.     81 

Midilton,  Richard  de  (vicar  of  Ban- 
bury).    96 

Mildecu'be,  William  de.     101 

Mildmay,  Robert.     407 

Mildmay,  Sir  Walter.     253 

Miller,  John  gent.     516 

Miller,  Lieutenant.     383 

Miller,  Lieut-Col.     545 

Miller,  Sanderson.     24,  516 

Miller,  Mistress  Sarah.     461 

Mills,  John  Esq.,  F.  R.  S.     527 

Milward,  Miss.     78 

Mohun,  Walter  Esq.     240 

Mole,  George.     2-55 

Molsow,  Roger.     213 

Monk,  General.     451,  474 

Monmouth,  Ed.     410 

Montacute,  William  de.     107 

Montagu,  Colonel.     509 

Monte  Floruni,  Parnolus  de.     107 

Monte  Florum,  Paul  de.     165 

Montfort,  Sir  Simon.     192 

Moore,  George  Esq.     78 

Moore,  James.     305 

Moore,  Thomas  (vicar  of  Banbury). 
245 

Moore,  Hon,  William.     520 

More,  Richard.     221,227 

Moreton,  John.     516 

Morgan,  Charles.     402,  404 

Morgan,  Henry  ap.     183 

Morgan,  Rev.  J.     13 

Morrell,  William.     488 

Morris,  William.     245 

Morwyng,  Peter.     212 

Moselye,  George.     255 

Moubray,  John  de     170 

Mouner,  Walter  le.     77 

Mund,  Robert  le.     95 

Munro,  Colonel.     321 

Munton,  John  Esq.     153,  154 

Murimouth,  Richard  de.     167 

Musgrave,  William.     410 

Myldemay,  Sir  Walter.     212 

Myles,  Agnes.     213 

Myller,  Elizabeth.     212 

Myllett,  Sir  John.     199 

Nash,  Rev.  Mr.     39 

Nayler,  Bartholomew.     254,  255,  265 

Nayler,  Richard.     213 

Naylor,  Anne.    246 

Naylor,  James.     467 

Necoll,  Thom's.     231 

Needham,  Captain.     346 

Needle,  William.     343 


Nelson,  Rev.  G.  M.     45 

Nero.     23,  35,  45 

Nerva.     23,  45 

Neve,  Sir  William  le.     326 

Nevil,  Christopher.     482 

Nevil,  Col.  Richard.     360 

Neville,  Sir  Henry.     178,  183 

Neville,  Hugh  de.     101 

Neville,  Ralph  de.     104 

Newton,  Sir  Adam.     387 

Newton,  Sir  Hugh  de.     167 

Newcomin,  Jon.     304 

Newham,  Geo.     409 

Newlove,  Jane.     2.58 

Newman,  John  gent.     516,  533,  .535 

Newman,  Richard.     462 

Newman,  Samuel.     462 

Nicholas  (rector  of  Broughton).     81 

Nicholes,  George.     246,  2.55,  2.56 

Nicholes,  John.     255,  280 

Nicholls,  Ed.     407 

Nicholls,  Organ.     282 

Nicholls  (Secretary).     405 

Nicolas  IV.  (Pope.)     97 

Nigel  (Bishop  of  Ely).     67 

Norman,  John.     175 

Normanton,  Sir  Hugh.     99 

Norreys,  Sir  Edward.     508 

Norris,  Sir  John.     331 

Noi-ris,  Lord.     616 

Norris,  Thomas.     479 

North,   Dudley,  third   Baron  North 

of  Kirtling.     500 
North,  Dudley,  fourth  Baron  North 

of  Kirtling.     500 
North,  Charles,  fifth  Baron  North  of 

Kirtling.     500 
North,    Sir   Francis,   Lord    Keeper, 

first    Baron    Guilford.       84,    123, 

263,  264,  498,  500 

North,  Francis,  second  Baron  Guil- 
ford.    177 

North,  Francis,  first  Earl  of  Guil- 
ford, and  seventh  Baron  North  of 
Kirtling.     469,  519,  543 

North,  Frederick  Lord  (the  Premier), 
second  Earl  of  Guilford,  and  eighth 
Baron    North   of    Kirtling.       123, 

264,  520,  527,  539 

North,  George  Augustus,  third  Earl 
of  Guilford,  and  ninth  Baron 
North  of  Kirtling.     539 

North,  Francis,  fourth  Earl  of  Guil- 
ford.    263,  540 

North,  Frederick,  fifth  Earl  of  Guil- 
ford.    538,  539,  541 

North,  Lady  Susan,  Baroness  North 
of  Kirtling.     539,  540 

North,  the  Hon.  William  Henry 
John.     540 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


643 


North,    Brownlow    (Bishop).       511, 

543 
North,  Hon.  Charles.     508,  511 
North,  Sir  Dudley.     500,  501 
North,  Dudley  Esq.    539,  541 
North,  Ed.     409 
North,  Edward.     500 
North,  Lady  Georgina.     540 
North,     Lieut.-Col.     John     Sidney. 

.539,  540,  618 
North,  Dr.  John.     500 
North,  Lady  Maria,  Marchioness  of 

Bute.     539 
North,  Montagu.     500 
North,  Roger.     500,  501 
Northampton,  Spencer  Earl  of.     294, 
298,  299,  305,  329,  330,  331,  341, 
384 
Northampton,   James  Earl  of.     342, 
345,   351,   352,  355,   359,  362,  378, 
379,  380,  394,   396,  397,   399,  400, 
401,   403,  405,  406,   409,  412,  418, 
427 
Northampton,  Countess  of.     402 
Northan  Jhon.     225 
Northhurgh,  Michael  de.     167 
Northumberland,       John      Dudley, 

Duke  of.     215,  216,  218 
Northumberland,  Earl  of.     341,  399 
Norton,  John  de.     166 
Norton,  Jo.     401 
Noy,  Attorney-General.     160 
Nutt,  Thomas.     479 

O'Clare,  Rev.  Michael.     529 

Odell,  Master.     199 

Odo  (Bishop).     59,  61 

Offa.     52 

Okens,  Mr.    248,  250 

Okey,  Colonel.     445 

Oldys,  Dr.    396,  620 

Oldys,  William.     523 

Ombresleye,     John    de     (Abbot    of 

Evesham).     170 
Orfice,  Rich.     328 
Osbert,  of  Grimsbury.     90 
Osbert  Petrarius.     89 
Osborn,  Robert.     533 
Osbourne,  Franc.     469 
Osferth.     54 
Osketyl  (Bishop).     57 
Osman,  William.     557 
Osmund  the  Dane.     58 
Ostorius  Scapula.     22,  30,  44,  607 
Ostree,  William.     245 
Ott,  Richard.     211 
Oughton,  Sir  Adolphus.     516 
Overton.     441 
Owen,  Captain.     442 
Owen,  Ed.     409 

4  m3 


Owen,  George.     213 

Owen,  Doctor.     212 

Owen,  Dr.  John.     289,  465,  468,  470 

Owen,  Thankful.     465 

Owen,  Thomas.     516 

Oxenford,  John  de.     169 

Oxford,  Captain.     407 

Packington,  John.     171 
Padbury,  Mr.  Thomas.     570 
Padd,  Richard.     513 
Pain,  John.     533,  .535,  538 
Pain,  John.     541,  542 
Pain,  Joseph.     541,  542 
Pain,  Rev.  Richard.     541 
Paine,  William.    214 
Painter,  Mr.  John.     17 
Painton,  Mr.     514 
Palmer,  Thomas.     212 
Parco,  Thomas  de.    90 
Pargeter,  W.,  M.  D.     535 
Parin,  Robert.     305 
Park,  Thomas  de.     104 
Park,  William  de.     104 
Parker,   J.   H.   Esq.     102,    108,    110, 
112,    114,    115,    117,    118,    119,    120, 
123,   127,   128,    129,    130,  131,    133, 
134,  135,  140,  145,  205,  555 

Parker,  Lord  Viscount.     522 

Parnam,  William.     220 

Parr, .     521 

Parr,  Queen  Catharine.     194 

Parr,  Dr.  Richard  (Bishop).     464 

Parratt,  Symon.     212 

Parry,  Henry.     215 

Parry,  Lieutenant.     442,  443 

Parsons,  John.     453 

Paston,  Sir  William.     261 

Paunes,  William.     102 

Payne,  Captain.    397 

Payne,  Thomas.     212,  213 

Payton,  Sir  Edward.     328 

Payne,  Rev.  E.     613 

Payne,  John.     159,  249,  275 

Pearse,  Rev.  W.     45,  118 

Pearson,  John.     538 

Pearson,  William.     252 

Peke,  Richard.     213 

Pembroke,  Earl  of  (Protector).     91 

Pembroke,  Earl  of.     103 

Pembroke,  Herbert  Earl  of.     179 

Pembroke,  Earl  of.  Chancellor  of  Ox- 
ford.    289 

Penda.     50 

Pennard,  William.     446 

Penny,  Philip.     516 

Pent,  Major.     383 

Pentlow,  Tho.     407 
Percy,  Colonel.     362 
Pergente,  John,  Knight.     213 


644 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


Perkins.     268 

Perkins,  Master.     -14.5 

Pernande,  William.     212 

Perren,  John,  Knight.     212 

Perrins,  Isaac.     531 

Perry,  Captain.     362 

Person,  John.     169 

Person,  Laurence.     203 

Person,  Richard.     212 

Persons,  John.     176 

Pese,  Edward.     212 

Peterborough,  Earl  of.     310,  328 

Peters,  Hugh.     449,  467,  470 

Peto,  Sir  Edward.     303 

Petre,  Sir  William.     203 

Pettipher,  W^illiam.     528 

Pew,  Jo.     328 

Phelipps,  Frances.     446 

Phillips,  Mrs.  Elizabeth.     343 

Phillips,  George.     280 

Phippes,  John.     176 

Pierson,  William.     200 

Pigot,  Baldwin.     82 

Pigot,  Sir  Roger.     183 

Pigott,  Dolly.     556 

Pigott,  Eliza  Mary.     556 

Pigott,  Francis.     556 

Pinchun,  Richard.     91 

Pitman,  John.     447 

P'kyns,  Will'm.     231 

Plancesto,  William.     213 

Plecet,  Hugh  de.     95 

Plesto,  RaiFe.     224 

Plomer,  William.     212,  220,  225 

Plommar,  Robert.     199 

Plowden,  Colonel.     513 

Plowden,  William  Esq.     509 

Plumpton,  Manasses.     477 

Pole,  William  de  la,  Duke  of  Suffolk. 

174 
Pomponia  Grsecina.     46 
Pope,  Alexander.     488 
Pope,  Lady  Anne.     262 
Pope,  Lady  Frances.     500 
Pope,  John.     219,  263 
Pope,  Kateryn.     213 
Pope,  Richard.     213 
Pope,  RoberU     233 
Pope,  Seth.     252 
Pope,  Thomas  Esq.     84 
Pope,  Sir   Thomas.       196,   202,    219, 

264 
Pope,  Sir  Thomas.     333,  348,  618 
Pope,  William.     202 
Pope,  Sir  William,  Earl  of  Downe. 

84,  123,  262,  264 
Pope,  Sir  William  knt.     262 
Postumus.     34 
Potman,  Thomas.     268 
Potter,  John.     516 


I  Potter,  William.     453 
Poultney,  Lieutenant.     344 
Powell,  Mr.     158,  424 
Praed,  William  Esq.     541 
Pratt,  William.     533,  535 
Prest,  Hugh.     166 
Pretty,  E.  Esq.     22,  28,  607 
Price,  Rev.  Hugh.     622 
Pride,  Colonel.     449 
Prideaux,  Bevill.     328 
Prideaux,  Prue.     304 
Prime,  John.     245,  283 

Prince, .     441 

Probus.     35 

Prynne,  William.     349,  477 

Puddell,  William.     213 

Pulteneye,  John  de.     168 

Purefoy,  Colonel.     355,  357,  367,  368, 

391 
Purefoy,  Ensign.     391 
Purefoy,  Lieutenant.     391 
Purefoy,  Major.     391,  397,  400 
Pye,  Henry  John  Esq.     546 
Pye,  Sir  Robert.     296 
Pym,  John.     295,  342 
Pym,  John.     249,  255 
Pym,  Thomas.     478 
Pym,  M'illiam.     465 
Pynnes,  Robert.     212 

Quintillus.     30,  607 

RadclifFe,  Dr.     499 

Rainbow,  Fulke.     516 

Rainsborough,  Colonel.     415 

Ralph  (rector  of  Wotton).     97 

Ramsay,  Sir  James.     313,  316,  352 

Ramsej',  Captain.     362 

Randal],  Richard  (pi-ior  of  Wroxton). 

83 
Randall,  William  Esq.     495 
Rawley,  Lieutenant.     443 
Rawlidge,  Fras.     402,  404,  406 
Rawson,  Richard.     402,  404,  406 
Raynesford,  John.     189,  304 
Raynesford,  William  Esq.     84,  202 
Raynsford,  Bartholomew.     226 
Reader,  William  Esq.     158,  305,  512, 

619,  621 
Rede,  John.     176 
Redeshawe,  John.     217,  220 
Reede,  Thomas.     212 
Remigius  (Bishop).     51,  60,  61 
Repingdon,  Philip  de  (Bishop).     173 
Reve,  Thomas.     212,  213 
Reynde,  Henry.     280 
Reynolds,  Colonel.     439,  442 


Reynolds,  Dr.  (Bishop.) 
Rice,  Jo.     828 
Rich,  Robert.     452 


463 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


045 


Richard  I.     71 

Richard  II.     79 

Richard  (rector  of  Gilling).     97 

Richard  the  Miller.     90 

Ricliard,  Bishop  of  Winchester.     97 

Richard,  prior  of  Wroxton.     80 

Richard,  prior  of  Wroxton.     80 

Richard,  prior  of  Wroxton.     83 

Richard  (Randall),  prior  of  Wrox- 
ton.    83,  190 

Richards,  Ric.     497 

Richardson.     568 

Risley,  Rev.  W.  C.     135,611 

Rivers,  Lord.     184 

Roads,  Hannah.     411 

Rohbins,  Humphrey.     388 

Robbins,  Tho.     404,  406 

Robert,  chaplain  of  the  Hospital  of 
St.  Leonard.     79 

Robert  son  of  Walchelin.     62 

Roberts,  John.     453 

Roberts,  John.     533 

Roberts,  Lord.     296,  313,  408 

Robin  Hood.     71 

Robin  of  Redesdale.     178 

Robins,  George.     282 

Robins,  George.     478 

Robins,  Richard.     204,  217 

Robins,  Thomas.     158,  297,  482 

Robson,  Giles.     385 

Robyns,  William.     253 

Rochester,  Charles  Earl  of.     488 

Rochester,  Henry  Earl  of.  [See 
W'ilmot,  Lord.] 

Rochester,  John  Earl  of.     487 

Rochfort,  Lord.     317 

Rock,  Francis  Esq.     516 

Rodney,  Colonel.     321 

Roger,  Bishop  of  Salisbury.     63,  67 

Roger,  chaplain  of  Banbury  Castle. 
90 

Rose,  Robert.     409 

Rossiter,  Colonel.     412 

Rotheram,  Thomas  (Bishop).     187 

Rouse,  Geo.     328 

Rowell,  Mrs.     425 

Rowland,  Agnes.     212 

Rowland,  Thomas  (Bailiff  of  Ban- 
bury).    200,  201,  203 

Ruddell,  John  Jagoe.     625 

Rumbald  (Rumoald),  Saint.     51 

Rupert,  Prince.  309,  312,  314,  315, 
317,  325,  328,  331,  348,  349,  353, 
355,  369,  375,  395,  397,  399,  403, 
412 

Rupibus,  Peter  de  (Bishop).     91 

Rusher,  Mr.  J.  G.     278,  479 

Rusher,  Philip.     149,  380,  566 

Rusher,  William.     531 

Rushworth,  Jo.     409,  420 


Russel,  Elizabeth.     213 
Russel,  John  (Bishop).     187 
Russel,  Lord.     219 
Russel,  Robert.     255 
Russel,  Robert.     282 
Russell,  William  Lord.     499 
Ruthven,  General.     315,  325 
Rychardson,  WilUam.     217 
Rymell,  Eleanor.     246 
Ryve,  Thomas.     212 

Sacheverell,  Dr.     512 

Sadler,  Richard.     447 

St.  Adrian,  Neapolion.     107 

St.  Botolph.     195 

St.  Edmund's  Bury,  Abbot  of.     COS 

St.  Giles,  John  de.     92 

St.  John,  Lord.     295,  318,  321,  450 

St.  John,  Rol.     407 

St.  Ledger,  William  de.     26 

St.  Paul,  Emma  de.     101 

St.  Walery,  Thomas  de.     88 

Salerio,  Sir  George  de.     105 

Salisbury,  William  Earl  of.     101 

Salmon,  John.     545 

Sale,  Master  (rector  of  Banbury). 
92 

Samwell,  Rich.     407 

Sanders,  William.     534 

Sandys,  Colonel.     308 

Sansbury,  Mansell.     524 

Sansbury,  Thomas.     533 

Sartoriis,  Bernard  de.     169 

Saunders,  Sir  Edward.     253 

Saunders,  Thomas  (prior  of  Cha- 
combe).     86 

Saunders,  William  Esq.  79,  176, 
193,  219 

Saven,  John.     217 

Sawyer,  Captain.     346 

Sawyer, .     441 

Saye  and  Sele,  James  de  Fenys, 
Baron.     174 

Saye  and  Sele,  James  Fiennes,  Vis- 
count.    280,  292,  296,  474,  475,  482 

Saye  and  Sele,  Richard  Ferris 
(Fiennes),    Baron    and    Viscount. 

236,  237,  246,  248,  251,  252,  256 
Saye,  Robert.     484 

Saye  and  Sele,  William,  Baron.     175 

238 
Saye  and   Sele,   William,    Viscount. 

237,  253,  255,  260,  281,  282,  291, 
292,  295,  296,  297,  298,  304,  306, 
307,  308,  318,  323,  326,  328,  329, 
330,  341,  349,  412,  422,  428,  430, 
435,  447,  451,  471,  475,  477,  621 

Scaliger,  Joseph.     386 
Schutteford,  Thomas  de.     82 
Scot,  Thomas.     166,  169 


646 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


Scott,  Thomas  (Bishop).     187 

Scott,  Sir  Walter.     4G1 

Scotte,  John.     172 

Scottesburgh,  Jankin  Perot  ap.     183 

Scroggs,  Sir  William  (Chief- Justice). 

487 
Scroop,  Colonel.     441 
Scudder,  Henry.     270,  273,  286,  290 
Sedgley,  Mr.     573 
Segrave,  John.     104 
Segrave,  Sir  John.     104 
Settle,  Elkanah.     492 
Severne,  S.  A.  Esq.     81 
Severus.     19 
Shakspeare.      568 
Shareshull,  William  de.     83 
Sharp  (Churchwarden  of  Banbury). 

157,  460 
Sharpe,  Henry.     265 
Shaw,  William.     437 
ShefFeild,  Colonel.     405 
Sheffield,  Earl  of.     544 
Sheldon,  Geo.     409 
Sheldon,  Ralph.     7 
Shenstone,  Rev.  William.     558 
Sherfield,  Henry.     160 
Shilborn,  Captain,     383 
Shirley,  William.     534 
Shirwood,  Henry.     254 
Short,  Richard.     479 
Short,  Rev.  T.     196 
Showell,  Henry.     248,  254,  255,  256 
Shuckburgh,  Mr.  Richard.     309 
Shugborough,  Edward.     247 
Shuttylworth,  Henry.     227 
Shutwell,  Henry.     220 
Sidnall,  T.     190 
Silby,  Roger  de  (prior  of  Chacombe). 

85 
Silveston,  Humphrey  de.     169 

Sindercom, .     443 

Skelton,  Mr.     42 

Skipton,  General.     379,  441 

Slade,  Anne.     497 

Slade,  Captain.     383 

Slade,  John.     212 

Slaney,  Captain.     408 

Slead,  John.     213 

Sleugh,  William.     171 

Sley,  Hugh.     213,  224,  231 

Sloath,  Richard.     388 

Smith,  Captain.     319,  439 

Smith,  Lieut.-Col.     381 

Smith,  Henry.     251 

Smith,  Cornet.     368,  478 

Smith,  John.     528 

Smith,  Matthew,  A.  M.     197 

Smith,  Matthew.     478 

Smith,  Thomas  (prior  of  Wroxton). 


Smitli,  William.     528 

Smyth,  Henry  Esq.     37 

Smyth,  William  (Bishop).     77,   188, 

195,  197 
Smythe,  Doctor  Matthew.     198,  215 
Smythe,  Thomas.     213 
Smythe,  William.     202 
Snow,  Joseph.     535 
Snyfeild,  William.     410 
Solar  de  Po'raya,  George  de.     100 
Somerset,  Duke  of.     212,  215 
Sowtham,  William.     254 
Sparrow,  Jo.     409 
Spencer,  Sir  John.     192 
Spencer,  Lord.     298,  309 
Spencer,  Hon.  W.     508 
Spicer,  Captain.     351 
Spillman,  Rev.  Robert.     535 
Sprigge,  Joshua.     281,  292,  349,  417, 

424,  437,  459,  466 
Sprigge,  William.  466 
Sprigge,  William.  469 
Sprignell,  Thomas.  213 
Stacey,  John.  171,  172 
Stafford,  Captain.  354 
Stafford,  Rev.  J.  C.     108,    127,    132, 

133,  134,  136,  144,  145,  146,  147 
Stafford,  Lord.     179 
Stafford,  Robert.     226 
Staford,  Lorde  Herry.     222 
Stalworth,  Simon.     187 
Stampford,  Roger  de.     93 
Stanbridge,  John.     194 
Stanbridge,  Thomas.     194,  202 
Standelf,  Robert.     169 
Stanhope,  Sir  Philip.     261 
Stanier,  Francis  (vicar  of  Banbury). 

503 
Stanley,  Sir  William.     184 
Stapleton,  Sir  Philip.     313,  318,  323 
Staunton,   W.   Esq.      316,   321,    323, 

334,  339,  348,  512 
Stephen.     67,  111 
Stokes,  Geoffrey.     79 
Stokes,  Robert  de.     94 
Stokes,  Thomas.     516 
Ston',   Thomas   (sub-prior    of   Clia- 

combe).     86 
Stone,  Nicholas.     123 
Stradling,  Colonel.     321 
Stratford,  Ralph  de.     165 
Stratton,  G.  F.,  Esq.     41 
Stretele,  John  de.     167,  169 
Strode,  Sir  George.     321 
Strowe,  Thomas.     86 
Stuart,  Lord  Bernard.     361 
Stuart,  Lord  Henry.     545 
Stuart,    Henry    Villiers    (Baron    de 

Decies).     544 
Stubbe,  Henry.     469 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


647 


201 
509 


96,99 


Stuchfield,  Mr.  James.    4 

Sturge, .     212 

Sturgon,  Nycolas.     225 
Style,  Jolin  Gent.     517 
Style,  Philip,     258 
Style,  Philip  Gent.     538 
Subford,  Thomas  de.     82 
Suffolk,  Charles  Duke  of. 
Sunderland,  Countess  of. 
Sussex,  Duke  of.     510 
Sutton.  Mr.     301 
Sutton,  Oliver  (Bishop). 
Sutton,  Thomas.     478,  538 
Swaleclive,  Lady  Extranea  de.     85 
Sweeper,  Tho.     304 
Sweyn.     57 
Swift,  Dean.     518 
Swynfen,  Mr.     621 
Symons,  Richard.     212,  213 
Symonds,  Rev.  T.     479 

Tack,  Richard.     528 
Talemasche,  Peter.     94 
Talfourd,  Mr.  Serjeant.     647 
Tancred,  Henry  William  Esq.     546, 

550,  551 
Tancred,  Sir  Thomas.     546 
Tankrevy,  John.     100 
Tanner,  Margaret,     213 
Tarrall,  William.     410 
Tarry,  James.     530 
Tateham,  Samuel.     506 
Tatham,  Rev.  Dr.     531 
Tawney,  Henry  Esq.     550 
Taye,  Henry.     202 
Taylor,  Elyn.     201 
Taylor,  John  (of  Broughton).     290, 

465 
Taylor,  Jo.     409 
Taylor,  Robert.     533,  535 
Taylor  William.     255,  258 
Taylor,  William.     533 
Temi)le,  Dr.     465 
Temple,  Capt.  Edward.     383 
Temple,  Jam.     304 
Temple,  Major.     383,  619 
Temple,  Purbeck,     383 
Terrill,  William.     528 
Terrington,  Rev.  M.     12 
Tetricus,  pater  and  jvmior.      19,  23, 

28,  32,  34,  35,  609 
Thame,  Robert  de.     169 
Thelwall,  Colonel.     359 
Thicknesse,  Rev.  John.     523 
Thicknesse,  Philip.     523 
Thomas  son  of  Alured.     89 
Thompson,  Cornet.     444 
Thompson,  Richard  Esq.     516 
Thompson,  Simon.     453 
Thompson,  Captain  William.  438,  440 


Thornton,  Christopher.     213 

Thorp,   Edmund  de   (prior  of   Cha- 

combe).     86 
Thorp,  Mr.     509 
Thorp,  William.     328 
Thorpe,  John  de.     83 
Thorpe,  William.     213 
Thory,  Alex.     328 
Throgmorton,  Captain.     383 
Thynne,  Sir  John.     215 
Timms,  Sarah.     451 
Tims,  John.     506 
Tims,  T.   Esq.     247,    425,   432,   537, 

548 
Tinne,  Morgan.     304 
Titus.  _  23.  45 
Todeni,  Berenger  de.     61 
Togodumnus.     21 
Tong,  William.     512 
Torkington,  Lieut.-Col.     383 
Toucetre,  John.     175 
Trajan.     23,  45,  607 
Treist,  Tho.     328 
Trenchard,  Mr.  Serjeant.     505 
Tresham.     204 
Trist,  Captain.     343,  345,  354 
Trotman,  Fiennes  Esq.     477 
Trotman,  Misses.     477 
Troughton,  John.     512 
Trymenel,  John.     78 
Tubbe,  Nicholas.     83 
Tugges,  John.     220 
Tunney,  Thomas.     254 
Turketil.     57 
Turner,  Sir  Edward.     522 
Turner.  Dr.  Peter.     387 
Turney,  Tho.     409 
Tustian,  John.     281,  282,  283 
Tustian,  Joyce.     273 
Twistleton,  Fiennes  Esq.     516,  517 
Twistleton,  Hon.  and  Rev.  T.     626 
Typet,  John.     170 

Udall,  Thomas.     265 

Ule,  John  de,     96 

Ulf  (Bishop).     58,  60 

Ulston,  Rice  ap  Morgan  ap.     183 

Undertrey,  Henry.     212,  220 

Unitt,  Captain.     381 

Unsolls,  Organ.     622 

Upcott,  W.  Esq.     345 

Upton,  William.     499 

Urry,  Colonel.     353,  379 

Usher,  Dr.  (Archbishop.)     386 

Valens.     19,  28,  34,  42 
Valentinian.     19,  28 
Vane,  Sir  Harry.     295,  468 
Vaudvaske,  Colonel.     367 
Vaughan,  Sir  Roger.     183 


648 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


Vaughan,    Sir    Roger    of   Tretower. 

186 
Vaughan,   Thomas  ap  Roger.      183, 

185 
Vaughan,  Watkin  Thomas.     183 
Vauhans,  Captain.     388 
Vaux,  Lord.     267,  616 
Vavasour,  Colonel.     321 
Venables,  Richard.     212,  213 
Verney,  Sir  Edmund.     315,  318,  321, 

336,  339 
Verney,  Grevill  Esq.     330 
Verney,  Sir  - — — ,  of  Compton.     189 
Verney,  William.     615 
Vernon,  Lieutenant.     381 
Verus.     45 

Vespasian.     23,  32,  37,  45 
Victorinus.     28,  42 
Vincent,  Mr.  Henry.     551 
Vincent,  Thomas.     213 
Vivers,  Ann.     297 
Vivers,  Captain.     301 
Vivers,  Edward.     158,  480,  482 
Vivers,  Margaret.     452 
Vivers,  Nathaniel.     478 
Vivers,  Richard.     254,  282,  509 
Vivers,  Robert.     212,  213,  224,  297 
Vortigern.     47 

Waddop,  Tho.     410 

Waget,  John.     176 

WagstafFe,  Lieut.-Col.     340 

WagstafFe,  James.     477,  480 

WagstafFe,  John.     478 

WagstafFe,  Thomas.     526 

WagstafFe,  William.     478 

Wainman,  Captain.     336 

Wake,  Sir  John.     395 

Wakelin.     88 

Waldo,  Daniel  gent.     497 

Walford,   Rev.   E.   G.      28,   44,    185, 

541,  542,  545,  608,  613,  614 
Walford,  William.     535,  541,  542 
Walford,  William  Esq.     223 
Walkelin,  Abbot.     85 
Walker,  Clement.     477 
Walker,  Edward.     252 
Walker,  Sir  Edward.     359,  363 
Walker,  William.     322 
Wall,  Mr.     432 
Waller,  Jo.     410 
Waller,  Sir  William.     357,  379 
Wallingford,  Viscount.     266 
Wallsole,  John.     212,  225 
Walrond,  Mrs.  Mary.     494 
Walser,  Humfrey.     212 
Walser,  John.     212 
Walsingham,  Sir  Francis.     230 
Waltham,  Nicholas  de.     99 
Walton,  Ailie.     388 


Wahon,  Isaac.  388 
Walton,  Mary.  388 
Walton,  Tho.     409 

Walwyn, .     441 

Wamsley,  Jo.     297 

Warberton,  William.     213 

Ward,  John.     131 

Ward  (Quartermaster).     388 

Ward,  Thomas.     516 

Wardle,   John   (vicar  of  Banbury). 

520 
Wardon,   Robert  de  (prior  of  Cha- 

combe).     85 
Warne,  Jo.     410 
Warnei-,  Edward.     255 
Warwick,   Thomas    de    Beauchamp, 

Earl  of.     88 
Warwick,  Countess  of.     213 
Warwick,  Countess  of.     215 
Warwick,  Earl  of.     178 
Warwick,  Earl  of.     295,  296 
Warwick,  Ela  Countess  of.     93 
Warwick,  Richard  Neville,  Earl  of. 

310 
Warwick,  Heni-y  de  Newburgh,  Earl 

of.     148 
Wase,  John.     252,  447 
Washington,  Colonel.     315 
Washington,  General.     528 
Washington,  John.     528 
Washington,  Lawrence.     528 
Washington,  Robert.     528 
Watervill,  Osbert.     166 
Watson,  Mr.     281 
Watson,  Sir  Thomas.     262 
Watts,  Tho.     410 
Waugh,  Jane.     451 
Waure,  John.     175 
Waver,  John.     176 
Webb,  Colonel.     380,  381 
Webb  (of  Drayton).     235 
Webb,  Hugh.     447,  448 
Webb,  John.     282,  297,  465 
Webb,  John.     622 
Webb,  Thomas.     249,  255,  282,  402, 

404,  406 
Webbe,  Sir  William.     199 
Weekins,  Luke.     304 
Welch,  John.     516 
Welch,  William.     533 
Welchman,  John.     516 
Wells  (Farmer).     521 
Wells,  Rev.  Francis.     482,  621 
Wells   (or   Wallis),    Hugh  (Bishop). 

79,  88 
Wells,  Hugh  (Bishop).     90,  92 
Wells,  Joseph.     535 
Wells,  Samuel  (vicar  of   Banbury). 

289,   435,    436,  437,   451,   464,   482, 

623 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


049 


Wells,  William.     465 

Welshman,  Edward.     522 

Welshman,  John.     522 

Wem,  Colonel.     364 

Wenman,  Sir  Thomas.     474 

Wenman,  Lord  Viscount.     522 

Wentworth,  Lord.     360 

Wentworth,  Mr,     239 

Wentworth,  Sir  Peter.     351,  422 

Wert,  Captain.     362 

Wesley,  John.     461 

West,  Aholiab.     423,  625 

West,  James.     465,  516 

West,  John.     504 

West,  John.     249,  541,  542,  538 

West,  Richard.     224 

West,  Thomas.     622 

Westmorland,  Francis  Fane,  Earl 
of.     471,  484 

Weston, .     212 

Weston,  Colonel.     362 

Weston,  Edward.     242,  252 

Weston,  Nathaniel.     452 

Weston,  Thomas.     212 

Weston  William.     203,  224 

Wetherall,  John.     211,  212 

Wever,  Margaret.     213 

Wever,  Walter.     213 

Weymes,  General.     361 

Whalley,  Edw.     305 

Whalley,  Col.  Edward.  413,  416, 
438 

Wharton,  Lord.     296,  313,  816 

Whateley,  Cresswell.     347 

Whateley,  Martha.     273 

Whateley,  Mawde.     246 

Whateley,  Thomas.  .79,  248,  255, 
265,  267,  282,  287,  496 

Whateley,  William  (vicar  of  Ban- 
bury). 267,  277,  282,  283,  286,  287, 
455,  457,  458,  495,  496,  622 

Whateley,  William  junior.     273 

Whateley,  William.     465,  496 

Wheate,  George  Esq.     516 

Wheate,  Thomas  Esq.     516 

Wheate,  Sir  Thomas.     516,  517 

Wheatley,  John.    281 

Wheatley,  John  Esq.     273 

Wheatley,  Mr.     302 

Wheatley,  Nathaniel.  282,  388,  449, 
478,  505,  622 

Wheeler,  Jonas,     242 

Whetham,  Colonel.  355,  368,  370, 
372,  378,  416,  419 

Whitbread,  Captain.     407 

White, .     446 

White,  Betty.     569 

White,  James.     497 

White,  Jarvis.    568 

White,  Mary.    388 

4  N 


White  (Puritan).     342 

White,  Dr.  Richard  (vicar  of  Ban- 
bury).    466,483 

White,  William.     281 

White,  William,     526 

White,  William.     533 

Whitehead,  Richard.     477 

Whitgift,  Archbishop.     615 

Whiting,  John.     510 

Whitlock,  B.,  M.  P.     328,  450 

Whorwood,  Thomas  Esq.    516 

Whytstons,  James,  D.  D.     188,  197 

Whyttington,  John.     212,  213 

Wickham,  Edward.     255,  256,  258 

Wickham,  Capt.  Humphrey.  489, 
491 

Wickham,  Mr.     447 

Wickham,  Mary.     247 

Wickham,  Richard.     258 

Wickham,  Simon.     247 

Wickham,  Thomas.     172,  173 

Wickham,  Thomas.     247 

Wickham,  Thomas.     255,  258 

Wickham,  Sir  Thomas.     238 

Wickham,  William.     175,  491 

Widerin  (Bishop).     51 

Wideville,  Sir  John.     184 

Wideville,  Sir  Richard,  Baron 
Rivers.     178 

Wigget,  Matthew.     242 

Wiggett,  Stephen.     220 

Wiglaf.     53 

Wigod.     59 

Wilbraham,  Sir  Roger.     256 

Wild,  Lydia.     521 

Wild,  Dr.  Robert.     436,  470,  482 

Wilkins,  Robert.     388 

Willes,  John  Esq.     520 

Willes,  Sir  John.     520 

William  the  Conqueror.     24,  58,  59 

William  Rufus.     62 

William  IV.     540 

William  de  St.  Mary  Ecclesia.     71 

Williams,  Dr.     78 

Williams,  Edward  Lloyd  Esq.     546 

Williams,  Sir  Edward.     260 

Williams,  John.     402,  404 

Williams,  Sir  John.     211 

Williamson,  William.     213 

Willis,  Browne.     149 

Willis,  Dr.  Thomas.     498 

Willoughby,  Lord.    315,  318,  319,  321 

Willoughby  de  Broke,  Lord     330 

Willoughby  de  Earsby,  Lord.     296 

Wilmot,  Henry  Lord  (Baron  Adder- 
bury  and  Earl  of  Rochester).  302, 
315,  351,  359,  362,  379,  394,  487 

Wilson,  Cristin.     213 

Wilson,  Mr.  John.  115,  522,  537, 
558,  612,  614 


650 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


Wilson,  William.     533 

Wimbledon,  Edward  Viscount.     468 

Windham,  W.,  M.  P.     541 

Wine  (Bishop).     51 

Winge,  John.     255 

Winman,  Captain.     339 

Winstanley,   Rev.  Charles.      12,  42, 

43,  104 
Wisdome,  Edward.     254,  255 
Wisdome,  John.     232 
Wis'dome,  Wm.     409 
Wise,  Mr.  F.     17 
Wise,  John,     220 
Wise,  Mr.     274 
Wise,  Richard.     522 
Wodarde,  John.     171 
Wodhull,  Mr.     230,  420 
WodhuU,  Nicholas.     161,  258 
Wolfin  (Bishop).     [See  Ulf.] 
Wolsey  (Bishop  and  Cardinal).     112, 

197 
Wood,  Anthony  a.     425 
Wood,  Captain  Stenhouse.     39 
Wood,  William  Esq.     334,  337 
Wootten,  William.     249 
Wootton,  Captain.     402,  404,  405 
Wootton,  Peter.     252 
Worcester,  Earl  of.     330 
Wordsworth,  William.     147,  184 
Wotton,  Master.     353 
Wotton,  Peter  de.     170 
Wray,  Tho.     410 
Wrigham,  William.     248 
Wright,  John.     402,  404,  406 
Wright,  Martin.     255,  258 
Wright,  William.     201,  255 
Wrighton,  Mr.     533 


Wrocst'  Nicholas  de.     101 

Wiilfhere.     51 

Wulfstan  (Bishop).     57,  60 

Wyatt,  Charles.     535,  541,  542 

Wyatt,  Mr.     535 

Wyb'tones,  Jone.     231 

Wycherley  (Poet).     509 

Wygatt,  Steven.     212,  213,  224,  225, 

226 
Wyk',  Richard  de.     96 
Wykeham,  John.     173 
Wykeham,  Sir  Robert  de.     102 
Wykeham,  Sir  Thomas.     172,  173 
Wykeham,     William     of    (Bishop). 

109,  173,  611 
Wylliames,  Lord.     227 
Wylsher,  John.     213 
Wylson,  John.     199 
Wyltesshyer,  Henry.     213 
Wynge,  Thorn.     266 
Wynlow,  William.     212 
Wyse,  John.     212 
Wyt,  Walter.     95 

Wytham,  William,  LL.  D.     175,  187 
Wyvers,  Robert.     213 

Yate,  Dr.  Thomas._    42.3 

Yelverton,  Sir  Christopher.     260 

Yewicke,  Ales.     246 

Yewicke,  Richard.     246 

York,   Duke  of.     (James  II.)     322, 

348,  372 
Yorke,  Edward.     255 
Young,  Arthur.     552 
Young,  Mr.     319 
Yoyke,  Thomas.     225 


INDEX  OF  PLACES. 


Aberden.     77 
Abergavenny.     183 
Abingdon.     61,  219,  330,  379,  444 
Adderbury.     Abherbury,  Jtherbm-y, 
Edbitrgherie,  Edburggebir',  Elbre- 
bijr\    2,  10,  19,  58,  61,  69,  82,  83, 
90,  91,  95,   109,  117,  230,  21.3,  329, 
352,   353,   354,   359,  380,   383,  384, 
393,   396,   400,   402,  403,  415,   430, 
452,    479,   482,  485,   486,  488,  523, 
557,  558,  564,  610,  611,  616,  620 
JElia  Castra.     25 
Alauna.     4,  26 
Alcester.     322 

Alchester.     4,  25,  38,  39,  47,  .53 
Aldridge.     536 
Alkerton.        Alcrintone,     Olkerlon, 

Okerton.     59,  142,  386,  387,  564 
Alton.     101 
Ambrosden.     47,  223 
Andover.     379 
Andrews'  Pits.     573 
Antona  River  [Nen].     22 
Appletree.     Apdtree.     491,  565 
Arberry  Hill  (Thenford).     9,  13,  15, 

22,  30 
Arbury  Banks  (Chipping  Warden). 

22,  30,  608 
Arbury  Hill  (Badby).     22,  30 
Ardley.     38 
Ashbank.     29,  38 
Ashe  Meadow.     Ast-mead.     443 
Ashendon.     53 
Aston-le- Walls.     3,  14,  28,  146,  509, 

565 
Astrop.     35,  52,  395,  498,  502,  609, 

626 
Athelney.     54 
Auborn.     465 

Avesditch.     29,  38,  39,  52,  56 
Avon  River.     308,  311,  607 
Avon  Dasset.     565 
Ayles  Bridge.     361 
Aylesbury.      Egelesburh,    Eilesberi. 

50,  325,  367,  524 
Aynho.  Aynho  on  the  Hill,  Ano, 
A'lno,  Aynehoo,  Ayno,  EinJio,  Eyn- 
hoo.  20,  27,  30,  37,  88,  90,  lOi, 
134,  167,  264,  325,  326,  351,  365, 
384,  393,  399,  400,  402,  436,  470, 
479,  482,  483 


Badby.     22,  608 


Baldon.     164 

Balscot.     Balescote,   Balnescot,   Be- 
letscot.     22,  44,  79,  80,  83,  123,  203, 
565 
Balscot  Mill.    573 
Bambrough  Castle.     48 

Bamburgh.     48 

Bampton.     46,  50 

Banburg.     48 

Banburn.     48 

Banbury.  Bambury,  Baiiber,  Ban- 
bery,  Banebcri,  Baneberia,  Bane- 
bir,  Ban'eb/ir',  Banesberie,  Banes- 
byrig,  Banneb',  Banncberi,  Ban- 
neberia,  Bannebirl,  Baniiebiria, 
Bannebur',  Banneburl,  Baiinebury, 
Bci/uiebyr',  Baiinebyri,  Baranbirig, 
Baranbyrig,  Beraiibirig,  Beran- 
buri,  Beranbyr'uj.  [See  Index  of 
Subjects.] 

Banbury,  Hundred  of.  1,  94,  200, 
206,  216,  237,  333,  447,  477,  564 

Banbury  Lane.     15,  22,  30,  bb,  607 

Banbury  Rings.     1 

Bandon  Leys.     358 

Bannockburn.     104 

Barbury  Castle.     1 

Barbury  Hill.     48 

Barford.  St.  John.  Little  Barford. 
136,  564 

Barford  St.  Michael.  Bereford, 
Great  Barford.  59.  69,  85,  135, 
565 

Barrow  Hill.     15 

Barton.     557 

Barton,  Steeple.     13 

Basing.     368,  378 

Bath.     489 

Battersea.     465 

Battleton.     313,  322 

Bayard's  Green.     71,  93,  40S 

Beaconsfield.     351 

Beaconsfield  Farm.     39 

Beccaule.     54 

Beckley.     46,  54 

Bedenham.     193 

Bedford.     50,  57 

Bedhampton.     79,  193 

Bedworth.     375 

Benaventa.     25,  607 

Bennonis  [High  Cross].     26 

Benson.     50 
Bernwood  Forest.     53 


4  x\3 


652 


INDEX  OF  PLACES. 


Berryfields  Farm.     15 
Bewdley.     219 

Bicester.       Bercester,   Bistor,   Bur- 

cester,  Burchester.     4,   25,  68,  93, 

104,   173,  202,   204,  207,  238,  343, 

410 

Black  Grounds  (Chipping  Wardon). 

26,  608 
Black    Land     (near    Madmarston). 

17,  607 
Black-Lands-piece      (near      King's 

Sutton).     33 
Blacklow  Hill.     103 
Blackthorn.     223 
Blakesley.     171 
Bletchington.     38 

Bloxham.     Blochesham.     10,  58,  61, 
69,  71,  81,  109,  110,  117,  394,  430, 
482,  560,  564,  608,  609,  620 
Bloxham  Grove.     45 
Bloxham,  Hundred  of.     95,  333,  564 
Boddington,   Lower ;    and  Bodding- 
ton.  Upper.     Bottenden.     90,  354, 
565 
Bodicot.      Boditcote,   Bodycott.      2, 
16,  20,  69,   114,  249,  345,  402,  403, 
485,  488,  558,  564,  612 
Borough  Hill.     22,  25,  607 
Borstall.     410 
Bostock.     380 

Bourton,  Great ;  and  Bourton,  Little. 
Great  Borton  and  Little  Borton, 
Burton,  Burton  Magna  and  Bur- 
ton Par  ver.     94,  104,  128,  204,  217, 
237,  359,  362,  447,  564 
Brackley.       Braceleani,     Brackelye. 
51,  57,  69,  71,   171,  212,  293,   305, 
340,   351,  358,   384,  404,   405,   406, 
408,  435,  436,  461 
Bradford.     456 
Brailes.     14,  20,  489 
Bramshill  Park.     507 
Branavis.     [See  Brinavis.] 
BredonHill.     1,311 
Brentmarsh.     181 
Bretch,     43,  296,  572,  573 
Brewern.     Bruerne.     240,  508 
Bridecote.     164 
Bridgenorth.     101 
Bridge  water.     181 
Brill.     Bruhul.     70,  330 
Brinavis.     26,  63,  608 
Brinklow.     245 
Brinkworth.     465 
Bristol.     349,  477,  489 
Broadway.     307 
Brook.     194 

Broughton.  Brocton,  Brogkton, 
Brohtune,  Broucton.  61,  81,  84, 
100,   101,   102,   115,   119,   127,   172, 


175,   238,  247,   273,  290,  291,   292, 

294,    295,    326,   366,   384,  451,  453, 

465,  466,  472,  475,  483,  487,  564,  616 
Buckden.     93 
Buckingham.    Buccingaham.    51,57, 

293,  348,  356,  358,  365,  393,  402 
Buggeden.     87 
Bullet  Hill.     310,  312,  320 
Burford.     Burghford.     52,  167,  170, 

293,  395,  444 
Burton     Dasset.       Burto7i     Derset, 

Ckeping  Derset.     13,  57,  311,  318, 

323 
Buston.     16,  32,  608 
Byfield.     28,  331,  615 

Calthorp.  Calthropp,  Colthorp,  Cor- 
thorp,  Cotliorp,  Cothroppe,  Cotv- 
thrope.  1,  2,  78,  104,  171,  188,  189, 
201,  204,  237,  249,  251,  254,  262, 
447,  484,  546,  561,  564,  614 

Campden,  Broad.     285 

Canons  Ashby.     26,  90,  264,  355 

Castle  Ashby.     427 

Castle  Bank.     16,  22,  43 

Castle  Hill  (Brailes).     9,  13 

Castle  Hill  (Chacombe).     32 

Catesby.     614 

Causeway.     626 

Caversham.     239 

Chacombe.  Cheekham,  Chaucoumhe, 
Chauciimhe.  32,  85,  90,  104,  119, 
170,  199,  203,  212,  326,  358,  395, 
538,  546,  565,  570,  610 

Chadlington.     41 

Chadlington,  Hundred  of.     217,  565 

Chappel  of  Heath.     307 

Charinge.     246 

Charlbury.     94,  564 

Charlton.     36,  134 

Charwelton,     26,  543,  608 

Chastleton.     22,  474 

Cherwell  River,  Charwell.  1,  3, 
16,  28,  29,  33,  39,  65,  90,  98,  159, 
180,  205,  206,  220,  252,  254,  277, 
309,  312,  358,  359,  365,  401,  431, 
572,  573 

Cherwells.     561 

Chesterton.     22,  39 

Cheyneys.     264 

Chilgrove.     38,  57 

Chipping  Norton.  Chepyng  Norton. 
69,  167,  170,  293,  307,  352,  418, 
442,  573 

Chipping  Wardon.      20,  22,   26,  29, 
35,  57,  69,  91,    130,  171,  180,  361, 
365,   509,   526,   528,  530,   543,  565, 
608,  613.     [And  see  Brinavis.] 
Chiselhampton.     46,  164,  285 
Church  Balk.     45 


INDEX  OF  PLACES. 


653 


Church  Bickenhill.    312 

Cirencester.     4,  50,  54,  77,  439,  453 

Clattercot.  ClaVcotL  88,  94,  201, 
203,  564,  611 

Claydon.  Claendon,  Clayton,  Cley- 
don.     94,  145,  237,  447,  564 

Clifford's  Hill.     22 

Clifton.  CUftone,  Clyfton.  93,  135, 
164,  173,  202 

Codsbury.     412 

Cogges.     333 

Colchester.     426 

Cold  Norton.  Colde  Norton,  Col- 
norton.     93,  199,  212 

CoUingborne  Ducis.     268,  290 

Compton  Verney.     330 

Compton  Wynyate.  Comjiton,  Comp- 
ton Vineyatys.  205,  294,  302,  356, 
381,  383,  390,  397,  427,  433 

Constitution  Hill.     572 

Corinium.     4 

Cornbvirye.     217 

Coton.  Coots,  Cotes,  Cottes,  Cott, 
Cotty.     94,   104,  204,  217,  237,  564 

Cotswold.     Cottishold.     179 

Coventry.  192,  246,  293,  305,  308, 
311,  356,  370,  381,  619,  621 

Coway  Stakes.     20 

Crayford.     468,  469 

Ci-opredy.  Crapridden,  Cropelie, 
Cropperi,  Cropperia,  Cropperye, 
Cropsedy.  61,  62,  63,  91,  94,  104, 
127,  164,  202,  204,  216,  237,  309, 
311,  312,  360,  364,  365,  373,  433, 
491,  564,  565,  613,  619 

Crouch.  Crouche,  Cruch,  Cruche. 
88,  164,  252 

Crouch  Hill.  Crowtch  Hill.  9,  13, 
14,  15,  16,  31,  33,  300,  358,  380, 
573,  519 

Croughton.  Crouleton.  90,  306, 
436 

Culworth.  15,  27,  30,  69,  180,  345, 
358,  405_,  480,  528,  615 

Cumgresbir'.     100 

Cumner.     608 

Danesmoor.  Danesmore,  Dnnsmoor. 
28,  30,  56,  180 

Daventry.  Daintrey.  22,  25,  192, 
293,  353,  359,  396,  399,  405,  406, 
408,  412,  413,  519,  608 

Deddington.  Dadenton,  Dadi7igton, 
Dad'mtone,  Dadyngtone,  Dedinton, 
Dedyngeton,  Doddington,  Dodyng- 
ton,  Duddington.  5d,  82,  88,  93, 
100,  103,  135,  173,  202,  226,  287, 
332,  340,  351,  354,  365,  381,  400, 
415,  438,  446,  466,  479,  482,  487, 
573 


Dennington.     378 

Denshanger.     190 

Derby.     263,  341 

Devizes,     67 

Diccanlingum.     54 

Ditchley.     501 

Dobuni  Dofn.     8 

Dorchester   (Oxfordshire).      26,   51, 

52,  54,  57,  60,  164 
Dorchester,  Hundred  of.     60,  94,  96, 
Dorchester  (Dorsetshire).     609 
Dorocina.     26 
Dove  Bridge.     26 
Dover.     473 
Drayton.       Draiton.       43,    44,    106, 

107,   117,   164,   174,  235,  284,  285, 

286,  293,  465,  564,  573 
Droitwich.     33 
Dublin.     469 
Ducklington.     54 
Dunkirk.     473 

Dunsmore  (Warwickshire).    311,  618 
Dunstew.     Dunstuwe.    39,  59,  107 
Durham.     469 

Easceasdune.     53 

Easington.  Easingdo7i,  Essendon, 
Essingdon.  1,  2,  200,  203,  251,  254, 
380,  484,  519,  521,  546,  561,  564 

East  Greenwich.     213,  247,  446 

Eccleston.     464 

Edgcot.  Edgecote,  Eggecote,  Hedge- 
cot.     56,    129,    179,  309,   311,    325, 

Edgehill.     10,  288,  294,  308,  310,  334, 

348,  349,  354,  382,  406,  618,  619 
Ellenhall.     261 
Ensham.       Egnesham,     Egonesham, 

Eynesham,  Henesham.    50,  62,  71, 

92,  202,  616 
Enstone.    Ennestan.    7,  91,  190 
Epwell.     Ep'pwelle,  Ipwell.     94,  141, 

564,  615 
Ethandune.     54 
Evenley.     35,  71 
Eversley.     508 

Evesham.     33,  307,  366,  375,  421 
Ewelme.     446 
Eydon.     26,  30,  480 

Fanflur.     94 
Farnborough 

565 
Farthingho.     133,  523 
Fawler.     94,  564 
FaAvsley.     284,  295 
Fenny  Compton.     192,  284 
Finstock.     94,  564 
Flaxlands.     32 
Flore.     Flower.     395,  457 


145,  510,539,551, 


654 


INDEX  OF  PLACES. 


Forster's  Booth.     16 
Frellesworth.     85 
Fringford.     Frencltford.     437 
Fritwell.      Feriwelle,  Fretwell.      16, 
29,  38,  59,  402 

Garsington.     289 

Glastonbury.     114 

Gloucester.  351,  355,  357,  397,  421, 
463 

Glympton.     92 

Godstow.  Godestow,  Godesthoiigh. 
66,  71,  81,  201,  608 

Grafton.     184,  403 

Grave  Grounds.     322 

Great  Tew.     39,  41,  352,  573 

Gredenton  Hill.     9,  13 

Grenoble.     71 

Gretworth.     32,  133,  436 

Grimesdike.     3 

Grimsbury.  Grimherie,  Grimes- 
bery,  Grimeshor' ,  Grim'eshur, 
Grimeshury,  Grimsheri,  Grims- 
hery,  Grymesherie,  Grymeshury, 
Grymmshury.  1,  3,  29,  58,  61,  71, 
78,  79,  90,  93,  97,  161,  168,  173, 
194,  202,  204,  219,  238,  247,  359, 
393,  408,  481,  546,  560,  561,  5ii5. 
573,  615 

Grove  Mill.     69 

Guilsborougli.     607 

Guy's  ClifF.     103 

Halford.     398 

Hallam.     384 

Halstead.     262 

Hampstead.     263 

Hampton  Poyle.     38 

Hanvvell.  23,  44,  57,  79,  107,  117, 
118,  143,  191,  238,  245,  261,  283, 
285,  286,  288,  289,  301,  358,  364, 
380,  471,  484,  486,  507,  513,  564, 
573,  612 

Hardwick.  Hardewilce,  Hardewylc, 
Heord-iv'ic,  Herdwick.  1,  2,  104, 
190,  191,  200,  203,  237,  238,  261, 
301,  484,  508,  546,  561,  564,  615, 
616 

Harrow  on  the  Hill.     323 

Hassop.     481 

Hastings.     59 

Hedington.     88,  95 

Helmdon.     146,  404 

Hempton.  Hampton,  Hcentone.  93 
173 

Hertford.     538 

Hethcotun.     2 

Heyford  (Northamptonshire).     195 

Hey  ford  (Oxfordshire).     38 

Heythorp.     109 


Higham  Ferrers.     219 

High  Cross.     26 

Highgate.     468 

Highthorns  Hill.     16,  33 

Holdenby.     Homehy.     408,  435 

Holy  Well.     12 

Honiborne.     409 

Hooknorton.  Hochemeretune, 

Hochenartone,  Hocheneretune, 

Ilocnera-tune,  Hogenorte,  Hog- 
genorton,  Hognorthon,  Hoketier- 
tune,  Hokenorton.  15,  43,  54,  55, 
58,  59,  61,  93,  174,  217,  557,  565 

Hopton  Heath.     341 

Horley.     Hornle.     107,  124,  168,  564 

Hornton.  Hor'mgton,  Horinton, 
Hortone.     59,  107,  125,  564 

Hull.     304 

Hunsborough  Hill.     16,  22 

Huscot.     194 

Huscot  Mill.     364 

Idon.     84 
Ilbury.     8,  12,  16 
Ilmington.     398 
Irchester.     22 
Isannavaria.     25 
IsHp.     58,  395 
Ivinghoe.     312,  323 

Kendal.     623 

Kenilworth.     92,  308 

Kidderminster.     483,  490 

Kidhngton.     38,  395 

Kilsby.     26,  389,  390 

Kineton.  Keinton,  Kenton,  Kington. 
309,  317,  324,  334,  337,  348,  357 

Kineton,  Hundred  of.     564,  565 

Kingis-clipston.     77 

King's  Sutton.  Kyngessotton,  Sud- 
tone,  Suttlmn,  Suttune.  20,  33,  35, 
51,  54,  57,  61,  93,  m,  109,  112,  168, 
172,  173,  199,  205,  393,  400,  402, 
479,  499,  528,  544,  612 

Kingsthrupp.     400 

Kirthngton.  3,  14,  25,  28,  38,  161, 
350,  507 

Knollbury.     41 

Kyldesby.     187 

Lambourn.     510 

Langley.     217 

Lapworth.     275 

Ledwell.     Ludewclle.     59 

Lee.     237 

Leicester.     54,  55,  59,  187,  305 

Leigh  Grounds.  358 

Leighton.     50,  171 

LestithioU.     384 

Lichfield.     52,  341 


INDEX  OF  PLACES. 


G55 


Lidinton.     88 

Lincoln,     60,  66,  70,  92,  114 

Litchborough.     91 

Little  Compton.     437 

Little  Karleton.     91 

Liverpool.     569 

London.     16,  33,  287 

Long  Buckby.     353 

Long  Compton.     Cumpton.     7,  50,  84 

Loughborough.     399 

Ludlow      489 

Lundy  Island.     451 

Lyme.     230 

Madmarston.     8,    10,   14,  17,  28,  31, 

35,  57,  607 
Maiden  Bower.     13 
Manchester.     42,  196 
Marnham.     261 
Marston   St.    Lawrence.      132,    195, 

197,  204,  436 
Melton  Mowbray.     399 
Mercia.      Mearc-lond,    Myrcna-rk. 

46,  50 
Merton,    Merelune.    53 
Middleham.     184 
Middleton        Cheney.        Middleton 

Chenduit.     81,    120,  145,  194,  326, 

345,    347,   359,  425,   436,    558,    565, 

570,  609 
Middleton  Stony.     39,  68,  373 
Midelinton.     101 
Milcombe.     Mildecumh,   Mildecu'be. 

81,  101,  137,  564 
Milcot.     235 
Milton.       Middelton.       83,    84,    122, 

482,  564,  608 
Minster  Lovell.     217 
Mixbury.     69,  71 

Mollington.    94,127,312,  365,564,565 
Money  Acre.     17 
Monks  Kirby.     312 
Monks'  Toft.     148 
Monmouth.     219 
Moriton.     364 
Moulsoe.     402 

Nadbury.     8,  10,  14,  31,  33,  45 

Naseby.     408,  411 

Neithorp.        Neithrop,     Neithroppe, 

NethertJiorp,   Nethorp,    Nethrope. 

1,   2,  83,    104,   176,    199,  201,   202, 

204,   209,   212,   222,   226,   237,    249, 

251,   254,  359,    374,   434,   447,   484, 

546,  560,  561,  564 
Nell  Bridge.     16,394 
Nen  River.     22,  607 
Nethercot.     Neothercot,  Nethercote. 

1,  3,  78,   194,    247,   366,   434,   546, 

560,  561,  565 


Nettlebed.     312 

Newark.  66,  88,  190,  375,  395,  412, 
418,  422 

Newbottle.     36,  134 

Newbottle  Hill.     27 

Newbottle  Spinney.     35 

Newbury.     352,  379 

Newcastle.     304,  378 

Newenham.     396 

Newington.     59 

Newmarket.     440 

Newport  Pagnell.  354,  355,  356,  372, 
384,  394,  402,  407,  619 

Newton.     508 

Newton  Toney.     476,  622 

Northampton.  12,  15,  16,  22,  54, 
55,  57,  90,  91,  121,  184,  192,  293, 
294,  296,  300,  308,  345,  351,  355, 
365,  368,  369,  371,  373,  375,  382, 
390,  395,  396,  401,  402,  406,  411, 
413,  414,  445 

Northbrook.     38 

North       Newington.  Newenton, 

North  Neivenion.  16,  22,  43,  44, 
101,  102,  104,  117,  172,  557,  564, 
573 

Nottingham.  59,  72,  263,  305,  307, 
618 

OfFord.     92 

Onnesby.     80,  82 

Oseney  Abbey.     188 

Ostor  Hill.     607 

Ouessbrige.     226 

Ouse  River.     35,  71 

Overthorp.  Overthroppe.  3,  79, 
194,  247,  359 

Oxford.  Oxenford,  Oxon.  38,  54, 
55,  57,  58,  59,  61,  67,  68,  88,  91, 
170,  171,  215,  289,  293,  294,  303, 
305,  307,  325,  329,  330,  331,  345, 
346,  348,  349,  352,  357,  365,  367, 
372,  379,  380,  382,  383,  385,  386, 
390,  395,  402,  403,  410,  412,  418, 
445,  450,  465 

Oxfordshire.  Oxenefordscire,  Oxen- 
fordscyre,  Oxnafordscyre.     53,  57, 


Partenay.     90 
Pendennis.     416 
Peopleton.     510 
Petersfield.     289 
Pimlico  House.     306 
Ploughley  Hill.     16,  38 
Plymouth.     304,  377 
Pontefract.     399 
Porchester.     89 
Portlow  Hills.     26 
Port  Meadow.     38 


656 


INDEX  OF  PLACES. 


Portway.      14,   16,  20,  25  to  39,   52, 

608 
Potterspury.     5 1 
Powick  Bridge.     308,  349 
Prescot.     Prestecote.      94,  129,   237, 

447,  462,  564 
Preston  Capes.     26,  365 
Preston,  Little,     365 
Preston  Mills.     364 
Prince  Rupert's  Headland.     317 
Priors  Marston.     28 
Purston.     133 
Putney.     485 

Radnall  Bush.     20 
Radway.     312,  313,  354,  5Q5 
Rainsborougli.     9,  13,  23,  36 
Ranton  Abbey.     261 
Ratley.     10,  88,  144,  565 
Reading.     245,  379,  618 
Rehoboth.     463 
Remenham.     465 
Richborough.     609 
Ritherumfield.     54 
Rockingham.     101 
Rollrich.     4,  12,  14,  15,  16,  43,  606 
Rolhvright,  Great.     15 
Rotherfield.     54 
Rotherfield  Greys.     266 
Rouen.     70,  472 
Round  Hill.     608 
Rowbarrow.     17 
Royston.     263 
Rugby.     395 

Saint  Walery.     59 

Salisbury.     379,  444 

Saltway.     16,  33 

Sandwich.     170 

Sarsden.     41 

Saybrook.     293 

Severn  River.     22,  607 

Shelswell.     508 

Shenington.  Schynnyngdon.  83, 
141,  188,  565 

Shipston  on  Stour.     357,  364 

Shipton.     217 

Shocklach.     283 

Shotswell.     126,  5Q5 

Shrewsbury.     308 

Shuckburgh.     309 

Shutford,  East;  and  Shutford,  West. 
Shetford,  Setteford,  Shuttersford. 
82,  94,  140,  237,  238,  397,  434,  447, 
526.  557,  564,  573,  613 

Sibford  Gower;  and  Sibford  Fer- 
ris.    82,  557,  565 

Silchester.     609 

Siston.  Sichestan,  Sythestone.  80, 
81,  83,  84 


Slate  Mill.     360,  363 

Sleaford.     Lafford.     66,  88 

Slough.     489 

Somerton.     38,  59,  69,  437 

Souldern.     16,  25,  37,  147,  402,  436 

Southam.     192,  207,  308,  462 

South    Newington.      136,   247,   557, 

565 
Spaldewik.     88 
Stafford.     341 
Stamford.     88 
Stanton  Harcourt.     113 
Stavenhul.     26 
Steane.     57,  134,  477 
Steeple  Aston.     45,  355 
Stodham.     164 
Stone  Green.     31,  57, 
Stow.     87,  175,  263 
Stow  on  the  Wold.     307,   352,  364, 

418 
Stratfield  Brake.     38 
Stratfield  Farm.     38 
Stratford  on  Avon.      236,  248,  268, 

287,  293,   308,  311,  343,  348,  397, 

413,  523 
Sulgrave.     15,  16,  m,  491,  528,  529, 

615 
Sumerton.     101 
Sun-Rising  Inn.     312 
Sutton,  King's.    [See  King's  Sutton.] 
Sutton  Bog.     499 

Sutton,  Hundred  of.     1,  61,  194,  565 
Swalcliffe.        SualccUve,      Sumclijfe, 

Sivakliffe,  Swaleclive,  SwaleivecUs, 

Sivaleweclyve.     10,  17,  85,  94,  107, 

139,  237,  447,  488,  564,  565 
Swale  River.     605 
Swere  River.     605 
Swerford.     43,  69 

Tadmarton.       Tadtnertune.      8,    11, 

15,  16,  17,  31,  42,  43,  55,  61,  139, 

436,  565 
Tadmarton  Heath.     571,  573 
Tew.     59 

Tewkesbury,  Hundred  of.     565 
Thame.     92,  164,  167,  170,  172 
Thame,  Hundred  of     94,  96 
Thenford.     27,  30,  31,  133 
Thistleton.     313,  322 
Thorp  Bellar.     84 
Thorp  Mandeville.     27,  58,  97,  131, 

180,  414 
Thoi-pe  near  Rowell.     80 
Thorpe  Underwood.     83 
Tickhill.     625 
Touton.     310 
Towcester.      Torciter,  Tossiter.     57, 

350,  352,  365,  439,  441,  461,  529 
Trafford  Bridge.     28,  180 


INDEX  OF  PLACES. 


(357 


Tredington.     S98 
Triple  Heath.     440 
Tripontio.     25 
Tuderley.     477 
Tunbridge.     498 
Tusmore.     Turesmere.     173 
Twyford.     33 
Twyford  Bridge.     394 
Tysoe.     310,  625 

Uppingham.     384 
Upton.     189 

Vineyards.     205,  249 

Wallingford.  59,  68,  330,  380,  410, 
414 

Wallow  Bank.     29,  56 

Waltham.     121 

Walton.     122 

Walton  Chapel.     29 

Walton  Grounds.     29,  36,  52 

Wandsworth.     465 

Wardington.  Wardento7i,  Wardyng- 
ton.  94,  104,  129,  204,  217,  237, 
264,  360,  364,  479,  503,  510,  564 

Wardlinton.     56 

Warden,  Hundred  of.     5Qo 

Ware.     441 

Warkworth.  Warctvorth,  Werk- 
worth,  Workworth.  3,  23,  32,  79, 
86,  105,  120,  161,  168,  194,  247, 
366,  367,  408,  443,  481,  542,  558, 
560,  565,  573,  609,  612 

Warmington.  127,  133,  144,  148, 
312,  353,  565 

Warwick.  59,  103,  179,  183,  184, 
192,  206,  248,  263,  294,  298,  302, 
308,  311,  316,  321,  325,  341,  353, 
354,  355,  356,  370,  381,  382,  383, 
386,  395,  398,  512 

Water  Eaton.     373 

Waterford.     172 

Wattlebank.     29,  38,  39,  56 

Wedon.      Weeden.     395,  396 

Weeping  Cross.     2,  16,  115,  522,  612 

Welland  River.     607 

Wellingborough.     22,  445 


Wells.     174,  188 

Wendlebury.     4,  25 

Wessex.     47 

Westbury  (Bucks.)     191 

Westbury  (Gloucestershire).     240 

West  Chester.     413 

Westcot.     618 

West  Haddon.     607 

Westminster.     77 

Weston  Favell.     481 

Whichwood  Forest.     217 

Wickham.  Wicha',        Wicheam, 

Wicumh,  Wikham.  Wykam,  Wyk- 
ham.  1,  2,  58,  61,  62,  71,  77,  94, 
107,  160,  176,  249,  252,  349,  447, 
484,  507,  546,  561,  564 

Wigginton.     41,  137,  436,  565 

Wight,  Isle  of.     435 

Williamscot.  Wahnescote,  Williams- 
cote,  WilUscot,  Willscot.  94,  237, 
249,  360,  362,  363,  365,  447,  503 

Winchester.     51,  52,  386 

Windmill  Bank.     16,  519 

Witham.     53,  608 

Witney.     JFifteneye.     167,  170 

Wodesdon  atte  Grene.     92 

Wolvercot.     373 

Wolverhampton.     485 

Woodford.     26 

Woodstock.  62,  89,  101,  263,  293, 
296,  329,  348,  395,  403,  414,  415 

Wootton,  Hundred  of.     565 

Worcester.  307,  308,  324,  357,  413, 
418,  421,  449,  488 

Wormleighton.     192,  309,  311,  390 

Wotton-under-Edge.     4 

Wroxton.  Wrokestan,  Wrokstan, 
Wroxstan.  79,  80,  101,  122,  190, 
201,  202,  219,  262,  348,  498,  501, 
502,  540,  565,  613,  618 

Wroxton  Mill.     573 

Wycombe  (Bucks.)     167 

Wylvescote.     173 

Wynwyk.     195 

Yolghbury.     107 
Yolinghbury.     107 
York.     57,  178 


40 


INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS 

NOT    EMBRACED     IN    THE    INDEXES    OF    PERSONS    AND    PLACES. 


American  War.  527 
Anagrams.  272,  495 
Animals   of   the   Neighbourhood    of 

Banbury.     600 
Astrop  Wells.     498 
Atmospheric  Phenomena.     334 
Aurora  Borealis.     281,340 

Banbury : — 

Accounts  of  the  Corporation.     223, 

230,  248,  265,  28 1_ 
Acreage  of  the  Parish.     561 
Almshouse.     177,  248,  265 
Altar  Stone.     23,  460 
Animals    of   the    Neighboiu-hood. 

600 
Armed  men  in  1346.     167 
Armed  men  in  1350.     170 
Banbury  given  to  the  see  of  Dor- 
chester.    51 
Banbury  in  the  Reign  of  Edward 

the  Confessor.     58 
Banbury.       Situation,     boundary, 

and  members  of  the  Parish.     1 
Banbury    Lane.      [See    Index   of 

Places.] 
Banbury  Marble.     572 
Baptisms,  Burials,  and  Marriages. 

563 
Bars  or  Gates.     206,  207  :— Also— 

Bridge  Gate.     209 

Cole  Bar.     208 

North  Bar.  208,  220,  254,  274, 
374,  519 

St.  John's  Bar.  South  Bar,  Ox- 
ford Bar.  76,  207,  220,  254, 
274 

Sugarford    Bar.        Schoccarfar- 

harre,  Sugar  Bur,   Bull  Bar, 

West  Bar.     99,   160,  207,  213, 

220,  274,  279,  519 

Barhouse    Leys.      Burrows    Leys. 

208,  254 
Battle  in  556.     48 
Bells.     245,  538 
Berrymoor.     Berrey  Moor,   Beri- 

more.     25,  249,  252 
Biographical  Notices.     [See  Index 

of  Persons  :  Baxter,  John  ;  Ber- 

riman ;      Brashridge,     Thomas ; 

Carttvright,   Dr.   N.  ;      Colley ; 

Compioji,   Sir    W. ;    Cope,    Wil- 


Banbury:^ 

Ham;  Gee,  Edward;  Hampton, 
George;  Hausted ;  Hunt,  Tho- 
mas; Kidd ;  Knight,  Dr.  John; 
Langley,  John  ;  Leigh.  Sir.  E. ; 
Loveling ;  Morrell ;  Needle; 
Netvman,  Samuel;  Phillips, 
Airs.  E, ;  Sanshury,  Mansell; 
Sprigge,  Joshua ;  Sprigge,  Wil- 
lam  ;  Stanhridge,  John  ;  Stan- 
bridge,  Thomas  ;  Wells,  Samiiel ; 
Welshman,  Edward;  Whateley, 
William;  White,  Betty ;  White, 
Jarvis;    White,  Dr.  Richard.~\ 

Bishop     of     Lincoln's     Park     at 
Crouch.     87,  164,  171 

Blue-Coat  School.     510,  542 

Borough.     d5,   200,  219,   281,   561, 
564 

Botany    of    the     Neighbourhood. 
571,  626 

Boundaries  in  1554.     220 

Boundaries  in  1606.     253 

Boundary.     274 

Bread  Cross.     160,  213,  230,  265 

Bridge.     78,  98,  206,  207,  220,  273, 
332,  519 

British  Schools.     559 

By-Laws  in  1558.     227 

By-Laws  in  1573.     234 

By-Laws  in  1612.     258 

Cakes.     455,  568 

Calthorp  Hamlet.     [See  Index  of 
Places.] 

Calthorp  House.     78,  188 

Calvinists.     558 

Canal.     431,  559 

Castle  erected.     63 

Castle,  Description  of  the.     65 

Castle,  Prison  of  the  Bishop  in  the. 
190,  201,  206 

Castle,  Recusants  confined  in  the. 
260 

Castle,   Gatehouse  of  the.     64,  432 

Castle,  Records  relating  to  the.    87, 
88,  &c.  &c.,  217 

Castle,  Lease  of  the,  in  1595.     237 

Castle,  Sieges  of  the.     [See  Civil 
War.] 

Castle  destroyed.     427 

Castle,  Remains  of  the.     431 

Castle  Close.     431 


INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS. 


659 


Banbury: — 

Castle  Cottage.     431,  432 
Castle  Gardens.     431 
Castle  Orchard.     432,  447 
Castle  Wharf.     431,  432 
Causeway.     626 

Chantry    of    the    Blessed    Mary. 
175,  199,  211,  212,  213,  214,  249, 
446 
Chantry  Priests,  Houses  for.     158 
Chantry  in  Grinisbury.     161 
Chapel  of  Our  Lady  in  Banbury 

Church.     156,  176,  211 
Chapel  of  the  Resurrection  in  Ban- 
bury Church.     156,  187 
Chapel  of  the  Trinity.     158,  206 
Chapel  at  Wickham.     160 
Charitable   Institutions.      99,  248, 

558 
Charter  of  Mary.     218,  219 
Charter  of  James  I.     254 
Charter  of  Charles  II.     484 
Charter  of  James  I.  restored.     504 
Charter,    Right   of    Voting    under 

the.     505 
Charter  of  James  I.  forfeited.     514 
Charter  of  George  I.     516 
Cheese.     225,  567 
Church  (Old)  erected.     6G 
Church  (Old),  Description  of  the. 

148 
Church  (Old).     183,  192,  193,  206, 

368,  424,  457,  622 
Church  (Old),  Demolition  of  the. 

532 
Church  (New).     538,  553,626 
Civil    War,    Events     during    the. 

[See  Civil  War.] 
Commonwealth  : — 

The    Levellers  appear   at   Ban- 
bury.    438 
Captain  Thompson.     438 
Declaration  of  the  Levellers  at 

Banbury.     439,  440 
Instructions  to   the  Lord   Gen- 
eral.    441 
The  Levellers  defeated  at  Ban- 
bury.    442 
They  congregate  near  Burford. 

444 
Outreached  by  Cromwell.     444 
Captain    Thompson    appears  in 

Northamptonshire.     445 
He  is  slain.     445 
Communion  Plate.     554 
Conduit.     210 
Constitution  Hill.     572 
Conveyance  of   Banbury,   by   the 
Bishop  of  Lincoln,  to  the  Crown. 
215 

4  03 


Banbury : — 

Coronation    of    Queen     Victoria, 

Celebration  of  the.     550 
Coi'poration    Commissioners,    Re- 
port of  the,  in  1835.     546 
Court  of   Record.     221,   229,   256, 

517,  547,  549 
Court  of  Sessions.     547,  549 
Cross.     206 
Cross  destroyed.     245 
Crouch.  \      [See      Index      of 

Crouch  Hill./  Places.] 

Cucking  pool.     275 
Cucking-stool.     223,  225,  275 
Cuttle     Brook.        Cuttel    brouke. 

210,  232,  254,  275,  432 
Cuttle  Mill.     252,  254,  275 
Domesday  Survey.     60 
Earldom  of  Banbury.      266,   519, 

616 
Easington   Hamlet.      [See   Index 

of  Places.] 
Election  Riot  in  1754.     522 
Election  Riot  in  1820.     544 
Execution  of  the  Murderer  Parr. 

521 
Executions.     522 
Fairs,     70,  162,  163,  171,  200,  221, 

224,  227,  232,  257,  517,  560 
Fee-farm  Rents.     446 
Fight  between  Johnson  and  Per- 

rins.     531 
Fire  of  1628.     273,  275,  277 
Fire  of  1628,   Whateley's  Sermon 

on  the.     278 
Fish  House.     274 
Freemen.     547 

Free  warren,     62,  70,  95,  164,   171 
Gallows.     256,  517,  519 
Gallows  Stone.     274 
Gaol.     223,256,257,424,433,517, 

548 
Geology    of    the   Neighbourhood. 

572 
Goose  Leys.     Goose  Leysetv,  Gal- 
lows Lei/.s.     209,231,253,522 
Grammar  School.     195 
Grinisbury    Hamlet.     [See    Index 

of  Places.] 
Hamlets  of  Banbury.     [See  Index 
of   Places :   Neithorp,    Calthorp, 
Wicliham,  Hardwick,  Easington, 
Grhnshury,  Ne f hereof.^ 
Hardwick   Hamlet.       [See    Index 

of  Places.] 
Hai'dwick  House.  191 
Hei-mitage  at  the  Bridge  Foot.    161 
High  Cross.     160,  212 
Hospital  of  St.  John.     76,  187,  195, 
197,  204,  519.  610 


INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS. 


Banbury: — 

Hospital  of  St.  John,  Seal  of  the. 

610 
Hospital  of  St.  Leonard.     78,  610 
Hospital  of   Our  Lord  James  the 

King.     257 
Houses,  Ancient.     209,  276 
Hundred  of  Banbury.     [See  Index 

of  Places.] 
Independents.     557 
Infant  School.     559 
Inns  : — 

Altar  Stone.      23,    59,  273,   504, 
609 

BeU.     504 

Bear.     275 

Bull.     504 

Cock.     275 

Crown.     212,  504 

Flower-de-Luce.     273 

Flying  Horse.     249 

George.     354,  388,  504 

George  and  Altar  Stone.     277 

Holy    Lamb    and    Christopher. 
504 

Jacob's  Well.     504,  524 

King    and   Queen   at   Neithorp. 
504 

Lyon.     504 

Old  George.     277 

Plough.     232,  275,  431,  504 

Raindeer.     275,  277,  504 

Red  Lion.     209,  302,  504 

St.  Sunday's  House.     504 

Salutation.     504 

Star.     276 

Swan.     226,  245,  353,  504 

Three  Tuns.     504,  626 

Unicorn.     276,  504 

White  Hart.     353,  504 

White  Horse.     158,  209 

White  Lion.     504 
Leather  Hall.     251,  265,  353,  448 
Local  Regulations  in  1564.     231 
Local  Sayings.     210,  561 
Lodge  Close.     252 
Maces.     449,  548 
Manor.     215,  216 

Manufacture  of  Agricultural  Im- 
plements.    569 
Manufacture  of  Plush.     566 
Manufacture  of  Webbing.     566 
Marches.     66,  216,  432 
Market.     70,  91,  159,  171,  200,  206, 

218,  224,  227,  248,  257,  287,  517, 

522,  559 
Market  Cross.     160 
Meeting-Houses     of     Dissenters. 

482,  511,  556 
Mill  Meadow.     573 


j  Banbury  : — 

Monuments  in    the   Old  Church, 

and  in  the  Church-yard.      271, 

273,  492,  524,  614 
Municipal  Act.     548 
Murder  of  Mrs.  Wild.     521 
National  Schools.     511,  542,  559 
Neithorp  Hamlet.     [See  Index  of 

Places.] 
Nethercot  Hamlet.     [See  Index  of 

Places.] 
New  Land  Wake.     274 
Ninths  collected  in  1340.     166 
Nonjm-ors.     514 
Organ.     538 
Origin  of  the  name   of  Banbury. 

1,  48,  606,  609 
Origin  of  the  names  of  the  Ham- 
lets.    2,  3 
Orthography   of   Banbury.      [See 

Index  of  Places.] 
Orthography     of     the     Hamlets. 

[See  Index  of  Places.] 
Pageants.     160,  222,  226 
Parr's  Piece.     521 
Parson's  Meadow.      99,   249,   253, 

275 
Particular  Baptists.     558 
Pavage  in   1328,   Tolls  taken  for. 

162, 164 
Paving  and  Lighting  Act.     553 
Pembroke,  Earl  of,  and  Lord  Staf- 
ford;  Dispute  between  them  in 

1469.     181 
Pembi'oke,  Earl  of,  beheaded.     182 
Pillory.     223,  224,  248 
Plague.     205,  264,  334,  353,  388 
Poor  Rates.     560 
Population. _    210,  277 
Population  in  1547.     563 
Population  in  1628.     563 
Population  in  1801.     563 
Population  in  1811.     563 
Population  in  1821.     562 
Population  in  1831.     562 
Population  in  1841.     561 
Possessions  of  Charles  I.     447 
Prebend  and   Prebendaries.       62, 
92,  98,  99,  105,  165,  166,  167,  168, 
170,   171,  172,  174,  175,  187,  188, 
197,  198,  206,  215,  216,  246 
Presbyterians.     511,524,557 
Primitive  Methodists.     55S 
Procession  Way.     253,  446 
Provincial  Tokens.     528 
Puritanism.     287,  455,  457 
Puritan  Lecture.     287 
Puritans,  Injuries  done  to  Eccle- 
siastical Edifices   by  the.      157, 
160,  244 


INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS. 


661 


Banbury  : — 

Quakers.     451,  480,  481,  482,  509, 

523,  55(5 
Quakers  and  Lord  Saye.     451 
Quakers  and  Samuel  Wells,     623 
Rectory.     246,  251 
Reform  Bill.     545 
Reform  Celebration.     546 
Registers.     245,  282,  333,  388,  413, 

426,  449,  456,  513,  521 
Rents  &c.  of  Banbury  in  the  reign 

of  Edward  I.     100 
Representatives  in  Parliament : — 
Brereton,  Owen.     230 
Chambre    [Chambers],     Calcot. 

280 
Chauncy,  Toby.     519 
Cope,  Anthony.     236,  238 
Cope,  Sir  Anthony.     474 
Cope,  Sir  John.     507 
Cope,  Sir  Jonathan.     513 
Cope,  Monnoux.     518 
Cope,  Sir  W.     261 
Crewe,  John.     280 
Dashwood,  Sir  Robert.     504,  507 
Denton,  John.     223 
Denton,  Thomas.     223 
Douglas,  Hon.  F.  S.  N.     542 
Dryden,  Sir  E.     264 
Easthope,  Sir  John.     545 
Ferris  [Fiennes],  Richard.     236 
Fiennes,  James.     280 
Fiennes,  Nathaniel.  _  283,  296 
Fiennes,  Nathaniel  junior.     450 
Holbech,  William.     539 
Holman,  Sir  John.     481,  483 
Isaacson,  James.     507 
KnoUys,  William,  Viscount  Wal- 

lingford.     519 
Legge,  Hon.  A.  C.     544 
Legge,  Hon.  Heneage.     543,  544 
Moore,  Hon.  William,     520 
North,  Hon.  Charles.     508 
North,  Sir  Dudley.     500 
North,  Dudley.     539,  5i2 
North,  Hon.  Francis.     519 
North,    Frederick     Lord    (Pre- 
mier).    520,527 
North,  Hon.  Frederick.     539 
North,   George  Augustus  Lord. 

539 
Praed  William.     541 
Stuart,    Henry    Villiers,     Baron 

Stuart  de  Decies.     544 
Tancred,   Henry  WiUiam.     546, 

550,  551 
Walsingham,  Sir  Francis.     230 
Willes,  John.     520 
[And  see  the  respective  names 
in  the  Index  of  Persons.] 


Banbury: — 

Return  to  a  Council  11th  Edward 

III.     166 
Rhubarb.     570 
Riots  in  1800.     539 
Robin    Hood   and    the   Tinker  of 

Banbury.     72 
Roman  Catholics.     557 
Roman  Remains : — 

Altar.     23 

Amphitheatre.     25 

Coins.     23 
St.     Stephen's  Well.     97,  519 
Saltway.     [See  Index  of  Places.] 
Savings'  Bank.     559 
Shepherd  of  Banbuiy.     526 
Small  Pox.     483,  513,  520,  522,  544 
Streets  &c.  : — 

Back  Lane.     275,  432 

Barkhill  Street.  Birchley  Street, 
Brickley  Street,  Breechlesse 
Street.     249,  251,  275 

Beast   Market.       212,   251,    252, 

273,  425,  448 

Bolting  Street.     99,  160,  274 

Boxhedge  Lane.     209 

Breadcross  Street.     99,  160,  274 

Bridge  Street.  Bridge-end 
Street,  Bridge  North,  Bridge 
South,  Bridge  Street  North, 
Bridge  Street  South.  99,  213, 
251,  265,  273,  276,  425,  448 

Broad  Street.  Broad  Lane. 
208,  210,  273,  279,  521 

Bull  Bar  Street.     207,  274,  448, 

Butchers'  Row.  99,  265,  276, 
425 

Calthorp  Lane.  208,  252,  275, 
279,  425,  448 

Caltrop  Lane.     275 

Castle  Orchard  Lane.     275 

Castle  Street.     276,  432 

Church  Lane.  216,  251,  276, 
448 

Church  Passage.     276 

Colebar  Street.  CoaJe  Bar 
Street,  Cohar  Street,  Coule 
Bar  Street.  2,  99,  208,  249, 
251,  252,  273,  274,  276,  279,  448 

Cornhill.     275 

Cornmarket  Street.     252,  275 

Fish  Shambles.     212 

Fish  Street.  208,  274,  275,  276. 
279 

Flexchepinge.     212 

High  Street.  Red  Lion  Street. 
99,  160,  249,251,  252,  265,  273, 

274,  275,  276,  573 
Hogmarket.     251,  252,  275,  276, 

425,  448 


662 


INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS. 


Banbury: — 

Streets  &c.  :— 

Horse      Fair.  Horsemarket, 

Horsemarket  Street.  159,  207, 
212,  251,  252,  265,  274,  277, 
521 

Market   Place.      159,    210,    212, 

223,  224,  232,  249,  265,  275, 
276,  344,  374,  397,  425,  432, 
433 

Mill    Lane.       Myllane,    Mylne 

Lane.     209,  232,  251,  252,  276, 

425,  448 
New    Land.      Neivland   Street. 

249,  251,  265,  274,  572 
North  Bar  Street.     99,  208,  231, 

251,    252,  265,    274,    275,   425, 

448 
Parson's  Street.     Parson  s  Lane, 

Persones  Lane.     99,  213,  216, 

224,  231,  249,  265,  275,  276 
Parson's  Meadow  Lane.     277 
Pepper  Alley.     276 

Pepull  Lane,  Pihhle  Lane. 
201,  251,  276 

St.  John's  Street.  St.  Jones 
Street,  Oxford  Bar  Street, 
South  Bar  Street.  76,78,160, 
231,  251,  252,  265,  274,  275, 
279,  433,  448,  469 

Scalding  Lane.  231,  232,  274, 
277 

Shades.     207,  274 

Shambles.  Sha?npuUs.  99,  213, 
252,  276,  447,  448 

Sheep  Street.  Shepemarkett 
Street.  99,  160,  213,  224,  251, 
252,  257,  265,  274,  275,  276, 
277,  448 

Shop  Row.     201,  251,  273 

South  Bar  Street.  [See  St. 
John's  Street.] 

Sugarford  Bar  Street.  Sugar 
Bar  Street,  Bull  Bar  Street, 
West  Bar  Street.  207,  251, 
252,  254,  274,  277,  279,  425, 
448,  521 

Tink-a-Tank.     276 

Ture,  Great.     276 

Ture,  Little.     276 

Waterloo.     561 

West  Bar  Street.      [See  Sugar- 
ford  Bar  Street.] 
Sunday  Schools.     543 
Survey  of  Banbury  in  1552.     217 
Survey  of  Banbury  in  1606.     251 
Taxation  of  Pope  Nicolas.     97 
Tithes.     62,  92,  168,  216,  246,  247, 

251,  434 
Tithe  Barn.     251 


Banbury  : — 

Town  (The),  in  the  Reign  of  Hen- 
ry VIIL     205 
Town  (The),  in  1628.     273 
Town,  View  of  the,  in  1730.     150, 

519 
Town,  Desci-iption  of  the.     552 
Town  Armour.     265,  281 
Town    Hall.      223,    224,   225,    230, 

234,  248,  252,  353,  519 
Town  Seal.     233,  548 
Trackways,  Ancient,     [See  Index 
of  Places  :  Banbury  Lane,  Salt- 
way.^ 
Trade.     552,  559,  560 
Tradesmen's  Tokens.     477,  625 
Trading  Companies.     222,  226,  266 
Valor  Ecclesiasticus.     197 
Vicarage,     62,   105,   187,  198,   242, 
246,  282,  296,  434,  435,  487,  509, 
543 
Vicarage,    Augmentation   of   the. 

433 
Vicarage  House  (old).     279 
Vicarage  House.     424,  433,  622 
Vicars.     [See   Index  of   Persons: 
Asplin  ;   Atneston  ;    Brancestr'  ; 
Brashridge ;   Dyngley ;    Estehy  ; 
Gerard;    Guniujle ;    Houghton; 
Howes ;        Kirkehy ;       Knight ; 
Lamb,  Dr.  J. ;   Lamb,  Dr.  M. ; 
Lancaster  ;  Loveling ;  Mathetv  ; 
Midilfon;       Moore;      Stanier ; 
Wardle ;       Wells;       Whateley ; 
White.'] 
Vineyards.     249 
Warren.     252 
Water  of  deep  Wells.     573 
Wesleyans.     557 
White  Cross.     160,  220,  254,  274 
WMckham  Hamlet.     [See  Index  of 

Places.] 
Wickham,  Sir  Robert  de  Arden's 

fortified  mansion  at.     107 
Wickham  Mansion.     350 
Widows'  Groats.     177 
Windmill  Bank.     16,  519 
Woolhouse.     WoolHall.    212,213, 

257,  265 
Wool  Market.     257,  518 
Workhouse.     433,  469 
Zeal.     454,  461 

Barnaby,  Drunken.     456 
Battle  between  the  Britons  and  Sax- 
ons in  556.     48 
Battle  of  Cropredy  Bridge.     360 
Battle  of  Dancsmoor  (first).     oH 
Battle  of  Danesmoor  (second).     180 
Battle  of  Edgehill.     288,  310  &c. 


INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS. 


063 


Battle  of  Hooknorton.     54 
Beacon-House    at    Burton     Dasset. 

311,  323 
Bearbaiting.     25,  262,  608 
Beasts  of  the  Neighbourhood.     600 
Bell  Foundery.     538 
Biographical  Notices.      63,   92,    190, 

195,  202,  204,  238,  241,  267,  283  &c., 

291    &c.,    322,   343,    349,   384,   386, 

426,   449   &c.,    462  &c.,    471,    475, 

476,   485   &c.,   500,    501,    522   &c., 

542,  568 
Birds  of  the  Neighbourhood.     601 
Botany  of  the  Neighbourhood.     571, 

626 
British  Tribes  :— 

Dobuni  or  Boduni,     4,  8,   13,  20, 
21,  22,  51,  606 

Carnabii.     4,  13 

Coritani.     4 

Cassii  or  Cattieuchlani.     4,  21 

Wiccii.     51 
British  Remains  : — 

Beads.     19,  28 

Black   Land  of  the  British  Sites. 
19,  27,  33,  35,  607 

Camps.     8,  &c.,  30,  36,  607 

Celts.     7,  30,  34,  37 

Cistvaens.     19,  33,  34,  37,  607 

Cromlech  at  Enstone.     7 

Druidical  Temple  at  RoUrich.     4, 
606 

Hoarstones.     7 

Line  of  Vallum.     14,  28,  38 

Sites.     17,  25,  27,  33,  35,  37,  607 

System  of  Signals.     9 

Trackways.     12,  14,  15,  16,  25,  35, 

37,  38,  607.  [And  see  Index 
of  Places  :  Banbury  Lane,  Port- 
way,  Salt  way. ~\ 

Tumidi.     12,  14,  15,  16,  17,  27,  32, 

38,  607,  608 
Broughton  Castle.     100,  295 

Cave  near  Broughton.     296,  572 
Chapels  of  the  Neighbourhood  : — 
Balscot.     123 
Barford  St.  John.     136 
Bodicot.     114 
Boiu-ton,  Great.     128 
Chapel  of   the   Blessed    Mary   in 

Banbury  Church.     156 
Chapel    of    the    Resurrection     in 

Banbury  Church.     156 
Chapel  of  the  Trinity  at  Banbury, 

158 
Charlton.     134 
Claydon,     145 
Clifton.     135 
Epwell.     141 


Chapels  of  the  Neighbourhood  : — 

Milcombe.     137 

Milton.     122 

Mollington.     127 

Prescot.     129 

Purston.     133 

Shutford.     140,  613 

Walton.     122 

Wardington.     129 

Wickham.     160 
Chi-istianity  in  Britain.     45,  50 
Chronograms.     272 
Churches  of  the  Neighbourhood  : — 

Style  of.     108 

Adderbury.     109,611 

Alkerton.     142 

Aston-le-Walls,     146 

Aynho.     134 

Banbury   Old    Church.       6Q,    148, 
613 

Banbury  New  Church.     553 

Barford  St.  Michael.     135 

Bloxham.     110 

Broughton.     115,  475 

Burton  Dasset.     13 

Chacombe.     119 

Chipping  Wardon.     130,  613 

Compton  Wynyate.     357 

Cropredy.     127 

Deddington.     135 

Drayton.     117 

Edgcot.     129 

Farnborough.     145 

Farthingho.     133 

Gretworth.     133 

Hanwell.     118,612 

Helm  don.     146 

Horley.     124 

Horn  ton.     125 

King's  Sutton.     112,612 

Marston  St.  Lawrence.     132 

Middleton  Cheney.     120 

Newbottle.     134 

Ratley.     144 

Shenington.     141 

Shotswell.     126 

Sibford.     565 

Souldern.     147 

South  Newington.     136 

Steane.     134 

Swalcliffe.     139 

Tadmarton.     139 

Thenford.     133 

Thorp  Mandeville.     131 

Warkworth.     120,  612 

Warmington.     144 

Wigginton.     137 

Wroxton.     122,  613 

[And  see  Chapels  of  the  Neigh- 
bourhood.] 


664 


INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS. 


Civil  War,  Events  of  the  : — 

Influence  of  Lord  Saye.     291 

Of  Nathaniel  Fiennes.     292 

Banbury  Castle  strengthened.     292 

Refusal  to  pay  Ship  Money.     293 

Lord  Brook.     293 

Spencer,  Earl  of  Northampton. 
294 

Conferences  at  Broughton  and 
Fawsley.     295 

Second  Parliament  of  1640.     296 

Lord  Saye  and  the  Vicar  of  Ban- 
bury.    296 

The  Crisis.  Preparations  for  War. 
298 

First  Militai-y  Proceedings  at  Ban- 
bury.    298 

Meeting  of  Lord  Brook  and  the 
Earl  of  Northampton.     299 

The  Earl  of  Northampton  takes 
the  Ordnance  from  Banbury. 
302 

The  King's  summons  to  Banbury. 
303 

Arming  of  the  Parliamentarians. 
304 

Lord  Saye's  Regiment.     304 

Lord  Saye's  Troop  of  Cavalry.   305 

Nathaniel  Fiennes's  Troop  of  Ca- 
valry.    305 

Francis  Fiennes's  Troop  of  Ca- 
valry.    305 

John  Fiennes's  Troop  of  Cavalry. 
305 

Erection  of  the  Royal  Standard. 
305,  617 

Affair  at  Brackley.     305 

Lord  Saye  and  Hampden  enter 
Oxford.     306 

Nathaniel  Fiennes  and  John 
Fiennes  at  Banbury.     307 

Affair  at  Powick  Bridge.     308 

Object  of  the  King.     308 

Disaffection  of  the  Neighbourhood 
to  the  King.     308 

The  King  at  Southam.     309 

The  King  at  Edgcot.     309 

Design  upon  Banbury.     309 

The  Field  of  Edgehill.     310 

Beacon-House.     311 

Line  of  Battle  at  Edgehill.     312 

The  Parliament's  Army.     313 

The  King's  Army.     314 

The  Advance.     314 

The  Battle.     315,  &c. 

Misconduct  of  Prince  Rupert.    317 

Oliver  Cromwell.     318 

The  Royal  Standard  taken,  but 
recovered.     318 

Bullet  Hill.     320 


Civil  War,  Events  of  the  : — 

Undecisive  result  of  the  Battle.  320 

The  Slaughter.     320 

Battleton  and  Thistleton.     322 

Firing  the  Beacon.     323 

Alarm  in  London.     323 

Tracts  relating  to  the  Battle  of 
Edgehill.     323 

Hamlet  of  Westcot  destroyed.    618 

The  King  marches  to  Aynho.     326 

King's  Stile.     326 

Banbury  Summoned.     326 

The  King  takes  Broughton  Castle. 
326 

The  King  takes  Banbury.     327 

The  Earl  of  Peterborough's  Regi- 
ment.    328. 

The  Town  plundered.     328 

The  King  quarters  at  Oxford.     330 

Lord  Saye  proclaimed  a  Traitor. 
330 

Protection  for  the  Property  &c.  of 
Sir  Thomas  Pope.     618 

Banbury  attacked  by  the  North- 
ampton forces.     331 

Winter  quarters.     332  . 

Effects  of  the  first  Campaign.     333 

Remarkable  Appearances  in  the 
Heavens.     334,  619 

The  Year  1643.     340 

Deddington  Bells.     340 

Lord  Brook  and  the  Earl  of  North- 
ampton slain.     341 

James,  Earl  of  Northampton,  ap- 
pointed Governour  of  Banbury 
Castle.     343 

William  Needle  and  Mrs.  Phillips. 
343 

Banbury  fired.     345 

Battle  of  Middleton  Cheney.     345 

Meeting  of  the  King  and  Queen 
at  Edgehill.     348 

Their  Majesties'  stay  at  Wroxton. 
348    _        _ 

Nathaniel  Fiennes  surrenders  Bris- 
tol :  he  is  sentenced  to  be  be- 
headed, but  pardoned  by  the 
Lord  General.     349 

Affair  at  Deddington.     352 

Death  of  Lord  Falkland.     352 

The  Plague  at  Banbury.     353 

The  Year  1644.     354 

Colonel  Green,  Govei-nour  of  Ban- 
bury.    354 

Affair  at  Adderbury.     354 

Oliver  Cromwell  arrives  at  Ban- 
bury.    355 

Affair  at  Canons  Ashby.     355 

Compton  Wynyate  taken  by  the 
Parliament.     356 


INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS. 


665 


Civil  War,  Events  of  the  : — 
Movements  of  the  King  and  Sir 

William  Waller.     357 
The  King  at  Culworth.     358 
The  King  at  Leigh  Grovnids  (Castle 

Hill,  Chacombe).     358 
Waller  at  Hanwell.     358 
Attempts  of   the   King  and   Wal- 
ler to  gain  Crouch  Hill.     358 
Skirmish  at  Neithorp.     359 
The    King   sleeps  at    Grirasbury. 

359_ 
The  King  moves  northward.     359 
Cropredy     Bridge :       Wardington 

Ash.     359 
Battle  of  Cropredy  Bridge.     359 
Affiiir  at  Slate  Mill.     363 
The    King    rests  at    Williamscot. 

303 
Banbury  fired.     364 
Painting  of  the  Fight  at  Cropredy. 

619 
The  King  at  Aynho.     365 
The  King  at  Deddington.     365 
Banbury   besieged  by  the   Parlia- 
mentarians.    366 
Guns  planted  in  the  Church.     368 
Sir  William  Compton.     370 
Progress  of  the  Siege.     371  &c. 
Attempt  to  Storm  the  Castle.     376 
The  Earl   of  Northampton  is   or- 
dered to  the  relief  of  the  Castle. 
379 
He  ai-rives  at  Adderbury,     380 
Affair  near  Farm  Field.     380 
The    Parliamentarians    retire    to- 
wards Warwick.     381 
The  Castle  relieved.     381 
Misconduct  of  Major  Temple.    619 
New  woi'ks  of  defence.     385,  395, 

397,  401 
Hardships  endured.     387 
The  Plague.     388 
The  Year  1645.     388 
Affair  at  Kilsby.     389 
Wormleighton  House  burned.    390 
Attack  on  Compton  House.     390 
Letter-Book  of  Sir  Samuel  Luke. 

394 
Making  of  Gunpowder.     395 
Affair  near  Daventry.     396 
Dr.    Oldys   (vicar   of   Adderbury) 

slain.     396,  620 
Affair  near  Tredington.     398 
Affair  near  Northampton.     401 
Correspondence  between  Sir  Wil- 
liam  Compton   and  Sir  Samuel 
Luke.     402,  406 
Contributions    paid    to    Banbury. 
411 

4  P 


Civil  War,  Events  of  the  : — 
Desolation  of  the  Town.     411 
The  King  at  Banbury.     412 
The  Year  1646.     413 
Siege  of   Banbury  Castle  by  Col. 

Edward  Whalley.     413 
Correspondence       between       Col. 
Whalley  and  Sir  Wilham  Comp- 
ton.    416 
Dechne  of  the  King's  Cause.     418 
The   King  delivers  himself  up  to 

the  Scots.     4IS 
Banbury  Castle  yielded.     418 
Articles  of  Svirrender.     419 
Thanksgiving  ordered  by  the  Par- 
liament.    422 
Government  of  the  Town  provided 

for.     423 
Desolation  of  the  Town.     424 
Sir  William  Compton.     426 
IXestruction    of    Banbury    Castle, 

427,  621 
Remains  of  the  Castle.     431 
Banbury  partially  rebuilt.     433 
Lord  Saye  a  Commissioner  at  the 
Treaty  of  the  Isle  of  Wight.    435 
Efforts    to   save    the   Life   of   the 
King.     435 

Commonwealth.     438  &c. 
Compton  Wynyate  House.     356,  390 
Cropredy  Bridge,  Battle  of     360  &c. 
Crosses  of  the  Neighbourhood : — 

Adderbury.     611 

Aynho.     134 

Banbury.     159.     [And  see  under 
"  Banbury."] 

Bodicot.     115,  612 

Cropredy.     613 

Drayton.     118 

North  Newington.     117 

Ratley.     144 

South  Newington.     137 

Weeping  Cross.     2,  115,  612 
Crustaceans  of  the  Neighbourhood. 

695 
Culworth  Gang.     528 

Danes : — 

Arrival  of.     53 

Their  conflicts  with  Alfred.     53 
Battle  of  Hooknorton.     54 
First  Battle  of  Danesmoor.     5G 
Ravages    of   the   Danes  in    these 

parts.     56 
Massacre  of  the  Danes.     57 
Sweyn  marches  into  these  parts. 
57 
Danesmoor,  First  Battle  of     56 
Danesmoor,  Second  Battle  of.     178 


666 


INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS. 


Danesmoor,  Second  Battle  of,  Relic 

of  the.     ()14 
Deddington  Castle.     69,  103 
Domesday  Survey.     60 
Dorchester,   See  of.     51,  52,  54,  57, 

58,  60 
Druids.     [See  British  Remains.] 

Edgehill,  Battle  of.     288.     [And  see 

Civil  War.] 
Edgehill,  Prospect  from.     310 

Fire  at  King's  Sutton.     528 
Fire,  Frederick  North's  Library  de- 
stroyed by.     541 
Fire  at  Warkworth.     542 
Fishes  of  the  Neighbourhood.     604 
Five-Mile  Act.     466,  482 

Geology  of  the  Neigbourhood.     572 
Gulliver's  (Lemuel)  Travels.     518 

Hanwell  Castle.     191 

Hanwfell     Castle,     Proceedings     at, 

prior  to  the  Restoration.     471,  472 
Holy  Wells  :— 

Well  near  Tadmarton  Camp.     12 

St.  Rumbald's  Well.     51,  96,  498 

St.  Botolph's  Well.     97 

St.  Stephen's  Well.     97 

Jacob's  Well.     524 
Hooknorton  Camp  and  Battle.     43, 

54,  55 

Impostor,  A  noted.     488 

Jackson's  Oxford  Journal.     521 
Jew's  Interlude,  or  Hob  in  the  Well. 
524 

King's  Evil,  Touching  for  the.     503 

Levellers.     438  &c. 

Lincoln,  See  of.  60,  62,  70,  71,  87, 
88,  92,  93,  96,  99,  100,  167,  168, 
170,  172,  173,  174,  175,  187,  188, 
197,  203,  204,  215 

Lollards.     171 

Murder  of  Webb  of  Drayton.     236 

Normans,  Arrival  of  the.     59 
Normans,    Lands    held   by    the,    in 

these  parts.     59,  61 
Norman  Castles.     35,  43,  69 
Northumberland's    (John,  Duke  of) 

Rebellion.     218 

Oxford,  See  of.     246 
Oxfordshire  Elections.     508,  522 


Popes,   Dispute  with  the,  regarding 
the    Prebend   of    Banbury.       105, 
164,  167,  168 
Population    of   the    Neighbourhood. 

564 
Priory  of  Chacombe.     85,  203,  610 
Priory  of    Clattercot.     87,  201,  203, 

611 
Priory  of  Warmington.     148 
Priory  of  Wroxton.     79,  190,  202 
Protectorate.      445    &c.       Nathaniel 
Fiennes  proposes  to  Oliver  Crom- 
well  to   take    the   title   of    King. 
450 
Puritan  Divines  of  the  Neighbour- 
hood     283 
Puritans.     238,  241,  615 

Quakers,   Rise  of  the.     Lord  Saye. 

451 
Quakers.     [See  Banbury.] 

Red  Land  of  Oxfordshire.     552 
Reptiles  of  the  Neighbourhood.     604 
Restoration,  The.     474 
Romans  : — 

Invasion.     20 

Alliance  with  the  Dobuni.     21 

Spread  of  Civilisation.     21,  45 

Fortified  Line  of  Ostorius.     22,  607 
Roman  Remains  . — 

Altars.     23,  40 

Amphitheatre.     25,  609 

Baths.     41,  44 

Burial  Places.     31,  39 

Camps.     22,  30,  43,  607 

Coins  &c.  found.  12,  19,  23,  28, 
30,  31,  32,  .33,  34,  35,  37,  41,  42, 
44,  45,  607,  609,  610 

Pavements  &c.  31,  32,  39,  40,  41, 
42,  44,  45 

Urns.     28,  31,  32,  33,  35,  45 
Royal    Progresses.       205,   239,    240, 

262,  616 

Saints.     46,  51,  52 

St.  Bartholomew's  Day.     482 

St.    Rumbald,    Legend    concei'ning. 

51 
Saxons  and  Angles  : — 

Arrival  of  the  Saxons.     47 

Defence  of  the  Britons,  led  by 
Arthur.     47 

Kingdom  of  Wessex.     47 

Battle  of  Beranbyrig  [Banbury]. 
48 

Arrival  of  the  Angles.     50 

Kingdom  of  Mercia.     50 

Debatable  Land  in  these  parts. 
50  &c. 


INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS. 


667 


Saxons  and  Angles  : — 
The  West  Saxons  and  Angles  con- 
verted to  Christianity  by  St.  Bi- 
rinus.     51 
Offa    crosses  the  frontier  line   in 

these  parts.     52 
Conflicts  with  the  Danes.     53  &c. 
Saxon  Coins  found.     58,  608 
Sea-green  Men.     438  &c. 
Ship  Money.     282,  293 
Silk  Stockings,  Manufacture  of.     570 
Sun-Rising  Inn.     310 

Tournaments.     71,  93 
Trackways.       14  &c.,   25   &c.,    180, 
607,  608 


Tradesmen's  Tokens.     477,  625 
Traditions.     7,  10,  16 

Vale  of  Red  Horse.     310 

Warkworth  House.     481 

AVelsh  Elegy  of  Thomas  ap  Roger, 

slain  at  Banbury.     185 
Welshmen  slain  at  Danesmoor.     183 
Worcester,  Battle  of.     449 
Wroxton,  Mansion  at.     84,  263 
Wroxton  Obelisk.     520,  540 
Wroxton,   Visit  paid  to,   by   James 

the  First.     262  _ 
Wroxton,  Festivities  at.     540 


.3^^ 


CORRIGENDA. 

Page  2,  note  6.    For  "  were  carried  to  Adderbury  "  read — were  mostly  carried  to  Adderhury. 

40,  line  24.    In  a  few  copies,  a  comma  is  wanting  after  the  word  dark. 

41,  line  10,  and  in  note  15.     For  "  M.  Bolton  Esq."  read — M.  B.  Boidton  Esq. 

57,  line  13.     For  "  built  "  rnnA— rebuilt . 

79,  note  45.     Stephen  Cope  Esq.  was  of  Bedenham  [query  Bedhampton  ?J  Hants. 

William  Saunders  Esq.  is  styled  of  Banbury.     See  page  193. 

82,  last  paragraph.     For  "  William  be  Abberbur  "  read — William  de  Abberbur. 

94,  note  32.    Mollington,  one  of  the  chapelries  to  Cropredy,  is  not  in  Banbury  Hundred 

(see  pp.  664,  665).    Williamscot  is  not  itself  a  chapelry,  but  is  associated  with  that  of 

Wardington,  at  which  place  the  Chapel  stands. 

114,  line  36.     For  "  chapelry  to  "  read — chapel  under. 

128.    In  the  account  of  Cropredy  Church  it  is  inaccurately  stated  that  "  the  Roodloft 

and  Screen  were  wantonly  destroyed."    They  were  suffered  to  go  to  decay  for  lack  of 

reparation. 

133,  line  12.    In  a  few  copies,  for  "  roll-moulded  "  Tea.^— roll-moulding. 

177,  in  line  3  of  note  23  omit  the  words  "  North  and." 

185,  note  44.    The  bolt-head  is  now,  by  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Walford,  in  my  own 

possession.  ' 
190,  fourth  line  of  note  20.     For  "John  Spencer  of  Hodnell  co.  Wai-wick  ;  her  only 

daughter  (and  heiress)  was  Jane, "  &c.,  read — John  Spencer  of  Hodnell  co.  Warwick,  whose 

daughter  and  coheiress  (either  by  her  or  by  his  second  wife)  was  Jane,  &c. 

195,  line  25.     For  "  Plate  21 ,"  read— P?a^e  26. 

214.    The  date  of  the  Act  for  selling  the  fee  farm  rents  is  11th  March  1649-50 ;  but  the 

account  made  under  it,  quoted  in  this  page,  was  rendered  in  1651. 

254,  note  34.     For  "  Banhury  "  read — Banbury. 

261,  last  line  but  four  of  the  text.     Omit  the  reference  to  page  240. 

262,  note  47.     For  "  Drunilly  "  read— Drummilly. 

432,  line  23.    For  "  in  the  first  March,"  read— in  the  first  of  the  fields  called  the  Marches. 

452,  note  36,  line  11.     For  "  Farn worth  "  read — Farnswurth. 

499,  line  2.     For  "  Lord  William  Russell,"  read — William  Lord  Russell. 

500,  note  55.     The  quarts  were  32  ounces  each. 

525,  line  1 .     For  "  1616  or  1617,"  read— 1716  or  1717. 

632,  line  7.     For  "  preserved  in  the  clergyman's  retiring-room,"  read — -preserved  in  the 

room  over  the  clergyman's  retiring-room. 

636,  line  10.     See  corrections  in  the  Addenda,  pp.  613,  614. 

-665,  566.    The  Population  of  Wigginton  should  have  been  given  thus: — Males  161, 

Females  149,  Total  310 :  the  whole  numbers  within  the  Union,  given  in  p.  666,  should 

therefore  he:— Males  14,186,  Femaks  14,286,  Total  28,472. 


PRINTED    BY   WILLIAM    POTTS,    PARSON  S    STKEKT,   BANBURV. 


EOLLRICH  STONES,     W 


THE  FIVE  KNIGHTS.  EOLLRICH.     S.' 


CEOUCH  HILL      E 


Section  of  the  gro'ind  plan  at  the  dotted  line. 


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BRITISH  CAMP  AT   TADMAETON      Ground  Han. 


Section-S.W.  side 

NADBUET  IBRITISH)  CAMP.     Ground  Han. 


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BBITISH  CAMP  AT  GEEDENTON   HILL.     Ground  Plan. 


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KAIN5B0E0DGH  (BRITISH,   CAMP.     Ground  Plan. 


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Kg,  2.     TITUS.     A.  D. 
Fo'ond  at  Hanwell 


Hg,3.     NEEVA.     A   D.  96 
Found  at  Hanwell 


Fig   4.      AURELICfl,     A   D  161 
Found  at  Hanwell 


B'ifi.5.      DIOCLETIAN      A,  D.  -JSl 
Found  at  Banbui-y 


Fig   6      CONSTANTINE  THE  GREAT     A  r>,306 
Foimd  at  Drayton 


Fig  7     FAU3TA      ,\  D,307 
Found  at  Elack  Grouudo,  Chipping  Wardon 


Figs     CEISPDS     AD,  316 
Found  at  Black  Grounds,  Chipping  Wardon 


Fig  9     CONSTANTIUS     A  D  337 
Found  at  Drayton 


iig  lu     CO.NSlANS      AD,  337 
Found  at  Black  Land  near  Mad 


I 


PIATE  VII. 


ROMAN  AMPHITHEATRE.  BANBDRT.     E 


,^^*«^^^^  "^>., 


.# 


.,***^" 


--^^^4^^ 


■"'^^^ 


>c 


\ 


.-■  t.-.,u  from  A  to  B 
ROMAN  AMPHITHEATRE  AT  BANBCRT.     Ground  Plan 


Fig.   1.     ANCIENT  BEAD  FOUND  AT  ADDERBDRY 
Actual  Size, 


Fig    2.     DRDID'S    BEAD, 

FOUND  AT  BLACK  GROUNDS 

CHIPPING    WARDON 

Actual     Size, 


Fig    4       ROWAN   URN   FOUND  AT 
THENFOBD. 


Fig    3,     ROMAN   URN,  FOUND  AT  BLACK 
GROUNDS     CHIPPING   WAPDON 


Fig.   5,     ROMAN   KNIFE  BLADE.  FOUND  AT   THENFORD 


Hg.  1,     METAi  CBLT  FOUND  AT  ATNHO 


Fig    2      CELT  OF  SERPENTI^•E  FOUND  AT  BLACK  LANDS  PIECE,  KING'S  SUTTON 


SI  FOUND  AT  BLACK  LANDS  PIECE, 
KING'S  SUTTON. 


FiJ.  4      BOTTLF, 
FOUND  AT 
WIGGINTON. 


EOMAN  PAVEMENT  AT  BEACONSFIELD  FARM 


i? 


t- 


EOMAN  PAVEMENT  AT  GREAT  TEW 


Fig    1      CBUCIFIS:  FODND  ON  THE   SITE  OF  ST    JOHN'S  HOSPITAL 
Actual  Size., 


Fi^  C      STOUP,  FOUND  ON  THE   SITE  OF  ST    JOHN'S  HOSPITAL. 


Fig.  3.     ABED  W  HEAD  FOUND  AT  CHIPPING  WAEDON 


PLATE    XIV. 


THE  FORMER  CET3ECH 


OF  BANEOKY.     W.  S-  W. 


THE  FOEME 


R  CHaRCn  OF  EANBURi,     N. 


PLATE  XV. 


COEBEL  HEAD 


Pig.  3 
KING'S    HEAD 


Fig.  3. 
BISHOP'S    HEAD, 


Fig,  4, 
CAPITAL  AI^D 


Fig.  6. 
JEOTESQUE  FIGUEE 


REMAINS  OF  THE  FORMER  CHURCH  OF  BANBURY.    (See  Page  lo-^.) 


Pig.  2,     PINNACLE 


Fig.  1.     DOOR  HEAD  OF  CHANCEL 


Fig.    3       ARCH  AND  SPANDRELS 


STONE  PANELLING 


REMAINS  OF  THE  FORMER  CHURCH  OF  BANBURY      (See  Page  153.) 


.3r  k 

Fig.  1      NICHE  AND  CANOPY. 


Fig.  2.     TEACEET  OF  WINDOW 


'ig.  3.     WINDOW  HEAD 


Pig.  4.      EFFIGY  OF  AN   ECCLESIASTIC. 


REMAINS  OF  THE  FORMER  CHURCH  OF  BANBURY.    (See  Page  loH.) 


PLATE  XVIII. 


SEFING  CROSS 


WEST  ARCHES  OF  BANBURY  BRIDGE      SW 


BURTON   DASSET  BEACON 


ANCIENT  DOORWAY  OF  THE  WHITE  HORSE  INN 


PLATE  XX. 


MM 


% 


HANWELL  CASTLE.     REMAraS      NW, 


^ 


ST.    JOHN'      GATE,  BANBtTRY.     S.     1781 


THE  VICARAGE  HOUSE      NW. 


PLATE    XXII. 


HLLIAil  WHATBLBY    VTCAB  OF  BAiJBUEY.     MT.  66. 


PLATE  XXIII. 


PLATE  XXIV. 


4970 


■K.AV  ILLUSTRATING  THE 


)D  OF  THE  CITIL  WARS 


PLATE   XXVI. 


JOHN  STANBRIDGE. 
'rom  a  vei-y  rai-e  Print  in  the  Gulston  Collection 


m. 


ae:js  of  the  coeporation 


Fi§,  2     BANBURT  TOWN  SEAi,  13 


TAVERN  TOKENS   ;UNICOEN  AND  RAINDEEE 


m 


1 

1 

1 

1